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Kylie Minogue’s ‘Horrendously Bad’ Show Mocked As ‘Karaoke’

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Kylie Minogue performing at O2 Arena in London

Kylie Minogue returned home with a stadium-sized production for the 2026 AFL Grand Final, but some viewers were far from impressed. The Australian pop icon performed a 20-minute pre-game set at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, packing the spectacle with her biggest hits, celebrity guests and approximately 100 dancers.

Despite the elaborate production and Minogue’s reportedly massive payday, critics watching from home branded the performance “horrendously bad” and accused the 58-year-old singer of delivering karaoke versions of her own music.

Kylie Minogue’s AFL Performance Gets Brutal Reviews

Kylie Minogue performing at O2 Arena in London
MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

Minogue opened the highly anticipated set with “Love At First Sight” before moving through a selection of songs from her decades-long career. However, the glamorous homecoming quickly became a target for online criticism. “So far Kylie isn’t really doing it for me,” one viewer admitted as the performance unfolded.

Another person took a swipe at how the songs sounded, writing, “Kylie doing karaoke versions of her own songs.”

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The reviews only became more savage from there. “Kylie is an Aussie icon but this well this has been horrendously bad,” a third viewer commented.

One critic went even further by questioning whether Minogue was singing live. “This Kylie half time performance is bloody shocking she’s not even singing,” the person wrote.

The Pop Icon Packed Her Set With Major Hits And Surprise Guests

Minogue did not arrive at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a stripped-back show. After opening with “Love At First Sight,” she performed “In Your Eyes,” “On A Night Like This” and her 2000 hit “Spinning Around.” The singer also shared the stage with several Australian performers throughout the 20-minute production.

Composer William Barton appeared during the set, while comedy trio The Inspired Unemployed joined Minogue for “The Loco-Motion.” G Flip returned after performing an opening set to duet with Minogue on her 2023 hit “Padam Padam.” DJ Dom Dolla then added his own touch to the show’s closing number, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head.”

Other Fans Insisted Kylie Minogue ‘Killed It’

Kylie Minogue leaving her hotel during Paris Fashion Week
Spread Pictures / MEGA

Minogue’s performance may have divided viewers, but she still had plenty of people firmly in her corner. Some fans pushed back against the brutal criticism and celebrated the Melbourne native for delivering a high-energy show in front of the enormous Grand Final crowd.

“Gotta say Kylie is killing it at the pre-game entertainment! Absolutely brilliant!!” one supporter wrote. Another enthusiastic fan declared, “KYLIE KILLING IT AT THE #AFLGF.”

Kylie Minogue Admitted She Was ‘Nervous’ Before Taking The Stage

Kylie Minogue performing at O2 Arena in London
MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

Ahead of the Grand Final, Minogue acknowledged that she was feeling the pressure of the high-profile performance. “I am nervous, excited right now. I am all those things,” she said during a press conference in Melbourne on Friday.

The singer hoped those nerves would disappear once she stepped in front of the crowd. “When it comes to just about to go on, maybe I will feel right at home. I don’t know,” she added.

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Minogue had reportedly spent the week rehearsing at the MCG as she prepared to perform for a sell-out crowd inside the 100,000-seat venue. The scale of the occasion was enormous, even for a veteran performer who has spent decades entertaining audiences around the world.

The Singer Took Her Performance To Dangerous New Heights

Kylie Minogue performing at O2 Arena in London
MAR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

Minogue’s show did not keep her safely planted on the ground. During rehearsals, the singer was lifted high above the stadium on a small podium while working through her setlist. She wore a safety harness to protect her from falling as she performed a high-energy song-and-dance routine from the elevated platform.

Minogue later changed into a distressed shirt dress featuring the words “I’m home” across the front, making the performance a clear celebration of her Australian roots.

The singer is believed to have earned approximately $3 million for the Grand Final appearance.

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Rebecca Gayheart Gives Update on Kids After Eric Dane Death

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Rebecca Gayheart Gives Rare Insight Into 8 Year Separation From Eric Dane

Rebecca Gayheart shared an update on how her teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia, are coping seven months after their dad Eric Dane’s death.

“You know, we’re hanging in there. I think it’s definitely a challenging season, but we’re doing our best,” Gayheart, 55, told People on the red carpet for Step Up’s 2026 Annual Inspiration Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, September 25. “The girls are both in high school — which is also a big transition under any circumstance — so I’m just staying close to my kids.”

Dane’s family confirmed to Us in February that the former Grey’s Anatomy actor had died just shy of one year after going public with his battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was 53.

“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family’s statement read. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world. Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

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Rebecca Gayheart Gives Rare Insight Into 8 Year Separation From Eric Dane


Related: Rebecca Gayheart Shares Rare Insight Into 8-Year Separation From Eric Dane

Rebecca Gayheart is supporting Eric Dane during his health struggles despite their separation. Gayheart, 54, is teaching daughters Billie, 15, and Georgia, 13, that “we show up for people no matter what,” as Dane, 53, navigates his new normal with ALS. “He is our family. He is your father,” Gayheart said during her Monday, November […]

Us confirmed later that month that Dane died from respiratory failure with ALS as an underlying cause.

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In the months since Dane’s death, Gayheart commemorated her family’s first Father’s Day without the star and represented her late husband at their daughter Georgia’s middle-school graduation.

Speaking to People on Friday, the Nip/Tuck actress spoke about how she’s dealing with her own grief over losing Dane. (Dane and Gayheart were separated at the time of his death, but they never divorced. At the end of his life, Dane was in a relationship with photographer Janell Shirtcliff while Gayheart has been linked to Hard Rock Cafe cofounder Peter Morton.)

“[I connect with] friends. My children,” she said at the Hollywood gala. “Being under the same roof with my kids and having them next to me, safe, always makes me feel better. You know, there’s certain people I like to talk to get my feelings out, but really just — again — being connected to other human beings. That’s what gets me through.”

Rebecca-Gayheart-and-Kids-GettyImages-2266641583


Related: Rebecca Gayheart Says She Still Has ‘No Words’ About Eric Dane’s Death

Rebecca Gayheart is still mourning the death of Eric Dane. “There are no words,” Gayheart, 54, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, March 18. “All our love forever — your girls ❤️‍🩹❤️.” The Jawbreakers actress, who was married to Dane from 2004 to 2018, uploaded a montage of throwback photos of the pair and their two […]

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Earlier this month, Gayheart asked Dane’s fans to encourage their members of Congress to pass the ACT for ALS Bill, which she said would “provide $500 million for ALS research, treatment access and hope for families battling this disease.” (Separate versions of the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act have passed in the House of Representatives and Senate, though a final unified bill has not yet been sent to President Donald Trump for approval.)

“Please help us make sure that Congress does not continue to delay the passing of this bill,” she stated. “Click the link to sign the petition or share it with a friend. … Getting this passed would mean the world to my family.”

Gayheart and Dane were married from 2004 to 2018. Gayheart filed for divorce in February 2018 but ultimately withdrew her petition in 2025 following her ex’s ALS diagnosis.

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‘The Sopranos’ Meets ‘Breaking Bad’ in Paramount+’s Near-Perfect 3-Season Crime Thriller

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Sylvester Stallone holding a mobile phone up to his ear in Tulsa King Season 3, Episode 3.

Get ready for another round of small-town underworld business with Tulsa King, a love letter to the mafia à la The Sopranos, mixed with the drug dealings of Breaking Bad. Starring Sylvester Stallone as Dwight Manfredi, Tulsa King is a show about what it’s like to have the crown swatted off your head and learn how to start again. The show is one of the many additions to Taylor Sheridan‘s television portfolio — but unlike his Western projects like Yellowstone or Landman, Tulsa King takes the classic cowboy setting and gives it an Italian-American twist.

Although the previous season ended in September 2025, Tulsa King has continued to earn plenty of attention on streaming, spending the past two weeks in Paramount+’s Top 10. As the show gears up for Season 4, set to premiere on October 16, Tulsa King is heading into another season of bigger ambitions and deadlier enemies, while the spin-off Frisco King is also on the way.

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What Is ‘Tulsa King’ About?

Tulsa King introduces former New York Mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Stallone), fresh out of prison after serving a 25-year sentence. Instead of being welcomed back for refusing to sell out to the feds, Dwight is unceremoniously exiled to middle-of-nowhere Tulsa, Oklahoma, with one job: “setting up business” there. Realizing that his old associates no longer see him as an asset, Dwight reluctantly heads to Tulsa, initially unsure what he can accomplish — until he discovers a potentially lucrative drug business waiting to be established.

Without the traditional mob resources or muscle he’s accustomed to, Dwight builds a new crew from the locals, including enthusiastic chauffeur Tyson Mitchell (Jay Will), scrawny marijuana dispensary owner Bodhi (Martin Starr), and calm, collected outlaw Mitch Keller (Garrett Hedlund). But as Dwight and his gang expand their operations, their list of enemies grows, with each one looking to claim a piece of his money-making pie.

‘Tulsa King’ Season 4 Puts Dwight Manfredi’s Business at Risk

By the end of Season 3, Dwight has conquered much of the Tulsa underworld, a far cry from his humble beginnings, but he’s also not your typical ruthless businessman. He’s fairly content with his drug operation and his cabaret and casino, which he renovated from a run-down saloon — so when he gets the chance to expand his business portfolio with not just any local distillery, but a legacy one, he can’t pass it up. But dealing with a new business, especially one that’s considered fairly legal, proves to be harder than running drugs.

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Between being threatened by a rival distillery, dealing with a few hotheads over territory, and being tapped by the feds to do some clandestine work because of his special underworld connections, Dwight’s got a lot on his plate. Meanwhile, his success has attracted the attention of powerful local politicians, setting the stage for another dangerous chapter — and then there’s Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough), who could potentially become Season 4’s greatest enemy. If Sheridan’s shows have taught their audiences anything, it’s that mixing opportunistic, profit-minded politicians like Cal with the criminal underbelly is bad for business.

Samuel L. Jackson Stars in ‘Tulsa King’s Upcoming Spin-Off

Samuel L. Jackson sits among books in Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 9
Samuel L. Jackson in Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 9
Image via Paramount+

Four hours south of Tulsa, former hitman Russell Lee Washington Jr. (Samuel L. Jackson) is carving out his own criminal operation in Frisco King, the Tulsa King spin-off formerly titled NOLA King. Lee was introduced in the later episodes of Tulsa King Season 3 as one of Dwight Manfredi’s longtime friends from his prison days. After seeing how Dwight established himself with only limited mob connections, Lee is inspired to follow a similar path and make a name for himself.

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Frisco King also stars Asa Germann (Gen V), Kai Caster (Yellowstone), Lilah Pate (Outer Banks), and Savanna Gann (English Teacher), with Sheridan writing all eight episodes of Season 1. For those anticipating a potential Tulsa King and Frisco King crossover, Frank Grillo, who plays Bill Bevilaqua in the former, says that while it depends on how the season pans out, “it would be silly if there wasn’t some kind of crossover for two, three, four episodes.” With Jackson officially joining the Tulsa King universe, Sheridan may have found another way to raise the stakes — putting two acting heavyweights in the same dramatic sandbox.


tulsa-king-poster.jpg
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Release Date
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November 13, 2022

Network

Paramount+

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Showrunner

Dave Erickson, Terence Winter

Directors
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Allen Coulter, Benjamin Semanoff, David Semel, Guy Ferland, Joshua Marston, Kevin Dowling, Lodge Kerrigan, Jim McKay

Writers

Joseph Riccobene, David Flebotte, William Schmidt, Taylor Elmore, Tom Sierchio, Regina Corrado, Stephen Scaia, Terence Winter

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George Lucas’s Beloved 39-Part Serial Officially Arrives on a Brand-New Free Platform

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Flash Gordon - 1936

The grand opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art gave fans of George Lucas another opportunity to reflect on his contributions to the world of moviemaking. Although Lucas hasn’t directed a movie in several years, he remains one of the most important filmmakers to have ever lived, thanks to his pioneering work on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. A key member of the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s, Lucas broke out with films such as THX 1138 and American Graffiti before going on to change the world with Star Wars. Lucas famously attempted to secure the rights to one of his favorite comic strips, but the producer who owned the rights refused him. It was only then that he decided to create the first Star Wars movie. Now, a television serial based on the comic strip is streaming for free on a brand-new platform for fans.

The comic strip was created in 1934, and a serial film presented in 13 chapters was released by Universal Pictures only two years later. A 12-episode follow-up was released in 1940. The strip was adapted into a proper television series that premiered in 1954 and ran for 39 episodes until 1955. It was an instant success, continuing to run in syndication into the 1960s. The serials were united by archetypes that Lucas would co-opt for his Star Wars movie, including an adventurous young man, a princess, and a hairy companion — and an opening crawl that has now become synonymous with the Star Wars franchise.

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Collider Exclusive · 8 Questions · 2 Minutes
Which Star Wars Crew Should You Join?
Falcon · Ghost · Skeleton Crew · Razor Crest

Eight honest questions about how you actually are: what your friends come to you for, how you handle a night that falls apart, what you want out of work, what keeps you going. Answer them and we will tell you which ship has your seat. Four crews are hiring: the smugglers, the rebels, the kids who got hopelessly lost, and the one man who works alone until he does not.

🚀Falcon(Original Trilogy)

👾Ghost(Star Wars Rebels)

🗺️Skeleton Crew(Skeleton Crew)

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🪖Razor Crest(The Mandalorian)

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01

What role do you play in your friend group?
Everybody has one, whether they admit it or not.




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02

How do you pack for a trip?
This says more about people than it should.




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03

Your plans collapse an hour before. What do you do?
Everybody reacts to this differently.




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04

What would you actually want out of a job?
Be honest rather than impressive.




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05

What do people come to you for?
You already know which one it is.




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06

How do you handle a disagreement with a friend?
This is where people differ most.




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07

What does a really good Saturday night look like?
No wrong answers, but there are revealing ones.




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08

What actually keeps you going?
Eight questions in, this is the one that picks your crew.




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Docking Clamps Released
Your Crew Is…

Four ships, four completely different reasons to be up there at all.
Here is the one that has your seat, what flying with them would cost you, and what it would give
back.

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Star Wars · Original Trilogy · Since 1977

Millennium Falcon

You belong on the fastest piece of junk in the galaxy, with a
crew that took the job for the payday and then quietly stopped caring about the payday.
Nothing on the Falcon has ever gone according to plan, and everybody aboard prefers it that
way.

  • You improvise better than you prepare, which is why you keep ending up in situations
    that a careful person would have avoided.
  • The Falcon is the only ship on this list that is genuinely funny, and half of that comes
    from it breaking at the worst possible moment.
  • You would pretend the whole thing is transactional right up until somebody you like is
    in trouble, and then the pretending stops instantly.
  • This crew is the reason the rebellion had a chance at all, and not one of them would
    ever admit to that out loud.

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Star Wars Rebels · Disney XD · 2014 to 2018

The Ghost

You belong with the crew that turned a tiny cell of misfits into
an actual rebellion. The Ghost is a home before it is a ship, and everybody who boards it
arrived with something broken that the rest of them decided to look after.

  • Found family is the whole engine here, and Rebels earns it by making you watch these
    people choose each other over and over again.
  • You are in it for the cause, but what actually keeps you going is the four people who
    would notice immediately if you stopped showing up.
  • Hera is one of the best captains in the franchise, and the show is smart enough to make
    her competence the quiet centre of everything.
  • This crew pays for its wins, which is exactly what makes the wins land the way they do.

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Skeleton Crew · Disney+ · Since 2024

The Skeleton Crew

You belong with the four kids who found a buried ship, launched
it by accident and are now extremely lost in a galaxy that eats people like them. Nobody
here knows what they are doing, and that turns out to be the fun of it.

  • Your instinct is to open the door that says do not open, and you would do it again
    tomorrow.
  • Skeleton Crew is the closest Star Wars has come to an eighties adventure movie, where
    the stakes are real but the wonder never gets sanded off.
  • You make friends out of whoever is standing next to you when things go wrong, which is a
    genuinely useful survival skill.
  • The pirates in this one are properly frightening, and that is precisely why the kids
    being out of their depth works so well.

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The Mandalorian · Disney+ · Since 2019

The Razor Crest

You belong in the quietest ship in the galaxy, with one small
passenger and a code you have never explained to anybody. You told yourself this was a job,
and then it stopped being a job somewhere around the second week.

  • You work alone by preference and by habit, which lasts exactly as long as it takes for
    somebody small to need looking after.
  • The Mandalorian works because almost nothing gets said out loud, and the armour does the
    acting that a face usually would.
  • Your loyalty is narrow and absolute, so there are very few people on your list and
    nothing will move you off it.
  • The Mandalorian and Grogu took all of that to the big screen over Memorial Day 2026, the
    first Star Wars film in seven years.
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The Star Wars Franchise Is in a Transitional Phase

We’re talking, of course, about Flash Gordon, specifically the 1954 serial starring Steve Holland. A relic of its era, the series is now available to stream for free on JustWatch TV, which will launch in earnest this October. Meanwhile, the Star Wars franchise is in a transitional phase following the box-office underperformance of this year’s The Mandalorian and Grogu. While the series had successfully expanded onto the small screen with several shows that drew inspiration from old-fashioned adventure serials like Flash Gordon, the goal now seems to be to bring the franchise back to its big-screen roots. A new movie, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is slated for release in 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.


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0342405_poster_w780.jpg

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Release Date

1954 – 1955-00-00

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Network

DuMont Television Network

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Irene Champlin

    Dale Arden

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Steve Holland

    Flash Gordon

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  • Cast Placeholder Image
  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Henry Beckman

    Commander Paul Richards

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Brody Jenner and Tia Blanco’s Relationship Timeline

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Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah's Legal Drama

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Celine Dion’s Comeback Takes ‘Sad’ Turn After Viral Performance

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Celine Dion at Amazon MGM Studios' 'I Am: Celine Dion' New York Special Screening

Celine Dion’s triumphant return to the stage has taken a divisive turn after a video from her Paris residency began making the rounds on X. The short clip shows the music icon performing in a shimmering black gown, but her vocals quickly became the subject of a heated debate.

While some viewers insisted that Dion should retire, others rushed to her defense and praised the singer for performing at all after her battle with stiff-person syndrome. The video appears to have been taken during Dion’s ongoing Paris residency, although the exact performance date and song were not identified in the original viral post.

Viral Celine Dion Video Sparks Harsh Retirement Calls

Celine Dion at Amazon MGM Studios' 'I Am: Celine Dion' New York Special Screening
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The video was shared by X user Vince Langman, who argued that Dion’s health struggles should have prompted her to leave the stage permanently. “I get that Celine Dion has a medical condition that affected her voice, but she should have just retired, because this is sad!” the user wrote.

The post quickly attracted attention as viewers debated whether Dion’s voice had noticeably changed since her years-long absence from full-length concerts. One verified user, Sellig, agreed that the singer should step away from performing. “Some people just don’t know when to retire from the limelight. Trump, Mitch McConnell and Céline Dion,” the user wrote.

Another viewer focused on Dion’s physical performance, claiming, “She doesn’t move like herself either.” Donna Stanley also criticized what she heard in the video, writing, “what WAS that…felt like two keys and all over the pitch and scale.”

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Boy George Defends Celine Dion’s Comeback

Boy George was among the most recognizable names to defend Dion after the clip began circulating. The Culture Club singer revealed that someone close to him had recently attended one of the Paris concerts and came away impressed.

“My good friend went to see @celinedion in Paris just last week and she said it was beyond,” George wrote. “I asked all those questions, not to be spiteful but just to understand and I was told it was brilliant. Celine is showing the world how to overcome something unbelievably difficult and that is something we should all celebrate. Bravo Celine.”

Another viewer strongly rejected the criticism and argued that fans were attending the residency to celebrate more than Dion’s voice. “Strongly disagree. She fought hard to overcome a debilitating disease,” they said. “Fans aren’t there just to hear her music (which sounded fine to me), but to celebrate the courage and conviction she’s shown by performing at all.”

The Singer Returned After A Six-Year Concert Hiatus

Céline Dion leaves her apartment in Paris for the rehearsals of her shows
KCS Presse / MEGA

Dion launched her Paris residency at Plénitude Arena in Nanterre on September 12, marking her first full headlining concert in six years. The opening night featured approximately 25 songs performed over more than two hours, including “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself,” “The Power of Love,” and “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”

The 58-year-old became emotional during the show as she thanked fans for supporting her throughout her health battle. As The Blast previously reported, Dion appeared overwhelmed during her opening song and occasionally held her microphone toward the audience as she fought through tears. Despite the emotional moments, she also returned to many of her familiar stage mannerisms, including playing air guitar, pulling faces and moving confidently across the stage.

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Her official website described the opening performance as her first time returning to the concert stage in six years. The Paris engagement includes 16 shows in 2026, followed by 10 additional performances scheduled for 2027.

Stiff-Person Syndrome Affected Celine Dion’s Ability To Sing

Céline Dion leaves her apartment in Paris for the rehearsals of her shows
KCS Presse / MEGA

Dion publicly revealed in December 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can cause severe muscle rigidity and painful spasms. The condition affected multiple areas of her life, including her mobility and ability to use her vocal cords as she once had. Her symptoms ultimately forced her to cancel the remaining dates of her “Courage” world tour and step away from live performances.

Dion offered an unfiltered look at her condition in the 2024 documentary “I Am: Celine Dion,” which included footage of the singer experiencing a severe medical episode. During her recovery, she reportedly underwent extensive physical rehabilitation, vocal therapy, medication, and other treatments while working toward a possible return.

She eventually performed “Hymne à l’amour” from the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking her first public performance in four years.

Fans Say The Comeback Is About More Than Perfect Vocals

Celine Dion waving
Eric Kowalsky / MEGA

Professional reviews of Dion’s Paris return have generally offered a more nuanced assessment than the reactions to the short viral clip. Le Monde described her voice as controlled while acknowledging moments of vocal fragility throughout the lengthy performance.

Dion has also continued connecting with fans outside the arena. Following her September 18 concert, she climbed onto a vehicle outside her Paris hotel and sang along to “Pour Que Tu M’aimes Encore” with the crowd while barefoot.

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The 10 Best Rivalries in Video Game History, Ranked

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A work of art featuring Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth from the Ace Attorney series looking at each other sternly.

A classic rivalry between two distinct, memorable characters has been a staple of narrative storytelling long before the advent of video games, yet something about the medium of gaming has made it perfect for the concept and longevity of many memorable rivalries. From an iconic hero constantly going toe-to-toe with an equally iconic villain to the rivalries that eventually form a sense of camaraderie and respect, actively playing as one or both of the characters in these rivalries makes them that much more impactful and memorable.

It further helps that these rivalries don’t just stand out for one amazing game, but have evolved and grown across generations of gaming in some of the biggest franchises in gaming history. Gaming as an art form simply wouldn’t be the same without these rivalries, whether they be fan favorites of hardcore gamers or instantly recognizable to even those not as familiar with video games. Even as new games and effective rivalries are released, it’s difficult to imagine any of them coming close to the strength of these iconic rivalries.

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10

Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth

‘Ace Attorney’ Games (2001–Present)

A work of art featuring Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth from the Ace Attorney series looking at each other sternly.
A work of art featuring Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth from the Ace Attorney series looking at each other sternly.

For a game series all about defending clients in the court of law, it only makes sense that there would be a consistent rivalry between Ace Attorney series protagonist Phoenix Wright and the leading prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth. However, their actions and battles in court only scratch the surface of the dynamic between these two, as they have grown up as childhood friends and see their rivalry as a way to further drive and invigorate their work. Their rivalry and friendship grow especially deeper as the games go on, bringing out the best in one another both in terms of their work and character.

This rivalry and duo work so effectively thanks to how initially stark their personalities seem to be, with Phoenix being always joyous and optimistic about his clients’ innocence, while Edgeworth is more jaded and quick to see the ruthlessness of the world around him. It makes for a lot of great banter between the two throughout the series, as even when Phoenix goes up against other prosecutors, none have left quite the impact that Edgeworth has.

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9

Dante and Virgil

‘Devil May Cry’ Games (2001–Present)

Dante and Vergil in Devil May Cry 5
Dante and Vergil in Devil May Cry 5

The bonds of blood and brotherhood are a quick and easy way to make for a powerful and emotionally striking rivalry, with one of the very best being the half-human, half-demon twin brothers of Dante and Vergil from Devil May Cry. While Vergil didn’t have a major appearance in the series until the prequel game Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening, his rivalry and parallels with Dante quickly made him a fan-favorite character in the franchise. This was further amplified when the character made a prominent return in Devil May Cry 5, where he and Dante continued their rivalry and even decided to team up in the game’s ending.

The massive similarities prove to make their divides and differences that much more polarizing, with Dante embracing his human side and fighting demons while Vergil has embraced his demonic side to follow in his father’s footsteps. Like many of the best attributes of the series, their rivalry thrives on the rule of cool, where giant swords and spectacle make their battles that much more impactful. Their rivalry even continues outside the series, with both of them being playable characters in fighting video games like Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

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8

Solid Snake and Liquid Snake

‘Metal Gear’ Games (1987–Present)

Solid Snake and Liquid Snake on the cover of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Solid Snake and Liquid Snake on the cover of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes

Snake has faced off against many powerful villains throughout the Metal Gear series, yet the deeper connections and lasting impact of his rivalry with Liquid Snake in Metal Gear Solid are easily a step above the rest. Acting as the primary antagonist of Metal Gear Solid, Liquid stands at the forefront of some of the game’s most iconic moments, including his reveal as the true identity of Master Miller and their shirtless battle on top of the wreckage of Metal Gear Rex.

What really makes Liquid the premier rival for Solid Snake is how they both share origins as soldiers created by cloning the legendary Big Boss. Even after Liquid dies at the end of the first Metal Gear Solid, his influence stretches throughout the rest of the games, including his arm being transplanted to Liquid Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid 2, his consciousness taking over Ocelot’s body in Metal Gear Solid 4, and even appearing as a 12-year-old child in the prequel Metal Gear Solid V.

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7

Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima

‘Yakuza’ Games (2005–Present)

Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima dancing together on the dance floor in 'Yakuza 0'
Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima dancing together on the dance floor in ‘Yakuza 0’

The rivalry between Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima from the Yakuza series is one that initially began with the classic carnage and ruthlessness of underground crime, yet both sides of this rivalry grew to respect and honor one another as the series goes on. Both having history as members of respective Yakuza clans, the duo grow an unlikely bond initially brought on by frequent battles, only to foster respect as Majima respects Kiryu’s stature as the perfect rival.

In a series where the main characters partake in wild minigames just as often as they do the grounded emotional storytelling, the rivalry between Kiryu and Majima almost acts like a microcosm of the series as a whole. The rivalry has its silly and over-the-top moments, but at its center there is a level of respect and honor as these characters amass strength not just physically, but in their character and actions.

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6

Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman

‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Games (1991–Present)

Sonic and Tails about to fight Dr. Eggman in the first boss fight of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Genesis.
Sonic and Tails about to fight Dr. Eggman in the first boss fight of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Sega Genesis.

With Sonic the Hedgehog being one of the most recognizable video game characters of all time, it would only make sense that the villain of the franchise, Dr. Eggman (or Dr. Robotnik), would be equally iconic. Even as various other villains have appeared in the series, the rivalry and frequent battles between Sonic and Eggman are a constant in the series from the first game up until the latest entry. The rivalry takes many different forms and tones, able to work both seriously and comedically.

From the very beginning, it’s been a rivalry defined by freedom fighting against the evils of technological progression, with Eggman’s forcing of woodland creatures to control his robots making him a constant enemy of the freedom-loving Sonic. Even as later entries of the series have minimized this, their rivalry has continued strong for decades as one of the most iconic in video game history.











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Collider Exclusive · 8 Questions · 2 Minutes
Which Iconic Fandom Should You Join?
Harry Potter · Lord of the Rings · Star Wars · Star Trek
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Eight honest questions about how you actually are: what you put on when you need cheering up, how deep you go into the things you love, what you argue about, what you keep on your shelf. Answer them and we will tell you where you belong. Four of the biggest fandoms on earth are taking new members, and they could not be more different from one another.

⚡Harry Potter(Wizarding World)

💍Lord of the Rings(Middle-earth)

⚔️Star Wars(A Galaxy Far Away)

🖖Star Trek(The Final Frontier)

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01

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What do you put on when you need cheering up?
Nobody is brave about this one.




02

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How deep do you go into something you love?
There is no shallow end here, only different deep ends.




03

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What do you and your friends actually argue about?
Every fandom has one argument it has been having for years.




04

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How do you feel about a room full of strangers?
Every one of these comes with a very big room.




05

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Where would you rather spend a week?
Pick on instinct rather than on budget.




06

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What do you believe about people, mostly?
All four of these stories have an answer, and they disagree.




07

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What is actually on your shelf?
Look over at it before you answer.




08

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What do you actually want from a story?
Eight questions in, this is the one that picks your fandom.




Membership Confirmed
Your Fandom Is…
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Four of the largest communities on the planet, and four completely
different reasons to belong to one. Here is yours, what it would give you, and the argument you
would be having within a week.


Wizarding World · Books 1997 · Films 2001

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Harry Potter

You belong to the fandom that is really about comfort. Hogwarts
works on people because it is a place rather than a plot, and the pull is not the wizard war
so much as the corridors, the food, the weather and the sense that somebody is expecting
you.

  • You are drawn to belonging, which is why this fandom sorted itself into houses within
    about five minutes and has never stopped.
  • This is the most social of the four, and the one most likely to know which type every
    single person in your life would be.
  • The books are built to be reread rather than analysed, and rereading is exactly what you
    do with things you love.
  • The new HBO series is bringing the whole thing back one book at a time, which means the
    arguments are about to start all over again.


Middle-earth · Books 1954 · Films 2001

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Lord of the Rings

You belong to the deepest fandom on this list, the one where
somebody has always read further than you and is quietly delighted to say so. Middle-earth
rewards patience more than any other world in popular culture.

  • You like the sense that the story you are reading is only the visible part of something
    enormous, which is precisely how Tolkien built it.
  • This fandom takes adaptation seriously to a degree that other fandoms find slightly
    alarming, and it has good reasons for that.
  • Your favourite thing about the books is probably the bit that is not action at all,
    which is the walking, the songs and the long goodbyes.
  • Nobody here thinks heroism belongs to the powerful, and the whole story exists to make
    that argument.


Star Wars · Lucasfilm · Since 1977

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Star Wars

You belong to the loudest and largest tent of the four, the one
where three generations are all watching the same thing and none of them agree about any of
it. That disagreement is not a flaw in this fandom, it is the main activity.

  • You want something you can share with absolutely everybody, from a six year old to a
    grandparent, and this is the only one on the list that really does that.
  • Nobody argues like Star Wars fans argue, and the argument has been running since roughly
    1980 with no sign of resolution.
  • The pull here is sensory before it is narrative, since it is the sound design, the score
    and the look of a used and dented galaxy.
  • You would be first in the queue, in costume, with strong opinions and a genuinely good
    time.


Star Trek · Paramount · Since 1966

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Star Trek

You belong to the thinking fandom, the one that turns up for the
argument rather than the explosion. Trek has always been a series of ethical problems in
space, and the people who love it love being asked what they would have done.

  • You are an optimist in a way that is currently unfashionable, and this is the only major
    franchise still willing to say the future might be better.
  • The best episodes are the ones where nobody fires anything, which is a sentence that
    makes perfect sense to this fandom and to nobody else.
  • Starfleet Academy brought the franchise back to a classroom in 2026, which is
    appropriate, because Trek has always been a bit of a seminar.
  • You would want the conversation afterwards more than the episode itself, and here you
    will always find somebody willing to have it.

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‘The Legend of Zelda’ Games (1986–Present)

Link and Ganondorf in a sword battle against each other in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Link and Ganondorf in a sword battle against each other in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

While many other video game rivalries are of a singular version of two characters, the rivalry between Link and Ganon spans across multiple timelines, reincarnations, and universes. For as long as there is an entity that seeks to abuse the Triforce of Power, there will always be one who utilizes the Triforce of Courage, standing up for what is right. This timeless rivalry of good and evil is at the heart of almost every game in The Legend of Zelda series, no matter what form Ganon takes.

While Link has a relatively similar look in most of the games, Ganon has taken on many different forms and styles, whether he be a boar wizard, the Gerudo warrior Ganondorf, or a manifestation of hatred and anger itself. From the first game in the series on NES to the latest games on Nintendo Switch, this rivalry has waged on in many different forms, each symbolic of the timeless plight for righteousness and good triumphing over evil.

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4

Scorpion and Sub-Zero

‘Mortal Kombat’ Games (1992–Present)

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Kuai Liang as Sub-Zero with Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 11

Interestingly enough, Scorpion and Sub-Zero didn’t start off as direct rivals, as they both just happened to be the most memorable and iconic characters in the original Mortal Kombat, with many parallels of being color-palette swaps and using converging elements of fire and ice. This status of becoming series icons placed them in the position to constantly be battling against one another, given greater lore connecting the two in a battle of revenge. However, as multiple different characters have taken on the mantle of Scorpion and Sub-Zero respectively, some versions of this rivalry have had the duo grow into unlikely companions.

However, no matter what reason these two have for facing off against one another, their ruthlessly gory battles have stood at the forefront of Mortal Kombat as it evolved and grew more and more with each additional entry. By the time that the Mortal Kombat games became at the forefront of narrative storytelling in fighting games, this rivalry was given the justice it deserves and grew alongside the series itself.

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3

Cloud Strife and Sephiroth

‘Final Fantasy VII’ Games (1997–Present)

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With so many different moving pieces and symbolic flourishes in the story and mythos of Final Fantasy VII, the battles between Cloud Strife and Sephiroth stand as the core that brings everything together for a rivalry that defines the fate of the world. With the duo sharing a psychological bond and trauma thanks to their time as former soldiers, they soon foster a deep-rooted hatred for one another. This hatred only grows worse as the game goes on, with Cloud learning more about his past and Sephiroth committing more evil deeds, most infamously his murder of Aerith Gainsborough.

This grows to massive stakes as Sephiroth attempts to bring about the end of the world in the climax of Final Fantasy VII, with Cloud and his allies fighting to stop him once and for all. While the rivalry itself is relatively muted in the original game, it has been massively explored and delved into more in spinoffs and especially the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.

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2

Ryu and Ken

‘Street Fighter’ Games (1987–Present)

Ken and Ryu giving each other a fist bump before a match in 'Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike'
Ken and Ryu giving each other a fist bump before a match in ‘Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike’

Fighting games as a genre lend themselves to rivalries more than any other genre, as even outside of the game’s world, facing off against another player inherently creates a rivalry between the two players, whether it be seriously competitive or easygoing fun. In the world of fighting games, no singular rivalry symbolizes this inherent strength, like Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, two best friends who trained under the same master to be the greatest fighters in the world.

Ryu and Ken’s rivalry does not come from a place of hatred, but instead from constant friendship and respect for one another as they fight their hardest against one another to bring out the best in each other. It’s a beautiful rivalry that cuts to the heart of fighting games as a genre and has only grown more prominent with each additional entry. More impactful is that Ryu and Ken have the same gameplay archetype, sharing special moves but having enough distinguishing differences to set them apart.

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1

Mario and Bowser

‘Super Mario’ Games (1985–Present)

bowser-burning-mario-in-promotional-artwork-for-mario-64.jpg
bowser-burning-mario-in-promotional-artwork-for-mario-64.jpg
Image via Nintendo

In terms of the iconic status of a video game rivalry, it’s difficult for anything to compete with the most iconic video game character of all time facing off against the most iconic video game villain of all time. While Bowser wasn’t the first villain to cross Mario’s path, since Mario’s origins trace back to the arcades with Donkey Kong, it cannot be denied that the constant battles against the king of koopas and this plucky plumber have made their rivalry legendary.

It’s a rivalry that has been explored in many different ways across the over 100 different Mario games, although often it takes the form of Bowser being a vengeful final boss responsible for Mario’s journey in the first place. Even in games where Bowser isn’t the main villain, his presence and hatred of Mario are always known and apparent. It simply isn’t a Mario game without Bowser, and Bowser wouldn’t be nearly as impactful a villain without his exceptional contrast with Mario.

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Super Mario Bros. 3


Released

October 23, 1988

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ESRB

E For Everyone

Developer(s)
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Nintendo R&D4

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

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Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

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Franchise

Super Mario

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Elizabeth Holmes Faces Backlash for ‘Health and Safety’ Post

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10 Burning Questions About Scamanda Answered Amanda Riley s Shocking Cancer Hoax and the Aftermath

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has raised eyebrows with an ominous post about her child’s “health and safety” while serving a prison sentence for fraud.

“I don’t get angry often. Tonight, I am,” Holmes, 42, tweeted on Friday, September 25. “People put my child’s health and safety at risk. They knowingly and consciously chose this path.”

She then warned, “If protecting my child means burning bridges, I’ll burn them to light the way. Time to sleep. I’ll grab the match tomorrow.”

It was not immediately clear who or what Holmes was directing her tweet toward, though she included an AI-generated image of her lighting a match on a bridge. Holmes eventually replied with an apparent non sequitur, sharing a photo of her and one of her children on an airboat. (Holmes and partner Billy Evans share two children.)

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10 Burning Questions About Scamanda Answered Amanda Riley s Shocking Cancer Hoax and the Aftermath


Related: 9 Burning Questions About ‘Scamanda’ Answered

Amanda Riley may be out of sight and serving time, but the cancer fraudster is more talked-about than ever. After soliciting over $100,000 to cover costs of cancer she did not have, the perky Christian mom from California, now 39, was convicted in 2021 and has since gained national infamy — first with the hit […]

Later, Holmes started trolling people who criticized her for bringing up “health and safety” since she was convicted of four federal counts of fraud and conspiracy in 2022. Her company Theranos shut down in 2018 amid allegations that they misled the public about the capabilities of their fingerprick blood-testing technology, thereby putting patients at significant risk.

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“Erm. The company you founded and the lies you told also – I believe – put countless people’s health and safety at risk,” one person wrote, to which Holmes responded, “Can the chat send this guy some x money to get a more flattering profile photo. Literally anything would be better.”

“Is this a threat?” someone else asked, to which Holmes clarified, “A promise.”

“Standard playbook. Be the villain – get caught – play the victim,” a third person chimed in.

Holmes shot back, “Standard playbook, be a nobody, play the sage, be the r*****.”

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The disgraced former CEO has been unusually active on X this week, even as she continues to serve her 135-month sentence at the Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas. Last week, it was reported that Holmes will be granted an early release in 2027, at which time she is expected to transition to a halfway house in Del Valle, Texas. (Holmes’ business partner and one-time boyfriend, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in federal prison and ordered to also pay a share of the $452 million in restitution to their victims.)

Holmes and her attorneys have repeatedly asked President Donald Trump to either commute her sentence or issue a full pardon. On Friday, September 25, she praised Trump’s political fortunes despite a gloomy midterms forecast for Republicans, a historically low approval rating, rising gas and diesel prices, an ongoing war in Iran and numerous food recalls.

Sharing one of Trump’s midterm campaign videos, Holmes tweeted, “We are winning.”

Holmes is no stranger to aligning with veteran politicians, having convinced late former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, former Trump administration Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and ex-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, among others, to endorse Theranos publicly. (Mattis, 76, and Shultz later repudiated their support for Holmes, while Frist, 74, and Kissinger quietly cut business ties with her.)

Holmes has returned to the spotlight amid the announcement that The Rehearsal’s Nathan Fielder and Some Kind of Heaven’s Lance Oppenheim co-directed a near-3-hour documentary following the former Theranos executive and her partner Evans, 34, in the weeks before she surrendered to federal custody.

You Can See Everything — which opens on October 16 — was screened after much speculation at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival on September 6, where it was met with rapturous early reviews.

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Elizabeth Holmes Praises Trump After Securing Early Release

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Elizabeth Holmes Breaks Down Prison Schedule

Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is praising President Donald Trump after securing an early release from prison amid her over 11-year sentence for fraud.

“We are winning,” Holmes, 42, wrote via X on Friday, September 25, while quote-tweeting a promotional video made by Donald Trump’s administration, touting the commander-in-chief’s so-called wins amid a historic low approval rating, rising gas and diesel prices, an ongoing war in Iran and numerous food recalls.

Holmes’ cryptic post comes just days after she was reportedly granted an early release from the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp in Bryan, Texas, where she was serving time alongside late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Jen Shah. (Shah, 52, completed her 6-and-a-half year sentence for wire fraud on August 28.)

According to a Tuesday, September 22, letter sent to victims of Holmes’ crime, viewed by The New York Times, the Theranos founder is scheduled to be transferred from the minimum-security prison to a halfway house next year. According to the letter, also reported on by NBC News, Holmes will be moved to the Austin Transitional Center in Del Valle, Texas, on August 23, 2027. (The Department of Justice is required by law to notify victims of crime of case developments through letters and emails, per NBC News.)

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Elizabeth Holmes Breaks Down Prison Schedule


Related: Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes Breaks Silence on Her Life in Prison

Philip Pacheco/Getty Images Elizabeth Holmes is trying to make the best of her situation while serving time for fraud and conspiracy. During a rare interview from Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, Holmes, 41, broke her silence about her experience behind bars after serving nearly two years of an 11-year sentence. “Human beings are not […]

The former founder was found guilty of defrauding millions of investors via her failed blood-testing company. She was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison in 2022, and ordered to pay 12 victims a total of $452 million in restitution. (Her business partner, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in federal prison and ordered to also pay a share of the $452 million in restitution to their victims.)

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“Seems like a gift,” Alan Eisenman, one of Holmes’ victims, told NBC News of her scheduled release from prison and transfer to the halfway house, adding that he has yet to receive “a penny” of restitution money from Holmes.

“She was a liar back in 2006, and she’s a liar today,” Eisenman also told the outlet.

Holmes’ initial sentence has already been reduced, after a federal San Jose judge cut her sentence from its original 11 years and 3 months to 123 months, or a little over 10 years. The judge cited a retroactive sentencing guideline change for first-time offenders with clean records as the reason for the sentence reduction. The court also determined that her investors — many extremely wealthy — did not experience any direct financial hardship as a result of her fraud.

She received additional reductions in her sentence for good conduct and behavior under the First Step Act, a bipartisan federal crime justice reform law signed by President Trump in 2018. The law aims to reduce recidivism, reform harsh federal sentencing laws and improve the federal prison conditions nationwide.

Jen Shah Says Fellow Inmate Ghislaine Maxwell Showed No Remorse 2


Related: Jen Shah Says Ghislaine Maxwell Had ‘No Remorse’ for Epstein Victims in Jail

Jen Shah has opened up about serving time at a Texas prison with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, revealing that Maxwell showed “no remorse” for her late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. “I had limited interactions with her,” the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City alum, 52, told People in an interview published on Wednesday, April […]

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In April, Housewife Shah opened up about her experience serving time alongside Holmes, revealing the pair grew close.

“I did make some close friends there. Lizzie and I are good friends,” Shah told People in an April 1 interview. “When you come through as a high profile, there are just certain things that you are both dealing with naturally, and you naturally come together in those instances.”

She continued, “We lived in the same unit for the last, maybe, 10 months or so when I was there. You are assigned to different bathrooms. We were assigned the same bathroom. If someone in your bathroom does not clean it or something like that, you get a strike. If your bathroom gets three strikes, you have to do poop duty.”

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Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Brutal 44-Year-Old Fantasy Epic Officially Lands on Netflix

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0180737_poster_w780.jpg

Fantasy heroes these days love a quip, or just talking their way out of trouble, but you know what? Sometimes you just want an enormous Austrian man with a badass sword, a tiny loin cloth, and the most basic desire to kill the ever-loving heck out of the guy responsible for murdering his family. And when you throw in an evil snake cult and one of the greatest fantasy scores ever recorded, you’ve got 129 wonderfully excessive minutes of the most pure 1980s’ fantasy imaginable.

Forty-four years after its original release, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan the Barbarian has officially landed on Netflix in the United States. John Milius’ (Red Dawn) R-rated sword-and-sorcery epic joined the service on September 1, putting the movie that helped turn Schwarzenegger into a major Hollywood star back in front of streaming audiences.

Things don’t exactly begin well for Conan. His parents are murdered by the forces of Thulsa Doom, and the young survivor is enslaved for years, first enduring the Wheel of Pain before eventually becoming a formidable fighter. Freedom gives him the opportunity he’s been waiting for, and Conan heads out across the Hyborian Age to find Doom, solve the “riddle of steel,” and take revenge on the man responsible for destroying his family.

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The cast is led by Schwarzenegger as Conan, alongside James Earl Jones (Star Wars) as Thulsa Doom, Sandahl Bergman (Red Sonja) as Valeria, Gerry Lopez as Subotai, Mako (The Sand Pebbles) as the Wizard, Max von Sydow (The Exorcist) as King Osric, Ben Davidson (Necessary Roughness) as Rexor, and Sven-Ole Thorsen (Predator) as Thorgrim.



















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Collider Exclusive · 8 Questions · 2 Minutes
What Fantasy World Do You Belong To?
Middle-earth · Grand Line · The Continent · Camp Half-Blood

Pick your magic, your crew, where you want to wake up and who you would rather be fighting, and we will tell you which world you actually belong in. Four are open to you: an ancient kingdom living through its last good age, an endless sea full of pirates, a continent that pays people to kill monsters, and a summer camp where the Greek gods are extremely real and mostly a nuisance.

💍Middle-earth(Rings of Power)

👒Grand Line(One Piece)

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🐺The Continent(The Witcher)

🔱Camp Half-Blood(Percy Jackson)

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01

What kind of power do you want?
Every one of these worlds runs on a completely different sort of magic.




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02

Who is travelling with you?
Nobody gets through any of these stories entirely on their own.




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03

Where do you want to wake up tomorrow?
The best fantasy is usually just somewhere you would genuinely like to live.




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04

How are you making a living out there?
Even in fantasy somebody has to pay for the horse.




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05

There is something in the woods. What do you do about it?
All four of these worlds keep something unpleasant out there in the dark.




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06

Who is the villain of your story?
The enemy tells you far more about a world than the hero ever does.




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07

What do you actually believe in out there?
Every world hands its heroes one rule and asks them to hold onto it.




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08

A thousand years from now, how are you remembered?
Eight questions in, this is the one that decides your world.




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The Map Is Drawn
Your World Is…

Four worlds and four completely different ideas of what a good life
looks like. This is where you belong, what it would ask of you, and what you would get back in
return.

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The Rings of Power · Prime Video · Since 2022

Middle-earth

You belong somewhere old enough that the mountains have names and
somebody can still tell you who gave them. Middle-earth is for people who think the right
thing is worth doing even when it will not be finished in their lifetime.

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  • This is the only world on the list where doing good is understood as a very long defeat,
    fought anyway, by people who will never see how it ends.
  • You are drawn to grandeur, to white cities and deep forges and the sense that almost
    everything you touch is older than your entire family line.
  • The Rings of Power is set in the last good age before it all goes wrong, which gives
    every quiet scene in it a slightly unbearable weight.
  • You would take the hard road, and you would take it on foot.


One Piece · Manga since 1997 · Netflix 2023

The Grand Line

You want the sea, a crew, and absolutely nobody telling you where
you are allowed to go. The Grand Line is the world for people whose main ambition in life is
finding out what is over there.

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  • One Piece has run for decades on one very simple engine, which is a group of people who
    each want something impossible and have decided to go and get it together.
  • You collect people. Your ideal crew is a set of misfits who were each written off
    somewhere else before you turned up and offered them a better idea.
  • The world is enormous and deliberately ridiculous, and the emotional gut punches land
    harder because of that rather than in spite of it.
  • You would set sail knowing the map runs out, which is more or less the entire point of
    it.


The Witcher · Netflix · Since 2019

The Continent

You would rather be feared and useful than liked and useless. The
Continent is a world where the monsters are the straightforward part of the job and the
people are where it all gets complicated.

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  • Witchers get paid to do what nobody else will and resented for existing at all, which is
    a trade most people would refuse and you would probably accept.
  • You have no real illusions about which side is the good one, largely because on the
    Continent that question tends to have a disappointing answer.
  • The best of these stories are not about the fighting. They are about somebody with a
    rigid code being repeatedly cornered into caring about people.
  • You would take the coin, finish the job properly, and be out of town before the story
    got told wrong.


Percy Jackson · Disney+ · Since 2023

Camp Half-Blood

You want the myths to be real and loose in the actual world, and
you want to find out at about thirteen that you were never anywhere near as ordinary as
everybody kept telling you.

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  • Percy Jackson takes the oldest stories we have and drops them into car parks and diners,
    which makes the gods considerably funnier and a great deal worse.
  • You would be the kid every school gave up on, who turns out to have been built for
    something nobody thought to test for.
  • The series is genuinely about friendship rather than destiny, and it says so out loud
    every time a prophecy tries to get in the way.
  • Camp Half-Blood is the real fantasy here: a place where the thing that made you
    difficult everywhere else is the thing that makes you belong.

How Good Is ‘Conan the Barbarian’?

Conan the Barbarian wasn’t exactly showered with universal acclaim in 1982, but four decades have been rather kind to it. The movie currently holds a 68% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences are slightly more enthusiastic at 74%. The site’s consensus singles out its gritty action and Schwarzenegger’s endlessly quotable performance, even while acknowledging that Milius’ movie occasionally takes all this barbarian business extremely seriously. The movie was a commercial success, too. Produced for around $20 million, Conan the Barbarian ultimately earned roughly $69 million worldwide and helped establish Schwarzenegger as a viable movie star two years before The Terminator changed his career completely.

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Conan the Barbarian is streaming now on Netflix in the United States.


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Release Date
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May 14, 1982

Runtime

129 minutes

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Director

John Milius

Writers
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Oliver Stone, John Milius, Robert E. Howard, Edward Summer

Producers

Buzz Feitshans, Raffaella De Laurentiis, Dino De Laurentiis

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Melissa Barrera Shares Her One Condition To Return To ‘Scream’

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Melissa Barrera Has New Perspective On Film Making Following 'Scream' Firing

Spyglass Media Group fired actress Melissa Barrera from the “Scream” franchise in November 2023, accusing her of antisemitism following her pro-Palestinian social media posts amid the war in Gaza. Since then, she’s been open about her ousting, claiming that she’s been blacklisted. Now, the actress has shared the conditions under which she would return to the franchise.

Melissa Barrera Says She Still Loves ‘Scream’

Melissa Barrera Has New Perspective On Film Making Following 'Scream' Firing
MEGA

Barrera appeared on the “Just Watch” podcast in September 2026. During the interview, she was asked whether she would ever consider returning to a future “Scream” film. Notably, she most recently appeared in 2023’s “Scream VI” after her role in 2022’s “Scream.”

The 36-year-old stated, “Not with the company that currently holds the rights.” She then expressed her admiration for the beloved horror franchise.

According to her, “I love the franchise. I had an amazing time making those movies.” She then addressed the “hate” she’s received since 2023, saying, “But a lot of the hate and the difficulty that I’ve faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I’m not, and they never apologized, even when I was proven right.”

The Actress Says An Apology Wouldn’t Be Enough For Her To Return

Melissa Barrera at 79th Annual TONY Awards Red Carpet
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Barrera added that Spyglass would have to give up ownership of “Scream” for her to return. She said, “Even with an apology, I wouldn’t go back to work with them.”

Still, Barrera knows the chances of her returning to “Scream” are slim to none. According to her, “So, not that I’m holding my breath. I don’t think they have that ability. But if the franchise were ever to leave those hands and go into hands that I think honor Wes Craven’s legacy more, I think yeah.”

Spyglass Previously Released A Statement On Barrera’s Firing

Melissa Barrera Speaks On A Potential 'Scream' Return After Getting Fired
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As mentioned, Spyglass Media Group fired Barrera in late November 2023 for a series of social media posts about the war in Gaza. The company then released a statement to Variety calling Barrera’s comments “antisemitic.”

The statement said, “Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion, or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”

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This came after Barrera called Israel a “colonized” land and said, “Western media only shows the [Israeli] side. Why do they do that, I will let you deduce for yourself.”

Melissa Called Out The ‘Scream’ Cast In May 2026

Neve Campbell Hints At Significant Pay Raise For 'Scream 7': 'The Studio Heard Me'
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Variety interviewed Barrera in May 2026, where she talked about her run in “Titanique” on Broadway and starting a production company, Unsilenced. Regarding “Scream,” she was specifically asked whether or not she thought the cast “were people basically crossing the picket line.”

She responded, “Oh, one hundred percent. I think they all are. And they have to live with that.” After that, she called out the “nostalgia-bait” of the most recent movie, released in February 2026 and setting a franchise record at the box office.

According to Barrera, “The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible.” From there, she implied that someone had made the movie appear more successful than it truly was, saying, “I think they lied about the numbers. I don’t think it made that much money.”

Regarding the “Scream 7” box office, the film opened with $64.1 million in the US in its first weekend, beating the previous franchise record, “Scream VI,” which made $44.4 million in its debut weekend. Including its international ticket sales, “Scream 7” launched with $97.2 million. According to Box Office Mojo, the movie has since grossed $207,999,405.

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The cast included Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, and Matthew Lillard.

She Was Recently Cast For A New Movie

Melissa Barrera Speaks On A Potential 'Scream' Return After Getting Fired
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According to Variety, Barrera was cast for an upcoming supernatural psychological film, “Inhabit,” in May 2026. Adam Alleca will direct the film. The movie centers on a woman who moves into a rundown apartment in search of a new life. However, she is then plagued by unhinged neighbors.

Most recently, her successful run of Broadway’s “Titanique” ended on September 20.

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