After months on the road and nearing the final stretch of her global “Mayhem Ball Tour,” Lady Gaga was set to deliver another high-energy performance in Montreal. But just hours before showtime, everything changed. Lady Gaga abruptly canceled her Monday night concert, leaving fans stunned as she revealed a sudden health setback had forced her off stage at the last minute.

Lady Gaga Forced To Cancel Concert Amid Health Scare

The Grammy-winning star took to Instagram Stories on Monday to break the news, revealing she is currently battling a respiratory infection that has worsened in recent days. “Hi everyone. I’m so sorry to share that I’m unable to perform tonight and have to cancel the show,” she wrote.

Gaga explained that despite trying to push through, her condition ultimately forced her to step back. “I’ve been fighting a respiratory infection for the past few days and doing everything I can to rest and recover, but it’s gotten worse,” she revealed, adding that her doctor “strongly advised” her not to perform.

She also noted she wouldn’t be able to deliver the level of performance fans expect. “My doctor has strongly advised me not to perform today and to be honest I don’t think I could give you the quality of a performance today that you deserve,” Lady Gaga said.

She’s ‘Absolutely Heartbroken’ After Canceling Show

The singer made it clear how difficult the decision was, expressing deep regret over canceling the show. “I know how deeply disappointing this is, and I truly could not feel worse about letting you down,” she wrote. “I’m so sorry to everyone who made plans to be there and support me.”

She also reflected on her time in Montreal, calling her previous shows there “magical and deeply meaningful. To everyone who was coming tonight, I’m absolutely heartbroken and so sorry.”

Lady Gaga Cancels Show As ‘Mayhem Ball Tour’ Nears Finale

At the time of her announcement, Gaga had not shared details about rescheduling the canceled show or issuing refunds, leaving fans waiting for further updates. The canceled performance was set to be her third show in Montreal, following appearances on Thursday and Friday.

The cancellation comes as Gaga nears the end of her massive “Mayhem Ball Tour,” which kicked off in July 2025. The global tour, supporting her sixth studio album Mayhem, has taken her across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia before returning to North America for its final leg.

Up next, she is scheduled to perform two shows in Saint Paul, Minnesota, before wrapping the tour in New York City.

‘Mayhem Ball Tour’ Expanded After Overwhelming Fan Demand

Lady Gaga originally hadn’t planned to extend her run of shows, but fan response quickly changed that. When she announced the “Mayhem Ball Tour” back in March of 2025, Gaga revealed that the “incredible response” to her album Mayhem inspired her to keep the momentum going beyond her initial dates in Singapore.

“We chose arenas this time to give me the opportunity to control the details of the show in a way you simply can’t in stadiums, and honestly, I can’t wait,” she wrote on Instagram. “This show is designed to be the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings MAYHEM to life exactly how I envision it. The MAYHEM Ball Tour is officially coming your way. See you soon, monsters.”

The 2026 Grammys Performance Almost Didn’t Happen

While her ongoing tour continues to make headlines, Lady Gaga’s show-stopping 2026 Grammy Awards performance almost didn’t happen. Despite ultimately taking the stage on February 1 with a rock version of her hit “Abracadabra,” and walking away with two trophies, the pop icon came close to skipping the performance altogether due to scheduling challenges.

“There was one point a few weeks before the show that we thought we might have to lose her from the show because she just was like, ‘I just don’t see how I can,’” Grammys executive producer Ben Winston revealed.

At the time, Gaga had just wrapped a series of shows in Japan as part of her “Mayhem Ball Tour,” leaving little to no time for rehearsal. “Unlike everybody else who had time to rehearse offsite or with their dancers or band or creative team, she couldn’t,” Winston explained. “She was literally on stage.”

Lady Gaga’s Last-Minute Grammys Pivot Pays Off Big

To make it work, Gaga and her team pivoted creatively, ditching a large-scale production in favor of a more stripped-down, rock-inspired performance centered around her at the piano. “It was so different, so original, so spectacular,” Winston said.

The last-minute adjustment ultimately paid off, delivering one of the night’s most memorable performances despite the behind-the-scenes uncertainty.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

As a franchise, Star Trek is full of episodes that are hard to understand. Sometimes, this is because of all the weird technobabble. You can only hear someone mention tachyons and deflector dishes so many times before you zone out. More often, though, it’s hard to understand an episode because you don’t understand why a character made a surprising decision. This can make Star Trek feel like a horror movie because you find yourself screaming at the screen, wondering why supposedly smart people are making nothing but dumb decisions from beginning to end.

A prime example of this is “Non-Sequitur,” a Voyager episode where Harry Kim wakes up back on Earth. Instead of being stranded in the Delta Quadrant, he’s engaged to the girl of his dreams and generally living his best life. However, he risks it all to restore the timeline so that his best buddy, Tom Paris, can have meaning in his life again. Kim’s decision to ruin his own life for his friend was baffling to everyone, including the actors. But Kim’s shocking choice perfectly defines what Voyager is all about: standing fast to your ideals, no matter the cost.

The Man Who Had It All

“Non-Sequitur” is an episode where Harry Kim seemingly has it all. After his shuttlecraft starts shaking, he suddenly wakes up in a different timeline where he never joined Voyager’s crew. Instead of enjoying a happily ever after with his old flame (and now fiancée) Libby, however, he becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to him. That obsession reaches a fever pitch when he finds out that Tom Paris never made it to Voyager and has become a drunk, bitter has-been. After getting Paris’ reluctant help, the two restore the timeline and rejoin Voyager on its 70-year mission to get home.

It’s a standout episode of Star Trek: Voyager and arguably the first really great Harry Kim episode. However, it can be hard to suspend your disbelief when watching “Non-Sequitur,” especially if you put yourself in Kim’s shoes. For most people, being separated from all their friends and family for the better part of a century is one of the worst things that could ever happen to them. This is an episode where Harry seemingly got a second chance at living an infinitely happier life, but he ultimately threw it away to return to the bleak status quo of his existence in the Delta Quadrant.

From Paris, With Glug

Interestingly, both Ensign Kim actor Garret Wang and Libby actor Jennifer Gatti had the same questions about why the heck Kim would ever want to return to Voyager. Eventually, producer Jeri Taylor revealed the answer in an old interview with Cinefantastique: “The big thing is finding his friend Tom Paris is dissolute, because of this whole change,” she said. “Kim may be living a lovely life with his girlfriend, but it is at the cost of his friend’s happiness, and it just isn’t right. He is too much a young man of principle and integrity to indulge himself when it is at the expense of others.”

Arguably, this perfectly encapsulates the values of Star Trek: Voyager. As an idealistic and principled Starfleet officer, Harry Kim couldn’t screw over his best friend just to make his own life better. Just like Janeway couldn’t use the Caretaker to take her ship back home because she knew it would doom the Ocampa. Kim’s moral dilemma isn’t all that unique. In the finest Trek tradition, he must choose between happiness and duty, and he doesn’t hesitate to choose duty.

Is that message more than a bit cheesy and impractical? Of course. But let’s face it: we watch Star Trek because these characters are aspirational. They give us hope that, hundreds of years from now, humanity will have evolved beyond petty selfishness in the collective pursuit of bettering ourselves.

Harry Kim did something that none of us would have done in his place, and that’s the point. He’s modeling how to be a better man. In this way, “Non-Sequitur” is more than a solid Voyager episode: it’s also the embodiment of this franchise’s greatest ideals, perfectly defining everything that fans love about Star Trek.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Critics and social media pundits have been quick to frame the modern era of Star Trek as the franchise’s most progressive. Often, that’s cited by NuTrek defenders as one of the best reasons to watch each series. Those defenders are wrong. Star Trek has never been less progressive than it is right now.

To find out where the disconnect is, all an objective observer need do is take a look at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before NuTrek started giving itself credit for being open-minded, Deep Space Nine was regarded as the most progressive entry in Star Trek’s canon, and it still is.

Far Beyond Identity Politics

Why is Deep Space Nine Star Trek’s most progressive show? It had the franchise’s first Black captain in a leading role, and the show found clever ways to explore modern issues of race through episodes like “Far Beyond the Stars.”

Compare this to Discovery, which got progressive brownie points for making Michael Burnham the franchise’s first Black, female captain in a leading role. That might sound similar, except Sisko wasn’t treated as a black Captain; he was treated as a great character, being played by a great actor, breathing life into great writing.

That didn’t happen with Michael Burnham. While Sonequa Martin-Green was excellent as Michael Burnham, she was frequently hampered by bad writers who had nothing to say about race or racism but were eager to shout, “Look who we put in the captain’s chair!”

Sisko wasn’t the only progressive character in the series. The prominent Trill character Dax effectively served as an allegory for trans people. Sisko originally knew her as a curmudgeonly womanizer, Kurzon Dax, and their friendship remained the same when she became a beautiful young woman.

Over the course of the show, Deep Space Nine offered surprisingly nuanced allegories exploring what it is like to become another person and how that affects how you are treated. Compare this to Discovery, which introduced an explicitly trans Trill (Gray Tal) and did little with his character, instead focusing on the nonbinary character Adira Tal.

They’re Here, They’re (Secretly) Queer

While it was tough to pull off in the Rick Berman era of Star Trek, Deep Space Nine even managed to squeeze in some bisexual characters in the form of Bashir and Garak. When Andrew Robinson read about Garak introducing himself to Bashir, he decided the Cardassian had a sexual interest in the young doctor and acted very flirtatiously. This created a subtext that the characters were gay (or, as Robinson claimed, “omnisexual”), and Lower Decks even showed alternate universe versions of Garak and Bashir ending up together. 

For DS9 fans curious about these characters’ seemingly mutual attraction, their every interaction was filled with a delightful “will they, won’t they” energy. The queer coding of Bashir also added a frisson of tension to his friendship with Chief O’Brien (especially when, in “Extreme Measures,” Bashir suggests O’Brien likes him more than he likes his wife). Compare all of this sexual tension to NuTrek, which presented gay romance as stable-but-boring (like with Stamets and Culber in Discovery) or loudly one-dimensional (like with Jay-Den in Starfleet Academy).

When Kira agreed to have O’Brien and Keiko’s baby, Keiko pushed her husband to spend intimate time with Kira, including giving her massages. Eventually, O’Brien and Kira developed a mutual attraction that they agreed not to pursue because he’s a married man.

In retrospect, it really looks like Keiko wanted the three of them to become a throuple, and the modern fandom enjoys this (admittedly brief) acknowledgment of polyamory and the ways love and sex might be different in the future. Compare this to NuTrek, whose exclusive embrace of monogamy makes shows like Discovery and Starfleet Academy seem downright conservative. 

To Explore Strange New Speeches

These examples from Deep Space Nine underscore why modern Star Trek isn’t nearly as progressive as Alex Kurtzman and his supporters think it is. Remember when Spock said that “logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end”? Well, the storytelling corollary to that is “diversity is the beginning of progress, not the end.” Just throwing someone other than a white, straight, male into a role doesn’t magically make a show progressive unless you use them to tell interesting stories exploring complex ideas.

Star Trek made waves by casting a Black man and a woman in leading roles decades ago, and those shows used those characters to explore questions of race and femininity while pushing back against negative cultural stereotypes. Discovery cast a Black woman in a lead role and made her alternate between crying and giving inspirational speeches. That’s just bad storytelling, and her combination of race and gender doesn’t retroactively make the storytelling any better.

Tokenism Disguised As Progressivism

Similarly, Discovery and Starfleet Academy prominently featured gay characters but gave them remarkably little to do as a couple. Discovery controversially killed Culber off (don’t worry, he got better after Paramount did the “kill your gays” trope) and focused very little on their relationship. Starfleet Academy focuses even less on Jay-Den’s romantic relationships outside of quick cut shots, instead just putting him in a skirt and calling it a day. It’s tokenism disguised as progressivism, which is offensive on the face of it and infinitely less rewarding than DS9’s more veiled (thanks, Berman) attempts at presenting queer relationships.

All these years later,  Deep Space Nine remains the gold standard of progressive Star Trek storytelling simply because it used its diverse characters to tell exciting stories that challenged the status quo. NuTrek wants credit for being progressive simply because it includes these characters, but these series fail to do anything interesting with them, instead telling bland stories that are mostly Trek in name only. Now that Paramount is moving forward and taking the franchise in a new direction, we can only hope they slingshot into the past and take their storytelling cues from DS9, the decades-old show more progressive than Alex Kurtzman could ever conceive of.

Bravo’s In the City cast is full of familiar faces, returning stars and a few newcomers.

The network dropped the show’s first trailer on April 7, and fans got a first look at some of the Summer House stars living their real life in New York City. Aside from Lindsay Hubbard, Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula, former Summer House stars Andrea Denver and Danielle Olivera are returning to TV. They’re joined by nine other cast members to make up a full friend group in the Big Apple.

The trailer teased the ups and downs in Amanda and Kyle’s relationship, which led to their split. The former couple announced their separation in January after four years of marriage.

“Who was in our apartment last night while I’m asleep?” Amanda asked Kyle in the trailer. “Do you know how many times you’ve cheated on me?”

Elsewhere, the duo appear to have a tense conversation about their divorce.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“We don’t have a prenup, but if you come for me, I’ll come for you,” Amanda said. Kyle replied, “That would be a losing battle.”

Fans also saw a glimpse of Summer House star West Wilson hugging Amanda. Days before the In the City trailer was released, Amanda and West — who was previously dating Summer House star and Amanda’s best friend Ciara Miller — confirmed their romance.

Keep scrolling to meet the cast of In the City:

Meghan Markle’s move to trademark As Ever in Australia ahead of a visit with Prince Harry has sparked questions about the lifestyle brand.

Experts say expansion may reflect slower-than-expected U.S. growth, especially after Netflix stepped back.

Despite strong indications of a global expansion, a spokesperson for Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand remained while addressing the growing speculations.

Why Filing An Australian Trademark Could Signal Challenges For Meghan Markle’s As Ever

After recently filing a trademark for her As Ever brand in Australia, just ahead of an upcoming visit with her husband, Prince Harry, Meghan’s latest business move is sparking fresh questions about the state of her lifestyle venture.

Speaking to Page Six, PR expert Kayley Cornelius described the expansion as both strategic and potentially reactive.

“Meghan Markle filing a trademark for her As Ever lifestyle brand in Australia feels like a very deliberate move, but it also points to a bigger picture when it comes to how the brand is currently performing in the US,” Cornelius said.

According to the expert, entering a new market like Australia could suggest the brand isn’t “delivering the level of success” expected in the United States.

She also pointed to reports that Netflix has stepped back from its involvement, which may limit As Ever’s ability to scale locally, particularly when it comes to launching new products or growing the brand in a meaningful way.

“In that context, branching out into a new market starts to feel less like a choice and more like a necessity to avoid the brand stagnating,” Cornelius added.

Experts Say Australia Holds Big Potential For The Duchess’s As Ever Expansion

Despite concerns, Australia presents clear potential for Meghan. Cornelius noted that the country’s lifestyle trends and consumer habits align well with As Ever’s identity.

In addition, the public’s perception of Harry and Meghan is generally more neutral, which could make it easier to build trust and connect with a new audience.

“It is a market where they are already well known, but perhaps not as heavily scrutinized,” Cornelius noted.

Timing, too, she noted, appears to play a role. “Launching or introducing the brand in Australia alongside that kind of high-profile exposure is a smart way to generate interest and momentum,” Cornelis said.

She continued, “It is not just about cracking a new market, it is also about creating an opportunity to bring in new revenue streams and potentially attract further investment at a time when that may be needed.”

Even so, the expert stated that the expansion carries weight. Success in a receptive market like Australia could seemingly open doors for global growth. On the other hand, if the brand struggles to gain traction there, it may raise broader concerns about its long-term direction.

“In that sense, this expansion feels very much like a make-or-break moment,” she added.

As Ever Denies Reports Of International Expansion

Last month, a spokesperson for As Ever shut down speculation that Meghan was preparing to expand the brand internationally, describing claims of an Australian launch as all “speculation.”

In a statement to Us Weekly, the representative stressed that “no decisions have been made about when or where international expansion might take place.”

They added that while global growth is part of the brand’s long-term vision, entering new markets requires careful planning.

For now, the spokesperson hinted that developments are still in progress, urging observers to “watch this space.”

Meghan Markle’s Brand Split With Netflix

The speculation comes at a pivotal moment for As Ever, which is stepping into a new chapter following the end of its partnership with Netflix.

The streaming giant had previously supported the brand financially at launch, under a deal separate from Meghan and Harry’s content agreement.

Both sides confirmed the split last month, describing it as a natural progression. A spokesperson for As Ever expressed gratitude for the early support, noting that the brand experienced “meaningful and rapid growth” in its first year and is now ready to stand on its own.

Netflix echoed that sentiment, highlighting Meghan’s vision for celebrating simple, elevated everyday moments, while emphasizing that independence had always been part of the long-term plan.

Why Meghan Markle’s As Ever Isn’t Landing In The UK Anytime Soon

Despite the buzz surrounding its products, from signature jams and rosé wines to herbal teas and edible flower sprinkles, As Ever remains accessible only within the U.S., with shipping limited to all 50 states.

That decision has raised questions, particularly in the United Kingdom, where Meghan once lived during her time as a senior royal. However, brand and culture expert Nick Ede believes the strategy may be “deliberate.”

Speaking to the Daily Express, Ede explained that both public perception and market conditions likely play a role. He suggested Meghan’s influence in the UK may not be as strong as it once was, making it a less appealing market for now.

He also pointed out that the British retail space is already saturated with celebrity-backed lifestyle products, particularly in categories like rosé wine, where names such as Kylie Minogue and Lady A have established a firm presence.

Beyond competition, he noted that some of As Ever’s offerings, like decorative flower sprinkles, may not immediately resonate with UK consumers, further complicating potential demand.

Kanye West has faced yet another fallout tied to his past antisemitic remarks.

The rapper, who had been scheduled to perform at one of London’s biggest festivals, has now had his visa revoked by the UK Home Office.

In the lead-up to the decision, several brands, such as PayPal, had already withdrawn their support for the event. With the ban now in place, the festival itself has been called off.

Kanye West Was Banned Over His Past Antisemitism Rants

Fans of Kanye West who were hoping to see him headline London’s Wireless Festival have been left disappointed after the rapper was banned from entering the UK.

The decision appears to be linked to his history of antisemitic remarks, particularly a series of online rants over the past few years.

While the rapper has since issued an apology for his actions, it did little to sway UK authorities, as reflected in comments made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of the festival.

“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless. This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism,” the government official wrote on X.

He added, “We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.”

Starmer’s statement was further echoed in an announcement from the Home Office that explained their decision.

“Where individuals pose a threat to public safety or seek to spread extremism, the government has not hesitated to act, and that includes canceling permission to enter this country for extremist preachers and far-right figures,” read the statement.

Several Sponsors Had Already Pulled Out Of The Event

As a result of the visa ban, the festival was canceled, and refunds were automatically issued by the organizers.

However, even before the ban, the festival had already suffered major losses due to its association with West, as several brands distanced themselves from the event.

The latest was PayPal, a payment provider known to partner with Live Nation UK Festivals.

Drinks giant Diageo and Pepsi had also already pulled out, although they did not directly cite West as the reason for their decision.

Kanye West’s History Of Antisemitism

West’s history of targeting Jews with hate speech dates back to October 2022, when he wrote in a tweet that he was going “death con [sic] 3 on Jewish people.”

Even after several brands and partners cut ties with the rapper at the time, and he lost the support of close friends, he doubled down on his remarks in February 2025 with a lengthy rant in which he said he never intended to apologize for his comments about Jews.

He subsequently sold a shirt featuring a swastika and released a song titled “Heil Hitler,” in which he claimed to be a “Nazi.”

The rapper’s longtime partnership with Adidas also abruptly came to an end after he bragged that he could “say antisemitic sh-t” and the shoe giant won’t drop him.

The Rapper Apologized For His Antisemitism Behavior

Earlier this year, West took out an ad in which he expressed remorse over his past antisemitic remarks.

He also claimed that his “reckless behavior” was due to a car crash 25 years ago that left him suffering from trauma and bipolar disorder.

“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change,” he wrote.

West added, “It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.”

Social Media Divided Over Kanye West Ban Amid Career Comeback

Online, the response has been split after the rapper was barred from performing in London, with some seeing it as the right move by the government, while others disagreed despite West’s past actions.

A person wrote on X, “Freedom of speech has consequences. UK said no nazis allowed.”

Another commented, “Kanye represented negativity against groups of people and forgot that his words would return to bite him in the buttocks.”

“Right decision- you know he’ll be a t-t on stage and incite stupidity amongst the crowd,” a third person noted.

However, a fan of West seemed displeased by the news, asking, “Doesn’t banning a guy from entering a country because he said bad things about jews and then apologized kind of make it pointless to apologize?”

Others seemed displeased that the entire Wireless festival was canceled, wondering why the rapper specifically wasn’t replaced by another headliner.

Matt Damon has gained widespread recognition for starring in numerous successful films, ranging from massive blockbusters to cult favorites across genres, including sci-fi. While some of his lesser-known projects are now being rediscovered through streaming, his more popular titles are also enjoying renewed attention, including, most recently, his biggest sci-fi hit. This film is based on a well-known book and features an ensemble cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, and Mackenzie Davis.

Not only does the sci-fi standout boast a stellar cast, but it was also directed by Ridley Scott, one of the highest-grossing filmmakers of all time, and marked his most commercially successful project. Titled The Martian, it was released in 2015 to positive reviews and numerous accolades, including a Best Picture nomination at the 88th Academy Awards. The film is also based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, who also wrote 2026’s most critically acclaimed sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary. The Martian could effectively be called a hybrid of that film and Tom Hanks‘ iconic survival movie Cast Away. Over the years, it has experienced renewed popularity across multiple streaming platforms worldwide—including now. As of this writing, The Martian is trending on streaming and PVOD charts globally, including in the U.S., with strong performance on HBO Max in the Netherlands, as well as worldwide on the Apple TV store and Google platforms.

What’s Next for Matt Damon?

Damon was most recently seen in the Netflix action thriller, The Rip, released on January 16, 2026, which received generally favorable reviews from critics. He stars as Lieutenant Dane Dumars, a police officer in the Miami-Dade Police Department narcotics unit, alongside Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Next, fans will see Damon in The Odyssey, working with Christopher Nolan once again following the success of Oppenheimer.

In the upcoming fantasy adaptation, Damon stars as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on a long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, seeking to reunite with his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway). The ensemble cast also features Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, among others. The Odyssey is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters from Universal Pictures on July 17, 2026.

The Martian is available on the Apple TV store. Stay tuned to Collider for more information.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

October 2, 2015

Runtime

2h 24m

Advertisement

Writers

Drew Goddard

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

A lawsuit against Howard Stern by former assistant Leslie Kuhn has resurfaced earlier allegations from his ex-staff about working conditions.

In 2023, Jackie Martling, John Melendez, and Steve Grillo claimed they were underpaid despite Stern’s fortune and said he often prioritized himself.

All three were employed by Howard Stern for years but left later after not getting raises despite the shock jock making a lot of money.

Howard Stern’s Ex-Staff Claims He Was Let Go After Asking For A Raise

Amid Howard Stern being embroiled in a lawsuit from his former assistant, complaints made by his ex-staffers about the shock jock in a documentary have come back to light.

In 2023, Stern’s ex-employee, Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, opened up in the Vice TV docuseries “Dark Side of the 2000s Shock Jocks” about how his former boss was “making countless millions of dollars” as the face of the show while much of the staff remained severely underpaid.

“It was frightening what was going on,” said Martling, who worked on Stern’s eponymous show as a cast member and writer from 1983 to 2001, per Page Six. “There was so much money coming in. It was crazy the amount of money.”

At the time, Martling shared that he couldn’t wrap his head around how Stern made no move to bump up his salary despite the relationship they shared, and that when he did request a raise, Stern chose to let him go instead.

“You are beyond rich and successful, and you have someone sitting next to you who makes you enjoy that job much more. And you let them go?” Martling also noted about his former boss. “Because he asked for more money? Especially when you’re friends. It boggles the mind.”

Other Ex-Staffers Also Complained About Being Underpaid By The Comedian

Martling wasn’t the only one to raise complaints about being underpaid, as the likes of John Melendez and Steve Grillo also made similar claims.

In Melendez’s case, he claimed that he only earned $20,000 when he began working with Stern and never went above $75,000. After leaving the show and working with Jay Leno, he earned around $350,000 to $400,000.

Meanwhile, Grillo claimed that his first few years on the show came with no pay, and that when he did start earning a salary, it was only minimum wage and did not fully cover all the hours he worked.

“I started getting paid about 30 hours a week, minimum wage, which was like $6.35 at that time,” he shared. “So I got paid for 30 hours, and I was working like 60.”

Howard Stern’s Ex-Staffer Slams Him Over Lack Of Support Despite Making A ‘Million Dollars An Hour’

Just like Martling, Grillo claimed to have received no support from Stern when he reached out to the higher-ups to ask for a raise.

“You’re making a million dollars an hour, and I have to go work at a nightclub in order to survive,” Grillo reflected.

He continued, “And this is the moment I knew I was gonna leave. If that man’s not gonna stick up for me, I’m out. And that’s when I left.”

The Shock Jock Was Sued By An Ex-Employee Over ‘Hostile Work Environment’ And Other Claims

The resurfaced allegations come on the heels of Stern and his wife, Beth, being sued by his former executive assistant, Leslie Kuhn.

Kuhn claimed in her suit that Stern fostered a “hostile work environment” and seemingly suggested that the couple was not willing to give her a raise.

She was fired in February, just two months after receiving a raise letter that would have increased her salary from $80,000 to $265,000.

Kuhn also alleged that Stern says she signed a non-disclosure agreement, which she denies. She also called the document “manufactured” and said it shouldn’t be enforceable.

She further alleged that the supposed NDA prevents her from discussing her employment and termination while allowing Stern and his wife to speak openly about her.

The Alleged Howard Stern’s NDA For His Ex-Employee Had Many Bizarre Rules

Details of the alleged NDA were obtained by Page Six, which revealed several bizarre rules Stern and his wife wanted Kuhn to observe when they offered her employment.

The document ordered the former employee never to disclose the Stern family’s “daily activities and personal habits,” including their “food preferences, sleeping habits, [and] hobbies.”

It also restricted Kuhn from sharing details of the family’s consumer product choices, preferred eating or entertainment establishments, and even political affiliations.

Kuhn was further banned from discussing “any other matters affecting or relating to the Company and its business, and the personal and business affairs of the Company.”

General Hospital spoilers confirmed that Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) is going to order somebody to be taken out, a female somebody.

We’re going to talk about what unlucky lady in Port Charles may be dead by the end of this week.

Sidwell Vows To Even The Score on General Hospital

All right, so this week after facing off with Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst), we saw Jenz Sidwell vow to even the score. He is completely convinced that Sonny killed Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo). And in the new promo, Sidwell is saying, “Get rid of her permanently.” So, let’s talk about who she might be.

But first, real quick, let’s talk about who Sidwell is giving the kill order to. It could be a random henchman. But that’s dull, let’s face it. It could also be Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) doing Sidwell’s dirty work, or possibly Pascal, who is murderous and he loved Marco and he knows he played a role in his death. So, I think he could go release some tension killing somebody.

Could Jordan Be the Target on GH?

So, with the hit order given, which woman in Port Charles might be pushing up daisies in just a few days, I think that it’s going to be Pascal or Cassius tasked with this deadly deed. And we have some ideas of who is going to be in their crosshairs. So, first off, this week, General Hospital spoilers show danger for Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper). Now, off the cuff, you got to wonder why Sidwell would target her.

Now, if you remember, he warned Jordan recently that he could make sure she loses everything. Because he wants her to find out information and get involved in this Marco investigation. And we know from the jump she only took the job with Sidwell to take him down. But she hasn’t made a lot of progress.

Does Sidwell Realize Jordan’s Out to Get Him on General Hospital?

Jordan did recently tell Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) that Sidwell being distracted by Marco’s death could be the chance for her to get evidence to take him down. So, maybe Sidwell’s figured out she cannot be trusted. Another GH spoiler for this week says that Curtis is distraught and April spoilers say he’s worried about Jordan.

So, she could be in danger. But it kind of looks more likely that Curtis and Jordan could be in a car accident. There’s a scene in the big weekly promo and it looks like a power line comes down across the road.

Curtis is in the passenger seat and Jordan is driving and they look like they’re having a good time. They look happy. But you know, even a power line could be taken down with some planning to make it look like an accident. But I kind of doubt that Sidwell targets Jordan just yet. Because he wants to hit at Sonny.

What About Carly?

Now, the second thing to think about, we also have Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) out on the road. She’s in a car with Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). And so far we’ve seen Carly kind of playing nice with Sidwell. If you remember, Carly went over to spy at Wyndemere to see if she could help Valentin by pretending to be there for Lucas and in support of his relationship with Marco. And last we saw Sidwell and Carly, they were playing nice. They were planning a party together.

But with Marco dead and Sidwell lashing out, we can’t take Carly off the board as a possible death target for Sidwell’s revenge play against Sonny. Because let’s face it, Carly is the mom of a couple of his kids and she is a woman and Sidwell is definitely gunning for a female to punish Sonny. But again, with Carly and Valentin on the road along with Curtis and Jordan, those two vehicles might be involved in something.

So, we could see Carly and Valentin helping save Jordan. And then they ask Curtis to promise to keep it secret that Valentin’s out and about with Carly. And I do think Curtis would keep that secret if Valentin and Carly are the reason Jordan survives an auto accident. You know, maybe they have an accident and they roll up on them and then they don’t drive by, they decide to render aid.

Britt In Danger on GH?

And next, we need to talk about Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). Because this week she is determined to tell Sidwell that she knows Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) is the one who murdered Marco. And I suspect it’s Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) that Britt is talking to when she says this. But somebody this week is calling her naive and it may be her brother Cassius.

General Hospital spoilers say that Britt gets warned by Cassius this week that if she doesn’t deliver, sister or not, Britt is on her own. So Cassius might be warning Britt she needs to prioritize the Cold Fusion prototype or Britt’s going to be dead and nothing else matters. And Sidwell told Cassius that regardless of family ties, Britt will be held accountable for messing up the Cold Fusion project. And Cassius agreed with Sidwell that Britt must be quote unquote dealt with.

So, there is a chance that Cassius might have been telling Sidwell what he wants to hear, you know. But then again, when not Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) first came back from the dead, it sure seemed like Britt was afraid of him. So sister or not, Cassius may have no problem killing Britt. He is Cesar Faison‘s (Anders Hove) son after all. So Britt could be the person who’s targeted this week.

Kristina The Likeliest Target

But now let’s talk about who I think it really is that I think there’s a higher probability of and that’s Kristina Corinthos (Kate Mansi). We recently shared a leak from a reliable source that said Sidwell plans to kill Kristina to punish Sonny. Because he thinks he killed Marco.

And with the grand reopening of Charlie’s this week, it is the perfect time and place to cause chaos. We know that Sonny’s going to be there and he’s telling Kristina it’s going to be a great night. And based on the spoilers, the promo. And the leaks we’ve gotten, I fully expect that Sidwell is going to target Kristina during the reopening night event.

Twisted Karmic Justice on General Hospital

And if you remember, Sidwell already targeted Charlie’s once. He had it set on fire, so he probably could have an easier time targeting Kristina at her place of business. Because his henchmen know the layout. When Sidwell ordered it burned down, though, he thought Kristina wasn’t there. And last time, Sidwell didn’t intend to hurt Kristina.

Luckily, Marco was driving by and he rushed in and saved Kristina’s life. Because she doesn’t know how doors work and, you know, couldn’t get herself out of the fire. It was so badly done. And with Marco gone, Sidwell may think that taking Kristina’s life is some sort of twisted karma from Marco saving her and a perfect way to get revenge on Sonny.

Mistaken Identity – Justine Shot Instead?

Now, that being said, while I do think Kristina is the likeliest target, I don’t think she’ll die. I don’t even think she’s going to take a bullet. Instead, I think somebody who’s not on Sidwell’s radar could die accidentally. And the good news for the bad guy is that if this woman is collateral damage, it will still end up hurting Sonny.

So, I expect we may see Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) at the Charlie’s event. An April spoiler says Sonny and Justine make a serious commitment. So, it may be to see more of each other, to stop fighting. It may be to date kind of on the down low. Another official General Hospital spoiler says a couple’s date ends in disaster. And that could be about Sonny and Justine.

General Hospital: Sidwell’s Minion Hits the Wrong Target

So, our leaker told us that there’s a shooter targeting Kristina on Sidwell’s orders. But there’s a case of mistaken identity and somebody else is shot instead of her. Now, our source also gave a huge hint that it could be Justine because they said that Sonny may lose his current love interest.

So, yeah, Justine could be collateral damage if the shooter’s taking aim from outside looking for a brunette talking to Sonny. They both have very dark hair, similar height, similar build. And I expect that Sidwell is going to issue a death order against Kristina this week. But Justine may wind up hurt instead.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 24 seconds ago

I’ve been making a conscious effort to check out more foreign-language films because it’s interesting to see how other cultures play with the tropes I’ve grown bored with stateside. I made this decision after watching 2017’s Veronica and its prequel, 2023’s Sister Death, which both serve as perfectly terrifying Spanish-language analogs to The Conjuring film series while still doing enough of their own thing to make you want more. The worldbuilding is top-tier in the sense that the lore explained everything you needed to know, but not in such a heavy-handed way that it overstayed its welcome.

My search ultimately led me to another Spanish-language film, 2007’s Timecrimes, which follows similar logic to low-budget sci-fi thrillers from the US like Primer (2004), Coherence (2013), Empathy, Inc.(2018), and Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox (2024). All of these films are cut from the same cloth, but offer their own unique blends of existential dread in the face of free will and determinism, making you wonder who’s really in control of the situation. None of them offer clean answers either, which makes them perfect to revisit as you search for clues you may have missed the first time around.

Hector And His Duplicates

Timecrimes is a time-loop thriller where a man named Hector (Karra Elejalde) finds himself reliving the same few hours of his life on repeat, each time making matters worse for himself. His strange foray into the unknown begins while renovating his new house with his wife Clara (Candela Fernandez), who’s so busy unpacking and tending to the garden that she doesn’t initially realize anything is off.

When Hector sees a woman stripping naked in the nearby forest (Barbara Goenaga), he sets out to investigate. It’s not that he’s a peeping tom or anything creepy like that. He also notices somebody else in the woods and has reason to believe she might be in danger. After their first encounter, where he finds her nude, seemingly lifeless body, he runs off after spotting a strange man whose face is wrapped in bandages.

Fearing for his life, Hector runs toward a nearby building, where he communicates with a nameless scientist (Nacho Vigalondo) running a series of unsanctioned experiments over the weekend. The scientist stuffs Hector into what looks like a sensory deprivation tank but is actually a time machine. Hector emerges from the tank an hour earlier on the timeline and quickly realizes he may need to prevent the incident that led him to the building in order to restore some sense of balance.

The scientist, now referring to him as Hector 2, insists that he stay put and let the next hour play out as it originally did. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Hector 2 runs off and tries to intervene with the girl and the masked man, only to learn the man’s origins, which adds another layer of confusion. The cycle continues in Timecrimes with a third Hector materializing, and this time Hector 2 is certain that Clara is in danger. Not quite sure how badly things will unravel if he keeps interfering, Hector 2 takes his chances, and it’s all but guaranteed he’s not going to like what happens next.

A Low-Budget, High-Concept Thriller 

Sharing the same DNA as the thrillers I mentioned earlier, Timecrimes stands on its own thanks to its willingness to trust the audience and let events unfold naturally. There are no heavy exposition dumps outside of the scientist laying out the most basic time travel logic we need to follow. Most of the suspense comes from Hector trying to recreate events to control the narrative, even as he realizes he has no real control over anyone’s actions, even if those actions are coming from slightly earlier versions of himself.

The amount of care Hector puts into not breaking the space-time continuum, even while suspecting that fate will play out the same way regardless, makes his journey all the more unnerving. There’s a lingering sense that he may have been stuck in this loop far longer than we realize, and we’re only witnessing one iteration of a much larger cycle. With that possibility in play, it becomes nearly impossible to pinpoint where the story truly begins, where it ends, or whether it’s meant to land on a clean conclusion at all.

As of this writing, Timecrimes is streaming for free on Tubi.