Former “Below Deck” star Adrienne Gang is pulling back the curtain on how the Bravo reality series is made. The original chief stewardess says the demanding work shown during her season was real and insists cast members were not given scripts. However, she believes certain moments filmed after her departure may have been encouraged by producers. One scene involving Kate Chastain particularly stood out to Gang because it did not appear “authentic or organic” to her.

During an interview with online bingo games provider Heart Bingo, Gang was asked whether any moments from later seasons appeared to be influenced by production. “When Kate assigned fonts to people based on their personalities,” Gang answered. “I don’t know. It just seemed like a put-on. It didn’t seem authentic or organic in any way to me.”

The memorable scene appeared during Season 2, Episode 10, with Chastain explaining which font she believed best represented each crew member’s personality. Bravo has preserved the moment as “Kate’s Font Personality Guide” on its website.

Gang did not claim to have direct knowledge of how that particular scene was created. Instead, she described it as one of the moments she personally suspected had been encouraged by production.

Advertisement

The Former Chief Stewardess Says The Show Was Not Scripted

Gang revealed that the question she hears most frequently from “Below Deck” fans is whether the show is scripted. According to the former reality star, cast members were not hired as actors or given lines to perform.

“I think there are some production things I’ve seen throughout the years, especially right after my season, where I think things were definitely production-encouraged because they seemed gimmicky to me,” she explained. “But none of us are hired as actors. Nobody told us what to say.”

Gang said production would occasionally ask the crew to repeat something, but she insisted those requests were made when an outside noise disrupted the original audio.

“There were a couple of times where a plane would go overhead and mess with the audio on our microphones, and production would tell the camera operator, “Make them say that again exactly the way they just did,” because they’d lost the audio.”

Adrienne Gang Insists The Workload Was Real

Although Gang believes the production process has changed, she emphasized that the crew members on her season were genuinely responsible for operating the yacht. “For us, it was totally real. We were really doing the job,” she said. “The hours are long no matter what part of the job you’re doing. That doesn’t change because there’s not a secondary crew on standby to do all your work for you.”

Gang explained that the realities of maintaining the vessel eventually forced production to make some practical adjustments, particularly when it came to laundry. “At one point, they realized how challenging it was to keep up, especially with laundry,” she recalled. “We started sending some laundry out and getting sheets pressed because it wasn’t interesting content and it needed to be done.”

Advertisement

She claimed the modern version of the show now has additional assistance behind the scenes. “Now the show has a fixer to help with all the extras,” Gang said. “So if you see the chief stew calling to order something or setting up a band to come on board, all that stuff is arranged ahead of time, and the conversations that happen on the phone are for the cameras.”

Gang added, “Season one, we were really doing the job. Now, they’ve made it a lot easier.”

She Addressed Her Relationship With The Franchise

Gang’s time on “Below Deck” came with conflict and criticism, but she says she is no longer interested in revisiting old feuds. “Every now and again it’ll come across that somebody has said something, but I don’t really care,” she shared. “The people who know what I did to get that going in the first place have acknowledged it, and that’s meaningful to me. I have more interesting things going on in my life.”

She admitted that the public judgment once affected her because viewers were forming opinions based on what they saw on television. “It used to bother me a lot because I think it’s really hard not to when you’re being judged on what people think is your personality,” Gang said. “But if I haven’t worked with you and you don’t actually know me, then what you say doesn’t matter to me.”

Adrienne Gang Reflects On Her Controversial Charter Guest

Gang also revisited the appearance of a previous charter guest who knew her before joining the show. “The guest was a previous charter guest of mine. That’s how I met him,” she explained. “He was also part of the production with the financing of that whole project.”

Gang said she found the way the situation was presented particularly interesting because the guest later became friendly with Captain Lee Rosbach while she received much of the criticism. “The way they made the whole thing look was very interesting because at the end of everything, he ended up becoming really good buddies with Captain Lee, and I was the one who got all the flak for it,” she said.

Advertisement

She added, “I wouldn’t say we were great friends. I didn’t stay in contact with him afterwards for a multitude of reasons. As it turns out, he didn’t turn out to be a terribly nice guy anyway.”

Despite the criticism she faced, Gang remains grateful that she helped launch what eventually became a successful reality television franchise. “At the end of the day, I’m grateful I had a hand in something that went on to become what it is, with Emmy nominations and all,” she said. “I’m proud that I tried to represent the yachting industry professionally rather than play into reality TV culture.”

“Below Deck” received its first Emmy nominations years after Gang’s original season, according to Vanity Fair. The franchise has also expanded through multiple spinoffs. “We were the guinea pigs,” Gang reflected. “It was the Wild West, and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. But I’m still in the industry, and I know I did my part. I’m grateful for that, and I’m happy to leave it there.”

Advertisement

Destin Daniel Cretton is riding high. The Short Term 12 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director’s latest movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, has webbed up well over two billion dollars at the global box office and counting. One would imagine that he’s been handed a black check for his next project, and that seems like it’s the case, as he’s set to adapt a beloved detective series for the big screen.

There’s no shortage of TV series that have been adapted into movies. Classic crime and detective series have been particularly malleable to the demands of a feature film; one of the earliest examples is Dragnet, the grandfather of all cop procedurals that became a cult classic 1987 action comedy with Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks. More recently, Michael Mann adapted his own creation, the sun-soaked thriller Miami Vice, into a film of the same name in 2006; now, Joseph Kosinski is returning to the same well with Miami Vice ’85, returning the franchise to the decade it originated in.

As reported by Deadline, Cretton is now attached to direct a movie based on the classic TV series Hawaii Five-O. The film will be penned by Chris Bremner (Bad Boys: Ride or Die), and produced by Noah Oppenheim for Paramount. Created by Leonard Freeman, the series debuted on CBS and ran for 12 seasons, all starring Jack Lord (Dr. No) as hard-edged state police captain Steve McGarrett; McGarrett led his team in cracking down on every crime found in the 50th state, typically ordering deputy Danno Williams (James MacArthur) to arrest the criminal of the week with a “Book ’em, Danno.” The series was famed for its lush Hawaiian locations, high-octane action, and surf-rock theme song, composed by Morton Stevens. It also had a successful reboot on CBS that ran for ten seasons between 2010 and 2020.

What Is Destin Daniel Cretton’s Next Project?

Before Cretton heads to the Aloha State, or back to New York City for a Spider-Man sequel, he’s off to Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves in the Land of Fire. He’s adapting the long-running manga and anime series Naruto for the big screen in a new live-action film. Charles Melton (May December) is reportedly in talks to star in the film as the master ninja Kakashi.

A film adaptation of Hawaii Five-O is in development at Paramount; no release date has yet been announced. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

1968 – 1980-00-00

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 

  Jack Lord

  Det. Steve McGarrett

• 

  James MacArthur

  Advertisement

  Danny Williams

• 
• 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Billy Joel‘s decades-long relationship with live performances may be the very thing keeping him from the stage.

The 77-year-old music legend recently revealed that he underwent brain surgery after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. The condition has already forced him to cancel performances and also quit his passion.

Billy Joel’s team canceled 17 scheduled concerts across North America and England. The rock star also owned collections including Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Indian, BMW, and Triumph motorcycles, which were said to be auctioned in 2025.

5

Joel’s health battle began publicly in 2025 after he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH. The rare neurological condition involves cerebrospinal fluid building up inside the skull and pressing against the brain. One of Joel’s most difficult symptoms has been a constant problem with balance.

He described the sensation as feeling like he was walking on a boat. “I had this sense of being on a boat, like this rocking motion. I wasn’t steady on my feet,” the 77-year-old rocker said. Doctors eventually recommended surgery after his symptoms continued affecting his daily functioning.

Joel initially rejected the idea but later researched the condition before agreeing to the procedure. The surgery involved placing a shunt to drain the excess fluid and relieve pressure on his brain. He has since said the procedure improved his memory, balance, and overall ability to function.

Doctors warned that continuing his loud rock performances could create damage similar to repeated concussions and potentially harm brain nerves. On the Wednesday episode of SiriusXM’s The Billy Joel Channel, Joel opened up about his recovery and made one thing clear: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here. I’m still here.”

The ‘Piano Man’ Hitmaker Had To Give Up A 15-Year Passion

5

Joel’s health crisis has also affected a passion he spent years building away from music. His motorcycle shop, 20th Century Cycles, opened in Oyster Bay in 2010 and became a destination for motorcycle enthusiasts and tourists. The space reflected Joel’s fascination with motorcycles from the 1930s through the 1960s.

“I wanted to collect a whole bunch of those kinds of bikes, put ’em in one place,” Joel explained in a 2013 interview. He wanted visitors to see an era of motorcycles that was becoming “a lost aesthetic.” The shop also allowed motorcycle owners to repair, restore, and customize their bikes.

Its collection included Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, Indian, BMW, and Triumph motorcycles. One of the standout pieces was a rare 1952 Vincent Rapide, which could potentially sell for tens of thousands at auction.

The shop’s importance to the community was further recognized when part of its Oyster Bay street was renamed after 20th Century Cycles in 2023.

Joel also used his motorcycle passion for charitable causes before his health deteriorated. He supported 9/11 first responders and breast cancer research through his connection to the motorcycle community.

As reported by The Blast, the Oyster Bay shop was set to close toward the end of September 2025, with Joel’s collection expected to be auctioned later that year.

Billy Joel’s Career Has Become A Health Risk

5

The decision to step away from performing came after Joel’s condition began affecting his hearing, vision, and balance. His final performance was on February 22 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. His team subsequently canceled 17 scheduled concerts across North America and England.

The announcement came on May 23, after his doctors advised him to avoid rigorous performances during his recovery. He was prescribed specific physical therapy to help him regain his strength and stability. Performing had become increasingly difficult as his symptoms worsened.

The “Vienna” singer’s motorcycle accident history also shows how long physical risks have followed him. In 1982, a car ran a red light and struck his motorcycle, leaving him with a dislocated wrist and a badly injured thumb. Years later, his doctors would identify an entirely different danger connected to another longtime passion: performing live.

The rock star was closing his motorcycle shop while focusing on his health and stepping away from performing. The outlet also detailed how his disorder had affected his hearing, vision, and balance. After 15 years, another major part of Joel’s life was therefore coming to an end alongside his touring career, as shared by The Blast.

The Legendary Singer Is Facing The Cost Of Decades Onstage

5

Joel has previously been candid about just how badly the balance problems affected him. During an appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, he bluntly described his balance as his biggest challenge. “My balance sucks,” he said while explaining the strange sensation of feeling as though he was walking on a boat.

Doctors have not determined what caused his NPH. Joel even wondered whether his past drinking could have played a role, joking that he “used to drink like a fish.” He has since said he is sober while concentrating on his recovery.

His health struggles have also reopened conversations about a difficult period in his past. In the HBO documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes,” Joel pushed back against long-running rumors that alcohol caused his early-2000s car crashes. “I never had a DUI,” he said, while angrily rejecting the repeated claims.

The documentary explored Joel’s depression, substance use, and complicated relationship with fame. It also examined his past suicide attempts, family history, and the emotional struggles behind his public life. Interviews with daughter Alexa Ray, sister Judy, and longtime stage designer Steve Cohen added further perspective to that story.

Billy Joel Has Strong Family Support 

5

Joel’s first wife, Weber, has remained supportive while maintaining a respectful distance from Joel and his current family. The former couple married in 1973 before divorcing in 1982 after nearly a decade together. Weber and Joel’s relationship began while she was married to his best friend and bandmate, Jon Small.

Their affair contributed to the breakup of the band and a devastating period that included Joel threatening suicide twice. Weber later became associated with songs including “The Stranger,” “She’s Always a Woman,” and “Piano Man.” Despite their complicated history, Weber said she can contact Joel whenever necessary.

Their son Sean remains important to Joel, while their grandchildren have also kept him company during his recovery. Weber even recalled that her granddaughter Ella taught Joel what TikTok was.

Joel’s family has continued publicly supporting him throughout the health crisis. Christie Brinkley sent him love and wished him a full and speedy recovery, while wife Alexis Roderick described him as the center of their world.

The Blast reported that Roderick and Joel married in a surprise ceremony at his Long Island estate in July 2015, with their daughter Della Rose born the following month.

Billy Joel’s biggest challenge may now be accepting that the stage he spent decades conquering can no longer come before his health.

Keanu Reeves has found his next action thriller.

The John Wick star is set to lead Kill Current, an upcoming adaptation of Oliver Lowe’s novel Kill Current: A Jon Hendricks Thriller. The Arena has acquired the project and will finance and produce the film, with Reeves also producing alongside Alexandra Grant through their newly launched production company, Two Dragonflies.

The story centers on Jon Hendricks, a burned-out CIA officer who is pulled back into action after losing the protégé he trained. His search for revenge sends him into a globe-spanning conflict involving shifting alliances, technological warfare and the battle for some of the world’s most valuable resources.

The upcoming novel is the first entry in a planned Jon Hendricks thriller series and is scheduled to be published by Zando in May 2027.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to develop the character Jon Hendricks with these wonderful collaborators and that this is the project that launches Two Dragonflies which I share with my partner, Alexandra Grant,” Reeves said.

The project could potentially give Reeves another action franchise outside of John Wick, as Kill Current is being developed from the first installment of a planned book series.

Two Dragonflies was founded by Reeves and Grant to develop stories across film, television, animation, comic books, games, literature and other creative mediums.

No director, additional cast members or release date have been announced.

Liz Meriwether has spent over a decade proving that she can write anything. She got her start with New Girl, a Fox sitcom about the most aggressively earnest roommate in Los Angeles. And now, she’s running a show about a trafficking survivor who murders wealthy men as a form of therapy with Furious. (Hulu renewed that one for a second season before the finale even aired.) In between, she turned the Theranos saga into something that plays like a cringe comedy. So, yeah, the woman has range.

Meriwether’s thing, across every series she helms, is characters who are funny and damaged in equal measure. They cope with real trauma by being quirky or weird or both. None of it should work as well as it does, but six shows in, Meriwether keeps pulling it off. Here’s every one of her creations, ranked.

6

‘Bless This Mess’ (2019–2020)

Image via ABC

Dax Shepard and Lake Bell play Mike and Rio, a married couple who leave New York City for a run-down Nebraska farm they’ve inherited, only to discover that rural life involves a lot more septic-tank emergencies and nosy neighbors than the Instagram version suggests. The show surrounds them with a lineup of small-town oddballs, including Pam Grier as a no-nonsense local and Ed Begley Jr. as a neighbor with too many power tools.

Meriwether co-created this one with Bell, and their affection for the setting is real, if a little restrained. The fish-out-of-water premise gives the cast plenty to do in any individual episode, but the show never quite figured out what it wanted to be beyond pleasant. It ran two seasons on ABC before getting canceled in 2020, and while it’s sweet and easy to watch, it doesn’t have the sharpness or the emotional undertow that Meriwether’s stronger work tends to find. Call it her warm-up lap for a busier stretch ahead.

5

‘Single Parents’ (2018–2020)

Image via ABC

Taran Killam leads here as Will, a recently divorced dad and amateur weatherman who’s forgotten that he used to have a personality outside of his kid’s school pickup line. His fellow single parents, played by Leighton Meester, Brad Garrett, Kimrie Lewis, and Jake Choi, take it upon themselves to remind him, mostly by dragging him to bars and forcing him to have fun. Meriwether co-created the show with J. J. Philbin, and it leans more into ensemble warmth than anything else.

The kid actors carry a surprising amount of weight here, and the show is at its best when it lets the parent-child dynamics get genuinely uncomfortable. It doesn’t reinvent the family sitcom, but the cast has real chemistry, and Garrett in particular plays his role with a kind of deadpan weariness that the show didn’t always know what to do with. ABC canceled it after two seasons, though it probably would have benefited from a third.

4

‘The Dropout’ (2022)

Image via Hulu

Most shows about the Theranos scandal would play it straight, but Meriwether created and oversaw this eight-episode limited series (based on the ABC News podcast) as something closer to a darkly dry comedy. The whole arc traces Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) from awkward Stanford freshman to a CEO running a fraud so big it would make a Bond villain pause, and the cast Meriwether assembled sells every stage of it. Naveen Andrews as Sunny Balwani, William H. Macy as a family friend turned patent adversary, Sam Waterston as George Shultz, and Stephen Fry as the Theranos scientist who deserved a less corrupt employer.

Seyfried is the reason The Dropout works. Her Holmes does that fake baritone, mirrors the mannerisms of powerful men, and then fumbles small talk with lab technicians. Seyfried makes all of it strangely funny without letting you forget the real consequences. The series proved Meriwether could do something cold and propulsive and still find the mortifying human moments she’s always been good at. Before you strap into the insanity that is Nathan Fielder‘s Holmes documentary, You Can See Everything, you owe it to yourself to revisit Seyfried’s performance in a Hulu miniseries that’s perfect from start to finish.

3

‘Dying for Sex’ (2025)

Image via FX on Hulu

Advertisement

Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate play Molly and Nikki, lifelong best friends navigating Molly’s terminal cancer diagnosis via a method that involves a lot more Tinder dates than most prestige dramas would attempt. Meriwether co-created and ran this one with Kim Rosenstock, adapting the podcast by Molly Kochan about her own experience leaving an unhappy marriage after her diagnosis and embarking on a run of sexual adventures. Sissy Spacek, Rob Delaney, and Jay Duplass round out the cast.

The show’s gamble is tonal, and it pays off. Williams plays Molly as reckless and stubbornly alive, even as the clock ticks. Slate matches her beat for beat as the friend trying to hold everything together while also being genuinely jealous of Molly’s sudden lack of inhibition. Meriwether and Rosenstock wrote something that doesn’t treat terminal illness as a metaphor for anything. It just sits inside the mess of being a person who wants more out of whatever time is left.

2

‘Furious’ (2026–Present)

Meriwether has said Furious draws from the 1987 film Black Widow, but the show goes somewhere darker and weirder than that comparison suggests. A newly minted FBI agent named Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) is tracking a serial killer who targets men connected to a trafficking ring. The killer, Catherine (Lola Petticrew), is a young woman whose emotional development froze at 15, and the show keeps reminding you of that through pop music playlists and childlike accessories that sit right next to the violence. Scoot McNairy, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, and Jake Lacy round out the cast.

What makes it work is that Meriwether spent time interviewing FBI agents who work on trafficking cases, and that research shows up in the small, grinding details of Alice’s job as much as in the plot. The show is the darkest thing Meriwether has made and also wildly funny in stretches. Thank the TV gods that Hulu has already renewed it for Season 2.

1

‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)

Image via FOX

Zooey Deschanel is Jess Day, a teacher who moves into an L.A. loft with three guys after a breakup and proceeds to upend their very bro-y existence. The guys, Jake Johnson‘s grumpy bartender Nick, Max Greenfield‘s preening Schmidt, and Lamorne Morris‘ increasingly chaotic Winston, start out as her reluctant roommates and eventually become the most codependent friend group on television. Hannah Simone rounds out the core cast as Cece, Jess’s model best friend.

Meriwether created the show and ran it through seven seasons, and what still holds up about New Girl is how committed it stayed to being weird. The easy version of this premise is a will-they-won’t-they with some quirky garnish, and while Nick and Jess certainly deliver on that front, the show’s real engine is the ensemble’s willingness to escalate. Schmidt’s pronunciation of “chutney” became a running bit that somehow never stopped being funny. Winston’s cat, Ferguson, got his own storylines. Even Damon Wayans Jr. was there for a stint of the group’s misadventures as Coach. The show trusted that its characters were interesting enough to follow into the strangest territories, and it was right. Nothing Meriwether has made since has run this long or burrowed this deep into the cultural zeitgeist. Yet, at least.

Advertisement

New Girl

Advertisement

Release Date

2011 – 2018-00-00

Network

Advertisement

FOX

Showrunner

Elizabeth Meriwether

Advertisement

Directors

Trent O’Donnell, Jay Chandrasekhar, Max Winkler, Fred Goss, Jesse Peretz, Steve Welch, Lynn Shelton, Josh Greenbaum, Russ T. Alsobrook, Bill Purple, Christine Gernon, Lorene Scafaria, Michael Schultz, Peyton Reed, Tristram Shapeero, Eric Appel, Alec Berg, Jason Winer, Michael Spiller, Steve Pink, Alex Hardcastle, Andrew Fleming, Craig Zisk, Daniel Attias

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen gave fans another reason to admire their long-standing friendship during the August 31, 2026, episode of “Tea With Judi Dench.”

The two actors sat down for tea at Dench’s home and looked through her collection of awards, leading to a humorous exchange about their trophies.

4

While showing McKellen her awards shelf, Dench picked up the Oscar she won for Best Supporting Actress for “Shakespeare in Love” in 1999. The statuette immediately caught McKellen’s attention because it did not have her name on the base.

Dench explained that she never received an engraved nameplate for the award, adding that the nameplates had been stolen two nights before the Academy Awards.

Lightening the mood, Dench joked that the statuette “could be anyone’s,” prompting McKellen to sarcastically ask whether she would give the nameless Oscar to him.

“I certainly will. You can have it for everything,” Dench played along before handing the statuette to her longtime friend.

Ian McKellen’s Curiosity Left His Golden Globe In Pieces

4

As they talked, McKellen revealed he’d had a similar incident with one of the many awards he had received throughout his acting career.

He claimed that the Golden Globe he won for his supporting role in “Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny” also arrived without his name on it.

However, unlike Dench, who kept her Oscar looking pristine on the shelf, McKellen decided to find out how his trophy had been assembled. He discovered a screw on the bottom and used a screwdriver to take the award apart.

Unfortunately, he found it difficult to put the pieces back together. That created another problem when the Golden Globes asked him to return the award so that they could engrave his name on it.

Fans Call Judi Dench And Ian McKellen ‘A Treasure’

Fans quickly reacted to the humorous exchange on social media.

One person wrote, “Oh. my. god. Sir Ian McKellen doesn’t have an Oscar! How???? I googled, and he’s been nominated twice.”

Another fan said, “He should at least get an honorary Oscar at this point. Come ON academy.”

Other comments focused on the pair’s chemistry, which was evident throughout the clip.

Advertisement

“These two are fkin goobers. I love McKellen’s story about how he and Dench were at Buckingham Palace for an event, and they stumbled into the throne room, and both sat on the thrones like naughty children,” one fan wrote.

Another said, “I would watch an entire series of just them chatting away in various locations, about all their memories. They’re a treasure.”

Judi Dench Receives A Lasting Honor In London’s West End

4

Dench’s unengraved Oscar may have been one of the more unusual details from her conversation with McKellen, but another recent honor demonstrated how highly her career continued to be regarded.

In June, London’s Shaftesbury Theatre announced that it would be renamed the Judi Dench Theatre beginning in February 2027.

The decision recognized Dench’s contribution to British theatre following decades of performances in the West End and beyond.

Advertisement

The theatre also had a personal connection to Dench, as she had performed there earlier in her career.

Ian McKellen Celebrates 65 Years Since His Professional Debut

4

Meanwhile, Dench was not the only one whose long career had recently received attention. McKellen marked 65 years since beginning his professional acting career on September 4, just days after his conversation with Dench aired.

He made his professional debut in 1961 in “A Man for All Seasons” at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.

More than six decades later, his career includes over 60 major international acting awards. His honors include a Tony Award, six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, along with multiple Academy Award, Emmy, and BAFTA nominations.

Advertisement

There’s no easier way to make jeans look a little more chic than by swapping sneakers for a pair of flats. It’s a fashion combination French girls have practically perfected, pairing everyday denim with ballet flats, Mary Janes and other polished styles. The best part is that the shoes still feel just as effortless as the jeans themselves.

The 13 pairs below make recreating the look easy, with plenty of fall-ready colors and textures to choose from. There are chocolate-brown Mary Janes, caramel suede flats, sleek black pairs and even cherry red options. And with finds starting at $20, adding a little Parisian polish doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

13 Chic Flats French Girls Are Wearing With Jeans This Fall

1. Our Favorite: Mesh flats are having a major moment, and this brown Mary Jane pair nails the French girl look. The sheer mesh, glossy trim and dainty strap feel effortlessly chic, especially with straight-leg jeans.

2. Bonjour, Bows: Between the chocolate brown finish and delicate bow, these square-toe flats practically scream ‘Paris in the fall.’ I’d add a trench coat and ankle-length jeans for an easy Parisian-inspired outfit.

3. Très Sleek: These black ballet flats are for anyone who prefer their French girl style with a sharper edge. The pointed toe gives the classic flat a more sophisticated, leg-lengthening look.

4. Suede Stunners: These caramel suede flats have the kind of understated shape French girls make look incredibly cool. Better yet, the memory foam insole makes the switch from cushy sneakers feel less intimidating.

5. Pretty in Pink: These pink satin flats look like they were plucked straight from a Parisian ballet studio. The satin finish, petite bow and elastic strap make the $45 pair feel especially romantic.

Related: Amazon’s Labor Day Sale Is Full of Rich-Looking Early Fall Fashion

Even though we’re still early in September, shopping for chic fall clothing is officially on my mind. Amazon’s Labor Day sale is feeding the obsession with polished knit tops, chocolate brown shoes, fresh jeans and other pieces that look far more expensive than they actually are. You’ll mostly see transitional fashion finds on my list, […]

Advertisement

6. Velvet Crush: These apricot Mary Jane flats might be the prettiest way to give denim a fall refresh. They also come in rich brown, burgundy, pink, black and more, so there’s a shade for practically every fall mood.

7. Tabi Twist: These split-toe ballet flats have that quirky-cool detail that makes a simple shoe memorable. More than 400 pairs were bought in the past month, so apparently we’re not the only ones intrigued.

8. French Classic: Every French-inspired shoe collection needs a pair of classic black ballet flats. The unfussy design is timeless enough to keep reaching for long after this season.

9. Rouge Moment: Nothing wakes up a pair of jeans quite like these red Mary Jane flats. The rich crimson shade gives the otherwise minimalist silhouette a little je ne sais quoi.

10. Woven Winner: These chocolate brown ballet flats prove even a minimalist shoe can have plenty of personality. The intricate woven texture adds interest without taking away from that understated French feel.

11. Loafer Love: Can’t decide between loafers and ballet flats? These brown loafer flats combine the best parts of both world, featuring mock-toe stitching, a square front and slim buckle strap.

12. Très Textured: A basic ballet flat could never compete with these woven buckle-strap flats. Between the basket-like weave, rounded toe and gold buckle, there’s something interesting from practically every angle.

13. Spotted in Paris: These leopard-print flats bring a little wild side to the French girl shoe trend. A sleek brown strap and gold-tone buckle balance out the statement-making mesh.

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale → 

Advertisement

Related: Amazon Is Hiding the Prettiest Dresses for the Summer-to-Fall Switch

There’s no need to spend a small fortune at a boutique to find a seriously pretty fall dress. Amazon is hiding tons of styles complete with romantic florals, rich fall colors and flattering details that make the dresses look much more expensive than they actually are. Better yet, they’re lightweight enough to start wearing before […]

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion announced her breakup with NBA star Klay Thompson in April 2026, alleging infidelity in her initial statement. Now, months later, the Houston-born chart-topper is opening up about not only their breakup but also revealing that she had begun to lose herself before ending the relationship with the 36-year-old.

5

The “Savage” rapper was interviewed by InStyle in September 2026. During the cover-story interview, the 31-year-old discussed a range of topics, including her music career and her recent breakup with Thompson. In describing the end of their relationship, she called it “very rough.”

Megan then reflected, “How do I want to say this gently? What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.”

She continued, “God will always make you uncomfortable when something is not meant for you.” Megan also spoke about the steps she took to make the relationship work, even though she realized at one point she was “trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong.” She also discussed attempting to fit “into someone else’s life.”

The ‘W.A.P’ Wrapper Says She Lost Herself In The Much Talked About Relationship

5

Megan continued her interview by seemingly insinuating that Thompson may have been uncomfortable with her status as a public figure. According to her, “I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again.”

She continued, “I cannot be disrespected. I cannot be a person who is not gonna be me. I cannot not go to work. I’m going to be Megan Thee Stallion…You will not disrespect me. And you will be thankful. Period.”

From there, Megan shared her hopes for her next romantic relationship, saying she wants someone who understands she’s multifaceted.

She said, “Whoever dates me is gonna have to just understand, like, she is her own person. I cannot be minimized. I will not be behind any man. I will have a partner. I’m never gonna take the backseat to anything.”

The “Hot Girl Summer” rapper added, “So just going forward, I think I’ve just learned this is the type of person that I want to be with, this is what I will tolerate, this is what I won’t tolerate. And if you can’t take that, we just gotta respectfully go our separate ways.”

Megan Has Learned Not To Blame Herself For Being Cheated On

5

While reflecting on her breakup with Thompson, Megan also discussed having been cheated on in past relationships after seemingly accusing him of the same.

Regarding what she’s learned, Megan stated, “That doesn’t have anything to do with you. You’re not less attractive. You’re not less of a good person.” She continued, “Even though it might feel like that, ‘Oh my gosh, why me? Why am I not enough?’ ‘Cause it could definitely feel like, ‘Why am I not enough?’”

The Houston Native Was First Linked To Klay Thompson In 2025

5

Rumors began to swirl in July 2025 that Megan and Thompson were dating. This came as he appeared in the background of her vacation photos. Then, on July 12, the pair went Instagram official, with him sharing affectionate photos of them from what seemed to be the same vacation she’d previously posted.

After that, they made their red carpet debut on July 16 of that year at the Pete & Thomas Gala in New York. In the following months, the rapper released a song, “Lover Girl,” inspired by their relationship.

According to Cosmopolitan, other relationship highlights include her cooking for his family for Thanksgiving, him defending her against derogatory comments made by a former NBA player, and her throwing a surprise party for his 36th birthday.

Regarding their breakup, Megan issued a statement to PEOPLE on April 25. She said, “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay.”

Regarding the allegations, she continued, “Trust, fidelity, and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward. I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

The Grammy-Winner Has A New Music Partnership

5

Following her breakup with Thompson, Megan announced in August 2026 that she’d signed a new distribution deal with Interscope Records. The new partnership will provide Megan, who is an independent artist with regard to her record label, with global distribution and strategic support, per PR News Wire.

She said in a statement, “I’ve always wanted to create music on my terms while building a legacy that extends beyond the industry. This distribution partnership with Interscope allows me to stay true to my creative vision while also increasing my global reach. I’m excited for this next chapter of growth and the expansion of my Hot Girl Productions empire.”

The Rap Star Has A New Album In The Works

Megan teased her upcoming fourth studio album, “Act III,” in August 2026 with an Instagram post. The series of photos hinted at her alter ego, Tina Snow. Notably, the final slide was captioned, “I’m back.” Additionally, per Billboard, her management company, Roc Nation, reshared the post.

Before that, in December 2024, she teased “Act III” via an X post. She said at the time, “Real Hot Girl Sh-t. ACT 3 2025 … be ready, hotties.”

Toosii has social media users weighing in after his recent Instagram Story. The rapper teased a return to college football after sharing a throwback photo from his time on the LSU football roster.

RELATED: Game Over?! Toosii Reportedly Walks Away From LSU Football To Refocus On Music Career

Toosii Sparks LSU Football Return Talk With Throwback Photo

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Toosii shared a photo of himself on the football field rocking LSU’s purple and gold uniform and No. 89 jersey. The rapper captioned the post, “I think the people want 89 back 💜🐯. Return?” Also on IG Stories, he shared a photo of his jersey hanging from a door. And he reposted The Shade Room Teens’ post about him teasing an LSU return. He added the text, “I’m ready fr this time.” 

The posts come just months after Toosii made headlines for pursuing his football dreams at the collegiate level. The rapper, whose real name is Nau’Jour Grainger, initially committed to Syracuse before ultimately enrolling at LSU and joining the Tigers’ football program in March. He was listed as a wide receiver and wore No. 89. However, in June, reports surfaced that Toosii had decided to leave the football program and refocus on his music career. Now, it looks like the rapper may be ready to make his way back to the field.

Social Media Reacts

Commenters had plenty to say about Toosii’s social media post.

Instagram user @yk_ashhh wrote, “Did he ever even touch the field? 😂😂😂”

Another Instagram user @_.zayyyy23 wrote, “LIG man “let it go” 😂”

While Instagram user @stackjayski wrote, “Who is the people Toosii 😂😂”

Instagram user @lamiameech.1 wrote, “Starting to think he faking ts like daejoun love of sum…. 😂😂😂😂 idk.”

Another Instagram user @1x_morgann wrote, “Talk bout back like u never even played a snap with them 😭”

While Instagram user @theonly_teevilly wrote, “Boyyyy no, playing with them people time 😒 should’ve never left.”

Instagram user @missneicybaby wrote, “Do whatever your heart desires #TeamToosii 🔥💪🏽”

Another Instagram user @deee.vibinn wrote, “He can’t return 😂 the season already started.”

While Instagram user @t.stunnaa wrote, “Nah Brodie stick to singing 😂”

Toosii Recently Addressed His Relationship With Samaria J.

Toosii has also been making headlines outside of football following his recent split from longtime fiancée Samaria J. The rapper recently appeared on a stream with N3on, where the two bonded over their shared connection to women named Sam, with Toosii referring to Samaria by her nickname.

During the conversation, Toosii also opened up about still having love for Samaria and asked the chat to pray for them. He expressed hope that the two could eventually find their way back to each other.

Related: Love Cycle! Toosii Says He’s Still In Love With Samaria J. Davis & Asks Fans To Pray For Them Following Their Split (WATCH)

Dolly Parton has once again endeared herself to internet users with her signature wit in a resurfaced clip.

In the video, the “9 to 5” singer joked about avoiding the SAG Awards while presenting an honor to Lily Tomlin, saying she would not hesitate to undergo a procedure if she noticed anything “sagging.”

Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80 following a private battle with cancer.

Dolly Parton brought the jokes in an unearthed clip making the rounds online.

The “Jolene” singer was tapped to present the Life Achievement Award to Lily Tomlin at the 2017 SAG Awards. However, after taking the stage, she made a funny remark that left the star-studded crowd giggling.

“Greetings from Dollywood, Hollywood. I almost didn’t get in. Seriously, I didn’t. They were holding me backstage, kept wanting to see my I.D.’s,” she began, per E! News. “Well, I think they wanted to see I.D.’s, maybe double D’s.”

She added, “Well, I’m glad to get that off my chest.”

Dolly Parton Joked About Avoiding The SAG Awards

4

According to the news outlet, Parton was supposed to present alongside her close friend Jane Fonda, but the latter was sick at the time.

However, Parton managed just fine, leaving everyone laughing with her self-deprecating humor as she joked about spending much of her life trying to avoid the SAG Awards.

She cheekily noted that if she saw anything “sagging” on her, she would immediately call her doctor to fix it, nodding to cosmetic procedures.

“I’m really so glad to be here tonight because this is the SAG Awards, the highest honor you can get. It’s going to be given to my 9-to-5 buddy, Miss Lily Tomlin,” she continued. “I might say Lily is getting an award for something I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid: a SAG award. I see something sagging, I’m calling Dr. Markowitz to say get that nipped, tucked, and stuffed right away.”

Fans Remember Dolly Parton’s Warmth And Humor

4

Several fans couldn’t contain their laughter, with many taking to social media to remember Parton for her relatable, easygoing personality.

“Dolly was the most amazing human,” a Reddit user wrote, while another added, “What an icon!! She spread so much warmth and love and joy!”

Someone else wrote, “I’m so happy she’s at rest, but I miss her so damn much already. I don’t even believe in heaven, but I hope she’s there with Carl.”

“An honest woman! Love it! Own your choices, ladies. Nothing wrong with any of them,” a different commenter added.

Dolly Parton Did Not Want Fans To Worry

4

Parton died in Nashville last month after privately battling cancer. At the time, reports were rife that her health had declined in the months following the death of her longtime husband, Carl Dean, whom she had cared for during his own health challenges.

News of her death left many fans shocked, as they had been completely unaware of her health struggles. However, her sister Stella revealed during a recent appearance on CBS Mornings that Parton chose to keep her condition private because she did not want anyone to worry about her.

“She did not want people sad,” Stella told the program’s co-host Gayle King in an exclusive interview. “She’d be really happy and delighted that people have shown her so much love.”

Stella Parton Condemns AI ‘Garbage’ About Her Sister

4

Stella added that even some members of their extended family never learned about the late country singer’s condition, saying only “some of us knew, the ones of us that were closer.”

“Dolly could not bear negative things,” she continued. “And she would not have wanted her fans worried about it.”

Meanwhile, Stella recently took to social media to call out the barrage of AI slop about her late older sister that has flooded the internet since her death.

“There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted every day, and it’s been challenging to absorb and/or ignore,” she wrote.

She noted that some people were taking advantage of the situation and spreading misinformation online. Stella called on them to stop and show “more compassion and wisdom” as the late singer’s family continues to mourn.