Samuel Monroe Jr.’s cause of death at the age of 52 was revealed on Thursday, September 17. The ‘Menace II Society’ star died on Wednesday, August 26, after being hospitalized with meningitis.

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Samuel Monroe Jr.’s Cause Of Death Revealed

Samuel Monroe Jr.’s cause of death was reportedly respiratory failure and coccidioidal meningitis, according to TMZ. In addition, sepsis pneumonia was listed as a contributing factor on the death certificate.

The Shade Room reported that ‘The Players Club’ actor passed away after being hospitalized with meningitis. Monroe was hospitalized back in April, per TMZ. Furthermore, his case was so severe that Monroe reportedly was on life support.

The actor’s mother, Joyce Patton, asked people to pray for her son on Facebook. 

“Please pray for Samuel Monroe Jr. my son who is now on life support,” she wrote. “God don’t make no mistakes but he is gracious and I am humbly asking for his mercy and grace for Sam. I love you son. to the moon and back 100 times. .”

The ‘Menace II Society’ Star Died After Hospital Stay

Monroe briefly recovered and was even taken off a ventilator sometime around May, but he was back on life support days later. Monroe also received dialysis treatments. However, he died in August 2026 following a lengthy hospital stay. Patton confirmed her son’s passing with a post on Facebook.

“I want to thank all of my facebook family and friends new and old for praying for Samuel Monroe, Jr., my son,” she wrote. “But today God called him home. Please honor my final request to pray for the family especially his 3 children.”

Patton also shared a memory posted on Facebook by a fan.

“I enjoyed this testimony from a fan,” Patton wrote.

The fan went on to describe meeting Monroe outside of a grocery store back in 2015, noting that he was “kind” and “humble.”

“Hi Joyce, My name is Jeffrey, and first I wanted express my condolences on your loss. I didn’t know Samuel, but I knew his work, and wanted to share a story that made me a life long fan of his, and a testament of the man he was to his fans,” states the post. “It was a chance meeting, and I had the pleasure of meeting him in Rialto, CA. back in 2015, coming out of the Food 4 Less grocery store on Foothill Blvd (across from the Home Depot) with a friend of his. I stared, not knowing if it was truly him or not, and his friend saw me, laughing, knowing Samuel was caught. We must’ve talked for what seemed like a good 20 mins. Surprised of all places that was the place to run into him, he mentioned he was visiting family,” it continued. “He was kind, humble, and amazed that, me of all people knew him, and was even kind enough to let me drive back at lightning speed around the corner to get my DVDs he starred in. He signed everyone of them, happily. I only have one left, The Player’s Club, but never forgot that day.”

Monroe also starred in the films ‘Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood,’ ‘Tales from the Hood’ and ‘Set It Off.’

Fans React To Monroe’s Passing

In August, fans reacted to the news of his passing via TSR’s Instagram page. Several noted their shock about Monroe’s passing, while others expressed sadness.

User @itsswaavy wrote, “Man wht! Rip man ❤️🕊️”

@kdaviscomedy added, “Damnnn not junior 😢😭 i was praying that he recovered 💔🕊️. Condolences to his fam.”

@pjanderson_ replied, “What!!!!!!!! Wow not Junior 😭💔🕊️.”

User @kindall__d wrote, “He fought a long battle 😢.”

@naturallypaige_ added, “He was sick for a while 😢 May he rest in eternal peace.”

@ashbashtharapper._ wrote, “I just knew he was going to pull threw fr ❤️.”

User @tillytalie wrote, “Not my boy from Acorn!!! ‘Mannnn I thought you knew’.”

Singer and movie star Dolly Parton died days before Monroe, and several fans seemingly referenced the celebrity deaths in the comments.

User @uuuuuicy_ replied, “You know what, it’s just tooooooo much death going on rn! Back to back to back to back! This is scary.”

@tattoosby47 asked, “The grim reaper got a quota or something???????”

User @ cavel16 replied, “Just throw the whole month away at this point 😢😢😢.”

@lilcainetheartist wrote, “Legend.”

RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Home Alone 2’& ‘It’ Actor Tim Curry Passes Away At Age 80

Roomies! Bobb’e J. Thompson is facing a serious setback after a case involving a traffic stop and a firearm landed him in federal court. The former child star, known for his role as Stanley on ‘That’s So Raven,’ has now learned his sentence following his guilty plea.

RELATED: Former Miss Teen USA Contestant Recalls Raven-Symoné Describing Winner As “The Black Girl” Amid ‘Raven Baxter’ Debate

Thompson’s Police Stop Ends With A Prison Sentence

A judge in Iowa sentenced Thompson on Thursday to 30 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to a gun charge in April. According to prosecutors, officers pulled Thompson over nearly a year ago after he was allegedly driving 104 mph in a 70 mph zone. Authorities say a search of his bag turned up marijuana purchased from a dispensary and a loaded .40-caliber handgun that was allegedly stolen from a vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri.

Federal Sentence Adds Another Chapter To Thompson’s Record

Thompson is currently in U.S. Marshals custody while awaiting transfer to a federal prison and will serve three years of supervised release after his sentence. In addition to ‘That’s So Raven,’ Thompson has appeared in projects including ‘Role Models,’  ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,’  ‘Shark Tale,’ ‘The Tracy Morgan Show,’ ’30 Rock,’ and ‘Wild ’N Out.’ Prosecutors also cited previous convictions from 2022 for battery causing serious bodily injury, assault, and prohibited firearm possession.

Fans Say Things Ain’t Adding Up

Folks ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section with thoughts. And, some are now wondering if there was more going on behind the scenes than viewers knew. Others said Thompson’s character was always bad on the show, so the news doesn’t surprise them. While plenty of fans were simply wanting him “Free” ASAP, no Rocky.

One Instagram user @destinyshania said, “After all Uncle Curtis and Aunt Ella did for him!!!!! 😂😂😂”

This Instagram user @michaelblackson added, “Damn my WildnOut homie is WildnOut. Lets us know where you at so can come visit u.”

And, Instagram user @ash.a.b_ wrote, “Now I know his mama did not spell bobby like that 😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @rease96 shared, “First Raven look at herself as Green, now Stanley locked up… tf going on 😭😭🤣”

While Instagram user @traeabn commented, “Free Bro”

Then, Instagram user @nicoandbeetv said, “Better to get caught with than without it! Free my ni**a💯💯💯”

This Instagram user @joshuadrip__ claimed, “Stanley Been Bad Since He Was On Disney I Seen This Coming 😂”

Lastly, Instagram user @keepingupwithreii commented, “STANNNNNLEYYY *in my raven voice” 😭😭😭😭”

RELATED: Kalen Allen Says He’s Receiving Death Threats Amid Backlash Over Resurfaced Video Of Him, Raven-Symoné & Her Wife Discussing Whether Disney Character Raven Baxter Was Black

Tom Cruise is breaking down his hangout with Taylor Swift at Travis Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs game.

The Digger actor, 64, stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, September 17, and was quizzed about being photographed alongside Swift, 36, at the Chiefs’ game against the Denver Broncos on Monday, September 14.

Host Jimmy Fallon described it as the “biggest movie star in the world sitting next to the biggest artist in the world” and asked, “What do you talk about?”

“She was schooling me on football. She was bringing the football [knowledge],” Cruise responded.

Related: Tom Cruise Exchanges Friendship Bracelets During Taylor Swift London Show

Tom Cruise, welcome to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Cruise, 61, was spotted in the VIP section of London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday, June 22, per photos obtained by Us Weekly. As the actor found his seat before the show, he exchanged DIY friendship bracelets with fellow concertgoers. (Swift’s fans have taken it upon themselves to […]

“First of all, she’s a genius,” Cruise gushed over the musician. “I’ve been following her since she was a kid. Everybody there, all their friends… they’re a beautiful couple and magical in their own right.”

“I haven’t been to a football game since pre-COVID … so to get to hang out there and have that moment, it was a lot,” he added.

Fallon noted that before Swift started dating Kelce, 36, in 2023, she didn’t know much about football. (She told Time magazine in December 2023, “Football is awesome, it turns out. I’ve been missing out my whole life.”)

Cruise said that has clearly changed over the course of her relationship with the Chiefs tight end: “Oh, she knows her stuff. She’s like, ‘This is like…’ I was like, ‘OK!’” he recalled. “She knew nothing about football when she met Travis. It was like her [saying], ‘What was it like playing against your brother, tackling each other?’ She said, ‘You know, he’s so patient.’ I said, ‘I’m sure he was!’ … She knows [football]. She’s just bringing it. She knows.”

Aside from football, Cruise said, “We talk about music and movies.”

“She’s funny. She’s got such a great sense of humor. A brilliant writer, also, by the way. A brilliant musician, director … very skilled,” he continued to praise the Grammy winner.

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Cruise was among the guests who attended Swift and Kelce’s July 3 wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which fellow actor Adam Sandler officiated.

In an interview with ESPN’s Chris Berman on Monday, Kelce described it as “the best night of my life.”

“Marrying Taylor, it was more than I could have ever dreamed it to be because of all the people that showed up and the amount of love that was in the air,” he said.

Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski have separated after nine years of marriage, but sources close to the actress say the split followed a gradual breakdown rather than one dramatic event.

The biggest strain was reportedly the imbalance created as the actress’s career accelerated while Sadoski spent more time at home raising their two children.

Insiders describe a relationship that slowly shifted from marriage to friendship as work and parenting responsibilities pulled Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski in separate directions.

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A source close to Seyfried told the Daily Mail that the actress and her husband had been apart for at least six months and characterized the end of their marriage as a “gradual decline.”

Despite the split, the duo is said to have “kept things very civil” and have “been geniuses about co-parenting” their kids: Nina, 9, and Thomas Jr., 5.

“They have not been on a red carpet much together since 2024,” the source noted. “She has preferred to go out alone, and she has also been heading out on girls’ trips with her female friends in recent months.”

“Fans should have gotten a heads up when she listed her Hollywood Hills home last month for $3.2 million,” they added.

Seyfried and Sadoski announced the end of their nine-year marriage in a statement shared with People Magazine.

“We have been separated for a while, and it’s proven to be the right move for us and our family unit,” the ex-couple said. “We’ve got each other forever—and it’s GOOD.”

The Actress’s ‘Insecurity’ About Her Career Reportedly Affected Their Marriage

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The most detailed explanation from the insider centers on Seyfried’s demanding career.

She spent the past several years taking on a heavy run of film and television work, including “The Dropout,” “Long Bright River,” “The Housemaid” and “The Testament of Ann Lee.”

“It got weird between them because she has been working a lot,” the source said, noting that she felt she needed to take as many projects as possible before turning 40 because she feared major roles “would dry up.”

“But she is so well liked in Hollywood that work just keeps coming for her, so I’m not sure why she was worried so much. She is so talented, she doesn’t need to worry about losing work,” the source continued.

They noted that while Seyfried is deeply dedicated to her work, “there is always that insecurity with her – like she is always trying to prove herself. There is a nervousness that is palpable.”

Amanda Seyfried’s Marriage ‘Dynamic Shifted’ As She Worked More And Thomas Sadoski ‘Worked Less’

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As Seyfried’s workload expanded, Sadoski reportedly increasingly handled their personal lives, with the Daily Mail’s source noting that he “was left at home with the kids, so he worked less and less. The dynamic shifted.”

The insider described Seyfried as the “worker bee” while Sadoski was left with their young children on the family’s farm in upstate New York. That imbalance was presented as a central reason the relationship changed.

The source also linked the strain to Seyfried’s ambition. “She wants to win an Oscar,” they noted, pointing to her Emmy and Golden Globe recognition and her desire to keep advancing professionally.

The actress was reportedly upset when “The Testament of Ann Lee” failed to bring the Oscar recognition she had expected.

“Amanda thought she was going to get an Oscar nomination for ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ last year, but she didn’t, and when that failed, she was very upset,” the source claimed.

Thomas Sadoski ‘Gave Up A Lot’ To Be With The Actress

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Sadoski was not portrayed as unwilling to contribute at home, as the news outlet reports that he sacrificed significant parts of his professional life to support Seyfried and their family.

“He is a very good actor and respected in the theater world and in TV; he had a big career. He has a Tony. He really gave up a lot to be with Amanda,” the insider said. “He was isolated. It’s not the best feeling for a man.”

As Seyfried’s schedule grew busier, Sadoski became the more available parent, a role that reportedly left him isolated from the professional world he had built.

Seyfried had previously acknowledged that Sadoski made sacrifices for her. In a January 2026 Vogue interview, she said he “sacrifices a lot for me” while explaining that the opportunities coming her way were unusually significant.

Amanda Seyfried And Thomas Sadoski’s Romance Gradually Became A Friendship

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Seyfried and Sadoski’s split was not entirely blamed on either party. One insider described the situation as an imbalance that can develop when an actress tries to maintain a major career while raising young children.

“It’s very hard for actresses to have kids and balance family life with a big career, so people should empathize with her,” the source told the Daily Mail.

Seyfried and Sadoski met in 2015 while working on the Off-Broadway play “The Way We Get By,” reunited on “The Last Word” later that year, and began dating in 2016.

They married in March 2017 and welcomed Nina shortly afterward. Their son arrived in 2020.

The relationship that began due to their acting careers eventually became shaped by the same career pressures that pulled them apart.

According to the source, Seyfried was increasingly focused on work while Sadoski was increasingly focused on home.

“For the past year they have been more friends than lovers,” the source said. “They have drifted apart, but the friendship is still there. They will always be close because of the children.”

Social media users are raising eyebrows after Rod Wave’s girlfriend, Mini Barbie, shared a message that some believe was aimed at the mother of his children, Dee. Mini Barbie recently spoke about people using ChatGPT to edit their photos. Some social media users quickly connected the post to Dee after she recently used ChatGPT to edit a photo.

Related: Rod Wave Speaks On Music Ownership Amid Ongoing Boosie & Lyfe Jennings Sampling Dispute (VIDEOS)

Mini Barbie Shares A Message About ChatGPT

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, The Shade Room Teens reported on a post by Mini Barbie. She took to social media to warn about people using ChatGPT to edit their photos.

“Y’all need to stop using ChatGPT for pictures it be making y’all look like different people,” she wrote, adding several crying emojis.

While Mini Barbie didn’t name anyone in the post, some social media users immediately thought she was referring to Dee.

The speculation comes after Dee recently shared a photo that she edited using ChatGPT to remove a thigh tattoo. The post sparked an online conversation, with some users now wondering whether Mini Barbie’s message was directed at her.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users slid in TSR Teens’ comment section with their thoughts.

Instagram user @keepup_withstarr wrote, “Why she wanna beef with that girl so bad !! See this what I be talking about how you in a relationship who and still stalking the EX 😂😂😂”

Another Instagram user @butmamamonaaee wrote, “Nari keeping tabs bc she know Rod still want Dee. 😂😂😂😂 she really just a placeholder no shadeeeee”

While Instagram user @neshellej_ wrote, “omg they make everything abt Dee 😭 ppl using ChatGPT to edit themselves BEEN a thing, just happened Dee did the same thing. Y’all always tryna make 2&2 equal 4.

Instagram user @asyawasyaa wrote, “could’ve said anything but ChatGPT, she too specific 😂😂😂😊”

Another Instagram @bxllabrii wrote, “The only ones shading Dee are the fans because assuming that Mini Barbie was talking about her and only her is wild 😭”

While Instagram user @blackjoi_ wrote, “Dee gives a room tour of her & her bf room for thier weekend getaway. here come Rod & Nari posting their room. Dee post her supporting her man at the football game. here come Nari posting her and Rod at a NFL game a day after. Now Nari throwing shade because Dee asked someone to remove her tatt off her leg using ChatGPT. Dee keep applying pressure baby girl cause you got both of them stalking you.”

Instagram user @mama_cittaa580 wrote, “The fans is the problem cause Dee it’s not the only one use ChatGPT and AI”

Another Instagram user @darichauntie_ wrote, “Baby if you listen to the songs on the album he’s still singing about Dee 🤣”

While Instagram user @s.sneakyyy wrote, And soon as Dee say something y’all gone swear my girl being bigger 😒😂😂😂😂”

Dee Shares A Tweet Amid Speculation About Mini Barbie’s Post

Meanwhile, Dee who shares twin girls with Rod Wave, appeared to respond with a mesage of her own as fans try to connect the dots. On Thursday, Sept. 17, she took to social media and wrote, “U can not argue with ppl on the internet u just got to catch them and put paws on them 😂😂😂😂.”

While Dee didn’t mention Mini Barbie or Rod Wave by name, her post comes as social media continues to debate the meaning behind Mini Barbie’s ChatGPT message.

Related: The ‘Net Pulls Rod Wave Into The Mix After His Ex Dee Pops Out With NFL Player Ga’Quincy McKinstry (VIDEO)

There’s been a lot going on over in Blueface’s circus. From new ladies to family drama, something seems to be brewing on stream every day. Since Nevaeh Akira and Blueface ended their relationship, he’s been on the move with his trio, including Myja. Meanwhile, Nevaeh was back home with her son, Superior, and her and Blue’s newborn. While on live, she had a few words for Blueface’s mother, Karlissa Saffold Harvey, following some recent comments.

RELATED: Hol’ Up! Nevaeh Akira Debuts New Tattoos & Reveals Why She’s Still At Blueface’s House (PHOTO + VIDEO)

Nevaeh Shuts Down Karlissa Saffold Harvey & Johnathan Jr. Comparisons While Sharing Her Stance On Them Meeting

While on stream, Nevaeh reacted to a comment that stated viewers could see a lot of Karlissa in Johnathan Jr. “You guys say y’all see a lot of Karlissa in him? Shut the f*** up. We don’t see your grandma in you,” Nevaeh said before correcting herself.

“I mean, we don’t see that lady in you. Her called you a bastard. Her said mean things about you. I don’t think I want you to meet her,” she continued while speaking to Johnathan Jr. “No, she don’t deserve to meet you, baby.” 

Karlissa Saffold Harvey Responds To Nevaeh & Addresses Her “Bastard” Comment

As the clip of Nevaeh made its way around, Karlissa decided to react on her Instagram Story. Responding to Nevaeh not wanting Johnathan Jr. around her, Karlissa shared a message directly addressing her grandson.

“Granny love you! Don’t listen to her I called your daddy and all the kids that’s made out of wedlock bastards. I’m sorry baby,” Karlissa wrote.

She added, “I never called him a bastard direct I said Johnathan’s bastards. She just want to find some to be mad about.” Karlissa also shared information about the word “bastard” appearing in older Bible translations. Her post referenced Deuteronomy 23:2 and Hebrews 12:8 from the King James Version.

She later hopped on live to further address the situation. Karlissa revealed that she had invited Nevaeh to a girls’ spa date with Rela, another woman who is reportedly expecting a child with Blueface. According to Karlissa, she reached out to Nevaeh, but Nevaeh declined because of her previous “bastard” comment.

“They all bastards,” Karlissa said before explaining why she still extended the invitation. “I let her know that I was over here because that’s the right thing to do. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m always going to try to do the right thing regardless of how we moving. So I reached out to her so she can’t never tell my grandbaby that I was over here visiting my new grandbaby that’s on the way and I didn’t call to see him.”

Karlissa made it clear that she plans to continue showing up for her grandchildren, regardless of any issues between her and their mothers.

“She mad because that baby came out looking like me with his black a**,” Karlissa joked.

Social Media Reacts 

The reactions quickly poured in under The Shade Room Teens as social media users weighed in on Karlissa’s response to Nevaeh. Some agreed they wouldn’t let Karlissa see their child if they were Nevaeh, while others felt Karlissa didn’t say anything wrong.

Instagram user  @jennafowlkes wrote, “im on nevaeh side”

Instagram user @deslyndominique added, “she wouldn’t never seen mine idgaf! cus why said it at all”!

While Instagram user @dilayiaaa wrote, “I swear his momma just playing real house wives with them she love ts 😭😭😭🤣”

Instagram user @fav007alicia wrote, “Because his mom told the truth? Yikes…”

Instagram user @oneeye_patch added, “Well, he is one cause his mother is not married to the father…”

While Instagram user @_.3xclusiv3.ari wrote, “But why is this what she choose to say to her child? 😭 everybody needs grow up.The mama, daddy, grandmama and all”

Instagram user @love.le.le wrote, “that baby so freaking cute Imao!!!”

Instagram user @shinitacr wrote, “Neveah your baby looks just like Karlissa, @bluefasebabyy also looks like his mom, he just have some of his dad features”

While Instagram user @essence_of_life wrote, “So many grandbabies. By definition she’s right but everything does not have to be said. Just like she don’t need to be whispering it in a newborn babies ear Yall get on my nerves😭”

RELATED: Change Of Heart? Karlissa Saffold Shares Sweet Birthday Message For Chrisean Rock’s Son & The Internet Has Thoughts (PHOTOS)

Zeus has officially wrapped up ‘Baddies USA: Chapter Two.’ As another season comes to an end, a few Baddies appear ready to step into a new chapter. Diamond The Body took to Instagram to reflect on her journey with the network. She thanked Zeus, Lemuel Plummer, and Natalie Nunn for giving her an opportunity that changed her life. Diamond shared that she’s grateful for her time on ‘Baddies,’ but feels it’s time to move forward. She made it clear there’s no bad blood, and she’s simply ready for her next chapter.

However, Lemuel appeared unfazed by Diamond’s goodbye. He slid into the comments with a simple response, writing, “see u on chapter 3.”

Meanwhile, MariahLynn also entered the chat to say her ‘Baddies’ goodbye, which sparked a quick back and forth between her and Lemuel.

RELATED: Messy Crossover? Lemuel Plummer Seemingly Shades Tesehki, MariahLynn & Ivori After They Appear To Be Working With NowThatsTV

MariahLynn Says Goodbye To Her ‘Baddies’ Era

On Thursday, MariahLynn took to X to announce the end of her ‘Baddies’ era after five seasons. “This isn’t the end of my story, it’s the beginning of a whole new era. Thank you all for being part of this chapter. Now it’s time to turn the page. Big MARIAHLYNN not the mf little one.”

The reality star also shared a lengthy post reflecting on her journey and thanking everyone who supported her throughout the five seasons.

“To everybody who has been rocking with me throughout this ‘Baddies’ journey, I love y’all more than you know,” MariahLynn wrote. “This chapter was definitely one for the books and looking back, I’m genuinely grateful for every moment, every lesson and every memory.”

She went on to personally thank Natalie Nunn for welcoming her into the ‘Baddies’ world, along with Lemuel Plummer and her Zeus family. “I’ll forever appreciate the opportunity, the experiences and the memories we created together,” the reality star said.

As for what’s next, MariahLynn admitted she doesn’t know exactly what the future holds, but she’s ready to embrace whatever comes her way. “I’m walking into whatever comes next with an open heart and nothing but gratitude,” she shared.

MariahLynn ended her message by officially closing the chapter, writing, “Once a Baddie, always a Baddie. Here’s to whatever comes next.”

Lemuel Enters The Chat, Turning Things Into A Shady AI Back And Forth

Amid the latest posts from Diamond The Body and MariahLynn, Zeus CEO Lemuel Plummer entered the chat with his own message. “I guess when certain baddies don’t get the call for the next season of Baddies… then comes the retirement speech lol,” Lemuel wrote.

MariahLynn seemingly responded by sharing an AI image of Lemuel with devil horns before explaining why she won’t return for Chapter 3. “Retirement statement is cute, I guess, but since we’re talking, let’s tell the WHOLE story,” MariahLynn wrote in her lengthy response.

“I’m not returning for Chapter 3 because I refuse to keep working for a man who abuses women,” the reality star continued. She went on to accuse Lemuel of creating an environment where women felt “belittled, intimidated or afraid to speak about their experiences. 

MariahLynn also shared that she wasn’t willing to turn down other opportunities just to secure another season of the reality series. “So call it retirement if that makes you sleep better, I call it choosing myself cause I didn’t lose a spot,” she wrote.

The back-and-forth continued when Lemuel shared an AI-generated image depicting MariahLynn surrounded by liquor bottles and other items. “Nobody reading all that fake ChatGPT bs u posting lol. 🌽 and brush ya teeth,” Lemuel wrote alongside the image.

Click here to see the post.

MariahLynn quickly fired back with another AI image depicting Lemuel wearing pink and rocking “Number 1 Baddie” jewelry. “CEO is that you?” MariahLynn wrote.

Social Media Weighs In

Zeus fans quickly gathered under The Shade Room’s post as they reacted to MariahLynn and Lemuel Plummer’s back and forth. Many shared their reactions to MariahLynn’s official departure from the show, while some came to her defense. Others even sided with Lemuel.

Instagram user @allhailjenn wrote. “YAYYYYYYYYY GOSH I WAS ABT TO CANCEL MY SUBSCRIPTION IF I SEEN HER AGAIN”

Instagram user @myaalayy added, “Was pose to turn the page when she left love and hip hop😩😭”

While Instagram user @bawthatspatt wrote, “Lemmy so petty 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @jaylaabaybe wrote, “Lemmy just join bad boys PLEASE just cast yourself.”

Instagram user @dannitrenese added, “l’ve never heard of a CEO talking this damn much… you the boss man… replace them and keep it pushin…”

While Instagram user @ _.maraa_.xo wrote, “Not the Al baddies battle”

Instagram user @danaekristyanna wrote, “This isn’t the first time someone has publicly came out and said the same exact things about this man.. all of these women aren’t making this up.. cmon make it make sense 🤔 “

Instagram user @diva221225 added, “But you were just thanking Zeus moments ago 😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @dee_all_that wrote, “I LOVE @mariahlynnboss ENTIRE STATEMENT. YOU GO GIRL! Peace and blessings to you! ❤️🙏🏾”

RELATED: Last Laugh! Scotty Gets Her Get-Back After Lemuel Plummer Calls Her A “Bird” In Video (WATCH)

If the recent scores for Resident Evil have taught us anything, it’s that adaptations are finally being figured out properly by filmmakers. After years of trying to reproduce exactly what players already experienced with a controller in their hands, it seems Hollywood has clicked that being inspired by a game rather than copying it beat for beat is the way to go.

That’s particularly useful when the source material for FX’s latest series has spent its time jumping between tropical islands, Himalayan dictatorships, prehistoric wildernesses and a doomsday cult in rural Montana, while delivering to us a colorful collection of psychopaths every time we’ve been fortunate enough to get our hands on one. And that’s one thing we might be getting on FX.

Sam Spruell (Fargo) is officially reuniting with Noah Hawley for FX’s upcoming Far Cry series, joining a pretty ridiculous ensemble that now includes Brendan Gleeson (The Banshees of Inisherin), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass), and Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats). They join previously announced stars Rob Mac (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex), and Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire).

Spruell previously worked with Hawley on Fargo Season 5, playing Ole Munch. His performance earned considerable acclaim, while Hawley has remained an FX guy thanks to his continued work through Fargo and Alien: Earth. Exactly who Spruell or any of the other newly announced actors will play in Far Cry remains under wraps, as FX is keeping the plot of its first season secret.

How Will ‘Far Cry’ Work?

Rather than selecting one game and directly adapting it, Far Cry is borrowing the anthology structure that Hawley has already used to enormous success on Fargo. Think of it like an adventure/thriller version of The White Lotus, in that each season will have a new collection of characters, allowing the television adaptation to retain one of the main selling points of Ubisoft’s games without being tied to their existing plots.

That’s how Far Cry works. It doesn’t tend to rely on the same hero over and over, but rather it drops players somewhere new and introducing another charismatic megalomaniac alongside a largely independent story. The main series began with Far Cry in 2004 and released sequels to huge levels of success all the way through 2021’s Far Cry 6, alongside numerous spin-offs and expansions. The games are known for their over the top humor (which will be why Rob Mac is involved), huge and sprawling maps, and wildly entertaining villains, including Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3, Pagan Min in Far Cry 4, Joseph Seed in Far Cry 5, and Antón Castillo in Far Cry 6.

Far Cry is coming to FX and Hulu. A release date has not yet been announced.

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Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi confirmed the arrival of their second child, sharing a glimpse of the newborn.

In a joint post shared via Instagram on Thursday, September 17, the actress, 22, and Bongiovi, 24, shared a cute photo to welcome their new family addition.

“Hi little guy!” they captioned the post, which featured a photo of their son’s hand. The image also captured what appeared to be Brown’s hand which was adorned with a ring reading, “Mom.”

Earlier on Thursday, People reported that the couple had quietly welcomed their second child via adoption. Us has reached out to reps for Brown and Bongiovi for comment.

Related: Millie Bobby Brown and Husband Jake Bongiovi Quietly Welcome 2nd Baby

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi are living on a prayer and lots of love after reportedly welcoming their second baby. A source tells People the actress, 22, and Bongiovi, 24, expanded their family through adoption. Us has reached out to reps for Brown and Bongiovi for comment. Brown appeared to hint at her growing […]

Brown and Bongiovi, who got married in May 2024, are also parents to a daughter, whom they welcomed via adoption a year after tying the knot.

“This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” the couple wrote in an August 2025 Instagram statement. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter in both peace and privacy. And then there were three!”

In a June appearance on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, the Stranger Things star opened up about her experience of motherhood and shared the most difficult part of adopting a child.

“Every journey is different. Waiting for the call is the hardest part,” Brown said.

Brown had some words of wisdom for others navigating a similar journey, adding, “I just would always encourage you to understand that every journey is different. Don’t compare yourself to others, don’t compare yourself to statistics, don’t compare yourself to other families, but your baby is out there, and you’ll find each other.”

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Related: Millie Bobby Brown’s Honest Quotes About Motherhood and Adoption

Millie Bobby Brown is pulling back the curtain on her experience as a first-time mom. “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” Brown and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, wrote via Instagram in August 2025. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. […]

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In the podcast, the actress touched on how it felt to receive backlash for her parenting choices as a person in the public eye.

“I was like, ‘This is vicious, you are vicious,’ and I don’t have time for angry women that just need to bring you down, especially when it comes to motherhood,” Brown said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this. It’s like, I can always deal with the, ‘Oh, my God, you showed your nipples? What a bitch!’ I’m like, ‘Whatever.’ I don’t care about that, but when you’re like, ‘You didn’t put a hat on your baby?’ I’m like, ‘Try putting a hat on my baby. I dare you [to] put a beanie on her.’”

Brown continued, “Stay in your own lane, put a hat on your baby and put a sock in your mouth. Sorry, the English is coming out of me, but it’s so true. Like, shut up.”

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of Transformers: The Movie, Collider was honored to partner with Hasbro and Fathom Entertainment to invite LA fans to an advanced screening of the re-release, plus a sneak peek screening of the after-credits short, Optimus Prime: Awakening. The short film is helmed by filmmaker Joshua Wassung (Predator: Killer of Killers), who joined us on stage afterwards for a discussion about how Awakening came to be, and to honor the late and legendary Peter Cullen, who provided the voice of Optimus Prime for four decades.

In the short, Cullen and Frank Welker, the voice of Megatron/Soundwave, join forces once again for a 12-minute love letter to Transformers. The story, which Wassung reveals contains Easter eggs and clues to the franchise’s future, builds on the acclaimed storytelling and visuals of the 1986 film.

If you missed our early screening and Q&A, you can watch the full conversation in the video above, with a transcript provided below. Speaking with our own Steve Weintraub, Wassung reflects on how he went from his very first job on Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith to co-directing Predator: Killer of Killers with Dan Trachtenberg, eventually landing him an Autobot-sized opportunity with Hasbro. He details how their team honors the original series, from the pilot episode, and how they set themselves apart through stylized animation and storytelling, plus how a Star Trek: Voyager episode inspired one of his favorite shots. Wassung also shares his experience working with Cullen in the recording booth and more.

Josh Wassung’s First Job Was Working on ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’

“They recruited me up to go to Lucasfilm, so I flew across the country and skipped graduation.”

Image via Lucasfilm

COLLIDER: I want to jump backwards, if you don’t mind. I was looking in the always-accurate IMDb, and I think your first gig was working on [Star Wars] Episode III.

JOSH WASSUNG: That’s correct.

How did you get that job, and what did you do on it?

WASSUNG: I worked in the pre-vis department. I was at Skywalker Ranch. I was hired straight out of school. I did an interview at SIGGRAPH in 2002, and they recruited me up to go to Lucasfilm, so I flew across the country and skipped graduation.

Were you a Star Wars fan?

WASSUNG: I mean, of course.

What was it like getting a gig there where you’re seeing what’s going to happen in the final installment?

WASSUNG: It was a dream come true. I actually told all of my classmates that I was going to work on Star Wars one day, and then I did. So, it was a pretty wild overall experience. And then I met all my friends, and we ended up starting a company together, which is The Third Floor, and we did this animation.

So basically it all worked out.

WASSUNG: It worked out.

How ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’ Led to Transformers

Wassung co-directed last year’s Predator installment with Dan Trachtenberg.

Image via Hulu

We just watched your short film. I think this is the first time an audience has seen it.

WASSUNG: It is.

So I’m curious, you were sitting there watching it. What were you waiting to hear from people? What was it like for you? I’m sure this is the largest crowd that’s seen it.

WASSUNG: Yes. I was just excited for everyone to finally see it. The team worked so hard. I think maybe my favorite moment is when, finally, Bumblebee makes it all the way there, and he finally fires at Megatron, and just that rapid fire of Optimus turning the tide and chopping his arm off. I was excited for anyone to experience that moment.

Let’s jump backwards. How did this thing actually happen for you? For people that don’t realize, you directed Predator: Killer of Killers.

WASSUNG: Yes.

That was also kind of good.

WASSUNG: [Laughs] I like to think so.

Yeah, it was kind of good. When I say kind of good, I mean it was fucking awesome. How did you get from there, with Predator, to this?

WASSUNG: Well, my reps introduced me to a lot of cool folks after that movie came out, and I got to meet Zev Foreman and Cyrus [Warner] from Hasbro, and they brought up this project they were really excited about. It was kind of their baby that they were brewing up over at Hasbro.

I got really excited myself because I was born in 1980. As a child of the ‘80s, you grew up with Transformers. It’s formidable. It’s part of who I am as a kid growing up, but also when I wanted to be a filmmaker one day, and so I was thrilled at the chance to get to work with these guys on that.

A lot of people are not going to meet with Hasbro for a project, so what was it actually like? Was it a general meeting? You go in and all of a sudden they’re telling you about this?

WASSUNG: Yeah. We were on a Zoom, and they were like, “Hey, there’s this really cool project. Would you be interested?” That’s kind of how it happened. I don’t know how else to explain it. I mean, it helps that Predator was pretty cool.

So you get attached to this, and you’re like, “Oh, this is cool.” Talk a little bit about the genesis of the project. They have this idea; maybe they have the script. How far along was it when they were talking to you about it, and then how did it possibly change once you got the keys to the Ferrari? Or I should say to the Optimus?

WASSUNG: [Laughs] I would say the script that Ryan [Parrott] had written was already super cool. I think it was really just asking us how quickly for myself to direct, but also my studio to do the animation. So we had to kind of analyze what kind of resources we could pull together, and how quickly we could turn this around. Because we knew the clock was ticking to get this ready for the anniversary.

I think that was December, so just thinking about ideas of how to achieve it and started talking with Hasbro about what kind of approach we want? How do we want to honor the original style? How do we want to bring it into something more modern? How to blend those things. And then before we know it, January, we started production.

How ‘Optimus Prime: Awakening’ Honors the Original Transformers Movie

He also breaks down his “three-act” approach to crafting fight sequences.

Image by Trent Barboza

How did you decide on the look of the animation? Because you obviously [pay] homage. There’s stuff from various Transformers in this, and you also have your own style.

WASSUNG: It was really important for us to honor the original. We worked really hard to bring a little bit of a handcrafted styling. It was all made by hand. There’s line work, there’s color. We were really going back to the original art. We looked at original matte paintings from the pilot episode of the series, but also paintings from the movie, and we really analyzed, zooming way in and analyzing the brushstrokes, analyzing the colors.

We have an amazing art director, Ed, and the previs team all were kind of working together. Shout out to the previs team, who’s here in the house. They all worked together, and we really just broke down how was this movie made with a 2D hand-drawn technique? And how can we emulate that hand-drawn feeling, but also pulling from those original colors and kind of just dialing it up to make it a bit more vibrant, and just embrace that style?

You get to direct an Optimus-Megatron fight. What was it scripted like, and then how did you sort of bring that to life with the way you wanted it to stage? Like where they’re going to fight and how is it going to go.

WASSUNG: Well, working on fight sequences is always a blast. I’ve worked on many over my career. I kind of like to think of them as a three-act structure unto themselves, so you really want to think of where the characters are at the start, and what kind of emotions transpire. That’s why we wanted to bring in Bumblebee and get Bumblebee really involved in this fight; he was kind of the emotional stakes of the fight. And then building those ticking clocks, it’s a puzzle piece. You really kind of piece that all together until the puzzle starts to fit together.

And then, team previs, they do a ton of work to kind of elaborate on what exactly those gags are. How is he going to swing that flail? How is he going to swing that axe? And just tracking geography. I mean, it’s a lot of hard work, but honestly, it’s a blast. You’re playing with toys, but you’re doing it on the computer.

“You get chills.”

I just want to point out you were paid to work on an Optimus Prime project, and you were paid to work with Peter Cullen and Frank [Welker]. I have to talk about Peter. I think Peter has impacted everybody in this theater, myself especially, and everyone in here.

WASSUNG: Absolutely. As he should.

Also, I just want to say I was fortunate to interview Peter before, and he was the nicest man. Talk a little bit about getting to collaborate with him. Obviously, you had no idea that it was going to be the last thing that he did with Optimus.

WASSUNG: True. Getting to meet Peter was a wild, full-circle experience, of course, because, just like everybody here, growing up hearing his voice over and over and over again, and then seeing him, also, in the movies, everything, for my entire life, really. And then getting to meet him, immediately he’s a jokester, and he’s just immediately cracking jokes and telling stories.

But what was amazing was he’s lived a full life. He was 85 when I met him, and he looked and sounded like an 85-year-old. And then he sat in that sound booth, and he was like, “Sound check, sound check,” and then he just turns it on, and it’s like you get chills. He sounds like a totally different human. It just turns on. It comes out of him, even at 85. It was very inspiring.

What is it actually like directing him when he knows the character better than any of us? He’s been playing the character for 40 years.

WASSUNG: Intimidating.

Can you share any story of him doing a line reading and you’re like, “Maybe this?”

WASSUNG: Honestly, it’s intimidating. I grew up as a kid listening to his voice, and so how do you tell somebody who was the original guy? And so, he would just do tons of takes — his own. He would just, “Alright, here’s the line. Cool. I’m going to give you a whole bunch.” And he would do, like, 17 of them.

I could tell he wasn’t so sure. You know, “Who’s this relatively young guy, this young whippersnapper,” if you will. And on the comm, I was like, “Hey, Peter, I actually really liked take four out of 17.” And he goes, “That’s the one I liked.” And so I was like, “Yes!” [Laughs] So I feel like that’s when we just became back and forth, and he would ask me questions. And he would always say, “Make sure you get what you need.”

Then we got to talk, from there, about making sure that we pushed the emotion. We really wanted to kind of dig deep into Optimus’s concern. He has all that introspective and thoughts about his life and what it all means, and I really wanted to dig into it. So, it was great.

‘Optimus Prime: Awakening’ Is an “Open-Ended Question”

“We don’t know all the answers.”

Image via Trent Barboza

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One of the things I think is cool about the short is that it leaves the audience to interpret stuff that’s going on in it. Talk a little bit about that aspect, that you could, as an audience member, think one thing and another audience member might think something else?

WASSUNG: That’s all part of what Hasbro wanted to do. Also, what I wanted to do is we wanted to give fans lots of opportunity to explore, to watch it again, to see, “Oh, are there any nuggets in there? Are there any clues in there?” But we really wanted to leave that open.

It’s like an open-ended question at the end. There’s a journey that’s set out, and we don’t know all the answers, but you get to kind of dig into, like, what does that mean? To really kind of find that balance of giving people a fun ride, but also giving people an opportunity to imagine what comes next, that was really the main goal for the piece.

Before getting this job, what was your relationship with Transformers? Were you a fan, casual viewer, or a collector?

WASSUNG: I was a lifelong fan. I mean, the Transformer toys were my prized possessions as a kid.

You need to be specific. What’s the one that, if you could go back in time…?

WASSUNG: Grimlock. I had a Grimlock. It’s funny because, no spoilers here, but my parents told me that Santa Claus gave me Grimlock. I was very young, maybe four, and I was like, “No, it was you guys. You gave me Grimlock.” So, I wasn’t buying the whole Santa Claus thing, but I was obsessed with Grimlock.

How did you decide on the title?

WASSUNG: I believe that came from Zev, from Hasbro. He had the idea. We were sitting around in a room and kicking around ideas, and he just said, “What about Awakening?” And immediately that just felt right to me. It struck a chord in me. And then it took a while longer before we decided on the full title being Optimus Prime: Awakening, but there was just something about that, you know? This project really is Zev’s baby. It’s something that is a passion of his, and it just was from inside of him.

When did you actually finish this?

WASSUNG: A couple weeks ago. [Laughs] It was recent. It was very recent.

This ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ Episode Inspired One of the Short’s Shots

“I had to get it right.”

Image via Paramount Television

What was the last shot or thing that you were working on? I’ve spoken to a lot of directors, and with VFX, they talk about how there’s always one shot that they keep going back to that they’re not 100% on. What was it on this?

WASSUNG: Oh man, there were so many. There was a shot when, without spoilers, there’s a transporting very quickly from one place to another that we did over and over again. There are stars that whoosh by, and we kept on adding elements, redoing, retweaking it, retweaking, and then we added some smoke. It was a whole bunch of small elements that finally clicked.

I was actually inspired by an episode of Star Trek: Voyager, which is like a way callback. There was an episode when the ship gets thrown, like, 11 light-years. I can’t believe I remember this, but anyways, I remember in one shot, the ship got kind of thrown 11 light-years across a galaxy, and that was my inspiration for that shot, and I had to get it right.

Are you also a Star Trek fan?

WASSUNG: To a degree. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of Star Trek.

This is not to do with Transformers, but Next Generation, DS9, Voyager — which is the top one or two?

WASSUNG: Next Generation.

There’s no right answer here. Just curious.

Optimus Prime Looks Back on “This Whole Ongoing Battle”

“What does it really mean?”

Image via Paramount Pictures

At the center of the story is, of course, Optimus Prime. What did you want to explore about the character that audiences perhaps haven’t seen before?

WASSUNG: Most importantly, we wanted to show Optimus really coming to grips with really analyzing his life and what has been this whole ongoing battle, and what does it really mean? It’s kind of brought into question: Was it all for nothing? But he digs deep, and he digs his heels in, and he’s like, “I will not abandon my friends.” That was something that was core to his character, and we really wanted to push him to the limit and really make him face: What does it mean to stand up for your friends, but also for your family, but also, thinking about the greater good of the whole for everyone?

The short is very much connected to the legacy, the ‘86 film, while also pushing the story forward. How did you approach finding that balance between honoring what fans love and creating something new?

WASSUNG: Like I said before, it was really making sure that we embrace the source material, embrace the original. That means everything. That means how they drew the robots, how they moved, how the lines were drawn, how the colors were chosen. It’s literally all these little details that add up to creating a feeling that kind of brings you back but also gets you excited to see what that modern take could be. So, it was just very important that we drew from all those original elements and put that into a new light.

Did you get to have Frank and Peter record at the same time?

WASSUNG: Unfortunately, they were not on the same day. I think one day was Frank, the next day was Peter. But what was interesting is not one, but both of them would impersonate the other. I’m serious. They would impersonate the other and pretend to be having conversations with the other one. They’ve done it so many times. They would have full conversations. I’m not kidding you.

I’m assuming you recorded this.

WASSUNG: I mean, yeah. It was in the recording booth.

I would love to hear that.

WASSUNG: Yeah, it’s good stuff. They’re having fun. It’s almost like they’re telling jokes, but then giving their own joke answers. It was really fun. And Peter’s version with Frank was incredible.

The real question, of course, is did you have anyone record a voicemail, like your answering machine message?

WASSUNG: No, I was too intimidated.

I don’t want to say you failed, but you failed. I’m joking around. What do you think fans would be surprised to learn about making a short like this?

WASSUNG: I touched on it a little bit already, but I guess I would say the surprising thing about making a short like this is how much work — and I do mean the hundreds of hours of work — goes into making something look imperfect. Because if you guys pause this one day when it comes out on whatever format, if you pause it, you look at the lines around the Transformers, they are not perfect; they are sketchy. And that, combined with every little detail, tons of work went into making sure it didn’t feel too clean, not too perfect, because we wanted to give that handcrafted feel.

I really think that Spider-Verse opened the door to a lot of studios and executives being like, “Oh, that’s cool, not making it absolutely perfect.”

WASSUNG: I totally agree. I’m a big believer that animation’s a medium, and that you can use it to do any kind of storytelling. It’s really a form of moving art, and that’s something that I feel very passionate about.

I completely agree.

‘Optimus Prime: Awakening’ Is Almost “Designed as a Goodbye”

The short marks the legendary Peter Cullen’s final project as Optimus Prime.

Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.com

Knowing that this is Peter’s final performance as Optimus, has the short taken on a different meaning for you personally since you made it?

WASSUNG: Yeah. It was very heavy to hear of his passing, and immediately I go to — without going into spoilers — him walking into the light. There’s such an emotional moment that we put into the performance. By the way, shout out to Jarret, the voice of Bumblebee. He did such a great job. He brought such emotion in this emotional goodbye.

It just felt like immediately, it’s almost like this short was designed as a goodbye, but we didn’t know at the time, you know? So there was definitely a sense of almost like the future is foretold. There’s something very, very moving about it. I’m just so grateful that he was able to participate.

Any Easter eggs that fans should look out for?

WASSUNG: I’m not going to say what they are, but there are clues, maybe some very brief shots if you look closely. There are clues that may or may not pertain to the future. So, I’m not gonna say what they are, but there are a few little nuggets in there.

Are they one-frame things, or are they like you can notice it if you watch it again?

WASSUNG: I would say you could notice it if you watch it again.

On the 17th in movie theaters, Fathom. Check your local listings. What do you hope longtime fans or people just discovering Transformers take away from this?

WASSUNG: My hope would be that people will take away that Transformers can be both nostalgic but also fresh, and that it can bring a sense of hope and adventure, and that it can have emotion. That’s my hope for the takeaway.

The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary is now playing in theaters. You can purchase tickets here.

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Release Date

August 8, 1986

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Runtime

84 minutes

Director

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Nelson Shin

Writers

Ron Friedman

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Producers

Joe Bacal, Lee Gunther, Margaret Loesch, Tom Griffin

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  Norman Alden

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  Hot Rod / Rodimus Prime (voice)

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  Jack Angel

  Optimus Prime / Ironhide (voice)

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  Michael Bell

  Soundwave / Megatron / Rumble / Frenzy / Wheelie (voice)

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  Gregg Berger

  Galvatron (voice)

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