Game of Thrones is less colorful than its source material, A Song of Ice and Fire. This is true in a literal sense, except for the Night’s Watch; practically every character is described in the books as having more varied and brighter wardrobes than they ever wore on TV. But it’s also true in a larger sense. George R.R. Martin’s writing is often celebrated for its moral complexity, but it’s also broad, sweeping, and Romantic in the classical sense. He depicts a wide range of customs, worldviews, and personalities that exhibit all the extremes and contradictions of any real person in a more fantastic manner.

Even in its earliest days, Game of Thrones was more constrained in what notes it would let its characters play. The longer it went on, the more that constraint became an issue. Slowly, the color and life were leeched out of the likes of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Arya Stark (Maisie Williams), and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey).

The flattening of Cersei was particularly frustrating to watch season by season. Martin is outspoken in liking gray characters, but there are still heroes and villains among them. The latter have their reasons for their misdeeds, but it’s hard to imagine anyone regarding Roose Bolton (Michael McElhatton) or Ramsay Snow (Iwan Rheon) as heroes. Cersei is as much a villain as the likes of them, but being present from the beginning, she looms larger in A Song of Ice and Fire.

As a viewpoint character, we see inside her heart and mind — and what we see is fascinating, the most colorful, entertaining, and sympathetic of the series’ villains to date. Most of the traits that make Cersei so interesting were never fully incorporated into her TV counterpart, and almost none were left by the time the character met her fate in the finale.

Cersei’s Backstory Is Darker in the Original Books

The Cersei played by Lena Headey is clearly derived from the one in the pages of A Song of Ice and Fire. She’s still of the House Lannister, daughter of Tywin (Charles Dance), incestuous twin of Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and older and unloving sister of Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). The story still begins with Cersei as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms through her arranged marriage to Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). The outside world assumes that Cersei’s three children are Robert’s, but all are bastards born of her sexual relationship with Jaime, and Cersei is one of many in the Red Keep conspiring against her husband. When Ned Stark (Sean Bean) uncovers the truth about her incest, she arranges Robert’s death, arrests Ned, and stages a coup to place her oldest son Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) on the throne with herself as regent.

On the page and the screen, Cersei’s marriage is loveless and violent. She’s openly contemptuous of Robert, shaming and manipulating him at one point into killing an innocent direwolf to satisfy her vindictiveness. A resentful Robert indulges in his appetites for food, women, and especially drink, and by the time of A Game of Thrones, he has hit her on several occasions. The Robert of the books is ashamed and frightened of what marriage and “kinging” have made of him (a shame he does his best to ignore). He’s frightened of what Cersei and Joffrey might do were they to gain power. The Robert of the show is a less troubled and more piggish brute. Left unmentioned in the show are Cersei’s threats to kill his bastard daughter if she ever comes to court, and rumors that she had two twins that Robert fathered at Casterly Rock killed. Once Robert is dead, Cersei orders the slaughter of all his baseborn children in King’s Landing.

While angry over Robert’s bastards, the Cersei of the books takes pains not to have any children by him. Game of Thrones invents a legitimate baby who died in infancy, a fact Cersei uses to her advantage but can also discuss sincerely with Robert. In A Song of Ice and Fire, pride and resentment won’t allow Cersei to go even that far. The one time she becomes pregnant, she arranges for an abortion and afterward finds ways to avoid insemination by Robert when they sleep together. Other pieces of backstory unused by the show concern the depth of Cersei’s hatred for Tyrion. Like her father, Cersei blames her little brother for their mother’s death.

But an additional grievance comes from the prophecy of the woods witch, Maggy the Frog. The show retains a flashback wherein Maggy (Jodhi May) predicts Cersei’s marriage and children, the deaths of all her offspring, and her dethronement by a “younger and more beautiful” queen. But the show cuts Cersei killing the friend who goes with her, the only witness to the prophecy. And it cuts the final prediction Maggy gives, that when everything has been taken from her, Cersei will be strangled by the valonqar – High Valyrian for “little brother.” Though Cersei precedes Jaime in birth by mere moments, making both her brothers younger by technicality, Cersei is convinced that Tyrion is the brother to fear — a conviction that becomes an obsession by the fourth book, A Feast for Crows.

George R. R. Martin’s Cersei Is a More Volatile and Compelling Character

One might argue that these adjustments to Cersei’s backstory are neutral or even necessary trims. Game of Thrones had time constraints that A Song of Ice and Fire does not. The valonqar prophecy, which book fans have long speculated will turn out to be Jaime, didn’t fit into how he and Cersei ultimately die, or the overall diminishment of prophecy and magic in the show compared to the novels. The loss of the valonqar story was one of the worst casualties of Game of Thrones, paring back the magic. But it’s true enough that most of this background material represented a clean lift, and that the Cersei of Season 1 corresponds fairly well to the Cersei of the first book. The real trouble comes when Robert is dead and Cersei begins wielding and contending for power.

Martin’s Cersei is as Trumpian a villain as you’re likely to find, far more so than her son Joffrey, who was sometimes compared to The Donald. She’s a complete narcissist: entitled, self-absorbed, boastful, and self-deluded about her talents and capacity to rule. The most basic flattery convinces her to make unwise appointments and actions. Envy, impatience, greed, and anger all cloud her already impulsive judgment. Her ruthless streak shatters potentially useful alliances and spills innocent blood, on account of paranoia or simple slights. And her moods are compared by Jaime to wildfire; the passions of the moment send her into fits of glee or torrents of rage.

All this is apparent in the first three books, but A Feast for Crows makes Cersei into a viewpoint character and lets readers see just how deep her narcissism runs. Jaime was made a viewpoint character in the previous book and revealed doubts, guilts, feelings, and his own sense of honor that made him — the man who threw a child out a window — seem a sympathetic and even piteous human being. Cersei’s chapters show her to be coo-coo for cocoa puffs. It’s glaringly obvious how deluded and self-defeating she is, but the immersion into her warped mind is so complete that you can fall into her paranoid, egocentric line of thinking. It’s a fascinating disconnect, making Cersei’s some of the most electrifying chapters of the latest two books to read.

Those chapters also reinforce a harsh truth about Cersei’s relationship with Jaime that earlier books introduced. If you set aside the fact that they’re an incestuous couple, then Jaime comes off as a devoted lover. Whatever his other faults, he never strays with other women and constantly strives to please Cersei. She, on the other hand, regularly turns to sex as a tool of persuasion. She carries on multiple affairs, including one with her cousin Lancel, and was eager to wed Rhaegar Targaryen as a young girl. Her love for Jaime is a love for an extension of herself; when he loses his usefulness to her as a knight and begins to question her judgment, the relationship quickly sours, and as of A Dance with Dragons, the fifth book, Jaime is completely disillusioned with his twin.

Cersei’s love for her children isn’t quite that transactional in Martin’s writing. Even her enemies judge her sincerely devoted to them, though a dangerously unfit mother on account of her… well, everything. But even with them, there is that element of extension. Joffrey and his brother Tommen are tools through which Cersei can wield the power of the Iron Throne, a power she is denied on account of her sex. Westerosi misogyny is a barrier for Cersei throughout the books, but she turns to it as an excuse for any challenge she faces (while also displaying a great deal of misogyny herself to other women). Men like her uncle, Kevan Lannister, don’t doubt her fitness to be regent because she’s a woman, at least not entirely; they doubt her because she’s so clearly unfit for the job.

‘Game of Thrones’ Flattened Cersei’s Character Completely

Image via HBO 

This is the stuff that sets Cersei apart from the likes of Roose and Ramsay, a cold schemer and a violent psychopath respectively. It’s what makes her such a volatile and destructive, yet still dimensional, villain. There’s schadenfreude aplenty to be had in seeing her dig her own hole in A Feast for Crows, which makes her moment of sympathy during the walk of shame all the more impactful. It’s also the stuff that Game of Thrones never knew what to do with. From the second season on, there were awkward attempts to make Cersei a more loving mother and a more sympathetic gray character that always seemed to collapse in on themselves. The murder of Robert’s children is outsourced to Joffrey, who becomes much more of a sinister tyrant than the spoiled bully of the books. The show’s Cersei is fully aware of how demented her son is, deeply troubled by his violence and her lack of control over him – and yet she mourns him just as she did in the book.

Her love and education for Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) are less insane, but that love seems to vanish the second he’s dead. She and Tyrion have more heart-to-hearts throughout the series, only for her to go back to hatred. Forget her manipulation and betrayal of Jaime; Game of Thrones has an uncomfortable reworking of a sex scene and a strange amount of sympathy for their incestuous love affair to impart instead. And all those swings of passion, those fits of narcissistic joy, rage, and paranoia that make Cersei’s book chapters so alive? That aspect of the character is diluted from the start, but it was nonexistent in the last few seasons. TV’s Cersei becomes a stone-faced whisperer by the end. Her expression hardly varies, her voice is low and icy, and her vanity and weaponized sexuality are cast aside.

That is a much flatter character than the one Martin wrote. But the problem is made worse by the fact that it happened to so many of the show’s women. Daenerys, Arya, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) – they were all rendered ice queens in the end. Such monotony is the death of the kind of color A Song of Ice and Fire injects into its personalities. With Cersei made the last villain standing, one whose defeat is inexplicably given more emphasis than the great battle to save all humanity against a horde of ice demons, such a dull antagonist is one more nail in the series finale’s coffin.

Game of Thrones is available to stream on Max in the U.S.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Season 20 of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” premieres on July 9, with Shannon Beador among the returning cast members. Recently, ahead of the first episode, the 62-year-old “RHOC” fan-favorite opened up about what fans can expect and why the season felt reminiscent of when she first joined.

Beador’s comments about the upcoming “Real Housewives of Orange County” season come weeks after her beloved dog, Archie, passed away.

Beador attended the premiere event for season 20 of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” on June 30. While on the red carpet, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Bozoma Saint John interviewed her for ExtraTV. During the chat, Beador was asked if she thought she’d enjoy herself at the premiere.

She responded, “I am, and I’m about to enjoy this season because it’s been a rough couple.” After that, the “RHOC” star said fans will see the “silly” side of her and that she’s “laughing a lot.” Saint John then joked with Beador, saying, “Some people told me that you’re 90% of the drama in the last 10 years.”

From there, she reflected on the season, saying, “Sometimes you walk in, you start a season, and you go, ‘It’s just gonna be light and breezy.’”

The Beloved Bravo Star Also Explained Why Season 20 ‘Felt Nostalgic’

Following Beador’s initial comments, Saint John asked, “So, this season felt peaceful to you?” The “RHOC” star considered the question, then said, “You know what, it felt nostalgic for me before it’s my 12th year on the show, and it was reminiscent of when I first started and we just kind of had silly fun.”

Beador went on to address how “dark” some of the show’s more recent seasons became. According to her, “And in the end, we come back together. It got a little dark the last couple of years, so I’m grateful that it’s not that way anymore.”

Saint John then mentioned Vicki Gunvalson, who is returning as a main cast member for “RHOC” season 20. When asked for her thoughts on Gunvalson’s return, Beador said, “Well, she’s one of my best friends, so we talk every single day.”

She continued by revealing what she loves about Gunvalson. According to her, “You can go in and think you’re gonna have a conversation about something, and it turns into something completely else.” Beador then called her onscreen chemistry with Gunvalson “a constant banter,” stating that it’s “always fun to film with her.”

Fans Are Mixed On ‘RHOC’

“The Real Housewives of Orange County” remains one of Bravo’s most popular shows. However, following the events of season 19 and Katie Ginella‘s firing, many have doubts about the series’ future. This was compounded by what many fans of the show called a boring trailer for the new season.

First, regarding Beador’s description of the season, one person stated, “We love a silly Shannon!” Someone else said, “We love Shannon.” However, in terms of the season itself, a fan wrote, “I’m kind of over the OC, which is crazy as I’ve been watching since the beginning. It’s just too contrived.”

A different social media user said, “Seriously?? The most boring trailer I have seen in a while.” Someone else criticized the preview, saying, “The only thing that sparked any emotion was Jennifer’s son saying he was being treated badly while crying. That’s heartbreaking.”

Lastly, another person said, “It’s time for a new cast; it’s too recycled and forced at this point… too aware of cameras.”

Shannon Says She’s Not Dating

In a different section of Beador’s ExtraTV interview with Saint John, she was asked about her dating life. She responded, bluntly, “No, I don’t date. I haven’t been on a date.” After that, Beador revealed that her costars, Heather Dubrow and Gina Kirschenheiter, had previously tried to set her up with someone.

When asked what she’s looking for in a man, she stated, “It’s not a long list. Someone with a kind heart that has good family values and is fun.” Beador also said that she wants someone who “believes in their faith” and is “decent looking.”

The ‘RHOC’ Star Previously Opened Up About Her Love Life

Beador appeared on the first season of Bravo’s “Love Hotel.” Over the course of the season, she became quite close to contestants Adam Rubin and Phillip Westbrooks. In 2025, the “Real Housewives of Orange County” star gave an update to Page Six.

She said of where she stood with the two men, “Let’s make it clear: They are only friends. I eliminated Adam, but we are good friends. He and Phil live in California, so I see them often.” She also stated that she keeps in contact with some of the other contestants from dating series.

Whether you’re walking around Paris or New York City, chances are you’ll see ballerina sneakers everywhere. Rich moms are especially obsessed with the 2026 shoe trend, and given how comfy and chic this style is, we understand why. The summer-friendly design is just as versatile as white sneakers, but 10 times classier.

These sneaker-flat hybrids make a real case for themselves, featuring round toe boxes, low rubber soles and laces or straps that lean mega sophisticated. We’ve already spotted ballerina sneakers on Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson, so don’t wait to jump on the trend!

11 Ballerina Sneakers Trending for 2026

1. Our Favorite: Ribbon laces and a gum sole give these ballerina sneakers that dance-meets-street appeal. The lace embellishments add just enough prettiness to dress up jeans.

2. Comfy Clouds: Memory foam insoles cushion every step in these Mary Jane sneakers, so the dainty strap doesn’t mean a dainty footbed.

3. Extra Sleek: A streamlined silhouette and under-$50 price tag make these sleek kicks an easy ‘yes.’ Minimal detailing means they pair with everything in your wardrobe.

4. Sassy Stunner: Leopard print does the talking on these elevated shoes, so the rest of your outfit can stay simple.

5. Metallic Maven: Birthday parties call for these silver sneakerinas. Ankle ties make them dressy while the secure fit means you can actually dance.

Related: Pamela Anderson Walked Around Saint-Tropez in This Sleek Sneaker Trend

In case you missed it, chunky sneakers are out in favor of a sleeker, more elegant alternative. Pamela Anderson put the trend into action, wearing a classy sneaker style that didn’t just complete her outfit, but made it. We found Anderson’s polished look for just $35 on Amazon! A few days ago, Anderson wandered around Saint-Tropez, picnic […]

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6. Power Walker: A medium-thick strap keeps Tigeridea’s sporty Mary Jane sneakers secure, whether you’re logging steps in the neighborhood or the airport.

7. Rich Mom Status: These blush-pink lace-ups channel serious designer energy. Plus, the cut leans more sneaker than ballet, so they truly walk like trainers.

8. New Drop: Puma jumped in! This 2026 drop brings the brand’s reliable comfort to the ballerina sneaker conversation.

9. Cute Converse: If you’ve worn Chuck Taylors for decades, but want something that feels fresh, these double-strap Converse update the formula.

10. Elevated Adidas: When regular sneakers feel too casual, these low-profile ballet shoes slide cleanly under cropped trousers, animal print or not.

11. So Splurge-Worthy: This leather-like Vivaia pair sits in splurge territory, but craftsmanship justifies the jump. Triple-layer cushioning is just a bonus.

Related: Reef, Havaianas! Summer 2026‘s Chicest Flip-Flops Have Landed — From $5

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If you’ve written off flip-flops, wait until you see the popular rich mom styles for 2026. This season’s flip-flops look like shoes you’d *actually* pick for brunches and date nights, not just pool parties. With smooth straps, occasional pops of color and luxe-looking silhouettes, these sandals belong in your rotation. The trendiest picks come from […]

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

During an interview with People Magazine, Danny Glover, famed for his role in the Lethal Weapon franchise, revealed that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

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Release Date

March 6, 1987

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Runtime

110 minutes

Director

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Richard Donner

Writers

Shane Black

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• 
• 

  Danny Glover

  Roger Murtaugh

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s expected wedding celebration is already creating a buzz long before the first guest arrives. 

Reports suggest Madison Square Garden has implemented extraordinary measures as preparations ramp up, leaving employees facing unexpected restrictions and heightened security. 

With vendors moving in, streets around the iconic venue seeing unusual activity, and guests reportedly bound by strict confidentiality agreements, anticipation surrounding one of the year’s biggest celebrity events continues to reach new heights.

Madison Square Garden is reportedly operating under unusual rules as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding festivities approach.

According to Page Six, corporate employees have been told they are not permitted inside the venue throughout the week.

“MSG is off limits to all corporate employees this week,” a source claimed, adding that employees “were not given a reason why it’s a no-go zone.”

The restrictions are expected to remain in place until July 5, when staff members can reportedly return to their regular work schedules.

Separate reports from TMZ indicate that employees working in event production have also been subjected to tighter security protocols. 

Staff members are allegedly prohibited from carrying their phones while working inside the building, an apparent effort to prevent photos from leaking online.

Workers have also reportedly been issued wristbands and must pass through an additional layer of security before entering the arena, even though many reportedly have no idea what event is taking place inside.

Swift Expected To Host Two Separate Wedding Celebrations

As speculation continues, reports suggest Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will celebrate their marriage across two separate events inside the famous New York venue.

Sources previously told Page Six that an intimate gathering is expected to take place Thursday, July 2, with roughly 100 of the couple’s closest relatives and friends attending what has been described as a rehearsal dinner.

The larger celebration is reportedly planned for the following day, with approximately 1,000 guests expected to attend. Those invited could also be treated to performances by music legends Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw.

The secrecy surrounding the event has reportedly been extensive. “Everyone’s been sworn to secrecy,” one insider revealed, with guests reportedly required to sign nondisclosure agreements before confirming their attendance.

The venue itself offers an added level of privacy. Madison Square Garden’s multiple entrances and extensive security infrastructure reportedly made it an appealing venue for the couple, as they focus on keeping the celebration out of public view.

Taylor Swift Venue Shows Growing Signs Of Major Event

Outside the arena, preparations have become increasingly difficult to ignore. Madison Square Garden currently has no public events listed between June 29 and July 6, adding to speculation surrounding the reported wedding plans.

City Hall has also confirmed that a permit application covering July 2 through July 4 was submitted through New York City’s Street Activity Permit Office.

The application, filed by Winick Productions, reportedly requested temporary street closures surrounding the arena along with permission for a large tent or canopy outside the building.

Meanwhile, recent reports revealed that vendor trucks were unloading equipment along 33rd Street. Among the deliveries were drapery, lighting equipment, chairs, tables and even a “40-inch mirror ball,” suggesting large-scale event production is underway.

According to previous reports, celebrity wedding planner Mark Seed has spent months organizing the celebration. “He can build something spectacular out of nothing,” one source said while discussing his involvement.

Industry insiders have also noted the challenge of transforming a venue best known for concerts and sporting events into an elegant wedding setting.

Swift Team Reportedly Helps Bring Wedding Vision To Life

The reported preparations extend beyond New York. Members of Taylor Swift’s team have reportedly been seen at Rock Lititz, the Pennsylvania production campus responsible for creating elaborate concert staging, including elements used during the Eras Tour.

The sighting has fueled speculation that the production expertise behind the Grammy Award winner’s record-breaking concerts may also be helping create the atmosphere for her wedding celebration.

Meanwhile, many of Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammates are expected to attend, with several reportedly reserving rooms at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square ahead of the festivities.

Taylor Swift Said To Be Losing Sleep Over Wedding Planning

As the big day approaches, sources say Swift is feeling the pressure of making every detail perfect for their family and friends. 

As The Blast reported, insiders claimed the 36-year-old has become deeply involved in the planning process despite having an experienced team handling logistics, with one source saying the wedding has become “a full-time job and then some.” 

According to the source, Swift wants input on everything because she and Travis Kelce are determined to ensure every guest has “the time of their lives,” especially with such a large invite list. 

The insider also alleged that the singer has been experiencing “stress dreams” about details ranging from the wedding cake to her dress. 

While the planning has reportedly become overwhelming, the couple remains excited about the celebration, though insiders claim they “can’t wait for it to be over” simply because of the enormous pressure of organizing such a high-profile event.

Rob Kardashian is making a rare appearance with his family, including daughter Dream.

Rob’s sister, Khloé Kardashian, shared a series of family photos via Instagram on Tuesday, June 30, including several snaps of her younger brother. In one photo, Rob, 39, can be seen smiling for the camera as he poses alongside his mom, Kris Jenner, sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloé and daughter Dream.

Khloé, 42, also shared some pictures of Rob and Dream, 9, together. (Rob shares Dream with ex-girlfriend Blac Chyna.)

The former sock designer was all smiles in sportswear, including a black T-shirt, blue shorts and a matching blue baseball cap. Dream rocked a white top and light blue jeans.

“How blessed am I? Missing a few but they’re always with me ♥️,” Khloé captioned her post.

Rob responded, “We are so Blessed to have you! We love you so much!!! 🩵🩵🩵💙💙💙🫂.”

Kardashian-Jenner matriarch Kris, 70, chimed in, “My heart ❤️.”

Rob has largely stayed out of the spotlight following the conclusion of E!’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2021.

He briefly joined sister Khloé on her “Khloé in Wonder Land” podcast in July 2025, explaining why he stepped back from filming with his family, who currently star on Hulu’s The Kardashians.

“I don’t wanna be filming and putting myself in a position where I’m not comfortable,” he shared. “I’m not comfortable in my skin, so why would I wanna go be on camera and just be vulnerable and let people in when that’s not what I wanna do?”

“I’m not just gonna put myself out there if I’m not comfortable with myself,” he added. “I haven’t been comfortable with myself for years, and, also, filming and doing all that, it’s not for everybody. I choose my own happiness and peace rather than just filming for somebody who doesn’t do anything for me in my personal life.”

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Khloé then asked Rob if he would ever make a guest appearance on the family’s Hulu reality show.

Related: Inside the Kardashian-Jenner Family’s Elaborate 2026 Easter Celebration

As tradition, the Kardashian-Jenner family had a very hoppy Easter. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day Stop Scrolling! This 46%-Off Floral […]

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“I love filming if it’s positive and if it’s natural and I’m feeling good about myself, then of course, and [if] I’m comfortable,” he said. “Of course, I like being around my family. That stuff is good to me. Of course, I would film. I have nothing against it. The reason I don’t is because I’m a homebody and I just choose my peace and happiness rather than filming.”

Rob also dispelled speculation of a rift with his family. “There’s definitely nothing wrong between any of us,” he said.