Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty on Friday (August 14) to federal stalking charges in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione admitted matter-of-factly that he trailed the executive to an investor conference and shot him on a New York City street in 2024.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Perez Hilton’s Sister Speaks On Finding Him Covered In Blood Amid Recent Hospitalization

Luigi Mangione Admits Guilt In Stalking Charge 

Mangione said he even used a ruse to glean information about the event. The 28-year-old contacted the health insurance company in advance, posing as an investor at a multibillion-dollar firm.

“On the morning of Dec. 4, 2024, I shot Mr. Thompson in Manhattan, and he died,” Luigi Mangione told the Manhattan federal court.

He entered the court while he was shackled at the feet but not handcuffed in his beige jail uniform. Listening in the audience, Brian Thompson’s wife, Paulette, took several deep breaths and repeatedly wiped tears from her eyes.

Prosecutors plan to seek a life prison term at Luigi Mangione’s sentencing, set for Dec. 18. When U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett asked whether he understood that he could spend the rest of his life behind bars, Mangione answered neutrally: “Yes.”

In a statement, the late UnitedHealthcare CEO’s family called the plea “an important step toward justice.” The statement also noted that Mangione still faces other cases, including a New York state murder prosecution. It carries the potential for a separate long sentence.

Mangione Attempts To Explain His Actions

Surveillance video of Luigi Mangione ambushing the UnitedHealthcare CEO showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims.

Mangione was a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a wealthy Maryland family. He told the court Friday that he pursued Thompson “after years of enduring severe pain from a broken back and navigating the obstacles of the health insurance system.” Attorney Friedman Agnifilo later said her client “believed that the system had failed him and destroyed his life.”

However, it should be noted that Mangione never was a UnitedHealthcare customer, according to police and the company.

“To those who idolize Luigi Mangione, I say this. Violence is not a cause. Murder is not a message. And a killer is certainly not a hero,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said outside court Friday.

Also, U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald, whose office handled the federal case, added: “There can be no celebrity in assassination.”

For context, Brian Thompson led one of the United States’ largest health insurers, but he wasn’t well known outside the industry. Trained as an accountant, he worked at parent company UnitedHealth Group Inc. for 20 years. Then, he became CEO of its insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, in 2021. Brian and his wife had two sons. The kids were in high school when Luigi killed their father.

Thompson’s violent death “devastated everyone who knew and loved him,” the company said in a statement Friday. It thanked law enforcement for bringing Luigi Mangione to justice.

He Still Faces A State Murder Case, But His Defense Wants It Tossed

Federal prosecutors didn’t give Luigi Mangione any deal or incentive to plead guilty, they and his lawyers said. Nor did Mangione plead guilty to avoid a potential death sentence. That possibility was taken off the table when a federal murder charge was tossed out this winter.

But after Mangione entered the plea at Friday’s scheduled hearing, his lawyers quickly sought to have the New York case thrown out on double jeopardy grounds. The state’s double jeopardy protections can kick in if a prior prosecution ends in a guilty plea.

“Mr. Mangione has accepted full responsibility for the death of Brian Thompson,” defense lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said outside court. She argued that her client shouldn’t face two prosecutions over a “single tragic event.”

The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is handling the state prosecution, said it remains committed to its case and would contest the defense’s efforts to shut it down.

His defense had lost some disputes over evidence
Mangione was arrested five days after the shooting, when he was spotted at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) west of Manhattan. Police had released various images of the suspected shooter, including one showing his face as he checked into a hostel.
Although his lawyers got the federal murder charge dismissed, Garnett also delivered some setbacks to the defense, ruling in January that prosecutors could use items collected from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest as evidence against him. They included a 3D-printed pistol that investigators said matched the one used to kill Thompson and a notebook in which authorities say Mangione described his intent to kill an insurance executive.
Similarly, the judge in the state case threw out terrorism charges against Mangione but agreed to let the gun and notebook be used as evidence. The case has been heading toward a September trial, but his lawyers’ new bid to dismiss it could complicate the timeline.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Minnesota Man Fatally Stabs Wife & 7-Year-Old Daughter At Daycare After Allegedly Killing Another Relative

Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak, Larry Neumeister, Jennifer Peltz, Dave Collins and Alanna Durkin contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

Marvel Studios has become famous for keeping its biggest secrets under wraps, but hiding Chris Evans’ return as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday apparently required more than locked scripts and closed sets. Evans says he had to flat out lie about being involved in the movie.

The former Captain America star has opened up about the secrecy surrounding his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, revealing that Marvel went to some unusual lengths to prevent his involvement from leaking during production.

According to Evans, his character wasn’t even identified as Steve Rogers in the Avengers: Doomsday script. Instead, Marvel gave him the codename “Luke Cage,” a reference to another well-known Marvel superhero.

“Within the script, my character was called Luke Cage,” Evans revealed while discussing the production. The fake name was also reportedly used as an additional layer of protection in case production information found its way outside the studio.

Mike Colter, Luke Cage [credit: Marvel Studios]

But keeping the secret went beyond paperwork.

Evans admitted that he publicly denied being involved with Avengers: Doomsday even after reports began circulating that he would return. With Marvel determined to keep Steve Rogers’ involvement hidden, Evans essentially had no choice but to play along.

“I had to lie,”

Evans said of the situation.

The secrecy makes sense considering how significant Steve Rogers’ return could be. Evans seemingly completed his MCU story in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, when Steve traveled back in time to return the Infinity Stones before choosing to remain in the past with Peggy Carter. An elderly Steve later passed the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson.

Exactly how Steve returns in Doomsday remains one of the movie’s biggest mysteries.

Evans has recently offered another intriguing tease, describing Steve Rogers’ upcoming story as “brutal.” He joked that directors Joe and Anthony Russo have always enjoyed putting Steve through difficult situations because his ability to keep getting back up is what makes the character heroic.

That could be particularly important considering Hayley Atwell is also returning as Peggy Carter. Marvel has yet to reveal whether Doomsday will feature the original Steve Rogers following the events of Endgame, a Multiverse variant, or something considerably more complicated.

Avengers: Doomsday [credit: Marvel Studios]

The movie is already bringing together one of the largest collections of Marvel characters ever assembled. Alongside Evans, the film features Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and several returning members of Fox’s X-Men franchise.

Whatever Marvel has planned for Steve Rogers, the effort that went into hiding Evans’ involvement suggests his return is far more important than a quick nostalgic appearance.

And somewhere out there, Luke Cage probably wants his codename back.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

Days of Our Lives has poor Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) that can never seem to catch a break when it comes to relationships, but he could still get lucky in love since his sexy ex Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) is working overtime right now to win him back. He still loves Leo. And come on, Dimitri’s so hot.

Let’s get into Leo’s love life and a possible recoupling with Dimitri and where his ex Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) might fit into that. So, let’s dive into what is ahead for Gwen Rizczech’s (Emily O’Brien) best friend while she is on her way back to Salem. Fortunately, a whole lot has changed for Leo over the years.

Days of our Lives: Leo Turned His Life Around

He went from town pariah to a beloved friend and colleague. Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd), Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer), and many others that once hated him now count Leo as a friend, or at least somebody they don’t despise anymore. Leo’s come a long way. If you don’t remember, he showed up in Salem in 2018 as a con man, and he was on a mission to blackmail Sonny Kiriakis (Zach Tinker).

Back in the day, Leo had been hired by Vivian Almain (Louise Sorel) to romance Sonny as part of her scheme against Titan. So, Leo and Sonny dated for a hot minute and then later con man Leo blackmailed Sonny by setting it up to look like he’d sexually harassed Leo. And then he tried to force Sonny to marry him, but he and Will fought and Leo fell and hit his head.

And Sonny and Will thought they had killed Leo and the two guys hid his body, but Leo wasn’t dead, not even a little. He showed back up and blackmailed Sonny into marrying him. Although Leo and Sonny’s marriage was later annulled after the truth about Leo’s past life came out, that he had been a prostitute and a schemer. All that came to light. Then, of course, we had Leo’s offscreen marriage to Darius Rose, aka Jackie Cox.

Leo’s Scam Exposed on Days

Their marriage was exposed as a green card sham back in 2022 during Leo’s wedding to Dr. Craig Wesley, who of course was wealthy and so it was all suspicious. Chad brought Jackie to the wedding and blew it up in typical soap trope style. Leo claimed he loved Craig and to be fair, the two had dated for a while. They had a double wedding alongside Leo’s bestie Gwen and her then fiancé Xandra. And Leo had originally been conning Craig for money, but then claimed he developed true feelings for the handsome older doctor. But Leo got dumped at the altar instead. And Craig was grateful because Leo helped him come out of the closet.

Craig Lashed Out on DOOL

But Craig was angry and embarrassed when he learned that his almost husband had been conning him. And not long after his split with Craig, we saw Leo excited to meet Gwen’s new boyfriend, Dimitri. Gwen and Dimitri were on this really fast track to engagement and a wedding because Dimitri had to marry a woman by his 40th birthday to inherit the vaner estate. So, Gwen fell for him and married him, but Leo and Dimitri became lovers behind Gwen’s back after Dimitri confessed that he’s gay and was really into Leo. And there was also an invalid marriage attempt involving Dimitri and Leo. I think it was around 2023.

Anyway, their relationship continued throughout Dimitri’s legal troubles and when he went to prison, even though that all of this cost Leo his best friend Gwen with this sordid affair, she found out the worst way that her best friend was diddling her husband. When Leo showed up on her honeymoon with Dimitri, Leo made up a Madonna concert excuse, but Gwen caught them together. She was devastated. A double betrayal. Her best friend and her husband cheating, which meant Leo lost Gwen, the only friend he’d ever had. And she wanted payback.

Days of Our Lives: Leo’s Love Triangle – Dimitri vs Javi

That was why Gwen forged that Dear John letter. She posed as Dimitri and broke Leo’s heart right into he had been faithfully waiting for Dimitri’s release from prison only to find out from that letter that he had fallen for another prisoner. So, Leo was heartbroken, but eventually with help from Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), Leo was able to love himself and he re-entered the dating pool. That’s when he met Javi. That was late 2024 and he was instantly into the cute EMT.

They hopped into bed together and began a relationship and it was going pretty well until Leo wrongly accused Javi of leaking his body and soul scripts. But true love wins and Javi and Leo reconciled. They moved in together at the Hernandez house. Leo and Javi also really liked fostering little T together and they hoped to start their own family someday. Leo popped the question at Thanksgiving last year and then they planned a romantic New Year’s Eve wedding.

Dimitri Ruined Leo’s Happily Ever After with Javi on DOOL

But Dimitri popped up right after they said I do and ruined everything. And of course, Gwen was behind it all. She released Dimitri from captivity so he could come wreak havoc at the wedding. And now here we are, it’s over half a year later and Javi has rekindled with his ex, Gus (Michael Ocampo). They sparked again when he was in Texas for his dad’s heart surgery. Then Gus moved to Salem and in with Javi right away. However, before Javi came back to Salem, Leo realized he truly loved Javi and wanted nothing more to do with Dimitri, which of course made him furious.

Days of our Lives: Leo to the Rescue

Fast forward to now. Leo chased down Gwen when he realized their mutual ex Dimitri had kidnapped her as revenge. But mostly he took Gwen to bait Leo to get him to Alamania. And then Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) quickly followed Leo and wound up held at gunpoint for all his troubles. Lucky for Javi, he couldn’t get a ticket to go with Rafe to rescue Leo and Gwen. And then Leo cut a deal with Dimitri. He said if you let Gwen and Rafe go, he’ll stay in Alamania with Dimitri. So now Leo is miserable and he’s trying to convince Dimitri that they should just go back to Salem.

Leo told him that he’s got family and friends and community there that he values and that Marina helped him love himself. And Leo feels like he deserves a loving relationship. But Dimitri’s been relentless trying to convince Leo that he really loves him and that they can have something real together. But it seems like Dimitri doesn’t even understand the meaning of real love because he’s dangling shallow things. He offered Leo fancy trips and a designer wardrobe. And of course, yes, Leo loves those things, but he doesn’t love Dimitri.

Days of our Lives: Leo Gives In — Is it Too Late?

But I wonder if Leo will surrender and give Dimitri another shot. Because right now, Leo knows Javi is in love with Gus and Leo’s gotten the cold shoulder from Javi ever since he came back from Texas. And it’s been a bit worse since Gus relocated to Salem and moved in with Javi. So, maybe Dimitri stands a chance with Leo, you know, because in his mind, if he doesn’t have Javi or some other guy waiting in the wings, why not give rich handsome Dimitri a chance to win his heart again?

Javi Wants Leo Back on Days

Problem is, Days of our Lives spoilers say that Javi soon realizes he’s still in love with his ex, Leo, and Javi may come to Alamania for him. So the question is which ex will Leo rekindle with? Will it be Dimitri or Javi? Leo could actually stay with Dimitri to protect Javi because let’s be real, Dimitri is unhinged and could do something cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and hurt Javi. After all, Dimitri’s mom, Megan Hathaway, is a scary psycho, too, when it comes to relationships.

Remember, she held Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) captive in a human test tube when everybody else thought he was dead because she was insanely infatuated with him. I do think it’d be nice to see Leo settled and happy and starting a family, back to being besties with Gwen without Dimitri between them. I do think Javi’s definitely the better man, but let’s be real, Dimitri sucks on a stick with a big fat bank account, and the old Leo would have definitely chosen him. The new Leo, we’ll have to wait and see.

Nicole Kidman’s dramatic new British Vogue cover has sparked an unexpected debate, with some social media users questioning why the Hollywood star looks so different.

The 59-year-old actress’ highly polished appearance prompted everything from “unrecognizable” claims to comparisons with artificial intelligence.

Now, a plastic surgeon is weighing in on what may be behind the uncanny effect while cautioning against assuming the star has undergone major cosmetic surgery.

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Nicole Kidman appears on the September 2026 cover of British Vogue as part of an extensive feature examining her latest personal and professional reinvention.

However, it wasn’t only Kidman’s candid revelations about life after Keith Urban that got people talking.

Her appearance in the accompanying shoot quickly attracted attention online, where viewers debated whether the actress looked noticeably different from the woman they were accustomed to seeing.

“She looks like AI,” one TikTok commenter declared.

Another admitted, “I would never have recognized her,” while a third similarly wrote, “Looks nothing like her.”

A fourth person wrote, “This looks nothing like Nicole Kidman. This could be an AI model. It’s ridiculous.”

The response was far from universally critical. Other viewers defended Kidman’s transformation, describing the Oscar winner as “stunning,” with one arguing she had “never looked better.”

The contrasting reactions have nevertheless raised an interesting question about celebrity photography in an era when audiences have become increasingly familiar with AI-generated imagery.

Plastic Surgeon Explains Why Nicole Kidman May Look ‘AI-Generated’

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Dr. Omar Tillo, medical director and senior plastic surgeon at CREO Clinic, believes the answer may lie in the unusually polished qualities people now associate with artificial intelligence.

“When people describe a face as looking ‘AI-generated’, they are often responding to a combination of features that feel almost too polished,” Tillo told The Blast via email correspondence.

According to the surgeon, AI imagery frequently produces “extremely smooth skin,” clean contours and significant facial symmetry.

Tillo believes some of those visual characteristics are present in Kidman’s photographs, pointing particularly to the apparent uniformity of her complexion.

“In Nicole’s cover, the complexion appears exceptionally uniform, with very little of the natural skin texture, fine lines, pores and subtle tonal variation that we subconsciously expect to see in a close-up portrait,” he explained.

Removing or minimizing those details, Tillo said, can create a more “synthetic” appearance, particularly when combined with powerful studio lighting.

The contrast between extremely smooth skin and sharply defined facial features may further contribute to the effect.

Expert Warns Against Jumping To Conclusions About Kidman’s Appearance

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While some social media users immediately questioned whether AI or extensive cosmetic work could explain the photographs, Tillo stressed that neither conclusion can be established from simply looking at the finished images.

“None of this means that AI has necessarily been used, and it would be impossible to determine that simply by looking at the finished photograph,” he emphasized.

Instead, the surgeon noted that professional photography provides numerous ways of dramatically altering someone’s appearance.

Lighting, makeup, lens selection, color grading and conventional retouching can all affect how recognizable a person appears in a photograph.

Tillo also pointed to styling around Kidman’s eyes and brows as another potential factor, explaining that seemingly minor alterations can change the perceived proportions of a familiar face.

The reaction, he believes, also says something about audiences themselves.

“We now see AI-generated faces so frequently that people have developed an instinct for the visual cues associated with them,” Tillo explained.

As a result, viewers may notice when photographs lack some of the natural irregularities they subconsciously associate with a human face.

Surgeon Addresses Possibility Of Nicole Kidman Having Cosmetic Work

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Tillo acknowledged that aesthetic treatments could contribute to Kidman’s appearance, although he has not treated or examined the actress and therefore cannot determine whether she has undergone any particular procedure.

He suggested that maintenance treatments such as Botox, subtle dermal fillers or nonsurgical skin treatments could theoretically produce some of the characteristics visible in photographs.

“If aesthetic treatments are contributing to what we’re seeing, subtle injectables and skin-quality or tightening treatments would be more plausible explanations than assuming she has undergone major surgery,” Tillo said.

Even then, he believes the dramatic difference viewers noticed in this particular shoot could have been “amplified considerably” by makeup, lighting and post-production.

Nicole Kidman Is Already Embracing A Very Different Chapter

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The intense discussion surrounding Kidman’s cover comes as the actress herself is talking candidly about transformation of a much more personal kind.

In the accompanying British Vogue interview, Kidman reflected on entering an uncertain chapter following the end of her nearly two-decade marriage to Keith Urban.

As recently covered by The Blast, Kidman admitted there was a period when she felt “very fearful and deeply vulnerable” as the future she once imagined suddenly changed.

Rather than retreat, however, she said she was choosing to move forward with hope, remain open to possibilities and continue “embracing love.”

Kidman has also been experimenting with transformation in less permanent ways. She revealed that she sometimes wears wigs and glasses to disguise herself while going dancing, allowing one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces to temporarily disappear into a crowd.

Ironically, her latest magazine transformation has achieved almost the opposite effect, leaving some viewers wondering whether they recognize Nicole Kidman at all.

It’s going to be time to pack away sandals and flip-flops to make room for more chilly weather-friendly footwear. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to break out the boots and booties just yet, but you’ll need versatile options to stand up to the unpredictable temperatures that the summer-to-fall transition brings. Vionic Shoes is making sure you don’t break the bank while you do so, though, by offering up to 55% off your order.

One no-fail option is ballet flats, as they can go from day to night and won’t leave feet sweaty or cold. They’re ideal for in-between days and just as appropriate for the office as they are for casual weekends. The Caroll 2.0 are made with leather or suede and have a simple style that can be worn daily. Meanwhile, the Willa 2.0 has a breezy design, and the Gracia option has a more modern look.

Shop transitional footwear at Vionic Shoes!

For a more polished vibe, Vionic Shoes has loafers and mules that are just as comfortable. The lug sole loafers have a chunky platform that offers height, and you can wear them with or without socks. The suede, leather or wool flannel are ideal for early fall, too. The Sadie loafer, though, has a more everyday look. A shopper said they wore them straight out of the box, and the “softness of the upper was surprisingly delightful.”

One shoe that knows no season is casual sneakers, so you can run errands and work out in serious comfort. We love the fashion-forward Arabelle option and Uptown sneaker, but when we want to get our steps in, the City Walk and The Gabby offer support, cushioning and flexibility. A buyer said The Gabby is “incredibly stable and secure” while another wrote that the “arch support is great.” And just in case you have a fancier occasion on your calendar, the Perris slingback heel is closed in the front and open in the back for a balanced seasonal shoe.

You’re probably in the midst of deciding what summer-to-fall clothing pieces to stock up on, and we appreciate how ballet flats, loafers, mules and sneakers pair well with jeans, trousers, maxi skirts and more for a transition-ready wardrobe. And remember, you can save up to 55% off now!

Get the transitional footwear at Vionic Shoes!

Former Bachelor Peter Weber has a new love in his life.

The pilot gave fans a glimpse of his new girlfriend in a sweet photo dump shared via Instagram on Thursday, August 13. “Summer ‘26⁩⁩,” he wrote in the caption.

In one photo, Peter, 35, gazed lovingly at his new flame during a sunset moment. Another pic showed the couple posing with Peter’s family — including mom Barb and brother Jack. The final snap in the slideshow featured Peter’s girlfriend standing outside while holding a glow stick.

Peter did not tag his mystery woman or reveal her name, but friends celebrated the social media milestone in the comments section.

“The hard launch finally 👏,” fellow Bachelor Nation alum Luke Stone wrote, while Clay Harbor added three clapping emojis.

Peter’s family also showed their support. “Happiness is…❤️❤️,” his mom commented, with his brother writing, “Love this ❤️.”

Fans were introduced to the Weber family when Peter appeared on Hannah Brown‘s season 15 of The Bachelorette in 2019. He finished the season in third place before being named the lead for season 24 of The Bachelor.

During his season finale, which aired in 2020, Peter proposed to Hannah Ann Sluss after runner-up Madi Prewett sent herself home. The dramatic After the Final Rose special revealed that Peter and Hannah Ann had already ended their engagement. Peter admitted he still had feelings for Madi. The pair briefly reconnected, but they ultimately went their separate ways.

Peter went on to date Kelley Flanagan, who finished his season in fifth place. The duo were together on and off from 2020 to 2023.

The former reality star’s love life recently made headlines once again when Julie LaPlaca — who worked behind the scenes of the Bachelor franchise for seven years — shed new light on their alleged relationship in her book, The Love Producer. Julie recalled forming a close friendship with Peter during his Bachelor journey, with their connection taking a turn when they hooked up after filming wrapped.

Related: Former ‘Bachelor’ Producer’s Book Details ‘Fantasy Suite’ With Peter Weber

Years after their connection raised eyebrows among Bachelor Nation fans, former producer Julie LaPlaca is telling all about her relationship with Peter Weber. “Peter had a genuine, pure heart that struck me,” Julie, 41, writes in her new book, The Love Producer, out Tuesday, July 7. “I sense that he really did want to find […]

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In an exclusive interview with Us, Julie opened up about Peter’s response to the book, saying he “reacted from a place of fear.”

“I offered to let him read a copy, and instead he panicked … I hope when he reads it, he sees that it’s coming from the heart,” she said.

Peter, meanwhile, addressed Julie’s claims in an Instagram comment. “I’ve moved on from this period of my life and I’m ultimately responsible for my choices,” he wrote, in part. “What I’ll say is this: I asked Julie on multiple occasions to please keep private, intimate details, private. This wasn’t about a tv show anymore.”

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He elaborated on his feelings in a separate statement to TMZ as the book hit shelves on July 7.

“I just find it ironic that Julie is coming out with a book all about finding your truth and searching for love, when the entire time I was trying to do just that on my season of The Bachelor, with her as my main confidant and guide throughout the process, her actions said otherwise,” he alleged.

Peter continued, “I am by no means a victim in all of this. I’m a grown man who is responsible for all of my actions, and I know that. That being said, going through an experience like I did involved a certain level of trust being given to people I really didn’t know that much about at the time.”

General Hospital puts Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) facing 10 years in Pentonville with the possibility of parole in two. And of course, he is stunned.

He was so cocky and so sure that Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) left him and Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) for dead that he assaulted the man and then thought he would get away with it.

Well, karma is coming for Curtis in a big way because he’s packing off to prison. And guess what? Psycho Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) is going to be his cellmate.

General Hospital: Curtis’ Shocking Prison Sentence

So, there was a moment when it looked like Isaiah might not get justice for that assault. Curtis refused the plea deal of two years with eight months till parole. He was so sure, so smug, thought he was going to be acquitted because he had Martin Gray (Michael E. Knight) accuse Isaiah of leaving them for dead.

Curtis thought for sure the jury would believe him with no proof and that that would somehow justify his assault on Isaiah. Instead, the jury found Curtis guilty, and then the judge slapped Jordan’s boyfriend with a 10-year prison sentence with a chance of parole in a couple of years. But Martin talked them into giving Curtis 48 hours so that he can get things in order before heading to Pentonville to start doing time.

And Jordan assured Curtis that everybody’s going to visit, including her and Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) and Desmond. And Jordan says she’ll wait for him so they can be together again. And of course, Curtis is crushed because he’s going to miss out on a lot of time with Desmond. And Curtis realizes that Isaiah will indeed be playing daddy to his son while Curtis is locked up in Pentonville. And of course, Curtis still isn’t taking accountability and neither is Jordan.

GH Twist: Curtis Ashford Prison Nightmare with Sidwell

Needless to say, things are not looking good for Curtis. So, he’s heading to Pentonville where Sidwell is, and this is the start of a prison nightmare. That villain just started serving a 31-year sentence with a chance of parole in 26 years. So basically at his age, that’s almost assuredly life in prison.

Molly Lansing-Davis (Kristen Vaganos) recently told Cody Bell (Josh Kelly) she wasn’t prosecuting Sidwell’s case because he took a plea deal and that many years behind bars when you’re that age is hand him out to a death sentence. So, all bets are off on Sidwell’s behavior. He’s got nothing to lose. So, Curtis may be on the receiving end when Sidwell acts out.

And recently Carlo Rota was at a fan event with his wife Nazneen Contractor who plays ADA Justine Turner. And Carlo said that Sidwell is not done. He has more scenes coming up at Pentonville where his storyline’s going to progress. And Carlo said another GH character will be his cellmate. So, of course, that’s Curtis. And he’ll be horrified to find out Sidwell is his cellie. And Jordan may be even more horrified than Curtis because she knows how lethal Sidwell is. Plus, he’s got that grudge against Jordan.

General Hospital: Curtis’ Life at Risk

So, let’s talk about where he goes from here. First of all, Curtis may be in literal danger because Sidwell is ticked that Jordan wouldn’t help him out when he was behind bars. Remember, before he took the plea deal, Sidwell met with Jordan and asked her to help him out with some business and financial transactions, moving stuff around.

She told Sidwell no. And Jordan also admitted she’d been plotting against him all along. So she thought it was okay to talk this way to Sidwell because he couldn’t touch her. He still can’t. But with Curtis in his cell, Sidwell can do something to him.

He’s mad that Jordan spilled about the house, which was how he wound up getting caught in the end. So, Sidwell might have whatever prison minions he’s paying to keep him safe, turn around and attack Curtis. Jordan may show up to visit and be stunned to see Curtis all busted up. And Jordan realizes it’s Sidwell punishing Curtis for her dangerous games.

Although, as we know, Curtis is the one who got himself put in prison. All because he jumped to conclusions, assaulted Isaiah, showed zero remorse, continued to go after Portia Robinson’s (Brook Kerr) partner, and then refused a really sweet plea deal. So, Curtis is likely going to have some serious regrets soon.

BLQ Finally Steps Up on GH?

The next thing that could happen once Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) finds out Curtis got 10 to serve too, she’s going to realize a lot of this is on her. Brook Lynn’s going to feel horrible. Only a really strong appeal will get Curtis out. And Martin’s not optimistic. So, Brook Lynn may try and help out. I could see her going to Isaiah and explaining herself, confessing.

You know, Brook Lynn may tell Isaiah she feels sick over what happened to him and that it’s her fault that Curtis attacked him. And Brook Lynn may ask if Isaiah might consider leniency as the victim if she took her info to the PCPD to help Curtis’ appeal. Would Isaiah back down?

I think he might. If Curtis would back down about trying to block him from Desmond and Portia’s lives, but we all know how stubborn Curtis is. But Isaiah also knows this is hurting Trina, which means it’s hurting Portia. So, if Brook Lynn finally did the right thing, it might actually help.

General Hospital: Sidwell on the Loose

Another thing that might happen is Sidwell might escape. We’ve heard chatter about this from our leaker. And if that manifests, he might take Curtis with him to ruin his life in Jordans. Because if Curtis is part of an escape, he won’t get parole in two years. He would probably serve all 10, maybe more. So, I could absolutely see Sidwell having his minions drag Curtis along for an escape.

And as Sidwell’s cellmate, the warden would assume they were conspiring and he wouldn’t believe Curtis if he denied it. That would be another good way to punish Jordan because she helped take Sidwell’s freedom. Another thing we might see is Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) might come through and do Curtis a solid. Maybe Drew knows the governor and can ask him for a pardon. Drew’s claim that he wants to be friends with Curtis again. And if you recall, Sonny got a governor pardon years ago.

He escaped Pentonville and saved the haunted star from a bomb. So, that’s a total possibility for Curtis. So, Drew might do that because he and Curtis seem to be acting like things are bygones. Especially if Curtis agreed to use Aurora to target Sonny and help Drew run the mobster out of town like he wants. Or should I say ex-mobster, about to be ex-mobster. I absolutely think Curtis would help Drew with that.

General Hospital: Curtis Breaks Out

And last but not least, Curtis might find another way to avoid his full sentence. As far as we’ve heard, Donnell Turner sticking around. So, that means he’ll be out of Pentonville one way or another. So, Curtis may thwart Sidwell’s escape attempt and earn a faster parole. Or Brook Lynn could try and clean up the mess that Jordan made by crashing them.

And that Brook Lynn exacerbated with her lies. And of course Curtis made worse with his attitude. But Brook Lynn might go to Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and ask her to go to the governor asking for a pardon for him.

Because Curtis is so close to Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson). It could be justified that way. Especially if Brook Lynn tells Tracy, “Find a way to get a governor’s pardon or I’m going to confess, even if it burns down my marriage.”

I expect Curtis to come out of prison, though worse for wear. Remember, Drew came out of Pentonville so much worse and then went downhill from there and morphed into the total jerk we’ve got now. And if Curtis doesn’t learn his lesson, he may come out, try to block Isaiah from being around Desmond.

If so, I’m still hoping there’s another DNA test for some reason, and we find out Curtis isn’t the dad, and Stella Henry (Vernee Watson) rigged the paternity test because Curtis didn’t get the chance to raise Trina.

It would be karmic if Curtis gets his freedom but loses the baby and then Portia, Isaiah, and Des get there happily ever after. And Curtis gets Jordan and a lot of anger and frustration. We’ll see it play how it plays out, but very soon things are going to go from bad to much worse for Curtis.

Nicole Kidman has made some rare comments about her failed marriage to fellow Hollywood Star Tom Cruise, revealing that she was warned against getting hitched to the actor.

In a new interview, she shared candid remarks about being defiant and ignoring the naysayers, as she was “in love” with him at the time and chose only to listen to her heart.

The comments about Tom Cruise come months after Nicole Kidman finalized her divorce from her second husband, Keith Urban, and amid rumors that she’s in a relationship with a businessman.

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Nicole Kidman has revealed she was warned that marrying her first husband Tom Cruise could damage her career, and at 23, she simply didn’t care.

The Oscar-winning actress, now 59, reflected on her 1990 nuptials in a candid interview with British Vogue, admitting she was cautioned that tying herself to Hollywood’s biggest star might eclipse her own rising fame.

“I remember people saying to me, ‘OK, well this is really going to affect your career.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t care. I’m in love. I want to be married.’” Kidman told the publication. “And then I was his ‘wife,’ and they were like: ‘See, we told you.’”

“I’m like: ‘So what? I wasn’t meant to marry the man I love? Of course I’ll throw my career away. I don’t care,’” she noted about the warnings she received at the time.

The Actress Says She And Tom Cruise Were ‘Madly In Love’

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When Kidman exchanged vows with Cruise in 1990, she was a rising Australian actress with a handful of credits. That same year, she achieved her Hollywood breakthrough acting alongside him in “Days of Thunder.”

Cruise, 28 at the time, was already an A-list movie star. He had attained fame with movies like “Top Gun,” “Risky Business,” and “Rain Man.”

Speaking about the decision to marry Cruise as an upcoming actress, Kidman said, “Yeah, I got married so young. Suddenly I was 22, 23 years old and I had this huge movie star husband.”

The actress insisted that marrying the actor “seemed completely natural” for her, noting that they “fell madly in love and it was that simple.”

Kidman’s response was as bold as it was romantic. At that moment, her connection with Cruise preceded her ambition, and she made no apologies for it.

Nicole Kidman Enjoyed Career Highs After Her Divorce From Tom Cruise

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After her 2001 divorce from Cruise, Kidman’s career surged. She won an Oscar for “The Hours” in 2003, earned multiple other film and TV series awards and nominations, and has now become one of Hollywood’s most respected and bankable actresses.

During their time together, Cruise and Kidman adopted two children: Bella, 33, and Connor, 31. When they divorced, both children reportedly stayed with their father and remained in the Church of Scientology, to which Kidman does not belong.

“They are adults. They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists, and as a mother, it’s my job to love them,” Kidman said in a 2018 interview, per the Daily Mail.

According to the news outlet, neither Cruise nor Kidman were said to be present at their daughter Bella’s 2015 wedding; however, Cruise was reportedly the one who bankrolled the ceremony.

The Actress Recently Divorced Her Second Husband, Keith Urban

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Kidman separated from her second husband, country singer Keith Urban, in 2025, after 19 years of marriage.

Urban, a Grammy-winning musician who was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, has long been one of country music’s most celebrated artists, with hits like “Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

The couple, who share two daughters: Sunday Rose, 18, and Faith Margaret, 15, finalized their divorce this January, with sources close to the pair noting they have maintained a cordial relationship for the sake of their children, despite the end of their nearly two-decade union.

In the wake of the split, past clips resurfaced of Urban’s cozy on-stage antics with guitarist Maggie Baugh, 26, fueling rumors of a romance between the pair. However, these rumors were quickly shut down as false.

But while Urban has yet to be linked to someone new officially, his ex-wife, Kidman, already seems to be in a budding romance with a businessman

Nicole Kidman Was Spotted With Her Rumored New Partner

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Unlike Urban, Kidman seems to already be moving on, as she was spotted last month sunning herself in Italy in the company of private equity mogul Michael Reinstein.

The duo has allegedly been enjoying a low-key romance away from the Hollywood spotlight. However, at the moment, neither party has officially addressed reports about their budding relationship.

Meanwhile, sources claim Urban is happy for Kidman and even “relieved” that she has found love again, as it would make it easier for him to be more open about his own love life.

A source told a news outlet that “the moment Nicole confirms a new romance, whether it’s with this guy she’s now linked with or someone else, Keith will be more than happy to do the same.”

Travis Barker just might have figured out the code to keeping his marriage strong, and it’s not just matching tattoos! 

The Blink-182 drummer and Kourtney Kardashian were long-term friends for years before their relationship became romantic five years ago. 

There is, however, more to their love story. It has not been without its ups and downs, but the pair have stayed together through it all, and now fans have an idea why. 

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In a recent interview, Barker spilled on the formula to his lasting relationship with Kardashian.

“We try not to ever fall asleep mad at each other,” the drummer told PEOPLE Magazine. “[We] try to resolve, even if it’s just like, ‘Hey, I thought you were going to meet me for lunch, and you didn’t text me back right away, so I didn’t know if we were meeting for lunch.’”

The Blink-182 star emphasized that it could be something as simple as taking accountability for actions and making an effort to resolve anything before going to bed. 

Barker shared that resolving issues was important so nobody went to bed feeling disconnected from the other.  In the same vein, the rock star also highlighted the importance of having space even in a relationship. 

Inside Kourtney Kardashian And Travis Barker’s Relationship Timeline 

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The drummer’s approach might be the glue keeping the marriage together, but the lovebirds’ journey to happily ever after did not happen overnight. 

After being friends for years, the duo became romantically involved in 2021. In February of the same year, the Poosh CEO made the relationship official on social media by sharing a photo on her Instagram. 

The partners kept us updated on their loving journey, from family vacations with their shared children to the rock star getting the reality star’s name tattooed on his chest. 

By September of the same year, they made their first red carpet appearance at the MTV VMAs, and a month later the dynamic couple was engaged. 

In April of 2022, the sweethearts had an LA wedding; however, they later revealed that they were married without a marriage certificate. 

They then got legally married in Santa Barbara later in May, with a third ceremony in Italy. 

Kourtney Kardashian Had A Heartbreaking Miscarriage 

Despite the fairytale whirlwind romance, the Hollywood stars are no strangers to relationship hurdles. 

In Barker’s documentary “Travis Barker: Love Is Louder Than Fear,” the celebrity lovebirds spoke candidly about the heartbreaking pregnancy loss they faced before welcoming their son, Rocky. 

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They revealed that Kardashian suffered a miscarriage in 2020, barely six months after the relationship transitioned from friendship to romance, per The Blast.

“When we lost the baby, we were devastated. We cried for days,” the socialite shared. Barker and Kardashian welcomed their first child together three years later after publicly documenting their fertility journey. 

Shanna Moakler Shares Details Of Travis Barker’s Addiction Battle 

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It seems the “Blink-182” drummer has found his happy ending, but it was not easy getting there, as he has experienced personal hurdles along the way. 

The 50-year-old’s ex-wife, Shanna Moakler, also spoke frankly in his upcoming documentary about his long battle with addiction. 

The Blast shared how the former Playboy model revealed that Barker would take up to 30 pills a day. Even Barker admitted to the severity of the addiction, sharing that close friends and family feared for his life. 

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Travis Barker’s Documentary Dives Into Past Trauma And Near-Death Experiences

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The documentary also took a deep dive into his near-death experience. 

The rock star was involved in a plane crash in 2008, which left four others dead. He suffered from PTSD and severe burns and spent three months in the hospital in Georgia. While there, he had 26 surgeries with multiple skin grafts. 

Looking back at that era, Barker described the experience as the wake-up call that forced him to quit his painkillers, sharing that it was the first thing he did after leaving the hospital. 

The 50-year-old mentioned that when he was asked if he ever went to rehab, he would reply that he was in a plane crash and that was his rehab. 

The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Festival in New York City in June and debuted on Hulu on August 13. 

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