EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its climax Sunday as Spain and Argentina face off in a star-studded final at MetLife Stadium, pitting defending champions Argentina against a youthful Spanish side in what promises to be a memorable showdown between European and South American soccer powerhouses.

With Lionel Messi seeking a second World Cup title in what could be his farewell tournament and Spain’s young talents like Lamine Yamal looking to claim the trophy, global audiences are eager to tune in. Broadcasters across multiple platforms will provide extensive coverage, offering options for viewers seeking both paid and accessible viewing methods.

The match kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, with pregame festivities and analysis beginning earlier. FIFA has coordinated international broadcast rights to ensure wide availability, reflecting the tournament’s status as the world’s most-watched sporting event.

In the United States, Fox Sports and Telemundo hold primary English and Spanish language rights, respectively. Viewers with cable or streaming subscriptions to these networks can watch the game live. Streaming options include the Fox Sports app, Fubo, Sling TV and YouTube TV for cord-cutters.

Free viewing opportunities are limited due to exclusive broadcast agreements, but some platforms may offer highlights or limited access through social media or official FIFA channels. Public watch parties in major cities provide communal experiences for fans without home access.

Internationally, rights vary by country. In Spain, RTVE and other public broadcasters typically air major matches. Argentina’s coverage includes TyC Sports and public channels. European viewers can access feeds through UEFA-affiliated networks or dedicated sports apps.

Streaming services like DAZN, ESPN+ and others may carry the match in select markets, often requiring subscriptions. Free trials or promotional access can provide temporary viewing options for some platforms.

Social media platforms will offer live updates, goal clips and fan reactions. FIFA’s official accounts and team pages provide real-time commentary and behind-the-scenes content throughout the match.

Preparation for the final has captured global attention. Argentina enters as favorites seeking back-to-back titles, led by Messi in potentially his last World Cup appearance. Spain boasts a talented squad featuring emerging stars who have impressed throughout the tournament.

MetLife Stadium, co-hosting the final as part of the North American hosting rotation, has a capacity exceeding 80,000. Tickets sold out quickly, with secondary markets reflecting high demand.

Security measures are extensive for the high-profile event. Local authorities and FIFA have coordinated to ensure fan safety amid expected large crowds in the New York-New Jersey area.

Economic impact from the final extends to hospitality, tourism and broadcasting revenue. Host cities have invested significantly in infrastructure to accommodate the tournament’s scale.

Broadcast production involves hundreds of cameras, advanced graphics and expert analysts. Viewers can expect immersive coverage highlighting tactical battles, individual duels and emotional moments.

For fans unable to attend or subscribe, radio broadcasts and audio streams provide alternatives. Many local stations and apps offer play-by-play commentary in multiple languages.

Social media engagement will peak during the match. Hashtags and official accounts facilitate global conversation, allowing distant supporters to share experiences in real time.

Weather conditions in the New York area will influence fan comfort at the stadium and surrounding events. Organizers have contingency plans for heat or precipitation common in July.

The final represents a clash of styles. Argentina’s experienced squad emphasizes counterattacking and individual brilliance, while Spain’s possession-based approach focuses on technical control and youth energy.

Messi’s legacy looms large. A victory would cement his status among the greatest players, while a Spanish win would mark a new era for European champions.

Coaching strategies will draw scrutiny. Lionel Scaloni for Argentina and Luis de la Fuente for Spain have guided their teams through challenging paths to the final.

Fan zones in host cities offer alternative viewing experiences with large screens, entertainment and cultural activities. These public spaces foster community atmosphere for those without tickets.

Corporate hospitality and VIP areas provide premium experiences for sponsors and partners. FIFA’s commercial program generates significant revenue supporting global development initiatives.

Post-match ceremonies will include trophy presentation, medal awards and celebrations. The winning team will embark on victory parades in coming days.

The 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has set records for attendance and global interest. The final caps a month of competition featuring 32 teams and countless memorable moments.

Broadcast partners have prepared extensively, with some offering multi-angle views, player tracking and interactive features for digital audiences.

For viewers seeking free options, public libraries, community centers and bars with televisions often host watch parties. Social media live streams from fans provide unofficial but accessible perspectives.

Official FIFA apps and websites offer schedules, statistics and news updates. Mobile streaming may require data plans or Wi-Fi depending on location.

The match’s global reach underscores soccer’s universal appeal. From packed stadiums to living rooms worldwide, fans will share in the drama of the championship decider.

Preparation tips for viewers include charging devices, securing stable connections and planning for potential high traffic on streaming services during peak viewing hours.

Analysts predict a closely contested game given both teams’ strengths. Historical encounters between Spain and Argentina add narrative depth to the rivalry.

As kickoff approaches, anticipation builds. The 2026 World Cup final promises to deliver excitement, showcasing the pinnacle of international soccer competition.

SEOUL — Shin Jin-seo, the world’s top-ranked Go player, defeated the artificial intelligence program KataGo on Sunday, evening their best-of-three match at one win apiece in a closely watched showdown between human and machine intelligence.

The 9-dan grandmaster won Game 2 of the “Ssen Math·Hankyung Gisinjeon” series by 4.5 points, playing Black in a match that lasted roughly four hours and 50 minutes at The Korea Economic Broadcasting studio in Seoul’s Jung District. The contest was played as a handicap game, with Shin given two black stones at the outset.

The victory marked Shin’s first official win against KataGo, one of the most powerful open-source Go engines in the world. He had lost the opening game two days earlier after resigning in the 245th move, and he said beforehand that he had never beaten a similarly strong AI system in practice matches, even with the same two-stone advantage.

A different opening strategy

Sunday’s result hinged on decisions Shin made in the opening minutes of the game. When KataGo again took the upper-left star point, as it had in Game 1, Shin responded at the lower-right star point rather than the small-knight move he used previously. When KataGo invaded the 3-3 point in the lower right shortly after, Shin steered the game into a large-scale joseki, a set sequence of established opening moves, that settled roughly a quarter of the board within about five minutes and 53 total moves.

Although the sequence could have concluded more simply, Shin chose a more complex variation. The pattern he used is known among professional players as the “AlphaGo joseki,” a sequence widely studied since Google DeepMind’s AlphaGo popularized it in 2016. By locking in a large area of the board early through a fixed sequence, the approach limited the number of variations KataGo could generate later in the game — a tactic that effectively turned techniques originally popularized by AI back against the machine.

Broadcast win-probability models showed Shin starting the two-stone handicap game with a 99% chance of victory and roughly an 18.5-point lead. In Game 1, that early advantage collapsed after Shin struggled to respond to an unfamiliar high approach move from KataGo, and a miscalculated move in the lower right in the middle of the game allowed the AI to erase his lead entirely.

Holding the advantage under pressure

Game 2 followed a different trajectory. After narrowing the board with the early joseki, Shin maintained his lead past the 150th move. He cut into KataGo’s stones in the center of the board and launched an attack. When KataGo counterattacked near a connection point, Shin’s on-screen win probability dipped to 89% at one stage, but he continued reading through the position rather than retreating from the fight.

Unlike in the first game, when an attempt to encircle KataGo’s entire central group backfired, Shin instead cut off White’s consolidation and blocked a series of counterattacks, preserving his advantage through the middle game. KataGo attempted a late tactical push in the lower-center portion of the board, but Shin closed off the attempt and protected his point margin heading into the endgame.

Speaking after the match, Shin said he thought he had prepared well but that KataGo’s aggressive play made him briefly think he might lose. He added that he calmed himself, worked through the calculations and was glad to secure what he called a valuable first win.

About KataGo

KataGo is an open-source Go program developed by American computer scientist David Wu, built on refinements to the self-play training methods pioneered by the AlphaZero family of AI systems. Beyond calculating win probabilities, the program can estimate the expected margin of victory in points, a feature that has made it a standard training tool for professional players and national team members, as well as a common resource for broadcast analysis of Go matches.

The format of Sunday’s match reflected the handicap given to the human player: Shin was allotted five hours of thinking time plus a 30-second byoyomi period for each move, while KataGo was required to move within 20 seconds on every turn.

Stakes rise for the finale

With the win, Shin secured a 50 million won ($36,000) bonus tied to Game 2. The outcome sets up a decisive Game 3, scheduled for 10 a.m. on July 21 at the same Seoul studio, with live coverage on Baduk TV. Should Shin win the final game to take the series two games to one, he stands to receive a Genesis G90 sedan as an additional prize.

The series has drawn significant attention in South Korea‘s Go community, both for its competitive stakes and for what it represents in the broader relationship between elite human players and Go-playing AI. Since AlphaGo’s landmark 2016 victory over Lee Sedol, AI systems have become deeply embedded in how professional players study the game, with many of today’s most common opening strategies, including the one Shin used to win Sunday’s game, originating from AI analysis rather than human innovation.

Game 3 will determine the outright winner of the three-game series and is expected to draw a large audience among Go fans in South Korea and internationally, given the rarity of a top-ranked human player recording a confirmed win over a leading AI system in a formal, broadcast setting.

NEW YORK — Lionel Messi says a viral photograph showing him bathing a six-month-old Lamine Yamal nearly two decades ago captures a story almost too improbable for fiction, one that culminates Sunday when the two players face each other for the first time at the international level in the World Cup final.

“That photo is incredible,” Messi said Friday. “I took a picture with him when he was a baby … the fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy.”

The image dates back to 2007, when a 20-year-old Messi and a 6-month-old Yamal were photographed together during a charity calendar shoot inside the FC Barcelona dressing room at Camp Nou. The project was organized by the local newspaper Sport in partnership with UNICEF, and soccer’s long odds later paired the two in one of the calendar’s featured images.

Nineteen years later, that photograph has resurfaced as one of the enduring storylines of the 2026 World Cup, as the 19-year-old Yamal prepares to face the 39-year-old Messi with a championship on the line.

Speaking at FIFA’s Fanatics Fest in New York, Messi offered a mix of admiration and competitive resolve when discussing the young Spanish winger who has emerged as one of the tournament’s breakout stars.

“He’s one of the best in the world right now,” Messi said. “I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, [but] we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain has a great team, not just him. We have our own weapons, too.”

He continued: “He’s a tremendous player … a global star. He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”

The photograph’s renewed popularity has not gone unnoticed by the man who took it. Photographer Joan Monfort said the surge in attention around his nearly two-decade-old image has been unlike anything he has experienced.

“The photo has exploded all over the world, and the fact that the final is in the U.S. has given it an extra push,” Monfort told The Associated Press. “And now this has culminated with the final between Messi and Yamal. It is better than any film script.”

Spain midfielder Mikel Merino, a teammate of Yamal’s, said his first reaction upon seeing the photo mirrored that of many fans online.

“The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real,” Merino said Friday.

“It’s unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game — and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those — share a picture like that,” Merino added. “Hopefully we’re going to see a very bright final with those two protagonists at their best, playing and giving all the fans a great spectacle.”

Sunday’s meeting between Messi and Yamal will mark just the latest chapter in a rivalry that has grown increasingly significant as this World Cup has progressed. Messi, who has scored eight goals and provided four assists through the tournament, is preparing for his third World Cup final appearance, having previously reached the championship match in 2014 and again in 2022, when Argentina won the title. He currently sits tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé atop the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot standings as Argentina bids to become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil accomplished the feat in 1958 and 1962.

For Spain, Sunday represents an opportunity to add a second World Cup title to the nation’s history, following its triumph in 2010. Yamal, who broke into Barcelona’s first team as a teenager, has been one of the most closely watched young talents in world soccer over the past two years and now finds himself on the sport’s biggest stage opposite the player many consider the greatest of his generation.

The two nations had been scheduled to meet earlier this year in the Finalissima, an exhibition match between the reigning European and South American champions that was planned for March in Qatar. That match was called off due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, leaving Sunday’s World Cup final as the first competitive meeting between the sides since the tournament began.

Kickoff for the final is set for 3 p.m. ET, with the match being broadcast on FOX and Telemundo in the United States. The showdown caps a tournament that has been defined in part by the emergence of Yamal as one of the sport’s next global superstars, even as Messi continues to demonstrate the form that has kept him among the world’s elite players well into his late 30s.

Beyond the individual matchup between Messi and Yamal, Sunday’s final features two of the tournament’s most balanced squads. Spain has advanced behind a possession-based approach anchored by Rodri, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, while Argentina has leaned on its blend of experienced leadership and dynamic attacking talent to reach the championship match for the second consecutive World Cup cycle.

Whatever the outcome, the photograph that once seemed like a forgotten keepsake from a Barcelona charity shoot has become an unlikely symbol of the tournament — a reminder, as Monfort put it, that soccer occasionally writes storylines no screenwriter could invent.

The final between Argentina and Spain kicks off Sunday afternoon, with a World Cup title, and a new chapter in the Messi-Yamal story, on the line.

Tim Travis is a veteran deep value investor and money manager. Travis has extensive experience in traditional investments such as stocks and bonds, in addition to having a unique methodology of combining options and distressed investing with value investing to generate income, reduce risk, and to add an element of timing. Currently Tim Travis is the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer of T&T Capital Management. T&T Capital Management is a Coto de Caza, California based Registered Investment Advisor that manages accounts for both individual and institutional investors. Travis was born in Laguna Beach, California and became captivated with the value investment philosophy in his early teens through reading books written by Benjamin Graham, and the shareholder letters from Berkshire Hathaway, and the Buffett Partnership L.P. Tim Travis became intrigued by the notion that stocks aren’t just pieces of paper but instead are fractional shares of a business that can be analyzed by comprehensive analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. He majored in Business and Economics at the University of California Santa Barbara, graduating in 2004, and he also had the privilege of studying international economics at the University of Richmond in Florence, Italy. Tim Travis got his feet wet in finance working for both Scottrade and AG Edwards & Sons during his college career. Upon graduation Travis worked at the Vanguard Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was there that he learned that most mutual funds underperform their respective indexes, and he became disappointed at the overwhelming diversification in most mutual funds, that really makes most of them function as “closet” index funds. After leaving the Vanguard Group, Travis worked for a small futures and commodities firm in Mission Viejo, California. It was there that Tim developed an adept knowledge of options, particularly the selling of options to take advantage of the higher probabilities involved. It was also during this time in his life that Travis began reading everything he could possibly find on value investing. Some of his role models in the field are Warren Buffett, Martin Whitman, Bruce Berkowitz, Seth Klarman, Peter Lynch, Glenn Greenberg, etc. After working with clients from around the world Travis broke away and started T&T Investment Management L.L.C. At T&T, Travis refined his unique methodology combining value investing, with the selling of options to generate income and reduce risk. T&T experienced explosive growth by partnering with a local commodities firm. After several years Tim Travis realized that without controlling the majority of the company any longer, he didn’t have full control over the company’s strategic direction. Divergent business principles caused Tim Travis to break away and form T&T Capital Management. At TTCM which Tim Travis is the sole owner, he is allowed to offer only the best products and services, at a reasonable price, without conflicts of interest. T&T Capital Management’s goal is build wealth for both individual and institutional investors, and to accomplish these goals Travis as Chief Investment Officer employs his deep value investing techniques. Each account is managed on a day to day, personal basis, and there are no cookie cutter portfolios defined only by one’s age and risk tolerance. Every security is researched and hand selected by Travis and his research team. T&T Capital Management takes pride in first class customer service and research which is regularly communicated to clients for education purposes.

The cryptocurrency market has continued to mature through 2026, with a familiar set of digital assets dominating the top of the rankings by market capitalization even as individual token prices have swung sharply throughout the year. Here is a look at 10 of the largest and most closely watched cryptocurrencies currently on the market, based on rankings compiled by outlets including KuCoin, TradingView and CoinMarketCap.

Bitcoin. As has been the case since crypto markets began, Bitcoin remains the dominant force in the industry, accounting for roughly 59% of the total crypto market cap according to TradingView, with a market capitalization estimated at approximately $1.23 trillion earlier this year and figures from other sources placing it as high as $1.43 trillion. Bitcoin’s continued dominance has been reinforced by growing institutional adoption, including through spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. According to a BlackRock institutional report cited by KuCoin, spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively held more than 1.3 million BTC by March 2026, representing more than 6% of the total circulating supply.

Ethereum. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Ethereum has maintained its position as the leading smart-contract platform underpinning much of the decentralized finance ecosystem. According to UV Netware, Ethereum’s market capitalization stood at roughly $257.5 billion earlier in 2026, and the network continues to serve as the primary settlement layer for a wide range of decentralized applications, staking products and DeFi protocols.

XRP. Created by Ripple Labs and designed primarily to facilitate cross-border payments, XRP has maintained a consistent position among the largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, estimated at roughly $88 billion by UV Netware. The token has drawn significant attention throughout 2026 following the resolution of Ripple’s long-running legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the subsequent launch of spot XRP ETFs, developments that AllAboutXRP has described as reinforcing XRP’s positioning as a leader in real-world payment utility among major cryptocurrencies.

Solana. Known for its high transaction speed and low fees relative to older blockchain networks, Solana has continued posting strong growth throughout 2026. KuCoin specifically highlighted Solana, alongside the newer token Sui, as showing the strongest year-over-year growth among the top 10 assets entering the year, with a market capitalization estimated around $50.8 billion according to UV Netware’s figures.

BNB. The native token of the Binance exchange ecosystem, BNB has remained a consistent fixture among the largest cryptocurrencies by market cap, valued at roughly $87 billion according to UV Netware, supported by its continued utility across Binance’s trading platform, fee discounts and the broader BNB Chain ecosystem.

Cardano. Built around a research-driven, peer-reviewed approach to blockchain development, Cardano has continued to rank among the top cryptocurrencies by market cap throughout 2026, though several analyses noted increased competitive pressure from newer, faster-growing platforms during the year.

Chainlink. As a leading decentralized oracle network, Chainlink plays a foundational infrastructure role across the broader crypto ecosystem by connecting blockchain-based smart contracts with real-world data, a niche that has helped the token maintain a consistent position among the industry’s largest assets even as its underlying use case differs significantly from payment-focused tokens like XRP or platform tokens like Ethereum.

TRON. Described by the Bitcoin Foundation as functioning primarily as “a settlement blockchain for stable coin transactions,” TRON has maintained strong market cap rankings largely on the strength of usage rather than public attention, with the network reportedly hosting more than 86 billion USDT in circulation on its blockchain according to TRONSCAN data cited in that analysis, with a market capitalization estimated around $29.1 billion.

Avalanche. Known for its fast transaction finality and growing ecosystem of decentralized applications, Avalanche has remained a consistent presence among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap throughout 2026, continuing to compete for market share among smart-contract platforms alongside Ethereum, Solana and other established networks.

Sui. Among the more recent entrants to crack the top 10, Sui has displaced several legacy tokens that previously held stronger positions in earlier market cycles, according to KuCoin’s analysis, reflecting continued turnover in the lower half of the top 10 rankings as newer blockchain projects gain traction and market share.

Market analysts caution that the composition of any top 10 cryptocurrency ranking tends to shift meaningfully over relatively short periods. According to KuCoin, the overall top 10 list by market cap typically sees one to three positions rotate within any given 12-to-24-month window, even though Bitcoin and Ethereum have held the top two spots consistently since 2017. Newer projects like Sui and Hyperliquid, the latter of which reportedly cracked the top 10 altcoin rankings as of June 2026 according to Bitcoin Foundation’s tracking, illustrate how quickly newer platforms can rise through the rankings as investor attention and capital shift toward emerging narratives within the broader crypto market.

It’s worth noting that stablecoins such as Tether and USD Coin also frequently rank among the largest cryptocurrencies by raw market capitalization, with Tether valued at roughly $184 billion and USD Coin at approximately $79 billion according to UV Netware’s figures. However, most industry rankings, including the list above, generally exclude stablecoins from “top cryptocurrencies to watch” discussions specifically because their value is pegged to fiat currency and therefore does not appreciate in the way other digital assets can.

Given the scale of price volatility that has characterized the cryptocurrency market throughout 2026, and the significant differences in market capitalization, use case and risk profile among the assets listed above, this article is intended to provide factual market context rather than investment guidance. Readers considering cryptocurrency investments should be aware that digital asset prices can fluctuate dramatically over short periods, that rankings by market capitalization can shift significantly within months, and that past performance offers no guarantee of future results. As one industry analysis put it plainly regarding similar rankings, such lists “should not be considered financial advice,” and prospective investors are generally encouraged to conduct their own research and consider their individual risk tolerance before making any decisions involving cryptocurrency.

Thrivent has offered investment products since 1970. The investment adviser for our funds is Thrivent Asset Management, LLC (TAM), a subsidiary of Thrivent. A membership-owned fraternal organization, Thrivent has provided holistic financial services and dedication to serving our clients for more than 100 years.

Thrivent Distributors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA, is the distributor for Thrivent Mutual Funds and Thrivent Variable Portfolios. ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is the distributor for Thrivent ETFs. Thrivent Distributors, LLC is the marketing agent for Thrivent ETFs. Asset management services for the Thrivent Mutual Funds and Thrivent ETFs are provided by Thrivent Asset Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Thrivent Asset Management, LLC also provides sponsors of managed accounts with non-discretionary investment advice in the form of model portfolios. Thrivent Variable Portfolios are advised by Thrivent, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Thrivent Distributors, LLC and Thrivent Asset Management, LLC are both subsidiaries of Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with Thrivent or any of its subsidiaries. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Thrivent, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use the Thrivent’s official channels.

Megan Fox fired back at a social media commenter who criticized a recent lingerie photo shoot she posted to Instagram, suggesting the critic might actually be one of her exes rather than a genuine detractor.

The 40-year-old actress shared a series of photos to Instagram on Thursday, July 16, showing herself posing in a sheer black bandeau bra and matching lace panties, paired with a dramatically long veil for a gothic, religious-inspired aesthetic. The images showed Fox striking multiple poses against sunset-orange and rosy-red backdrops, including one in which a golden halo effect appeared over her head as she spread the veil open, and another showing her kneeling in front of a wooden chair with her hands positioned in prayer. Fox captioned the post, “Men would have them believe disobedience was eves vice, when it was her greatest virtue.”

While the overwhelming majority of comments on the post praised the photos, one user took a sharply different tone. “This s–t is so unbelievably embarrassing for a 40 year old mom to be posting. 16 year old tumblr s–t,” the commenter wrote.

Fox did not let the remark go unanswered. According to multiple outlets, the actress was among more than 250 people who replied directly to the comment, responding simply, “which one of my exes is this.” The reply drew widespread attention online, with many interpreting it as a pointed suggestion that the critic’s harsh reaction stemmed from personal history rather than genuine disapproval.

Fans quickly rallied to Fox’s defense in the comments as well, pushing back against the age-related criticism embedded in the original remark. “Fun fact, you can still be hot at any age,” one supporter wrote. Another follower dismissed the criticism outright, writing, “You’re acting like she’s 80,” while a third commenter turned the insult back on the original poster, writing, “Ur the only embarrassing thing here.” Additional fans offered similarly supportive responses, with one writing, “She’s hot she can post this stuff until she’s 100 if she wants.”

Fox is the mother of four children. She shares three sons, Noah, 13, Bodhi, 12, and Journey, 9, with her ex-husband, actor Brian Austin Green, whom she divorced in 2021 after 11 years of marriage and nearly 15 years together as a couple. Fox also shares a young daughter, Saga Blade Fox-Baker, with her former fiancé, rapper Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker. Fox and Machine Gun Kelly began dating in 2020 and became engaged in 2022 before their relationship later ended.

This is not the first time Fox has publicly addressed criticism related to her body or appearance since becoming a mother. In prior comments cited by E! News, Fox previously pushed back against online scrutiny of her weight, explaining in an Instagram Story video that her current physique reflects her natural body size rather than any dramatic change. “People are commenting that I look really skinny or that I need to eat,” she said at the time. “This is actually the weight I’ve always weighed… You guys have just watched me have babies and then go back to my original weight. So don’t worry, everything’s fine.”

The lingerie photo shoot also sparked speculation among some fans about whether the images might be tied to a promotional tease for an upcoming project. When one commenter asked directly, “Is this a Jennifer’s Body 2 tease?”, referencing Fox’s cult-favorite 2009 horror film, Fox responded with a shrugging emoji and a hand-over-mouth emoji, offering no direct confirmation or denial regarding the speculation.

Fox has built a career spanning more than two decades in Hollywood, first gaining wider recognition opposite Lindsay Lohan in “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen” before becoming a breakout star through the “Transformers” film franchise. She went on to earn significant critical acclaim for her role in Diablo Cody’s cult film “Jennifer’s Body,” and has continued expanding her career in recent years, including voicing a character in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” Throughout her career, Fox has also remained one of the entertainment industry’s most closely followed figures on social media, frequently drawing significant engagement from her posts; a separate lingerie-themed photo set she shared earlier this year reportedly gathered roughly 2 million likes within just six hours of being posted, according to Parade.

Fox’s willingness to directly engage with critics rather than ignore them has become a recurring pattern in how she navigates public commentary about her appearance. Rather than deleting or avoiding contentious remarks, she has repeatedly chosen to respond with sharp, often humor-driven comebacks, a pattern that continued with her latest reply suggesting her critic’s harsh words may have originated from a more personal grievance than genuine concern over the photos themselves.

The post continued generating conversation across entertainment outlets in the days following its release, with commentary largely centering on Fox’s confident response to the age-focused criticism rather than the substance of the original complaint itself. As of this report, Fox had not issued any further public statement beyond her brief reply to the original commenter, leaving her pointed response to stand as her primary word on the matter.

Thrivent has offered investment products since 1970. The investment adviser for our funds is Thrivent Asset Management, LLC (TAM), a subsidiary of Thrivent. A membership-owned fraternal organization, Thrivent has provided holistic financial services and dedication to serving our clients for more than 100 years.

Thrivent Distributors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA, is the distributor for Thrivent Mutual Funds and Thrivent Variable Portfolios. ALPS Distributors, Inc., member FINRA, is the distributor for Thrivent ETFs. Thrivent Distributors, LLC is the marketing agent for Thrivent ETFs. Asset management services for the Thrivent Mutual Funds and Thrivent ETFs are provided by Thrivent Asset Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Thrivent Asset Management, LLC also provides sponsors of managed accounts with non-discretionary investment advice in the form of model portfolios. Thrivent Variable Portfolios are advised by Thrivent, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Thrivent Distributors, LLC and Thrivent Asset Management, LLC are both subsidiaries of Thrivent, the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. ALPS Distributors, Inc. is not affiliated with Thrivent or any of its subsidiaries. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Thrivent, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use the Thrivent’s official channels.

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CLNXF either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s long-awaited reunion with King Charles earlier this month may not have been as smooth or emotionally warm as the palace’s brief public confirmation suggested, according to royal author Christopher Andersen, who described the gathering as carrying underlying tension, particularly for Meghan.

Harry, Meghan and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, met privately with King Charles and Queen Camilla at the king’s Highgrove residence earlier this month, marking the first time Charles had seen his youngest grandchildren in person in four years. While Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting took place, it released no further details or photographs, describing the gathering strictly as a private family occasion.

Speaking to Page Six, Andersen said the visit was complicated by friction over security arrangements for the Sussex family during their time in the U.K., along with confusion surrounding an earlier offer for the couple to stay at a royal residence during the trip, an offer that was reportedly later withdrawn. “One gets the sense that, from Meghan’s perspective, the reunion with Charles and Camilta wasn’t entirely warm and fuzzy,” Andersen said. He added that Meghan continues to strongly prefer her quieter life in Montecito, California, and is reportedly wary of any trip to the U.K. being misread as a sign that she wants to return to a more active role within the royal family. “It’s fairly clear that Markle feels more secure in [her home] in Montecito, and doesn’t want to give the impression that she will be any part of a return to royal life,” Andersen said.

A palace source pushed back on Andersen’s characterization of the meeting, questioning how the author could have detailed knowledge of what was described as a strictly private, family-only gathering, given that no official account of the meeting’s tone or contents was ever released publicly.

Despite the reported tension surrounding Meghan’s experience, Harry himself appeared notably positive following the reunion. According to an observer who saw the duke shortly afterward at an Invictus Games event in Birmingham, part of the broader lineup of engagements tied to his visit, Harry appeared “buoyed, very happy and really energized.” Meghan, Archie and Lilibet reportedly kept a comparatively low profile throughout the trip, a decision tied to the U.K. government’s earlier denial of official police protection for Harry during his time in the country, a long-running point of contention stemming from the family’s 2020 departure from royal duties.

Charles has faced some public criticism for welcoming Harry and Meghan back into his home given the highly publicized nature of their earlier exit from royal life. Addressing that criticism, a source told the Daily Mail simply, “Blood is blood,” adding, “every journey of a thousand miles begins with one footstep.”

Beyond the reported tension during the meeting itself, sources speaking with People magazine indicated the broader security dispute surrounding the trip left Meghan feeling “humiliated,” particularly once the internal disagreements over her family’s protection became public. Those sources described “a lot of sadness” surrounding how the visit ultimately played out. Despite that difficulty, the sources said Meghan has remained fully supportive of Harry throughout the process, consistently choosing to “always let him lead” when it comes to navigating his relationship with the royal family. Harry, for his part, was reportedly “reduced to tears” over the prolonged back-and-forth involving his security arrangements, which prevented Meghan and their children from having what he had hoped would be a fuller experience during their time in the U.K.

Meghan’s apprehension about the trip reportedly extended well beyond the security dispute itself. According to an insider who spoke with the Daily Examiner, cited by Sky News Australia, Meghan harbors deep and lingering distrust toward the palace stemming from what she has described as years of negative rumors and coverage directed at her following her departure from royal duties. “[Meghan] doesn’t trust the palace one bit. In her mind, they’ve spent years spreading poisonous rumors about her, so she’s finding it very hard to believe anyone’s suddenly had a change of heart,” the insider said. Despite those reservations, the same source said Meghan made a deliberate effort to remain positive throughout the visit, largely out of recognition of how significant the reunion was for Harry personally, given his repeatedly stated desire to repair his relationship with his father.

Separately, the Highgrove meeting has reportedly stirred fresh tension within the royal family involving Prince William, who was notably absent from the gathering. Sources described William as “furious” over his father’s decision to meet with Harry and Meghan, while maintaining his own firm refusal to speak directly with his brother. An insider who spoke with the National Examiner said the ongoing standoff is placing growing strain on royal aides and senior family members loyal to both William and Charles. “The longer William digs in his heels and refuses to make peace with his brother, the more difficult it becomes for his aides and other senior royals, who are loyal to both him and Charles,” the insider said. “It’s become a real battle because Charles believes it’s time for William to let this go.” The source added that William has reportedly voiced disapproval over how his father has handled matters involving non-working members of the royal family more broadly, believing Charles has been “manipulated” into the reconciliation effort, a characterization insiders say has only deepened tension between father and son, given that Charles reportedly views the accusation as a sign William no longer trusts his judgment.

Royal commentators have pointed to William’s absence from the Highgrove gathering as further evidence of just how strained his relationship with Harry remains, even as the meeting between Harry, Meghan and King Charles has been widely interpreted as a meaningful, if complicated, step toward broader reconciliation within the royal family following years of public estrangement.