Entertainment
Christina Grimmie’s Family Talks Legacy 10 Years After Death
On the night of June 10, 2016, Danielle Hendrix was standing outside the Plaza Live theater in Orlando, Florida, after seeing Christina Grimmie and the band Before You Exit perform, when she heard a loud bang inside the venue. “There were guys loading and carrying music equipment out,” she tells Us Weekly, “so I figured it must have been a speaker or some equipment falling.”
Moments earlier, Christina, a YouTube sensation who became a fan favorite while competing on season 6 of The Voice, had been glowing onstage, belting James Bay and Drake covers to a room full of devoted fans. Many stayed afterward for the meet-and-greet, hoping for a hug, a selfie or simply a few seconds with the singer they felt they genuinely knew. Then, security guards started screaming. “‘Run, run, there’s a shooter!’” Hendrix recalls them yelling. “At first I thought, That can’t be right. This is a pop concert.”
After discovering it was Christina who’d been shot, Hendrix, other fans and members of Before You Exit gathered in a nearby parking lot “just processing it all, crying and praying.” Not long after, Hendrix says they found out Christina, 22, had died from her injuries. “I remember breaking down sobbing in my car.”
More details of the horrific scene would soon unfold: The beloved singer had been shot once in the head and three times in the torso by an obsessed 27-year-old fan named Kevin Loibl, who, after being tackled to the ground by Christina’s older brother, Marcus, shot himself in the head and died on the scene.
For millions of fans who had spent years watching Christina sing from her bedroom into a laptop webcam, the loss felt personal. Tributes poured in from fellow artists, friends and fans around the world. “Behati and I are absolutely devastated and heartbroken,” Christina’s former Voice coach, Adam Levine, wrote in a statement on behalf of himself and his wife, Behati Prinsloo. “Christina was a natural, a gifted talent that comes along so rarely. She was taken from us too soon.” Selena Gomez posted a photo with her friend and former backup singer on Instagram alongside the caption: “My heart is absolutely broken.”
Christina Grimmie Marc Cartwright
Christina’s friend and collaborator Tyler Ward remembers getting a text from Charlie Puth, who was also just breaking out after finding success on YouTube, following her death. “This was before Charlie Puth was Charlie Puth, and he was like, ‘I don’t even know how this stuff happens.’ He couldn’t even wrap his mind around it,” Ward tells Us. “How does that happen when you’re so genuine, so authentic to your fan base? You look them in the eyes, you’re in the weeds with them. And then this happens. [Her death] still doesn’t feel real. I don’t know if I’ll ever process the shock of that.”
This June marks the 10th anniversary of Christina’s death, and while Marcus and her dad, Albert (her mom, Tina, died in 2018 of breast cancer), will never forget the searing pain of losing her, they want to celebrate her life, talent and irrepressible spirit more than anything else. “We want Christina to be remembered for the person and artist she was, not just the tragedy,” says Albert, who founded the Christina Grimmie Foundation in 2016, which aims to help victims of gun violence. Between June 5 and 7, the foundation is hosting its first-ever Grimmie Fest, a three-day event featuring a fan meet-up and a benefit concert in Christina’s honor, headlined by a band Marcus manages, The Living Tombstone. “We’re honoring her legacy and all the people she’s brought together,” Marcus tells Us, “and celebrating the impact she still has.”
Ahead of Her Time
Christina was 15 when she started sharing music on YouTube from her Sonic the Hedgehog-adorned bedroom in New Jersey. Fans were instantly drawn to her immense musical talents — her cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” went viral in 2009; a 2013 cover of David Guetta and Sia’s “Titanium” racked up 33 million views — as well as her fun, down-to-earth personality. She was refreshingly open about her faith and love of video games, especially Zelda (her YouTube handle was zeldaxlove64), and followers adored her unique, edgy fashion choices and her signature poof hairstyle (3.6 million people tuned in for a hair tutorial in 2011). In the time of the “wild, wild web, as we call it, she was very unique for that time,” notes Marcus. “She catered to the nerd gamer thing when it wasn’t as popular. She was very Christian but accepting of all this new-age stuff coming up … part of why she got [to where she did] was her personality. She touched people.”
“It was surreal,” Christina’s best friend since fourth grade, Lauren Longo, tells Us of her instant popularity. She recalls being amazed by her perfect pitch and natural musicianship. “I would 100 percent use the word prodigy. As a child, I could tell she was abnormally talented.” Ward says she was “an originator of an influencer. I had fans, but with her, it was like magic,” Ward adds, likening Christina to Taylor Swift. “Taylor does a really great job of having that human, ‘I’m eye-to-eye with you, I’m not above you’ [vibe]. Christina wanted to interact with her fan base; part of her purpose was that connection piece.”
As her popularity grew, she remained grounded. “My roommates loved video games, so she’d invite them over to hang out with her mom, and they’d make cookies, ” Ward says. “She cared about success, but it didn’t affect her.” Longo says the rising star never forgot where she came from. “It was so far from Christina to ever say, like, ‘Oh, you’re my little New Jersey friend.’ Her hometown friends weren’t second-class citizens.”
Christina Grimmie Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Longo also says Christina always had her priorities straight. “She had the words ‘All Is Vanity’ tattooed on her forearm, which is from her favorite book of the Bible. It was a reminder that fame and money and proximity to stars is all vanity. She was averse to anything that could be perceived as vain or bragging or self-centered.” Marcus says his little sister was “super goofy” and “great at impressions,” adding, “I don’t want people to forget how funny she was. Everyone loved her, and it was because she was a genuine, kind soul. There was no ego with her.”
Christina had a special relationship with her fans. Marcus recalls how one of them — who’s since become a close friend of the Grimmie family — gave him and his dad a big stack of emails and social media messages they’d printed from supporters around the world. “[They talk about] how Christina changed their lives,” says Marcus. (A couple who met at one of Albert and Marcus’ events got married and played Christina’s songs at their wedding.) “She was constantly bringing people together.” Her fans started a yearly fundraiser tied to Christina’s birthday. “We’ve raised over $50,000 in the last four years,” says Marcus. “I’m grateful she has such a great community, which doesn’t hang on to the tragedy,” Marcus adds. “They are celebrating her life and her impact, and it’s contagious.”
Ward says he can’t imagine where Christina would be these days because her fans were so loyal. “I didn’t realize how much of an impact you could have, basically, direct to consumer,” he says of her online success. Her fans cheered her on as she went from YouTube star to opening up for Gomez’s 2011 and 2013 tours to impressing the nation during her run on The Voice. “I remember seeing her in a dress for the first time on [the show],” Ward recalls, noting the incredible growth from her original grainy videos. “I was like, Wait! There was such a transition there, but you can see it in real time. It was almost like you were part of it, as if you grew up with her. Authenticity has almost become an overused word, but she captured it without even trying, which was a really special superpower.”
Tragic Turn
The same unprecedented closeness that helped Christina build one of the internet’s earliest fiercely loyal fan communities also exposed the darker side of parasocial obsession. Loibl was infatuated with her. Arthur Barnes, who worked with him at Best Buy when Christina was killed, says his coworkers were aware of the gunman’s fixation and that he would have Christina’s YouTube videos playing while working on customers’ computers. They also noted his recent physical transformation. Another employee, Cory Dennington, told police his coworker wanted to be more attractive for Christina, and that he had an “unrealistic” obsession with her that wasn’t “normal or healthy.” Dennington also revealed that the gunman came from an abusive household and had hinted at suicide the last time they spoke. “He got hair plugs and his teeth whitened, but nobody knew why until they put it together,” says Barnes.
In May and early June, Loibl bought two handguns, then traveled more than 100 miles from St. Petersburg, Florida, for her show at Plaza Live. Christina had opened her arms for a hug with him when he pulled his gun out. Hendrix blames security for letting him in. “Security was incredibly lacking,” she says. “What do you mean I was forced to toss a granola bar at the door while this guy somehow entered the venue with weapons and ammo?”
Marcus was hailed as a hero for tackling the gunman as people fled, but he says he has mixed feelings about that label. “I never agreed with it. I understand objectively what’s being said, but for me it’s like, ‘Well, I didn’t save her,’ so it’s hard to feel that way.” (“Nobody knows what would have transpired if Marcus hadn’t done what he did,” says Albert.) He says the real heroic work came after, via the community that’s been built through the Christina Grimmie Foundation. Seeing people unite for a common cause has helped him heal. “It was just me and two dead bodies in an empty room until the police came. I just felt so alone. To see people come together … I don’t feel so alone.”
Giving Back
Christina’s loved ones decided to develop the Christina Grimmie Foundation amid a flood of support from friends and fans, including Levine, who covered the cost of her funeral. Marcus felt inspired to help victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting (on June 12, two days after Christina’s murder, a 29-year-old gunman opened fire at the LGBTQ+ spot and killed 49 people and injured 58 others; in the aftermath, scammers created fraudulent fundraisers). “After Marcus read about the victims’ not receiving money, we stepped right into it,” says Albert. Adds Marcus: “The amount of love and compassion [we received] was really integral to our healing. We can help people so long as gun violence is an issue, and as long as we’re breathing, that’s what we want to be doing.”
Tina Grimmie, Christina Grimmie, Marcus Grimmie and Albert Grimmie
There’s still grief. “The grief itself is like this black marble in a jar, and the grief is going to be the same, but the jar is going to expand,” says Albert. “So my capacity to carry that grief has grown.” He says he misses Christina’s “excitement for life” and sense of humor. “I used to be able to make her laugh, even when she was mad or grumpy. I used to call her ‘Grumpina,’ and then she [would be] like, ‘Dad, I want to be grumpy right now.’ She was funny.” Marcus says there’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t think of his little sister. “She always made people feel heard, and that’s something I try to do.”
What was once a day of mourning has become an opportunity to honor Christina. (A bill to make June 10 Christina Grimmie Day in New Jersey will be voted on by local senators.) “Instead of dreading the 10th, we’re adding this additional layer of hope,” says Marcus. “It’s exciting to celebrate the person she was.” Longo says it’s an opportunity to introduce Christina to new fans. “It’s opening doors for other people to be interested in her story, and that’s so wonderful.” Says Albert: “We want people to know this is more than just a tragedy. Christina was a pioneer of YouTube. She reached the world from her bedroom, where people wanted to be like her, and they cut their hair like her and tried to sing and play the keyboard like her. That’s an amazing thing for a father to watch happen.” Her legacy, adds Longo, “is her talent and the way she treated people.”
Ten years after hearing the gunshots that took Christina’s life, Hendrix wants the singer to be remembered for her voice and her radiance (she has the word “radiate” tattooed on her arm in Christina’s honor). “It might be kind of cringey to admit, but honestly, to this day, I still think of her whenever I see rays of sun filtering through clouds. She had a heart of gold,” says Hendrix. “And she’ll never be forgotten on our watch.”
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And just like that, Beyoncé adds another company to her name!
The iconic singer now has sole ownership of her American whisky Brand, SirDavis, which she initially co-launched in honor of her great-grandfather. The drink is said to offer an experience deeply inspired by the singer’s Southern roots.
Besides Beyoncé’s established presence as an entertainer, she has gained ground as an entrepreneur with a number of successful businesses such as her hair care brand, Cécred, and athleisure/sportswear brand Ivy Park.
After partnering with Moët Hennessy for almost four years to create the bubbling American whisky brand, the shares are now fully in Beyoncé’s name. The pair came together in 2022 to create the brand and release the no-age-statemented expression named after the Texas native’s great-grandfather in 2024.
So far, no reason has been disclosed for Moët Hennessy’s decision to sell its undisclosed stake in the business to the singer. However, a statement released by a spokesperson for SirDavis confirmed the sole ownership status of the brand.
“SirDavis starts its new independent chapter, after a nearly four-year transformative collaboration through creation, development and launch,” the spokesperson began. “Knowles-Carter… takes full ownership and control, making SirDavis a woman-, family-, and Black-owned company.”
SirDavis Has Gone To Different Continents
The financial details of the deal between Moët Hennessy and Beyoncé marking the full transfer of ownership were not immediately available. Global Drinks Intel, however, gave some details of the brand’s financials.
The American whisky kicked off in the US and UK with an SRP of US$89 in the United States and GBP79 in the UK, which is about 102.50 US dollars. Initially, Moët Hennessy declined to reveal details about where the whisky was actually being produced.
By April 2025, Moët Hennessy had expanded SirDavis’ reach to include Asia’s global travel retail chanel. The wine and spirits division of LVMH marked its second successive revenue growth since 2023 with a 5% increase in revenue. SirDavis stands as a popular and award-winning American whisky with a unique blend and bespoke recipe.
Beyoncé Shared Her Inspiration For The Whisky Brand
Beyoncé’s brand pays homage to her Southern roots. The whisky has an unusual maturation process and distinct taste profile influenced by Scottish and Japanese styles. The name, as earlier stated, was chosen after her great-grandfather as her way of connecting with hom through a shared legacy.
“When I discovered that my great-grandfather had been a moonshine man, it felt like my love for whisky was fated. SirDavis is a way for me to pay homage to him,” Beyoncé said in a previous statement.
Every detail for SirDavis was well thought out, up to the bottle design. The peculiar bottle has the logo, which features a horse symbolizing both strength and respect. As shared by Afrotech, the singer wanted a drink that empowers people to experience something new and unique while respecting tradition.
“I’ve always been drawn to the power and confidence I feel when drinking quality whisky and wanted to invite more people to experience that feeling,” the Grammy-winning artist expressed. It should be noted that her husband, popular rapper Jay-Z, became a billionaire via the whisky industry.
The ‘Cowboy Carter’ Artist Wanted To Break The Stereotype With Her Brand
Beyoncé previously explained that she was hands-on in crafting the unique recipe for SirDavis to ensure it maintains sky-high quality. In addition to this, her other mission is to introduce whiskey to people who “don’t know they love it yet” and break the stereotype that whiskey is only for “old men in smoky bars.”
The singer stands by the notion that more women would love whiskey if they gave it a try. The Destiny’s Child vocalist recalled her first time trying whiskey. As shared by The Blast, she recalled a nice, warm yet strong feeling from the drink.
With time, the mother of three learned that “whiskey isn’t something you just shoot down. It’s a commitment.” She also loves the color, smell, and stories that come with sipping fine-quality whiskey, which seemingly influenced her in making SirDavis.
To Beyoncé, making whisky is an art form that requires deep attention to detail every step of the way. The end product sits pretty in a glass for anyone who “appreciates depth, complexity, and a bit of mystery.”
Beyoncé’s Fans Had A Good Laugh Over Multiple Brand Launches
Last year, after the iconic singer announced her new perfume line CELUMIERE, which came shortly after SirDavis and her haircare brand Cécred, many fans began to joke about the product prices.
They poked fun at going broke trying to patronize their idol’s brands as well as purchase tickets for her tour at the time. Many supporters of the Grammy-winning artist also praised her for business etiquette.
As shared by The Blast, some even asked if Beyoncé was in debt while others hilariously declared they were poor and that the singer was breaking their wallets.
“Bey, please one thing at a time. We are poor,” a fan noted while another added, “You may not break our soul, but you broke our wallets.”
Several followers went hard on Beyoncé, claiming that she was aggressively chasing their pockets and coming for their hard-earned money based on the prices of her London show’s tickets, which reportedly got as high as $872.
Congratulations, Beyoncé!
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is gearing up — literally — for her upcoming hysterectomy amid her battle with cervical cancer.
The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star, 38, took to TikTok on Tuesday, July 28, to share the must-have items she bought from fans’ recommendations in preparation for her surgery, which she said is happening “soon.” Included in her haul were an abdominal band for support in her midsection, constipation aids and a weighted heating pad.
In a follow-up video, Snooki shared that she also bought several loose-fitting, lightweight nightgowns, as well as oversized underwear to keep the area around her incision comfortable.
“You guys know I don’t like pain, and I want to be cozy and comfy, and I needed recommendations on how to, like, recover the best way after my hysterectomy,” she said. “If I’m missing anything, mamas, anybody who has gotten a hysterectomy with the big cut, please help. I don’t want to feel pain. If you know me, I’m a baby. I don’t like pain. I don’t like any type of uncomfortableness, and yeah, I just, I don’t like it. So obviously, I’ll have, like, some pain meds and stuff.”
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is “scared” to get a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. “When [my doctor] first said we have to do this or it’s gonna escalate to stage II — I know I’m done with kids, just knowing that you can’t, I don’t know, it made me feel like I’m not a […]
Snooki also explained why she must get an open abdominal hysterectomy versus laparoscopic. (The former uses a large horizontal cut, similar to a C-section, to remove the uterus, while the latter uses small cuts and a camera, leading to an easier recovery in many patients, according to WebMD. In some cases, a hysterectomy may also involve removing the cervix, ovaries or fallopian tubes.)
“If [the surgeon] does it [laparoscopically], there’s a nine percent chance that he doesn’t get all the cancer, so he’s got to do the C-section cut to get everything out,” she explained. “So that’s what we’re dealing with, and that’s what it’s got to be. And I know the recovery is, like, way worse.”
Snooki revealed her stage I cervical cancer diagnosis in February.
“Obviously not the news that I was hoping for,” the mom of three — who shares kids Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, 7, with husband Jionni LaValle — said in a TikTok video at the time after noting that the cancer had been discovered through a biopsy. “But also not the worst news, just because they caught it so early.”
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is sharing the most personal chapter of her life — a stage I cervical cancer diagnosis and the emotional toll it has taken on her family. During an April 2026 appearance on Good Morning America, the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star revealed that her three children have been struggling with the news […]
She added, “The oncologist said you can either do chemo, radiation or the hysterectomy. Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy. I’ll still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign, but the hysterectomy, got to get the cervix in, the uterus out and then possibly lymph nodes, because it can [spread there].”
In June, Snooki exclusively opened up to Us about her initial fears after she was diagnosed.
“I called my mom, crying, like, ‘Schedule my funeral, this is what I want,’ like, being so dramatic,” she shared. “I was hysterical for, like, three days, and then I was like, ‘You’re a bad bitch, you’re going to be fine, you tackle everything.’ And then I went to Short Hills and spent, like, thousands of dollars. Then, after that mental breakdown, I was like, ‘Alright, let’s get this done.’”
Nolan Wells’ family has reportedly issued subpoenas to several social media companies for access to his account information and data.
RELATED: Warren Hudson Reveals Why He Chose Not To Attend Nolan Wells’ Funeral (VIDEO)
Nolan Wells’ Family Reportedly Takes New Step In Search For Answers
Nolan Wells’ family reportedly issued the subpoenas on Tuesday, July 28, seeking records from his accounts on Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, Meta Platforms, and Life360. Court documents show the family requested account details, including usernames, passwords, emails, phone numbers, display names, IP addresses, and communications such as chats, posts, and stories.
Nolan’s phone remains a key focus in the investigation into his death, which gained national attention earlier this month. His mother, Christine Wonsley, previously said the family became concerned after they received his phone and found no photos or videos on his Snapchat accounts, raising fears that the content might have been deleted, per The Shade Room.
Warren Hudson Previously Addressed Claims Of Deleted Content From Wells’ Phone
As TSR previously reported, Officer Tatum shared part four of his podcast interview with Warren Hudson. Hudson, a reported friend of Wells, explained that many people spent the Fourth of July on Horn Island, and some left their phones behind on the boat. He added that several phones remained with the group after they returned to the house later that night. He said no one had a reason to go through Nolan’s phone or delete any content.
“And the boat was having issues. Why would our concern be getting on Nolan’s phone or something? I mean, I don’t even know Nolan’s password. None of our friends do… I didn’t even touch Nolan’s phone. None of us touched Nolan’s phone […] until we handed it to mom that was at my buddy’s house,” Warren explained.
Nolan’s Friends Reportedly Receive Notices Ahead Of Potential Legal Action
Before Nolan Wells’ family reportedly issued subpoenas to social media companies, Magnolia Tribune reported that several of Nolan’s friends and their parents received spoliation letters from Carroll Bufkin, PLLC, on July 20. Attorneys use spoliation letters to notify individuals that they must preserve potential evidence connected to a legal matter. The letters typically warn recipients against deleting, altering, or destroying information that could become important in a future lawsuit. Sending a spoliation letter often marks an early step before someone pursues legal action.
The same law firm is reportedly handling the subpoenas sent to the social media companies.
RELATED: Cajun Navy President Says He’s Willing To Turn Over Photos From The Day Nolan Wells Was Found (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
34 Years Later, Peter Gabriel’s Most Heartbreaking Song Still Captures the End of an Era
Peter Gabriel‘s career has been one of the most prolific and groundbreaking in music history. From his beginnings in Genesis, where his progressive rock compositions and shocking and disruptive stage performances stunned audiences, to his incredible solo career, where he experimented with rhythms and sounds from around the world, he never stopped reinventing himself. He now has an album coming up at the end of 2026, and the singles he has released so far prove that he’s not slowing down.
Most of his biggest hits came out during the ’80s and ’90s, and they range from funk and dance rock tracks like “Sledgehammer” to beautiful, moving ballads. On his 1992 album, Us, he recruited Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor and recorded a few duets with her. One of them is his hit ballad, “Come Talk to Me.” Most likely, when fans first listened to this song, they assumed it was a classic love song about estranged lovers. But the true meaning behind it is more heartbreaking. Gabriel wrote it about his daughter, and it was a desperate attempt at connection.
Why Peter Gabriel Wrote His Most Personal Song for His Daughter
“Come Talk to Me” opens Peter Gabriel’s 1992 album, Us, the album that he described as his most vulnerable one. And with good reason. Right away, the song reveals the many different influences he wanted to include from around the world. It starts with distorted guitars, African drums, synthesizers, and bagpipes, creating a dissonant but hypnotic sound. According to Peter Gabriel, it grew out of a Senegalese groove he’d recorded years before. “I tried to introduce quite a lot of textures, so it’s more of a journey than some of the other tracks,” he explained. “Starting off with these bagpipes, there’s something gutsy and primal about the sound of pipes.”
Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
But while the rich melody is beautiful, the lyrics are the most moving part. Especially considering the real meaning behind it. “Darkness creeps in like a thief / And offers no relief / Why are you shaking like a leaf? / Come on, come talk to me,” Gabriel sings earnestly, before going into a chorus that is basically a plea. “Oh please talk to me / Won’t you please talk to me / We can unlock this misery / Come on, come talk to me / I did not come to steal / This all is so unreal / Can’t you show me how you feel? / Now come on, come talk to me.”
Around the time he was writing this album, he was divorcing his first wife, and his family was struggling as a result. “In ‘Come Talk To Me’ there’s a block in communicating,” Gabriel shared, and added that it was with one of his daughters. “I saw that she was angry and was unable to externalize her feelings, so it was a real cry from the heart.”
The Pain Behind ‘Us’ Shaped Peter Gabriel’s Greatest Songs
His estrangement from his daughter and the end of his marriage were weighing on Gabriel, and this album, Us, is very vulnerable as a result. But vulnerability doesn’t mean it’s grim; it just means it’s honest. And Gabriel was proud of that. “I don’t think the tone of the album is dark,” Gabriel argued. “It feels quite alive for the fact that it is letting stuff out, and relationships are more directly addressed than before… I feel that by looking in the darkness and by plunging into it, diving into it, that there is some light at the other end of it, which otherwise you bury, it gets suppressed. It feels quite hopeful to me, quite positive.”
“I have never been more sincere in my life. Whether that’s sincere enough, I don’t know. But I do know that I have taken a lot of trouble to give the listener an unadulterated glimpse of my inner life. Therapy taught me that it’s always essential to be open about one’s feelings and emotions, in order to get a grip on them,” he went on. For him, working on the album was the best way to do that. He explained that, while his life was falling apart around him, he felt that music was something he could control. The theme of the album, at its core, is connection and communication. Everything he felt he couldn’t say to his family, and especially to his daughter, he was saying through music. It makes the name Us take on a whole different meaning. And it’s clearly perfectly fitting.
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And in the process ruins Mallory’s “dream come true.”
The first look at Outer Banks‘ final season hinted at more potential deaths after Rudy Pankow‘s controversial exit as JJ.
Netflix released the official trailer on Wednesday, July 28, which showed John B. (Chase Stokes), Sarah (Madelyn Cline), Kiara (Madison Bailey), Pope (Jonathan Daviss) and Cleo (Carlacia Grant) mourning the loss of JJ. They ultimately decide on a revenge plan that seems to led to some potentially fatal moments including someone on a motorcycle falling off a cliff, deadly explosives and more.
Outer Banks, which debuted in 2020, follows the conflict between two groups of teenagers in a coastal North Carolina town. The social divide is introduced with the wealthy residents (a.k.a. the Kooks) and the working class (the Pogues).
Season 5, which premieres August 20, will follow the aftermath of JJ’s shocking death. The show originally received backlash when Pankow’s departure was confirmed despite the writing team claiming it was always the plan to kill off the fan-favorite character.
“It’s been kind of lurking in his DNA from the beginning. He’s really a tragic figure, and the idea of mortality, and you only have a finite window — it’s also a theme of the show,” executive producer Jonas Pate told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2024. “It’s something John B. has talked about from the first season. So believe it or not, this is something that was always sort of baked in the cake, and we just wanted to tell the story as elegantly and interestingly as possible.”
After JJ’s onscreen death, the show’s creators explained their decision to kill off a Pogue.
“The overarching plan was to begin with just some kids who wanted to have a good time all the time, and take them on a whole journey,” Shannon Burke told Deadline in November 2024. “One of them was going to end up dying, and pretty early on, we knew that was going to be JJ, he’s the most reckless. He is also the most beloved and, in one way, the most sacrificing and the most risk-taking. And this was going to be JJ’s year.”
JJ’s shocking death on Outer Banks inspired fan speculation about what led to the controversial decision — including cast feud rumors and more. During the second part of season 4, which premiered in November 2024, viewers were in for a surprise when a trip to track down treasure in Morocco led to one of the […]
He continued: “The kids, they’re getting older. We wanted to begin in a place of innocence and then go to a place that at least one point to go is really dark for them, and then have them come out of it. That’s the overarching plan for the show. It was always JJ that was going to be, we just weren’t sure how we were going to play it.”
Viewers subsequently started to question whether Pankow’s exit came as a result of a rumored rift between him and the cast, which includes characters John B, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, JJ and Cleo (Carlacia Grant).
Pankow, 28, for his part, has said that he thinks JJ’s death was meant to move the story along.
“When I first found out JJ was gonna risk it all and not make it, I understood it. And the risks got bigger and bigger, and the stakes got higher and higher,” he explained to Netflix’s Tudum that same month. “His death really does set up the future of OBX with the question, what is worth it? And when someone that close to you is gone, how do you navigate that?”
Outer Banks is currently streaming on Netflix.
Eva Mendes is making it clear that a viral image appearing to show Ryan Gosling and Johnny Depp together at San Diego Comic-Con never happened. The actress called out an Instagram account after it shared an AI-generated picture depicting her longtime partner walking alongside Depp at the convention. Although both actors attended the event, their appearances occurred on separate days, and there is no evidence they spent time together. Eva Mendes’ response prompted the account to apologize and change its caption to identify the image as artificial intelligence.
The fabricated picture was shared by the Instagram account @opavisions and showed Gosling walking through the Comic-Con crowds alongside Depp, who was dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge. A character named Slopaxo also appeared partially in the image and was tagged in the post. The original caption presented the scene as if it were a genuine candid moment from the convention.
“Some of our favorite moments from Comic-Con weren’t on stage; they were watching Ryan Gosling, Johnny Depp, and @slopaxo moving through the crowds like the unlikeliest best-friend trio,” the caption read. “Between candid walks, conversations with fans, and spontaneous stops, they quietly became one of the weekend’s most memorable sights.”
Mendes quickly entered the comment section to correct the claim. “FAKE. Please let People know when you’re putting out AI,” she wrote.
Instagram Account Apologizes After Being Called Out
Following Mendes’ response, the account acknowledged that the image was not authentic and promised to be more transparent. “@evamendes DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS AI***,” the account wrote.
“Thank you for saying something. You’re right, and I’ll be more clear going forward,” the message continued before praising Mendes and Gosling’s respective careers.
The account reportedly issued an additional apology with, “Ok we will sorry,” and later added, “Wow. I’m a big fan. I love your movies.” Comments have since been disabled on the post, while its lengthy original caption has been replaced with one word: “AI.”
Although the post has now been labeled, the initial presentation gave viewers no clear indication that the scene had been artificially created.
Johnny Depp Appeared At Comic-Con As Ebenezer Scrooge
Part of what made the fabricated image appear believable was Depp’s elaborate Ebenezer Scrooge costume, which he genuinely wore during Comic-Con. The actor made a surprise appearance in San Diego to promote “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol,” scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 13.
Organizers constructed a mock storefront in the Gaslamp Quarter and covered the surrounding area in artificial snow. A crowd gathered as Christmas carolers performed before Depp emerged in character from the building. Despite fans cheering and calling out to him, Depp maintained Scrooge’s famously irritable demeanor as he moved through the activation.
He later appeared in costume during Collider’s Directors on Directing panel, giving convention attendees a closer look at his transformation for the forthcoming film.
Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider Casting Was Revealed Days Later
Gosling made his own surprise Comic-Con appearance on Saturday, when Marvel announced that he will portray Ghost Rider in an upcoming standalone film. Shawn Levy will direct the project, which is slated for release in 2028. The filmmaker recently worked with Gosling on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” scheduled to premiere on May 28, 2027.
“Gosling is the absolute sh-t. I say that with tremendous respect,” Levy told the Comic-Con audience. “We spent a lot of time last year making Starfighter, and the opportunity as Ryan started talking about this character, I was like, “Bro, let’s ride.” We’ll see you in 2028!”
The project will mark Gosling’s entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reunite him with Levy behind the camera.
Eva Mendes Has Her Own Connection To ‘Ghost Rider’
Gosling’s casting creates an unexpected full-circle moment for Mendes, who previously appeared in the 2007 “Ghost Rider” movie starring Nicolas Cage. Mendes portrayed Roxanne Simpson, the former girlfriend and love interest of Cage’s Johnny Blaze. The film earned approximately $229 million worldwide against a reported production budget of about $110 million.
The actress has publicly supported Gosling’s casting in the new adaptation, making her connection to the franchise even more personal. However, Mendes was considerably less enthusiastic about seeing her partner placed into a fictional Comic-Con encounter without an upfront disclosure.
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Joe Miñoso has played firefighter Joe Cruz since the NBC show’s first episode.
Entertainment
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Officially Closes In on 2026’s Biggest Sci-Fi Box Office Milestone
Following one of the most impressive opening weekends of the year, where it broke numerous records, including becoming its director and star’s highest-grossing opening yet, Christopher Nolan‘s historical epic The Odyssey held that momentum for weekend #2. The blockbuster, which was dubbed an “unrivaled cinematic spectacle” in Joe Schmidt‘s review for Collider, has now sailed to $700 million worldwide, against a $250 million production budget.
Matt Damon finally made the move to leading man in a Nolan movie in The Odyssey, after previously appearing in the likes of Interstellar and Oppenheimer. Add to this a star-studded ensemble including Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, the reputation of Nolan, and the promise of a feast of practical filmmaking, and The Odyssey was destined to prove an unstoppable hit. Can it reach the $1 billion mark? After such a strong start, it certainly looks likely, and that would make it only Nolan’s third film to hit this height after The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
With a global haul of $700 million after just a few weekends, The Odyssey has now surpassed the final box office total of one of 2026’s most defining films. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary made $684 million in global revenue earlier this year, with this total likely to be smashed by The Odyssey in less than a week. Considering just how strong Project Hail Mary‘s theatrical run was, for The Odyssey to make overtaking it look like a breeze is particularly impressive.
Another Movie Just Hit an Enormous Box Office Milestone
It wasn’t just The Odyssey celebrating a successful weekend at the box office. In its sixth weekend, after falling no further than third in the ranks, Pixar’s latest animated sequel, Toy Story 5, has finally reached the box office promised land, breaking the billion-dollar boundary. One of the most successful films of the year, Toy Story 5 is just the third to reach $1 billion in 2026, following in the footsteps of the video game adaptation sequel, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Antoine Fuqua’s musical biopic, Michael.
The Odyssey is currently available to watch in theaters worldwide. For more of the latest box office stories, stay tuned to Collider.
- Release Date
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July 15, 2026
- Runtime
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173 minutes
Entertainment
Danny DeVito parties, gets married, and ‘human traffics’ in first look at “It’s Always Sunny” season 18
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The gang is back for more NSFW shenanigans.
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