More couples are discovering that scent compatibility plays a bigger role in attraction and long-term connection than they realized, with researchers pointing to evolutionary, emotional and even genetic reasons why a partner’s smell can make or break a bond.

Why Does Scent Matter So Much in Romantic Relationships?

Scent matters because it can signal physical health, emotional safety and biological compatibility between partners, according to researchers writing for Psychology Today and Healthline.

In an article for Psychology Today, Ainsley Hawthorn, Ph.D., explained that humans may be wired to read smell as a clue about a potential mate’s well-being. “From an evolutionary perspective, we may be primed to respond to scent because of its role as an indicator of physical health,” she wrote. Hawthorn noted that poor diet and disease can produce foul smells, so being turned off by a partner’s body odor may help steer people away from an unhealthy match. “In the end, disliking a partner’s scent may signal a loss of compatibility and spell trouble for a relationship,” she added.

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In 5th grade, we all got “the talk” about body odor. We learned that our underarms will start to smell — especially with physical activity — making deodorant a must, but that was the extent of the conversation. Nowadays, as adults, body odor is a bit of a taboo subject. But everyone gets it, everyone […]

Can a Partner’s Scent Change How You Feel About Them Over Time?

Yes. Researchers say a partner’s scent can shift from a source of comfort to a source of stress as the relationship itself changes.

In a separate Psychology Today piece, Julieta Zemla pointed to research showing that smelling a romantic partner’s worn clothing can reduce stress responses (Hofer et al., 2018). “Over time, a partner’s scent can become encoded as a signal of safety. But this encoding can change,” Zemla wrote. “If a partner becomes critical, distant, or unreliable, their scent may begin to cue tension rather than comfort.” In other words, the same smell that once felt soothing can start to feel off-putting once trust or closeness erodes.

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Related: Why Cozy and Warm Home Fragrances Are Replacing Fresh Scents in 2026

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The perfume aisle is about to feel less like a beach vacation and more like a hug. Fragrance experts say warm, creamy and edible-adjacent perfume scents are overtaking the crisp, fresh and clean profiles that dominated recent years, and the shift will reshape what shoppers reach for in 2026. If you have been loyal to […]

Is Scent Attraction Influenced by Genetics?

Yes. Genetics help shape how someone smells and how appealing that smell is to a potential partner, on top of personal hygiene.

Writing for Healthline, Dorian Smith-Garcia explained that “current research has shown that humans are influenced by their partner’s scent when determining attractiveness and compatibility.” Smith-Garcia noted that people with the ABCC11 gene, which controls underarm odor and ear wax, “produce chemicals that scent-producing bacteria can feed on.” The takeaway, she wrote, is that “learning that body odor, or the lack of it, is genetically influenced and can also tip the scales during partner selection is an intriguing thought.”

Personal hygiene still plays a major role, but biology may quietly sway who you find irresistible and who you do not.

Deion Sanders has the internet in tears after clowning Karrueche Tran’s vacation hair disaster. Karrueche gave fans a lil’ storytime about the bad hair experience and even showed off the final results, and Deion wasted no time letting her know he definitely wasn’t feeling the look.

RELATED: Been That Girl! Karrueche Tran Keeps The Internet In A Chokehold — Here’s 5 Reasons Why (VIDEOS) 

Deion Sanders Couldn’t Resist Reacting To Karrueche Tran’s Hair Mishap

Karrueche Tran recently looked back on a bad hair experience from a trip to Greece. She told fans she showed up with boho braids, but hated the style so much that she took them out before she even made it to her hotel. In the photo she shared on Instagram, Karrueche sat on the bed while taking her braids down. Even though she claimed she wasn’t feeling the look, she still flashed a smile for the camera. Of course, her comment section lit up with reactions, and Deion Sanders made sure to weigh in. He didn’t waste any time letting his lady know he wasn’t feeling the style either, writing, “Naw Dawg.”

Deion’s Response Has Social Media In Tears

Meanwhile, folks over in The Shade Room’s comment section were in tears over Deion’s response to Karrueche’s photo. Some Roomies said his “Naw Dawg” comment gave them a kii, while others couldn’t resist cracking a few jokes about Karrueche’s hair themselves.

Instagram user @ty.costello wrote, “Man I never thought I’d see Angelica doll make the shade room 😂😂😂😂” 

Instagram user @kweenmocha wrote, “This how my Barbie’s used to look after i grabbed me a pair of scissors.” 

While Instagram user @djspinderella wrote, “If he can love you lookin like this , he’s a keeper!”

Then Instagram user @prettychaoss__ wrote, “Yeah he love her 😍” 

Another Instagram user, @_nee___nee_, wrote, “She looks like Cynthia from the Rugrats 😭” 

Instagram user @alaysiadid wrote, “He said AHT AHT, that’s a little too ethnic and textured for me 😂”

Then another Instagram user @__dmaccc wrote, “‘Naw dawg’ got me rolling 😂😂😂😂😂”

While another Instagram user @bougieviolist wrote, “Damn.. imagine the person who did them seeing this.. yikes lol.” 

Finally, Instagram user @stanwitdaskits wrote, “Naw she still cute Unc.” 

From Laughs To Love? Fans Can’t Get Enough Of Deion & Karrueche

Deion might crack a few jokes on Karrueche, but fans still can’t get enough of them together. In fact, the internet keeps calling them couple goals. Back in May, they had folks dropping heart-eye emojis after a video of them enjoying some beach time together surfaced. Karrueche splashed around in the water with a friend while Deion kicked back on the sand. As she made her way over to him, Deion helped her back onto the beach, then they shared a few sweet kisses before he pulled her in for more. Peep the video below.

RELATED: Heart Eyes Everywhere! Karrueche Tran & Deion Sanders Set Timelines Off With Sweet Beachside Kisses (VIDEO)

Ya’ll! Blue Ivy and Jay-Z are giving the internet a rare glimpse of a sweet father-daughter moment that has fans absolutely gushing. In a clip that’s been making its rounds on social media, the duo’s subtle but iconic energy had everyone stopping mid-scroll.

RELATED: The Blueprint! Social Media Is Weighing In On Beyoncé & Jay-Z Sharing Behind-The-Scenes Footage Of His “Hair Transformation” (VIDEO)

Blue Ivy And Jay-Z Deliver Full Circle Moment

The moment went down at Hov’s JAYZ30 pop-up in NYC, where Blue Ivy and Jay-Z were seen throwing up the Roc sign in front of an Apple Music backdrop. Jay kept it laid-back in a plain white tee, dark shades, and his afro out, while Blue matched the cool factor in a gray NYC shirt, glasses, and a long, slicked-back braid with gold earrings—fans quickly pointing out just how much she’s starting to resemble her father. The simple interaction, paired with their matching energy, had many calling it a “full-circle” moment for the Roc Nation legacy.

Fans Debate Who Blue Ivy Looks Like

One Instagram user @youkillmegabe claimed, “DANG SHE IS GOING TO BE TALLER THAN HIM !?😂WOW BLUE“

This Instagram user @p3rksnextdoor wrote, “It don’t make sense how she look exactly like them both 🔥”

And, Instagram user @therealnovakaine said, “Them conspiracy ppl finna have a ball with this“

Meanwhile, Instagram user @queen_mece added, “I LOVE this!! Blue is soo beautiful!!! 💜”

While Instagram user @everythingmariee_ commented, “Blue 😍😍😍”

Finally, Instagram user @riche_brooklyn shared, “I remember all jokes about Blue & her looks & she’s growing in a beautiful young lady damn best looking just like her mama!“

RELATED: Internet Users Are Crackin’ UP At Blue Ivy’s Apparent Reaction To Her Team Directing Her While She Posed On Met Gala Red Carpet (WATCH)

By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated 9 seconds ago

30 years ago anime wasn’t mainstream. Malls weren’t filled with stores selling wall scrolls and figurines, and if it wasn’t for Cartoon Network’s Toonami, most people wouldn’t know a Gundam from a Zord. In 1997, no one importing tapes from Japan knew that the greatest dark fantasy anime of all time was found on those tapes. The 25-episode run of Berserk, adapting only one arc from the long-running blockbuster manga, holds up to this day as the pinnacle of the genre, even if we have to rely on physical media to watch it. The 1997 version of Berserk isn’t streaming anywhere after it was replaced by the Golden Age arc films in 2013. 

In The Grim Darkness Of Midland There Is Only War

Berserk (1997) starts off with Guts the Black Swordsman taking down a corrupt, very demonic Baron with his impossibly large sword and a cannon hidden in his arm. It’s a very grimdark episode that we learn is set in the present, and the rest of the series is a flashback to Guts time alongside the Band of the Hawk, and its charismatic leader, Griffith. Unlike the first episode, there’s bright colors, traditional fantasy music over scenes of swordsmen, and it’s enough to make you forget that first episode. Until the necklace that Guts ripped off the Baron makes a reappearance, and you realize, this isn’t going to end well. 

And it doesn’t. In fact, the series ends on a cliffhanger that wasn’t resolved, in anime anyways, for over 20 years. The Berserk 2016 series picks up where the 1997 series ended with the end of the “Golden Age” arc, but even with all of the advances in animation, it’s inferior to the original run and even the 2013 Golden Age movies. Taking one of the most detailed manga ever and reducing it to a 3D CGI experience that leaves out as much detail as possible was an insult to long-time fans of Guts the Black Swordsman. 

The Best Version Of The Blockbuster Manga Epic

Kentaro Miura was the talented creator of the original Berserk manga which started back in 1989. Tragically, he passed away in 2021, leaving his epic story unfinished, and while his childhood friend and talented manga artist Koji Mori has promised to finish the tale according to Miura’s original plans, it’s not the same. Between the modern Berserk series failing to reach the heights of the original, and Miura’s passing, the original 1997 anime will remain the best adaptation of his life’s work. 

Which is why it’s especially tragic that Berserk (1997) isn’t available for easy streaming anywhere. Crunchyroll has both the Golden Age films and the 2016 series, but not the 1997 series. The best option to watch one of the 90s greatest anime series remains purchasing the Blu-Ray collection. While the 2013 Golden Age films tell the same story as the 1997 anime, it’s condensed, leaves out both character beats and narrative  moments, and there’s something about the grimy animation of the original that perfectly captures the spirit of Guts, Casca, and Griffith none of the modern versions can match. 

The Berserk manga has sold over 60 million copies, but it’s a tragedy no one can easily watch the best adaptation of the megaselling blockbuster fantasy epic. 

Kourtney Kardashian chose to send a Father’s Day tribute to Travis Barker but not to Scott Disick, and he is reportedly unbothered by the cold shoulder.

Her decision to feature only her spouse in the social media update drew widespread public attention for omitting her former long-term partner. 

While the public quickly noticed that the digital media upload completely excluded her former long-term partner, a source close to the family clarified that the omission was not intended to reflect hidden animosity. 

According to an insider, Kardashian simply wanted to honor her current spouse, given the incredibly strong and unified household they have built together in recent years.

“Kourtney did not mean to disrespect Scott with her Father’s Day post,” the source said. They referred to the couple as a “strong family” unit, noting that the reality just felt it was right to pay tribute to her current partner. 

The insider further revealed that Disick felt completely fine about the situation and chose not to take the snub as a personal slight. He reportedly has a deep level of respect for the unified household dynamic that his former girlfriend and the drummer have successfully established.

“Kourtney and Scott’s kids love Rocky, Scott respects their relationship and didn’t take her leaving him out of her Father’s Day post personally,” the source told PEOPLE Magazine. 

Ultimately, Disick feels content knowing that his children are thriving and happy in their current environment. He is said to be appreciative of how easygoing and approachable Barker is, making the extended family arrangements peaceful and harmonious for everyone involved.

Public Observers Questioned Kourtney Kardashian’s Father’s Day Tribute To Travis Barker

This update comes in response to Kourtney’s Father’s Day post, which featured intimate photographs of the musician spending quality time with their son, Rocky. In the caption, she fondly referred to Barker as her “Baby Daddy.” 

This immediately prompted curious inquiries from followers who wondered why her previous partner received no acknowledgment.

One user asked, “Where’s Scott’s happy Father’s Day lol,” and another noted that Disick similarly didn’t acknowledge Kourtney on Mother’s Day, per Page Six. 

Notably, the reality personality and her former boyfriend navigated a highly publicized relationship for nearly a decade before permanently parting ways. They share three teenage children together named Mason, Penelope, and Reign.

Kourtney Kardashian’s Pregnancy Announcement Reportedly Left Scott Disick Feeling Uncomfortable

Scott’s amicable reaction to Kourtney’s Father’s Day snub comes as a sharp contrast to how he reportedly felt when she first announced that she was pregnant with Barker’s child three years ago. 

As The Blast reported, the father of three reportedly felt completely devastated when his former partner chose to publicly announce her pregnancy during Father’s Day weekend in 2023, while simultaneously snubbing him. 

While Disick had been quietly informed of the incoming child by her relatives to prevent him from being blindsided, the public staging of the revelation reportedly made him upset.

“What was a jab in the heart was when Scott was with their kids yesterday and saw Kourtney’s Father’s Day post,” the insider shared. 

Travis Barker’s Ex-Wife Shaded Kourtney Kardashian As A Bad Step Mother

The tension between Kourtney and Disick seemed to extend to Barker’s ex-wife, Shanna Moakler. Earlier this year, she raised serious public concerns regarding how the lifestyle brand founder handles her responsibilities as a stepmother.

The Blast reported that Moakler shared her candid perspective during a podcast interview, offering critical remarks about Kourtney’s parenting approach.

The former model, who shares two older children named Alabama and Landon with the rock musician, expressed frustration with how her teenage children were treated, stating that she would never replicate those specific actions if the roles were reversed.

“I feel like there were some lines that were crossed,” she said. 

While she declined to specify the exact nature of the incidents that triggered her statements, she confirmed that the extended family unit has since managed to resolve the underlying issue.

Kourtney Kardashian & Travis Barker Suffered A Miscarriage Before Having Rocky

As Moakler and Kourtney tried to resolve their issues behind closed doors, the Lemme founder also struggled with her personal challenges within her marriage to the drummer. 

The couple recently shared the painful details of a significant pregnancy loss that occurred during the earlier stages of their romantic relationship. In an upcoming documentary, “Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear” focusing on the drummer’s personal life and career, the pair revealed that they were expecting a baby girl just six months after they started dating.  

According to The Blast, the pregnancy ended abruptly at the three-month mark when medical professionals could no longer detect a heartbeat. This led them to embark on a fertility journey that ultimately ended in the birth of their son, Rocky, in November 2023. 

When someone mentions the name Wesley Snipes, one of the first things that comes to mind is Blade. Snipes played the legendary Marvel vampire in a trilogy of films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and while most thought he would never return to Marvel, he defied expectations in 2024 with the premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine. Despite years’ worth of rumors that Snipes had an ongoing dispute with Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, the two squashed any beef between them and brought Snipes back into the fold to play the Daywalker one final time before riding off into the sunset. Snipes has starred in plenty of notable action movies and dramas over the years, but one of his projects that you likely haven’t heard of has finally stepped into the spotlight thanks to the biggest streaming service in the world.

All the way back in 2007, Snipes headlined the forgotten TV action movie/spy thriller, The Contractor — not to be confused with Chris Pine’s 2022 conspiracy thriller of the same name. Game of Thrones veteran Lena Headey also has a key role in the film as DI Annette Ballard, and the film even came before she was widely discovered for her performance as Cersei in the HBO fantasy series. Even Charles Dance, who played her father in Game of Thrones, also has a small role in The Contractor. In America, the film is available to stream for free on the Roku Channel, but the film was recently added to Netflix’s global library, where it has made a shocking surge into the top 10. As a TV movie, the film was never released into theaters, and budget information was never reported, but it is certainly finding a bigger audience now than it ever did when it first premiered on cable nearly 20 years ago.

What Is ‘The Contractor’ About?

An official synopsis for The Contractor, which doesn’t even have a score from critics on the aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, reads as follows:

“A former CIA assassin is drawn out of retirement for one last sanctioned kill — but when the mission goes sideways, he’s left stranded in London, hunted by both British authorities and the agency that hired him. With nowhere to turn, he forms an unlikely bond with a troubled young boy as he fights to survive and find a way home.”

The film did earn a Rotten 28% from audiences on the Popcornmeter, which makes its sudden return to streaming glory that much more surprising. Robert Foster, Joshua Michael Stern, Robert Katz, and Andre Farawagi wrote the script for The Contractor, and Josef Rusnak directed the film.

Check out The Contractor on the Roku Channel in America or on Netflix globally, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the film.

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Release Date

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July 10, 2007

Runtime

105 minutes

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Director

Josef Rusnak

Writers

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Joshua Michael Stern

Producers

Rudy Cohen, Rolf Deyhle

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By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 23 seconds ago

Very few movies can earn over a billion dollars, say #1 at the box office for weeks, and still be considered a disappointment. James Cameron’s Avatar franchise has been so successful, with only two movies, that Avatar: Fire and Ash was considered a step back with only $1.5 billion worldwide. Now that it’s available on Disney+ and removed from box office watchers, Avatar: Fire and Ash is about to find a new audience, with no 3D IMAX theater needed. 

The Fire Nation Attacked

Avatar: Fire and Ash does for 3D fire effects what Way of Water did for water, and while there’s no denying it looks fantastic, a lot of the impact is lost when it comes to home viewing. That’s where the other part of the franchise comes in. The first Avatar is derided for being Ferngully or Dances with Wolves, but the last two, with more of an emphasis on Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldana) family, have more in common with the old-school sci-fi of the 80s. 

The Na’vi on Pandora were at peace until the Fire Nation attacked. Wait, wrong Avatar, no wait, that’s actually the right Avatar except this time the leader is Varang (Oona Chaplain), giving us our first outright evil Na’vi. She’s “hardened” and willing to go to extreme lengths for her people, but when the end result is joining forces with the humans and accepting a gift of guns from Quaritch (Stephen Lang), it’s evil, not pragmatic. 

Varang is the standout of Fire and Ash with Oona Chaplain’s performance electrifying the screen every time she’s in a scene. The rest of the film focuses more heavily on Spider (JAke Champion), Quaritch’s son adopted by Jake Sully, and his growing relationship with Kiri (Sigourney Weaver). Kiri is experiencing some growth and changes herself thanks to an inability to connect with Eywa, Pandora’s version of Gaia. Getting cut off by the God your entire species worships does a number on the teenager’s self-esteem. 

Oh, and it all ends with a giant CGI battle that looked amazing on the big screen, and still looks great streaming over Disney+. 

What’s Next For Avatar?

Avatar: Fire and Ash isn’t as great as the second film, and it lacks the sense of wonder from the first, but this is James Cameron’s series arriving as a true sci-fi franchise. With three films, it’s no longer a one-off curiosity or the butt of jokes about lacking cultural impact, it’s grand sci-fi with its roots in the family-friendly adventures of 80s Spielberg and Disney. The critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, only 60 percent, makes it the worst of the franchise but the audience score, of 90 percent, is what really matters. With Avatar, by now, you know what you’re getting. 

The fourth and fifth movies are currently planned, with, allegedly, the fifth taking the battle for Pandora all the way back to Earth. Avatar 4 is currently planned for December 2029 while Avatar 5 is planned for 2031, which sounds like a made up number and not five years away. You have plenty of time to find three hours to set aside for Avatar: Fire and Ash between now and 2029. If nothing else, it’s worth the watch to experience Varang for yourself.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is now available on Disney+.

A few weeks before their trial in May, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni announced that they had settled their legal battle, but questions continue to be raised over who walked out of the situation with the most losses.

With earlier reports suggesting the “Gossip Girl” star has been sidelined from several Hollywood circles, sources have now shared that she’s looking to rebuild her career.

Blake Lively also recently scored a legal win over Justin Baldoni as a judge ordered him to pay her legal fees relating to his 2025 defamation lawsuit.

Lively and Baldoni’s partnership on “It Ends with Us” was supposed to be a celebration of a box-office hit, but was marred by their nasty court battle.

The actress filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, accusing him of improvising kissing scenes, making comments about her body, and speaking openly about his porn addiction.

However, he denied it and filed a counter lawsuit against her, accusing her of extortion and defamation, but the case was later dismissed by a judge.

Both parties went on and on for nearly two years, making different allegations in more than 1400 court filings. They were scheduled to begin trial in May 2026, but 2 weeks before then, they announced that they’d reached a settlement in the case.

The Actress Is ‘Rebuilding Her Career,’ While Justin Baldoni Is Focused On His ‘Family And Living In The Moment’

The legal battle between Lively and Baldoni appears to be a stalemate with no clear victor, but experts argue that both parties have sustained severe damage to their public images and careers.

According to Us Weekly, the former co-stars now face the daunting task of picking up the pieces of their respective careers and moving on with their lives.

A source told the news outlet that Lively is looking to rebuild her career and is confident she can achieve that.

“Blake is focused on rebuilding her career,” the insider said. “She’s confident she can come back from this.”

The revelation comes after rumors emerged suggesting no one wants to work with her again following her explosive lawsuit with her former co-star.

Meanwhile, Baldoni seems to be more focused on his family and might be taking time away from Hollywood to spend time with them.

“Justin’s focus is on his family and living in the moment,” a second source said. “He wants to get back to some sense of normalcy for them.”

Baldoni and his wife Emily share daughter Maiya and son Maxwell together, while Lively is the mother to daughters James, Inez, and Betty, and son Olin, whom she shares with husband Ryan Reynolds.

Blake Lively Faces An Uphill Task When It Comes To Fixing Her ‘Tarnished’ Image, PR Expert Reveals

One thing is for sure, though, both stars took a hit to their reputation. At the height of their legal battle, internet users trolled Lively and accused her for being a “mean girl,” especially after Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa shared an old clip of their awkward interaction in an interview.

On the other hand, Baldoni’s sensitive “Man Enough” podcast host persona, where he often spoke up for women, took a huge hit and was not only dropped by his talent agency but also had an award rescinded.

Weighing in on their chances of coming back from the fallout, PR experts explained that it’s going to be an extremely difficult task for both parties.

“Neither side emerged as an overall winner,” David Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision PR Group, said. “But Blake suffered the most because people viewed her as humorous, family-oriented, and approachable, and the lawsuit tarnished that image.”

PR Experts Say Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni Need To Let Their Work Do The Talking From Now On

Speaking more about the former co-stars’ “tarnished” brands, Johnson explained that recovery for Baldoni depends on three factors, which include “the absence of new controversies, continued professional achievement, and time.”

Another PR expert told Us Weekly that Mark Borkowski also noted it’s best if Lively lets her work do the talking, rather than being everywhere.

“[She should be] undeniable in the work and boring everywhere else. Boring is the most underrated crisis strategy in the business,” Borkowski said.

For Baldoni, he explained, “Justin’s only route back [is to] make something good and [be quiet] for two years.”

Justin Baldoni Was Ordered To Cover Blake Lively’s Legal Costs

Meanwhile, the “Another Simple Favor” actress scored a legal win over Baldoni as Judge Lewis Liman ordered him to cover her attorney’s costs relating to his 2025 defamation lawsuit.

The ruling was made in connection with a California law that was created to protect sexual harassment victims from retaliatory defamation claims.

However, the judge denied her request for triple damages and punitive damages, stating that those remedies are not available under federal law.

“The Court concludes that, on this record, the Wayfarer Parties have failed to carry their burden of demonstrating that the Section 47.1 privilege does not apply, and Lively is therefore entitled to fees and costs,” the judge wrote in court documents before adding that “Lively’s request for damages must be denied” on procedural grounds.