Fresh off the success of the Stranger Things series finale debuting in theaters, Netflix is again dipping a toe into cinema with the upcoming One Piece Season 2 premiere. The first two episodes of the new season are coming to 200 theaters across the United States. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but considering Netflix has been trying to replace the theatrical experience, it’s a testament to the power of the large-screen, community-viewing experience. Well, that, and following the breakout success of Season 1, the sheer popularity of the live-action Straw Hat Pirates can’t be ignored.
One Piece Is Coming To The Big Screen
The Stranger Things two-hour series finale was a cultural event. After 10 years, the streamer’s most successful original series was finally coming to an end. By comparison, the second season debut of One Piece doesn’t quite measure up. Except, fans of the anime know that the five arcs being adapted this time around, from “Loguetown” through “Drum Island,” include fan-favorite moments that have resonated for decades. Season 1 was a hit, but Season 2 has the potential to turn the live-action anime adaptation into the most popular show on the planet.
One Piece Season 2 brings Luffy (Inaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Zoro (Mackenyu), Usopp (Jacob Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar) to the Grand Line, the vast ocean route that circumnavigates the world. It’s home to countless islands and warring factions, giant whales, dinosaurs, a pair of warring giants, and the adorable Chopper. If done right, this will be Netflix’s most visually impressive series ever.
Watching the One Piece anime is a daunting task, considering it’s at over 1100 episodes and counting. The One Piece live-action adaptation streamlines the adventure, though this sometimes means beloved characters are left out, including the majority of Buggy the Clown’s evil circus pirates and Jango, the moonwalking hypnotist. It’s still the best way to get caught up on the adventures of the Straw Hat pirates without watching thousands of hours of anime.
Netflix Doubles Down On Anime
Netflix is doubling down on One Piece by also bringing The One Piece, an anime remake, to the streaming service in the near future. Eiichiro Oda, creator of the original manga, is actively involved in the franchise’s Netflix offerings, which is likely why the live-action adaptation has succeeded when normally live-action anime falls flat on its face. The Attack on Titan live-action was a disaster, and no one wants to acknowledge the existence of Dragonball Evolution.
Fans don’t have long to wait before catching the first two episodes of One Piece Season 2 on the big screen. If you’re lucky enough to live near any of the 200 theaters hosting the event, you’ll be able to catch it live on March 10 at 6:00 PM, synced with the global streaming release the same way Stranger Things was. There’s no telling if this is a sign that Netflix will keep pushing new releases into theaters, or if it’s only for the largest, most successful streaming shows in its catalogue. If the first season is any indication, then fans have nothing to worry about when Luffy’s gummy devil fruit powers hit the big screen. The only question is, how awesome is the new season going to be and how can One Piece become even more popular than it already is?
There aren’t too many adult-animated series that get off-the-wall crazy and as self-assured as Smiling Friends. Since its early, unsuspecting success on the Adult Swim programming block, Smiling Friends has created an enthusiastic audience thanks to its fast-paced comedic timing, unusual characters living in highly uncomfortable situations, and a distinct visual style that’s constantly in motion throughout its run. The type of show that you find accidentally one night, while you happen to be awake, and will rapidly begin sending the link to friends you want to show it to.
Now, the window to experience it fresh is starting to close. Creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel have confirmed the series will conclude after Season 3 (with two additional episodes still on the way), making this the ideal moment to catch up on one of Adult Swim’s most distinctive modern comedies.
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What Is ‘Smiling Friends’ About?
Image via Adult Swim
On paper, the premise sounds almost wholesome. Pim (Cusack) and Charlie (Hadel) work at a small charity whose entire mission is to make people smile. In practice, their assignments spiral into chaotic, often deeply strange misadventures that push the pair into increasingly uncomfortable corners of their world.
The cast dynamic is an easy yet efficient one; Pim is excited to take on every job he’s given and approaches each one with wide-eyed sincerity. He believes it will go off without a hitch! Charlie is grounded, quietly exasperated, and appears to be the only realist on the team. The opposing dynamics of their personalities create the emotional center of the show, but as everything around them slips into the absurd.
Episodes are between 10 and 12 minutes long, and every moment counts. Humor is prompt, scenes escalate rapidly, and the series never allows a scene to go on too long for an audience to settle into. This show features a wide range of animation styles. During its run, Smiling Friends has used a combination of classic 2D animation, computer-generated imagery, rotoscoped animation, stop-motion, Flash-style segments, and live-action sequences. The overall effect is to be confusing yet have direction.
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The animation styles’ flexibility can be compared to writing, as the humor shifts from dry, awkward exchanges to full-blown grotesqueries within the same scene. In particular, the second season really demonstrated the creative team trying to branch out by using retro video game styles, horror influences, and increasingly elaborate background gags.
How ‘Smiling Friends’ Built Its Cult Following
The characters of Smiling FriendsImage via Adult Swim
Part of the series’ rapid word-of-mouth success comes down to commitment. Rather than smoothing out its rough edges for broader appeal, Smiling Friends doubles down on its awkward rhythms, off-putting character designs, and hyper-specific joke construction.
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That approach has paid off. The show quickly earned strong critical marks — including a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes — and became one of Adult Swim’s most buzzed-about originals in recent years. Fans gravitated toward its meme-ready moments, dense visual callbacks, and the strange sincerity hiding underneath the chaos.
Its short, largely self-contained episodes also make it incredibly easy to sample. You can watch one in under 15 minutes — but the show’s layered background jokes and blink-and-you-miss-it details make rewatches especially rewarding.
Why the ‘Smiling Friends’ Is Ending After Season 3
Despite its popularity, Cusack and Hadel made the call to step away from themselves. After years of nonstop production, both creators described feeling creatively satisfied but also deeply burnt out. Rather than risk the show losing its edge, they chose to end things while the energy was still there.
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Importantly, the series isn’t disappearing overnight. Two additional Season 3 episodes are scheduled to arrive on April 12, described by the creators as standalone “stragglers” rather than a formal finale. That distinction leaves the door cracked open for a possible return someday, even if nothing is currently planned. Still, for all practical purposes, Smiling Friends is entering its closing chapter — and that makes the timing of a first watch (or a full rewatch) especially appealing.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Get Into ‘Smiling Friends’
A scene from the adult swim Smiling FriendsImage via Adult Swim
There’s something refreshing about a show that knows when to stop. In an era where many animated hits stretch well past their creative peak, Smiling Friends appears poised to exit while still feeling sharp, strange, and fully itself.
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For newcomers, the barrier to entry is low: short episodes, fast pacing, and a premise that reveals itself quickly. For longtime fans, the impending end gives the series a natural rewatch window, especially with those final episodes still on the horizon.
Either way, the math is simple. One of Adult Swim’s most distinctive comedies is wrapping up — and the weirder it gets, the more worth the ride becomes.
Not even couples therapy can make Mercedeh “MJ” Javid and Tommy Feight’s marriage troubles go away.
In Us Weekly’s exclusive sneak peek of the Thursday, February 26, season finale of The Valley: Persian Style, Tommy, 54, invites MJ, 53, to couples therapy where their marital issues are put under the microscope.
“You know, whatever couples fight about, usually it’s downstream of something deeper that propels the criticism,” the doctor shares with the couple. “In your case [MJ], I think it’s unmet needs and disappointment and longing for something more.”
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Viewers are shown previous scenes from throughout season 1 of the Bravo reality show where MJ and Tommy disagree over a wide variety of issues.
While sitting down with his wife, Tommy pushes back on the doctor’s assessment before he begins to raise his voice.
“I’m not perfect, but there’s a lot of critiques,” he says. “To me … I don’t do any of that.”
Another concern MJ presents in the therapy session is Tommy’s unwillingness to hang out with her friend circle. Throughout season 1 of The Valley: Persian Style, Tommy opted out of attending cast events, including dinner parties and a trip to Palm Springs, California.
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“Sometimes I feel like I’m on a solo mission socially where I’m going to a lot of events without my husband,” she says.
Mercedeh ‘MJ’ Javid and Tommy FeightCourtesy of Bravo/YouTube
The doctor chimes in to add, “Part of being a couple is having friends together and social events together. That is something I would really work on.”
Ultimately, Tommy finds the conversation “ridiculous” and starts to feel like his wife is right about everything and doesn’t have to change a thing.
“The only parties I went to are where she abandoned me the second that we walked in there, and I especially don’t like being around people who I have nothing in common with,” he says. “This is nonsense. It feels like you got it all figured out and I got to work on my anger. I’m the one that’s got the issues and the problem.”
In a separate confessional interview, MJ expresses her disappointment in how Tommy is handling what could be a calm and honest conversation.
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“Being this extra about not hanging out with my friends, I just feel emotionally so neglected,” she shares. “My feelings aren’t being counted.”
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MJ ultimately filed for divorce from Tommy in October 2025 after seven years of marriage. In December 2025, Us Weekly exclusively confirmed that the exes worked out a custody deal with their 6-year-old son, Shams.
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“Shams gets the best of both of us. He sees us both all the time,” MJ explained to Us in January when The Valley: Persian Style kicked off. “By design, we are still one family. What I’m trying to do with Shams is just to explain that we’re still very together in every way that matters to our son — games, holidays, dinners, multiple times a week, hanging out at each other’s house — just so that he can see in our actions that we just shouldn’t be married, but we’re still together.”
The Valley: Persian Style airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
One year after devastating wildfires reduced their Los Angeles home to ashes, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt are still grappling with the fallout.
The reality TV couple admits they cannot afford to rebuild and remain displaced, facing financial strain, emotional aftershocks for their children, and an uncertain future that has reshaped both their family life and ambitions.
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Spencer Pratt And Heidi Montag Face Financial Reality
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Twelve months after the flames tore through their neighborhood, the couple is confronting a hard truth. In an interview with Gold Derby, Montag revealed they simply do not have the means to reconstruct what was lost.
“Unfortunately for rebuilding, we just don’t have the finances. We barely could pay the mortgage on that house,” Montag said.
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The admission showed just how fragile their situation was even before disaster struck. The home represented years of hustle and sacrifice.
“We spent our whole careers to put a down payment on it. So we’re unfortunately in a place where we aren’t looking to rebuild and we’re not really sure where to go. We’re kind of displaced at the moment,” she continued.
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Montag also pointed out that they are far from alone, noting, “A lot of the community is in the same position, and that’s just unfortunate. People don’t realize that a lot of people can’t rebuild. A lot of families bought their houses 40 or 50 years ago when it was a much cheaper part of LA.”
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She added context about how dramatically the area has changed over time. “It’s only recently become this enclave of luxury housing. It was never Beverly Hills before. A lot of these were generational homes that were passed down, and they can’t rebuild,” she said.
For her own family, the outlook feels bleak. Montag shared, “Unfortunately, for us right now, it’s just not looking hopeful.”
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The Emotional Toll On The Couple’s Young Son
While finances weigh heavily, the emotional impact has been just as profound, especially for Pratt and Montag’s youngest child.
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“The family is doing well. I think it’s really hard for my 3-year-old. He keeps asking to go home and I’m like, it’s not there. He says, ‘I’ll push it back up. I’m strong,’” Montag shared.
The innocence of a child trying to “push” a house back into place captures the heartbreak of the situation. According to Montag, reminders of the fire are constant.
She shared, “Every animal he sees, he says, their house burned down. So it’s really continuing to affect him a lot.”
Even as the adults try to move forward, the disaster lives on in small, painful moments.
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Heidi Montag Recalls The Night They Fled
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The couple has also spoken about the chaos of evacuating as the wildfires advanced. Appearing on “Good Morning America,” Montag described the panic and impossible choices they faced.
“Spencer was like, ‘Grab anything you wanna keep,’ and I was like, ‘How do you choose?’ My brain actually stopped working because I was so overwhelmed with so many things you can’t replace. So I grabbed my kids’ teddy bears,” she said per the Daily Mail.
In the end, survival mattered more than belongings. Still, the loss of a sanctuary lingers.
She said, “It’s a place that you love, that you live. That’s a refuge from the world and to have that be gone is a really difficult concept to continue dealing with.”
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Before the fire, they were already struggling to maintain their lifestyle. Montag explained, “We were house poor, as they call it, we have a house and everything else is a hustle, it’s a grind. So, yeah, we’re definitely counting every dollar that we make. We’re working really hard. We take one trip a year.”
The flames may have destroyed walls and furniture, but they also exposed just how tight things had been behind the scenes.
Spencer Pratt Announces Run For Mayor After Wildfires
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Out of the devastation, Pratt has found a new purpose. On the one-year anniversary of the fires, he announced his campaign for mayor of Los Angeles at a Palisades protest tagged “They Let Us Burn!”
“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling, it’s fundamentally broken. It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash,” Pratt said.
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His frustration with city leadership was unmistakable. He said, “Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I’m done waiting for someone to take real action.”
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Pratt framed his candidacy as something bigger than politics, stating, “That’s why I am running for mayor. And let me be clear, this just isn’t a campaign, this is a mission, and we’re gonna expose the system.”
Spencer Pratt Blames Officials For Fire Response Failures
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Pratt also placed direct blame on officials for the wildfire response. He said, “They intentionally let us burn before, during and after. There was no accountability. It was gross negligence. They let this happen.”
In his view, the tragedy was preventable. “It wasn’t a natural disaster or something that was unavoidable. It was their fault, and we need the accountability we deserve,” he said.
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Pratt has not revealed which political party he will align with, but his message is clear.
For now, the couple remains displaced, navigating loss, parenthood, and an uncertain path forward while trying to rebuild their lives without the home they once called their refuge.
In addition to being a die-hard fan of filmmaking, television, video gaming, and anything else with a gripping narrative, Aidan Kelley is also a passionate and detail-oriented writer and journalist at Collider.com. In addition to his work as a Senior Resource Writer, Aidan has also contributed to Collider’s features and news reporting sections. He has covered major industry events, such as San Diego Comic-Con and the D23 Expo, and has had the privelege of interviewing industry stars like Bruce Campbell, Maggie Q, Chad Stahelski, and more. This sincere love for the art of storytelling began at a young age, with Aidan making video movie reviews for the news program at his local high school. That love only increased over the years, with an ongoing career in independent filmmaking and screenwriting after graduating with a degree in Film and television from DePaul University.
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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
In an absolutely shocking upset, Netflix will no longer be purchasing Warner Bros. Discovery. This comes in the brutal aftermath of a hostile takeover bid from Paramount, which put forth an offer that WBD branded as “superior.” Despite being given four business days from Warner Bros. to outbid Paramount’s new offer, Netflix has already officially declined.
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This is a developing story. Stay tuned to Collider as the updates come in.
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Release Date
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July 11, 2025
Runtime
130 minutes
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Director
James Gunn
Producers
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Peter Safran
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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
In the Heart of the Sea, starring Chris Hemsworthand Cillian Murphy, is set to leave Prime Video at the end of February — meaning there’s just a short window left to stream this ambitious seafaring drama before it disappears from the platform. Directed by Ron Howard and based on the true story that inspired Moby-Dick, the film charts the harrowing ordeal of the whaling ship Essex after it’s sunk by a massive sperm whale.
Collider’s review stated thatIn the Heart of the Sea squanders the rich dramatic depth of Nathaniel Philbrick’s book in favor of a glossy, surface-level retelling that never quite finds its emotional anchor. The review noted that while the film doesn’t fail outright, it rarely rises above competence, which is about as damning with faint praise as one could muster. Ultimately, the review concluded that In the Heart of the Sea is visually impressive but dramatically adrift.
“The film doesn’t need to be a history lesson, but there are times when it goes out of its way to avoid rich dramatic material presented in Philbrick’s book. Like his characters after their boat is smashed, Howard doesn’t seem to have much idea of where to go. He just wants to make sure he makes a comment about energy dependence (something dropped in so clumsily you can almost hear him talking about it at the press junket) and then sets the audience on its way. In the Heart of the Sea may not be completely heartless, but Howard should have been able to bring more verve and energy to this tale.”
In The Heart of The Sea leaves Prime Video at the end of the month.
There are comedies that make you laugh. There are thrillers that keep you guessing. And then there are movies that somehow do both — while also quietly roasting everyone involved. Few filmmakers have mastered that tonal tightrope quite like the Coen Brothers. Across decades, they’ve built a filmography filled with morally questionable characters, absurd misunderstandings, and endings that hit you sideways. And the one with the funniest ending of all is about to vanish from streaming.
Burn After Reading, written and directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, is set to leave Prime Video at the end of February. Released in 2008, the film follows a group of deeply unserious people who believe they’ve stumbled upon explosive CIA secrets — when in reality, they have absolutely no idea what they’re holding. The all-star cast includes Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, and Tilda Swinton — each delivering performances that range from unhinged to hilariously pathetic, as well as featuring the most demented “pleasure device” ever conceived for film.
While Burn After Reading wasn’t as universally praised as some of the Coens’ heavier hitters like No Country for Old Men or Fargo, it’s grown into a cult favorite thanks to its satire and endlessly quotable absurdity.
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How Good Is ‘Burn After Reading’?
Collider’s review stated thatBurn After Reading proves the Coen Brothers can bend any genre to their will — even if this particular outing doesn’t visually sparkle the way some of their previous films have. The review praised the razor-sharp screenplay and the cast’s commitment. Pitt’s gleefully dim personal trainer is a highlight, delivering broad comedy with precision, but the technical side doesn’t quite match the script’s bite.
“Finally, I think the editing of the film is a bit lacking. It’s not that the film feels too fat or too lean, but like the cinematography, it rarely pops. ‘Reading’ doesn’t need to be a loud film, but there doesn’t seem to be a total embrace of the film’s wonderful tone. ‘Burn After Reading’ is as smart and sharply acted as any other of the Coen Brothers’ great films. It’s a shame that the other aspects of the film aren’t as good, but they certainly don’t hurt the film and shouldn’t dissuade you from seeing how once again, the Brothers Coen are the masters of any genre they set their sights on.”
Burn After Reading leaves Prime Video at the end of February.
Lupita Nyong’o recently revealed that she continues to face severe fibroid complications more than a decade after her initial diagnosis.
The actress was first diagnosed with uterine fibroids in 2014, the same year she won an Academy Award for her performance in “12 Years A Slave.”
In a recent interview, Nyong’o said her Christian sex education taught her to expect monthly pain. As a result, symptoms like heavy bleeding didn’t sound an alarm when they first appeared.
The Oscar winner is now channeling her personal struggle into advocacy by launching a campaign to raise funds for fibroids research and expand treatment options.
Nyong’o has also stressed the importance of speaking up about a condition that affects millions of women.
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Lupita Nyong’o On Her Fibroids Being Back ‘With A Vengeance’
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Nyong’o opened up about the recurrence of her fibroids during an interview with TODAY.com.
The Kenyan-born actress was first diagnosed after doctors discovered multiple uterine fibroids during a routine gynecological ultrasound in 2014.
At the time, she reportedly had around 30 of the noncancerous muscle-and-tissue growths in her uterus, which were later removed through surgery.
More than a decade later, however, Nyong’o says she was devastated to learn they had returned.
“When I found out two years ago that my fibroids were back, back with a vengeance, and I was so upset because I feel powerless,” she said. “It’s a ticking bomb. They’re going haywire in my body, and nobody is helping. Nobody knows what to do to mitigate them.”
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The Actress ‘Thought Severe Period Pain Was Normal’ After Christian Sex Ed
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Despite how debilitating fibroid symptoms can be, Nyong’o says that, for years, she believed what she was experiencing was simply part of being a woman.
The “Black Panther” star said her Christian sex education shaped that mindset, as she was taught to expect monthly pain once her period began.
“They taught me that once my period started, that I should expect to be in pain every month,” Nyong’o explained. “So, when I was experiencing the heavy bleeding, it didn’t sound an alarm.”
Even when she noticed clotting, the actress said she didn’t perceive it as a warning sign.
“The clotting was not anything remarkable to me,” she continued. “I didn’t understand my body. I didn’t know what was going on, and I didn’t know to be worried.”
As part of her effort to expand funding for fibroids research, Nyong’o has launched the #MakeFibroidsCount campaign, a GoFundMe initiative with a $200,000 fundraising goal.
The Broadway star shared the announcement on her Instagram page, revealing that the drive will run through March 31.
According to the official campaign page, the initiative aims to support the development of new treatment options that are more dignified, less invasive, and accessible to the millions of women affected.
“The challenge with fibroids is that they are invisible to the naked eye,” the campaign description states. “Treatment options remain limited and are often extremely invasive, and education about how they impact quality of life and fertility is shockingly sparse.”
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Nyong’o Takes Fibroid Fight To Capitol Hill
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Nyong’o’s determination to push for better fibroid treatment options has taken her all the way to Washington, D.C.
In 2025, the actress joined “This Is Us” star Mandy Moore for meetings with lawmakers as part of a lobbying effort to secure funding for fibroids research and other women’s health initiatives.
Speaking during a joint appearance on ABC News Live Prime, Moore reflected on the responsibility she believes comes with their public platforms.
“It’s such a no-brainer to be able to use this crazy platform that a job I love has sort of given me,” Moore said, according to PEOPLE.
Lupita Nyong’o Inspires Women To Share Their Journeys
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In an Instagram post shared in July 2025, Nyong’o urged women to speak openly about their experiences with fibroids, arguing that silence has helped normalize female suffering.
“We must reject the normalization of female pain,” she wrote. “No more suffering in silence!”
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Her message appears to have resonated across social media.
Under a YouTube clip of Nyong’o’s TODAY appearance, one user shared their own painful experience with the condition.
“I had fibroids, and they really disrupted my life,” the commenter wrote. “Mine were the size of an orange. Dealing with the pain for over 10 years, I ultimately opted to go with surgery. I’ve had surgery twice so far.”
In 2022, Parton was honored with the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her decades of good deeds and gushed over how “proud” she was to receive the recognition. Her acts of kindness include the creation of The Dollywood Foundation and donating funds to vaccine research after the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in 2020.
“What an honor it is just to be here. I really am just honored and proud to be amongst these great people and doing all these great things to help the world, as they say,” Parton said in October 2022 while accepting the medal. “I just give from my heart. I never know what I’m going to do or why I’m going to do it. I just see a need and if I can fill it then I will.”
Glitter! Fringe! Mini dresses! Dolly Parton is as much a fashion icon as she is a music legend. The “Just Because I’m a Woman” singer has never been one to shy away making a style statement on the red carpet and beyond. From sizzling getups to figure hugging ensembles — she’s slayed it all. Though […]
The Grammy winner continued: “If I can just do my small part in this world then that’s all that I ask in this world. I am very proud of the Imagination Library, so that is very dear to me. I just hope that I can continue to do good things.”
Scroll down to see some of Parton’s most charitable moments:
1988
Dolly Parton launched her non-profit organization The Dollywood Foundation in April 1988 in Sevierville, Tennessee. The goal was to increase the number of local high school graduates and decrease the dropout rate.
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The “Jolene” singer also created the Buddy Program, which gave $500 to every seventh and eighth grader in the area who finished high school. The initiation was successful with the dropout rate going from 35 percent to only 6 percent, according to the foundation’s website.
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1991
As part of her successful theme park, Dollywood, Dolly Parton opened the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. The space spans 30,000 square feet and is managed by the American Eagle Foundations shelters to help ensure the safety of the bald eagles.
1995
Dolly Parton expanded The Dollywood Foundation with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program gifts children under five a book monthly to help with literacy and further learning in all areas of the country — and internationally. In 2018, Parton reached a milestone as the Imagination Library sent out its 100 millionth book.
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2000
The foundation began five scholarships of $15,000, dubbed the Dolly Parton Scholarship, to Sevier County’s high school seniors to help students continue their studies at an accredited university. “The scholarships are for students who have a dream they wish to pursue and who can successfully communicate their plan and commitment to realize their dreams,” the website reads.
Dolly Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, were married for nearly 60 years before his death in March 2025. The country icon first met her future spouse when she moved to Nashville in 1964 to start her music career. Parton and Dean tied the knot within two years of meeting each other, but as Parton’s […]
2007
Dolly Parton once again gave back to her community by helping raise $500,000 for the Sevier County Hospital by putting on a benefit concert. Dollywood and Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner theater each pledged $250,000, totalling $1 million for the fundraiser. The funds were used to open the LeConte Medical Center, which is a hospital and cancer center, in 2010.
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2016
Following devastating wildfires in Tennessee that tore through the Great Smoky Mountains, Dolly Parton created the My People Fund under her Dollywood Foundation umbrella. The fund distributed $1,000 per month for six months to families who lost their main residence. The foundation revealed in 2017 that more than $12 million was raised and distributed to those in need during that past year.
2017
After releasing her children’s album, I Believe in You, Dolly Patron donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. The donation was made in honor of Parton’s niece who was treated for leukemia at the hospital.
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2020
In spring of 2020, Dolly Parton was one of many celebrities who designed a spatula for Williams-Sonoma’s collection of charitable kitchenware. Parton’s design helped earn money for the company’s annual Cook for a Cause campaign.
That same year, the actress made headlines for donating money to coronavirus vaccine research following the worldwide pandemic spike. Parton gave $1 million to assist Moderna’s vaccine research, which was reported to be 94.5 percent effective against the virus.
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“I’m just happy that anything I do can help somebody else,” Parton told Today at the time. “When I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do good. Evidently, it is. Let’s just hope we find a cure real soon.”
2021
When Tennessee’s Humphreys County experienced unprecedented flooding and damage, Dolly Parton stepped up and raised $700,000 to get people back on their feet. Parton’s Dollywood and Pigeon Forge dinner show properties gifted a portion of the ticket sales during two October 2021 dates to benefit the United Way of Humphreys County.
Parton’s late friend Loretta Lynn was responsible for the choice in charity. “After the Sevier County wildfires in 2016, Loretta was one of the first who reached out to offer anything she could,” Parton said in a statement. “It meant so much to me that Loretta — and so many folks — were ready to give in any way they could. This was just one small way I could help Loretta’s people for all they did to help my people.”
Putting their money where their mouths are! In addition to walking the red carpet and living the glamorous life, these celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Lauren Conrad, and Matt Damon, are working hard to make the world a better place. Read up on their charities!
Earlier that year, Dolly Parton revealed that she used some of the royalties from Whitney Houston’s cover of her song “I Will Always Love You” to give back to a Black neighborhood in Nashville. “It was mostly just Black families and people that lived around there,” Parton said during an August 2021 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, sharing that she invested in an office complex in the area. “It was a whole strip mall. And I thought, ‘This is the perfect place for me to be, considering it was Whitney.’”
She continued: “I just thought, ‘This was great. I’m going to be down here with her people, who are my people as well.’ And so I just love the fact that I spent that money on a complex. And I think, ‘This is the house that Whitney built.’”
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2022
Dolly Parton announced in February 2022 that Dollywood — through its operating partner Herschend Enterprises — would start covering 100 percent of tuition, fees and book costs for any employee who is going to college to further their education.
Four months later, the “Here You Come Again” singer donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to help the hospital’s pediatric infectious disease research.
2024
Dolly Parton personally pledged a million dollars to the Mountain Ways Foundation, which helped East Tennessee communities that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Her donation would be matched by her companies, which included the Dollywood Foundation and Dollywood Parks and Resorts. The East Tennessee native shared that she would be making the donations in partnership with Walmart.
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2026
The not-for-profit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital was renamed in Dolly Parton’s honor.
“I learned these lessons early and they’ve stayed with me, and ever since I’ve been in a position to do my part and to help others, I have tried to do just that, especially when children and families need it most,” Parton told Todayof the honor. “[Every child] deserves a fair chance to grow up healthy, hopeful and surrounded with love.”
She continued, “That belief is what brought me together with the incredible people at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. For nearly 90 years, their teams have provided compassionate and talented care. They see children not just as patients but as precious little lives, each with a story and a future. In addition to expert care, children need hope and they need comfort and they need to know that they are seen and valued
Nancy Guthrie Investigation New Video Shows Traffic on Morning of Kidnapping
Published
Courtesy of Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas
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Big update in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case … a never-before-seen video has surfaced from early on the morning of Feb. 1, the day investigators believe Nancy was taken.
The video, recorded about 7 minutes away from Nancy’s Tucson, Arizona home, shows vehicles speeding by, which could lead to more clues.
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Fox News reports the footage comes from a house in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood — about 2.5 miles away from Nancy’s house — from a street-facing Ring camera. The property reportedly sits on a back road and avoids major intersections.
The time stamp on the video shows the footage was recorded from about 12:30 AM to 6 AM Mountain Time.
2:12AM
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Video taken from Guthrie’s front porch the morning of the 1st shows the armed suspect approach the door at 2:12 AM … Nancy’s pacemaker stopped working around 2:28 AM … vehicles in this new video are seen at 2:31 and at 2:36 AM traveling in opposite directions.
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