“Truth Hurts” singer Lizzo is opening up about the private struggles she’s been facing after her latest album, “B-TCH,” failed to chart on the Billboard 200. The album’s performance has been debated across social media platforms over the last week, as Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Jefferson, shared an emotional message revealing she’s been struggling behind the scenes while thanking fans for their continued support. Despite the criticism, Lizzo said she had something to celebrate in her latest update: her single “About D-mn Time” became her second song to surpass 1 billion streams.

Lizzo, 38, uploaded a dramatic photo of herself to her X account. In the caption, she spoke openly about some of the difficult challenges she’s been facing over the last several weeks.

“I’m weeping on the floor; nobody knows what I’ve been going through privately. Its [sic] been a roller coaster,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like my hands are tied behind my back and life is whooping my a**.”

Lizzo went on to say that regardless of the struggles, she’s chosen to show up “EVERY DAY” to “declare victory” over her life and her career.

Lizzo’s confession came weeks after the singer made headlines for her latest album’s poor performance. According to The Blast, the record sold less than 3,000 copies in its first week, and only 650 in the second.

Lizzo Says She’s ‘Working’ Hard And Pouring Into The People Who Have Poured Into Her

Lizzo implied that the negative reaction to her album hasn’t deterred her. She said she’s been “working my a** off” and spending time with people whom she loves.

“I am truly blessed and covered, and God is reminding me who I am and what He made me to do. No weapon formed against me will prosper, no vicious attacks from people who don’t even know me will stick,” she said.

Lizzo added, “I will continue to glow and shine, because that’s what I do. TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SHOWN ME LOVE ON THE INTERNET AND REAL LIFE I LOVE YOU.”

And to wrap up her post, Lizzo pointed out that not everything has been bad, revealing that “About D-mn Time,” her 2022 single, had reached 1 billion streams.

Lizzo Says She Took The Lackluster Response To Her Last Album ‘To Heart’

Following the release of “B-TCH,” Lizzo appeared on the “Swiftologist” podcast and revealed she was upset over how her album was received.

“I think right now, dropping the album, I took it to heart really, really heavily,” she said. “I hurt my own feelings, and I was really stressed, and I was really sad for a few days because I just was like, ‘Wait a minute, this is like some of my best stuff.’”

Before the project’s release, Lizzo hinted that she was worried about how it would perform, considering her record label, Atlantic, allegedly failed to promote it the way she believed it should’ve been.

“… I’m crashing out on my label right now because I just really like – I feel like there’s not any marketing money being put toward my ideas,” she said in a TikTok video.

The Detroit Native Said TikTok Was Hating On Her Latest Album

In another post, Lizzo crashed out on the popular social media platform for allegedly plotting against her. In the video, the “Soulmate” singer claimed TikTok was purposefully hiding videos of her promoting her project.

“My album is out today, and TikTok continues to be a hater,” she said, adding that TikTok has made her videos “ineligible for recommendation.”

“And when I want to promote my album, you don’t want to recommend it to my fans?” she continued. “Well, honey, I’m on my main page to let y’all know that my album is out TODAY. Go run it up. To all of the 26 million people who love me, go get my album; it’s out today. Woo!”

Lizzy Is Also Working On Something Else…

In addition to her music, Lizzo is also set to release her first children’s book, “Lil Lizzo Meets Sasha B. Flootin’,” in September 2026. Speaking with USA Today, the singer said the book carries the same empowering message that has long defined her music.

“It’s about trusting yourself and believing in who you are. The character goes on this adventure trying to find her identity in all these different places, but she realizes it’s been within her the whole time. I also want kids to get excited about music, about playing an instrument, about being creative. That’s what saved me when I was young. And honestly, I just want it to be fun. I want it to feel like music on the page,” she said.

Taylor Sheridan is the king of television, at least for Paramount+, but the reason he became in such high demand to begin with was purely down to his work on the big screen. Acclaimed work like Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River proved his chops, and now, he’s returning to the big screen with a new action thriller for Warner Bros. We’ve just seen a first look at the movie, and it reunites him with a Yellowstone universe star.

The image appears to show Brandon Sklenar between takes in Spain, where the production filmed quietly throughout late 2025. Wearing a dark brown jacket outside a production van, the 1923 star looks to be preparing for a potentially physical scene, with his stunt double also visible nearby. Sheridan wrote F.A.S.T., which reunites him with Sklenar after the actor played Spencer Dutton in 1923.

This time around, Sklenar is trading horses for slightly quicker modes of transport, as he plays a down-on-his-luck special forces commando who’s recruited by the DEA for a dangerous operation in his own hometown. Sklenar leads the cast alongside Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Wilson Bethel (Daredevil), and Juliana Canfield (Succession)

The project was filmed in Spain in November 2025, with production reportedly keeping its major locations and set activity under wraps, so getting a sneak peek at what’s going on feels like we’re getting a glimpse through the looking glass for one of the most anticipated projects of next year.

What Else is Taylor Sheridan Making?

While Sheridan penned the screenplay, he is not directing F.A.S.T.. Instead, Ben Richardson is behind the camera. Richardson is already a familiar name in Sheridan-land, having worked on 1923 and other projects from the busiest man in Hollywood, so there should be a natural shorthand between the pair by now.

Sheridan is currently overseeing Dutton Ranch on Paramount+, while his most recent original series, The Madison, has already filmed a second season​​​​​​​ for the streamer. Landman Season 3 is set to begin shooting next month, while Sheridan is also set to join NBCUniversal when his contract with Paramount expires.

F.A.S.T. is currently set to hit theatres on April 23, 2027.

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Release Date

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2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

Paramount+

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Directors

Guy Ferland

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Seth Rogen has weighed in on the long-running theory about why Anne Hathaway quit her role in “Knocked Up.”

Hathaway was set to play a lead role in the classic 2007 comedy alongside the actor, but was eventually replaced by Katherine Heigl. The film ultimately became a commercial success despite Hathaway’s decision at the time.

Anne Hathaway’s decision to leave “Knocked Up” in 2007 has long remained one of the film’s biggest behind-the-scenes talking points, particularly because it was no secret that she was originally cast to star before being replaced by Katherine Heigl.

Nearly two decades later, the film’s lead male actor, Seth Rogen, revisited the topic in a new interview on “The A24 Podcast” alongside Olivia Wilde, who also auditioned for the role but ultimately did not land the part.

Wilde asked whether the narrative that Hathaway quit over a crowning scene was true, to which Rogen initially answered in the affirmative before slightly backtracking, adding, “It could have been a hundred million things.”

However, he said he remembered being told that the crowning scene was the reason, describing it as “a tough one.”

Rogen Says Hathaway Felt The Scene Was Not Her ‘Brand’

Regarding the crowning scene, Rogen explained what Hathaway specifically took issue with and how it may have contributed to her decision to leave the film.

“She didn’t want the crowning of the baby to be visually representative. Even though it wasn’t going to be hers… It’s obviously not real. But she didn’t even want…she felt that it was not her brand,” the actor told his co-star and “The Invite” director.

Looking back on the moment, Rogen said he has no plans to question the claim.

“We had started rehearsing the movie… maybe she was just like, ‘I don’t know if this is for me.’ I don’t know. I will take what she said at face value, which was the crowning,” he added.

Seth Rogen Defends Hathaway’s Decision To Leave

In “Knocked Up,” Hathaway was meant to play Alison Scott, an ambitious TV producer who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with Rogen’s character, Ben Stone.

The role was ultimately played by Heigl, and the film became a commercial success after its release in the summer of that year.

Despite the actress seemingly missing out on the potential accolades that could have come with playing the role, Rogen sees it as a matter of fate that she did not commit to the film.

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“She had a sense, and she knew it was not for her,” Rogen continued. “And history will tell… she has been right about a lot more things than I have over the years.

“So, I think she was probably right. [Heigl] knew what was right for her, yes. And then Heigl was great. Katie Heigl was great,” he also noted.

Rogen Earns Praise For ‘The Invite’

Rogen recently returned to the big screen in Wilde’s film “The Invite,” in which he stars alongside Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.

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His performance as Joe has earned widespread praise from Wilde, who highlighted his emotional depth and comedic strength.

“Seth has this extraordinary ability to ground the most outrageously comic scenarios in such honesty. It’s like he has a pact with the audience where he respects them, but will never underestimate their intelligence,” she said.

“He’s sort of a comedy scientist who happens to have this deeply personal and emotional connection to the audience. With Seth as Joe, I wanted to warm people up with comedy, and then pierce their hearts with grounded emotional honesty,” the actress added.

Seth Rogen Opens Up About Working With Olivia Wilde

For Rogen, starring in the project came down to Wilde’s vision for the characters.

“When she described what she was hoping to do with ‘The Invite,’ I was interested in that collaborative process, developing the characters together over time and then reworking the script based on the new ideas that were emerging,” Rogen said of Wilde.

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Reflecting further on his experience working with Wilde, Rogen explained what made the collaboration so enjoyable.

“She and I excelled at arguing with each other. Also, I tend to thrive comedically in situations where there’s a lot of tension and pressure and an underlying doom of some sort, and this was perfect for that,” he shared.

New sci-fi shows come out nearly every month on all the big streaming services, but it’s rare that one finds a foothold strong enough to stay around for a few years. Just look back to The Boroughs, Netflix’s big sci-fi gamble of 2026 that was even hailed as the platform’s next Stranger Things, with creatives and producers (Matt and Ross Duffer) admitting to plans beyond Season 1. However, despite a mostly positive reception, Netflix canceled the show while it was still sitting in the global top 10, setting a dangerous precedent going forward. One of Netflix’s biggest competitors, Prime Video, has found success in the sci-fi genre in recent years with a few shows, but perhaps none have become as popular as Fallout. Through two seasons, the show picked up over 100 million views.

When it came time to adapt Fallout, Prime Video made a decision that could be viewed as risky in telling a completely original story and not opting to adapt a game one-for-one. This ultimately worked out, as it allowed the show to introduce beloved new characters like Ghoul (played by Walton Goggins) and Lucy (played by Ella Purnell), while also bringing back beloved characters from the game such as Dogmeat. However, just because Prime Video’s Fallout is on top of the world right now before its third season doesn’t mean Bethesda is done sinking resources into its most recent single-player Fallout experience, Fallout 4. Earlier this week, the official Fallout X account announced the addition of a new Creation Club companion known as Miss Weldy, a chaotic automatron robot now available to download on all platforms.

When Does ‘Fallout’ Season 3 Come Out?

Prime Video has yet to set an official release date or window for Fallout Season 3, but production is gearing up to begin soon. Some big new casting additions have been announced in recent weeks leading up to the start of filming, including Breaking Bad veteran Aaron Paul and The Acolyte villain Manny Jacinto. Assuming the show does resume filming in the next few months, it can be safely said that it will certainly return sometime in 2027, but likely not before the end of 2026. Still, after the first season premiered in 2024 and Season 2 debuted at the turn of 2025/2026, three seasons in five years is as good as it gets during the streaming era for a sci-fi show with such a big budget.

Check out the first two seasons of Fallout on Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 3.

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Release Date

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April 10, 2024

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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Showrunner

Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan

Directors

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Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, Clare Kilner

Writers

Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan

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Flat sandals are an easy grab, but they come with a hefty side of regret. When you’re running errands, walking to the restaurant or traveling abroad, you’ll be glad you grabbed these comfy-chic shoe styles that serve the same casual ease, minus the aching arches.

This summer’s trendiest shoes hide serious engineering under sleek silhouettes. Think: contouring tucked inside slides, memory foam footbeds disguised as platforms and built-in arch support. Below, you’ll find 13 stylish pairs that look like they belong on a Positano postcard, but feel like they were made for a 12,000-step day.

13 Secretly Supportive Summer Shoes — From $12

1. Bestseller Alert: Slip into these cushiony toe-loop sandals for anything on your July calendar. Breezy and plush, they’re a bestseller for a reason.

2. Boutique Find: Ribbon laces and delicate lace detailing give these pink ballet sneakers the look of flats with the feeling of trainers.

3. Luxe Leopard: Blisters ruin new shoes (and your day). Thankfully, these leopard-print flats have stretchy knit upper that skips the phase entirely; they mold to your foot from the first wear.

4. Logging Miles: When you booked a walking tour and don’t want to arrive in sneakers, slip into these arch-supportive sandals and go for 15,000 steps.

5. New York Socialite: White faux leather, polished gold hardware and a round-toe shape give these luxe-looking loafers a Madison Avenue finish for $34.

Related: ICYMI, Ballerina Sneakers Are the 2026 Version of Clean White Kicks

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 […]

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6. European Rich Mom: Adidas took the Mary Jane silhouette and gave it a sporty twist with this pair. The Parisian-style Barreda sneakers go beautifully with dresses and still handle airport days.

7. Elevated Flops: Flat flip-flops provide zero support, but heeled sandals kill you by 9 p.m. This platform pair splits the difference with a stable base and a classic thong design.

8. Mega Classy: Two-tone paneling gives these Mary Jane sneakers a compliment-worthy appeal. The strap keeps them secure without the toe-grip clench of ballet flats.

9. Oddly Chic: Crocs took its signature foam and shaped it into toe-loop sandals, which may sound strange until you wear them. These cloud-like wonders are wildly comfortable.

10. Hamptons Vibes: If you love the Hermès Oran, you’ll adore these coastal-inspired slides that feature a raffia-looking H-strap and memory foam footbed.

11. Total Hybrid: Museum days that turn into dinner plans call for shoes that work for both. These Mary Jane sneakers skip the outfit-change panic.

12. Beach Day: Reef built its reputation on comfort and these easy Vista sandals prove why. They cushion you through sand, salt water and the walk back to the car.

13. Half Off: These classy gold-strap sandals should cost triple the price, with thick metallic straps that dress up denim and sundresses alike. But hey, no complaints!

Related: 13 Elevated Shoe Styles That Make Dresses Look More Expensive

As a comfort connoisseur, I’m all about sneakers. But as a fashion person, I’m also about, well, fashion. When the occasion calls for a dress and sporty isn’t the vibe, I found 13 elevated shoe styles that make my summer dresses appear triple the price. These chic flats, sandals, slides and more are the easiest […]

Critical Role has built an entertainment empire by bringing TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) style storytelling to the masses, first via their web series and now also by adapting those campaigns into animated series on Prime Video — The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein. Over the years, they’ve amassed a staggeringly impressive following and also continue to tell unparalleled fantasy stories via new campaigns, the latest of which kicked off in October 2025.

Not only are the members of Critical Role icons in the D&D space, but they’re also wildly talented and accomplished actors. That combination could make them ideal casting for Peacock’s upcoming Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

Collider Ladies Night recently celebrated its first-ever full live show at the Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles with Critical Role’s Laura Bailey, Marisha Ray and Ashley Johnson. During a round of Dicey Questions, the group rolled our fan casting question, and were challenged to cast each other in the film or show of their choice. Bailey immediately zeroed in on the highly anticipated Dungeon Crawler Carl show.

What Is ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl?’

An ambitious adaptation that could be a major hit for Peacock.

Image via Renegade Game Studios / Luciano Fleitas

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a literary role-playing game series from author Matt Dinniman. At the start of book one, an alien invasion almost entirely annihilates life on earth. Survivors are forced to enter the World Dungeon, an 18-level space constructed using Earth’s resources that serves as a game show arena. Carl and other “crawlers,” including his ex-girlfriend’s cat Donut, must navigate each level while learning from NPCs, selecting their character race and class, collecting supplies, and fighting bosses. If they don’t make their way to the next level in the allotted time, the level they’re on collapses, killing all crawlers who remain.

The first book was a hit and paved the way for Dinniman to publish eight novels total by May 2026. In 2024, it was announced that Universal International Studios and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door emerged victorious in a “highly competitive situation” and scooped up the rights to turn Dungeon Crawler Carl into a TV series. Just a few weeks ago, Peacock gave the project a straight-to-series order, so that means MacFarlane and co. might be casting up in the near future.

Laura Bailey Wants to See Marisha Ray in ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’

And has a role she wants to play herself.

Given Bailey is busy reading Dungeon Crawler Carl right now, it didn’t take long for the perfect answer to come to mind for our fan-casting Dicey Question.

“I’ve been reading a lot of Dungeon Crawler Carl, and I just saw that the rights got picked up, and it’s already green lit, and I’m freaking out about it. But listen, I’ve been reading the series, and I got to the role of Samantha, and I think Marisha would be amazing.”

Why that role in particular for Ray? Bailey explained that the idea came to mind courtesy of something Ray did on the video podcast series Weird Kids. She explained, “You did this little thing, like a spoof on Critical Role, and it was just your head on this little body, and you had a high ponytail.”

Given how specific and unusual that visual is, you might be wondering, why would that bring Dungeon Crawler Carl to mind? First, Dungeon Crawler Carl is a swing-for-the-fences type of story. After all, Carl’s ex-girlfriend’s cat, Donut, becomes sapient courtesy of an enchanted pet biscuit.

With that in mind, it might not come as much of a surprise to learn that Samantha is actually a sex doll. Bailey noted, “I’m not going to spoil anything — she’s a sex doll. But also, hilarious and psycho.” When Ray laughed and said, “You should just stop while you’re ahead,” Bailey added, “She’s great! She’s, like, one of my favorite characters. She’s just a head. Okay, I’m stopping.”

Ray jumped in and joked, “I’ll do anything. Look, Hollywood, I’ll do anything,” and then added, “This has actually been the best pitch for me to read Dungeon Crawler Carl. Now I’m like, ‘Well, that sounds pretty good.’”

Image via Ace Books

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Bailey’s pitch certainly had that effect on me. Immediately after our live event, I started listening to the first book in the series. While I’ve yet to reach Samantha’s part of the story, I have spent a good deal of time with Princess Donut. During the conversation about the adaptation, Bailey also added, “I want to be Donut in Dungeon Crawler Carl so bad,” and now I know, sincerely, that casting would be brilliant. Bailey’s a voice acting pro and would, no doubt, soar while taking it to the extreme Donut-style.

But the same is also true of any member of Critical Role. They’ve all got extensive acting resumes, but even if you only hear their work in The Legend of Vox Machina, which just wrapped up its fourth season on Prime Video, it’ll be abundantly clear that they’ve all got maximum range as performers and endless creative potential as artists. There’s already a good deal of hype for this Dungeon Crawler Carl series, but what would up that buzz more than adding members of Critical Role to the ensemble of a D&D-inspired book-turned-TV show?

Eager to hear even more from Bailey, Ray and Johnson? You can watch the full Collider Ladies Night Live recording in the video at the top of this article!

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Release Date

January 27, 2022

Network

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Prime Video

Showrunner

Brandon Auman

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Directors

Young Heller, Eugene Lee, Alicia Chan

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Writers

Eugene Son, Travis Willingham, Chris Wyatt, Kevin Burke, Suzanne Keilly, Mae Catt, Todd Casey, Ashly Burch, May Chan, Marc Bernardin

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Following one of the strongest debut seasons in Marvel Animation history, X-Men ’97 faced enormous expectations entering Season 2. Fortunately, the first three episodes prove the series hasn’t lost any momentum, delivering another thrilling blend of superhero action, emotional storytelling, and deep comic book lore.

Rather than easing viewers back into the world of the X-Men, Season 2 immediately picks up after the explosive finale of Season 1. With the team scattered across three different time periods, the opening episodes follow multiple storylines simultaneously while laying the groundwork for Apocalypse‘s rise.

It’s an ambitious approach, but one that largely succeeds.

Episode 1 centers on Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the future timeline, adapting elements from The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. Their reunion with Nathan, better known as Cable, provides some of the strongest emotional moments of the season so far. The episode reminds viewers that beneath all of the time travel and mutant battles, X-Men ’97 continues to thrive because of its characters.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Episode 2 shifts gears with a fun, action-packed adventure featuring Cable, Jubilee, Sunspot, and the formation of a new X-Force. While the episode embraces the over-the-top style of the classic ’90s comics, it also explores the moral differences between Cable’s hardened worldview and Jubilee’s optimism. Their dynamic creates one of the season’s most entertaining character pairings.

The third episode may be the strongest of the bunch, taking audiences thousands of years into the past as Magnetoencounters a young En Sabah Nur, the mutant destined to become Apocalypse. Rather than presenting the iconic villain as a one-dimensional conqueror, the episode explores his origins in a surprisingly thoughtful way. The conversations between Magneto and En Sabah Nur are among the most compelling scenes in the series, adding emotional complexity to a character fans thought they already knew.

Visually, X-Men ’97 remains one of Marvel’s most impressive productions. The animation captures the spirit of the original 1990s series while elevating every action sequence with fluid movement, vibrant colors, and cinematic direction. Whether it’s mutant powers colliding on the battlefield or quieter emotional moments between teammates, every frame feels carefully crafted.

The voice cast also continues to shine, bringing authenticity and heart to these beloved characters. Even with multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously, each episode finds time for meaningful character moments that remind viewers why the X-Men have endured for generations.

The biggest criticism of these opening episodes is pacing. Episode 1 in particular moves through a significant amount of story in a short amount of time, and several of the timelines could have benefited from an extra episode to further develop their characters and emotional beats. It’s less a flaw in storytelling than a reminder that there’s simply so much happening at once.

X-Men 97′ Season 2 [credit: Marvel Animation]

Even so, those concerns do little to diminish what has been an outstanding start to Season 2. Marvel Animation has once again found the perfect balance between nostalgia and fresh storytelling, honoring classic comic arcs while keeping longtime fans guessing about what’s coming next.

Three episodes in, X-Men ’97 is already shaping up to be one of the year’s best animated series. If the remaining episodes maintain this level of quality, Season 2 has every chance of surpassing its already exceptional predecessor.

Verdict

X-Men ’97 wastes no time reminding fans why it became one of Marvel’s biggest success stories. While the opening episodes occasionally move too quickly through their ambitious storylines, the outstanding animation, emotional character work, and faithful adaptation of beloved comic arcs make for an exceptional return. After three episodes, Season 2 is firing on all cylinders.

You’ve vetted your supplements, scrutinized your skincare, and probably banished most of the seed oils from your kitchen. But the toothpaste you’re using twice a day, every day, has somehow escaped the same scrutiny.

ARU toothpaste is part of a new generation of oral care built for people who actually read the back of the box — shorter formulas, ingredients with a purpose and evidence behind the choices.

Conventional toothpaste tubes carry 15 to 20+ ingredients, many of which exist for foam, color or shelf appeal rather than dental outcomes. The pushback consumers have applied to food, beauty and cookware is finally reaching oral care, and the data behind cleaner formulations is more substantial than the category’s marketing has historically let on.

Making a Case for SLS-Free Toothpaste

Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is the foaming agent in most conventional toothpastes. It’s the reason your brush feels productive. It’s also a detergent originally developed for industrial cleaning, regulated as safe at toothpaste concentrations but well-documented as an irritant to soft tissue and a contributor to canker sores.

A 2019 systematic review in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine found that SLS-free toothpaste reduced the number of ulcers, duration of ulcer, number of episodes and ulcer pain.

“Minor changes in a toothpaste can really make a difference in a patient’s quality of life,” Diana Messadi, a professor and the chair of oral medicine, oral pathology and orofacial pain at the UCLA School of Dentistry, told The Washington Post.

If you’ve quietly written off canker sores as bad luck, switching to an SLS-free toothpaste is one of the cheaper experiments you can run.

What’s Actually In Every ARU Toothpaste Formula

The ARU toothpaste line comes in four different formulas. None of them contain SLS. They’re also free from microbeads, dyes, parabens, phthalates, triclosan, fluoride, artificial flavors and animal testing.

They each share eight ingredients in common, all of which serve a specific purpose:

1. Cocamidopropyl betaine, a coconut-derived surfactant that creates gentle foam and lifts away plaque and debris without irritating gum tissue (an SLS alternative).
2. Sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol that sweetens the formula and keeps it from drying out.
3. Cellulose gum, a plant-derived thickener that keeps the paste smooth, stable, and evenly textured.
4. Silica. a naturally occurring mineral that adds texture and gently scrubs away plaque and surface stains.
5. Natural mint flavors, a blend of eucalyptus, spearmint, and peppermint oils for flavor and fresh breath.
6. Potassium sorbate, a preservative that prevents mold, yeast, and bacterial growth in the tube.
7. Stevia rebaudiana leaf extract, a natural, zero-calorie sweetener that rounds out the flavor without contributing to decay.
8. Aqua (water), the solvent that dissolves and binds the other ingredients into a paste.

Three of the formulas add one more ingredient to the mix, while the fourth adds three. Those ingredients are specifically chosen to either whiten teeth, reduce sensitivity, improve gum health or protect cavities.

Here’s a breakdown:

1. The fluoride-free whitening toothpaste adds sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to polish away surface stains, calcium carbonate as a gentle abrasive for plaque and calcium peroxide to break down deeper stains through slow oxidation.
2. The fluoride-free sensitive toothpaste adds hydroxyapatite, the same mineral that makes up natural tooth enamel, to remineralize teeth and fill in the micro-fissures that cause hot, cold, and sweet sensitivity.
3. The gum health toothpaste adds stannous fluoride, which strengthens enamel while also reducing the bacterial overgrowth and nerve stimulation that lead to bleeding and inflamed gums .
4. The cavity protection toothpaste adds sodium fluoride, the standard cavity-fighting active, which remineralizes enamel and increases its resistance to the acid erosion that causes decay.

Fluoride-Free Toothpaste: What the Evidence Says

The scientific consensus is clear. Fluoride is safe at the concentrations used in commercial toothpaste, and the American Dental Association still recommends fluoride toothpaste for daily use.

“The fluoride will help reduce the demineralization process, which is the first stage of tooth decay,” says Dr. David Okano, a periodontist and assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Dentistry. “Also, if you have the demineralization but not yet a full-blown cavity in the tooth, the fluoride can be taken up into that demineralized area to help it remineralize.”

A growing share of consumers still skip it. The most established concern is dental fluorosis, a cosmetic condition that develops when young children ingest too much fluoride while permanent teeth are still forming, which is why kids toothpaste choices warrant extra scrutiny. Some adults also report sensitivity or irritation from fluoride formulas. Others simply prefer shorter ingredient lists.

ARU’s line covers both lanes, so a fluoride-free toothpaste and a remineralizing toothpaste with hydroxyapatite sit alongside the two fluoride picks.

Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste as a Remineralizing Alternative

The most evidence-supported fluoride alternative is hydroxyapatite, the same mineral that makes up natural tooth enamel. As a remineralizing toothpaste ingredient, it fills the micro-fissures that cause hot, cold, and sweet sensitivity and rebuilds enamel from the surface in.

ARU’s sensitive formula is a hydroxyapatite toothpaste — a credible toothpaste for sensitive teeth that doesn’t rely on fluoride to do the work. If you’ve been looking for a clinical reason to avoid fluoride beyond preference, remineralization via hydroxyapatite is the answer with the most data behind it.

The Honest Worth-It Verdict

Pick by goal. Want whiter teeth, go with whitening. Bleeding gums, gum health. Standard daily protection, cavity protection. Sensitive teeth, the hydroxyapatite formula. All four are available at Walmart and on Walmart.com.