Entertainment
How Grey’s Anatomy Paid Tribute to Eric Dane After His Death at 53
Grey’s Anatomy‘s newest episode paid tribute to Eric Dane after his death at 53.
The hit ABC series returned on Thursday, February 26, and featured a montage at the end of the episode that highlighted Dane’s best moments as Mark Sloan (a.k.a. McSteamy) through the years. Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” played in the background with a message that read, “In loving memory.”
News broke on February 19 that Dane died after a battle with ALS, which is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and has no cure. The day of Dane’s death also marked 20 years since he made his debut on Grey’s.
After the medical drama premiered in 2005, Dane joined in season 2 in an episode titled “Yesterday,” which followed Dr. Sloan’s arrival at Seattle Grace that forced Derek (Patrick Dempsey) and Addison (Kate Walsh) to confront their past. Despite only being in one episode that season, Dane’s screen time was increased, and he remained on the show until 2012.
Dane later reflected on how his struggles off screen contributed to his character being killed off.
“I think I was let go,” Dane said on an episode of the “Armchair Expert” podcast in 2024 about how he was dealing with addiction issues at the time. Dane clarified that the show’s producers “didn’t” let him go specifically because of that.
“Although it definitely didn’t help. I was starting to become — as most of these actors who have spent significant time on a show, you start to become very expensive for the network,” he explained about his experience before entering a treatment center in 2011. “And the network knows that the show is going to do what it’s going to do irrespective of who they keep on it. As long as they have their Grey, they’re fine.”
Dane added: “I wasn’t the same guy they had hired. So I understood when I was let go. And [executive producer] Shonda [Rhimes] was really great. She protected us fiercely. She protected us publicly. She protected us privately. … But I was probably fired. It wasn’t ceremoniously like, ‘You’re fired,’ it was just like, ‘You’re not coming back.’”
Dane announced in April 2025 that he was diagnosed with ALS. Following his death, Rhimes, 56, released a statement reflecting on Dane’s legacy.
“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and Grey’s Anatomy families,” Rhimes said in a statement on February 19. “He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world.”
She continued: “We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Hulu.
Entertainment
Andy Cohen Shares Heartfelt Message to Mary Cosby After Her Son’s Death
Andy Cohen shared a touching message to The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby following the death of her son Robert Cosby Jr.
At the end of the Thursday, February 26, episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Cohen, 57, directed heartfelt words to Mary and her family as they continue to grieve the loss of Robert Jr.
“Before we go, I want to send all my love and heartfelt condolences to Mary Cosby and her family after news broke yesterday about the tragic passing of Mary’s son Robert Jr. This devastatingly sad news is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Cohen said. “My heart breaks for Mary. I will always appreciate getting a small window into the unconditional love between Mary and Robert Jr.”
Cohen went on to praise Mary, 53, for the way she dealt with her son’s struggles over the years, saying, “Mary, you did such a good job.”
The Bravo personality then publicly thanked both the mother and son duo for sharing their story so openly, which he believes will assist others fighting the same battle.
“I know their bravery and their vulnerability in sharing their story has helped and will continue to help countless people who are struggling,” Cohen continued. “Rest in peace Robert Jr. and thanks.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Wednesday, February 25, that Robert Jr. died at age 23 following a suspected overdose in his parents’ Utah home.

Mary Cosby. (Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/Getty Images)
“Our beloved son Robert Jr. has been called home to the Lord,” Mary shared in a statement to Us. “Though our hearts ache, we take comfort in God’s promise and in knowing he is finally at peace. We are grateful for your prayers and trust in the Lord to carry us through this time of sorrow.”
Robert Jr.’s addiction battle was featured on RHOSLC throughout the past two seasons. Viewers often applauded Mary for her candid approach to opening up about her son’s struggles.
Cohen previously shared his condolences while speaking on the Wednesday, February 25 episode of SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live.”
“We’re so sad to read the news about Mary Cosby’s son, Robert and I can’t think of anything worse than losing a child and in this way,” he said. “[Cohost] John [Hill], you and I have talked so much on this show about addiction and the heartbreak that is associated and I have so much love for Mary.”
Cohen shared that he spoke with Mary for “a while” on Tuesday, February 24 — one day after Robert Jr. died, emphasizing that this is “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
“You and I talked about this too, just about how much respect we had for the way that she spoke to Robert when we saw them talking about this on air and what I really admired was that she kind of met him where he was in a way, and she was kind of gently steering him or guiding him,” Cohen said.
Cohen recalled that Robert Jr. was in jail when the RHOSLC season 6 reunion was filmed. (Robert Jr. violated a protective order in 2025. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was released from jail earlier this month.)
“She was really hoping that he would be scared straight and I guess that didn’t happen,” Cohen claimed. Cohen added that they are “sending all our love to Mary and Robert.”
Entertainment
Why aren't Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega in “Scream 7”?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Melissa-Barrera-and-Jenna-Ortega-in-Scream-VI-24-02242026-0853beed0baa44c596e2dc5cf433e9be.jpg)
“Scream 7” will see the return of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott, but is notably missing rising stars from prior installments.
Entertainment
Why did Billy Burke and Stephanie Arcila leave “Fire Country”? What we know about their exits (and potential returns)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/FIRECOUNTRY-022426-01-2013a4a23a3b4081b77bb906c2da2eaa.jpg)
Arcila was as surprised by her departure as the audience was.
Entertainment
One of Tim Burton’s First Films Is Also a Great Twist on ‘Frankenstein’
There’s a certain kind of horror film you grow up with and never quite let go of — the ones with fog creeping over papier-mâché gravestones, with monsters who look confused about being alive in the first place. The old Universal cycle, the late-night AMC marathons, the days when your local channel would air The Bride of Frankenstein right after reruns of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Tim Burton must have inhaled that stuff straight into his lungs, because when he started making his own films, you could feel all those classic shadows flickering behind him like someone holding a flashlight to an old bedroom wall.
And if you watched enough Tales from the Darkside or those early X-Files creature features where the monster wasn’t the villain so much as the problem nobody wanted to look at, Edward Scissorhands hits you like a memory you forgot you owned. What it really has is that same nervous, tender feeling you get from The Elephant Man — the way the film sits with someone who doesn’t fit and doesn’t apologize for it. Burton throws that sensibility into a suburb so bright it almost buzzes, and the whole place suddenly feels a little off, like the smile doesn’t match the eyes. Frankenstein author Mary Shelley would’ve cracked a smile.
The Monster on the Hill Was Never the Scariest Part
People forget this now, but there was a moment in the early ‘90s when Edward Scissorhands felt almost too gentle to be grouped in with horror-adjacent films. But if you peel back the candy colors and the Aqua Net haze, the Frankenstein bones are right there. The castle is a repurposed laboratory, the inventor is a kind of lonely father playing god with trembling hands, and Edward… well, Edward is the most sympathetic monster the genre’s seen since Boris Karloff’s creature opened his eyes for the first time.
What separates Burton’s version from the usual “man creates creature, regrets it” loop is that Edward isn’t wrong or dangerous or flawed — he’s unfinished. That’s a different kind of ache. Most Frankenstein stories hinge on hubris; this one hinges on opportunity stolen. The tragedy isn’t that he exists, it’s that he never gets to exist fully. And adding to the bittersweet nature of the film is horror legend Vincent Price, giving his last performance as Edward’s creator with the kind of gentle sadness that makes the whole film feel like a farewell wrapped in lace.
And when Edward walks into the town below, scissors held like a boy afraid to touch anything, he becomes the thing every Frankenstein creature becomes: a mirror. The neighbors project their fantasies, then their fears. They invent sins he never commits, then punish him for them. The real horror in Edward Scissorhands is the suburbia that smiles warmly until it decides it needs someone to bleed.
‘Frankenweenie’s Earnest Little Heartbeat
But Burton didn’t arrive at Edward out of nowhere. Long before the hair gel and the black-and-white striped suits, he made a little short called Frankenweenie. A kid resurrecting his dog Sparky sounds cute on paper, but the short has that unmistakable Burton grief around its edges — the kind that comes from a person who knows what it’s like to love something fragile and fear the world won’t play fair.
The short is practically a handwritten thank-you note to the original Frankenstein. You still get the lightning in the attic, and the little stitched-together creature who only wants to curl back up where he belonged, and the neighbors freak out right on cue the second anything looks unfamiliar. But underneath all the gags and the obvious callbacks, there’s this unexpectedly raw pulse to it — like Burton wasn’t making a homage so much as sorting through something he didn’t have language for yet.
One of Shelley Duvall’s Best Performances Was in This Horrifically Delightful Tim Burton Movie
Duvall is a loving and open-minded mother in Burton’s 1984 short film.
The short’s clunky in spots, but the honesty keeps poking through anyway. Sparky never reads like a monster; he’s just a dog who got one more shot, and that small, almost ordinary truth hits harder than any of the visual tricks. Watching it now, you can feel Burton fumbling toward the thing he’d chase for years afterward: not the horror, not the spoof, but the soft, tired little heartbreak that sits inside anything we insist on calling a “monster.”
When Burton circled back to Frankenweenie years later, the stop-motion version didn’t feel like some grand artistic declaration — it felt like a guy finally admitting he’d been carrying something around for a long time and needed to get it out of his system. The feature-length Frankenweenie doesn’t feel “bigger” so much as it feels like Burton had more room to wander around the same wound he’d poked at in the short. There’s no big stylistic ta-da. It just settles into this quieter, tired sort of grief. Victor isn’t playing junior inventor anymore; he looks more like a kid who hasn’t figured out how to live with the empty space a pet leaves behind, so he does the one thing that makes sense to him, even if it’s absolutely the thing adults warn you not to touch.
‘Edward Scissorhands’ Is the Most Human Monster Tim Burton Ever Built
Edward Scissorhands is Burton’s masterpiece for a reason. He’s a Frankenstein creature who feels like he was assembled from empathy instead of sinew. His scissors — sharp, delicate, impractical — are a metaphor disguised as limbs. The hands he should’ve had are the life he never got to touch. When he trims hedges or ice sculptures, it isn’t spectacle, it’s a silent wish for connection.
The town never really gets a chance to understand him — not with all those pastel walls and stiff little routines they cling to like talismans. One minute they’re delighted by what he can do for them, the next they’re spooked by a drop of blood or a gesture they decide looks “wrong,” and from there it’s a straight slide into judgment. The ending lands the way all great monster stories land — not with justice, but with distance. Edward returns to the shadows, creating beauty for a world that only wants it as long as it doesn’t come with strings. It’s the classic Frankenstein ending dressed in Burton’s melancholy: the monster didn’t hurt the world, the world hurt him.
Tim Burton may be known for his stripes and spirals and all that candy-coated goth whimsy, but his real legacy sits with these two films. Frankenweenie is the spark. Edward Scissorhands is a fully grown creature. And together they prove that the best Frankenstein stories aren’t about monsters at all — they’re about love, and the terrible, inevitable truth that creation comes with loss baked right into the blueprint.
Edward Scissorhands is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
- Release Date
-
December 14, 1990
- Runtime
-
105 minutes
- Producers
-
Denise Di Novi
Entertainment
Mark Ruffalo’s 5 Best Marvel Movies, Ranked
Mark Ruffalo is MCU’s silent selfless king. The dude got no individual movie and yet we all know Hulk like the back of our hands. And the credit goes to the actor. The best Mark Ruffalo MCU performances hit in that exact sweet spot where Bruce Banner feels like the smartest person in the room and also the most emotionally scrambled. Ruffalo gives Bruce this nervous humanity, this constant internal negotiation, and then the Hulk side comes in with chaos, pride, fear, or raw pain and changes the temperature of the whole scene.
So this ranking is about where Ruffalo gets the most to play, not just big Hulk moments, but real Bruce material too. The strongest entries let him be funny, conflicted, awkward, wounded, and unexpectedly moving, amazingly human, and sometimes all of these in the same stretch of the movie. Ruffalo isn’t credited enough for the amazing work he did as Bruce Banner and it’s time we give him some credit for it.
5
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ (2015)
A lot of people remember Age of Ultron for the bigger chaos, but it’s a really solid Bruce Banner movie because Ruffalo gets to lean into Bruce’s discomfort in a team that’s starting to feel too comfortable with destruction. Bruce Banner is already carrying that quiet dread, the sense that every mission could become a situation where Hulk does damage nobody can cleanly justify later. Ruffalo plays that tension in his posture and timing, and it gives Bruce a nice emotional texture while everyone else is talking louder.
The Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) connection is where the movie gets more layered for him. Ruffalo plays Bruce like a man who wants closeness and still instinctively flinches from it, which fits the character’s whole life. Then the Hulkbuster fight turns that fear into spectacle, and it works because Bruce’s worst anxiety becomes visible to the entire world. By the end, his exit lands with sadness because you can feel how tired he is of being both the solution and the problem.
4
‘The Avengers’ (2012)
The Avengers is one of Ruffalo’s most lovable MCU performances because he walks into a giant ensemble and immediately gives Bruce a clear vibe: brilliant, wary, polite, and one bad day away from disaster. The Avengers had to reintroduce Banner and make audiences care fast, and Ruffalo nails that in minutes. The way he talks to Black Widow, the way he enters the helicarrier, the way he watches everyone else’s energy before joining in, you instantly get a Bruce who lives in self-monitoring mode.
And then the movie rewards that setup with one of the best character-payoff lines in the whole MCU. Ruffalo’s “I’m always angry” moment was epic. It makes you see how he played with so much contained tension before it. The transformation in the final battle feels triumphant and a little scary at the same time, which is exactly the right mix for Banner/Hulk. He also brings sneaky humor all over this movie, and that compounded in the later MCU installments as well. All in all, Ruffalo made Bruce feel like a real person inside the blockbuster machine.
3
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018)
What makes Ruffalo great in Infinity War is that the movie flips his usual Banner/Hulk dynamic and lets him play panic, embarrassment, and desperation in a really entertaining way. Bruce Banner arrives with catastrophic information, nobody has time, and he’s trying to get the team to understand the scale of what’s coming while also dealing with a Hulk who suddenly refuses to come out. That reversal gives Ruffalo a ton to work with. Bruce is used to fearing Hulk’s presence; here he’s terrified of Hulk’s absence.
It also makes the comedy sharper because the jokes grow out of a real character crisis. The Hulk “won’t perform” angle could have felt throwaway, but Ruffalo played Bruce’s frustration beautifully . His Wakanda material was especially fun too because he’s still fully committed to helping, even when he’s improvising with technology and pride on the line. The movie keeps him active, useful, and emotionally frazzled, which is generally a great Ruffalo zone.
2
‘Thor: Ragnarok’ (2017)
Thor: Ragnarok showed the most different version of Hulk too — not just Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth). It gave him room to be weird, funny, and vulnerable without losing the Bruce/Hulk tension. Bruce Banner wakes up after being gone for a long time, and Ruffalo plays the disorientation beautifully, confused, chatty, anxious, and trying to piece together what Hulk has been doing with his life on Sakaar. It’s funny right away, but there’s also a genuine sadness underneath it because Bruce realizes time and control have slipped through his fingers again.
The movie let Ruffalo bounce off Hemsworth in a way that brings out a totally different rhythm in Bruce. Their chemistry is great because Thor is all momentum and Bruce is all internal noise. Then the story keeps pushing Bruce into situations where he has to choose whether to become Hulk again, knowing what that choice may cost him. Ruffalo makes those beats land with actual emotional weight. By the end, he feels both hilarious and deeply fragile, which is exactly what made him so watchable here.
1
‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
This gets the top spot because Endgame finally lets Ruffalo play the result of years of conflict instead of just the conflict itself. Bruce Banner, at this point, had merged Banner and Hulk into Smart Hulk. While the performance could have been a gimmick, Ruffalo made it feel like a coping strategy, a breakthrough, and a slightly awkward new identity all at once. There’s confidence in him now, but it’s still Bruce’s confidence, gentle, nerdy, eager to be helpful, a little self-conscious in social situations even when he’s in a giant green body.
What pushes it to number one is the emotional layering in the middle and back half. The time-heist scenes let Ruffalo be funny in a fresh way, especially when Bruce has to confront older Hulk-era chaos. Then the snap aftermath gives him real weight. He’s the one who uses the gauntlet, and Ruffalo plays the cost like a man choosing pain because he can survive it better than the others. In Endgame, Hulk was not the loudest Avenger, but he felt essential at every step. He was steady, wounded, still fighting. It’s Ruffalo’s fullest MCU movie.
Avengers: Endgame
- Release Date
-
April 26, 2019
- Runtime
-
181 Minutes
- Writers
-
Keith Giffen, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jim Starlin, Joe Simon, Steve Englehart, Jack Kirby, Steve Gan, Bill Mantlo, Stephen McFeely, Christopher Markus
-
Robert Downey Jr.
Tony Stark / Iron Man
-
Chris Evans
Steve Rogers / Captain America
Entertainment
Katie Couric Talks Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ Future And More
Katie Couric is offering her take on when Savannah Guthriecould possibly return to the “Today” show, as she continues to search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Couric, who held the “Today” show co-anchor position from 1991 until 2006, shares her thoughts in a recent interview.
Article continues below advertisement
Katie Couric Speaks On Savannah Guthrie’s ‘Today’ Show Absence, Calling It ‘Tragically Unprecedented’

In a recent interview with Variety on Thursday, February 26, Couric discussed her thoughts about the heartbreaking tragedy involving Guthrie, as she has stepped away from the “Today” show to devote her full attention to finding her mother, who has been missing for almost a month.
“This situation is tragically unprecedented, and I think it’s really hard to compare anything else to what Savannah and her family are dealing with right now,” Couric told the outlet.
She continued, noting that the “Today” show team is doing their best to cover for Guthrie while she focuses on bringing her mother home.
Article continues below advertisement
“Morning shows are living, breathing organisms, and when something happens to a member of these very close-knit teams, it is devastating, I think, to everyone,” Couric said. “The ‘Today’ show team is doing the best they possibly can, and it must be excruciating to try to carry on, but also to cover a story about a beloved colleague.”
She also praised Hoda Kotb, who has filled in amid Guthrie’s absence.
“They are fortunate that Hoda, who is a familiar and beloved face, is able to step in so seamlessly under very difficult circumstances,” she added.
Article continues below advertisement
Couric Previously Sent Prayers And Support To Savannah And Her Family
In an Instagram post on February 3, a few days after Nancy Guthrie was declared missing, Couric posted a heartfelt message of support for Guthrie’s family.
“I cannot stop thinking and worrying about Nancy Guthrie, Savannah, her siblings and her children. There is just so much sadness and anxiety in the world—so much cruelty, it is almost impossible to fathom,” Couric’s caption read.
“Sending them and all of you out there love and support and praying for the safety and well being of this lovely mom and grandmother and honestly, right now for an entire country that seems lost,” she continued.
Article continues below advertisement
Savannah Guthrie Increased The Reward For Her Mother’s Return To $1 Million, But Has Reportedly Decided To Leave Arizona
On February 25, Guthrie posted yet another Instagram video, this time announcing she was increasing the reward for her mother’s return to $1 million.
“Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only for recovery of Nancy Guthrie, consistent with FBI criteria for payment of its reward in this case,” the caption of the video read.
“We need to know where she is, we need her to come home,” Guthrie said in the video. “We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves.”
She continued, “If you’ve been waiting and you haven’t been sure, let this be your sign to please come forward.”
Article continues below advertisement
Despite the substantial reward increase, Guthrie has reportedly decided to leave Arizona, where her mother lives and disappeared from, to return back to her homebase of New York.
Per the Daily Mail, an inside source shared the details behind the decision.
“She can’t stay in Arizona forever. Her kids and her life are in New York City,” the source told the outlet. “The family is coming to terms with the fact that this might take years.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department Has Limited Daily Updates As The Case Nears 1-Month Mark

According to USA Today, on Tuesday, February 24, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in part regarding the 84-year-old’s disappearance, “at this time, we will limit further updates to instances when new information warrants release.”
“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continue to work around the clock on this investigation and are actively pursuing all viable leads,” the statement continued.
Article continues below advertisement
Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Could Soon Be Labeled A ‘Cold Case’ Due To Stagnant Developments

Despite FBI Director Kash Patel previously stating that the photo of the potential suspect seen at Nancy Guthrie’s front door was taken on the morning of her disappearance, that claim has now been refuted, according to TMZ.
Per the outlet, FBI sources now say they are unsure of the exact date the image was captured, as Guthrie had not paid the regular subscription required for the camera’s cloud storage service, which would have provided a time stamp to help clarify the timeline of events.
The agency now believes the potential male suspect could have shown up at the 84-year-old’s home as early as January 11, several weeks before Nancy’s February 1 disappearance.
Given this latest development and the fact that no solid leads have been identified, law enforcement reportedly told TMZ that Nancy’s kidnapping is gradually becoming a “cold case.”
Entertainment
This 78% Rotten Tomatoes Sci-Fi Movie Is Quietly One 2026’s Biggest Streaming Hits
When a big-name sci-fi movie like Predator: Badlands hits streaming, it’s safe to assume that it’s going to do reasonably well. It’s less easy to foresee when a movie will seemingly come out of nowhere and find streaming success, especially when it’s a movie from a first-time director. So it’s impressive that Archive, filmmaker Gavin Rothery’s debut feature film (with a solid 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), has managed to become one of the biggest streaming hits of the year so far.
According to JustWatch, Archive is currently number 71 on its streaming charts, which cover “4,500 streaming services” and are based on the number of users who are clicking links to watch a movie, adding it to their watchlists, or marking that they have seen it. So, in theory, that’s number 71 across all movies ever, and JustWatch puts it ahead of far-more-famous films like Black Phone 2, Scream 2, and The Revenant. JustWatch also says the sci-fi movie spent five days in the top 10 and has been in the top 100 for 24 days. It likely helps that Archive is easily accessible: It’s currently available to subscribers on Netflix and Prime Video, plus free with ads on The Roku Channel and YouTube.
‘Archive’ Is a Sci-Fi Thriller About AI Surpassing Humans
Set in the relatively near future, Archive follows a scientist, George (Theo James from The Monkey), whose wife (Stacy Martin from The Brutalist) is killed in a car accident. Thanks to not-at-all chilling advances in AI technology, her memory is able to be stored digitally and George is able to communicate with her for a set number of hours. Being a grieving husband, George refuses to accept that and starts building a robot that will be able to store the — ahem — archived version of his wife permanently.
It is, of course, not that easy. The movie ends up having to say about mourning and love and the way humans react to both, plus a look at the dystopian possibility of our thoughts and feelings becoming proprietary data controlled by tech companies. We don’t know what the fine print looks like on an Archive contract, but would it be worth getting another 200 hours with a deceased loved one if it means their life would be used to train an algorithm? That’s not explicitly what Archive is about, but science fiction is beginning to tackle a decreasingly hypothetical and increasingly possible future we might find ourselves in before too long.
What’s particularly impressive about Archive’s timeliness is that it was initially released in 2020, a ways before AI became one of the dominant talking points of general human existence. It predates the trend, rather than chasing it. Also, while this is Rothery’s debut directorial feature, he did conceptual design work on Duncan Jones’ Moon. That’s a solid bona fide for someone working in the sci-fi movie business.
Once again, Archive is available on Netflix, Prime Video, Roku, and YouTube.
- Release Date
-
August 13, 2020
- Runtime
-
109 minutes
- Director
-
Gavin Rothery
- Producers
-
Luc Roeg, Phil Hunt, Richard Goldberg, Compton Ross, James Atherton, Nate Bolotin, Jan Pace, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden, Trevor Beattie, Theo James, Cora Palfrey, Philip Herd, Sarah Lebutsch
-
-
Stacy Martin
Jules Almore / J3 / J2 (voice)
-
-
Entertainment
Candace Owens Claims Erika Kirk and Her Mom Wanted to Be Famous
Candace Owens is accusing Erika Kirk and her mother, Lori Frantzve, of being social climbers.
Speaking on episode 2 of her docuseries, Bride of Charlie, which dropped on Thursday, February 26, Owens claimed Erika, 37, and Lori have long held ambitions of being famous.
The conservative podcast host, 36, suggested that Lori had often encouraged Erika to work the room, even before Erika married prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. (Charlie was shot dead at Utah university campus on September 10, 2025.)
“What people have said to me is she is the person who has always been the person in Erika’s ear. She’s this type A person that tells her who to go after in each and every room. She knows who those people are, who Erika should instantly transform into, what she has to say,” Owens said in the episode.
She continued, “I mean, one of [Erika’s] exes was very clear. He said to me, ‘I was warned by another person in the beauty pageant world that that girl will do anything to get to the top and her mother will do anything to help her get to the top.”
Owens went on to claim that outsiders suspected that Lori has likely been “the person in her ear” but also suggested that Erika was a willing participant in this as she had similar goals.
“She wanted Erika to be famous. But let’s not remove Erika from this. Erika desperately wanted to be famous. No one can deny that,” Owens added.
Owens also referenced Erika’s past relationships, including JT Massey. Erika and Massey, her then-boyfriend, auditioned to compete on The Amazing Race together in 2014.

Erika Kirk. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Tomorrow when we now begin in earnest to go through Erika’s life, you will see she’s never dated a normal guy. She’s never dated a guy with a nine-to-five job,” Owens continued. “You can see, like, she was going to be with somebody. She was, ‘Okay, you’re going to the NFL. You’re going to the MLB. We can be on the Amazing Race together.’”
Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Erika Kirk and Lori Frantze for comment.
Erika took over the role as Turning Point CEO after her husband, Charlie, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an outdoor event on the Utah Valley University campus on September 10, 2025. He was 31. (A 22-year-old male was arrested in connection with the shooting on September 11, 2025, but has yet to enter a plea.)
Owens, a former Turning Point USA communications director, has grown increasingly critical of Erika since Charlie’s death.
In January, Owens leaked audio of Erika, which was reportedly recorded two weeks after Charlie was fatally shot, and suggested the widow was possibly moving on too fast from the loss.
“That’s moving pretty quickly to the acceptance phase now,” Owens told her viewers at the time. “We know everybody grieves differently. In my imagination, I just thought she would be more upset.”
For her part, Erika shared a tribute to Charlie via her Instagram to commemorate turning 37 on February 20.
“I always loved celebrating you, and maybe because it was a reflection of how beautifully you always celebrated me. I romanticized growing old with you, the love of my life,” Erika, who has a son and daughter with Charlie, shared. “I used to wonder what our faces would look like with wisdom-wrinkles. You’d always tell me how you hoped I’d keep my long hair even when we were both gray and also that l’d always wear white (because it was the color you loved me wearing the most).”
Erika added, “We’d laugh about how you’d probably still be out on college campuses in your 80s, doing ‘Prove Me Wrong’ campus events because you loved those students. And then we’d both start to tear up when talking about our babies growing older and having a family of their own. A full life.”
Entertainment
Jania Meshell Hits TikTok After Nique & NBA YoungBoy’s Pop Out
Folks have been refreshing their timelines, waiting on Jania Meshell to enter the chat after Nique popped out riding shotgun with NBA YoungBoy. The social media streets are calm for now, but Jania just posted a few TikTok videos, and now fans are blowing up her comment section asking “What’s Next?”
RELATED: Internet User Accuses Nique Of Being With Her “Home Girl’s Man” Following Clip From NBA YoungBoy’s Passenger Seat — She Responds
Jania Meshell’s NEW TikTok Videos Have Fans Patiently Waiting On Her “Next Move!”
On Thursday, February 26, Jania Meshell slid onto TikTok with some new videos. Her posts dropped shortly after a clip of Nique cruising with NBA YoungBoy went viral. Even with all of the reactions and folks online dragging Nique for being with her “home girl’s man,” Jania stayed quiet. Her energy gave straight unbothered vibes as she danced and kept twerking on TikTok in a matching two-piece cheetah print set. She left her posts without captions, but her TikTok followers basically wrote one for her, dying to know whether she’s planning on playing chess or checkers with her next move! But still, Jania hasn’t said a word about whether she will or won’t get her lick back. Despite all of the chatter about Jania’s next plan, she’s previously made it clear that, when it comes to her and NBA they are nothing more than co-parents.
Jania’s Video Sparks A Storm Of Reactions Online
As we said, Jania’s comment section was popping! Some fans told her to reach out to Nique’s ex-man, Dwayne Bacon, ASAP, while others mentioned that they were ready to ride out whenever she says go.
TikTok user @Kim🎀 wrote, “GIRL GO GET YO MAN DWAYNE.”
TikTok user @michele21 wrote, “@Janiameshell just let me know what time we gone ride out.”
While TikTok user @oneofonebri wrote, “Hey boo what’s the plan? Have you spoke to Wayne yet.”
TikTok user @thereal._.rayshawn wrote, “I just wanna know yo next move.”
Another TikTok user @Bri🩷 wrote, “Sista we gotta have a plan by now.”
Then TikTok user @LadyyB ❤️🔥 wrote, “Dwayne needs get here.”
While another TikTok user @Peso wrote, “Mhm silent but up to no good 😏”
TikTok user @lyiahlyiah. wrote, “you need help lmk i got you, just fly me out and we gon handle that.”
Finally, TikTok user @𝒦 ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི wrote, “girl they tag teamin u cant go out like this get EM!”
What’s Really Tea On Nique & NBA YoungBoy?
Right now, there’s no word on what led to Nique and YoungBoy’s random link-up. She still took a moment to clap back at trolls accusing her of backstabbing Jania by hanging out with him, though. When one Instagram user called her out in her TikTok comment section, writing, “being with ya home girl man smh… but kk,” she responded back with “My homegirl wouldn’t try to throw dirt on my name online but go off.” On top of that, she cleared the air about her status with Dwayne Bacon. When fans asked where he was, she responded with, “With his new girl in Dubai.”
As for NBA, he hasn’t said much about the video, but fans have been suspicious about whether he’s hooked up with Nique before. The speculation started online in November 2025, after fans tried to connect his ‘Zero IQ Freestyle’ lyrics to messages from Jania and Yaya Mayweather. NBA shut it down real quick, though, making it clear they’ve never met.
“I never met Nique for me to have sex with her but tell her I’m a loaner from cross the roads 3800blk,” NBA previously wrote in a post on X.
RELATED: Whew! Yaya Mayweather & Starr Deja’nee React After Nique Shares Clip Of Herself Cruising Around With NBA YoungBoy (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Shila Hasanoff Speaks On Domestic Violence Call (WATCH)
Ray J‘s ex-girlfriend, Shila Hasanoff, has spoken out and addressed police arriving to the singer’s home for a recent domestic violence call.
RELATED: REPORT: Police Called To Ray J’s Los Angeles Home For Domestic Violence Incident Allegedly Involving Female Suspect
Ray J’s Ex Shila Hasanoff Speaks Out & Addresses Police Arriving To His Home For Recent Domestic Violence Call
During the early hours of Thursday, February 26, Shila Hasanoff took to her Instagram and TikTok to share a sit-down clip of herself. Furthermore, in the clip, Shila explained that she wanted to “clear the misinformation about the domestic violence” surrounding herself and Ray.
“I want to make something really clear: Ray has never put his hands on me. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately — especially around the Kim and Kris situation. And whether people want to agree with him or not, it affects him in ways people would never understand,” she explained.
Shila explained that on the night of the domestic violence call, she was allegedly trying to keep Ray from “jumping off the ledge,” and she “slapped the dog s**t out of him.” Furthermore, Shila explained that she “regrets it so much,” but Ray was “really frustrated that night.” From there, Shila alleged that she “got ahold” of Ray’s legal documents with the Kardashians, and she understands why he’s upset and things have put a “huge toll on him.”
“I DONT WANT HIM TO LOOK BAD BECAUSE HE IS ALREADY GOING THROUGH A LOT. HE JUST WALKED AWAY AFTER I CALLED HIM AND CALLED THE POLICE ON ME. (WHICH WAS NOT COOL). BUT ANYWAY, SUICIDE IS REAL! I JUST WANT TO SAY IM SORRY @rayj AND I WANNA MAKE SURE U DONT GET INTO ANYMORE TROUBLE BECAUSE I KNOW U ARE STILL OUT ON BAIL, ITS A HOTLINE TO CALL IF YOU FEEL SUICIDAL, I DONT KNOW THE # BUT CALL 911. HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS. WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. IM SAYING THIS WITH LOVE ❤️🩹,” Shila captioned the clip.
Watch her full message below.
Social Media Reacts To Shila Hasanoff’s Statements
Social media users reacted to Shila Hasanoff’s statements regarding the domestic violence call involving Ray J in TSR’s comment section.
Instagram user @thejanuaryjade wrote, “Having an ‘ex’ while still being married is so 2026 coded 😂”
While Instagram user @__therealnunu added, “She from love cabin or I’m tweaking ? Lol”
Instagram user @dkotabear wrote, “How is she an ex and he’s married? 😂”
While Instagram user @bonnieelle_ added, “‘I slapped the dog sht out of him’ 💀 crying”
Instagram user @yesimmagic wrote, “Wait so she tried to slap the suicidal-ness out of him🤔”
While Instagram user @loveboe1 added, “Lmfao ‘not only did I slap him… I slapped the dog shit out of him’ is hilarious!”
Instagram user @devoncane wrote, “Don’t believe a word either of them say”
While Instagram user @lakendrarenah916 added, “We ain’t asked her none of this”
Instagram user @layjaaay wrote, “Girl …… please not rn we worried about yb , nique & jania”
While Instagram user @thegoldenkenmua added, “A mess.”
Instagram user @cdotmelo wrote, “I hope Kim and Kris sue her as well lol like be quiet”
While Instagram user @teababydontmfplay added, “So what was the call made for?”
Instagram user @itspooh_2u wrote, “So basically he told you to clear up the rumors😂 ok got it.”
Ray J Also Speaks Out After Police Arrived At His Home For A Domestic Violence Call
As The Shade Room previously reported, on Saturday, February 21, Los Angeles police officers received a report about domestic violence battery. When they arrived at what was reported to be Ray’s residence, they learned that the suspect in the ordeal was a “30-year-old Persian female wearing yellow.” However, it was reported that the female nor Ray J wanted to talk to police, so therefore the cops could not take further action.
According to a report published by TMZ on Thursday, February 26, Ray J has now spoken out about the incident.
“”I’m feeling good right now — I’m not suicidal at this moment — I don’t need to call a hotline — I’m perfectly stable,” he stated. “On the night of the incident … She was very aggressive with all the stuff going on… she put her hands on me and I literally got up out of there… was I suicidal in that moment — I don’t know what I was feeling. She slapped me out of control — I didn’t know if it was March or April, my back tooth is loose — it was a massive blow — Hell yeah I called 911 because I left… and she followed me. Her apology was sincere and weird at the same time — but we’re on good terms.”
To note, on Tuesday, February 24, Ray then sparked continued concern when he shared a cyrptic video on social media. Amid it all, Ray J’s estranged wife, Princess Love, has also spoken out, sharing an update on their relationship.
RELATED: Ray J Sparks Concern After Sharing Now-Deleted Messages About Allegedly Being Targeted: “Now You Trying To Kill Me” (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
-
Politics5 days agoBaftas 2026: Awards Nominations, Presenters And Performers
-
Fashion7 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Boden – Corporette.com
-
Sports4 days agoWomen’s college basketball rankings: Iowa reenters top 10, Auriemma makes history
-
Politics4 days agoNick Reiner Enters Plea In Deaths Of Parents Rob And Michele
-
Business3 days agoTrue Citrus debuts functional drink mix collection
-
Politics14 hours agoITV enters Gaza with IDF amid ongoing genocide
-
Crypto World3 days agoXRP price enters “dead zone” as Binance leverage hits lows
-
Business5 days agoMattel’s American Girl brand turns 40, dolls enter a new era
-
Business5 days agoLaw enforcement kills armed man seeking to enter Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, officials say
-
NewsBeat2 days agoManchester Central Mosque issues statement as it imposes new measures ‘with immediate effect’ after armed men enter
-
NewsBeat2 days agoCuba says its forces have killed four on US-registered speedboat | World News
-
Tech3 days agoUnsurprisingly, Apple's board gets what it wants in 2026 shareholder meeting
-
NewsBeat4 days ago‘Hourly’ method from gastroenterologist ‘helps reduce air travel bloating’
-
Tech5 days agoAnthropic-Backed Group Enters NY-12 AI PAC Fight
-
NewsBeat5 days agoArmed man killed after entering secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, Secret Service says
-
Politics5 days agoMaine has a long track record of electing moderates. Enter Graham Platner.
-
Business1 day agoDiscord Pushes Implementation of Global Age Checks to Second Half of 2026
-
NewsBeat3 days agoPolice latest as search for missing woman enters day nine
-
Sports4 days ago
2026 NFL mock draft: WRs fly off the board in first round entering combine week
-
Crypto World3 days agoEntering new markets without increasing payment costs



