Perez Hilton‘s sister described what it was like to find her brother in the nude and covered in blood following his recent hospitalization. Hilton was hospitalized in Miami on Tuesday, August 4, after he self-harmed during a livestream on TikTok.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Gloss Up Shares Recovery Progress After Hospital Release Following Major Foot Injury (VIDEO)

Perez Hilton Hospitalized After He’s Seen Harming Himself On TikTok Livestream

Perez Hilton was hospitalized after he was seen self-harming on a TikTok livestream last week. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office released a statement noting they responded to the home after receiving multiple reports about the livestream, per E! News.

“The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media,” reads the statement. “Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside.”

After the celebrity blogger was hospitalized, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office released another statement to the press.

“The individual has been safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention,” the statement noted. “The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals are also on scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family.”

Hilton’s three children, Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and 8-year-old Mayte, were in the home with Hilton just before the live stream but “immediately fled” amid his “severe mental health crisis,” his family noted, per PEOPLE. Additionally, Hilton’s sister and niece were also in the home just before the livestream.

Hilton’s Sister Found Him Locked In His Bedroom

His sister, Barbara Lavandeira, told Page Six that August 4 would “forever be one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced.”

Lavandeira said that Hilton, whose birth name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was in his bedroom behind a locked, closed door. She added that she knocked on the door and the 48-year-old responded that he was fine, but “something just felt wrong.”

“I unlocked his bedroom door and realized he was inside the bathroom,” she said. “I knocked several more times and told him I was going to come in if he didn’t open the door. He still didn’t answer, so I unlocked it. When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality.” 

Lavandeira Found Perez Naked And Covered In Blood

Lavandeira said that after she opened the bathroom door, she saw Hilton naked and bloodied from cuts. In addition, he was also holding a box cutter.

“Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood, with a box cutter in his hand,” she said.

She said what happened next caught her by surprise.

“What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him. I saw it in his eyes,” she added. “They didn’t look the same. Then, a split second later, he smiled at me. It felt like I was staring at someone else.”

According to NBC Miami, Hilton’s family noted that he required surgery after the suicide attempt but was recovering.

“He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days,” reads a family statement. “His treatment and recovery will be a long process.”

Subsequently, Hilton’s mother, Teresita Lavandeira, was taking care of his three children after the incident and filed for temporary custody amid his hospitalization, per Page Six.

Her attorney told Page Six that the children’s safety was her main concern following the tragedy. In addition, Hilton reportedly “voluntarily consented” to the temporary custody request.

“I realize that by signing this document, I am consenting to the Petitioner having temporary legal custody of the minor children and that such temporary custody is in the best interest of the children,” court documents state.

A source also told the outlet that Perez nearly died from sepsis in March. He was hospitalized after taking the flu vaccine on an empty stomach. After that, he reportedly got an ulcer, which led to sepsis.

“His health struggles this year have been extreme,” said the source. “The sepsis honestly almost killed him. I don’t know if people realize just how traumatic and horrific that was for him, both physically, but also emotionally.”

RELATED: Prayers Up! Eminem’s Ex-Wife Kim Scott Recently Rushed To The Hospital (VIDEO)

Off Campus has already been renewed for season 2 — but not every cast member is coming back to the show.

Based on the book series by Elle Kennedy, the show, which premiered in May 2026, follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery — forging deep friendships and enduring bonds while navigating the complexities that come with transitioning into adulthood,” read the official synopsis.

Season 1 is centered around the “sexy and fun ‘opposites attract’ romance between quiet songwriter, Hannah, and Briar University’s all-star hockey athlete, Garrett.” (In addition to. Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, the show introduces characters played by Mika Abdalla, Antonio Cipriano, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Josh Heuston and Stephen Kalyn as well.)

With each season being based on a different love story in the Briar U universe, it probably comes as no surprise that not every character will be featured prominently every season. Creator Louisa Levy confirmed one season 2 absence but keep scrolling for a full breakdown of who is — and isn’t — returning:

Related: Which ‘Off Campus’ Couples End Up Together? Book Order Explained

Prime Video’s Off Campus follows different love stories at Briar U — but which couples end up together in the books? Based on the Off Campus book series by Elle Kennedy, the show follows an elite ice hockey team — and the women in their lives — as they “grapple with love, heartbreak, and self-discovery […]

Ella Bright

Bright confirmed to Us that the plan is for them to be “sticking” around before Cameli added, “We’re excited to see what season 2 holds for [us].”

Belmont Cameli

“I totally understand your concern,” Cameli exclusively told Us about each season of the Prime Video show being focused on a different fictional couple. “We will be along for the ride the whole time.”

Mika Abdalla

Abdalla’s character Allie will be the lead of season 2.

Stephen Thomas Kalyn

Kalyn’s character Dean is going to take center stage as well.

Jalen Thomas Brooks

With his own book in the mix, Brooks is returning as Tucker in future seasons of the hit Prime Video show.

Antonio Cipriano

Cipriano’s character Logan is expected to take center stage either in season 3.

Josh Heuston

Levy confirmed in May 2026 that Justin wouldn’t appear in season 2, telling TV Guide, “Not next season, but I love Josh and I would not write him off if I can find a way to bring Justin back at some point.”

She continued: “We never got a chance to meet Stella, who is the person he ends up with in the book. So maybe we’ll find a way to fold him into a future season.”

Levy noted that it wasn’t always the plan for Justin to be absent. “We don’t have him [available] next season, but never say never,” she added.

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Steve Howey

While Garrett is still being featured in the show, it remains unclear whether Howey will be involved.

India Fowler

Logan’s love interest, Grace, was cast in anticipation of a season 2 introduction.

Shay Rudolph

Rudolph, meanwhile, will play Dean’s sister, Summer.

Alright, y’all! Keyshia Cole has folks doing a double-take after popping out in a new photo that has the internet wondering what exactly is going on between her and Skrilla. While the singer kept things low-key, the rapper appeared to be right there beside her for a flick that’s already getting plenty of attention.

RELATED: Was That A Push? Footage Shows Keyshia Cole & Skrilla In The Studio & Folks Have Questions (VIDEO)

Keyshia Cole Is All Smiles While Posted With Skrilla

In the photo, Keyshia rocks what appears to be a purplish-blue sweatshirt and a black baseball cap. She closes her eyes and flashes a big smile, showing off all 32, while Skrilla appears to be the one behind the camera and joins the moment in a washed-gray top while biting his bottom lip. The two didn’t appear to offer any additional context about the snap, but that hasn’t stopped folks from reading into the vibe.

You Already Know This Flick Has Fans Talking

Fans quickly ran to TSR’s Instagram comment section and ran it up with their thoughts on Keyshia Cole and Skrilla’s latest flick. While some aren’t sure Keyshia should be this public about the relationship, others are looking at her smile and figuring Skrilla must be doing something right. And, of course, plenty of folks are simply watching to see where this whole situation goes next.

This Instagram user @diorb said, “I would be in 5 relationships and nobody would know not even my dog 😭 love my girl down tho”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @_pettyking wrote, “***Upcoming heartbreak Power Ballad loading soon…*** 👀”

While Instagram user @breciejanelle added, “somebody on twitter was like ‘see i told yall she let anybody hit im next for sure’ 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”

And, Instagram user @__lexy commented, “😭😭he putting her thru the mattress i know it!”

But, Instagram user @thej_cece shared, “Y auntie can’t like YN ??? What’s the problem 😭😭😭”

Finally, Instagram user @_suckafreesi claimed, “Can’t wait for my son to grow up and graduate school so he can show Miss Keyshia what a real man is 😤”

Miss Keyshia Cole Seems To Be Enjoying Her Soft Life

Keyshia Cole appears to be in her feel-good era, and sis seems to be soaking up every moment. The 44-year-old singer was previously spotted with 27-year-old rapper Skrilla in a music studio, where he pulled her into the frame as she flashed a big smile beneath a Louis Vuitton baseball cap before exiting the shot.

And the vibes didn’t stop there! Keyshia also shared photos of two lavish rose arrangements, including a heart-shaped bouquet of multicolored roses and a box of red roses, with one image featuring the word “Baby.” A sweet note reading, “Love u beautiful XOXO,” also caught fans’ attention, giving them even more reason to believe someone is spoiling the singer as she enjoys this new chapter.

RELATED: Lover Girl! Keyshia Cole Shows Off Bouquets Of Roses Amid Apparent Romance With Skrilla (PHOTOS)

The 1990s were an incredible decade for romantic movies. The biggest film of that decade is a romance-tragedy film involving a sinking ship. But apart from that, the decade also offers more in the genre, from the comedic and light to the heartbreaking movies. It was a decade that showed how flexible the genre could be, with films like Before Sunrise finding romance in simple conversation and Chungking Express turning loneliness and chance encounters into something beautiful.

Here, we take a look at the romantic films of the 1990s that are perfect from start to finish. They may vary in their expression of romance and love, but one thing unites them all: the ability to bring the audience into the film and feel emotions when watching them. Whether they end happily, tragically, or somewhere in between, the best movies in the genre make us understand that love can appear in the most unexpected places.

8

‘The Piano’ (1993)

image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Piano tells the story of Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), a mute Scottish woman who is sent to colonial New Zealand for an arranged marriage to wealthy landowner Alisdair Stewart (Sam Neill). Ada expresses herself almost entirely through her beloved piano, which becomes her strongest connection to the world around her. When Stewart leaves the instrument behind on the beach, his neighbor George Baines (Harvey Keitel) offers to retrieve it in exchange for piano lessons that gradually develop into a complicated romance.

Through subtle cues, The Piano is able to communicate its characters’ overwhelming emotion. Jane Campion uses silence, music, and visual storytelling to reveal feelings that words could never adequately express. Holly Hunter delivers a phenomenal, Oscar-winning performance almost entirely without dialogue, while Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill bring depth to two men who represent different forms of love for Ada. Also phenomenal is young Anna Paquin‘s Oscar-winning performance in this film. The score by Michael Nyman is beautiful and essential to every moment of the film. This sweeping romance film also won the Palme d’Or, making Campion the first woman to win it.

7

‘Il Postino’ (1994)

Image via Miramax

Il Postino follows Mario Ruoppolo (Massimo Troisi), a fisherman who becomes the temporary postman for the exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret) on a small Italian island. As Mario delivers Neruda’s letters, the two gradually develop an unlikely friendship, with Mario learning about language, poetry and politics from the famous poet. With Neruda’s help, Mario gains the confidence to pursue Beatrice (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), the woman he has quietly admired from afar.

Il Postino is not just a romance film about two people falling in love, even though the central romance between Mario and Beatrice is undeniably sweet. Through his friendship with Neruda, Mario finds love and beauty through poetry and human connection, and that is a much more eternal kind of love. Massimo Troisi delivers an incredibly tender performance filled with warmth and innocence. The film was his final role before his death as he was suffering from heart conditions during filming. The film was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture and two posthumous Oscar nominations for Troisi. The film ultimately won one for Best Score.

6

‘Wild at Heart’ (1990)

Image via The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Wild at Heart follows lovers Sailor Ripley (Nicolas Cage) and Lula Fortune (Laura Dern) as they flee across the American South after Lula’s controlling mother (Diane Ladd) hires criminals to break them up. Along the way, Sailor and Lula’s devotion to one another is tested by dangerous criminals hunting down Sailor, personal problems, and a world that seems determined to tear them apart.

Despite its outrageous violence and surreal imagery, Wild at Heart is ultimately one of the purest love stories in David Lynch‘s filmography. Beneath its eccentric surface lies a surprisingly straightforward tale about two people refusing to let the world destroy their relationship. Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern bring everything to their performances, creating lovers who feel larger-than-life yet still relatable and genuine. The film was met with mixed reviews, despite winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes. It has since been reappraised as one of Lynch’s best and has developed a strong cult following.

5

’10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

10 Things I Hate About You is a modern update of William Shakespeare‘s The Taming of the Shrew set in a high school. It follows Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who wants to date the popular Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik) but can’t because of her father’s rule that Bianca can only date if her independent older sister, Kat (Julia Stiles) does too. This leads to bad-boy Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) being paid to pursue Kat, only to actually fall in love with her.

10 Things I Hate About You is leagues above other teen romances because of the film’s great ensemble and its remarkable sincerity. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles share undeniable chemistry. They transform familiar romantic tropes into something emotionally authentic and mature. From Patrick’s unforgettable stadium song performance to Kat’s emotional poem in the classroom, every major scene lands because the film earns its emotions through strong character development. The film is funny, heartfelt, and endlessly quotable. It still leads the pack among other modern Shakespearean updates.

4

‘The Bridges of Madison County’ (1995)

Image via Warner Bros.

The Bridges of Madison County follows Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), an Italian immigrant who has settled in Iowa. When her husband and children leave home for several days, she meets Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood), a traveling photographer who has arrived in Madison County to photograph its famous covered bridges. After Francesca helps him find one of the bridges, the two begin spending time together and develop a romance.

Directed by Eastwood himself, the film is a satisfying and rich romance. The whole story is set in the course of four days yet the connection between Francesca and Robert is very intimate and strong. Meryl Streep and Eastwood give remarkably restrained performances, allowing their chemistry to emerge through small gestures like a glance or a brush against each other. Francesca’s dilemma is particularly powerful because neither choice is presented as entirely right or wrong. Leaving with Robert would mean following the love of her life, but staying means honoring her family and the life she has spent years building. That emotional maturity is what makes The Bridges of Madison County so romantic from beginning to end.

3

‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)

Image via Columbia Pictures

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Before Sunrise follows Jesse (Ethan Hawke), an American traveling through Europe, and Céline (Julie Delpy), a French student he meets on a train. Jesse persuades Céline to get off the train with him in Vienna and spend the night together before his flight the following morning. Together they spend the night wandering through Vienna and discussing everything from the mundane to the profound.

Before Sunrise‘s charm comes from the natural feeling that flows between the two characters. The film is full of dialogues and conversations, which on paper, could be boring yet it never is. Richard Linklater proves that he doesn’t need elaborate obstacles or dramatic moments to sell their connection because the simple act of two people discovering one another is compelling enough. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have extraordinary chemistry, and their performances make Jesse and Céline feel like real people that the audience eavesdrops on for two hours. By the end, we also fall in love with them and don’t want to leave.

2

‘Chungking Express’ (1994)

Image via Miramax

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Chungking Express tells two separate but thematically connected stories about lonely people searching for love in the crowded streets of Hong Kong. One follows a heartbroken police officer (Takeshi Kaneshiro) who becomes fascinated by a mysterious woman wearing a blonde wig and sunglasses (Brigitte Lin), while the second centers on another policeman (Tony Leung) whose life is quietly disrupted by Faye (Faye Wong), an eccentric employee at a local snack bar he frequents.

Wong Kar-wai has no shortage of iconic movies, and Chungking Express is definitely one of them. His characters constantly seem to be surrounded by people while remaining emotionally isolated, making every unexpected connection feel significant. The film’s kinetic camerawork, neon-lit imagery, fragmented editing, and unforgettable music give it a unique atmosphere. Nevertheless, none of the style overshadows the gist of the film, which is the romance that’s loaded with absence and longing. It becomes more outstanding against the backdrop of Hong Kong, one of the busiest cities in the world. It’s undoubtedly one of the best offerings from Asian cinema.

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Chungking Express

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Release Date

March 8, 1994

Runtime

103 minutes

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Director

Wong Kar-wai

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Writers

Wong Kar-wai

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1

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HBO was launched in late 1972, establishing the blueprint for premium channels and pretty much revolutionizing subscription television. In the years since then, they have made a jaw-dropping number of TV shows that are often counted among the greatest ever made—which includes several masterful miniseries that have virtually no flaws whatsoever.

The format of the miniseries (a show that tells a complete story in a limited number of pre-defined episodes) was born shortly after HBO’s launch, and the network’s first own miniseries was 1979’s The Seekers. It wouldn’t be until much later, though, that they would master the art of the miniseries and start producing undeniably perfect masterpieces of the stature of John Adams and Chernobyl.

‘The Corner’ (2000)

Image via HBO

The Corner is one of those fantastic miniseries that nobody remembers, a show that walked so The Wire could run just two years later. Based on the nonfiction book The Corner: A Year in the Life of An Inner-City Neighborhood by David Simon and Ed Burns (who co-created The Wire), it’s a chronicle of the life of a poor family living in the open-air drug markets of Baltimore.

Composed of only six episodes, The Corner is a must-see not only for people who love The Wire and somehow still haven’t seen it, but for just about anyone who enjoys crime dramas but doesn’t want to commit to a multi-season one. Though it shares much of the DNA of HBO’s 2002 cult classic, it’s entirely its own thing, a wonderfully empathetic story told with raw emotion and powerful authenticity.

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Image via HBO Max

Cartoons deserve every bit as much respect and love as live-action miniseries, and few animated HBO miniseries demonstrate that fact better than Scavengers Reign. One of the highest-rated sci-fi miniseries ever on IMDb, this enrapturing survival drama had all the potential to deliver several years’ worth of animated sci-fi bliss; but it was originally pitched as a self-contained miniseries, so even in spite of its tragic cancellation, it does provide a perfectly satisfying experience from start to finish.

Anyone who thinks of animation as a medium separate from, or even lesser than, live-action, ought to check out Scavengers Reign at least once in their lives. The animation and world-building are absolutely gorgeous and incredibly imaginative, the character writing is surprisingly complex and nuanced, and the methodical pacing makes the story utterly engrossing.

‘John Adams’ (2008)

Image via HBO

With four Golden Globe wins and a whopping 13 Emmy Awards under its belt, John Adams is the most awarded miniseries in the history of both ceremonies—and deservedly so. Directed by Tom Hooper right before his string of Oscar-nominated movies from the 2010s, this adaptation of the 2001 biography penned by David McCullough is, indeed, one of the most impressively produced TV shows of the 21st century.

There’s really no shortage of reasons as to why John Adams is one of the best HBO miniseries of the 2000s. The art of condensing the life and work of a man of John Adams‘ stature into a perfectly self-contained miniseries is precisely that: an art in and of itself, and everyone involved with the creation of this miniseries nailed that art. Gritty, complex, and anchored by one of the best performances of Paul Giamatti’s career, it’s a show that even those uninterested in American history should consider watching.

‘The Penguin’ (2024)

Image via HBO

It’s not only real people that HBO make character study miniseries about. As it turns out, they also make some incredible miniseries about supervillains, as irrefutably demonstrated by The Penguin. Starring an unrecognizable Colin Farrell in one of his most potent performances to date, this is far more than just a TV sequel to Matt Reeves‘ The Batman: It’s an absolute masterpiece in its entire own right.

One could go so far as to say that The Penguin is one of the best miniseries released since 2020, a perfect show which proves that there is still plenty of gripping stories to be told within the superhero genre, just as long as they’re told with this level of gravitas and creativity. Powerfully dramatic and wearing its influences on its sleeve with pride (most notably HBO’s own The Sopranos), it’s worth watching even for those irreparably tired of comic book adaptations.

‘It’s a Sin’ (2021)

Image via Channel 4

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Russell T Davies has been one of the kings of modern British television for years, creating and writing several shows that deserve to be considered among the UK’s best for years, but It’s a Sin may very well be his magnum opus. It was originally produced and broadcast by Channel 4, HBO joining as a co-producer and acquiring the miniseries’ U.S. rights in late 2019. The result of such a partnership is one of the best-scripted miniseries ever, according to IMDb.

Set in London between 1981 and 1991, the show tells the story of the HIV and AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom with an unparalleled balance between gut-wrenching poignancy and infectious joy. Davies, a champion of LGBTQ+ representation on the small screen, tells this five-part story with a level of profound emotion so heartbreaking that it’s admirable that he never lets the hope and energy surrounding the show disappear.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

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The Night Of is one of the best thriller TV shows with only one season, a crime drama based on the 2008 BBC series Criminal Justice. It’s one of the most acclaimed and highly awarded miniseries of the 2010s, including four Emmy victories, an Outstanding Lead Actor victory for the powerhouse Riz Ahmed among them. The series also features performances by the likes of John Turturro, and it may well be one of the best-acted miniseries of the last decade.

It’s a gritty, immensely powerful, undeniably bold critique of the American justice system and of deep institutional corruption, exploring these topics with a level of thematic and emotional depth not often seen in a show of any kind. But if there ever has been one television network willing to tell these sorts of complicated stories with such a raw commitment to authenticity and nuance, it’s HBO.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

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Chernobyl is the second-highest-rated miniseries of all time on IMDb and the fifth-highest-rated show of all time, and that’s for good reason. After all, this is one of the most perfect miniseries of the last 25 years that we’re talking about, a recreation of the events leading up to and immediately following the 1986 disaster in the titular Ukrainian town that’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

That’s because Chernobyl is five episodes of pure psychological dread, a hauntingly slow-burning depiction of every horrifying element surrounding the Chernobyl disaster. But even though it can be a challenging watch at times, it’s an essential one nonetheless, a powerful critique of the cost of institutional deception and systemic denial. It’s such a complex, potently character-driven, and well-researched masterpiece that it’s stunning that the team behind it were able to condense it all into just five incredible episodes.

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

If there’s one miniseries strong enough to be universally considered better than Chernobyl, it’s the masterpiece that’s right above it in the ranking of HBO’s highest-rated TV shows of all time: Band of Brothers, co-created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. The connections to Saving Private Ryan are clear, but Band of Brothers is a masterpiece more than capable of standing on its own two legs.

It’s far and away one of the best TV shows composed of fewer than 40 episodes, if not the very best of the best. World War II has been a historical event that has fascinated television for decades, but there is no depiction of the conflict more emotionally riveting, technically impressive, or dramatically powerful than Band of Brothers. It’s a deeply character-driven anti-war statement on a jaw-droppingly cinematic scale.

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Band of Brothers

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Release Date

2001 – 2001

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HBO

Directors

David Frankel, David Nutter, Mikael Salomon, Phil Alden Robinson, Richard Loncraine, Tom Hanks

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Days of Our Lives sees that EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) is still looking a little green around the gills and he’s laid up with some kind of flu type bug. What we’re wondering if is this seasonal flu somehow or did somebody come for karma on EJ and he was deliberately contaminated? Did somebody make EJ sick on purpose?

Days of our Lives: EJ Going Downhill

We’ve seen Rita Lesley (Maggie Carney) gatekeeping while EJ is sick. And we had Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) there working and lurking and claiming she was taking care of EJ also. And for the past few episodes of the Peacock soap, we’ve seen EJ go from sneezing fits to doctor’s orders to get fluids, medicate, and stay in bed.

Every time we see him, honestly, EJ looks and sounds worse. And it’s not even flu season. Not for a couple more months. So EJ’s random sudden illness has many fans speculating about what is going on with Stephano’s heir. Have all of EJ’s recent misdeeds and shady deals caught up with him? and this is a karmic bout of influenza out of season. That’s possible, but I think there may be more to it than that.

Susan or Kristen Behind EJ’s Illness on DOOL?

The timing is interesting. If you remember, EJ started coming down with symptoms not long after his mom, Susan Banks (Stacy Haiduk), yanked the Phoenix ring off EJ’s finger, and Susan took it upstairs to cleanse the evil out of it before returning it to EJ.

And we know Susan’s got all kinds of mojo working. So, maybe she didn’t just cleanse EJ’s ring with salt and prayers. Maybe Susan used her other powers to curse the ring while she had it upstairs away from EJ and offscreen. As much as Susan loves Elvis Jr., she had no problem yanking that ring off his finger.

And that’s because Susan doesn’t want EJ to become Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo). So, maybe Susan has worked her own brand of magic to try to stop the evil power of the ring and the illness is some kind of side effect that hit EJ.

Or maybe Susan hexed it so the wearer of the ring gets sick every time they are plotting evil. That’s weird. But it’s Days. So, Susan cursing EJ to try and make him a better man is actually plausible. Thanks to Susan, we could be seeing EJ suffering some kind of supernatural flu.

And speaking of Susan, EJ’s sister Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) recently visited Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) disguised as wacky psychic Susan. And with that in mind, maybe Kristen’s involved.

This may be her parting gift to EJ. Maybe Kristen put on the Susan Doppelganger costume with the fake teeth and just walked right into the mansion and Kristen then contaminated EJ’s favorite scotch or his toothbrush with some kind of virus. Kristen could have used a goon to get her something to dose him with.

Days of Our Lives: Who Deliberately Made EJ Sick?

She’s got ties to Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton). Of course, he’s on the run, but still Kristen could have found a way to get hold of something she could use to infect EJ. Not something to kill him, but Kristen might have wanted EJ bedridden and distracted long enough so that Kristen could get out of Salem safely.

And this week, we saw John Oliver’s character, Develin St. John, charm Rita, and then he got past her to walk right into EJ’s bedroom and woke him up from his sick bed. And when that happened, EJ looked even worse. So, it was bad enough he has this whatever kind of flu. But the water inspector was blackmailing him about the chlorine seal.

And who knows, maybe Kristen and Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) saw this plan as a bit of payback and a way for Kristen to escape EJ’s vengeance. Of course, Lexie didn’t know why Kristen was running from EJ. And if Lexie had known Kristen tried to kill Johnny, you know, maybe she wouldn’t have been willing to even help Kristen.

But if Susan or Kristen aren’t behind EJ’s illness, maybe his lovely assistant and ISA operative Cat is the one who made him sick. She’s been working with FBI guy Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) for about a year trying to bring down EJ. And the closest they’ve gotten was Gwen Rizczech‘s (Emily O’Brien) dead man switch letter that Cat stole.

That was crucial. She took it and then deleted it from Melinda Trask’s (Tina Huang) law firm server. I’m still not sure how that’s going to work because it wasn’t obtained through a warrant, but the Days writers may not care. And Cat may be wanting a backup plan in case Rafe can’t bring Gwen back from Alamania.

Cat to Blame on Days?

And Cat knows even though Gwen’s written confession names EJ as her co-conspirator in a bunch of crimes, there’s a risk that either Gwen doesn’t come back or the letter won’t hold up in court because Cat obtained it illegally and they do have to explain where they got evidence that they bring into court.

So, while Rafe is in Alamania, Cat could be doing more digging back in Salem. And remember, Cat’s brother, Dr. Mark Green works in the private lab and he worked alongside Dr. Rolf even though he’s on the run now. So, maybe Cat somehow convinced Mark to get her a vial of some kind of virus from the lab. That way Cat could expose EJ, make him sick, and get him out of the way. And with him in bed, conked out, then Cat can snoop around the mansion, poke into all the nooks and crannies looking for more evidence to use against EJ.

He made a cheeky comment when Cat said EJ needed to get to bed. That’s because he was burning with fever. But he joked he’d been trying to get Cat to say that for a while. And she even brought in a box of face masks so that she could avoid getting infected with whatever EJ has. She made sure to give one to Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) so that he wouldn’t get infected. And maybe that’s because Cat knows exactly what this is. That could be how she knows to avoid it and exactly what it is because maybe she infected EJ deliberately.

Cat is Ruthless on DOOL

I put nothing past Cat and now she overheard EJ tell Johnny (Carson Boatman) that Lexie’s down in a tunnel room and then Cat told Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) to get word to Theo. And with EJ conked out sick in bed, it will be easier for Lexie’s loved ones to get there and get her out. Also, some fans wonder if there’s a chance Rita might be double crossing EJ.

She may have been in contact with Rolf and figured out how she could make their beloved boss EJ sick. Rita might have done it to get EJ out of the way while she tried to clean up the many messes that he’s made. Rita also seemed like she was crushing on Develin St. John, which was weird. I will say though, I don’t agree with fans that suspect her. We’ve never seen her disloyal to the DiMeras. So, if it is one of EJ’s employees that made him sick, my money is on Cat, not Rita.

But there may be a more innocent explanation for EJ’s influenza bug and this nasty illness he’s got. He’s been spending more time with Johnny. And recently, little Trey had to go to Grandma Paulina Price’s (Jackee Harry) house because he had a summer cold. And with Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) going through chemo, her immune system is compromised.

Days of our Lives: Trey Still Contagious

So, Johnny insisted that he was going to take Trey to his grandma for a bit. And Paulina did mention that she was thankful that little Trey was on the mend and that he didn’t have the flu that has been going around. But again, it’s not flu season, it’s summer. But Johnny could have exposed his dad EJ to whatever this cold thing is that Trey had. And EJ is just suffering a worse version of it.

We’ll see how fast EJ recovers and if we see any red flags of a guilty party that might have infected him. Susan hexing the ring is a possibility. Even though it’s weird, Kristen’s revenge is totally plausible. But I think in the end, if somebody did some kind of foul play with this flu, I think it would have to be Cat. We’ll see.

Serena Williams is giving tennis fans something to look forward to as she seems to be making a bounce-back. 

Serena is one of the sport’s most decorated champions. Hence, it came as such a disappointment to fans when an injury caused her to pull out of the highly anticipated doubles match with her sister, Venus Williams. 

However, with another major tournament around the corner, attention is turning back to the star athlete, and excitement is building to see what she has in store. 

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The 23-time Grand Slam champion is raising anticipation among watchers with her latest Instagram Story. 

The post showed the Olympic gold medalist on a tennis court, wearing a white athletic shirt, blue leggings, and white sneakers. She completed her athletic look with a visor over her pulled-back hair as she is seen casually hitting a tennis ball back and forth. 

This comes as a reassurance, as Serena had to step back from her earlier-scheduled Wimbledon match with her sister Venus Williams. 

According to PEOPLE Magazine, the 44-year-old was set to reunite with Venus on July 4 against Camilla Osorio and Solana Sierra. However, Serena had hurt her knee in her first-round singles match against Maya Joint, which resulted in a loss for her. 

Supporters had remained hopeful. However, Serena revealed on her Instagram that she would not be playing the match. She shared that she had done everything possible to recover, but it was just not happening. 

Serena Williams Revealed She Would Keep Playing Despite Injury

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The injury had people questioning Serena’s future in tennis and whether it was finally retirement for her. 

Luckily, the record was set straight by the athlete’s coach, Rennae Stubbs, as reported by The Blast. Stubbs shared that Serena fully intended to continue playing and was eyeing the upcoming US Open tournament in New York. 

Stubbs explained that the main goal was to get the gold medalist back on track and back on the practice court as soon as she was physically well enough to swing a racket. 

Serena Williams Had To Give Herself A Pep Talk Ahead Of Wimbledon Return

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Before her Wimbledon reappearance, the tennis star had been absent from the field for four years. Stepping back into the spotlight may not have been as easy as it looked for her. 

Serena needed to really dig deep before accepting the special invitation to compete in the championship. With organizers reserving one special spot for her, the tennis icon was left with a very important decision to make, per The Blast.

“I thought I should really take this opportunity. Who knows if I’ll ever make it here again. This could be it,” the four-time Olympic gold medalist shared. 

She reflected on the internal debate she had to make before finally making the decision to join the tournament. “I was like, ‘What’s wrong with me, Serena? What are you thinking? Are you nuts? Like you really should do this.’” 

Serena Williams Cites Her Daughter As The Reason For Her Tennis Comeback

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This came as a surprise to the sporting world, as the 44-year-old had announced her retirement back in 2022. 

Two months ago, the tennis star let fans in on the real reason behind her decision to come back on court. 

The Grand Slam great revealed her daughter, Olympia, was a huge driving force, The Blast reports. “Well, I think it’s going to be fun. My daughter Olympia told me that I should play with Venus. She’s always right,” she said. 

The athlete went on to describe her daughter as very serious, very smart, and very wise. Venus and alpine skier Lindsey Vonn were also both listed as motivation for the athlete. After watching her sister and Vonn achieve great feats in different sports, Serena was convinced to compete again. 

Meghan Markle Was Not Present To Support Serena Williams At Wimbledon 

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Serena’s much-awaited comeback of the seven-time Wimbledon singles champion was met with a lot of fanfare. Multiple celebrities flocked to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club to witness the unforgettable event. 

It was noted, however, that Meghan Markle was not present in the crowd. There were speculations about whether she would make an appearance. Instead, her alleged rival, Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, showed up to support Serena, per The Blast.

The Duchess of Sussex had watched Serena compete at the SW19 grass courts in 2019. Due to her absence, fans suspect the longtime friends are no longer as close.

Kylie Kelce opened up about her fertility journey after navigating a pregnancy loss.

“I was terrified,” Kelce, 34, recalled on the Thursday, August 13, episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast when a listener asked for advice about trying to conceive after suffering a miscarriage. “Even when we got pregnant, every single week, I was looking up, ‘What are the chances that this pregnancy sticks?’ Once I got into my second trimester, towards the end … I flipped it.”

Instead, Kelce began wondering, “What are the chances that the baby could survive?”

Kylie married retired NFL star Jason Kelce in April 2018, months before they suffered a pregnancy loss. The couple are now parents of four daughters: Wyatt, 6, Ellie, 5, Bennett, 3, and Finnley, 16 months.

Related: Kylie Kelce Says She Had ‘Severe Baby Blues’ After Birth of 1st Daughter

Pregnant Kylie Kelce is getting candid about the highs and lows of new motherhood. “I have had periods of my life where I truly believe I was experiencing postpartum [depression],” Kelce, 32, said during the Sunday, January 12, episode of the “Sunday Sports Club” podcast. “I know with Wyatt that I had severe baby blues. […]

During each of her successive pregnancies, Kylie remained fearful of the odds and risks of a potential loss.

“Was it healthy? No, [but] was it helpful? Kind of. I think that sits with you forever,” she acknowledged. “I had those same feelings through the rest of my pregnancies. You experienced a loss and it’s OK to have that grief sit with you. That is going to be something that might pop up when you least expect it.”

She continued, “I know that, for me, there are certain dates [I remember], ‘You were supposed to be there that day.’ But, if I had not tried again, I would not have Wyatt. I think that sometimes you have to do the hard thing and try again.”

Kylie further sent her support to listener Sarah, who similarly felt scared to conceive again.

“I wish you all the luck in the world. I’m sending you baby magic and baby dust,” the field hockey coach concluded. “I am so sorry that you had to experience that, but you are not alone. I firmly believe that you can get through it.”

Related: Jason Kelce Opens Up About Wife Kylie’s ‘Devastating’ Pregnancy Loss

Jason Kelce is opening up about his wife Kylie Kelce’s pregnancy loss seven years ago.  “I remember going out to my truck in the middle of practice and meetings, overcome with grief and emotion,” Jason, 38, recalled on Wednesday, December 3, while accepting the March of Dimes Sports Achievement Award at the nonprofit’s 43rd Annual […]

Kylie has previously been candid about the moment she found out that she miscarried.

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“It felt like everything went into slow motion, and they could not find the baby on the Doppler,” she said on a 2025 episode of her podcast. “I remember being like, ‘Oh, there isn’t a heartbeat. You didn’t find one because there isn’t one.’ They estimated that the baby had stopped developing between … nine and 10 weeks. Essentially, I had had what you would refer to as a missed miscarriage. It means that your body did not realize that the pregnancy was no longer viable.”

At the time, Kylie noted that she found out on Jason’s birthday, calling it a particularly “s****y day.”

“I called my mom and told her that I couldn’t tell Jason because it was his birthday, which seems very silly,” she said. It seems very silly because obviously I’m going to tell my husband what happened, and I did. It was hard for both of us.”

Nevaeh Akira is reportedly nearing her due date and enjoying the family time she can get from Blueface along the way. Recently, she, her son, Superior and Blue spent time at a pool. After the rapper jokingly pushed his pregnant boo into the water, concerned fans allegedly called the police, who later showed up at the couple’s home.

RELATED: Sheesh! Nevaeh Akira Blasts Chrisean Rock After She & Her Son Appear In Bed With Blueface On Livestream (VIDEOS)

Blueface Shoves Nevaeh & Her Son Into A Pool 

The Kick livestream clip shows Blueface holding Nevaeh Akira’s hand a few feet away from the pool’s edge. She’s wearing a light pink top and pink-and-white bottoms, while he wore patterned swimming trunks. As they started jogging toward the water, Blue stopped short of jumping in and lifted his leg, kicking Akira in the lower back. She seemingly screams a bit before popping her head out of the water to ask who pushed her. Moments later, Blueface gave Superior the same kick treatment.

While he laughed outside the water, Nevaeh Akira tells him, “That hurt. I didn’t like that.” He responded, “I barely even kicked you.” Seemingly shocked, Akira asked, “You kicked me?” He quickly changed his wording, claiming he “pushed” her.

Blueface faked jumping into the pool just to push Nevaeh in instead 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/IO626rDZkP

— midaqih (@midaqih) August 13, 2026

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Nevaeh Akira Clears The Air While Speaking To Police

Sometime later, Blueface allegedly booked in-home massages for him and Nevaeh. Amid receiving the treatment, two officers showed up at their door. Clips of the livestream shows the officers inside the home, questioning Nevaeh Akira about being pregnant. She tells them, “I’m pregnant as hell…big.” One officer then asks her, “Did any physical altercation happen today?” She immediately responds, “No,” and later tells the officer he can ask whatever he needs to ask. He follows up by asking whether she was “kicked today,” specifically in her stomach.

“No, I wasn’t kicked in my stomach,” Akira replied. Then, the officer asked, “Are you in any sort of medical distress?” and she again said no. She also said no when the officer asked whether she needs the firefighters to check her out.

Police arrived at blueface’s house to question neveah about her baby😳🤯
Apparently, someone called the police about blueface kicking neveah in the pool, but who could that be? 🤦🏾‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/rD5aIRDQnR

— Goated Clips 🐐🔥 (@willyda_bleezz) August 13, 2026

What Else Has Been Going On With The Apparent Couple?

Nevaeh Akira and Blueface have been trending for the last few days following his returned to their shared home. He spent the last weekend with Chrisean Rock and Chrisean Jesus and livestreamed now-viral moments, including spoon feeding the two-year-old and living room dancing with Rock. He also wiped away tears and returned her expression of love when she became emotional about the end of their weekend together.

After Blueface returned home to Nevaeh Akira, tensions appeared high. In separate livestream clips, she confronted him about not claiming her as his “wife at home,” talked about her love lessening and went in about him calling Chrisean Rock while they were out dining. Most recently, she threw major shade after Rock gifted them during a livestream, calling the mother of Chrisean Jesus a “baby disabler.” Nevaeh also called her a “dumba** b***h” while Blueface chuckled.

Blueface tells Neveah to shout out Chrisean for donating 50 gifted subs to them

“Shout out to the baby dis*bler” 😳 pic.twitter.com/WyOFkuBHTx

— Donut 🍩 (@RollinWithDonut) August 13, 2026

RELATED: Chrisean Rock Sheds Tears Before Blueface Heads Home To Apparent Tension With Nevaeh Akira Over His Cheating (VIDEOS)

Chris Watts may be getting married despite being sentenced to life in prison for murdering his pregnant wife and children. Watts was given five life sentences after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, per NBC News.

RELATED: Ohio Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter For Suffocating His Baby

Chris Watts Wants To Get Married In Prison After Murdering His Family

The convicted murderer reportedly applied for a marriage license to marry a woman named Lizzie Henderson, according to the Daily Mail. Henderson is a 39-year-old realtor from Ohio, but has moved to Wisconsin to be closer to Watts.

The nature of the murders was gruesome, yet Henderson reportedly visited Watts in prison 20 times last year. Not only that, she visited him on Christmas Day in 2024. Furthermore, she was seen making out with the alleged born-again Christian in prison.

“How things began is between me, him and God,” she said.

Chris Murdered His Wife And Children

Watts is currently serving five consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to the murder of his pregnant wife, Shanann Watts , in 2018. In addition to murdering his pregnant wife and unborn child, Watts also murdered their daughters — 3-year-old Celeste and 4-year-old Bella. At first, the killer claimed that his wife and children were missing from their home in Frederick, Colorado, on August 13, 2018. In footage of him begging for their return, he claimed: “I just want them home so bad.”

@truecrime_central

chris watts laughs when talking about his family while they were “missing”… #chriswatts #truecrime #fyp

♬ original sound – true crime – true crime

Watts later admitted to strangling Shanann after she returned home from a work trip. However, he first claimed that Shanann had smothered Bella and Celeste (Cece) after he told her he was having an affair with a co-worker. He later confessed that he strangled his pregnant wife to death after she threatened to leave him and take their children. According to ABC News, Bella saw Watts dragging her mother down the stairs and cried, “What’s wrong with mommy?”

Watts Dumped His Two Daughters’ Bodies In An Oil Vat

Afterward, he said he took Shanann’s body to an oil field — with his two daughters awake in the back seat of his truck. After Watts buried his wife, Watts smothered his two daughters before dumping their bodies in oil vats. He murdered Celeste first as Bella watched. Watts dumped his 3-year-old’s body into an oil tank and returned for his other child. Bella reportedly asked her father: “Is the same thing gonna happen to me as Cece? …. Daddy, no!” 

@rainielane

Part 11 | American Murder: The Family Next Door #truecrime #truecrimetok

♬ original sound – Rainie | True Crime Series

RELATED: Prayers Up! Michigan Man Reportedly Shoots And Kills Wife & Six Children In Apparent Murder-Suicide