Sean Grayson, the officer who was convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in 2024, has reportedly died just months into serving his prison sentence.

RELATED: Social Media Users Are Reacting After Sean Grayson Received His Sentencing For The Fatal Shooting Of Sonya Massey

Sean Grayson Reportedly Dies Months Into Serving Prison Sentence

According to the New York Post, Sean Grayson passed away in prison on Sunday, August 23. Per the outlet, Grayson’s lawyer, Daniel Fultz, confirmed that he passed early that day.

Furthermore, the New York Post reports that Grayson had been diagnosed with colon cancer before the July 2024 shooting of Sonya Massey. To note, however, USA Today reports that Grayson was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and stage 4 rectal cancer, liver, and lung cancer in 2024.

In January, his lawyer reportedly shared that the cancer had spread to his liver and lungs. In July, a three-member Illinois Prisoner Review Board reportedly denied Grayson’s request for early medical release.

At this time, it remains unclear whether Grayson’s death was related to his diagnosis.

Social Media Reacts To Officer Convicted Of Fatally Shooting Sonya Massey Dying In Prison

Social media users reacted to Sean Grayson’s passing in TSR’s comment section.

More On The Fatal Killing Of Sonya Massey By Sean Grayson

As The Shade Room previously reported, Sean Grayson was convicted of the second-degree murder of Sonya Massey in October 2025. This, after he entered her home alongside his partner on the evening of July 6, 2024. This, in response to a speculated intruder. Ultimately, Grayson shot Massey three times despite observing her in a state of distress. In court, Grayson argued that he thought Massey was going to injure him by throwing boiling water on him.

In January 2026, Grayson was sentenced to 20 years behind bars, per The Shade Room. The New York Post reports that Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, lawyers for the Massey family, sent condolences to the Grayson family following news of his death. However, they reportedly maintained that it “does not bring Sonya back.”

“Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable, and she should be alive today. Sean Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back,” they reportedly said, per WLS. “We wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one. Sonya’s family knows that pain all too well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days.”

RELATED: UPDATE: Sonya Massey’s Family Speaks Out After Sean Grayson’s 20-Year Sentence (VIDEO)

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Lanterns Episode 2.

For longtime Green Lantern fans, the reception to Lanterns has been sort of split. Many have enjoyed the reinterpretation of the comic book mythos, with Kyle Chandler‘s Hal Jordan being a breath of fresh air after the previous live-action adaptation. Some feel that the DC Comics stories aren’t being honored as well as they should be, as the HBO series takes a more grounded approach to the characters’ lore. Wherever you stand, the revelation that Manhunters are the next big threat to Hal and John’s (Aaron Pierre) investigation is an exciting one — provided you know what a Manhunter even is, of course.

‘Lanterns’ Episode 2 Namedrops the Manhunters as the Next Biggest Threat to Earth

When John Stewart is kidnapped by the mysterious Antaan (Paul Ben-Victor), he learns the dark truth about the Guardians of the Universe. Before the Green Lantern Corps took over as the DCU’s biggest space cops, there were the Manhunters. According to Antaan, these creatures were synthetic beings that could pose as organic lifeforms, shapeshifting to blend in with their surroundings before sparking an alien genocide. In fact, it was Antaan’s own people who were slaughtered, with the dead aliens found in Rushville, Nebraska, being the select few that tracked down the last surviving Manhunter to the American Midwest. As the alien-in-disguise explains to John, that the last Manhunter was captured by the Green Lantern Abin Sur and taken to be executed — only that execution never happened.

Lanterns proposes that the surviving Manhunter has been living on Earth for decades, ever since Abin Sur crash-landed and bequeathed his power ring to Hal Jordan, making him the first official Green Lantern of Earth. These beings are not to be confused with Martian Manhunter, the superhero who hails from Mars, or the other costumed characters who have gone by the name “Manhunter,” usually heroes from Earth who sought justice outside the justice system. The Manhunters we’re talking about were a race of robotic peacekeepers first created by the Guardians to patrol the galaxy efficiently and without the potential loss of life. Unfortunately, that wasn’t how things ultimately played out. In the comics, we later learn that the Manhunters eventually conspired to rebel against the Guardians, having come to their own conclusions about the way that the galaxy should be run. This often put them in conflict with the Green Lantern Corps, their successors.

Nevertheless, the Manhunters continued to patrol the galaxy, looking for those they could convert to their cause. (Ironically, human Mark Shaw would take up the Manhunter identity and color scheme because of the Manhunters’ influence.) “No man escapes the Manhunters” is the common mantra of this uncompromising force, and they had no trouble making sure that everyone knew it. However, it wasn’t until the “Secret Origin” story arc by Geoff Johns that we began to understand why the Manhunters rebelled. It turns out that the androids’ programming had been corrupted by an Oan named Krona, resulting in a massacre where the Manhunters annihilated an entire sector: Sector 666. Only five survived the onslaught, including the future Red Lantern Atrocitus, whose backstory is quite similar to Antaan’s on Lanterns — no wonder so many are theorizing that he’s Atrocitus in disguise.

Manhunters Have a Storied History in the Green Lantern Mythos

Similar to how they are described on Lanterns, Johns’ “No Fear” arc reveals a Manhunter that appears quite human before eradicating folks around him. From what we can tell, Lanterns has taken some inspiration from this iteration in particular. Still, there’s no telling what might happen or how the Manhunters may evolve throughout the series. Of course, some are no doubt hoping that we’ll get a depiction that’s closer to their comic book counterparts or even what we saw from the robotic race on Justice League or Green Lantern: The Animated Series, but at this point that seems unlikely. Whatever form they take, Manhunters remain Hal and John’s biggest threat thus far — well, besides each other, if Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) is to be believed.

Although the Manhunters first appeared in an issue of Justice League of America, the androids became synonymous with Green Lantern lore over time. Almost every major adaptation of the character has battled them in some form or another, and they continue to plague the Green Lantern Corps as recently as the current DC runs. While they didn’t appear in the highly unpopular 2011 Green Lantern film (which still has its merits), they were still the main antagonists of the tie-in video game Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters. In short, the Manhunters have been on the docket for a proper adaptation for a long time. Here’s hoping that Lanterns can follow through.

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A Twitch streamer found himself at the center of a viral controversy after a heated clash with his mother played out live online. 18-year-old Nitro_Camden‘s sudden surge in viewers quickly gave way to disturbing footage, raising widespread concerns about his treatment at home.

The incident ultimately drew both skepticism and support online, while several prominent streamers stepped in with money, subscriptions, and career opportunities for Camden.

Twitch streamer Nitro_Camden’s sudden exposure to thousands of viewers took a disturbing turn when his mother confronted him during a livestream.

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The 18-year-old was reportedly broadcasting to a small audience when popular streamer StableRonaldo raided his channel, sending roughly 15,000 viewers his way. Camden celebrated the unexpected surge, but the noise apparently drew his mother’s attention.

Footage circulating from the August 21 stream shows her entering his room and interfering with his equipment before the confrontation escalated. She could be heard berating Camden, calling him a “failure” and claiming he brought “no value to the household.”

The dispute then turned physical. Clips appear to show Camden’s mother grabbing and striking him as he largely refrained from fighting back. She also threatened to kick the streamer out of the home during the heated exchange.

Fans Rally Around The Streamer After Viral Incident

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The footage quickly spread across social media, turning what should have been a major breakthrough for the young streamer into a viral family confrontation witnessed by thousands. The disturbing scenes drew an emotional response online, with many viewers siding firmly with Camden and condemning his mother’s alleged behavior.

On Reddit, one commenter argued that parents who behave this way are exactly the ones their children should “be cutting off.” Another shared a painful personal story about suffering similar treatment from a parent and said, “It f-cking sucks.”

Others focused on Camden’s future. One user hoped he would move out and pursue action over any money allegedly taken from him, while another simply wrote, “All kids deserve parents, but not all parents deserve kids.”

However, not everyone was convinced by what they were watching. Several commenters questioned whether the situation had been staged for attention, with one dismissing it as “Fake as hell.”

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Streamers Also Rally Around Nitro_Camden After Viral Incident

Camden also received a wave of support from fellow content creators, with several offering more than words of encouragement. Streamer Cinna reportedly provided financial assistance and helped Camden replace his phone. Agent00 went a step further by offering the teenager a brand deal with a 50/50 earnings split.

Plaqueboymax, JasonTheWeen, Jynxzi, and Davis also reportedly gifted subscriptions to Camden’s channel, helping capitalize on his newfound audience. Lacy sent financial support and described the community’s response as a “blessing in disguise.”

MoistCr1TiKaL was among those who publicly addressed the controversy. He reportedly condemned Camden’s mother’s actions and argued that she should be arrested. The streamer also praised Camden for showing restraint during the physical altercation. The support arrived as Camden adjusted to life away from his mother’s home, with the teenager reportedly staying with a friend while seeking more permanent housing.

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StableRonaldo Reacts To Nitro_Camden’s Viral Family Drama

StableRonaldo was stunned by the turn of events after his attempt to boost Camden’s channel ended in a viral family controversy.

The popular streamer had chosen Camden for a Twitch raid at the end of his August 20 broadcast, taking the St. Louis creator from single-digit viewership into the thousands. After clips of what followed began circulating online, Ronaldo took to X to address the situation. “Wtf is wrong with people,” he wrote. “Tried to help out a smaller streamer and his mom does this??”

Ronaldo’s decision to raid Camden ultimately became a turning point for the young creator. What began as an effort to introduce a little-known streamer to a much larger audience put Camden in front of viewers who witnessed the troubling encounter and subsequently rallied behind him.

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Camden’s audience continued growing in the aftermath, with Complex reporting that he was later averaging more than 5,000 viewers.

How Twitch’s Raid Feature Became A Game-Changer For Creators

What happened to Camden also highlights the potentially enormous impact of one of Twitch’s longstanding community features.

A raid allows a broadcaster to send their viewers directly into another creator’s stream. Twitch says the practice is designed to help creators share audiences, build connections, and grow their respective communities.

Interestingly, Twitch didn’t invent the concept. Streamers themselves began using raids to support other creators before the platform officially incorporated the feature in 2017.

Once a raid is initiated, viewers see a countdown before being transferred to the selected channel. Under Twitch’s current system, the broadcaster can launch the raid immediately or let the 90-second countdown expire.

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Justin and Hailey Bieber have given fans several glimpses into their life as parents via social media since welcoming son Jack in August 2024.

“WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER 🐻,” Justin wrote alongside a sweet Instagram snap of the newborn’s foot in 2024, confirming his birth.

While the pair have yet to show their son’s face on their respective social media pages, Justin and Hailey, who wed in 2018, have posted nods to their baby boy in other ways.

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In October 2024, Hailey showed off a dazzling diamond necklace she got featuring her son’s initials. “It’s October and I’m someone’s Mom 🎃,” she captioned her first Instagram post since giving birth.

A source exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2025 that Jack has brought Justin and Hailey “so much happiness and a renewed bond.”

Scroll down to see every pic Justin and Hailey have shared of their little one:

Jennifer Lopez appears to be approaching dating differently after a series of high-profile public relationships and marriages.

Following her divorce from Ben Affleck, the singer and actress is said to have become more selective about the kind of man she would consider welcoming into her life.

Rather than rushing into another romance, Jennifer Lopez is reportedly looking for someone who can match her ambition, success, and lifestyle.

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Lopez is said to be taking a firmer approach to romance and is no longer interested in repeating patterns that did not work in her previous relationships.

A source told Globe Magazine that Lopez used to be extremely patient with the men she dated, often allowing them several opportunities to make mistakes. However, that tolerance is now gone.

“J. Lo used to be the most forgiving person when it came to the men in her life,” the source said. “They would get 10, 20 chances to mess up, but not anymore. One mistake, one comment she doesn’t like, really anything that turns her off, and they are out, no second chances.”

The source also claimed that Lopez now expects the men she dates to undergo “strict vetting” and agree to a set of “non-negotiable rules.”

Her new approach suggests that the actress is no longer willing to overlook behavior she considers unacceptable, even if she is genuinely interested in the person.

The Singer Wants To Keep Her Love Life ‘Under The Radar’

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After years of having her relationships attract intense media attention, Jennifer Lopez is determined to keep her next relationship away from the public eye.

Her previous relationships have often become major entertainment news, meaning even a simple outing with a potential partner can quickly spark speculation and headlines.

A source told the publication that Lopez is particularly cautious about men who could benefit from the publicity surrounding a relationship with her.

“She is very wary of being used,” the source explained. “Any man that goes on a date with her is going to get a huge publicity boost, and it will mean all sorts of potential embarrassment for her if it doesn’t last, so her new rule is that it’s all got to be totally under the radar.”

Jennifer Lopez Is Keeping Her Potential Suitors Discreet

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The source added that Lopez is keeping potential suitors discreet until she knows whether they have a future.

“Until she’s ready to go all in, she’s keeping her dates completely secret,” the insider revealed.

They noted, “Even the men who are high profile have to sneak in and out of her place or meet her in luxury hotels for room service dinners. She doesn’t want anyone riding on her coattails.”

With Lopez’s relationships consistently drawing public attention, her decision to keep new romantic affairs private could allow her to determine whether a connection is genuine before the media gets involved.

The Singer Refuses Bare Minimum And Desires High Quality Men Only

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Jennifer Lopez is unwilling to settle for the bare minimum in her next relationship. The singer is said to have become more selective about the kind of man she wants, placing greater importance on respect, ambition, and compatibility.

Lopez previously addressed her expectations during her Las Vegas residency, making it clear that anyone hoping to win her heart would have to put in genuine effort.

“If you wanted to have my love, you would have to earn it,” she declared. “You would have to treat me right. You would have to respect me.”

According to Star Magazine, Lopez has even considered using a professional matchmaker to help her find the right partner.

A source explained, “Meeting men isn’t an issue for J.Lo; the challenge is meeting quality men.”

The insider also added that Lopez “has very high expectations about who she wants to share her life with,” explaining that her ideal partner should be “super successful, handsome, and at the top of their game in every way.”

Jennifer Lopez’s Marriage History And Net Worth

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Jennifer Lopez’s new approach to dating comes after a long romantic history that includes four marriages. The singer has been married to Ojani Noa, Cris Judd, Ben Affleck and Marc Anthony, with whom she shares her 18-year-old twins, Max and Emme.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lopez’s wealth is estimated at $400 million, while she earns roughly $40 million each year.

Her former husbands have also accumulated fortunes of their own, although there is a significant difference between them.

Affleck’s net worth is estimated to be around $150 million, while Anthony’s fortune stands at approximately $80 million. Judd is believed to have about $800,000, while Noa’s current financial standing has not been established.

Lopez has also previously been romantically involved with men whose wealth comes closer to her own. Per She Knows, her former fiancé Alex Rodriguez is estimated to be worth about $350 million, while Sean Diddy Combs is said to have a fortune in the same range as the singer.

With this kind of dating history, Lopez could be seen as seeking someone who is able to match the lifestyle and standards she has established for herself.

John Barrowman’s expensive flight from Los Angeles to London took a turbulent turn before he even reached his destination. The “Doctor Who” actor posted a video from American Airlines’ business class cabin complaining about missing pajamas, an incorrect meal order and what he described as “shady” customer service. However, his attempt to hold the airline accountable quickly backfired as social media users accused the 59-year-old performer of acting like a “diva.”

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Barrowman filmed himself from his seat while his father and husband were seated behind him. “Hi American [Airlines] we have paid for the flagship service,” the Scottish-American actor began.

He explained that the three travelers expected to receive pajamas after purchasing costly business class tickets. “My father and my husband behind and the tickets were very expensive and we get on thinking we’d get pajamas with the flagship service,” Barrowman said.

The actor claimed that complimentary sleepwear was instead distributed only to certain passengers at the front of the cabin. “Then you apparently only give them to the first two rows in business class. What’s that all about?” he asked. “So far you’re not batting very high.”

The video showed the actor addressing the airline directly as he questioned why travelers seated in the same business class cabin appeared to receive different amenities.

‘Doctor Who’ Star Says His Meal Order Was Wrong

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The missing pajamas were not Barrowman’s only complaint. The “Torchwood” star also claimed that the cabin crew made a mistake with his meal and could not provide the same options offered to other premium passengers. “Meal order wrong and then told we don’t have exactly what everyone else is getting on the flight when we all have flagship service,” he said.

Barrowman ended the video by asking American Airlines for an explanation. “Can you explain? Thank you,” he concluded.

John Barrowman Deletes Video After Slamming ‘Shady’ Service

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In the accompanying caption, the actor accused the airline of failing to deliver the premium experience it advertised. “I find that shady and bad customer service. You’re supposed to be pushing this flagship and at the moment it’s not hitting the ball out of the park,” Barrowman wrote.

Barrowman later deleted the video.

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Barrowman’s frustration divided social media. Some people defended his decision to complain, reasoning that expensive premium tickets should come with the service and amenities customers expect. “To be fair if you pay a lot of money for a service then I’d expect the service I paid for,” one person wrote.

Another user argued that the actor had every right to question whether he received everything included with his purchase. “I’m in no way a fan of John Barrowman, but how do people have an issue with him asking for something he’s paid for?” the person commented.

Others were less sympathetic and focused on the spectacle of a celebrity publicly complaining about pajamas while sitting in business class. “The entitlement is off the scale,” one critic wrote.

John Barrowman Previously Addressed Career Fallout

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The flight controversy comes months after the “Arrow” alum opened up about the lasting effects that resurfaced reports of his past on-set behavior had on his career and mental health. During an episode of the “Inside of You” podcast, host Michael Rosenbaum revealed that he and Barrowman had previously recorded an interview that was later cut at the actor’s request.

The pair eventually sat down for another conversation after Barrowman felt more comfortable discussing reports that he had exposed himself and remained naked on various sets after filming explicit scenes. “I’m fully transparent that I did silly things,” Barrowman said. “When I was doing nude scenes, I was making myself comfortable doing stuff and other people were laughing.”

Barrowman maintained that “no one complained” about his behavior at the time. He claimed the controversy grew after an article revisited earlier comments he had made about exposing himself. “It got bigger and bigger and bigger as people started repeating the stories. It blew up into something that was not factually correct,” he explained.

The actor said the publication of the article in May 2021 caused his world to collapse and continued to affect his professional opportunities and emotional well-being.

Despite being the brains behind the powerhouse brand, Good American, Khloè Kardashian and her business partner, Emma Grede, are said to no longer be friendly.

The English entrepreneur, who is also in business with Khloe’s sister, Kim Kardashian, used to be a close pal of the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

However, the relationship took a shocking turn earlier this year with a social media move that revealed there was more behind the scenes.

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With the feud between Grede and Khloè taking center stage, a close source dished on what went down, suggesting the reality star wasn’t putting the most effort into the brand.

“Over time, Khloè just wasn’t as involved – she started canceling events and not promoting the brand,” the insider alleged. “She has a lot on in her personal life, as fans know, but Emma is a businesswoman first and foremost, and that just didn’t wash with her.”

The “KUWTK” star reportedly couldn’t make the business a “priority” due to her personal life, leaving Grede to do the hard work. “I don’t think Khloè & Emma are on speaking terms now,” the informant told The Sun.

It comes as no surprise, as Khloè has previously confirmed on an episode of her podcast that her brand, Good American, was doing well enough to “sustain on its own.”

She is also said to have unfollowed Grede on Instagram earlier this year.

Emma Grede No Longer Wants To Be In Kardashians’ Shadow

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As stated, Khloè isn’t the only Kardashian-Jenner member that Grede has used her business chops for.

In 2019, she collaborated with elder sister Kim on her super-successful shapewear company, SKIMS. Grede also helped launch Kylie Jenner’s brand KHY four years later. 

With her being such an integral part of the Kardashians’ successful empire, the business mogul is ready to stand in her own light, explained a source.

“As her profile has grown over the last few years, Emma wants her own hard work recognized,” noted the insider.

Nevertheless, Grede’s rift with Khloè didn’t extend to her other sisters. “The fallout with Khloè didn’t affect Emma’s relationship with Kim or the rest of the family; they’ve compartmentalized that off, but it’s very much a business-only relationship,” added the informant.

Did Grede Shade Khloè Kardashian On Her Podcast?

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Although neither party has addressed the rumored feud, fans speculate that Grede fired shots at her former business partner on air.

During an episode of her podcast “Aspire” where Cardi B appeared, the duo discussed choosing an entrepreneurial colleague. 

“Oh my God, please y’all – if you ever want to build something, please choose good partners. “Not everybody with money [is a] good partner,” Cardi declared, to which Grede responded, “Oh yeah, say that again.”

Many interpreted it as a jab at Khloè, with the source adding:

“Going their separate ways professionally has not been easy, and it has affected Emma and Khloè’s friendship, because it’s hard to move past ending a working partnership and there are grievances on both sides.”

Khloè Kardashian Has A New Reality Show With Her Girls

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Reports on Khloè and Grede’s friendship come after it was confirmed the socialite is debuting her own reality show with Hulu titled “The Girls.”

The upcoming show follows the lives of her close pals as they navigate friendship and motherhood while being business owners. 

As confirmed by The Blast, the cast includes her group of friends, such as twins Malika and Khadijah Haqq as well as Yris Palmer, Olivia Pierson, Nicole Williams English, and Natalie Halcro.

The big news was shared in a social media clip with Khloè gushing that she was thrilled to introduce her “chosen family” to the world.

A New ‘Crazy’ Direction For Her Podcast

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The new reality show isn’t the only venture the reality star has in store for her fans. As The Blast reported, her video podcast “Khloé in Wonderland” will be quite different from its first season.

The mother-of-two dished about the changes in an interview, revealing she desires to “branch out a little bit more.” 

As for what she hopes to switch up, Khloè teased she was entering “different genres,” dabbling in conspiracy theories, self-help, and other entertaining topics.

Every single Collider Ladies Night interview feels like a privilege and joy to conduct. But, after over a decade of attending San Diego Comic-Con and itching to see more stage time to be dedicated to highlighting powerhouse women in film and television, it’s become the ultimate treat to contribute to moving the needle in that respect by bringing a live edition of the show to one of the event’s biggest stages.

This year I had the honor of sharing the Indigo Ballroom stage with Poorna Jagannathan from Lanterns, Coyote vs. Acme’s Lana Condor, Aimee Garcia from The Walking Dead: Dead City, and Silo star Jessica Henwick. In addition to teasing their respective new projects, each offered some behind the scenes insight into their own unique journey in this industry thus far, including major career pivots, experiencing overnight mega-fame, and more. As is the hope with all Collider Ladies Night conversations, their stories underscore the fact that there are endless ways to hone your craft and find success as an artist.

How Aimee Garcia Learned to “Not Be Defined By What You See”

“If the job doesn’t exist that you want to be, just create it yourself.”

Garcia had top-tier inspiring forces in her corner from the start, her parents.

“My parents came from very humble beginnings in Mexico and Puerto Rico, and they became what they never saw.” Garcia continued, “My mom became the first Latina to graduate Northwestern’s dental school, and was one of only two women in the whole Northwestern dental program.” She added, “My dad became an architect despite never having seen or met an architect in Puerto Rico.”

They were prime examples of not limiting yourself to what you see, and Garcia took that with her to Dexter, and also to her work as a comic writer. “It really inspired me to become a forensic scientist on Dexter. I had never seen a forensic scientist on TV before who was Latina, but because my parents just paved their own way, that really influenced me.” She added:

“I started writing comics, and we wrote the sequel to 47 Ronin, and we were like, ‘Well, why can’t females be samurai?’ And now, because of what A.J. [Mendez] and I wrote, I think very much inspired by my parents to create the change you want to see, there’s female samurais whipping around katanas. That really showed me that if the story doesn’t exist that you want to tell, or if the job doesn’t exist that you want to be, just create it yourself. Create the change you want to see.”

How Lana Condor Learned How to Handle “Overnight Success”

“If you don’t have the right tools and practices in place for your mental health or your physical health during an extreme time of change, it can rock you.”

While Garcia emphasized the importance of having early sources of inspiration in your orbit, Condor’s story highlighted the value of having a strong support system later on in one’s career.

Condor made her feature film debut with a Marvel movie, X-Men: Apocalypse. She had a taste of what it was like to be part of a major studio blockbuster. However, nothing could have prepared her for the monumental success of the Netflix hit To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

While the first To All the Boys movie was distributed by Netflix, it was made independently. Condor explained, “We made it as an indie, so I honestly didn’t even know if it was going to be seen by anyone.” Ultimately, the movie was seen by enough people to spark a hugely successful franchise and to send Condor’s star soaring in a dreamlike fashion, and that meant she’d have to adapt to getting recognized.

She explained, “Ever since I was a kid, when I would go to the grocery store, I would be a little bit nervous to run into one of my classmates if I wasn’t prepared to.” When you’re the star of a very popular Netflix movie, unexpected grocery store encounters are almost inevitable. Condor continued, “That’s not something that I thought about when it came to my career, and so that’s something that I had to work through and, I guess, open my own heart to people and trust that people have good intentions when they approach you.”

Condor stressed that she discovered she was lucky enough to be surrounded by “incredibly kind” supporters, but it’s still a rather significant shift, and it’s a shift that demands one have certain tools at their fingertips. She continued:

“I think, just naturally, the transition was difficult for me. I’m so blessed and I’m so grateful for that time, but I also think that there’s something to be said about if you don’t have the right tools and practices in place for your mental health or your physical health during an extreme time of change, it can rock you, and I definitely was rocked because I was super young. I didn’t have any of the healing modalities that I have now to take on a responsibility of being in the public eye, which is something that I never thought I would have. So, I won’t lie to you, it was very challenging.”

Now that Condor is firmly on the other side of such a significant change, she’s “so grateful and so happy,” and also well aware of the importance of leaning on one’s community. She laughed and said,

“My husband, I always joke, but it’s not a joke, I always say, if it wasn’t for him, I would be butt-up in a ditch right now. Truly, my husband, he’s incredible. My team, my friends, my family. And I’m sure that you guys all feel the same way, in this industry, in my opinion, we are nothing without our community, without our people. We can’t do it alone. I’ve tried and I failed. So, yeah, I’ve leaned on my people, and I think we all do, and it’s been a really incredible journey, and I’m very grateful for every moment.”

How Jessica Henwick Learned to Celebrate Her Wins

And the recent project that finally made her believe she’s a good actor.

Support from a community is of the utmost importance, but so is being kind to yourself and taking a moment to celebrate your own wins. During her recent in-studio Collider Ladies Night interview for the release of Vladimir and How to Make a Killing, Henwick mentioned how she trained herself to lower expectations. “You always minimize to save yourself.” But, that mentality changed recently. She mentioned, “It’s taken my whole career to get over that and celebrate the wins.” How exactly did she pull that off? She laughed and proclaimed, “Therapy.” Henwick continued:

“I’m Chinese and English, two very reserved, like, swallow-your-success-type cultures, and I think that, interestingly, it’s got me to where I am because I was never content and I was using that to push myself, like, ‘You’re not good enough. You can be better. You can do more.’ But there comes a point where it is diminishing returns to keep beating yourself up, and there’s nothing wrong with celebrating how far you’ve come and taking a second to smell the roses.”

One of the first times she took that second to “smell the roses?” On the set of Kitty Green’s The Royal Hotel.

“It’s one of the projects that I’m most proud of. Getting to work opposite Julia Garner, I came into it going, ‘Oh god, she’s just going to be acting circles around me. She’s so talented.’ And she did. [Laughs] No! I remember the first day on set when I started to be like, ‘Okay, I can hold my own. That chemistry is happening here. It’s not just her acting at me and me receiving. I’m able to be a part of the conversation.’ And, yeah, it’s really funny because I’ve been doing this for, like, 15 years, and that was probably one of the first times when I felt, ‘I think I might be good at this. I think I might be okay at acting.’”

How Poorna Jagannathan Went from Advertising Ace to DC Star

“Some times have been rough and some times have been slow, but I’ve never regretted the decision.”

In Jagannathan’s case, that faith in herself was essential because she opted to take a significant leap when making the full-time commitment to acting.

Jagannathan had actually built a successful career in a completely different lane. She spent two decades working in advertising. While one might suspect making the shift from a stable job to something notorious for being an extremely risky career to pursue, Jagannathan never doubted leaving advertising in the rearview for her primary passion. “I’ve never, ever questioned my decision.” She continued:

“I came to acting really late. I started when I was 35 or something, but I was always in weekend adult acting classes, and those classes felt so radically different from the rest of my life. Eight hours would just go like this, you know? And 12 hours at work, the clock just apparently never moved its hand. So, there was a life force that I felt with acting that I never felt in my other job. Some times have been rough and some times have been slow, but I’ve never regretted the decision.”

While Jagannathan’s career compass never wavered, crystallizing her primary goal for her work as an actor and how to achieve that is taking time, but she’s putting in the work to do it. “I think never have I ever really solidified my vision for my career, which is really to tell our stories, very particular South Asian stories to the world and not be pigeonholed and not be stereotyped, and fight for more diversity in film and TV.”

Jagannathan then turned to the other panelists and emphasized something that made Collider Ladies Night Live a standout panel of SDCC 2026, and beyond. “This panel is an anomaly in the business. When I saw all the names of these amazing women and their accomplishments, I’m usually the only one on panels like this. So, it’s really been my mission, especially against this current backdrop, just to keep telling our stories.”

Eager to see the SDCC 2026 Collider Ladies Night Live panel in full? You can do just that in the video at the top of this article.

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Release Date

August 16, 2026

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