Following the news that Paul King had been tapped to direct an official Labubu movie back in December, POP MART and Sony Pictures officially confirm a feature film based on LABUBU, the breakout star of THE MONSTERS universe, is moving forward in development. In addition to directing, it has now been revealed that King will produce the film as well as co-write the script with Steven Levenson.

The project was unveiled in Paris during THE MONSTERS’ global exhibition tour for the brand’s 10th anniversary, which makes this all feel even more surreal and weirdly inevitable at the same time. The film is still in early development and is being described as a live-action and CGI hybrid, with King (Paddington) and Levenson, whose credits include Dear Evan Hansen, tick, tick… BOOM!, and Fosse/Verdon, currently working on the script.

Now, naturally, we are slightly in disbelief that this is even happening, but that creative team is the reason this does not instantly read like a throwaway cash-in. King has built a very specific reputation for taking whimsical material and actually making it worthwhile, first with the Paddington films and then with Wonka. Wonka alone grossed more than $635 million worldwide, which makes him a perfect choice for a project that needs to convince people that a fuzzy little gremlin doll can carry a movie. Paddington and chums were simply little miracles, while Wonka made Timothée Chalamet seem like someone who actually likes ballet and opera.

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What Is LABUBU?

LABUBU was created by Kasing Lung, who first introduced the character and THE MONSTERS world in his 2015 picture-book trilogy. Since then, the character has gone from niche design oddity to full-blown global collectible phenomenon, becoming one of POP MART’s biggest icons. Lung is on board the film as an executive producer, while Michael Schaefer and Wenxin She will also produce, with Brittany Morrissey overseeing for Sony Pictures.

There is no cast yet, which is probably for the best, because the first hurdle here is just wrapping your head around the idea that the dangly monster hanging off your niece’s handbag is entering its movie era at all. Still, if Hollywood was ever going to make a film about this particular little menace, getting Paul King to shepherd it is about as reassuring as this news could possibly be. It is a bizarre move on paper, but it might just be bizarre enough to work.

Stay tuned at Collider for further updates.

South African composer and Grammy winner Lebo M has filed a lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi for misinterpreting the unforgettable chant in the song “Circle of Life” from Disney’s “The Lion King.”

The dispute centers on claims of false statements and misleading representations, raising questions about how far comedy can go before crossing legal boundaries.

Lebo M Filed A $27 Million Lawsuit

Lebo Morake, better known as Lebo M, filed a lawsuit on March 16 against Jonasi after the latter appeared on a podcast in February, during which he translated the Zulu chant at the beginning of “Circle of Life.” The clip went viral, with many commenting that their childhoods were ruined after hearing Jonasi’s translation.

Per the documents obtained by PEOPLE, Lebo M is claiming that Jonasi made “false statements of fact about the meaning of the ‘Nants’ingonyama’ composition.” The comedian is being sued for defamation per se, trade libel, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, and violating the Lanham Act, a federal trademark statute that protects brand owners. The composer is seeking $27 million in damages.

According to Lebo M, Jonasi conveyed his translation as “authoritative fact, not comedy,” adding that he “mocked the chant’s cultural significance with exaggerated imitations.”

Learnmore Jonasi’s Viral Video

In February, Jonasi was a guest on the “One54 Africa” podcast hosted by comedian Godfrey and former football player Akbar Gbaja-Biamila. At one point, the trio discussed the iconic “The Lion King” chant, with Gbaja-Biamila saying, “I heard you had a problem with ‘The Lion King.’”

After Jonasi sang the chant, he was asked what it meant, to which he replied, “Look! There’s a lion. Oh my god.” Gbaja-Biamila responded in disbelief, saying, “You’re joking. That’s not what it means.” “That’s exactly what it means,” Jonasi replied.

In Lebo M’s court filing, he said Jonasi’s translation was oversimplified, adding, “The true meaning of Nants’ ingonyama bagithi Baba is ‘All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king’.”

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Online Reactions To The Viral Video

The podcast clip circulated online, with many users sharing it on different social media platforms.

One commenter said, “This man ain’t bout to destroy my childhood with all of this accuracy!” Another one added, “Some texts are better off untranslated.” A user wrote they didn’t want to believe it, adding, “My whole childhood has been crashed in the moment.”

Others, meanwhile, took the time to explain why Jonasi was wrong. One commenter, who is Zulu, explained, “Not bashing him but there’s a nuance in the language that only mother tongue speakers understand, and he missed it – if not, he probably ignored it for comedic purposes.”

Another user wrote, “I’m Zulu, and that basically translates to ‘here’s our lion’ and what it really means in our culture is ‘Here’s our King!’”

Lebo M Reached Out To The Comedian

Prior to filing the lawsuit, Lebo M reached out to Jonasi. On March 4, the composer took to Instagram to share his thoughts about the viral video, saying the comedian intentionally turned the chant into a joke to go viral, calling him an “idiot” for disrespecting the song.

According to Lebo M, he explained the chant to Jonasi, saying that it was a cultural heritage. However, Jonasi said that as a comedian, he had been making that joke for several years, and he wasn’t going to stop.

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Jonasi also took to Instagram, posting a video where he explained why he “dismissed” Lebo M. The comedian said that he actually liked the song, and what he said was only meant as a joke. “Comedy has a way of starting a conversation,” he noted, adding that he told the composer that the viral moment was a good way to educate people.

Jonasi said he wanted to collaborate with Lebo M to make a video and clear the misunderstanding, but Lebo M called him “self-hating,” which shut down the conversation. “This person is literally not attacking the joke, but my character,” he shared.

Lebo M Won A Grammy For ‘Circle of Life’

In 1995, Lebo M and fellow composer Hans Zimmer won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals at the Grammys for “Circle of Life.” The former also lent his vocals for the chant, and the same song was used in the 2019 remake of “The Lion King.”

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In his Instagram post, Lebo M wrote in the caption, “This is where we begin something important, a conversation dedicated to decoding the meaning behind the words, restoring the context, the culture, and the power they carry. Because some phrases are not just lyrics. They are legacy.”

Pop star Britney Spears is causing her friends and family considerable concern after she was pulled over on March 4 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. She was arrested and spent about three hours in Ventura County Jail before being released the following morning. Fans have been increasingly worried about the “Toxic” singer’s health since she was released from her court-ordered conservatorship in November 2021, after approximately 13 years of guardianship. According to some sources, fans have a right to be concerned.

Britney Spears’ Behavior Is Deemed A ‘Delicate’ Situation

Weeks after her arrest, a source told Us Weekly that her friends and family are treating this as a “delicate” situation, adding, “Everyone around Britney wants her to be healthy and stable, but you can’t force her to do anything.”

A second source went on to say that her loved ones had seen this coming, saying, “It wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ she would get arrested.” They also said that her family expressed relief that no one was hurt.

Britney’s Third Divorce May Have Caused The Spiral

Britney started dating former personal trainer Sam Asghari in 2016 after they met on the set of her “Slumber Party” video. The two got married in June 2022, but by August 2023, the aspiring actor had filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” in court documents obtained by The Blast.

One insider told Us Weekly that Britney has been spending a lot of time alone at home since her divorce, which “leads her to make bad choices.” They went on to say, “She has this tendency to think she’s kind of invincible, especially since she’s been free from the conservatorship. For a while, she felt like there were no real consequences, but lately, it’s started to catch up with her.”

Britney Spears Shared Her ‘Drug Of Choice’ In Her Memoir

In 2023, the “Crossroads” actress opened up about her career, her conservatorship, and her high-profile relationships in her best-selling memoir, “The Woman In Me.” In the book, she claims that she “never had a drinking problem” and said that her “drug of choice” was Adderall.

Now, the second source said that pills are her “real vice” and that she has “been privately struggling with it for two to three years now.” Now that her conservatorship is over, she has stopped being drug tested. This led the insider to claim that she has “started falling back into old habits.”

Sources Put The Blame On Britney’s Environment

Believe it or not, a large part of the concern for her well-being seems to be her partying in Mexico, as she spent her last two birthdays there. “That environment wasn’t good for her,” the first source claimed. “She had access to all kinds of pills, and there wasn’t anyone really keeping things in check.”

A third insider told the publication, “It’s not a safe place for her because there’s a lot of access to over-the-counter things. Who knows what she is getting and how it’s making her act.”

Another source even went on to allege that she has been “going to the pharmacy there for pills, including Adderall, because it’s more accessible than in the States.” In a December 2024 Instagram video, she alleged that she had moved there to escape the spotlight.

Britney’s Sons Have Been With Her Following The Arrests

The “Lucky” singer shares sons Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with her ex-husband, Kevin Federline. A fourth source told Us Weekly that she has seen both of her sons since the arrests, as she works to rebuild their relationship. The first source said that she listens to her sons “the most.” She has also reportedly been in contact with her mother, Lynne Spears, and her brother, Bryan.

“Britney has admitted she needs help, which is a big step, but getting her there isn’t simple,” the first source added, noting that they are being sensitive to her situation, as she is concerned that she could be placed under another conservatorship. Fortunately, at least one law expert has said that it is unlikely that her latest arrest will lead her back down that path.

Virgin River has been around long enough to have developed a large fan base, but its popularity remains somewhat underground. The show usually doesn’t trend on social media or generate much online conversation, but it is frequently among the top television shows people watch, finish, and will watch again on Netflix. Currently in its seventh season and on a record-breaking run as the platform’s longest-running scripted drama, Virgin River‘s success is driven more by audience habits than by major fanfare.

That’s basically the essence of Virgin River: it’s not trying to hook you in the first 10 minutes with some massive hook or high-concept premise. It settles in, and if you let it, you end up settling in with it.

A Setup That Doesn’t Try to Reinvent Anything

Image via Netflix

The show is honest from the start about what it is and isn’t. Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) is relocating from Los Angeles to Northern California to have a fresh start after the loss of her husband, and finds herself part of a community that is already burdened with its own issues—the local physician is obstinate, while Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) has his own past that complicates things for Mel.

The premise is uncomplicated, with no unnecessary surprise twists; the conflict is interpersonal and emotional (most of the time), and it is told as such. You won’t be surprised by anything while watching Virgin River, and you’ll expect to see what happens between people with a deep, existing relationship.

At this point, the show has put Mel and Jack through just about everything imaginable: health scares, addiction, pregnancies, losses, old relationships resurfacing — it’s a long list, and the series rarely lets up for long. Even when things start to stabilize, something else tends to show up almost immediately, complicating it again. That’s probably the biggest sticking point if you’re coming in fresh. There are moments where it feels like the show doesn’t trust its characters to just exist without adding another layer of conflict. The drama can feel stacked rather than organic, especially when multiple storylines hit at once, but it’s also part of what keeps the show moving. Even when a specific arc doesn’t fully land, there’s always something else in play, and that constant rotation of problems — big and small — means the series rarely stalls out completely.

The Pacing Only Works Once You Lean Into It

Image via ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

When you watch Virgin River one episode at a time, it feels like the pacing of the show is very slow. Long scenes, drawn-out conversations, and long delays before particular storylines align all contribute to a slow build. The show is not intended to build on urgency, nor has it ever attempted to achieve that. However, if you watch three or more episodes together, the show starts to make more sense.

The pace of the series was intended for the accumulation of its storylines, ultimately. One storyline inches forward while another one starts to resolve, and before you really notice, you’ve moved through a big chunk of the season. It’s less about cliffhangers forcing you into the next episode and more about the fact that nothing gives you a clean stopping point.

The characters hold the entire thing together, even though the plotting sometimes feels a little heavy-handed. Mel and Jack continue to be at the center stage, and with everything that keeps getting thrown their way, their dynamic still feels consistent enough to keep the show grounded.

The rest of the town evolves organically. Doc (Tim Matheson) and Hope (Annette O’Toole), Preacher (Colin Lawrence), Brie (Zibby Allen) — everyone has their own ongoing threads, and the show takes its time weaving them in and out without fully dropping them. It gives the series a sense of continuity that many streaming dramas no longer have. You’re not just following one storyline. You’re checking in on a place.

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‘Virgin River’ is Not Trying to Be Prestigious

Image via Netflix

There’s a version of this show that tries to scale itself up, to chase bigger twists or louder moments, and it probably wouldn’t last this long. Virgin River works because it doesn’t do that. It sticks to its formula, even when it gets repetitive, and trusts that the audience is there for the tone as much as for the plot. That’s also why it keeps performing. New seasons still climb Netflix’s charts, not because they reinvent anything, but because they deliver exactly what returning viewers expect. It’s familiar in a way that feels intentional, not lazy.

You don’t really plan to binge Virgin River; it’s the thing you put on at the end of the day, or in the background, or just to see what it’s like. Then a few episodes pass, then a few more, and by the time you think about stopping, you’re already deep enough into the season that it doesn’t make much sense to.

Several Scandal cast members have expressed their interest in doing a potential reboot in the future.

The drama created by Shonda Rhimes aired for seven seasons and starred Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young and more. Scandal followed Washington, D.C. fixer Olivia Pope (Washington) as she helped politicians navigate multiple conflicts with her crisis management firm. Olivia had her own personal issues as she was entangled in an affair with the president, played by Goldwyn.

Following the show’s end in 2018, the cast has remained close and have reunited at several events. While Washington, Goldwyn and more alums have expressed their interest in teaming up again to bring Scandal back, the decision is ultimately up to Rhimes. The creator previously shared that Scandal was done for good following the season 7 finale. However, Rhimes has admitted that Olivia was one of her favorite characters she made and would be interested in bringing her back for a future show.

“I like that character so much, even when she was bad,” she said of Olivia in a May 2023 interview with IMDB. “I like that character so much, she’s very interesting.”

Keep scrolling to see what the cast has said about a possible Scandal reboot:

Kerry Washington

During a March 2026 interview with E! News, Kerry Washington shared she would be interested in reprising her role of Olivia Pope, but the decision isn’t up to her.

“I feel like that’s a Shonda Rhimes question,” Washington said before joking that the internet has dubbed Chase Infiniti and Tyriq Withers as her and Tony Goldwyn’s characters’ fictional kids. “But you know, I do have these imaginary children that I’ve been taking selfies with all over town.”

Later that month, Washington confirmed during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast there have been zero talks about a reboot.

“There aren’t,” she said of a potential reunion before discussing the internet’s fictional casting of her and Goldwyn’s children. “But this joke about Chase Infiniti and Tyriq being our children, this is like the joke that will not die. And I love it so much. They actually do [look like us]. She has my smile, and Tariq has his smile. It’s so absurd.”

Tony Goldwyn

Tony Goldwyn was asked by Variety in September 2025 about if he would be interested in reuniting with his Scandal costars.

“We have reunions all the time,” he told the outlet, adding that creator Shonda Rimes had final say about whether it could happen. “It would be so fun. We’d have a blast.”

Scott Foley

Scott Foley, who played an additional love interest for Kerry Washington, exclusively told Us Weekly his thoughts on how to give fans a Scandal reboot.

“I think it would take Shonda Rhimes getting excited, having an idea of where all those characters, where they are in their lives,” he explained in December 2025, noting that his costars have been busy since the show wrapped. “Kerry’s everywhere right now. She’s got the new Knives Out sequel. I think it would take her slowing down a minute to give us some time to shoot some more Scandal.”

If they could make it happen, it would be an instant yes for Foley.

“If they say yes, I’m carrying their coattails,” he teased.

Guillermo Diaz

Guillermo Diaz, who portrayed former assassin Huck, shared that he and some of his other Scandal costars would be down for a potential film.

“I would love to do a Scandal movie. A couple of the other cast members have expressed the same,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2025. “But that’s all up to Shonda Rhimes, if she wants to do it or not, but I could see us doing like a cool Scandal movie, absolutely.”

Tina Knowles’ gumbo pop-up, Mama Tina’s Gumbo, reopened at the Houston Rodeo after the health department temporarily shut it down. The Houston Health Department pulled the plug on the food stand for undisclosed reasons, but Tina mom has hopped right back into the saddle once things were up and running again.

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Tina Knowles Gets Back To Serving Gumbo After Health Check

Even with the brief pause, Tina Knowles is still serving her gumbo at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo through March 22.  Officials stepped in and temporarily shut down her booth following a complaint investigation, according to PEOPLE. But in a statement shared by KTRK-TV on Wednesday, March 18, officials confirmed the vendor passed the inspection.

“The vendor was cooperative with the department’s recommendations and passed a subsequent inspection. It was authorized to reopen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026,” the statement explained.

Despite the hiccup, Mama Tina’s Gumbo kept the lines full of smiling customers, fans, and familiar faces like Letoya Luckett and Bun B. Tina even shared videos of them pulling up on Instagram and giving her gumbo their stamp of approval. The 72-year-old businesswoman first announced her Houston Rodeo debut in late February. Attendees have been able to grab a cup for $25 with seafood, beef sausage, chicken, shrimp, and blue crab and a chicken-and-sausage only option for $23, per USA Today.

The Roommates Hold Tina Down After Brief Shutdown

Once news about Tina’s gumbo shutdown hit The Shade Room, the comment section was flooded with reactions. Folks stood ten toes behind Mama Tina, saying they though the shutdown was shady. Meanwhile, others shared that they tried a cup and it was delicious.

Instagram user @visha1of1 wrote, “If her name wasn’t on it, this wouldn’t even be happening! It be your own people.” 

Instagram user @hyperhit_zeno wrote, “Ya own ppl will tear ya down I swear. She gonna be alright. Let’s go Ms. Tina!!!” 

While Instagram user @kalibabbyywontbeherelong wrote, “Sound like some hating 💩 honestly.” 

Then Instagram user @forthelifeofjazzy wrote, “At this point, I feel like she’s being picked on.” 

Another Instagram user @sprite713 wrote, “They can’t find nothin to hate on with Beyoncé so they gonna hate on her momma.” 

Instagram user @_bkrystal wrote, “She just was doing something she wanted to do as a hobby. She wasn’t making a career out of it. It was like a lemonade stand to her. Y’all take everything so serious.” 

While another Instagram user @thelovelylynette_ wrote, “I had it today, it was good! Most People really just hatin because the negative reviews are goin viral.” 

Finally, Instagram user @el_lotto_dst wrote, “It’s open it’s going great gumbo is very good don’t listen to haters 🔥” 

Tina Shares Why Her Gumbo Hits As TikTok Drops Their Reviews

Before Tina’s stand shut down, folks wasted no time doing a taste test and sharing their reactions. When one TikTok user by the name of @trendsetjetset posted her review the comment section filled with mixed reviews.

@hey_vagneyI just interviewed Mama Tina!Yes, Beyoncé’s mother! What a way to kick off the rodeo in Houston! Y’all, the gumbo is good too!♬ original sound – heyvagney

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Sarah Michelle Gellar fought the undead for seven seasons on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But when Hulu drove a stake through Buffy: New Sunnydale — the long-awaited revival that paired Gellar with Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao — the actress couldn’t fight back.

Gellar broke the news to fans in March 2026, calling out executives she says never believed in the project. Keep scrolling for everything to know about the reboot’s cancellation:

A Phone Call Revealed ‘Buffy’ Reboot Was Not Moving Forward

In March 2026, Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich, who oversees Hulu Originals, called to inform the team behind Buffy: New Sunnydale that the project was not moving forward.

According to Deadline, the two studios behind the reboot — 20th Television and Searchlight Television — had been in constant contact with the project’s producers and creative team. A pickup for the pilot starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Kiera Armstrong seemed imminent after its writers, Nora and Lilla Zuckerman, had done a rewrite.

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Handout/Getty Images Earlier this week, Us Weekly confirmed the cult classic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in talks for a revival, and now, Sarah Michelle Gellar who played the titular role of Buffy Summers more than 20 years ago, is breaking her silence. Gellar, who has been adamantly against a reboot for years, confirms […]

Gellar broke the news days later via her Instagram account, wanting fans to hear it directly from her.

“So I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me – unfortunately Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale,” she said. “I want to thank [director] Chloe Zhao because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots and thanks to Chloe I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you.”

She continued, “And this doesn’t change any of that. And I promise if the apocalypse actually comes you can still beep me.”

What Happened Next in the ‘Buffy’ Cancellation Saga

Sarah Michelle Gellar explained how she got the news during an interview with People published on March 16, 2026.

“I was just about to take the stage in front of all the fans,” Gellar recalled about the SXSW premiere of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. “Hulu had decided not to move forward with the Buffy revival. Let me tell you, nobody saw this coming.”

Gellar singled out an unnamed executive whom she blamed for standing in the way of the reboot from the start. (Deadline alleged she was referring to Craig Erwich.)

“We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, but was proud to constantly remind us that he had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn’t for him,” Gellar claimed during her People interview. “So that tells you the uphill battle that we had been fighting since day one, when your executive is literally proud to tell you that he didn’t watch it.”

Ryan Kiera Armstrong’s Response to ‘Buffy’ Reboot Cancellation

Ryan Kiera Armstrong also spoke out, posting an emotional Instagram Story on March 14, 2026.

“I’m sure many of you have already heard the news by now,” Armstrong said, getting emotional. “I wanted to come on here and say thank you for all of the support that you guys have given me and this show throughout the last couple months. It’s been really special.”

Filming the Pilot of the ‘Buffy’ Reboot

Sarah Michelle Gellar finished filming the reboot’s first episode in August 2025. Gellar exclusively told Us Weekly that month that it was “incredibly emotionally overwhelming” to be working on a new Buffy project.

“It’s just a place I didn’t know that I would find myself,” she admitted to Us. “While it was new, it was also incredibly familiar, and I feel very lucky.”

While the actress didn’t give away much about the upcoming show at the time, she revealed that the team “won’t change any of the DNA of the show,” including its campy vibes.

According to multiple sources cited by Deadline, Hulu’s main note was that the pilot played too young, with some indicating that the streamer also felt the show was too “small.” The original pilot was “not perfect”; some called it “not great,” the report alleged.

What Went Wrong for the ‘Buffy’ Reboot?

Deadline claimed there was no official news about why the show was canceled. One source close to the project compared the situation to completing a $3 million renovation only to find out that the house has foundation issues.

“Instead of fixing the foundation, you just walk away,” they told Deadline.

Disney Breaks Silence Over ‘Buffy’ Reboot Cancellation

“We have had a long and very successful relationship with Chloé [Zhao], Sarah [Michelle Gellar] and Gail [Berman] — their track records speak for themselves and they are incredible partners,” a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television said in a statement on March 18, 2026. “Our decision not to move forward with a series order is not a reflection of our respect and admiration for the creative team, including Lilla and Nora.”

Former Bachelorette Katie Thurston, who is currently battling cancer, is inspiring Andi Dorfman to look after her health.

“I got my first mammogram because of you,” Dorfman, 38, said in a Sunday, March 15, YouTube behind-the-scenes of their Bachelorette reunion, while Thurston, 35, put her hands over her mouth and replied, “Stop.”

Dorfman continued, “I did. I texted you, I told you that. I did.”

Former Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos then noted that she posted about her mammogram on social media.

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The Bachelorette’s Katie Thurston is celebrating the small victories following her breast cancer diagnosis. “Finished biopsy. Went much better this time,” Thurston, 34, wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, February 19. “Took lorazepam, explained my last appt struggles and asked for more numbing, and they allowed [my fiancé] Jeff [Arcuri] to be there holding […]

“I said, ‘I have a friend that’s going through this right now.’ And the stuff that you do on social media, I know it’s hard to share all of this stuff because [you’re] probably rethinking it every time,” Vassos said. “But you sharing it makes a difference.”

Thurston became emotional as she reflected on using her platform to encourage women to look after their bodies and health. She noted that the “medicine is working” and the “tumor is shrinking.”

“I have this platform as you all know to share with other women, to do your part, get your boobs checked,” Thurston said. “I’m just very fortunate that my medication is working and that I can be here and see all you guys in real life.”

After Thurston was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2025, she has continued to be candid about her battle.

“I had a small lump in my breast around the 10 o’clock [sic] spot,” she wrote via her Instagram Story at the time. “I discovered it myself. Thought maybe it was my period [or] maybe it was muscle soreness from working out. But, eventually, this lump never went away.”

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Katie Thurston was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2025 at the age of 34. “I had a small lump in my breast around the 10’oclock [sic] spot,” the former Bachelorette wrote via her Instagram Stories that same month. “I discovered it myself. Thought maybe it was my period [or] maybe it was muscle soreness […]

The next month, Thurston left L.A. to live in New York City before starting fertility treatments that would let her freeze her embryos. Days after Us Weekly exclusively revealed in March 2025 that Thurston and Jeff Arcuri tied the knot, she shared that her breast cancer had spread to her liver and put her at stage IV.

One year after her diagnosis, Thurston shared she had “stable” MRI and PET scan results.

“While that is a good thing, it is the first time in a year that my tumor isn’t shrinking, that it just is stagnant,” Thurston shared. “Which had me kind of spiraling a little bit.”

Thurston explained that the tumor remained stagnant because of pauses in her medication. “When you first start treatment, your body is in like shock,” she continued. “Suddenly I’m in menopause, suddenly I’m on really strong medication. So, it is common for the tumor to shrink significantly up front and then to kind of slow down that momentum as treatment continues. So overall in the last year my tumor has shrunk by 50 percent. That’s great news. The PET scan showed no new spread.”

Thurston also shared that she planned to have a double mastectomy.

“My latest update actually is that this Friday I’m going to be meeting with my surgeon to pursue a double mastectomy,” she explained. “My surgeon had approved it for my situation and so I’m going to see her in person this Friday and kind of go over things in detail to figure out what that looks like. ’Cause that’s a very big next step in my cancer treatment journey.”

Just like Raven-Symoné, Demi Lovato also has her own “Mount Rushmore” of iconic Disney Channel stars.

“It would definitely be Raven, Hilary [Duff], and I honestly agreed with her answer,” Lovato, 33, said on the Wednesday, March 18, episode of the “Chicks in the Office” podcast. “Hers definitely resonated.”

Symoné, 40, appeared on a recent episode of the “Stepping Into the Shade Room” podcast, where she was asked to pick the most influential Mouse House vets. The That’s So Raven star picked herself, Duff, 38, Shia LaBeouf and Lee Thompson Young.

“I would put in The Famous Jett Jackson,” Symoné said of Young, who died in August 2013 at age 29. “He is no longer with us, but he was the first Black show on Disney. Lee Thompson Young played … Jett Jackson, and I believe he should be on Disney Rushmore. He definitely deserves a spot.”

As for Lovato, she thought the Rushmore-type lineup should also “go back to the Mickey Mouse Club too.”

“[There were] people that were on Disney Channel prior to everyone I just named, you know, there was Britney [Spears] and Christina [Aguilera],” the Camp Rock actress acknowledged of the All-New Mickey Mouse Club variety show that also starred the likes of Justin Timberlake and Keri Russell. “Does that come first? Does that count? But, maybe not.”

Lovato wasn’t sure whether the Mickey Mouse Club cast would be applicable since they “didn’t transform Disney Channel into what it is.”

“I think Raven really did, Hilary really did that and I’m blanking on [who else she included],” the pop star said before the hosts pointed out that Even Stevens star LaBeouf, 39, was also included on Symoné’s lineup.

She replied, “I’m OK on that one, yeah, we can pass.”

Related: Demi Lovato Says Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus Comparisons Were ‘Challenging’

Demi Lovato got honest about the challenges of sharing the spotlight with Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus while on the Disney Channel. During the Tuesday, March 3, episode of Keke Palmer‘s podcast, Lovato, 33, was asked about the network “always pitting” her against Cyrus and Gomez, both 33, as child stars. Lovato noted that she […]

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Years after LaBeouf led Even Stevens, he had a string of legal troubles and was recently arrested in New Orleans last month after an alleged fight that he blamed on a “small man complex.”

Lovato, who starred on the network’s Sonny With a Chance and Camp Rock franchise, further acknowledged that she, Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus didn’t belong on the same Rushmore lineup.

“They came before us, you know what I mean?” she said. “They paved the way, and I think there could be a second Mount Rushmore for Disney Channel, which would probably be Jonas Brothers, Miley, Selena and hopefully me. Then, I think there’s another one that comes after, which is all the Disney stars that have [followed like Zendaya and Sabrina Carpenter].”

Lovato, however, played coy when asked by the Barstool podcasters which Jonas Brothers singer would get the top spot on the secondary Rushmore. When it was floated that Joe, 36, would get top billing over brothers Nick Jonas and Kevin Jonas, Lovato laughed.

Lovato, who is now married to Jordan Lutes, actually dated Joe on-and-off during their overlapping Disney years. They last reunited on the set of the upcoming Camp Rock 3, which Joe and his brothers appear in while Lovato produced the film.