Brad Pitt has a complicated history with his sobriety.

Pitt attended Alcoholics Anonymous in 2016 following an incident on a private jet with his family which led to a child abuse investigation. One week after the news broke, Angelina Jolie, whom Pitt married in 2014, filed for divorce. (Jolie and Pitt’s divorce continued in court until it was finalized in December 2024.)

Later that year, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services cleared Pitt. In 2017, Pitt opened up about quitting drinking and how his life had improved.

“Personally, I can’t remember a day since I got out of college when I wasn’t boozing or had a spliff or something. Something. And you realize that a lot of it is, um — cigarettes, you know, pacifiers. And I’m running from feelings,” he told GQ at the time. “I’m really, really happy to be done with all of that.”

Less than a decade later, the F1 star admitted that he had started drinking again — but “in a more restrained manner.”

Keep scrolling to see Pitt’s best quotes about getting sober:

Being Around Alcohol

At the start of Pitt’s struggles, he opened up about how he abstained from alcohol especially while owning his winery, Miraval.

“I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground,” he reflected to GQ in 2017. “ I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good. Don’t want to live that way anymore.”

Knowing When to Stop

Pitt previously told the New York Times in September 2019 that he “had taken things as far as” he could so he “removed” his “drinking privileges.” When the actor sought recovery, he was surrounded by men going through similar struggles.

“You had all these men sitting around being open and honest in a way I have never heard,” he recalled. “It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself … It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself. There’s great value in that.”

Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

During a sit down with Interview magazine in December 2019, Pitt referred to his drinking habit as an “escape” and “disservice” to himself.

“I think we’re living in a time where we’re extremely judgmental and quick to treat people as disposable. We’ve always placed great importance on the mistake. But the next move, what you do after the mistake, is what really defines a person,” he reflected. “We’re all going to make mistakes. But what is that next step? We don’t, as a culture, seem to stick around to see what that person’s next step is. And that’s the part I find so much more invigorating and interesting.”

Support System

Pitt credited pal Bradley Cooper as one of his influences to refrain from drinking.

“I got sober because of this guy,” Pitt said after Cooper presented him with the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala. “And every day’s been happier ever since.”

Making Connections in AA

While in AA, Pitt formed a friendship with Dax Shepard.

“You go around in a circle, it’s kind of a spiral because it’s a really crowded room. Dax was usually near the end because he’s been there a while. He’s kind of like an elder statesman. And I really respected it,” he said during a June 2025 appearance on Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. “It was really open, honest, was a way to take whatever theme seemed to go in the evening and then put it in the funniest package. And it meant a lot to me, it really did.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Pitt added that when he was in AA where he was at a low point.

“I was trying anything and everyone, anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting,” he continued. “I needed to wake the f*** up in some areas.”

Brad Pitt Reveals He Ended His Sobriety

“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt told Esquire in August 2026. “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities.”

Brad Pitt’s relationship with alcohol shifted before he ended his seven-year sobriety streak.

“His decision to start drinking again wasn’t based on a dramatic thing that happened where he decided sobriety was over,” a source exclusively tells Us. “It was a gradual shift in how he viewed alcohol and his own relationship with it.”

The insider adds that Pitt, 62, “had enough distance” from alcohol to the point where he believed he “could approach it differently with much stricter boundaries.” While the F1 star “hasn’t gone back to hard liquor,” he has always had a “passion” for wine and “enjoys a glass or two in moderation.”

“He is able control that because it’s a different relationship with alcohol than he’s had before,” the source continues. “It’s something that became unhealthy for him during a period of time, so there are limits he can’t cross, and he is aware of those parameters.”

Pitt joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 2016 following his highly publicized split from Angelina Jolie. (She filed for divorce in September of that year, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. Their divorce was finalized in December 2024.) He has been candid over the years about how his heavy drinking habits contributed to the downfall of his marriage.

Last week, Pitt told Esquire that he had gotten “back off the wagon” after seven years of sobriety, noting that he began drinking again “in a more restrained manner.”

“The issue was he felt it was more excess in the past,” the source tells Us. “He was at a point where he was at rock bottom, and the excess was the issue, and he is in a different place now.”

The insider emphasizes that Pitt doesn’t drink “every single day” and has “changed his actions and habits considerably.”

“It’s a different life today than the intensely turbulent period surrounding the end of his marriage,” the source explains. “He is more emotionally stable and less inclined to use alcohol as a coping mechanism. He doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life according to the rules created during the worst chapter of his life.”

Related: Brad Pitt ‘Knows He Made Mistakes’ After Settling Angelina Jolie Divorce

Brad Pitt‘s got a new lease on life after admittedly overcoming “struggles.” The actor, who recently opened up on the “New Heights” podcast about facing obstacles with perseverance, is ready to put the past behind him as he’s learned from his mistakes when it comes to parenthood and marriage. “The divorce is something that had […]

Advertisement

The source adds that people close to Pitt are “cautious” about his new approach given his past. However, so far, there “haven’t been any signs there’s an issue.”

“One to two glasses of wine doesn’t seem concerning to those close to him because he’s at a different point in his life,” says the source of those who know Pitt best.

“He has a lot of pain about the situation with his children, but he has entered a chapter where he’s realized certain relationships and circumstances may not return to what they once were,” says the insider. “It is out of his hands. He can’t force the children to see him. He feels he did the best he could to try to repair the relationships as much as possible.”

Pitt and Jolie, 51, share kids Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 18. The Mr. & Mrs. Smith actor has become estranged from many of their children following their divorce.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“There are regrets, but he has accepted what’s happened,” the source concludes. “He carries a lot of pain and wishes he had a better relationship. He has accepted their decision but still hopes as time goes on things change in the future.”

Us reached out to reps for Pitt for comment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Among the many things that make The Twilight Zone one of television’s greatest achievements is the fact that even decades after its conclusion in 1964, many episodes remain relevant today, almost eerily so. One of its most lauded episodes, “Time Enough at Last,” is one of these. It tells the tale of a man, played by Burgess Meredith (the Penguin from the 1966 Batman series), who wishes for solitude so he can simply have time to read without interruption. And his wish is granted… in true Twilight Zone fashion, that is. The episode’s lessons could, and perhaps even should, be taught today.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Proves That Maybe Wishes Should Never Come True

Henry Bemis (Meredith) is a bank teller. He is also an avid bookworm, and his passion for books often crosses into his job, annoying a customer with a ceaseless barrage of information about the novel he’s currently reading: Charles Dickens‘ David Copperfield. Both his boss and his wife berate him for wasting far too much time reading, with his wife going so far as to destroy a book of poetry in front of him. But Bemis is not one to let others impinge on his passion, and one day, like every other day, he takes refuge in the bank’s vault during his lunch break, allowing him to read without being disturbed.

Suddenly, an enormous explosion outside rattles the vault and lays Bemis out for a time, but after regaining consciousness, he dons his thick glasses and emerges from the vault, where he sees for the first time the utter devastation left by an H-Bomb. He finds the bank has been leveled, and his former coworkers lie dead, and as he ventures out further, he sees that the entire city has been destroyed, a city that was just recently bustling and now serves as nothing more than a graveyard. He realizes that nuclear war has devastated Earth, and he is the lone survivor in the immediate area, saved by being inside the vault.

Bemis is truly and devastatingly alone, with no way of looking for other survivors. He’ll live a lifetime on canned food and whatever other provisions he can find, but without anything to live for, his life is meaningless. He stumbles upon a revolver and comes achingly close to using it to end his life until his eye catches a public library in the distance. He makes his way there and is overjoyed to see that the books are still intact. Everything he has ever read, everything he has ever wanted to read, is right there, and with no one to interrupt or chastise him, he has all the time in the world to read. But as he rummages through the books, he trips, causing his glasses to fall off and shatter. In an instant, his own personal Heaven turns to Hell; he has everything he hoped for – time, solitude, and books – but he will never be able to read them.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Holds a Mirror to Today’s World

So, what does “Time Enough at Last” have to say? The threat of nuclear war is just as real today as it was then, and although we’re generations away from having seen the horrors of Hiroshima firsthand, we are, literally, the press of a button away from global devastation and live under its shadow every day. Only that may be the first lesson “Time Enough at Last” has to teach us: we don’t. Or, more accurately, it’s just one of a legion of shadows we’ve learned to live with. We are constantly bombarded with news from around the world about wars, disasters, and global threats, but, just like the headline of the paper that Bemis glances at briefly that reads “H-Bomb Capable of Total Destruction,” we read and move on, almost unable, or unwilling, to recognize it as anything more than just something else out of our control. That is if we’re paying attention at all. Just like Bemis, who placed his own personal satisfaction over others when they were alive, their own wants and needs come first.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Exposes the Irony of Isolation Today

Image via CBS

​​​​​​There’s a scene in Bruce Almighty where Jim Carrey‘s Bruce, who has taken on the responsibilities of Morgan Freeman‘s God, gives up on reading the world’s prayers via email and just automatically gives everyone exactly what they’re praying for. That decision is almost impressively bad, with the lack of foresight about the consequences of granting those wishful prayers leading to extreme chaos worldwide. Bemis longed for and wished for isolation, and he got it in spades. But that selfish desire puts himself first before everyone else, including anyone who might be able to repair his glasses (rather shortsighted, right?), and realistically, few people today think of what is to follow after they get what they want.

Interestingly, it’s Bemis’ desire for isolation that speaks loudest to today’s world. Social media and technology have effectively upended the idea of real-world relationships and social interaction, all of it then concentrated in a post-COVID world. But what’s ironic is that we continue digging deeper into isolation while at the same time being instilled with the fear of being isolated. As much as Bemis rejoices over finally having the time to read uninterrupted, the moments before of utter despair will eventually return, broken glasses or not. “Time Enough at Last” is timeless, and we would do us well to learn the lessons from this iconic story before we’re hit with our own personal Rod Serling-ized Twilight Zone ending.

The Twilight Zone is streaming on Paramount Plus in the U.S.

Advertisement

Release Date

1959 – 1964-00-00

Advertisement

Directors

John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg

Advertisement

Writers

Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, Jr., George Clayton Johnson, Jerry Sohl, Henry Slesar, Martin Goldsmith, Anthony Wilson, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Bill Idelson, E. Jack Neuman, Jerome Bixby, Jerry McNeely, John Collier, John Furia, Jr., John Tomerlin, Lucille Fletcher, Ray Bradbury, Reginald Rose, Sam Rolfe, Adele T. Strassfield

Advertisement

• 
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Van Halen debate has been raging for nearly 40 years. Ask a room full of rock fans who the better lead singer was, and most will immediately say David Lee Roth. He was the original singer, the flamboyant showman who defined and influenced a decade of frontmen, and the face of the band during their unprecedented rise to superstardom. But if the question is who was better for Van Halen in the long run, the answer isn’t nearly as obvious.

When Sammy Hagar joined in 1985, the Mighty VH was coming off the biggest album of its career, 1984, and their first No. 1 single in “Jump.” They had also just lost one of music’s most recognizable frontmen. But instead of fading away, the former SoCal backyard-party band arguably got bigger. The group scored its first chart-topping album with 5150, followed it with three more number ones, expanded its audience, and enjoyed what many consider its most commercially successful period. Could they have done that with David Lee Roth? That’s the real debate.

Roth Was a Huge Star When He Left Van Halen

If Van Halen owned 1984, David Lee Roth was expected to have the following year all to himself. And for a while, it seemed to be trending in that direction. Coming off the band’s blockbuster album, there wasn’t a bigger frontman on the planet than Diamond Dave. He kicked off 1985 co-hosting MTV’s 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Rock ‘N Roll Ball with VJ Martha Quinn, a program which also served as an infomercial for his upcoming solo EP of covers, Crazy from the Heat.

The singer did mention at the top of the broadcast that he had a message from the rest of Van Halen for viewers to make resolutions before the clock struck midnight. But as the evening wore on, and the drinks flowed, talking about the group was the last thing on his mind; he had something else to promote, and it was obvious just how separated he had gotten from his soon-to-be ex-bandmates. However, Roth reassuringly added that his hands were also full with Van Halen goings on, and they would be heading into the studio in January 1985. Those sentiments were echoed the first week of the new year when he appeared as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman, days after the video premiere for “California Girls” at midnight on MTV.

But the more press he did, and the more numbers Crazy from the Heat put up, the further speculation was fueled that Roth was striking out on his own. It wasn’t just in the tabloid rock magazines like Circus and Hit Parader, which for years intimated the band were falling apart. This time felt different. Even the go-to industry publication Billboard ran a headline that screamed “Van Halen’s Roth: Maybe It’s Over,” though the corresponding article hardly indicated such.

Yet as 1985 wore on and Roth’s star kept rising, reports were getting to inescapable levels. The singer had certainly shown he was bankable as a solo artist. “California Girls” was a massive hit on MTV and the single ended up going to No. 3 on the Billboard Top 100 in March. The “Just a Gigolo”/“I Ain’t Got Nobody” medley did similarly, peaking at No. 12 in June. The EP itself had sold a million copies by summer and made it to an impressive No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Roth appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Then he revealed he’d struck a $10 million movie deal with CBS, also set to be titled Crazy from the Heat.

Finally, the dispatches started stating as fact that the unthinkable had happened: David Lee Roth had left Van Halen. And despite persistent claims to this day that the news broke on April Fool’s Day 1985, there was no official announcement. In fact, it was first reported as an aside in the Random Notes section of Rolling Stone that landed on shelves in late July that year, where Eddie Van Halen said, “The band as you know it is over. Dave left to be a movie star… Me, I’m lookin’ for a new lead singer, ’cause I’ve got so much material ready to go – stuff Dave probably wouldn’t have wanted to sing. It’s a little too melodic for him. If he can’t scream over it, he has trouble.”

Van Halen Flourishes as Roth Unravels

Image via Rhino YouTube

Popular as David Lee Roth was throughout the bulk of 1985, the wheels began to come off that September at the second annual MTV Video Music Awards. Not only was the singer up for a record eight nominations in six categories, but, as part of the hype machine leading up to the show, the music channel also chronicled a stunt in which the singer drove nonstop from Los Angeles to New York City in just three days to arrive at the awards program.

Of course, it was all for show. The vehicle, a 1951 Mercury lowrider seen in Van Halen’s “Panama” video, had been transported across the country on a flatbed while Roth took a budget airline incognito to meet it on the East Coast for the final leg of the trip to New York.

Notably, this was when word had begun to get out that Sammy Hagar was the new frontman for Van Halen. Roth addressed a question about it at the press conference in Los Angeles ahead of the journey. Then, the new lineup appeared in public for the first time at the VMAs, with Alex Van Halen telling a reporter, “This is the actual version of Van Halen. The other one was just, kind of, a tester model – so to speak.”

Hagar, the singer for Montrose in the early ‘70s, had also been a successful solo artist, with songs like “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” modest radio hits, with the former landing in heavy rotation on MTV. He was a known commodity, and linking up with VH would only serve to raise his profile.

To add insult to injury, while his former bandmates were parading his replacement around the VMAs, Roth was completely – and somewhat shockingly – shut out at the awards ceremony. Still, he remained upbeat, touting the movie deal and saying he was looking for a new crop of musicians to back him. Then, CBS did away with its movie production division, effectively nixing any hopes of a film. Suddenly, the frontman was in damage control, attempting to shift the narrative to the music, and saying that he was successful in finding a backing band for his upcoming solo record.

The Rivalry Goes Head to Head

Van Halen had a leg up when it came to new material, as they’d begun working with Hagar in the summer of 1985, and on March 24 the following year, released 5150. It was a synth-heavy affair, showing that previous singles like “Jump” and “I’ll Wait” were just the beginning of Eddie Van Halen’s growing infatuation with keyboards. The singles “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams,” and “Love Walks In” didn’t just prominently feature the instrument; they were also decidedly more pop-oriented than most of the music they’d done previously.

Three weeks after it dropped, Van Halen had their first number one album. It drove home the point that they’d made the right move in bringing in Hagar, as did the ensuing tour, which sold out arenas two and three nights in some cities around the U.S.

For Van Halen fans turned off by the sudden influx of synthesizers and love songs, Roth offered up Eat ‘Em and Smile, released July 7, 1986. It featured what were dubbed “Van Halen assassins” in guitar prodigy Steve Vai and bass wunderkind Billy Sheehan. And while Van Halen chose not to do any videos for 5150, Roth was all too happy to provide MTV with over-the-top clips for the singles “Yankee Rose” and “Goin’ Crazy.” He even catered to the Spanish-speaking population by re-recording his vocals in the language for a version of the record titled Sonrisa Salvaje.

The fact that Van Halen producer Ted Templeman aligned himself with Roth for Eat ‘Em and Smile, and the record making a more than respectable showing on the charts by peaking at No. 4, made it seem like there was an actual contest between the two camps. But the truth became apparent as Roth hit the road in late summer, playing many of the same markets and venues Van Halen did. While the tour was praised in the majority of reviews, the singer was mainly doing one-night stands with the occasional pair of shows in any given city.

Shortly after Roth’s tour began, Van Halen finally began to distribute video clips featuring themselves, taken from the home video release Live Without a Net, recorded across two shows in New Haven, Conn. By contrast, a planned video shoot from the Eat ‘Em and Smile tour in early 1987 was cancelled. The cracks were showing, evident in an interview Roth did with Playboy that summer where the interviewer asked if there was anything he regretted about the split.

“I regret most that Van Halen saw fit to kick me when I was down, and they were on their way up,” he said. “It was unnecessary and particularly vicious, and I think they are a bunch of sick little morons for doing it. I’m angry.”

Hagar Kept Van Halen Relevant

Image via Van Halen YouTube

The battle between Van Halen and David Lee Roth continued through 1988 when, once again, they released new material in the same calendar year. First up was Roth with Skyscraper, a surprisingly keyboard-centric record with programmed bass that turned off his core audience and stalled at No. 6 shortly after it came out in January. The tour to support the LP suffered from low ticket sales while the band’s lineup shifted, with Sheehan splitting before the trek and Vai departing at its conclusion.

That May, Van Halen released OU812, which also saw a marked decline in sales, was panned by critics, but still hit No. 1 in the second week of its release. More importantly, the band remained a top draw on the road, first headlining the Monsters of Rock package tour in stadiums with Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica, and Kingdom Come, then embarking on a run of arenas. On MTV, the videos for the ballad “When It’s Love” and the earworm “Finish What Ya Started” were fast-tracked into heavy rotation.

Going into the new decade, though, is when the competition stopped being close. While a Roth-led Van Halen inspired legions of imitators in the ‘80s – less talented acts with a blond singer up front that would soon be derisively known as hair metal – he was no longer a trendsetter but rather just another frontman in spandex. It was obvious when he released A Little Ain’t Enough in 1991 to stifled yawns that the rock and roll train had left the station with Roth still on the platform. More than a third of Stateside tour dates were cancelled due to a lack of interest from fans.

On the other hand, Van Halen transcended the genre with their own 1991 effort, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Sure, there were many of the rock and roll clichés in songs like “Poundcake” and “Spanked,” but with the smash success of the topical and cerebral single “Right Now,” the band showed they could adjust to the incoming wave of grunge music while others in their peer group faltered. They even took Seattle up-and-comers Alice in Chains out as support on the tour for the record.

Roth, meanwhile, had grown disillusioned with the grind of album/tour/album/tour as returns harshly diminished. He lost interest in doing anything rock-related and wouldn’t tour or put out any new material for three years. And, when he did, it was the intentionally off-brand Your Filthy Little Mouth in 1994, with noted soul and R&B producer Nile Rodgers at the helm. It nosedived off the charts after debuting at No. 78.

Simply put, Roth’s time had passed. He was a shooting star from the late ‘70s through the mid ‘80s, but everything after that was a struggle. Even when surrounding himself with the best musicians available, he couldn’t sustain. Had he stuck with Van Halen, Roth’s antiquated mannerisms and musical directives would’ve likely torpedoed any chance at relevance that was achieved with Hagar.

Against the odds, Van Halen was able to do more than survive with Hagar at the microphone; they managed to evolve as a musical entity. Though he’d always been lyrically challenged, even the singer’s swan song LP with the band, 1995’s Balance, had less cringe on it than anything else prior, and didn’t sound dated at all.

Carole Radziwill and former Real Housewives of New York nemesis Bethenny Frankel’s feud is apparently still going strong eight years after their iconic reunion showdown.

Ahead of her upcoming return to RHONY, Radziwill, 62, “liked” a TikTok video from influencer and comedian Meredith Lynch, who argued in the clip that Frankel, 55, is in need of a rebrand amid the launch of her Supermodel Café in the Hamptons.

“The only thing that’s been a bit of a solid money-maker for Bethenny, and by the way, not even as good of a money-maker as she pretends it to be, is Skinnygirl,” Lynch alleged in the video on Saturday, August 15. “And, unfortunately for Bethenny but fortunately for society, we have moved away from this sort of marketing, ‘This is a skinny-whatever.’ … Bethenny is smart enough to know that the culture has gone in such a way that we don’t want things like Skinnygirl.”

However, Lynch argued that Frankel’s recent launch of the Supermodel Café is just “easily transitional branding.” The content creator pointed out that Frankel has applied for trademarks for “Supermodel” branding for pizza, cheesecake and other products — suggesting that the RHONY alum will try to expand the brand.

“She’s going to try to make it her new brand. I’m not sure if it’s going to takeoff,” Lynch.

Us reached out to representatives for both Radziwill and Frankel for comment.

Radziwill and Frankel were briefly very close friends on The Real Housewives of New York City before their relationship imploded during season 10 in 2018. They had a memorable face-off at that year’s reunion, where Radziwill infamously accused host Andy Cohen of being “full of s***” for seemingly siding with Frankel.

Radziwill left RHONY after the contentious season 10, with Frankel exiting the following year. (Radziwill will return to RHONY for season 16, which premieres on Bravo on September 8.)

The two have continued to trade barbs publicly over the years, including Frankel weighing in when Radziwill was mentioned in the Epstein Files. The tranche of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s personal files released by the Justice Department earlier this year included emails exchanged between Radziwill and the financier’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell, 64, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 after being convicted of sex trafficking-related charges.)

“What I do know is that Carole has been friendly with many notable women,” Frankel said via Instagram in February.

Related: Andy Cohen Reacts to Carole Radziwill’s ‘RHONY’ Return After Their Feud

The rise and fall of Andy Cohen and Carole Radziwill’s friendship may just be fit for reality TV. Before becoming one of the faces of Bravo, the Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host appeared to have a friendly relationship with Radziwill that extended into her initial seasons on The Real Housewives of New […]

Advertisement

She alleged that “Carole has taken many opportunities to swipe at me, dig at me, speak negatively about me in a post-[RHONY] world.”

“In a post-show world, she has certainly gone for it and I’m not going to do the same,” Frankel argued. “It’s not my business.”

Radziwill has denied having any actual involvement with Epstein or any knowledge of his crimes. In September 2025, Radziwill responded via X when a fan asked her whether it was true that Maxwell was “the photographer for her book” What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love.

“I knew her socially [and] she had a real camera (it was 2004 no one carried cameras) anyway I’d had a pro photo shoot but the pics were bad,” the RHONY alum wrote. “I asked her if she’d take the picture & she said sure. In hindsight was it odd she had a camera? I guess but who knew?!”

Another X user asked how it was possible that Radziwill and others in Maxwell’s sphere of influence didn’t know about Epstein’s misdeeds. (Epstein died by suicide at age 66 in August 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He was previously convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.)

“Sure rich men, creepy people… obvs the men who were involved knew…I’m saying the social party friends especially us girls — we didn’t know. When people are doing bad s*** they hide it well. It’s f***ing creepy,” Carole countered. “The rich people I know are kind and decent. But apparently no one knew anything about her except I guess for the FBI. They should release their report. It’s awful. It’s so dark, no? Better left to authorities.”

In March, she said of Maxwell, “Imagine knowing someone and even being friendly with them and then they turn out to be, like, a monster.”

Meanwhile, Frankel’s spokesperson released a statement to Us amid reports that her Supermodel Café in East Quogue, New York, was served a stop-work warning hours after opening.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

“Today’s Supermodel Café launch drew an extraordinary turnout, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the community,” a rep for Frankel told Us in a statement on Thursday, August 13. “The café received a yellow notice labeled ‘Warning Stop Work Order’ following concerns surrounding the unusually high volume of launch-day attendees.”

Her spokesperson added, “The team is working cooperatively with local officials and taking the appropriate steps to address those concerns. The notice does not require the café to close, and there is no anticipated disruption to business.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Connie Britton is paying tribute to Nashville costar Hayden Panettiere after her death.

“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” Britton, 59, wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 17, alongside a series of photos of the pair. “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now. 💔.”

Britton starred opposite Panettiere in the hit 2010s series, in which the pair played country music singer Rayna Jaymes and rising star Juliette Barnes, respectively. The show ran for four seasons on ABC before CMT picked it up for two additional years. Britton exited in season 5.

Panettiere opened up about her dynamic with Britton in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, just months before her death.

“My character wasn’t intended to be the show’s star — not even close,” Panettiere wrote in the book, released in May. “That honor went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly.”

She continued, “Unfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my billing had gone way up. I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie’s heels. I was deeply uncomfortable with this development.”

“I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three Emmy nominations under her belt,” Panettiere explained. “This should have been her time to shine.”

Three months later, news broke on Sunday, August 16, that Panettiere died at age 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” Hayden’s father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to Us. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Related: Celebrities React to Hayden Panettiere‘s Sudden Death at 36

Hollywood is mourning the tragic loss of Hayden Panettiere at age 36. The Heroes and Nashville alum’s representative confirmed to Us on Sunday, August 16, that the actress had died. Details surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately available. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, […]

Advertisement

Hayden’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. One day after her father’s statement, authorities in South Carolina confirmed that they had responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence in Greenville. The individual was later identified as Hayden.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

First responders attempted to resuscitate Hayden using “advanced cardiac life support,” including CPR, special medicines, breathing tubes and heart rhythm tracking, according to TMZ. Hayden was pronounced dead after the paramedics were unable to revive her.

Authorities could be heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in dispatch audio obtained by People around the time of Hayden’s death. Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.

“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” authorities said in a statement. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”

Young and the Restless spoilers for the two weeks starting August 17th with Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) provoking half of Genoa City with his obsessive antics. And that triggers Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) to slap back and reinvigorate the Abbott vs Newman vendetta.

Also, during the two weeks of August 17th through the 28th, we’re going to see Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) getting his flirt on, Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) completely losing it and firing Billy. Plus, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) are also fighting over Billy while Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) is toasting him. Let’s get right into it.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Stephanie & Nate Spark

Monday, August 17th on Young and the Restless, Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) talks to Nate about the surgery. She’s lining up for him. He’s hoping to be able to operate again. He cooks for Stephanie and is flirting with her. And Nate says he’s okay if the surgery doesn’t work out.

But what he’s really hoping is this will heal not only his hand, but his relationship with Devon Hamilton (Bryton James). Stephanie likes his cooking. And then Nate asks her out to a sporting event and also dinner. And Stephanie wants to go, but she would prefer that Nate cooks for her instead. There’s sparks flying all over the place for Nate and Stephanie. And I’m curious to see what her son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) thinks.

Y&R Spoilers: Cane & Lily Flip on Billy

Billy cannot wait to tell Lily his big news. Before Billy gets it out though, Lily fires him and says, “Give back the Chancellor documents you took.” But Billy says, “You can’t fire me. I own Chancellor.” So, Cane is lashing out at Billy’s stunt, calling him a spoiled brat. But he says their lawyers are confirming everything.

And Billy says by end of day, he will have the documents sent over to Lily and Cane, and they’ll see. His dad, John Abbott (Jerry Douglas), loaned Philip Chancellor money back in the day. And if it wasn’t repaid in 20 years, John would get Chancellor and it was never repaid by Phillip and John just didn’t happen to come enforce it and take the company. Billy assumes that Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) never knew about the loan. But as far as he’s concerned, that changes absolutely nothing.

So, Cane is fuming that Billy is spitting on the opportunity that Cane gave him. However, Billy blames his mom, Jill Abbott (Jess Walton), for hiding this secret from him. And Billy thinks that it’s why Jill sold Chancellor to Victor before it could come out.

Cane storms off and asks Holden if he found out anything about Billy’s investigation, but Holden has nothing for him. Billy walks over and joins and tells Holden he no longer has a job. Cane starts raging at Billy, who takes off as Cane gets on a call to Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) to tell him he’s coming by. Lily enlists Holden in the war against Billy.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: The Abbotts Discuss Billy

While over at Jabot, Jack’s telling Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Traci Abbott (about the Chancellor loan documents. He says Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is vetting it right now with the lawyers. Traci doesn’t like it, but Jack says Billy’s determined. Ashley agrees Jill probably kept it secret to protect her reputation. And Ashley actually thinks this could be good for Billy.

But Jack doesn’t like it because Billy’s hurting people and he really needs to be focused on Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and the new baby. So, Ashley suggests the three of them just stay out of it and let Billy do Billy. Traci winds up agreeing and tells Jack it’s bad for his recovery to get tangled up in Billy’s stress mess. So, Jack’s just worried that their younger brother’s going to tarnish John’s legacy. But in the end, the three older ones agree to step back, let little brother Billy do what he wants.

Young and the Restless: Cane Turns to Jack

Then Jack gets the call from Cane, who shows up right after. Jack warns Traci and Ashley that Billy has started the war. Cane shows up and asks them to shut Billy down. Then Tuesday, August 18th, on the Young and the Restless, Cane makes a new alliance in his war against Billy. I suspect it’s going to be Victor, which of course will probably pull in Adam to use Newman Media as a tool to trash Billy in the public eye. Adam and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) don’t like Cane, but let’s be real, they hate Billy even more.

Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) reveals a new endeavor to somebody. I suspect this is him playing the new love song that he wrote for Christine Williams Romalotti (Lauralee Bell). Plus, Victoria’s bond with Kyle deepens. We had an almost kiss last week, and we may get a full on lip lock between Victoria and her daughter’s ex-lover, Kyle, this week.

Y&R Spoilers: Nikki & Victor Worry about Nick

Then, Wednesday, August 19th, on Young and the Restless, Victor and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) discuss how they can help Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) stick to his recovery. He is still in rehab, but he’s hanging out with Marie Kirkland (Jade Harlow), and I doubt Nikki will like to hear that. You’re supposed to avoid romantic and sexual relationships while in recovery, and especially during rehab.

Kyle is on damage control. He’s trying to protect the Jabau and John Abbott’s legacy and the family. Jack doesn’t really care if Cane and Lily lose the company necessarily, but what he’s worried about is Billy spiraling and losing Sally. Meanwhile, Matt wants to know if Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) can forgive him. They’re talking at the coffee shop this week.

Then, Young and the Restless on Thursday, August 20th, has Audra stumbling into Billy, who’s in a good mood at Society, and Audra asked Billy what he’s celebrating. And Billy tells Audrey, “Join me.” And then they toast with Champagne after he tells her the big news. I do wonder if Audra is going to be worried about Sally’s reaction since it doesn’t sound like Billy has told Sally at this point.

Adam & Chelsea Bicker on Young and Restless

Adam and Chelsea are disagreeing up at the office. I’m sure it has got to do with Billy and Chancellor because Chelsea always defends Billy and Adam hates the guy. Sally, meanwhile, is worried about Billy’s big Chancellor scheme. So, Sally is back home this week. She’s going to hear about Billy snatching Chancellor from Willie and Cane. And we know Sally’s not going to like this because once again, Billy is painting a huge target on her back. She knows Victor will come after Billy and by association is going to come after her and Audra and their company.

Nina reunites with Tracy and Christine. Nina’s back to Genoa City and sneaks up on her girlfriends at the Shadow Room. Christine’s telling Tracy she knows the Abbotts really are going through it. She may tell Christine about Billy’s thing. And Christine, of course, knows about Jack and Dian’s ordeal. Tracy lays it all out and tells Christine this is why she needs a night out. And that’s when Nina sneaks up and says, “You and me both.” And the three hug each other excitedly.

Friday, August 21st on Young and the Restless. Victor puts a plan in motion to discredit Billy. Once Victor hears that Billy’s taking over Chancellor, you know Victor’s going to lose it. And I expect he’s got Newman Media running a smear campaign, whether Chelsea likes it or not. The rehab center gives Sharon an update on Nick’s recovery. I’m hoping he doesn’t have any sort of setback. And I am curious if Sharon’s going to hear that he’s hanging out with Marie.

Jack Helps Lily on Y&R

Lily asked Jack for his help and I think Lily’s hoping Jack can talk Billy down and stop this plot to take Chancellor, but Jack already said he’ll stay out of it. Then the week of August 24th through the 28th, we’ve got Billy furious and reeling after Victor’s latest attack on him.

And I’m sure Billy’s going to try and up the stakes, but I expect Sally to try and stop Billy before it’s too late. I doubt she’ll be able to. Adam and Chelsea’s relationship is strained because of this Billy mess and Nate and Stephanie keep growing closer. We’ll find out soon if Nate’s surgery is successful. Claire and Holden keep bonding. We may get I love you soon. I’m also interested to see how Claire’s going to react to the whole Kyle and Victoria twist.

We’ll see if Jack agrees to help Lily or if he decides he needs to sit this one out because he doesn’t want got to go back got to war with Victor. We’ll see more of Nick’s recovery and see him in rehab and what’s going on with him and Marie. Billy’s obsession with Chancellor further strains his relationship with Sally. And I’m sure Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) is going to have a hot take on what Billy is doing. But I’m betting that Phyllis is a fan of it. She loves chaos and hates Victor and has a lot of resentment towards Cane.

We’ll see if Sharon can forgive Matt and see more of him getting closer to Phyllis. Lily and Cane teaming up against Billy is probably going to make their relationship stronger and should grow her brother bond with Holden, who is ready to help Lily deal with the threat of Billy. I am curious to see what Devon and Nate have to say when they weigh in on this Billy mess as well.

Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week of August 17th, including Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) slapping someone with an angry ultimatum. And little Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) is unhinged, unraveling, and unrepentant as she tries one last time to kill big bad Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Also, the week of August 17th through the 21st, we’ve got Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) acting out, Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) forced to cash a reality check, Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) going rogue, and Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) has got to make threats to somebody really scary. Let’s dive right in.

Beyond the Gates: Vernon Determined to Keep Bill Away from Dani

Monday, August 17th on BTG is season 2, episode 148, and Vernon is relentlessly against Bill setting his sights on Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) again. And Bill tells Vernon, “I’m sick. I’m not blind.” And Vernon tells him, “Cut the crap.” And demands to know if Bill is trying to rekindle with Dani.

Last week, both Dani and Bill explained to family members how their relationship is going to work going forward. Dani’s parents and sister seem skeptical that she’s devoted fully to Andre and doesn’t want Bill back, but they’re going to be there for her if it goes awry.

Come Monday, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) is back up sitting at Bill’s desk, and this gets Tomas all wound up again. Naomi took offense after Tomas accused her of marking her territory last week. So, Naomi may be there at Bill’s request. Either way, Tomas won’t like it because he thinks he should be the one stepping up in Bill’s absence.

BTG Spoilers: Andre’s Scary Secret

Andre is keeping a secret hidden from his murky past, and he hasn’t told Dani, but the past is back to haunt Andre in the form of psycho sicko Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones). As we predicted, she is Andre’s stalker. And Heather wants another taste of Andre and isn’t going to take no for an answer.

Andre tells Heather, “It’s good to see you.” But he looks really nervous and scared. And Heather says, “Now you can thank me in person.” as she’s caressing his face. I’m sure that’s thank you for the champagne. This all looks so bad. Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) just told Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) that Heather has no limits and that she’s scary.

Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Hamilton) and Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) make a controversial fashion pitch for a new bag they suggest calling the Nikki. And I wonder if it’s named after Nicole, but I know she’s not going to like that because that’s what Leslie calls her. Darling Nikki whenever she’s dragging Nicole. Anita is stunned and says, “Child, are you trying to get disowned?”

Tuesday, August 18th on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 149. Bill is flirting with disaster, but that’s typical. He laid it on thick with Andre last week about Dani coming when he calls. Bill’s pushing back on Vernon, and we’ll see what it is. But if Bill gives any hint to Hayley that a Dani reunion is on his mind, I think Hayley might get desperate and just smother him with her fun pillows right there at Garland Memorial because she wants Bill dead now.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Ted & Carlton Clear the Air

Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) and Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) are chatting. Carlton gives him a major update and I’m sure he’s going to tell Ted that he and Nicole are done. She wouldn’t commit to him and now she’s committed to Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan).

Ted admits to Carlton at the Fairmont Crest Country Club locker room that there are many days that Ted has wanted to deck Carlton. And he tells Ted, “If you want to work that out, I’m right here, but I don’t think it’s going to come to blows.” At this point, I expect Carlton and Ted’s friendship to get back on track since both are Nicole’s exes officially.

Ashley Battles Hayley on BTG

Hayley is clashing with Ashley, and I’m expecting Hayley’s up to something at the hospital that Ashley tries to shut down. Hayley, of course, is plotting to take out Bill while he’s weak before he can recover. So, I wonder if Ashley sees Hayley acting suspicious around Bill.

Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) has words that hit Leslie hard. So, Eva’s telling Leslie she hates that she’s still stuck on Ted. And Eva says she also hates that Leslie’s tossing aside Marcel Malone (Daryl W. Handy), who’s a sure thing for Ted, who is a never going to happen thing. Leslie throws a fit this week when Marcel storms out on Leslie at her hotel room.

BTG Spoilers: Martin’s Disappointed

Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson) fields an unanticipated request up at the hospital. This may come from Bill who’s playing games or it may come from her honey Ted. Of course, Bill continues to scheme with no idea his life still on the line thanks to Hayley. We also have Smitty disappointing Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) Tuesday. Last we heard, Smitty nicks the podcast idea because he didn’t want to ruffle Martin’s campaign manager’s tail feathers. But maybe Smitty changes his mind.

Wednesday, August 19th on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 150, and we’ve got Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) getting Grayson Perez (Jordie Vilasuso) and Ashley to help him. So, Grayson and Jacob are waiting in Ashley’s apartment when she walks Naomi in and everybody yells surprise. So, it looks like a travel themed or an international theme. There’s Tibetan prayer flags, a little pinata. Looks like maybe margaritas.

Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Nicole & Kial Support Noah

Nicole’s plan saves the everything for Noah. So, it sounds like maybe Nicole and Kial are at Noah’s open mic night. We know he’s excited about it and a lot of people are planning to show up. So, I’m assuming Kial will be there, too.

Dani and Andre are not being honest with each other. They’re coloring outside the lines. Dani’s got her big bill secret. Andre’s got sexy scary stalker Heather secret. They’ve promised each other absolute truth in this marriage, but neither is holding that up at this point.

Vernon’s Plans Thwarted on BTG

Vernon has big plans for Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) that are thrown off. Might be him looking for more sexy time, but whenever they try to do that and get frisky, somebody barges into their home. Then on Thursday, August 20th, it’s season 2, episode 151 of Beyond the Gates. And Eva and Isaiah are sharing some difficult truths.

And I wonder if this is more of Eva’s anxiety over her scar and it hitting her self-esteem, or it could be about Leslie, and I wonder if Isaiah admits that juggling her mom is no easy thing. Leslie has got to face the demons of her past so she can move forward.

I suspect this is her considering Eva’s advice to let go of the dream of being with Ted and to embrace Marcel, whom Leslie really does like. Plus, Marcel knows that Leslie is a bad girl and doesn’t hold it against her. Kind of enjoys it.

Bill and Ted do some bonding over their shared past with the Duprees. Bill and Ted, of course, are both Dupree daughter exes. They’re both on the outs with the family. I expect Ted’s going to drop by to see him at the hospital. And I wonder if Bill drops hints about wanting Dani back.

Nicole’s reaction to something is unexpected and she has got to consider her motives. All of this happening in front of Kial. So, maybe about Ted, maybe ex sex on Nicole’s brain, too, like her sister Dani. Kial’s pretty understanding, so we’ll see how it goes.

Beyond the Gates: Hayley’s Final Move and Andre’s Threatening Secrets

Friday, August 21st on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 152. And Dani’s facing off with Hayley again as Bill’s toxic little wifey may be making a move against him. So obviously Dani should stay out of it, but she can’t. She won’t. And her getting back into Bill’s business has Vernon, Anita, and everybody worried. And of course, Hayley ticked off. But I’m sure Bill is going to be thrilled.

Madison Montgomery (Kenjah McNeil) gets contradictory information from Dani and Hayley. And I wonder if Madison shuts down a fight because it’s stressing Bill. And I expect Dani and Hayley are both going to sling accusations against each other. I am hoping with Madison back, she’s going to get to the bottom of this and figure out that Bill was poison.

Andre Hurls Threats on BTG

We have Andre threatening someone by the end of the week. I’m pretty sure it’s Heather because I expect her to threaten Andre if he doesn’t come back to her. Obviously, he wants and loves Dani, but I fully expect Heather to show Andre the selfie of her and Dani and make a threat to his wife if Andre doesn’t meet Heather’s demands.

Andre may threaten her right back, though. But come on, Heather’s a straight up psycho. I wonder if Andre is going to turn to Joey for help. That might be interesting. Plus, we have Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) tailing Heather this week, so he may see her and Andre entering or exiting the same hotel room.

Bill’s at his breaking point. So, I wonder if Hayley’s done something else. Also, Chelsea’s PTSD from her kidnapping is hitting her hard. She’s still got unresolved trauma. So, maybe her psycho chick stalker who wanted to force her to marry her and or kill Chelsea reminds her of Bill’s psycho chick stalker wife who’s trying to kill him.

We’ve got your Big Brother veto meeting results with Yash Patel losing control of the last bit of his HOH as Rick Devens pulled out his power and took over the event.

Blindsiding Yash and Kamu Kirk was the icing on Angela Murray’s birthday cake even before she blew out the candles. Before the meeting, Yash told Mallory Aurichio he wants Angela to go least. He’d rather it was someone else.

Mallory said “me too” but told Yash that no one has campaigned to her either. I’m expecting Yash’s tune to change depending on how big a show Angela puts on at the meeting.

Also, Yash and Mallory talked about how they hate having the backyard closed. They get so bored that they love looking at anything but the house like airplanes. Yash said it’s exciting when you see a new bird. Mallory agreed and said it’s amazing.

Also this morning, while the houseguests were slowly getting ready for their day, Kamu told Haley Thogmartin that he feels really good about today. Also Yash is really going to be unaware because Angela and Dee Valladares hung out with him this morning being so friendly.

They told Yash not to worry about the fact he had to nominate them, they know it’s a tough spot to be in. Angela laughed and said, just have nightmares about it for the rest of your life. Dee laughed and said, don’t worry, you can’t play HOH next week.

Big Brother: Yash in the Dark

Angela started cackling as Dee mocked Yash and said, don’t worry, you are safe. Yash said the evil laughs scare him. Angela then said watch out, Yash and Dee said wakey wakey.

And of course, Yash thought they were laughing with him but they were laughing at him because Dee and Angela knew exactly what was coming for him at the meeting.

Last night, Kamu had some sort of weird moment and suggested to Taylor Brown and Yash that he use the veto on Dee, then renom Barrett Pfeiffer and they’s have the votes to save Angela and evict Barrett.

So, Kamu wants Yash to get two icons worth of blood on his hands then not evict one of them? Make it make sense. Sounds like sabotage.

Guess who’s in the lead for the final BB Time Capsule in the polls? In the lead by far is Drew Campbell. With Taylor next but with only about a third of the votes that Drew has. Haley’s in last place with less than 2 percent.

Also, Angela told Drew she’d come back and play a third time. I bet Allison Grodner’s excited. Angela she’d even come back in her 70s “and be even more bat sh*t crazy”. And Drew said he’d come back and play every Summer.

Big Brother: Dee’s Savior

Pre-meeting, Devens ran through scenarios. Like what he’d do if Yash used the veto power to take Haley off the chopping block and renommed Devens. In that case, he’d play the DPOV for himself, renom Taylor because he says Dee could beat her in Blockbuster over Kamu.

Also, Devens was still pressing Dee on using her BB Bribe on him. Devens wants that cash but Dee said they need to hang onto it because if Devens is on the block they could use Dee’s bribe to try and save him even though it’s something small.

If you wondered does Devens know he’s potentially blowing up his game saving Dee. Yes, he does. But Devens is going to do it anyway although he’s worried this will cause people not to like him. Aww Big Brother‘s dad is worried the kids won’t like him.

But Devens also said he doesn’t want to play scared and will get blood on his hands. He said he doesn’t want to leave the game knowing he did nothing and had no impact. Devens cam-talked all this saying, you won’t be able to say that about me.

And pre-meeting, Taylor told Haley she thinks Devens has a power because he’s got a big fan base. Haley said he’s going to do such a stink. Taylor wants to know what his power is and said somebody needs to threaten him next week and make Devens tell them what it is.

Big Brother 28: Devens’ Big Blindside

Well on the plus side of this veto ceremony blindside is that Taylor’s curiosity will be satisfied. Also just before the meeting, Melody and Mallory were talking about wanting Kamu on the block to see how he’ll act.

Around 1030 AM Big Brother time, Yash was called to the DR room in advance of the veto meeting and then the feeds went down a little before 1130 Big Brother time. They came back up and sure enough, Devens blindsided the house.

Yash did not use his veto and then Devens got to take over and play his Diamond Power of Veto. He took Dee off the block and renommed Kamu. And they played it like Devens had told no one – not even Dee – about his power.

When they came back, there were no big fits or anything – not yet anyway. And Yash said as long as Kamu doesn’t leave, he’ll consider it a success. Well, if Kamu doesn’t leave, it’ll be Haley leaving.

I don’t think Yash has done math on that but he may not care as long as it’s a chick. Devens was actually a bit let down that there wasn’t a stronger reaction to his blindside nuclear veto power.

He called it underwhelming. But afterwards, Yash was in the storage room begging America to give him a power. Maybe the power to make better moves.

Big Brother 28: Blindside Aftermath

Devens’ DPOV would’ve hit harder if the blockbuster wasn’t in play when we all know Kamu’s a strong comp player. So, him being up doesn’t mean Kamu’s going out.

Also quick alumni news. Keanu Soto from BB27 is playing The Challenge right now. I’ve said before I didn’t start BB27 liking him but by the end, I was rooting for him. He grew on me and had my AFP vote last year.

If you don’t watch The Challenge, you should. And for anyone who watched BB27, you should go watch The Challenge Cutthroat Season 42 that’s on right now.

Skip to Episode 3 and then skip to the last 10 minutes of the episode to see Keanu in an elimination round that was brutal. Spoiler alert, Keanu beast moded. This is his rookie season of The Challenge and all eyes are on him.

It was impressive and as usual, he was a nice guy and good sportsman despite crushing the other guy. Keanu’s really agile for a big guy in addition to being so strong.

Taylor Sheridan built an empire by taking risks, and his ambitious spy thriller Lioness is no exception. Centered on the covert CIA operations program Lioness and its leader, senior case officer Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña), the high-stakes Paramount+ series continually reinvents its narrative formula with each successive season, relying on the appeal of iteration over consistency. Its first season took a slow-burn approach to storytelling, intimately tracking the opportunistic recruitment of a Lioness and her solo infiltration in pursuit of an overseas anti-terrorism mission; the second season remained linear but shifted its focus to broader team execution, tactical action, and backroom bureaucracy, reactively recruiting a new, personally involved Lioness in direct response to an ongoing domestic security threat.

For its third season, Lioness once again altered its narrative approach by dropping the routine introduction of a new Lioness, instead focusing on a high-stakes plot centered on Joe. But it’s the structural reboot of the show’s storytelling that serves as the boldest risk Sheridan has taken with the series thus far, adopting a dual-timeline format that allows two narratives to exist simultaneously – one set in the present, and one set six months prior – and allowing us to experience the present-day fallout and the actions that caused it in real time. It’s not just a stylistic shake-up, either; the shift gives Lioness a smarter way to deepen Joe’s personal stakes, ultimately providing a more urgent and unpredictable backdrop to the survival story which begins to unfold.

A Split Timeline in ‘Lioness’ Shows Joe’s Two Worlds Collide

Image via Paramount

As the head of Lioness, Joe recruits female military operatives for undercover infiltration of terrorist and criminal organizations to gain access to and eliminate high-value targets. As a wife and mother of two young daughters, Joe is perpetually torn between a sense of patriotic duty paired with the ability to compartmentalize, and the desire to be present for and protect her family. Despite the friction it causes, Joe meticulously kept the two equally important sides of her identity isolated – but in the third season’s dual timelines, they collide spectacularly, leading up to the present-day where Joe is kidnapped and held captive by Russian operatives, but beginning a slow collapse six months earlier, after a high-value extraction on the Russia-Ukraine border leads to a confrontation with contract agents to her doorstep, her family traumatized and relocated under the protection of the QRF.

The psychological boundary Joe built to separate her career in professional warfare from the sanctuary of her home began crumbling well before this season, however. The effects of the extreme nature of a job in professional warfare have taken their toll on her marital relationship, which spent the entirety of the first season on the rocks, though seemed to be getting better in the second season until a too-soon return to work after a near-fatal injury led to a heartbreaking ultimatum. Joe missed countless milestones for her children, leading to her eldest being resentful and acting out before she was in a devastating car accident – during and after which Joe was in and out of a mission, and often out of contact – forcing her to confront her absentee parenting head-on, repairing her relationship slowly but steadily over the proceeding episodes. The first three episodes of the third season dismiss any possibility of any future separation between the two sides of her life; not only does her family witness her neutralizing two would-be attackers at her home, but she’s also forced to deliver a brutally raw monologue exposing the truth of her existence to her family to ensure their future safety.

‘Lioness’ Season 3 Exposes Joe’s Greatest Vulnerability

Image via Paramount

The backbone of the Lioness program is a reliance on a tactical mixture of toughness and vulnerability, enabling operatives to connect with their targets by walking a fine line between emotional reality and manipulation. Until Season 3, Joe seemed tactically invincible, only faltering within the confines of her domestic life or in the face of a near-lethal situation for her team, even then merely doubling down on toughness to power through the moments of doubt. But the compartmentalization of her family has now proven to be her most exploitable weakness, underscored by a moment in the third episode when Ukrainian double agent Oleksandra Balakin (Elizaveta Neretin) says, “A soldier’s oath is his family’s oath,” which leads to an immediate, visceral punch from Joe but perfectly encapsulates the perilous reality she now finds herself trapped within, with her family being lifelong high-value targets regardless of what she does or does not do next.

It’s enough to make her high-ranking Special Activities boss Kaitlyn Meade (Nicole Kidman) ask her power-broker husband Errol (Martin Donovan) if foreign forces have ever sought leverage through him, for Deputy Director Byron Westfield (Michael Kelly) to confront Russian intelligence contacts personally to threaten them, and for the Lioness team to be retrained in the tactical pyramid of foreign adversary threats, from disinformation to honeypots and everything in between. While the timelines are certain to converge at some point, now that we’re close to halfway through the season, it’s safe to say that Sheridan’s latest gamble, shaking up the narrative structure and focus, has more than paid off​​​. By taking Joe out of command and forcing her into survival mode, we’ve seen a far more vulnerable side to her character than the first two seasons allowed – it’s refreshed the overall urgency of Lioness, making it a very, very long seven days to find out just what insane events each timeline will deliver next.