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First lady Melania Trump stunned observers on April 9, 2026, when she held an impromptu press conference at the White House to deny any connection to late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein — and to reject rumors that Epstein introduced her to her husband, President Donald Trump.
“[The rumors] with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania Trump said in a statement to the press on April 9, 2026. “The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect. I do not object to their ignorance but rather I reject their mean-spirited attempts to defame my reputation.”
The first lady claimed she had “never been friends” with Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. (He was previously convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.)
She acknowledged that she and husband President Donald Trump “were invited to many of the same parties as Epstein from time to time” but insisted she “never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice [Ghislaine] Maxwell.”

Jeffrey Epstein Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Melania said she first “crossed paths” with Epstein in 2000 at an event she attended with her husband and that she “had no knowledge of his criminal undertakings” at the time. She also acknowledged replying to an email from Maxwell but dismissed it as nothing significant.
“My polite reply to her email doesn’t amount to anything more than a trivial note,” she stated. “I am not Epstein’s victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at a New York City party in 1998. This initial encounter with my husband is documented in detail in my book, Melania.”
She added that “numerous fake images and statements” about her and Epstein have been circulating on social media and warned people to “be cautious about what you believe.”
“I am not a witness or a named witness in connection with any of Epstein’s crimes. My name has never appeared in court documents, depositions, victim statements or FBI interviews surrounding the Epstein matter,” she said.
Melania Trump’s speech appeared to catch the White House unaware. Following her remarks, MS NOW reported that the outlet had a “brief phone call” with President Donald Trump, who allegedly told them he had no prior knowledge of his wife’s plans to speak out on the topic. The publication alleged that “many” White House staffers were also “caught off guard” by Melania’s impromptu statement.
The president, however, backed his wife’s claims, telling MS NOW, “She didn’t know [him].”
Melania Trump’s speech drew a swift response from Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, who took particular issue with a portion where the first lady encouraged victims to give sworn testimony to Congress in a public hearing.
“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have already shown extraordinary courage by coming forward, filing reports and giving testimony. Asking more of them now is a deflection of responsibility, not justice,” a statement signed by 15 Epstein survivors read on April 9, 2026. “It also diverts attention from [former Attorney General] Pam Bondi, who must answer for withheld files and the exposure of survivors’ identities.” Their statement concluded, “[Bondi’s] failures continue to put lives at risk while shielding enablers. Survivors have done their part. Now it’s time for those in power to do theirs.”
The survivors also echoed criticisms that the Justice Department’s release of the Epstein files was handled haphazardly, with identifying information left unredacted in some cases and other important documents allegedly never being published at all.
President Donald Trump confirmed on April 2 that Bondi was leaving her role as attorney general to take “a much-needed and important new job in the private sector,” though multiple media outlets reported that she was fired due to the president’s displeasure with her recent job performance.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel also weighed in during the April 9, 2026, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, questioning the timing of Melania Trump’s remarks.
“Why is this happening today?” Kimmel asked, making reference to President Donald Trump’s threats against Iran. “He spent the past six weeks trying to bomb this Epstein story out of the headlines. Two days after the ceasefire, she puts it right back on top.”
Kimmel wondered whether Melania did it on purpose, joking, “She must really hate him. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
He also referenced reports that White House officials were blindsided. “He didn’t know she was going to do it before she did it, which shows you just how smoothly things are running over there,” Kimmel added. “For whatever reason, she didn’t ask [her husband].”
He concluded: “She didn’t give him a heads-up. She just went right out in front of the cameras and fired away.”
In an April 10 interview with the New York Times, Donald Trump explained he didn’t suggest for his wife to hold a press conference about Jeffrey Epstein, but was aware it was happening.
“I said, ‘If you want to do that, you can do that.’ I said if she wants to do it — I didn’t recommend it, but … I let it be her, I said, if you want to do it,” Donald, 79, said in an interview with the Times.
He added that he thought Melania “did a good job” while also confirming that his wife did not know Epstein.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
The historical epic has quietly become one of the most popular genres of movies and TV shows over the last 25 years. While many fans would argue that this dates back to Peter Jackson’s early work with The Lord of the Rings franchise, it truly goes back even further to acclaimed epics like Lawrence of Arabia. However, the advancement in modern technology has added an enhanced sense of realism to some of the later modern epics, like Game of Thrones, the hit HBO series inspired by the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin. The rise of shows like Game of Thrones has also paved the way for biblical historical epics like The Chosen to take over the zeitgeist and become some of the most popular projects in the world.
One recent show that perfectly bridges the gap between Game of Thrones and The Chosen is House of David, the historical epic that premiered on Prime Video early last year before it returned with its second season less than nine months later. Prime Video has not only renewed House of David for a third season, but the streamer has explicitly confirmed that Season 3 will premiere before the end of this year — an impressive turnaround time for a show this ambitious. Before the Season 3 return of House of David later this year, the show has charged back into the Prime Video global top 10, sitting at #8 at the time of writing. This is especially noteworthy, considering the Season 2 finale aired all the way back in November. Fans refuse to quit on Prime Video’s hit historical epic/faith-based series.
The House of David cast consists of Michael Iskander as David, Ali Suliman as Saul, and Stephen Lang as Samuel, among others. The official synopsis for House of David reads as follows:
“House of David tells the story of the ascent of the biblical icon, David, who becomes the most famous king of Israel. The series follows the once-might King Saul as he falls victim to his own pride. As Saul loses his power over his kingdom, David finds himself on a journey to discover and fulfill his destiny, navigating love, loss, and violence in the court of the very man he’s destined to replace.”
Check out the first two seasons of House of David on Prime Video, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 3.
February 27, 2025
Prime Video, Wonder Project
Jeff T. Thomas, Jon Gunn, Jon Erwin, Lynsey Miller
Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, Jonathan Walker, Bekah Hubbell, Nathan Andrew Jacobs, Laura Kenar, N.D. Wilson
Alexander Uloom
King Achish
Amanda Batula appears to have reunited with West Wilson just hours after issuing a public apology for the romance drama.
In a photo shared by a fan account via social media on Friday, April 10, Amanda, 34, and West, 31, could be seen at the Blind Tiger Alehouse in New York City. According to the Instagram account, the photo was snapped at around 7p.m. EST. Celebrity gossip account Deux Moi also shared snaps of Amanda and West looking cozy via Instagram.
It is unclear at this stage whether Amanda and West were out and about by themselves or whether they had been joined by friends for the outing.
The sighting comes just hours after Amanda shared an apology via her Instagram Stories earlier on Friday.
“Hi guys, l’ll keep this short and sweet,” Amanda wrote. “I’ve obviously been MIA, but I wanted to come back on and say that I’m truly sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and hurt, especially those I know personally who I’ve reached out to individually.”
Amanda vowed to “try to start living life with some sense of normalcy,” a decision she said was “for the sake of my mental health.”
She added, “If you see me out or posting online, please know that this still weighs very heavily on me. I’m not ignoring what’s happened or what’s unfolded.”

Amanda Batula. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The reality TV star said she planned to clear up any lingering questions at the upcoming Summer House reunion.
“I’ll be at the reunion and will be addressing any and all questions honestly and directly there,” she concluded.
Amanda and West previously addressed the nature of their relationship via an Instagram statement made on March 31 after speculation mounted that the Summer House costars were hooking up amid her split from Kyle Cooke.
“We’ve seen the growing online speculation, so while this is still very new, we wanted to provide some clarity,” read an Instagram statement on March 31. “It was never our intention to purposely hide anything. Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.”
Amanda and West further explained how their relationship dynamic changed.
“We’ve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and what’s developed recently was the last thing either of us expected,” they continued. “Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.”
The pair faced backlash for their burgeoning relationship due to West previously dating Amanda’s best friend and Summer House costar, Ciara Miller, in 2023.
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“I get it on my chest, get it on my tummy. It’s really everywhere,” the actress said.
One of the most hotly anticipated movies of 2026, there are now eight months until Denis Villeneuve‘s stunning adaptation of Frank Herbert‘s Dune novels comes to an explosive end with Dune: Part Three. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) will return alongside an all-star cast when the film drops on December 18, joined by the likes of Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Anya Taylor-Joy, and more.
Of this cast, alongside Zendaya, Ferguson is having an incredibly busy year. Starting with the eventual box office flop Mercy, an AI-based sci-fi thriller that co-starred Chris Pratt, Ferguson then released two projects in quick succession, joining a stacked ensemble in the long-awaited Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, followed swiftly by The Magic Faraway Tree, the new fantasy film based on the 1939 children’s novel. With Ferguson having an impressive year, it is perhaps less surprising that another of her many movies is back in the U.S. streaming charts.
The film in question is The Girl on the Train, the 2016 adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ best-selling novel that starred Emily Blunt as Rachel. Unlike the upcoming Dune: Part Three, which is expected to earn close to $1 billion at the box office, The Girl on the Train earned a respectable $174 million against a reported budget of just $45 million. A decade on, and viewers have returned to the often overlooked adaptation, as it ranks as one of the ten most-watched movies on Starz in the U.S., at the time of writing.
Despite earning a promising box office haul, The Girl on the Train was less successful with critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie received a 44% score, with the consensus reading, “Emily Blunt’s outstanding performance isn’t enough to keep The Girl on the Train from sliding sluggishly into exploitative melodrama.” In Perri Nemiroff‘s review for Collider at the time, she was slightly more positive in her response, saying:
“Taylor needed to knock it all out of the park in order to deliver a winning adaptation. Even the slightest misstep is going to be magnified in this type of film and threaten the credibility of the narrative, and unfortunately that is what happens here.”
The Girl on the Train is streaming on Starz. Stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.
October 5, 2016
112 minutes
Erin Cressida Wilson
Celia D. Costas, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, Marc Platt
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Stars of the MTV reality show reunite in a new TV special to mark 20 years since it ended.
Love on the Spectrum’s Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman have broken their silence on their split.
“Abbey and David spent four and a half years together and truly value the time they shared and each other,” Abbey, David and their families said in a joint statement to People on Friday, April 10. “At this point, they want different things and have decided to go their separate ways, but they remain friends wishing each other the best.”
Multiple outlets reported on Thursday, April 9, that Abbey, 27, and David, 31, had called it quits after nearly five years together. (The Sun was the first to report the news.)
Abbey and David met on a blind date in July 2021, as seen on season 1 of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum in May 2022. The duo quickly became a fan-favorite couple and went on to appear in seasons 2 through 4.
During the season 4 premiere earlier this month, Abbey teased that she and David might take their romance to the next level.
“What if he gives me a wedding ring?” she asked her mother.
While some fans took the comment as a sign that Abbey and David would be headed down the aisle together, other eagle-eyed followers noticed that the now-exes have not appeared on each other’s social media of late.
David was most recently featured on Abbey’s social media in December 2025, when she documented their trip to Universal Studios and shared a highlight reel of moments from the past year. Meanwhile, Abbey appeared in a Christmas photo with David.
“I hope everyone has a great holiday with family, friends and loved ones,” he wrote alongside the snap.
Abbey and David previously teased their desire to get engaged in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly in October 2024.
“We [are] gonna get engaged someday,” David said at the time. “[Abbey] likes all the things I like and she tries new things too. She is loving and kind … and she is beautiful and makes me feel like a prince.”
Abbey added, “[We’ll] get engaged someday … [right now] we’re having a blast.”
One year later, Abbey shared an update on their relationship.
“We have fun together and do things we both love like going to the Los Angeles Zoo and Griffith Observatory,” she exclusively told Us in October 2025. “We want to take our time getting married because I don’t want to be a divorced lady like my mom.”
Abbey also admitted that she and David sometimes faced obstacles in their romance.
“We are working on our communication skills because we have different kinds of autism,” she explained. “I am a Gestalt learner and think in memories, and he is very patient with me, and we are still working hard on understanding each other.”
Despite their problems, Abbey said she was proud that she and David could inspire other couples.
“Fans say that David and I inspire them and that we help them believe in love,” she continued. “That is amazing. There was a time when I didn’t think I would ever be with someone and those days are over. I want everyone to find love.”
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The former couple met on the first season of the Netflix dating series and reappeared on all four seasons.
Candace Owens slammed Donald Trump in response to his remarks about her in a recent online post.
“MAGA is no longer commanded by you and you know it,” Owens, 36, said in a YouTube video uploaded on Friday, April 10. “You belong to the Epstein class. That is your legacy now.”
Owens also claimed that Trump could lose support for being “fundamentally disloyal.”
“People will not fight beside, behind or for someone who is fundamentally disloyal,” she said. “If disloyalty and deceit is in your nature, then I highly suggest you combine it with silence.”
The political commentator also accused Trump of being greedy.
“You chose money above respect, and what an absolute shame you chose to do that toward the end of your life … You can’t take money, and things and stuff with you when you go,” she said. “Just your soul … and you sold yours for what … another gilded ballroom?”
Owens’ comments about Trump come one day after the president slammed her and other media personalities who are critical about him and his actions in the Oval Office.
“I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs,” he wrote via his TruthSocial platform on Thursday, April 9. “They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!”
Trump continued, “Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did! They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and aren’t even invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and will say anything necessary for some ‘free’ and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some ‘clicks’ because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody’s talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA — Or I wouldn’t have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE.”
Owens also defended Carlson and Kelly despite having their differences over the years.
“You can call Megyn Kelly a great many things. I have certainly have had my political disagreements with her over the years, but low IQ? Tucker Carlson low IQ? Me, low IQ? The three of us were unsuccessful?” she said on Thursday. “Tucker Carlson is more powerful than you. Deep down, I think you know and resent that which is proven as we read on.”
Owens continued, “Tucker Carlson is in his prime. ‘He couldn’t even finish college!’ Are you aware that your base is composed of blue-collar workers who never even went to college? Many who never so much as even dreamed it. The farmers, the ranchers, the plumbers, the electricians — the people who work with their hands. You now stick your nose down to all of these people.”
Khloé Kardashian’s daughter is stepping into the spotlight — and into the kitchen — just days before her birthday.
True Thompson, who turns 8 years old on Sunday, showed off her culinary skills in a YouTube video shared by her mom on April 7. The charming clip follows True as she prepares a simple apple-based snack, and the twist is that it’s not even for herself. It’s for her mom.
The video also included revelations no one was expecting from True — including a disdain for sugary snacks and a very honest review of her mom’s new chips brand.
True set the scene right from the start, delivering a confident intro that had all the makings of a seasoned vlogger.
“It’s late — it’s 9:41 — and my mom’s 41 and she’s gonna be filming the whole entire time like (a) cameraman… but camera girl,” True said.
The first order of business was cutting the apples with an apple corer. True started to do it herself before asking her mom for help. Her commentary as Khloé stepped in was pure gold.
“And then we press really hard, like Mommy has big muscles,” True said as her mom used the slicer. “And then you see, they’re like a rainbow or something — and like a flower.”
“Try not to cut yourself with these,” she added before giving her mom a round of applause. “She’s so strong.”
True then took over, using a kid-friendly knife to cut the apple slices into smaller chunks.
After all the apples were cut, True put them in a bowl and poured a glass of sparkling water over them before mixing it all together. She let them soak for a full minute while mixing frequently before draining the apples with a strainer and rinsing them with regular water.
She finished by sprinkling salt on the apples and taste-testing the result. Her verdict? “It’s good,” she declared, inviting viewers to try it at home.
While True worked on the apples, Khloé was snacking on some of her Khloud Protein Chips — a brand she founded and released earlier this month. True, however, wasn’t interested.
According to Khloé, True thinks the “sweet heat” flavor is “too spicy” and the “buffalo” is “too flavorful.”
When Khloé pressed her daughter about not liking chips, True revealed that she doesn’t like cake, cookies or cupcakes either.
“Now you’re exposing me,” True said to her mom, who said she thought it was cool that she doesn’t like those things.
True went on to describe sugary snacks as “disgusting” and called her mom out for “just chomping away” at the chips. The playful back-and-forth between mother and daughter gave the video a warm, unscripted feel that viewers are sure to enjoy.
For anyone inspired to recreate True’s snack, here’s her full method:
It’s a simple, kid-friendly recipe that requires minimal ingredients and no cooking — perfect for a late-night craving or an easy after-school snack.
Khloé shares True and son Tatum, 3, with her ex Tristan Thompson, whom she was with on-and-off from 2016 to 2022.
With her eighth birthday just around the corner, True is already proving she has plenty of personality and kitchen confidence to spare. If this vlog is any indication, she may have a future in front of the camera — just like her mom.
Heather Locklear is off the market once again and is dating Lorenzo Lamas, Us Weekly can confirm.
Lamas, 68, and Locklear, 64, “are seeing each other,” a rep for the Falcon Crest actor confirmed to Us Weekly on Friday, April 10.
TMZ, which was first to report the news, published pictures earlier on Friday that showed the pair posing while spending New Year’s Eve together in Las Vegas. The couple were photographed meeting chef Barry Dakake at Barry’s Steakhouse located inside the Circa Resort and Casino in Sin City in December 2025.
In one photo, Locklear put her arm around the chef as he smiled in between her and Lamas in the kitchen. A second picture showed the Dynasty alum trying a dessert fresh out of the oven as Lamas stood beside her.
TMZ additionally reported on Friday that Locklear and Lamas’ adult children were planning to “hang out” this weekend and get to know each other as their parents’ romance heats up.
Us Weekly has reached out to Locklear’s rep for comment.
Locklear’s new relationship with Lamas comes nearly one year after Us exclusively confirmed in May 2025 that she was single.
At the time, multiple sources told Us that Locklear had recently split from fiancé Chris Heisser following their June 2020 engagement.
“Heather is single and she’s ready to date again,” an insider shared with Us, revealing that Locklear hadn’t seen Heisser since the New Year.
The source added that the former Melrose Place actress was “focusing on herself” and “doing really well.”
Prior to her on-again, off-again romance with Heisser, 64, Locklear was married two times. She and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee were married from 1986 to 1993.
Locklear moved on with Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, whom she wed in 1994. The pair welcomed daughter Ava in 1997. A decade later, Locklear and Sambora, 66, divorced in 2007.
The actress was also briefly engaged to Melrose Place costar Jack Wagner in 2011.
Lamas, for his part, has been married six times. The Love in the Clouds star was married to Victoria Hilbert from 1981 to 1982. He and second wife Michele Smith, who share son A.J. and daughter Shayne, were married from 1983 to 1985. (Smith died in January 2018 at the age of 61.)
Lamas welcomed daughters Alexandra, Victoria and Isabella, with third wife Kathleen Kinmont, whom he was married to from 1989 to 1993. Shauna Sand was married to the actor from 1996 to 2002, while Shawna Craig’s marriage to Lamas lasted from 2011 to 2018. Lamas’ most recent marriage to Kenna Nicole Scott was from 2023 to 2025.
The Bold and the Beautiful alum is also the father to daughter Patton Lee from a previous relationship with Daphne Ashbrook.
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