Meghan Markle continues to face scrutiny after an outfit she wore during a visit to survivors of the Bondi Beach terror attack was featured on the AI fashion platform OneOff.

Critics called the promotion inappropriate, given the tragic context, which has now prompted the removal of the image.

The backlash has reignited debate over the commercialization of her public appearances, even as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry remain positive about their recent trip to Australia.

Meghan has reportedly had one of her recent outfits quietly taken down from an AI-driven fashion platform after criticism over its timing and context.

The Duchess, 44, had been featured on the site OneOff, which highlighted the exact outfit she wore during a visit with survivors and first responders connected to the Bondi terror attack in Australia.

The listing drew backlash, with critics arguing it was inappropriate to promote fashion linked to such a tragic event.

During the final day of their short tour, Meghan and Prince Harry, 41, met with lifeguards and individuals affected by the December 14 attack, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

The couple visited the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, where they spent time with survivors, including Jessica Chapnik Kahn, who later described the encounter as an “honor.”

Soon after, an image of the couple walking alongside surf lifesavers appeared on OneOff, drawing attention to Meghan’s outfit.

The look featured pieces from several brands, including a striped shirt by Matteau, jeans by Rollas, and accessories from labels like P Johnson Femme and Scanlan Theodore.

Experts Accused The Duchess Of ‘Hijacking’ The Tragedy And Then ‘Commercializing’ It

The online reaction was swift. Commentators accused Meghan of monetizing a solemn occasion.

Tom Sykes criticized the move in his Substack newsletter, calling it inappropriate to profit from clothing worn during a visit tied to a deadly attack.

“Selling the clothes off her own back at the site of a massacre where 15 people died might come easily to Meghan, but, like any right-minded person, I find this sickening,” he wrote, per Sky News Australia.

He also cited a former Buckingham Palace staff member who described the promotion as disrespectful. “To hijack it then nakedly commercialize it in this way is not just hugely disrespectful, it is also unbelievably shortsighted,” he added.

Richard Palmer echoed similar concerns, suggesting the situation is “perhaps the starkest example yet of Harry and Meghan’s efforts to commercialize their royal brand.”

He noted that while the couple no longer represents the monarchy in an official capacity, their actions can still reflect on the institution, and “may ultimately prompt further discussion about whether there is a need to strip them of their royal titles, now the King has shown it can be done in effect with Andrew.”

OneOff Removes Meghan Markle Outfit Post After Backlash

Following the criticism, the platform removed the original image and replaced it with a different photo of Meghan from earlier that day, showing her alone in the same outfit.

Meghan is believed to earn a commission on sales through OneOff and is also listed as an investor on the platform.

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Her profile features numerous outfits worn during the Australia trip, with her wardrobe for the visit estimated to reach almost $100,000.

There are also claims that, combining paid appearances and business-related opportunities, Meghan and Harry may have brought in close to $10 million during their time in Australia.

On April 19, Meghan shared a short video on her Instagram Stories capturing the couple’s return to California, where they were welcomed with a “Welcome Home” banner.

She also posted snaps of items brought back from Australia, including gifts for their children, such as Tim Tams, sweets, books, and handwritten notes.

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Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Remain Upbeat After Australia Trip

Despite the controversy, sources say the couple felt positive about their four-day visit, viewing it as a success.

Their schedule included engagements highlighting Indigenous culture, sporting initiatives, and a visit to a national war memorial, elements typically associated with official royal tours, even though they attended in a private capacity.

According to Express, an insider shared that Prince Harry left the trip feeling reassured, believing public sentiment may be shifting in their favor.

While they anticipated some criticism, they were reportedly encouraged by the “overall reception they received from the general public – and the causes they supported – was incredible.”

The Duke And Duchess Still Care About Working Closely With The Monarchy

The experience is also said to have reinforced Harry’s belief that he and Meghan are carving out a new kind of public role, one that blends independence with global influence. He is reportedly hopeful that this evolving approach will “impress” the royal family.

At the same time, there are indications that Harry may be open to repairing his relationship with his father, King Charles III.

Insiders suggest he sees value in working more closely together, particularly amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding the monarchy.

 A source added that Harry is ready to sit down with the King and move forward, potentially during his next visit to the UK in the coming months.

It cannot be understated just how large an impact Ted Lasso has had on the streaming industry. Not only did it help establish Apple TV as a titan in the space, proving the platform could produce distinctive, high-quality content, but it also introduced a new template for dramedies to be some of the funniest and most emotionally complex shows on television. Fans loved Ted Lasso‘s tone, which mixed wholesome ideas of family and self-improvement with nuanced explorations of mental health and human flaws many can relate to, and Stick followed in Ted Lasso‘s footsteps brilliantly. Stick‘s journey of a down-and-out, ragtag team going from a dysfunctional family to potential champions in the golf scene takes the best aspects from Ted Lasso and adds its own spin on them, with a dynamic cast that will have you easily falling in love with Stick and finishing the show in one weekend.

What Is ‘Stick’ About?

Apple TV’s 10-part series primarily follows Owen Wilson‘s Pryce, a former pro golfer who left the game in shame after a breakdown on the course. Wilson brings his typical casual charisma to the role, and his soft-spoken nature helps to convey how his character is trying to bury his past regrets and inner demons, such as his gambling addiction. One day, a washed-up Pryce seeks to redeem his lost potential after meeting Santi (Peter Dager), a young golfer with huge potential and an absent father, and taking him on the pro tour as his coach.

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This leads to a road-trip style narrative with Santi’s single mother, Elena (Mariana Treviño), tagging along to look out for her son, along with Pryce’s best friend and prickly confidant, Mitts (Marc Maron), and the politically conscious Zero (Lilli Kay), who acts as a new source of motivation for Santi while being a thorn in the more conservatively minded Mitts. With Santi struggling to take Pryce seriously unless Zero tells him to, and the constant bickering between Elena and Mitts, Stick showcases a family that often struggles to function, yet grows with each episode. Thanks to Stick’s linear structure, with Pryce coaching Santi through each tournament until they reach the big showcase event in hopes of earning a spot on the pro tour, the series is easy to watch and uses its simplicity as a way to explore its characters in considerable depth.

‘Stick’ Makes the Interpersonal Dynamics Between Characters the Highlight of the Show

With each episode, a new tournament also poses new obstacles for this family to overcome, from Pryce being too hard on Santi due to his struggles to be taken seriously, to Mitts and Elena’s arguments reaching a boiling point, to Santi and Zero having their growing bond tested. While the idea of winning and losing still holds stakes in Stick, it is seeing how these characters grow together that really holds the narrative together, and leads to touching scenes that reveal depths to the characters you might not at first see. Whether it is Santi opening up about how his father used to treat him, Mitts and his deceased wife, Pryce’s tragic past surrounding his ex-wife and son, or Zero’s struggle to find a long-term home, Stick manages to keep its tone light while including numerous touching and emotive explorations.

Pryce is the manifestation of this approach to storytelling. While Wilson is impossible not to like in almost any role, and this means the audience immediately feels sympathy for Pryce and his past, he is far from perfect. He regularly gambles more than he can afford and manipulates Santi into playing better. He does these things believing that winning the bet will help his destroyed self-worth or make Santi a better player, but it doesn’t distract from the fact that Pryce does have many inner flaws, making him a fascinating protagonist to watch, adding layers to an otherwise basic story.

With Season 2 of Stick in the works, and Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant returning, there is no better time than right now to binge all 10 episodes on Apple TV. While the idea of a down-and-out golf player taking a disadvantaged young man on the pro tour might sound like an overly simple tale, Stick is anything but bland. Its characters are what will have you keeping on pressing the next episode button, as watching this chaotic family bond is one of the most rewarding and emotional watches you will have this year.

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Release Date

June 4, 2025

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Network

Apple TV+

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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives usweekly is expanding with its first spinoff.

Hulu announced on Wednesday, April 22, that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County is coming later this year.

“A new group of dynamic young mothers in Orange County collide in a community where beliefs are not just their religion: they are their identity,” read the official synopsis. “While some defend their way of life, fighting against modernity, others embrace change, becoming a platform to disrupt the status quo.”

The description continued, “Scandals and secrets will be revealed, facades will crumble, and families and friendships will change forever on both sides of the battlefield as this group of strong, game-changing influencers comes together to build their answer to #MomTok. This is The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County.”

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County will star Aspyn Ovard, Bobbi Althoff, Avery Woods, Salomé Andrea, McCall DaPron, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease and Madison Bontempo.

Viewers were introduced to the Mormon Wives franchise after the OG show premiered on Hulu in 2024. The cast was made up of Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck, Demi Engemann and husband Bret Engemann, Whitney Leavitt and husband Conner Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews and husband Jace Terry, Mayci Neeley and husband Jacob Neeley, Jessi Draper and Jordan Ngatikaura, Taylor Frankie Paul and then-partner Dakota Mortensen and Layla Taylor.

Miranda McWhorter, meanwhile, joined the show in season 2 after her split from Chase McWhorter.

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Related: ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Family Guide: Meet the Stars’ 24 Kids

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives centers around Utah’s most famous #MomTok crew — but just how many kids do they all have? When the Hulu series premiered in September 2024, it starred soft swinger Taylor Frankie Paul and her TikTok mom frenemies Demi Engemann, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Jen Affleck, Whitney Leavitt, Jessi Ngatikaura […]

After airing four seasons — and hosting several crossovers with Vanderpump Villa — production was halted on the show in March after an alleged domestic violence incident between Taylor, 31, and Dakota, 33, in February. Dakota and Taylor subsequently filed temporary restraining orders against each other, with Dakota earning temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever. Taylor was granted supervised visits until their next court hearing.

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The Bachelorette also canceled Taylor’s season of the ABC reality dating series days before its premiere. Authorities have since confirmed that Taylor would not be charged with any crime for the February incident with Dakota.

“After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul,” District Attorney Sim Gill’s office said in a statement to Us earlier this month.

Us has since confirmed that production will pick back up. Taylor has hinted at a return but it remains unclear whether she will reunite with her costars on screen.

Stanley Tucci isn’t exactly denying Anne Hathaway’s playful accusation. After the actress jokingly labeled him the “biggest diva” on the set of “Devil Wears Prada 2,” Tucci leaned right into the bit, brushing it off with a self-deprecating quip that he’s “just terrible.”

The exchange came during a lighthearted sit-down featuring Tucci, Hathaway, and their returning co-star Emily Blunt, where the trio traded jokes about their on-set dynamic. At one point, Blunt even revealed why Tucci once branded her “shameless.”

During a recent appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Hathaway didn’t hold back when asked about her “Devil Wears Prada 2” co-star, joking that Tucci was the “biggest diva” on set because he’s “so fussy about his clothes.”

When Tucci stepped out for the film’s New York City premiere, the comment quickly followed him onto the red carpet. Asked to respond, the actor leaned into the joke rather than push back, brushing it off with a dry, self-aware quip.

“I’m awful,” he joked, per PEOPLE Magazine. “Just terrible.”

Host Taylen Biggs then reassured him that being called a “diva” is a good thing because it means one is very confident.

“Yeah, I think you’re right,” Tucci agreed.

Tucci Praised Hathaway For Her Magazine Cover Feature

Tucci also took a moment on the red carpet to hype up his castmate following her latest milestone.

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Reacting to Hathaway’s “World’s Most Beautiful” cover feature for PEOPLE, the actor kept things characteristically understated, offering a tongue-in-cheek compliment.

“It’s not so bad. She’s pretty good looking,” Tucci said, playfully downplaying what was widely seen as a major career moment.

Hathaway, however, didn’t hide her excitement. Reflecting on the shoot, the Oscar winner described the experience as surreal.

“It was such a fun day,” she shared, admitting the honor “was not something I ever, ever, ever expected.”

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Anne Hathaway Shares More Playful Beef With Stanley Tucci

Hathaway didn’t stop at calling Tucci a “diva.” She kept the jokes coming with another tongue-in-cheek complaint about her co-star.

During her appearance on “The Late Show,” the “Les Mis” star pointed out that despite Tucci’s reputation as a skilled cook, he has yet to make her a meal.

“That b-tch has not made me a morsel,” she quipped, per E! News, before revealing she’s been dropping hints for a while.

“I have dropped so many hints that I would love to know,” she added. “I was like, ‘Oh, so you went to Italy, and you learned this dish, what’s it like?’ And he’ll tell me, but I have not yet received a crumb. What am I doing wrong?”

‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Takes A New Direction

The original “The Devil Wears Prada” followed Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an aspiring journalist who lands a high-pressure job working for Miranda Priestly, the notoriously demanding editor-in-chief played by Meryl Streep.

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As Andy struggled to survive the cutthroat fashion world, she was forced to weigh career ambition against her personal life, integrity, and values.

Now, the sequel is set to flip that perspective. According to Variety, the upcoming installment will center on Miranda Priestly as she navigates the decline of traditional magazine publishing while trying to maintain her influence in a rapidly shifting industry.

The highly anticipated sequel is currently slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026.

Why Stanley Tucci Called Emily Blunt ‘Shameless’

Emily Blunt also shared her own funny run-in with Tucci during filming, revealing that he repeatedly called her “shameless” between takes. Speaking at the premiere, Blunt explained that the New York-born actor didn’t hold back when it came to teasing her on set.

“Whenever they would cut, Stan would be like, ‘You’re shameless. Shameless,’” Emily told E! News.

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Tucci is married to Emily’s sister, Felicity Blunt. That connection traces back to the original 2006 film, where the two actors first worked together before she later introduced him to her sibling.

Blunt added that the two didn’t share as many scenes as she would have liked, which only made the playful critiques stand out even more during the time they did spend together on set.

Judge Greg Mathis is entering a new kind of “dad era.” He recently celebrated his 66th birthday and his wife, Linda Reese, and their family dropped a special surprise on him. He shared the update about a week after reports revealed that Linda had withdrawn her divorce petition.

RELATED: Still The Mrs.! Judge Mathis’ Wife Linda Reese Reportedly Files Request To Dismiss Divorce (UPDATE)

Judge Mathis Is On A New Dad Journey

Mathis is a dad of four, including sons Amir, Greg Jr., and daughters Jade and Camara. But with his kids all being adults, his family gave him a new lil’ one to love as a 66th birthday present. He turned 66 earlier this month on April 5. On Monday (April 20), he shared on Threads and other platforms that his family had gotten him a golden doodle puppy to celebrate. He posted two selfies that showed him, his wife, and their new family member posing against what looks like a tropical background.

“Look at what my family got me for my birthday. Meet Scoie – my newest best friend,” Judge Mathis wrote in the caption.

While Scoie is his new dog bestie, the pup isn’t the first dog Mathis has owned. He has another one named Gigi, whom he’s previously described as family. In 2015, he shared a selfie on Facebook at the dog park with at least three dogs.

What’s Going On With The Judge & His Wife?

As previously reported, Linda Reese is keeping her Mrs. title! This month, she dropped her court request to end her marriage. She filed back in August 2024, putting 39 years of marriage on the line for “irreconcilable differences.” That same month, Greg publicly vowed to fight for his wife and warned other men to never neglect their wife or have too much fun at her expense. “I’m trying to get my wife,” he told TMZ at the time. Last October, the couple appeared on Tamron Hall’s talk show, assuring fans that he had kept his promise to fight for his marriage. A day after his birthday earlier this month, Linda filed to dismiss the divorce process.

Then, days after his birthday, Judge Mathis shared a photo dump featuring Linda Reese, revealing that they had taken their granddaughters boating. “These moments are PRICELESS,” he wrote in the caption.

Social Media Reacts To New Puppy

Under his Instagram comment section, Judge Greg Mathis’ fans flooded him with compliments about his new puppy, birthday and even his rejuvenated marriage!

@mzfranni wrote, “Golden doodles are theeee best!!! He so cute 😍 dogs are truly our bestieee happy birthday Judge🥳🥳.”

“❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ happy birthday unk hey there my auntie you looking so beautiful much love to you both,” @soul.forreal added.

“Judge Im so happy for yall 😍 me going thru a divorce you give me hope that a man will do everything possible to save his marriage to the woman he loves,” @monique.7 commented.

“Looks like your Wife is his favorite person😍😍😂,” @violettabron joked.

“awww may yall have some beautiful memories together ❤️❤️,” @miablessedtodd added.

“Happiness looks great on y’all! Stay blessed,” @mightylioness47 commented.

@lady_tee813 wrote, “Aww pretty pic. Love the dog. Stay together. Remember those vows. Beautiful family too.”

Meanwhile, PETA stopped by with a reminder about animal-based gifting. “Hi there! Reminder that animals are not gifts to be given on a whim, but rather individuals with personalities and complex needs that require lots of attention and care! Also, please remember when bringing an animal into your life adopt, don’t shop. So many animals in shelters are waiting for their forever homes,” the animal rights organization said. Mathis did not reply in the comment section.

RELATED: Rihanna Or A$AP Rocky’s Twin? Baby Rocki’s First Magazine Cover With Mom Hypes Fans (PHOTO)

Ari Fletcher officially launched her “Remedy” cosmetics line in 2022. Inspired by her signature glam, the brand became known for quality lip liners, glosses, eyeshadows, and more. From creative campaigns to fast-selling releases, Ari was proud of the rapid growth and success of her business. Things paused after Ari shared alarming news about issues with her former manager. Now, she’s updating supporters on what’s next for the future of Remedy.

RELATED: Come Thru, Then! Ari Fletcher Shows Off Her NEW LOOK After Doing The Big Chop! (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)

Ari Fletcher Accuses Former Manager Of Revoking Her Access To Her Business  

Back in March, Ari Fletcher took to social media, telling supporters not to purchase from her “Remedy” business until she regained access to her account. She explained why, saying, “My old manager will not give me access to any of my stuff that has my passwords, my money, all my sh**.”

Hoping customers would still receive shipped orders, she asked supporters not to continue to interact with the website for the time being. For years, Ari’s manager was known to be her longtime friend Brit, which led many to speculate about a possible fallout between the two.

Ari Says Goodbye To The “Remedy” Name And Hello To A New Chapter

On April 22, Ari took to social media with an update on her cosmetics line and what she’s planning next. The entrepreneur shared a heartfelt message with supporters about stepping away from the “Remedy” name.  After not regaining access to the site, she says she made the decision to move forward with a rebrand.

“To my beautiful supporters,This isn’t easy for me to say, but I’ve always promised to be real with you. As many of you know, I built something very special with Remedy. It wasn’t just a brand, it was a reflection of healing, confidence, and the love I poured into every product. But behind the scenes, I was in a business situation that no longer aligns with my values or the trust I stand on. Because of that, I’ve made the difficult decision to let go of the name Remedy. And while that’s emotional for me, I want you to know this:

THIS IS NOT AN ENDING. 

I’m not letting go of what we built together. The products you love, the quality, the intention, the energy, that’s all still here. If anything, it’s stronger now. I’m taking everything that made Remedy special and bringing it into something new… something that truly represents me, my vision, and what you deserve.

THIS ISN’T A REPLACEMENT

.THIS IS AN EVOLUTION.

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A new name, a new chapter but the same heart behind it all.Thank you for trusting me, growing with me, and supporting me through every step.I promise you, what’s coming next is even better.

With love, Ariana.”

Ari made it clear that this is not the end of her brand. She reassured supporters that the products, quality, and vision will continue under a new name. In her caption, she added, “I’m not losing my brand, I’m protecting it.”

Lastly, she paired the message with ‘Let It All Work Out’ by Lil Wayne.

Social Media Reacts 

Many gathered under The Shade Room’s comment sections as they reacted to Ari’s announcement. Many fans and peers expressed support, encouraging her to keep pushing forward. Others shared their reactions while speculating about what may have happened between Ari and her former manager.

Instagram user @aaliyahmeshell_ wrote, “You can take the name but not the heart behind the products, you got this boo!!”

Instagram user @badbitchestherapy added, “And all she gonna do is elevate from this never do shit with people and give them full control no matter how close they always gonna take it and think about themselves”

While Instagram user @exclusive_elations wrote, “Kyle’s kisses” 💋 new name …evil willnever prevail 🌹 🕊️ “

Instagram user @lorrnatee wrote, “They would’ve just now been getting me off of Brit!”

Instagram user @keasiakae added, “Brit deadddd wrong for that, I was just about to buy my glosses”

While Instagram user @sweetladylondoyn5286 wrote, “Oh. We not broke today??”

Instagram user @_soshadykd, wrote, “I would’ve sued the manager”

Instagram user @la_reina_11 added, ““How does a manager have that type of power to block you out of your OWN brand 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔 Unless the manager have some type of play in the name?”

While Instagram user @dejthestylist_ wrote, “Ari matured so much because the old her would’ve did a lot even though that’s very much needed in this case but she handling It very grown”

RELATED: Ari Fletcher Goes OFF While Addressing Claims She Helped Orchestrate Fight Between Aspen Kartier And Summyah Marie (VIDEO)

Actress and writer Lena Dunham is reflecting on the release of her new memoir, “Famesick.” The tell-all book was released on April 14 and is a bit different from her first book, “Not That Kind of Girl,” which was a collection of essays about growing up. “Famesick” provides a more chronological look at her rapid rise to fame, focusing on her struggles with endometriosis while filming “Girls,” as well as her high-profile relationships with her “Girls” co-star Adam Driver, “Girls” showrunner Jenni Konner, and long-term boyfriend Jack Antonoff.

On April 21, Dunham took to Instagram to share a long carousel of photos featuring her wearing headphones at different points in her life. She reflected on the lengthy press tour she went on to promote her new book, and thanked her fans for their support amid some of her more personal confessions.

“The last week was a whirlwind- marched through it all with as much purpose as I could, vowing hourly to be both boundaried [sic] and present, self-protective and open to connection- an impossible dance, really, the feminine dance!” she wrote. “But I wanted to do everything I couldn’t almost ten years ago when I last poked my head out to this degree. The good thing was I knew why I was doing it, and I didn’t leave very much room to really experience the reality of putting the (my) last two decades in print.”

“That’s a sort of goodbye, isn’t it? The real reason to lay down our definitive telling is so that we can move on,” she added.

Dunham Talks About Heading Back To Her ‘Adopted Homeland’

After leaving the U.S. for London, Dunham recalled her long trip back home while listening to Grace Ives’ song “Stupid B-tches.” She talked about how she got in the car in Boston at 1:30 AM on a Friday, “to barrel toward the plane that would take me away from my first homeland and back to my adopted one.”

“So on a new highway I put my headphones on, cranked up my current favorite woman with feelings anthem (Stupid B-tches by Grace Ives) and had one of those unstuck in time, ‘Did I just do acid by accident?’ moments: I was every Lena who has ever worn headphones!” she recalled, listing, “Lena at 23 in LA, taking Fountain to my first meeting with HBO. Lena at 8, my first Walkman blowing my mind. Lena at 25, 29, 33, watching a new city pass. Lena at 35 falling in love, Lena at 38 missing her parents.”

“I was the Lena who wrote the book and the Lena who was scared to write the book,” she continued. “And then, finally, I was the Lena who has finished the book.”

Lena Dunham Explains Why She Was ‘Sobbing’

That realization seems to have caused an emotional moment for her. As she wrote, “Suddenly and surprisingly I was sobbing (rarer than you’d think!) It was this big feeling that the story I’d been carrying around was not the story I was living. The stuff in those pages was over. The only thing I could compare it to was when something feels interminable- and then… it passes.”

She then went on to thank her fans for their support, adding, “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has welcomed the book with such gentleness and care. Thank you to everyone who has come and laughed with us on the tour.”

“Thank you to everyone who has made this great passing through possible. I am full of a very dense gratitude, a gratitude that has shifted something previously quite unshiftable,” she continued. She wrapped up her lengthy Instagram post, writing, “It’s a feeling I wish for everyone I love, have loved, will love, don’t know. I love meeting you here, on the other side.”

Dunham Wrote The Book One Month After Leaving Rehab

In another Instagram post from September 2025, Dunham recalled how she started writing the book thirty days after leaving rehab. “I was in the cloud of delirium that comes with new sobriety — the world was suddenly so LOUD, and I thought that meant I knew what I was hearing,” she wrote.  

“If you’d told me then that the writing process would take me through the next seven years, I probably would have ripped up my contract and chucked my laptop in the tub,” she continued. “Throughout my twenties, writing was all pure immediacy. I’d have an experience, put some version of it through the filter of fantasy, and it would be playing on television six months later.”

Lena Dunham Said She Wrote To ‘Process’ What Happened To Her

After explaining how writing was her version of processing what happened to her at the time, she admitted that she “hadn’t lived enough life to deal with it in retrospect.”

“I didn’t understand the value of time — to heal us, to make sense of where we’ve been, to actually change the patterns we keep replaying in our work and our art,” she continued. “The gift this book has given me over the last seven years was that it was always there. No matter what changed — my location, my body, my mind — there was a constant: this place I could go to try and make sense of the story.”

“When we finally set a publication date for Famesick, I felt something like grief,” she wrote. “One of my steadiest companions was leaving. But it’s time.”

She went on to state that although “Famesick” would mostly focus on the years between 2010 and 2020, “a decade in which my life changed profoundly and permanently,” she admitted, “Whenever I write about me, I hope, deeply, that it’s also about you.”

It never stops being some combination of funny and sad how the Fast & Furious series has gone beyond growing over the years, and is instead gradually growing out of control. It was originally a spin on Point Break, but with more car racing (as in that’s what the first movie was). Then, it became more about heists than racing, and a little after that, the stakes were raised further, and the ragtag group of heroes were basically spies, and maybe even superheroes, at a point. Two characters notoriously went to space for real, after jokes about that being where Fast & Furious was headed. It’s that kind of series, and Fast X (2023) really emphasizes the bloat. It is the messiest and most overstuffed of all the movies in the series, which means that parts of it are great, and parts are frustrating. The usual suspects, like Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Jordana Brewster, all show up, alongside newcomers to the series like Brie Larson, Jason Momoa, and Alan Ritchson.

And that’s really only scratching the surface, when it comes to cast members here. There are so many more people, but basically, the film is about Momoa’s character wanting revenge for the death of his father, which happened back in Fast Five, and he targets Vin Diesel’s Dom and Dom’s whole massive (and infamous) family. Also infamous: the cliffhanger Fast X ends on. Now, it’s been three years, and news about an 11th movie, titled Fast Forever, has been out for a while, so that would imply a continuation of Fast X (especially because Fast Forever is purportedly being made as a grand finale to the whole series). But still, if you want to go into what might come next, and the role Alan Ritchson (best known for playing the titular character in Reacher) plays in Fast X, talking about the ending to the 10th film is necessary. So…

The following article will contain spoilers for Fast X.

What ‘Fast X’ Is About

Image via Universal Pictures

Fast X is about too much. Yes, there’s Momoa as Dante Reyes, son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), trying to get revenge for his father’s death at the end of Fast Five, which also involves targeting Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), but not until a mid-credits scene. Oh, and right before the end credits, it turns out Gisele (Gal Gadot) is still alive, after having seemingly died in Fast & Furious 6. And she reveals herself to Letty (Rodriguez) and Cipher (Charlize Theron), the latter being a villain who’s stuck around beyond her introduction. Also, Letty was dead, at one point in the series, but came back. And in F9, Han (Sung Kang) was revealed as not being dead, so he has to reconnect with Gisele in Fast Forever, one would assume, since they were a thing. And he does stuff in Fast X, interacting with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who was the one who almost killed Han.

This isn’t even everything. There is too much in Fast X, and so many famous people just keep on showing up that it’s no wonder the budget blew up and out of control, estimated to be one of the most expensive movies of all time. Fast X’s commitment to not forgetting about past characters is admirable, but sort of unwieldy, especially with all the unneeded resurrections. It means that the supposed deaths at the end of Fast X feel unlikely to stick… well, John Cena’s Jakob, maybe? But not Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han, who were on a plane that got shot down, right near the end, by Alan Ritchson’s character. Ritchson is good at playing intimidating characters, owing to his physique and overall on-screen energy, but usually of the antihero variety (see Reacher)… so that makes his turn at the end of Fast X more than a little surprising.

The Role Alan Ritchson Plays in ‘Fast X’

Fast X ending with a cliffhanger felt less painful when there was a general sense of its follow-up being only a couple of years away. But then Fast Forever got Beyond the Spider-Verse’d (and, what do you know, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse also came out in 2023 and had an agonizing cliffhanger ending). At the end of Fast X, Giselle is alive somehow, Dom and his son (Leo Abelo Perry) are in the path of water from a dam that’s set to explode, most of Dom’s team are on board a plane that’s just been shot down, and Ritchson’s Aimes is the one who’s done that shooting, having revealed himself as being aligned with Dante Reyes the whole time, in secret.

Aimes had been a little suspicious the whole movie, but still, plenty of characters in these movies are kind of snarky, and Dante did come across as someone able to do a lot while working alone (Momoa’s character is hammy enough that you believe as much). The idea of him having an accomplice is something, though, and it would be good for Alan Ritchson to be given a bit more to do in Fast Forever. As frustrating as the cliffhanger is, the visual of him shooting down the plane is memorable (even if the likelihood that any of the four main characters on it are actually dead remains unlikely).

What ‘Fast X’ Could Do (or Not Do) With Ritchson’s Character in the Next Movie

Image via Universal Pictures

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Okay, so, Fast Forever is still up in the air, at the time of writing, in terms of what will happen. No one knows beyond (one would hope) the people making it, but even then, it was in March 2026 that Michael Lesslie was reported as replacing Zach Dean, so maybe it really is a case of “no one knows (yet).” Giving Momoa and Ritchson more to do seems like a no-brainer, because the former was the highlight of Fast X, and the latter could be well-utilized post-plot-twist. If nothing else, Ritchson getting into a brawl with someone similarly physically imposing, like Dwayne Johnson, could be good to see for sheer spectacle.

Hopefully it’s good, whatever happens. The past few-hundred words have been a bit dismissive of some parts of this whole series, and especially certain parts of Fast X, but there is also something wonderful and endearing about this action-heavy soap opera-esque saga that’s spanned more than a quarter of a century, at this point. Expecting Fast Forever to be a highlight of the series is a big ask, and maybe even irrational, though if it’s just a fitting send-off, you’d assume most fans of the family will be happy. All will be clear about two years from now… uh, barring any further delays. You never know. No one knows.

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Fast X

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Release Date

May 19, 2023

Runtime

142 minutes

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Director

Louis Leterrier

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