Days of Our Lives indicates that Lani Price (Sal Stowers) really misses her time behind a badge. And she recently stepped up to save Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) from a brutal mugging that could have turned deadly. And now Lani’s mom, Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), wants to get her daughter’s badge back.

Days of Our Lives: Lani & Paulina’s Tragic History

Let’s dive into the details of what’ll happen in Lani’s future and how her heroic rescue of Holly could change everything for her. So now that Lani and Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) are staying in Salem, Lani needs purpose. And before she was filling in at Sweet Bits for her sister Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens), you’ll remember Lani was one of Salem‘s finest detectives.

But one fateful night because of Paulina’s ex-husband, Lani lost her freedom and her badge. And in case you forgot, that was back in two thousand twenty-two, we met this guy TR Coates, who was also known as Ray. He was Paulina’s abusive ex-husband. And he also happened to be Lani’s biological father. Ray came to Salem claiming he changed and wanted to build a relationship with his daughter Lani.

 Paulina’s Heartbreaking Decision on DOOL

And in the history the soap created, Paulina had given Lani to her sister to raise as an infant because Paulina didn’t want Lani around Ray’s abuse. And everybody assumed that Abe Carver (James Reynolds) had gotten Paulina’s sister pregnant. That’s why they thought he was Lani’s biological father for so many years. But when Ray showed up in Salem, Lani decided to get to know her biological dad, even though Paulina warned her not to do it. But Lani gave Ray some of her time anyway.

And of course, it turned out he had not changed. Not in the least. And during a confrontation involving drugs, Ray shot Eli Carver and put him into a coma. And when Eli woke up, he immediately told Lani that it was Ray who shot him. So Lani went running to protect her mom, Paulina. And when Lani got to Paulina’s apartment, Lani found Abe injured and unconscious, lying on the floor, and psycho Ray was about to attack Paulina.

Days of our Lives: Lani Confesses

So, acting on instinct, Lani fatally shot Ray. And in his dying moments, Lani’s biological father Ray said he loves her and that he forgave Lani for shooting him. Then Paulina claimed she was the one who shot her abusive ex, Ray. And Paulina said she did it because he hurt Abe and she wanted to protect Lani from Ray’s wrath. But the guilt overwhelmed her and Lani kept having horrific hallucinations of Ray’s ghost from beyond the grave. So Lani decided she couldn’t let Paulina go to prison for a crime that she had committed. And then at Abe and Paulina’s June wedding, Lani confessed that she’s the one who killed Ray and Lani turned herself in.

Lani’s Prison Stint on Days

She got a plea deal and then she was sent to prison. Now, this was part of Sal Stowers’ exit from Days of Our Lives at the time because instead of going to nearby Statesville prison, Lani wound up sent to a women’s facility in Maryland. From there, Eli took a job with the FBI office in Maryland and relocated with their twins, Jude and Carver. So, they had decided to move Lani out of state, partly to protect her from other inmates because she had been a cop and had busted a lot of them.

Plus, Eli wanted to stay close to his wife and so they were both written out of Days of Our Lives. And then a year later, Lani got furlough when Abe was presumed dead after a staged drowning by crazy cat lady Whitley King. So, Lani got a temporary release from prison to attend Abe’s memorial back in Salem and they let her go there wearing an ankle monitor. But as Lani recently said to her brother Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews), “Once the detective, always the detective.” Lani was suspicious and thought that Abe was still alive.

Lani Uncovers the Truth on DOOL

And of course, Lani was correct. So, long story short, she investigated and confronted Whitley’s accomplice, Jerry Apprentice. He’d been pretending to be Theo. And Lani tracked down Abe and found him in Whitley’s creepy fake cat lair. And at that point, Abe had amnesia. So, Whitley drugged Lani and dumped her at the docks. She was going to stage a second drowning because Whitley was diabolical.

Lucky for Lani, the US Marshalls tracked her ankle monitor and rescued her from Whitley just in time and that meant Abe was also rescued. And then Lani’s furlough ended and she was sent back to prison in Maryland and Lani finished her sentence. That was in February two thousand twenty-four.

Lani Misses Law Enforcement on DOOL

So, we’ve seen Eli and Lani back now and then to support Abe and Paulina and to visit Julie. More recently, Lani, Eli, and the twins relocated back to Salem, and Lani’s been helping her sister Chanel with Sweet Bits and with babysitting. Plus, Lani’s been busy being a mom of twins and a wife. But like Eli, Lani loved being law enforcement. She really misses being a cop. And of course, Lani’s currently on probation.

She didn’t even have a bite of the medicinal brownie she made to help Chanel’s chemotherapy. And Lani told Chanel that she just couldn’t risk it. So, to me that points out Lani is still playing by the rules. And since she’s been back in Salem, not only did Lani help Theo find Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) when she was missing and dying in the DiMera tunnels, but most recently Lani just stopped a mugging when she happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Days of our Lives: Lani Saves Holly

So, Maggie had just given Holly a necklace. It was from her dad, Daniel Jonas. And a knife-wielding mugger wanted the necklace and threatened to stab Holly when she didn’t hand it over. So, Lani got in there, saved the day. A total hero. But she doesn’t want public recognition for helping Holly. And Lani turned down Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart)’s offer to be the first guest on the Spectator‘s new podcast. Lani was adamant she did not want kudos. She said she was just doing the right thing by saving Holly.

And later we saw Paulina consulting Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) skiing from a PR perspective how she could ask her former running mate who is now governor to pardon Lani before he leaves office at the end of his term because right now Lani can’t be in law enforcement because of her felony conviction.

Lani a PI on DOOL?

So, I’ve said before it would be fun to see Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) at Black Patch get Lani as a new private eye partner, but we know her first love is being a cop. So, if Paulina plays her cards right with the governor, Lani could be pardoned and get her badge back at the Salem PD.

Paulina mentioned to Stephanie that police commissioner Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) is looking for more cops. They are short staffed since JJ Devereux quit and decided to go back to being an EMT. Elia Kantu, who plays top cop Jada Hunter, announced her exit from Days of Our Lives back in June after she’d been in the role for four years. Elia confirmed that she had already wrapped up taping at Peacock, but we know Salem can’t go without a top cop.

Days of our Lives: Jada Leaving Salem

So, Jada should be leaving Salem in early two thousand twenty-seven. And her fellow cop Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer), who’s also her lover, isn’t around much. And we know actor Brandon Beemer remains on recurring status at the soap.

So I think Paulina’s request will be successful and we could see Lani rejoin the force in November sweeps. She’s still a detective at heart and would probably be really grateful to her mom Paulina if she got her job back that she loved so much. So, maybe Lani will wind up the next police commissioner who takes over after Jada leaves.

Former “American Idol” contestant Clay Aiken is looking back on a chaotic period in his career.

Aiken shared the details of a 20-year-old incident involving Rosie O’ Donnell, noting that she outed him before he was ready to make a statement about his sexuality. 

The singer also reflected on a hectic week of media scrutiny surrounding his interactions with morning talk show host Kelly Ripa alongside the subsequent comments made by comedian Rosie O’Donnell. 

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During a guest appearance on “Page Six Radio,” Aiken recounted the challenging week in November 2006 when he temporarily subbed alongside Kelly Ripa on “Live With Regis and Kelly.”

The appearance generated immediate conversation when he playfully placed his hand over Ripa’s mouth, prompting her to quip on air about not knowing where his hand had been. 

The exchange escalated into a wider discussion the following morning on “The View,” where O’Donnell defended Aiken by accusing Ripa’s reaction of being homophobic. 

When discussing the incident, Evan Real told Aiken, “I didn’t realize that Rosie O’Donnell defended you so fiercely.” Aiken then offered a clearer perspective on what actually transpired, saying, “You say defended, I say outed.”

Aiken shared that he was fast asleep when the broadcast aired, only to be woken up by his friend Jaymes Foster, who alerted him that O’Donnell had just outed him on national television. 

Despite being severely shaken by the revelation, the musician emphasized that he holds no hard feelings toward O’Donnell, maintaining that her intentions were purely meant to defend him during a heated on-air moment.

The Singer Previously Spoke About The Infamous On-Air Encounter With The Daytime Host

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Building on his recent reflections regarding the broadcast’s aftermath, Aiken previously detailed the exact circumstances behind his awkward on-air interaction with Kelly Ripa.

A few months ago, he revisited his 2006 guest-hosting stint on “Live With Regis and Kelly” and explained that he took the temporary co-hosting role to prove his capabilities for potential solo hosting opportunities. He described the moment as an innocent attempt at humor, and Aiken admitted he covered Ripa’s mouth with his hand to interject during an interview segment.

According to The Blast, he reflected on the chilly atmosphere that immediately followed her sharp response, and noted that the event kicked off “the most catastrophic week” of his life. 

He also confirmed that the two of them never reconciled or spoke about the incident afterward. However, he admitted that he should’ve probably said something to her. 

Rosie O’Donnell’s Longtime Celebrity Crush Fueled Confusion About Her Sexuality

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Just as Aiken faced assumptions and unintended revelations surrounding his identity, former host Rosie O’Donnell has also navigated public confusion regarding her personal life and celebrity affections.

Speaking on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast, O’Donnell reflected on how her admiration for movie star Tom Cruise left some people bewildered when she publicly came out as a lesbian in 2002. 

Beginning in the mid-1990s, the former talk show host frequently highlighted her fondness for the actor on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” affectionately referring to him as “my Tommy.” 

However, she explained that observers misinterpreted her enthusiasm as romantic or sexual interest, noting that her humor had always been explicit.

“I often said, ‘I don’t want him in bed. I want him to mow my lawn and bring me an iced tea.’ Like that’s what I said. And I didn’t know how much clearer I could be,” she said, per The Blast.

Kathy Griffin Was Upset Over Rosie O’Donnell’s Late-Night Gig

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While O’Donnell found herself navigating past public misunderstandings, her more recent television projects have also created unexpected friction with fellow comedians in her inner circle.

Following O’Donnell’s debut as a guest host on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” comedian Kathy Griffin revealed mixed feelings about her longtime friend’s hosting opportunity. 

She posted a video titled “If Rosie would have called, I would have jumped” on her YouTube channel and shared that she felt excluded when she was not invited to make an appearance during O’Donnell’s stint filling in for Kimmel’s summer break.

“My feelings are really hurt that I was not invited to go on Rosie’s week of ‘The Jimmy Kimmel Show,” she said, per The Blast.

Kathy Griffin Clarified Her Friendship Status With Rosie O’Donnell

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Despite the initial hurt over her exclusion from the late-night guest list, Griffin soon clarified that her long-standing bond with O’Donnell remains completely intact.

According to The Blast, the 65-year-old performer confirmed that the pair spoke privately after she uploaded her YouTube reaction. 

She then reassured fans that their bond remains strong after decades of friendship, saying she still loves her.

An ad posted by Converse on Threads on Thursday, September 3, has sparked controversy as the public says the image appears to feature KKK-like imagery.

RELATED: Target Apologizes For Jim Crow Minstrel-Style Children’s Halloween Costume Featuring Blackface Imagery

Converse Sparks Controversy With Ad

The Converse ad features a person wearing a white garment and black-and-white Converse sneakers. The person is also holding a pair of black and white all-star Chuck 70 X high-top sneakers as they stand on a star lit up with a spotlight.

One person shared the promo on Threads with the caption, “If you don’t know anything about what’s being said about this Converse photo ad on social media … Good. Tell me what you see with your own eyes.”

 

 

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As of Friday, September 18, the ad was still featured on Converse’ Threads’ page.

People React To KKK Promo

Folks weighed in with the quickness over the Converse ad on Threads, and everyone saw the same thing.

Target Also Shared Controversial Ad

As The Shade Room reported, Target apologized after the company shared an ad for a racist Halloween costume. Target promoted controversy with the “Kids’ Glows under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume Bodysuit” from Hyde & EEK! Boutique line.

The costume looks exactly like Blackface caricatures from the minstrel show and Jim Crow eras.

Minstrel shows were performed by white folks wearing shoe polish, burnt cork, or on their faces. They portrayed Black people as cowardly, ignorant, lazy, superstitious, hyper-sexual, and foolish. Additionally, they painted exaggerated smiles on their faces. The Target costume featured the same offensive images, and backlash ensued. Subsequently, Target issued an apology.

“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry,” reads the statement. “The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale. We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners. Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”

Over 60 years, Doctor Who has carved out its place in science fiction history. Part of that longevity comes from the concept of “regeneration,” where the Doctor periodically changes into a new form. This means each actor who steps into the Doctor’s shoes can put their own definitive take on the character…and even come back to the series if they want to. Fan-favorite Doctors, including David Tennant, and icons like Tom Baker have returned to the franchise over the years. If one Doctor Who alum has his way, he won’t be making an on-screen return any time soon.

Michael Troughton, who is the son of Patrick Troughton — the second person to ever play the Doctor — was recently asked whether he’d ever portray the Second Doctor on screen in an interview with the Radio Times. Troughton immediately shot down the idea, as he felt like his time with the character was better spent behind the screen:

“No, I don’t think so. I love playing the role for audio, but no. The Doctor goes on, and I don’t think we want to see me playing it… I don’t think I’d consider it.”

Troughton previously voiced the Second Doctor in a series of audio adventures for Big Finnish, following in the footsteps of his father and other Doctor Who alums who’ve returned to the role. His comments about not playing the Second Doctor on-screen serve as a reminder that Doctor Who isin the midst of its next big transformation and needs a fresh start rather than looking back to the past.

Michael Troughton Is Right — ‘Doctor Who’ Should Continue To Evolve

Image via BBC

Right now, Doctor Who is at a crossroads. BBC is currently putting the series out to competitive tender following the dissolution of a streaming deal with Disney+. That means that whoever takes up producing reigns has the difficult task of delivering an entirely new approach that will draw in new viewers and longtime fans alike. It’s a tall order, but a necessary one. The Disney+ era had a less than favorable reception and ended on the strangest cliffhanger, so it’s better to follow Michael Troughton’s advice and wipe the slate clean.

There’s also another thing that Troughton didn’t touch upon in his review, and that’s the fact that if he did come back as the Second Doctor, most people wouldn’t know the significance of the role. Most Doctor Who fans came into the series via the 2005 reboot, and are more familiar with David Tennant or Matt Smith than the classic Doctors. Whoever picks up Doctor Who next is probably going to go for an approach that still keeps all the classic elements of the series intact, but pushes them forward into a modern context. As Troughton so eloquently put it, the Doctor goes on.

Michael Troughton Previously Appeared on ‘Doctor Who’ in a Different Role

In addition to voicing the Second Doctor, Michael Troughton did show back up on Doctor Who, albeit in an entirely different role. During the 2014 special “Last Christmas,” Troughton plays the role of Albert Smithe, a professor heading an expedition into the Arctic that’s sabotaged by crab-like creatures who attack him and his crew in their dreams. Thanks to the intervention of Peter Capaldi‘s Tweltfth Doctor, the crew is saved alongside his frequent companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman). “Last Christmas” turned out to be a major success, earning rave reviews and high ratings.

Ironically, this isn’t the first time that a Troughton has taken on a unique role in the world of Doctor Who. Michael Troughton’s older brother, David Troughton, previously appeared in the original series as well as the modern era, particularly the chilling episode “Midnight”. Their involvement is proof that Doctor Who can touch upon its legacy in ways that don’t involve bringing back past Doctors. While the future of Doctor Who might be hazy, it will definitely feel fresh.

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Release Date

2024 – 2025-00-00

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BBC One

Directors

Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams

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Writers

Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson

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Doctor Who / Whoniverse

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“Malcolm in the Middle” alum Frankie Muniz revealed in July 2026 that he and his wife, Paige Price, were ending their marriage. Months later, in a vulnerable social media post, the 40-year-old actor and race car driver opened up about his recent struggles, revealing that he hit rock bottom. This comes after similar posts from the TV star.

Muniz took to his official Instagram account on the morning of September 18 to share a vulnerable message accompanied by a photo of himself. The picture shows the actor sitting on a couch with his hands folded, looking contemplative.

He then used the caption to give insight into his headspace over the past several weeks. He began, “The last 6 weeks of my life have been a nightmare I’m praying to wake up from. Everything felt heavy, unclear, and like it was falling apart at the same time. I wouldn’t wish this season on anyone.”

After that, he discussed the “unexpected gift” from recent weeks, saying, “I’ve had nowhere to hide.” Muniz continued, “I’ve had time to sit with myself, do real self-reflection, and finally see the areas of my life that need work if I want to become a better version of me. Not the polished version I show the world…the actual one.”

The ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Alum Discussed Hitting ‘Rock Bottom’

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The actor continued his emotional post by sharing something he’d previously learned about hitting a life low. According to him, “I read that sometimes hitting rock bottom is the thing that wakes you up. It forces the changes you needed to make all along so you can live the best life possible.”

He then noted that he’s carried “that idea” with him through his recent personal struggles. Muniz continued, “In five years I believe I’ll look back at this exact low point and feel grateful for it, because the high I’ll be standing on then only exists because I went through this.”

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After that, the “Renner” actor vowed to stay the course, saying, “This isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where I start doing the work…the uncomfortable, unglamorous, necessary work. I’m choosing to treat this season as the foundation, not the finish line.”

He added, “If you’re in a low place right now too, you’re not broken. You’re being rebuilt. Let’s keep going!”

Frankie And His Wife Were Together For 10 Years

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Muniz and Price initially met in 2016 at a celebrity golf tournament. Two years later, in November 2018, the actor proposed, and they then eloped in 2019 before having a formal wedding in February 2020. After that, they had a son in March 2021.

Muniz spoke openly over the years about his relationship with Price, including her support and his busy racing schedule. However, per PEOPLE, the couple announced on July 1 that they had made the decision to end their marriage.

Their statement read, “Life update! Following a period of separation that we kept private, Paige and I have decided to move forward with ending our marriage.”

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It continued, “After 10 beautiful years together, we’ve grown in ways that made us realize our relationship feels most natural and strong as a deep friendship and as co-parents. We share an incredible son who remains the center of our world, and we’re both happier, stronger parents because of the love and growth we’ve shared.”

Muniz also used the statement to thank Price, noting that she “put her own dreams on hold so I could chase mine, and she was always my biggest supporter.”

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Muiz took to X on August 19, 2026, to ask about slowing his heart rate and say he’d recently learned a lot about himself. He stated, “How do I get my heart to stop racing 150 bpm and that feeling like it’s hard to get a deep breath in to subside? Learning a lot about myself this week, a side I ignored.”

He then clarified, “The not so good side. Ready to put in the work to be the best version of me I can be for the world.”

Days later, on August 26, he posted to the platform again, this time discussing having a broken heart. He said, “Am I naive to say that I didn’t know that having a broken heart actually meant your heart physically aches. I’d rather break my back again.”

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Am I naive to say that I didn’t know that having a broken heart actually meant your heart physically aches. I’d rather break my back again.

— Frankie Muniz (@frankiemuniz) August 26, 2026

He also posted on X on September 1, saying he was “struggling.”

Frankie Muniz Made His TV Return In 2026

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Though still acting, Muniz’s primary career focus these days is his racing. However, “Malcolm in the Middle: Life is Still Unfair” premiered on Hulu and Disney+, with most of the original Fox cast returning. The revival series quickly became a hit; according to Deadline, it garnered 8.1 million viewers in its first three days of release.

The Pitt‘s Luke Tennie opened up about how meeting Tim Allen left him completely starstruck.

“I’m just such a fan of excellence. The people who I admire just being here, it feels like an honor to me,” Tennie, 31, exclusively told Us on Monday, September 14, on the 2026 Emmys red carpet. “But you know what? The last time I fell out was last night when I met Tim Allen.”

Tennie had a great experience after being a fan of Allen’s sitcoms, adding, “He did the Home Improvement giggle and I lost my mind. Are you kidding me? I was shaking infinity and beyond right there in that handshake. So yeah, I can die 1789751815.”

After beginning his career as a comedian in the ’70s, Allen, 73, played Tim “The Toolman” Taylor on the ABC’s Home Improvement and later portrayed Mike Baxter on Last Man Standing. He made his sitcom return last year on ABC’s Shifting Gears, which he has since hinted could be his last project.

“I love what I do. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t do this,” he explained to Us in 2022. “To me, I’ve got a bunch of buddies that like to fish. Not a big fisherman. I can’t sit around. Golf is more of — I worked harder at golf than I’ve ever worked in any job. It’s so much stress. [Jay] Leno and I both agree. I love it. I love what I do. It’s not [work] at all [to me]. So this is what I’d like to do.”

Allen noted that taking a break was not on his radar — but then walked that comment back. “This probably will be the end of it,” he revealed to USA Today in February 2025. “That sounds depressing, but I did [Shifting Gears] because it seemed like a good idea that would be fun. That’s really it.”

Allen admitted it would be hard to slow down at this point in his career, adding, “I just love being around the camera people and actors and the crew, so much so that I’m more uncomfortable at the thought of leaving the set and, God forbid, going to play golf.”

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Related: Fall TV Preview 2026: All the Must-Watch New and Returning Shows

The fall TV schedule is overflowing with highly anticipated premieres and returns including Tracker, Dancing With the Stars, Line of Fire and more. Scroll on for more new and returning shows this fall: ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ (MGM+) Kit Harington and François Civil star in a four-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic about the […]

Tennie, meanwhile, is booked and busy with roles in Shrinking, The Pitt and Abbott Elementary.

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“It feels good,” he told Us before quipping, “I’m glad to be employed.”

The actor is excited for where his characters go from here, saying, “They don’t tell me nothing. But what I can tell you is — from the perspective of Shrinking — we really had people crying a lot. I think people gonna be crying a lot more from laughing.”

He concluded: “There are just some of the funniest jokes I’ve ever read have been in these recent scripts. Like, just really clever, witty stuff. So buckle your seatbelt and have a box of tissues there.”

Editor’s note: The below review contains a brief discussion of sexual assault.

Though Lizzie Borden is one of the most famous (accused) criminals in American history, no one seems to find her especially frightening. It’s difficult to imagine any other murderer getting their own cute action figure, or a Clue-style board game based on their supposed crimes. The building where Jeffrey Dahmer killed was infamously razed to the ground and remains an empty lot to this day; the building where Borden supposedly gave her fatal “40 whacks” to her father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby Borden, is now a bed-and-breakfast where you can book a ghost tour or a “Victorian tea party.” Borden might read more as a creepy piece of Americana than a vicious killer because her alleged crimes occurred so far in the past. It might be because she’s a woman, because she murdered unpleasant relatives rather than innocent strangers, or because there’s ambiguity around her guilt — was she just an oddball who got blamed for the crimes because she struggled to fit in, or did she actually get away with murder?

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the newest volume of Ryan Murphy‘s Netflix series dedicated to the lives of infamous American killers, introduces a new theory: we don’t feel scared by Borden because she was justified. Across the show’s eight episodes, The Lizzie Borden Story suggests that Borden (Ella Beatty), a gentle nature lover who’s just as abused by Victorian social norms as she is by her brutish parents, had no path to survival except putting an axe into Andrew (Charlie Hunnam) and Abby (Rebecca Hall)’s skulls. Veering wildly from feminist theorizing to romantic melodrama to raw discourse on cycles of abuse, The Lizzie Borden Story is a campy, frustrating, and occasionally extremely moving show about what happens when people get pushed to their breaking point, and what it really means to be “innocent.”

What is ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ About?

Lizzie Borden is no one’s idea of a murderer. In fact, at the show’s start, everyone else around her seems far more likely to be the one to take someone’s head off with an ax: her father, Andrew, is a wealthy, cruel, drunk, and misogynistic casket-maker who has no qualms about chopping the feet off a dead body to make it fit into one of his coffins; her stepmother, Abby, is a violently abusive narcissist who sees no issue in slaughtering Lizzie’s beloved pet doves because they coo too loudly. Guileless and socially awkward, Lizzie spends her days alternating between delighting in plants and animals and being humiliated by humans, until a new servant, Bridget, arrives at her home.

Played by Phantom Thread star Vicky Krieps, Bridget is a worldly feminist with a hairdo that makes her look more like someone who plays bass in Phoebe Bridgers’ backing band than a Victorian housemaid — a point later underlined when her cleaning is soundtracked by The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb.” Bridget, who has lived in Europe and reads broadly, teaches provincial Lizzie about the science behind her painful menstrual periods, as well as Victorian sex toys, and eventually, the story of the infamous “blood countess” Elizabeth Bathory (played in flashback by Krieps in a Lisbeth Salander wig). Lizzie and Bridget fall for one another, and after both are repeatedly subjected to brutal and careless acts by Andrew, Abby, and others, they decide that the Bordens have to go. Though they get giddy with bloodlust during their planning, the reality of murdering Andrew and Abby is unexpected for both of them. Bridget finds that actual murder is different from her “blood countess” fantasies; and in killing her father and stepmother, Lizzie seems to finally come into her own.

Weaving in and out of the narrative is Aileen Wuornos (Sarah Paulson), America’s other most famous female murderer. Nearly 100 years after Borden, we watch Wuornos also hit her limit, murdering a client after suffering a violent sexual assault. Wuornos is depicted as a Lizzie fangirl who road-trips with her girlfriend to visit the Borden bed-and-breakfast; she sees her as a patron saint of survivors who turn the tables on their abusers. “This is how women have had it the whole time,” Wuornos declares while reading a book about Borden, in one of the show’s many way-too-on-the-nose moments.

We know how both Borden and Wuornos’ stories end, of course — Borden would be acquitted, inherit her father’s fortune, and spend the rest of her life as an outcast in her hometown of Fall River, Massachusetts, while Wuornos was executed by the state of Florida in 2002. But the show asks us to stay with each woman to the end, to see how they handle their respective fates, and what they each mean about the way society judges women.

‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Doesn’t Quite Know What It Believes

Thematically, The Lizzie Borden Story is a mess. The show’s weakest moments are when it tries to make a political argument for revenge murder as a kind of feminist project; Wuornos’s multiple adoring monologues about Borden and Bridget’s similarly adoring monologues about Bathory feel almost embarrassing to watch, especially when the show attempts to soften Bathory (who was accused of murdering teenage peasant girls in Renaissance-era Hungary) by giving her a tragic backstory that isn’t backed up by historical record. The show’s periodic pushes to make Borden an uncomplicated feminist icon feel genuinely laughable.

This tendency also pops up in the fact that the show treats Borden as almost a Cinderella-esque character. There’s no darkness within her, no part that enjoys the violence of committing murder or the mass media attention that followed. She’s simply a sweetheart who would have happily spent her days romping among the cherry trees and caring for her pets, if only her family and society hadn’t been dead set on abusing her. It also does a similar clean-up job on Wuornos, viewing her as rough-around-the-edges but ultimately just doing what she had to in order to survive. Considering that a hallmark of previous seasons of Monster was a multi-faceted probing of characters who definitely were not sweethearts, the show’s approach to its heroines’ inner lives can feel simplistic. And in the classic tradition of many previous Murphy outings, the series ends with a strange, muddled episode that time-jumps forward and introduces new themes at the last second — in this case, true crime, the pain of infamy, forgiveness, women’s suffrage (!), and a reunion between Lizzie and Bridget, decades after the crime, that never achieves the emotional heft that it should.

But in the moments when The Lizzie Borden Story is just an emotional tale about women grappling with lives that seemingly require them to do terrible things to survive, it shines. Beatty’s performance gently telegraphs Borden’s innate dignity, in addition to her pain; when she finally speaks her piece about the lifetime of abuse she experienced at Abby’s hands, it’s almost impossible not to be moved. And her love story with Bridget is engaging and affecting; Krieps creates a strong and genuine emotional underpinning for an anachronistic character who could have easily appeared silly.

When Paulson’s Wuornos isn’t delivering a history lecture, she owns some of the show’s most emotionally brutal moments. An imagined confession to Borden about the abuse she survived in her own childhood moved me to tears, as did a conversation Wuornos has with a supporter shortly before being put to death. One of the show’s strangest moments, in which Borden, Bridget, and Wuornos all dance together to the ’80s queer anthem “Smalltown Boy” by Bronski Beat, sounds like it absolutely shouldn’t work, but is actually a prime example of what The Lizzie Borden Story gets right — when it rips off its intellectual packaging and just dives into the raw human experiences of pain, sadness, and longing for something better than what you were given, it is a joy to watch.

Also a joy to watch: Rebecca Hall, giving her campy, wicked stepmother best as Abby Borden. If anyone here gets the complex, layered treatment that Monster usually gives their subjects, it’s Abby; we both understand the lifetime of suffering that transformed her into a beast, and hate her for the person she’s become anyway. Hall is an actress of tremendous range, but The Lizzie Borden Story makes the case for her playing more villains. Abby is vile, yet a thrill to watch every second she’s on-screen. The over-the-top stage actress Nance O’Neill (Jessica Barden) is also a delight, even though it’s not always exactly clear why she’s there. A subplot in which she inserts herself into Borden’s life doesn’t necessarily make much sense, but that doesn’t make it any less entertaining — which might also sum up the best parts of The Lizzie Borden Story, too.

‘The Lizzie Borden Story’ Wants To Be Simpler Than It Is

Image via Netflix

The Lizzie Borden Story is just the latest in a recent deluge of Borden-related media, including Christina Ricci‘s high-camp 2014 Lifetime movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, which was followed by a 2015 series, and Chloe Sevigny‘s 2018 Lizzie, which treated the story as something of a grim erotic thriller. It will also be followed later this fall by Victorian Psycho, an over-the-top Lizzie Borden-influenced horror thriller about a governess who’s more Norman Bates than Mary Poppins. It makes sense that so many people would consider Borden’s story fertile creative ground —it’s packed full of issues related to sexism, class, and whether there’s such a thing as a justified crime. But in insisting on Borden’s overwhelming goodness, The Lizzie Borden Story engages in a much milder form of the sexism it spends its runtime railing against.

In a certain way, The Lizzie Borden Story is cut from the same cloth as the recent (and superior) Hulu series Furious, which also investigates how society turns a blind eye to women’s abuse, and what happens when women who have no access to traditional avenues of justice “snap.” But Furious is unafraid to make its female characters complicated and difficult, to ask viewers to take them as people who are both good and bad. The Lizzie Borden Story, on the other hand, seems to think we can only feel sympathy for Borden if we also believe that she is essentially a saint who had one very bad day.

Despite its many enjoyable moments, it’s tough to not imagine what The Lizzie Borden Story could have been if the team had been ready to show Borden as a more flawed, ambiguous individual. While it wishes it were a complex Thelma & Louise-style statement about women, abuse, and revenge, it doesn’t trust the audience enough and instead gives us a cross between a lecture and a fairy tale.

Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is now streaming on Netflix.

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Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story

Ryan Murphy’s muddled Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story turns America’s most infamous ax murderess into a saint.

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Release Date

September 17, 2026

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Network

Netflix

Directors

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Max Winkler, Sarah Adina Smith

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Cast

• 

  Vicky Krieps

  Bridget Sullivan

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  Ella Beatty

  Lizzie Borden

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Pros & Cons

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• The performances are uniformly high-quality, with Ella Beatty and Rebecca Hall as particular standouts.
• When it gives itself over to emotional storytelling, the show shines.

• The show isn’t too interested in examining Borden’s dark side, or asking if what she did was wrong.
• Half-baked messaging about women and murder repeatedly brings the narrative to a halt.

Kim Kardashian is facing another health scare that carries a painful connection to her family history.

The reality star is shown in a hospital discussing a diagnosis tied to the cancer that killed her father, Robert Kardashian. The revelation appears in the trailer for season 8 of “The Kardashians.” It also shows Kris Jenner becoming emotional as the family faces another reminder of Robert’s death.

Kim Kardashian lost her father to esophageal cancer in September 2003. More than two decades later, his death continues to shape her health concerns, career choices, and memories of the father she deeply admired.

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The new “The Kardashians” trailer shows Kim in a hospital revealing that she has “something called esophagitis.” An offscreen voice immediately connects the diagnosis to her father. “Didn’t your father — isn’t that what he died of?” the person asks. Kris appears afterward and becomes emotional while discussing the diagnosis.

According to Mayo Clinic, Esophagitis involves swelling and irritation of the tissues lining the esophagus. Untreated esophagitis can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, which can increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

Robert died at 59 in September 2003 after battling esophageal cancer. Khloé Kardashian recalled that he died only six or seven weeks after his diagnosis. She said he never used the word “terminal” with his children, even though she believed he struggled to accept the reality. 

Robert left behind Kim, Kourtney, Khloé, and Rob with Kris. In her 2015 memoir, Khloé recalled becoming so distraught that she passed out. She said she was told she had fallen to the floor, kicking and screaming, before being sedated, per US Magazine.

Kim Has Faced Other Health Concerns

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The new diagnosis comes after Kim previously faced another frightening medical discovery. She learned through an MRI that she had a brain aneurysm.

The aneurysm was described as a bulge in her brain that doctors believed was connected to stress. Kim said the condition could potentially rupture under severe stress, which is difficult to avoid given her lifestyle.

Her schedule includes running businesses, traveling for work, studying law, and raising four children. “I have four kids that depend on me,” Kim said, emphasizing why maintaining her health matters.

She subsequently underwent additional scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Blast previously reported that the aneurysm had been discovered during a general body checkup Kim takes seriously.

Kim has connected some of her health struggles to the intense pressure in her life. She also wondered whether her stressful marriage to Kanye West contributed to her aneurysm. The former couple divorced after seven years together and four children.

Kim has explained that walking away from the relationship did not mean completely escaping its pressures. “People think that I have the luxury of walking away,” she said. “My ex will be in my life, no matter what,” she added, because they share four children.

The Blast reported that Kim also continued dealing with psoriasis, a condition she has discussed publicly for years. Her flare-ups have appeared during periods of physical or emotional strain, including after losing weight for her Marilyn Monroe Met Gala dress and during filming for “All’s Fair.”

The Reality Star Once Called Her Father ‘The Best To Ever Do It’

Kim has continued honoring Robert publicly years after his death. She reportedly celebrated him during Father’s Day 2023 with a series of family photographs. The tribute also included Caitlyn Jenner, whom Kim recognized alongside her late father.

One photograph showed Robert holding Kim and Kourtney Kardashian in his arms. Other pictures captured him with the family, including a black-and-white image with Kim.

She captioned the tribute, “Best to ever do it! I wouldn’t be me if it weren’t for you two.” Fans noticed that Kim included both Robert and Caitlyn in her tribute.

One person praised her for recognizing Caitlyn as a stepfather, while another said it was nice to see step-parents acknowledged. Other commenters described the photographs as special and said the love between the family members was visible.

The Blast revealed that the tribute also came during a period when Kim was discussing motherhood herself. She described raising her four children as demanding but meaningful.

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She said motherhood had taught her the most about herself, “There are nights when I find myself crying to sleep,” she said. She described the experience as a “tornado” in her house, while still calling it “the best chaos.”

Robert’s Legacy Also Shaped Kim’s Business

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Robert’s influence did not stop at Kim’s interest in law. His personal style also became part of the inspiration behind one of her major business ventures.

The Blast previously reported that Kim credited her late father with inspiring SKIMS Men. She remembered Robert as someone who cared about looking cool and recalled buying him wax-coated Diesel jeans from the Los Angeles store where she worked.

Kim said her father would pair the jeans with a black T-shirt and loafers. She also remembered playing in his organized wardrobe as a young child before suffering a concussion after climbing onto a shelf.

Kris similarly remembered Robert’s strong connection to Gucci. She recalled that he often wore Gucci sport coats, pants and loafers during their relationship.

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SKIMS later introduced its men’s collection. Its launch reportedly generated 25,000 orders within its first five minutes. That performance marked the brand’s biggest sales day since its introduction in September 2019.

Robert’s influence was especially visible in the way Kim remembered his clothing. His preference for simple but polished outfits became one of the memories she connected to the men’s line.

Kim Kardashian Finally Reclaimed A Piece Of Her Father

Kim’s connection to Robert recently became even more tangible through an unexpected auction. In 2025, she was said to have secretly bid on a Bible that had belonged to her late father.

The Bible also contained Robert’s handwritten note, personal scripture, and his name in gold lettering. It had eventually come into O.J. Simpson’s possession after Robert gave it to him during the 1995 murder trial.

Kim reportedly won the auction after initially offering $15,000 to the Simpson estate. She later revealed that she had actually paid $80,000 for the sentimental item, nearly six times her original offer.

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Kim had used an alias during the auction to protect her privacy. She then surprised her family by revealing that she had won, before giving the Bible to Khloé.

The Simpson estate had rejected her original offer before putting the item up for auction. She later admitted that she had been willing to double her $15,000 offer. “I guess I had a little too much faith in humanity for a minute there,” Kim said.

The estate executor, Malcolm LaVergne, mocked her failed attempts to become a lawyer. Kim’s family also feared what other private items from Robert’s relationship with Simpson might surface. A source claimed the family was particularly worried about private correspondence between the two men becoming public.

Kim Kardashian’s latest diagnosis now brings her father’s memory into an intensely personal health conversation.

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On this episode of ‘Stepping Into The Shade Room,’ certified sex educator, sexologist, and relationship expert Shan Boodram is sitting down. This, for an unfiltered conversation on love, pleasure, and more! From her open marriage to trust and communication to the psychology of sex and the science behind “vabbing,” Boodram gets candid about it all in. This, in open conversation with host, Thembi.

Sexologist Talks Open Marriage & More

About three minutes into the conversation, Shan Boodram opened up about her open marriage. Contrary to the traditional understanding, Boodram explained that although she goes on dates, flirts, and has romantic connections with men outside her marriage, she has never been physically intimate with any of them.

“I choose that for myself, and my husband chooses that for him, which is important to know,” she explained, adding that her husband has had “versions of sex” with his extramarital interests. “… I trust his decision-making… it comes from a good place. And if he chooses to do something with his body, I think it’s probably what’s best for me. And the whole family and everybody else. Nothing that he has done ever has ever shown me that he doesn’t have me and the kids top of mind.”

Furthermore, Boodram acknowledged that the dynamic isn’t everyone’s standard. But called the experience “unique.” And part of her finding “her person.”

Shan Boodram Breaks Down “Vabbing” & Sex Hacks

According to Thembi, “vabbing” is the “practice of using one’s own vaginal fluids as perfume to attract others.” Per Boodram, the fluids likely contain pheromones which act as “scent signals to excite people.”

Scroll above to watch as Shan Boodram breaks down the phenomenon. Additionally, watch as she and Thembi discuss modern monogamy, “bad sex,” extreme kinks, and more!

RELATED: Claressa Shields Opens Up About Overcoming Childhood Abuse, Healing & Finding Her Strength | SITSR (Exclusive)

James Wehr’s family has announced a memorial for the car influencer and “his friend” Alexis “Lexi” Kramer following their deaths.

South OC Cars and Coffee, which James cofounded with his father, Simon Wehr, shared details of a special celebration of life for James, set to take place in San Clemente, California, on Saturday, September 19.

“Please join us as we remember our son James and his friend Lexi, who tragically lost their lives together,” the family wrote via Instagram. “This Saturday, we will be gathering to remember and honor James, who meant so much to so many in the car community.”

“A celebration of James’ life will take place at South OC Cars and Coffee this Saturday, September 19, from 8:30–11:00 a.m.,” the post continued. “Everyone is welcome to join us as we come together to remember James and celebrate the incredible impact he had on so many lives.”

Related: Car Influencer James Wehr’s Wife Emma Breaks Silence on His Death

Emma Wehr, the wife of late car influencer James Wehr, has broken her silence following his tragic death at age 27. James and another passenger were involved in a fiery car accident in Irvine, California, in the early hours of Sunday, September 13. Irvine police confirmed two fatalities after the driver of a 2019 McLaren […]

The post added, “In honor of James, we invite everyone to wear white sneakers. … Please drive safely, look out for one another, and join us in remembering James with the love and positivity he brought to those around him.”

James, who was 27, and Kramer, who was 22, were killed in a car accident in Irvine, California, in the early hours of Sunday, September 13. Irvine police said James was driving a 2019 McLaren supercar but “lost control” while traveling “northbound at a high speed.” James “struck a curb and a tree” before the car “split in two and caught fire.”

South OC Cars and Coffee, which describes itself as the “largest weekly car show in the world,” identified James as one of the two victims who perished in an Instagram post shared on Sunday. The post was reshared by his parents, Simon and Sarah Wehr, his sister, Sophia Wehr, and his wife, Emma Wehr.

“Unfortunately, we have some really heavy news to share with you all. This morning, just after midnight, we lost our darling son and brother James in a motor accident,” the post read.

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Related: Influencer James Wehr Was Driver in Deadly Crash, Pulled Over Hours Before

Car influencer James Wehr was in the driver’s seat of a 2019 McLaren that crashed on Sunday, September 13, killing him and Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, police confirmed. Wehr, 27, and Kramer, 22, suffered fatal injuries in the early hours of Sunday following an accident in Irvine, California, in which his supercar crashed into a tree, […]

“We respectfully ask for privacy as a family as we process this profound loss,” the statement continued. “We would appreciate all of your good thoughts and prayers, and for those of you who knew James, thank you for being his friends, his mentors and his peers. Thank you for being his clients and his loved ones. We are grateful for all of you.”

On Monday, September 14, a family member of Kramer’s identified her as the second victim in the accident.

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The relative told the California Post that Kramer had flown to California on Friday, September 11, to spend the weekend with James. The person also claimed that James had told Kramer he was in the midst of divorcing his wife.

James’ widow has hired attorney Corey Higgins to investigate the circumstances surrounding the influencer’s death.

“At the time of the collision, a significant amount of water was present on the roadway on an otherwise clear night, creating an extremely hazardous condition for any motorist,” Higgins claimed in an Instagram video on Wednesday, September 16. “The source of that water is yet to be identified, and our firm is actively investigating how that water came to be there, how long that condition had existed and who may ultimately bear responsibility.”