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Entertainment

7 Worst Retcons in Movie Sequels

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Jason Momoa as Dante stands with his arms outstretched in Fast X.

There is an unspoken Hollywood adage: With a long-running franchise, comes a more ridiculous retcon. Retcons themselves can be a useful storytelling tool when they’re used to expand a universe or add new layers to beloved characters. Without retcons, there would never be X-Men: Days of Future Past and a Creed trilogy. Even the Fast & Furious franchise would be dead decades ago if they did not retcon Dominic Toretto into globe-trotting heist masterminds. However, most of the times, retcons are just simply lazy excuses when the filmmakers ran into a storytelling obstacle. And yes, unfortunately, the Toretto family is guilty of some of the worst ones.

The movies on this list, except for one, are part of enduring movie franchises. These movies have the responsibility to continue and therefore, make increasingly weird choices in order to do so. These retcons include undoing hard-earned victories or resurrecting obviously dead characters, and these choices frustrated fans and even left lasting scars on some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.

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7

‘Fast X’ (2023)

Jason Momoa as Dante stands with his arms outstretched in Fast X.
Jason Momoa as Dante stands with his arms outstretched in Fast X.
Image via Universal Pictures

With all the villains from the previous movies being either locked up or turned into one of the family members, Fast X introduces Dante Reyes, played by Jason Momoa as the big bad for the final installments of the physics-defying franchise. Dante is revealed to be the son of drug lord Hernan Reyes, the villain defeated in Fast Five. Dante was present in the events of that movie and has spent the last decade meticulously planning revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family.

While not impossible, this retcon is hilarious because during their recon in Brazil, Dom and his crew never even noticed the hulking son of their main target. Dante himself is a larger-than-life character so it feels difficult to suspend disbelief that he is part of the Reyes family. He could very well be his own man. Momoa’s performance is entertaining, and arguably one of his best yet, but this is just another example of the series trying to reach for straws. The franchise has increasingly relied on surprise connections to create new villains, and by this point the formula was becoming predictable. In their defense, it’s the tenth film in the long-running franchise after all.

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6

‘Spider-Man 3’ (2007)

Sandman about to use his arm as a mace in Spider-Man 3
Thomas Haden Church as Sandman in Spider-Man 3
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

The first Spider-Man established that Uncle Ben’s death was caused by a criminal Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) selfishly allowed to escape. That tragic mistake formed the foundation of Peter’s guilt and ultimately inspired him to become Spider-Man. Spider-Man 3 rewrites this history by revealing that Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church), who later becomes the Sandman, was actually the man who fired the fatal shot.

Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man movies, albeit great and influential, follow a formula. The villain has to have a personal connection with Peter and later, Mary Jane becomes the damsel in distress. In this third film, there are too many coincidences, and Sandman being the person who killed Uncle Ben, is the biggest offender of them all. The reveal feels unnecessary because Sandman was already a sympathetic and complex villain without being connected to Uncle Ben. Instead of enriching the story, the retcon makes the universe feel smaller as though New York City only consists of ten people max.

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5

‘Kingsman: The Golden Circle’ (2017)

Eggsy and Harry Hart shaking hands in Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Taron Egerton and Colin Firth as Eggsy and Hart, shaking hands in Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Image via 20th Century Studios

The first Kingsman film features one of its most shocking moments when Harry Hart (Colin Firth) is shot directly in the head by the big bad, right after defeating a congregation of crazed villains. His death serves as a turning point for Eggsy’s (Taron Egerton) growth, forcing the young recruit to step into the role of hero. Instead of committing to it, Kingsman: The Golden Circle reverses this by revealing that Harry survived thanks to advanced medical technology developed by the American Statesman organization.

The retcon damages the emotional weight of the original film because Harry’s death was supposed to matter. It demonstrated that the superspy world is dangerous and that even the best spy could die. Bringing him back feels very much like an empty fan service, even though Colin Firth is spectacular and charismatic. The explanation itself stretches credibility even within the fantastical world of Kingsman. In doing so, the film kept it small and went back to Harry, instead of expanding the universe and putting the focus on new characters like the Statesman agents, who are practically window dressing in the film.

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4

‘Halloween: Resurrection’ (2002)

Michael Myers grabs onto some wires as flames surround him in 'Halloween: Resurrection'.
Michael Myers grabs onto some wires as flames surround him in Halloween: Resurrection.
Image via Dimension Films

Halloween H20 appeared to provide a definitive ending to Laurie Strode’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) story. After years of trauma and fear, Laurie finally confronted Michael Myers and decapitated him in a brutal final showdown. Released just four years later, Halloween: Resurrection immediately undoes this by revealing that Michael had secretly switched places with a paramedic before the decapitation. Laurie had unknowingly killed an innocent man while Michael escaped unharmed, allowing the killer to continue his rampage.

H20‘s ending was celebrated because it gave the franchise a rare sense of closure. So naturally, fans hated this retcon because it invalidated one of the most satisfying endings in slasher history. Laurie’s victory was meaningful because she finally overcame the monster that had haunted her life. By introducing a last-minute body-switch explanation, the sequel effectively tells audiences that the emotional payoff they celebrated never actually happened. Nevertheless, the film shows that the Halloween franchise is everlasting. This is evidenced by five films, including three that continued Laurie’s story, released after this one.











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Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz
Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving?
Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky
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Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you’re not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one.

🏕️Jason

🔪Michael

💤Freddy

🎈Pennywise

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🪆Chucky

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01

Something feels wrong. You can’t explain it — you just know. What do you do?
First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty.





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02

Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong?
Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply.





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03

What is your most reliable survival asset?
Every survivor has a quality the villain didn’t account for. What’s yours?





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04

What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through?
Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it.





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05

You’re with a group when things start going wrong. What’s your role?
Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn’t.





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06

What’s the horror movie mistake you’re most likely to make?
Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not.





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07

What’s your best weapon against something that can’t be stopped by conventional means?
Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it.





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08

It’s the final scene. You’re the last one standing. How did you make it?
The final survivor always has a reason. What’s yours?





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Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated
Your Best Chance Is Against…

Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck.

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Camp Crystal Lake · Friday the 13th

Jason Voorhees

Jason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit.

  • He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn’t strategise, doesn’t adapt, doesn’t outsmart. He simply pursues.
  • Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge.
  • The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance.
  • You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected.

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Haddonfield, Illinois · Halloween

Michael Myers

Michael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it’s too late for anyone who isn’t paying close enough attention.

  • But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound.
  • Michael’s power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is.
  • Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had.
  • You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it.

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Elm Street · A Nightmare on Elm Street

Freddy Krueger

Freddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised.

  • You are harder to destabilise than most. You’ve faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven’t looked away.
  • The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it.
  • Freddy’s greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on.
  • Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here.

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Derry, Maine · It

Pennywise

Pennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it.

  • The Losers Club didn’t survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly.
  • You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away.
  • That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise’s worst nightmare.
  • It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all.

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Chicago · Child’s Play

Chucky

Chucky’s greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it’s already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is.

  • You don’t have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance.
  • Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone.
  • Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing.
  • Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing.
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3

‘Spectre’ (2015)

Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) stands over a restrained James Bond, looking him in the eye in Spectre.
Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) stands over a restrained James Bond, looking him in the eye in Spectre.
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
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For decades, Ernst Stavro Blofeld is portrayed as the ultimate James Bond’s nemesis. After losing the rights to the character for several years, Spectre brings the adversary to face off against Daniel Craig‘s Bond. However, the new backstory reveals that Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) and Bond grew up together after Bond was taken in by Blofeld’s father. Blofeld became jealous of the attention Bond received and spent years building a global criminal empire. Taking a page from Fast & Furious villains, Blofeld claimed that all his previous enemies are part of his organization.

But that sounds like a stretch, right? What are the odds of Britain’s greatest spy and the world’s most dangerous man being foster brothers? In previous iterations, Blofeld was frightening because he represented a vast criminal threat with ambitions beyond Bond himself. Turning him into a jealous surrogate brother reduces his mystique and makes his motivations petty. Skyfall was acclaimed because it explored Bond’s personal side, but Spectre took it too far, making it downright ridiculous. Instead of being personal for Bond, this somewhat mirrors Austin Powers and Dr. Evil’s story, in which they are secretly twin brothers.

2

‘F9: The Fast Saga’ (2021)

Close up of Sung Kang as Han looking to the left wearing a black leather jacket and hoodie in Fast X
Close up of Sung Kang as Han looking to the left wearing a black leather jacket and hoodie in Fast X
Image via Universal Pictures
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The writers of the Fast & Furious franchise are like The Avengers travelling in time. They have moved timelines to work around Han’s (Sung Kang) death in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. As the breakout character of the spin-off, Han was brought back until his death seemed certain in the post-credit scene of the sixth film. Apart from revealing that Dom has an actual brother, one of the most surprising moments in F9: The Fast Saga is that Han is actually alive, thanks to the help of Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell).

As one of the fan-favorite characters, many fans are happy to see Han return. But the problem is that the explanation requires audiences to disregard years of established continuity and emotional investment. Han’s death shaped major storylines, particularly Deckard Shaw’s (Jason Statham) redemption arc. Once Han is revealed to be alive, many of those emotional beats lose their impact. The retcon highlights a growing problem in the franchise where death becomes increasingly meaningless because any character can potentially return. Up next, Gisele (Gal Gadot) is slated to return in Fast Forever, even though her death set up Han’s journey in Japan. It’s so confusing.

1

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)

Rey blocking Emperor Palpatine's force lightning in The Rise of Skywalker
Rey blocking Emperor Palpatine’s force lightning in The Rise of Skywalker
Image via Lucasfilm
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Perhaps no modern blockbuster retcon generated more backlash than the revelation that Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) somehow survived his apparent death in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This reveal undermines Anakin & Luke Skywalker’s story from the previous six films. Palpatine is said to be a clone created by Sith cultists, and shares a lineage with Rey (Daisy Ridley). The movie couldn’t even muster a proper explanation, as Oscar Isaac‘s Poe said it best: somehow Palpatine returned.

The retcon is widely criticized because it shows that the sequel trilogy was made without a clear plan in mind. The previous films never properly set up Palpatine’s return. But after the fan backlash for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the folks at Disney and Lucasfilm thought they needed to course correct and win back those fans who had blown things out of proportion. They opted for the safe route: bring back J.J. Abrams and reinforce nostalgia by bringing back Palpatine, instead of developing Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) further to threaten Rey and the new rebellion. Star Wars never fully recovered after this mess. The franchise resorted exclusively to making shows set in past timelines and never explored post-Rise of Skywalker storylines. This hopefully will change with next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter.

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Tia Mowry Goes IN About Her Relationship Details And New Boo

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My Man, My Man! Tia Mowry Goes IN About Her Relationship Details And Spills Tea On New Boo (VIDEO).jpg

Y’all! Tia Mowry has the timeline doing a double-take after fans clocked her recent glow and started wondering what’s really behind it. The actress recently opened up about her love life and says this whole relationship isn’t just luck—she insists, “I deserve it all!”

RELATED: Heart Eyes Everywhere! Tia Mowry Shares Glimpse Of Baecation With Her Boo & Fans Are Loving The Vibes (PHOTOS)

Tia Mowry Opens Up About New Boo

While appearing on SiriusXM’s ‘Today Show Radio,’ Tia revealed she is dating a man named Javon’e, a teacher with a master’s degree who has also studied in France. She couldn’t stop gushing about him, describing him as “an artist” and “an avid reader,” and sharing how their relationship is rooted in calm, intentional habits. The couple keeps things calm and intentional, spending Wednesdays at a Buddhist temple together to meditate and reset. Tia shared that her man even reads to her at night before bed, adding that they’re currently going through books focused on co-parenting since they both have children around the same ages. She didn’t hold back on the praise either, calling him a “wonderful human being” as she continued to gush over their connection.

Our Girl Really Pulled A Ciara With This One

Tia went even deeper into what makes him stand out, praising his emotional intelligence and how he shows up for her. “Some of the things that he just says, like ‘How can I support you?’ His emotional intelligence is amazing,” she shared. She also reflected on her journey to finding love after her 2022 split from ex-husband, Cory Hardrict, saying she had to sit in solitude and truly learn herself first. “I really needed to sit in…solitude and…learn who I am first,” she explained.

Now in her manifestation era, Tia says she intentionally called this relationship in. She revealed she once made a list of qualities she wanted in a partner, paired with meditation and visualization. “I would meditate about the feeling that I would want to feel—and the feeling was my nervous system being safe,” she said, adding that she believes that sense of peace is exactly what she’s experiencing now.

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The Internet Said “We See You, Tia”

As soon as this popped up on their timeline, fans wasted no time running straight to TSR’s comment section to weigh in. Some joke that Tia Mowry is literally just a girl living her soft life out loud. While others argue that her boyfriend receives praise for doing the bare minimum. However, plenty of commenters feel inspired, writing down everything she says in hopes of manifesting their own perfect man, too.

One Instagram user @drmarshaevans said, “I honestly love this for her 🥹🫶🏾”

This Instagram user @jezarriches added, “So wait you said…✅notebook ✅music✅candles  ✅dream about my nervous system being safe Okay I’ll be right back🏃🏽‍♀️”

And, Instagram user @nicolethekey wrote, “She’s giddy, he’s cute! Love this for her 🥰 Life is to be lived

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However, Instagram user @gohard721 claimed, “Women be so gassed in the beginning 😂 He ask me if i want butter on my toast he’s so considerate

Meanwhile, Instagram user @quitaa_ shared, “Cuz why am I cheesing so hard listening to this 🥹”

While Instagram user @just_brandzz commented, “She lost me at Buddhist lol but happy for her 👏 👏😂”

RELATED: Mystery Solved? Apparent Details Emerge On Tia Mowry’s Alleged New Boo After Viral Kissing Photo

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Jenni ‘JWoww’ Farley Pulls Off Ultimate Wedding Surprise

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Jwoww and her husband at Dexter Resurrection World Premiere

Jenni “JWoww” Farley pulled off the ultimate surprise for her closest family and friends by disguising her wedding as a movie premiere. The “Jersey Shore” star and longtime fiancé Zack Carpinello secretly tied the knot on June 24 after inviting 50 guests to what they believed was a special screening of Farley’s upcoming film, “Nanny Cam.” Instead, attendees arrived to discover they were about to witness the couple exchange vows. The elaborate plan remained under wraps for months as the couple carefully orchestrated every detail of the surprise celebration.

Jwoww and her husband at Dexter Resurrection World Premiere
RCF / MEGA

Farley and Carpinello transformed Madison Modern Social in Old Bridge, New Jersey, into what appeared to be a film premiere. From movie-themed invitations and signage to a red carpet entrance, every detail was designed to convince guests they were celebrating Farley’s latest project rather than attending a wedding.

“We envisioned a small, meaningful celebration focused on the people who matter most to us,” Farley told PEOPLE. “We weren’t interested in throwing the biggest wedding possible. We wanted an unforgettable moment shared with our closest family and friends. The goal was creating memories, not creating a production.”

She added, “More than anything, we wanted the day to feel authentic to us. The surprise element, the family focus, and the intimate guest list all allowed us to create something personal and meaningful.”

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The Couple Couldn’t Wait To See Everyone’s Reactions

Jwoww and husband at 2019 MTV awards
Jen Lowery / MEGA

According to the newlyweds, keeping the wedding secret for months made the big reveal even more rewarding.

“We’ve spent months keeping this secret, creating invitations, planning the movie-themed details, and building the surprise,” the couple shared ahead of the ceremony. “Seeing our family and friends go from thinking they’re attending a special screening for ‘Nanny Cam’ to realizing they’re actually at our wedding will be a moment we’ll never forget.”

When guests arrived, they were greeted by the local mayor, who also served as the wedding officiant before revealing the true reason everyone had gathered.

A ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Wedding With A Dark Romance Twist

Jersey Shore cast
Jaxon / MEGA

Rather than opting for a traditional ballroom wedding, Farley and Carpinello chose the contemporary restaurant because it allowed them to create a more intimate atmosphere centered around family instead of an extravagant production. The décor featured deep ruby reds, candlelight, romantic florals, and rose-gold accents inspired by what Farley described as “a modern “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale with a dark romance twist.”

“Ruby became the thread that tied everything together,” she explained. “From my ruby ring and Zack’s new rose gold wedding band featuring rubies, to our color palette and the gifts we incorporated for our children, the ruby represented love, family, and the next chapter of our story.”

The bride also included a heartfelt tribute to her longtime best friend and former “Jersey Shore” castmate Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi by walking into the ceremony to Lana Del Rey‘s “Young and Beautiful,” the same song Polizzi used for her first dance. “It’s a tribute to my best friend,” Farley said.

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JWoww Made Sure Her Children Were Part Of The Celebration

Farley and Carpinello emphasized that the wedding wasn’t just about the two of them but about the family they’ve built together over the past seven years. Farley shares daughter Meilani, 11, and son Greyson, 10, with ex-husband Roger Mathews.

During the ceremony, Carpinello presented Meilani with a ruby birthstone ring while Greyson received a soccer-themed gift. “This wedding is about our family, not just the two of us,” the couple shared. “We wanted the day to celebrate not only our love story but also the family we’ve built together over the last seven years.”

Their Love Story Began Years Before The Proposal

Zack Carpinello and JWoww at 2019 MTV VMAs
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Although Farley and Carpinello grew up in neighboring New Jersey towns, they didn’t begin dating until years later. Carpinello proposed during Farley’s 36th birthday celebration atop the Empire State Building in 2021, creating what she described as a deeply meaningful memory after experiencing several difficult birthdays following the loss of family members. “It was incredibly thoughtful and made an already special day even more meaningful,” Farley recalled.

After saying “I do,” the newlyweds revealed they’ll celebrate the next chapter of their lives with a honeymoon through Italy and Switzerland before returning home to continue building memories with their children, family, and friends.

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Whitney Houston’s Bodyguard Calls BS On Oprah Winfrey’s Claim

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Whitney Houston at PRESS CONFERENCE FOR BENEFIT CONCERT IN WASHINGTON DC

Whitney Houston‘s longtime bodyguard remains her sworn defender even after her death.

Ray Watson recently protected the late singer from false claims, sharing his perspective on what happened during her 2009 appearance on Oprah Winfrey‘s show.

The incident began trending after Oprah Winfrey claimed Whitney Houston had fallen off the stage because she had relapsed. However, Ray Watson begged to differ.

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Whitney Houston at PRESS CONFERENCE FOR BENEFIT CONCERT IN WASHINGTON DC
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Watson recently addressed Winfrey’s viral claims in a virtual interview shared on YouTube. He confirmed Houston took a tumble off the talk show stage in 2009, but it wasn’t because she was high, as the host claimed.

The bodyguard confessed that he couldn’t recall what Houston was doing at the time, whether it was a sound check or something else. But he remembered her walking towards the front of the stage and someone trying to warn her as she moved closer to the edge.

“When she got to the edge, I think somebody told her, ‘Watch, be careful, watch it.’ And then she went down,” Watson told TMZ’s Charlie Neff, adding that the area had been too dark for Houston to notice the end of the stage.

The Late Singer Laughed Off The Incident And Went Back To Business

Whitney Houston at Clive Davis Annual Pre-Grammy Party Beverly Hilton Hotel
Nikki Nelson / WENN/ MEGA

Watson recalled everyone panicking and rushing to the “All the Man That I Need” hitmaker’s side, but she got back on her feet before they reached her. He noted Houston laughed off the incident, telling people that she didn’t see the edge before falling off.

While everyone, including her bodyguard, was worried she was hurt, the singer hopped back on the stage and finished what she was doing. When asked if Houston had been having trouble with addiction when the incident happened, Watson said:

“I will tell you the truth about it, and this is the honest truth. I never seen Wendy get high. Never seen. I speculated, but I never saw her. I never seen her do it.”

The Bodyguard Slammed Oprah Winfrey For Waiting Years To Drop Her Claims

Oprah Winfrey at The Six Triple Eight World Premiere
@AFF/CR/Steven Bergman / MEGA

Watson added that at the time of Houston’s fall, she never appeared to be high, nor did he notice any indication stating otherwise. When asked why Winfrey believed the cultural icon had relapsed, he stressed that he could not see through her eyes.

Despite noting that Winfrey was entitled to her own opinions, Watson couldn’t help but slam her for waiting until Houston’s passing to drop her claims. “Whitney’s not here to rebut. She’s not here…Now they say that she waited so many years before she said it. Well, why didn’t you say it then?” he wondered.

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The bodyguard also called BS on the talk host’s claim of not sharing the story earlier to protect Houston’s career. He stressed that he did not believe Winfrey and reiterated that she waited 17 years to drop her allegations instead of facing Houston while she was alive.

The Talk Show Host Faces Backlash Following The New Narrative

Oprah Winfrey in a jacket
MEGA

Watson’s words sparked a wave of support for the late singer, with many fans echoing his words in the comment section. They slammed Winfrey for allegedly trying to stay relevant by spreading false information about Houston.

“Oprah is a menace,” someone declared, with another questioning the talk show host’s motive for sharing the 2009 incident. “F-K Oprah!!! You all haven’t learned that yet??? Oprah is shady as hell!!!” a third alleged, with more fans sharing the same view.

A YouTube user claimed Winfrey was infamous for never telling the truth, with another agreeing. A fellow critic believed the media personality was “jealous of any other famous Black person that outshines her, whether dead or alive.”

Whitney Houston arriving at LAX airport to catch a Delta flight
Los Angeles
Michael Wright/WENN.com/ MEGA

Watson wasn’t the only one defending Houston’s name, as her loved ones pushed back against Winfrey’s high claims. The late entertainer’s sister-in-law, Pat, addressed the incident through a lengthy statement on Instagram.

The Blast covered the story, reporting that she matched Watson’s narrative of the stage being too dark for the singer to see the edge. Pat admitted that the “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” hitmaker faced many personal battles, like everyone else.

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However, she argued that it was unfair to attach these struggles to every little incident in Houston’s life. Pat urged people to remember the cultural icon for her achievements as an artist, stressing that she was owed “the dignity of telling the truth, not repeating myths.”

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‘Scavengers Reign’ Artist Returns With a Breathtaking New Sci-Fi Graphic Novel Sneak Peek [Exclusive]

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bflvzv8tqbs8hciy7pvyonyfmgk-1.jpg

Jonathan Djob Nkondo has developed a following as a bit of an international rockstar artist for his work in animation and beyond. He’s perhaps best known for working in the animation department of HBO Max‘s short-lived, widely acclaimed, and visually stunning sci-fi series Scavengers Reign, directing both Episode 2, “The Cure,” and Episode 7, “The Storm,” of the Emmy winner. More recently, he lent his talents to the virtual band Gorillaz for their short film, The Mountain, The Moon Cave, and The Sad God, released back in February as an artistic promotion of their latest album. Now, he’s bringing his style to the page with a much-anticipated graphic novel titled Peaceful Remission, and Collider is excited to offer an exclusive preview courtesy of Magnetic Press and Oni Press of what lies within.

Peaceful Remission inhabits a similar realm to Scavengers Reign, taking place in a dreamlike sci-fi depiction of the future. At the center of it all is an elderly couple living a quiet life in a satellite asteroid home orbiting Earth, but beneath their peaceful existence lies a long-simmering frustration. Things finally boil over when, on one evening, they hear an ominous rumble in the night, spurring Marlène to finally express her annoyance with her husband Jerry’s passivity. The cracks in their relationship widen when Jerry spirals into obsession over a discovery, leaving his wife in charge of his health and well-being, and their ordinary everyday tasks, like driving and shopping, are pulled through a surreal new perspective. It’s a futuristic relationship drama, both written and illustrated by Nkondo, that grapples with the “emotional weight of routine,” the unspoken love between two people who have been together for so long, the fatigue they feel together, and the illusion of tranquility in the seeming isolation of space.

Our preview is a showcase of Nkondo’s style, using purposefully simple, clean artwork to illustrate the calm of space. It follows Jerry during a walk outside his and Marlène’s home, seemingly as he’s about to head back to his wife. He’s accompanied by lines of broken dialogue, only highlighting singular words out of a jumble of letters to create some ambiguity about the conversation being had. The only clear words come from Marlène, who is busy telling Jerry about an extreme frustration she has with something at the store, something that feels surreal given the setting. As he’s opening and shutting the door and floating through low-gravity, there’s a quiet exhaustion to Jerry that illustrates how this never-ending routine has worn on them both.

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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars

Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

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🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

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  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.


The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

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  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.


Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

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  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.


Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

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  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.


A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

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  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.

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‘Peaceful Remission’ Captures Nkondo’s Personal, Deeply Human Style

While Scavengers Reign never got a second season at HBO Max or Netflix despite the love there was for the story being told, Nkondo clearly made an impression. Also counting Love, Death + Robots and League of Legends among the titles he’s worked on, the French-Congolese artist saw his graphic novel explode on its official Kickstarter hosted by Magnetic and Oni Press, with over 3,000 fans backing the sci-fi project. His work appears to be a perfect fit for Magnetic, which has played host to the works of dozens of other internationally recognized talents and earned 37 Eisner Award nominations. The company’s Director of Publishing, Mike Kennedy, hailed Nkondo’s new story as a perfect encapsulation of the type of deeply personal and human work that has garnered him such a loyal following.

“Jonathan Djob Nkondo’s work as an animator, storyboard artist, and director has earned him a broad community of fans and respect around the world, and these personal graphic novels highlight his keen eye for world-building and pacing. Peaceful Remission is a heartfelt and haunting look at what the future might have in store and the timeless joys and struggles of relationships.”

Peaceful Remission will span 260 pages and will be available in book stores and comic shops starting on September 16. Check out our exclusive preview in the gallery above.


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Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

Network
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Max

Showrunner

Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner

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Directors

Charles Huettner, Christine Jie-Eun Shin, Diego Porral, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Joseph Bennett, Rachel Reid, Vincent Tsui

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Writers

Sean Buckelew, Charles Huettner, James Merrill, Joseph Bennett, Jenny Deiker Restivo, Jillian Goldfluss

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Inside Bailey Zimmerman’s Alleged Breakdown Amid Hotel Incident

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Bailey Zimmerman in Concert - Uncasville, Connecticut

Bailey Zimmerman is opening up about the hotel incident that briefly put his skyrocketing country music career in jeopardy, and now, an insider is shedding new light on what allegedly led up to the emotional episode. Just days after the 26-year-old singer publicly accepted responsibility for damaging a hotel room at New Mexico’s Sandia Resort & Casino, a source claims the incident followed a deeply personal period marked by heartbreak, emotional exhaustion, and the pressures of overnight fame. The revelations come after prosecutors dropped the criminal case against Zimmerman once he paid full restitution to the hotel.

Bailey Zimmerman in Concert - Uncasville, Connecticut
TKP/MEGA

According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Zimmerman had been struggling privately in the days leading up to the incident. “He didn’t eat and had a ton of tequila and was going through heartbreak,” the insider claimed.

Although Zimmerman is not currently in a relationship, the source said he had recently gone through a breakup that left him emotionally vulnerable.

The insider insisted the singer does not have an ongoing drinking problem, adding, “He didn’t have a drinking problem and doesn’t have a problem when drinking.” Instead, they described the incident as the result of multiple stressors colliding at once.

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“He was going through a mental breakdown,” the source claimed. “A sh-tty situation happened and he didn’t handle it the way he should have, but he’s a human being.”

Fame Allegedly Took A Toll On The Rising Country Star

Bailey Zimmerman in Concert - Uncasville, Connecticut
TKP/MEGA

The insider also suggested Zimmerman’s rapid rise to country music stardom left little time to adjust to the industry’s demands. “Bailey got thrown into this whole thing and is still learning,” the source said. “Where most guys have years in bars and paying dues and messing up privately, his first big tour was opening for Morgan Wallen.”

Zimmerman first exploded on TikTok before quickly becoming one of country music’s fastest-rising stars with hits including “Fall in Love,” “Rock and a Hard Place,” and “Religiously.” His meteoric success led to major tours alongside some of the genre’s biggest names, including Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.

Zimmerman Publicly Accepted Responsibility

Bailey Zimmerman at CMA Music Festival 2026
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Following news of the incident, Zimmerman released a lengthy public apology to fans and the Pueblo of Sandia. “I want to address the events surrounding my canceled show in New Mexico in May and the reports that have followed,” he wrote. “First things first, I want to apologize to the Pueblo of Sandia and to everyone at Sandia Resort & Casino. I never meant for any of this to come across as disrespectful. I am deeply sorry for my actions that transpired.”

The singer went on to say he took “full accountability” for what happened and apologized to concertgoers whose show was canceled. “To my fans who bought tickets and showed up expecting a performance, I am so sorry; you deserved better from me,” Zimmerman said. “I understand that being a musician comes with big responsibilities, both on and off stage, and I know that I fell short that day.”

He concluded by promising to learn from the experience: “I am committed to doing the work necessary to learn and grow.”

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Criminal Charges Were Later Dropped

Bailey Zimmerman at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Press Room
imageSPACE / MediaPunch / MEGA

Zimmerman initially faced one felony count of criminal damage to property over $1,000 and one misdemeanor count of falsely obtaining services after authorities alleged he caused approximately $16,000 in damage to his hotel room and left behind more than $400 in unpaid alcohol charges. However, prosecutors later dismissed both charges after Zimmerman paid full restitution to the hotel.

His attorney said the singer “immediately took responsibility for his mistake,” helping resolve the case without further legal proceedings.

The Incident Wasn’t Zimmerman’s First Public Apology

Bailey Zimmerman at 2025 CMA Festival
MBS/MEGA

The New Mexico incident marked the second time Zimmerman has publicly apologized for alcohol-related behavior while performing. In January 2025, the singer addressed widespread criticism after appearing intoxicated during a performance at the Crash My Playa festival in Cancún, Mexico.

Videos from the concert showed Zimmerman singing off-key and struggling through portions of the set before knocking over a microphone stand. Afterward, he posted an emotional video acknowledging the disappointing performance. “I got up on stage, and I was too drunk to play. And I sang awful, I played awful. Nobody got the show that they wanted or paid for. And I’m disappointed in myself,” he said.

“I’d like to talk about something that’s been eating me alive,” he continued. “Last weekend, down in Cancún, Mexico, I’m sure everybody’s seen the videos of me playing absolutely awful and singing absolutely awful and I feel like you guys deserve an explanation from me because you’ve had my back through the highs and lows and through every mistake.”

Months later, Zimmerman reflected on the experience, saying it had permanently changed his perspective. “I’ve kind of grown up a lot since then and a lot more focused, and all the things that something like that will do to somebody,” he said. “So yeah, life has been really good.”

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Now, with his legal troubles behind him, the rising country star says he hopes to continue growing both personally and professionally.

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Win Tickets to Our Early ‘Star City’ Season Finale Screening and Q&A With Creators and Alice Englert

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It’s no secret that Collider hails Apple TV as the leading streamer in sci-fi television, and so it is with great pleasure that we announce our partnership with them for our next special event screening. We’re thrilled to invite our readers to join us for an early theatrical screening of the Season 1 finale of Apple TV’s critically acclaimed sci-fi drama, Star City. After the eighth and final episode, creators, showrunners and executive producers Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert and series star Alice Englert will hit the stage for an exclusive conversation, diving into the behind-the-scenes details for the first season, and a discussion on what’s next for their alternate timeline. Read on for the full details on how you can enter for your chance to win free tickets.

After changing the course of history with their critically acclaimed drama For All Mankind, Nedivi and Wolpert take us back to the very beginning of their alt-history space race. In Season 1, we’re taken behind the Iron Curtain to explore the lives of the Soviet space program’s cosmonauts, engineers, and the intelligence officers hiding among them. Their paranoid thriller stars Rhys Ifans as the Chief Designer, Josef Davies as Sergei Nikulov, Priya Kansara as Lakshmi Chadha, Anna Maxwell Martin as Lyudmilla Raskova, Agnes O’Casey as Irina Morozova, Solly McLeod as Sasha Polivanov, and Alice Englert as Anastasia Belikova.

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‘Star City’ Season Finale Screening Details

Don’t miss your chance to experience the finale of Star City Season 1 unlike you’ve seen the series before, on the big screen. Join us in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 9th, at the AMC Century City theater. The screening will begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Q&A with Nedivi, Wolpert and Englert moderated by Collider’s Steve Weintraub. All guests will receive free popcorn and soda!

How to Get ‘Star City’ Season Finale Tickets

This advanced screening is going to go fast, so don’t wait to claim your tickets! Be among the first to see the conclusion of Star City’s first season in a theater. For your chance to win free tickets to see the Star City Season 1 finale, plus an exclusive Q&A conversation with Nedivi, Wolpert and Englert, hit this link to provide us with your email address. This special fan screening with the cast and creatives will fill up quickly, so grab your seats before they’re gone. Be sure to let us know if you’d like to bring a guest with you, and RSVP as soon as possible to secure your spot. Keep an eye out for an email from us. We’ll be contacting the winners in the days leading up to July 9th. Only confirmed RSVP’s will gain admittance to the screening.

Finally, if you’re a huge fan ofFor All MankindandStar Cityand feel like you need to be at this event, you can also emailthecollidermailbox@gmail.comand tell us why you should be chosen. It can be a single sentence or as much as you’d like — just let us know why you want to attend.

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Star City is available to stream exclusively on Apple TV. Keep an eye on Collider for more special screening events.


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Release Date
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May 28, 2026

Network

Apple TV

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Showrunner

Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert

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Cast

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    Anna Maxwell Martin

    Lyudmilla Raskova

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    Agnes O’Casey

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    Irina Morozova

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    Alice Englert

    Anastasia Belikova

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Bunnie XO Makes Wild Joke After Jelly Roll Split

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Bunnie Xo at the 2026 Grammy Awards

Bunnie XO isn’t letting heartbreak stop her from cracking jokes. Just weeks after Jelly Roll filed for divorce, the podcast host turned an unexpected prison-themed message from a fan into one of the funniest moments on her show. 

While reading through the flood of direct messages she’s received since news of the split broke, Bunnie compared the end of her nearly decade-long marriage to serving time behind bars, leaving her co-hosts and likely listeners in stitches.

During the latest episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie XO revealed that her inbox has been overflowing since her split from Jelly Roll became public.

Although she said she had only responded to two messages, she couldn’t resist reading some of the more outrageous ones aloud for her co-hosts.

One message came from a man who revealed he was nearing the end of a lengthy prison sentence and hoped to take her out once he was released.

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After hearing the message, Bunnie admitted she wasn’t bothered by the sender’s incarceration, joking, “So listen. I don’t mind that the dude’s in prison.”

However, one particular line caught her attention. “What I don’t like is he said, ‘let me go out and have a time with you,’” she said, explaining that it sounded as though he expected far more than a first date.

Her co-host, Hailee Clark, agreed, while Bunnie joked that the wording immediately changed her opinion of the invitation.

Bunnie Compares Her Marriage To A ‘10-Year Bid’

Bunnie Xo at the 2026 Grammy Awards
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The conversation quickly became even more playful after co-host Meme Shahan pointed out that someone leaving prison after a decade might be eager to make up for lost time.

Bunnie XO immediately fired back with the line that sent the studio into laughter. “I mean, same. I just got out of a 10-year bid too bitches, what are we talking about?” she said.

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As the room erupted, Clark responded, “How the turn tables,” while Bunnie laughed that she was probably going to receive a phone call after making the joke. She quickly clarified she wasn’t being serious, telling listeners she was “just cutting the rug buddy.”

Bunnie XO And Jelly Roll’s Divorce Surprised Fans

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO at Pre-GRAMMY Gala 2026
Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

The joke comes only weeks after Jelly Roll officially filed for divorce in Williamson County, Tennessee. 

Court documents list May 9 as the couple’s date of separation, while the filing on May 18 cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending the marriage.

The news caught many fans off guard, particularly because the pair had continued publicly celebrating one another throughout recent months.

According to a source who spoke with PEOPLE, the country star still deeply cares for Bunnie despite deciding to move forward.

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The insider said Jelly Roll will “always love her,” but added that loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean remaining married.

The source also explained that the singer is in a dramatically different place than when the couple first met, saying he felt healthier, more focused, and more in control of his future than ever before.

Bunnie And Jelly Roll Continue To Speak Highly Of Each Other

Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO at the 68th GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala
ADM/Capital Pictures / MEGA

Despite ending their marriage, those close to the former couple say there is still tremendous respect between them.

Friends noted that Bunnie XO stood beside Jelly Roll during some of the hardest years of his life, long before chart-topping albums and award nominations changed his career. 

She believed in him when few others did and helped him navigate difficult personal struggles as he worked toward success. At the same time, insiders emphasized that the support wasn’t one-sided.

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“Jelly has also been there for Bunnie through a lot,” another insider said of the singer. “He’s supported her over and over again throughout the years, through ups and downs,” a source explained. 

Bunnie XO’s Ex Says Jealousy And Heartbreak Tore Their Marriage Apart

Bunnie XO at Pre-GRAMMY Gala 2026
Tammie Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Amid her divorce from Jelly Roll, fresh drama erupted around Bunnie XO as details about her past marriage resurfaced.

As The Blast reported, Francisco “Frankie” Lombardo, Bunnie’s second ex-husband, claimed their relationship was passionate but ultimately unraveled under the weight of jealousy, financial struggles, and family turmoil. 

He alleged that the media personality’s relationships with “sugar daddies” created tension throughout their marriage until they split in 2014, although he insisted she never met them in person. 

“I was super jealous. I wanted her all to myself. There was definitely some arguing and stuff that took place,” he admitted. 

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Lombardo also shared that, besides jealousy, his family’s legal and financial troubles ultimately “totally destroyed our relationship,” as they had a “very big influence” on how their marriage unraveled. 

Despite describing the breakup as something that “destroyed” him, he revealed the pair remain in regular contact and still share a friendship.

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Mahershala Ali’s Genre-Bending Reunion With His Former ‘Blade’ Director Gets Thrilling First Trailer

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Mahershala Ali's Genre-Bending Reunion With His Former 'Blade' Director Gets Thrilling First Trailer

After a relatively light past three years, including roles in Jurassic World Rebirth, Leave the World Behind, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali has a lot to look forward to in 2026. On October 23, he’ll be heard as part of the star-studded voice cast of Laika’s long-gestating new stop-motion fantasy epic, Wildwood. He’s also gearing up for a trip to Pennsylvania as one of the big new additions for Season 2 of Task at HBO Max. Before either of those, though, the walls will close in on the Moonlight star in a new genre-bending actioner bowing in theaters this fall.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother casts Ali as Latif, a deeply religious hitman trying to maintain a balance between his work, his faith, and fatherhood. That life suddenly becomes much more difficult and morally ambiguous when his wife dies. To protect his children, he sets out on a frantic journey across Houston that will test both his devotion and his skills with enemy forces zeroing in on him. As his external war threatens to undo him, his beliefs start to unravel from within, completely shaking who he is at his core. Under Orion Pictures, it’s aiming to be a proper awards contender when it arrives this fall, and Amazon MGM Studios has just shared the first trailer to tease exactly why.

Not only will Your Mother be blending genres, leaning into action thrills with character-focused drama with Latif, but it’ll also juggle a variety of different themes. For Ali, the hitman represents a character unlike any he’s ever embodied, whose profession directly runs up against his faith and jeopardizes those he loves. Like Latif, there will be a balancing act to show how such a person can still find ways to be a good father and look out for his kids in a life built on death. Ali called him “the most honest and complicated character I’ve read in a script” when teasing the film at CinemaCon earlier this year, adding that the project is “exactly the kind of movie I’ve been wanting to make.”

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Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz
Which MCU Hero Are You?
Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap

Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory?

🕷️Spider-Man

😈Daredevil

🤖Iron Man

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💀Punisher

Thor

🛡️Cap

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01

What drives you to do what’s right?
Choose the answer that feels most like you.






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02

It’s 2 AM. Where are you?
Your answer says more about you than you’d think.






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03

How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice?
Every hero has a method. What’s yours?






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04

How do you feel about keeping a secret identity?
The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.






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05

You’ve lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that?
Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it.






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06

What’s your role when working with a team?
Who you are under pressure is who you actually are.






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07

Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge?
The answer defines what kind of hero you really are.






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08

When you’re not saving the world, what does life look like?
The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story.






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09

What keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.






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10

The battle is lost. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do?
This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully.






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Your Hero Has Been Identified
Your MCU Hero Is…

Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed.

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Queens, New York

🕷️ Spider-Man
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You carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing.

  • You do the right thing not because it’s easy, but because no one else will.
  • You understand that responsibility isn’t a burden you choose — it’s one that finds you.
  • Whether it’s a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up.
  • Peter Parker’s lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn’t a slogan to you. It’s the code you live by, even when it costs you everything.


Hell’s Kitchen, New York

😈 Daredevil
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You fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free.

  • You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks.
  • You’ve looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy.
  • Matt Murdock’s duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own.
  • Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you.


Stark Industries, Malibu

🤖 Iron Man
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Brilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem.

  • You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic.
  • You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility.
  • Tony Stark’s arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too.
  • You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you’re willing to give everything. Because in the end, you’re Iron Man.


New York City

💀 The Punisher
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You’ve been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What’s left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief.

  • You don’t ask for forgiveness, and you don’t expect gratitude.
  • You see a corrupt, broken world and you’ve decided to do something about it, consequences be damned.
  • Frank Castle’s war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours.
  • Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute.


Asgard · Protector of the Nine Realms

⚡ Thor
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Powerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry.

  • You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth.
  • You’re larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on.
  • Thor’s story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector.
  • You bring the storm when it’s needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much.


Brooklyn, New York · The Avengers

🛡️ Captain America
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You believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will.

  • You don’t bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard.
  • Steve Rogers didn’t become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you.
  • Your strength isn’t in your fists; it’s in your refusal to compromise what’s right, no matter the cost.
  • In a world full of people taking the easy road, you’re the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time.

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‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Is a Marvel Reunion for Ali

Joining Ali is a stacked supporting cast headlined by John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, and Severance breakout star Tramell Tillman, fresh off his upcoming MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Also on board are Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tiffany Boone, and Adia. Arguably the most intriguing part of the project, however, is who’s behind the camera — Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq. Originally, Tariq and Ali were meant to work together on Marvel’s Blade movie, but the project has been stuck in the mud for years now and the filmmaker ultimately departed back in 2022. Your Mother will finally give the duo their chance to shine together outside the MCU, complete with Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari as producers alongside Tariq.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will get a limited release in New York and Los Angeles on September 25, followed by nationwide expansions on October 2 and 9. Check out the trailer in the player above.

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‘The Bear’s Final Season Earns Its Michelin Stars as a Masterpiece

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Jon Bernthal as Mikey sitting at a food counter next to Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie in

Around this time last year, I made the declaration that The Bear should have ended with Season 4. I felt that the finale, which saw Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quitting and handing over The Bear to Syd (Ayo Edibiri) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), was the perfect bow on top of the series, and that the show didn’t need any more seasons. Well, I’m willing to admit that I was wrong.

The Bear Season 5 brings the show back to the beginning, with eight streamlined, high-energy episodes that embody everything fans love. Once again, a chaotic night of service is at the center of it. This time, the series channels The Pitt and 24 by setting the entire season, except the finale, over the course of one day. Without unnecessary frills and over-the-top cameos, showrunner Christopher Storer strips The Bear Season 5 down to the basics and proves that the series has never needed much more than that.

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‘The Bear’ Season 5 Was Made To Be Binged

While the intensity of this show, especially during Season 2, has meant that you might need to take a break between episodes, The Bear Season 5 feels designed to be watched all in one night. The frenetic pacing of the episodes flows easily into one another, making the season feel like one big movie. As the kitchen deals with flooding, storm traffic, overbooked tables, and a lack of food, the tempo never lets up, and the crew is forced to keep moving forward, as if stopping will bring all of this to an end.

The audience is given a break from the unending barrage of conflict with small, quiet scenes between characters. It’s a tried-and-true method, one that feels unique to The Bear. Whether it’s Richie talking some sense into Carmy during a smoke break or Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) crafting an artistic dish made out of brussels sprouts in her home kitchen, these little interludes allow the viewer to take a breather before being plunged back into chaos. The pace of the episodes only reaches a true hiccup when we follow Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), The Computer (Brian Koppelman), and The Computer’s protégée, Cheese (Elsie Fisher).

Jimmy’s storyline this season mainly consists of him scrambling to get back all the money he’s lost after some bad investments and funding the largest money sink known to man: restaurants. It’s not that Platt isn’t good in these scenes; he and Koppelman have witty banter, and Fisher’s Cheese is a wonderful addition as a vaping Zoomer and the upgraded version of her uncle. It’s just that Jimmy’s conflict never feels as pressing as what’s happening at The Bear. Sure, he’s the guy who is financing all this, but it doesn’t feel like there’s any true threat because we know Ebra’s (Edwin Lee Gibson) plan for franchising is always in the distance, ready to swoop in and save the day. In the kitchen, not only are tensions constantly high, but even if Jimmy pulls through with the money, something can always go disastrously wrong, and that’s where the stakes lie.

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‘The Bear’ Season 5 Proves Once Again That the Cast Anchors the Show

I’ve praised Ayo Edebiri in the past for her performance on The Bear, and Season 5 proves her immense talent through and through as she takes Syd from her final steps as an uncertain, burgeoning chef into someone who can not only manage a full team but does it far better than Carmy ever could. Edebiri, who is deft at navigating both comedic scenes and drama, is easily the standout of the entire series, and by the end, it almost makes us wish there was more of The Bear coming with Syd fully at the helm.

Alongside Edebiri is Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who has also been one of the show’s best and most reliable performers. Following the emotional standalone episode “Gary”, written by both Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, Richie has finally reached his final form. Much like Syd, whose journey was also peppered with insecurity and uncertainty, the season finally confirms that Richie is standing on his own two feet — not only surviving working at The Bear, but thriving. If Carmy’s decision to give the restaurant to Syd and Richie felt sudden at the end of Season 4, Season 5 proves that he knew what he was doing.

Speaking of Carmy, White shines in Season 5 in a way he hasn’t since the beginning. After three grueling seasons of seeing him struggle with his anxiety, his grief, and his trauma, The Bear finally lets viewers see the result of Carmy’s slow growth. White is fantastic as a newly evolved Carmy who not only realizes he’s made the right decision but also acknowledges that his attitude and temper have caused their downfall. For the first time in a long time, it doesn’t feel like White is being overshadowed by his co-stars, and his performance reminds us why we’ve been rooting for Carmy this whole time.


Jon Bernthal as Mikey sitting at a food counter next to Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie in

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’The Bear’s Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Break Down the Most Uncomfortable Scene in “Gary”

Season 5 of ‘The Bear’ will drop in full on Hulu on June 25th.

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Season 5 also allows the rest of the cast to grow and wraps up each story nicely as they fully embrace their roles with a newfound confidence. Colón-Zayas’s Tina has been a brilliant character since day one, but seeing her finally reach her height reminds us of how far everyone’s come. Lionel Boyce‘s Marcus, who has had a similar trajectory, deals with his fragile relationship with his father in the season while bouncing off of Will Poulter‘s Luca, who is still staging at The Bear. Boyce, who has always had a quietly powerful presence, takes more of the center stage, which only makes us wish we’d gotten more of him in previous seasons.

Poulter is just one example of this show’s ability to turn guest stars into pillars of the series. While there are far fewer cameos to stuff into Season 5 — except for one big party scene at the very end — that doesn’t mean the show lacks in star power. Once again, Jamie Lee Curtis comes sweeping in to stun in every scene she’s in. Though she spends a lot of the season babysitting for Natalie (Abby Elliott), Donna’s arrival at The Bear finally delivers a gut-punch moment that ties everything together for the Berzattos. With so much talent on screen, it’s hard to pick out any weak performances; the cast works perfectly together like a well-oiled machine.

‘The Bear’s Final Season Is Nothing Short of Perfect

The best thing that The Bear has ever done is return to its roots in this final season. No trips to Copenhagen, no Carmy running an errand for a whole episode, no staging at other restaurants. The action centers purely on The Bear. Sometimes, the tension in the show is a little too familiar, with Carmy trying to take control again, Syd still uncertain about her leadership role, and Richie flying off the handle. What used to feel so nerve-wracking feels more like a plot device to move the story forward.

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Yet the fate of The Bear has never been as important as the people working there. Through its five seasons, The Bear has not only exposed the pretension of highbrow dining, but it’s also pointed out the abusive and degrading environments these restaurants often become. The series proves that that is not a requirement for greatness, and that clashing egos only cause chaos. When the team collaborates, allows for creativity, and supports one another, everyone is working at their best.

Season 5 also focuses on the passion that these characters have for The Bear. Each character realizes that this job isn’t just a nine-to-five for them; it’s something they love. The show’s main question then becomes: what happens when you love what you do? Does the job get easier, or is the pressure worse? Is happiness worth the sacrifice and pain? In a high-intensity kitchen, it’s easy to see how quickly people can burn out, but it’s the family at the heart of The Bear that keeps it all together. At the end of the day, no matter how bad a fight is, these people will apologize, reconcile, and go back to working with each other as family does.

While the penultimate episode of The Bear is the fireworks show, finishing off a seemingly apocalyptic service, the gentle series finale wraps everything up perfectly. Stripping the show of all the nail-biting anxiety and pretentious trimmings that previously held it back, the episode is saccharine but earned. It’s also hopeful and bright, with a conclusion in which everyone finally finds some sort of peace. I’ve been harsh on this show in the past, but Season 5 proves that I should have trusted the process, because Storer has created nothing less than a masterpiece with The Bear, one that will be sorely missed now that it’s over.

All seasons of The Bear are now available to stream on Hulu.

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Release Date

2022 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Hulu

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Showrunner

Christopher Storer

Directors
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Ramy Youssef

Writers

Catherine Schetina, Alex Russell, Karen Joseph Adcock, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Stacy Osei-Kuffour

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Pros & Cons
  • Season 5’s pacing and format is superb, making it the perfect binge since it takes place over the course of one day.
  • Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jeremy Allen White, and Jamie Lee Curtis all deliver stunning performances.
  • The final season cuts away the extra fat of unncessary cameos and pretentious restaurant jargon and strips it down to the brass tacks.
  • The series finale takes all the elements of past seasons to create a neat and hopeful ending that makes us wish the show wasn’t actually over for good.

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‘Dutton Ranch’s Mysterious Phone Call Just Set Up a Game-Changing Season 1 Finale

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Juan Pablo Raba and Annette Bening in Dutton Ranch Episode 2

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for Dutton Ranch Episode 8.

Yellowstone may have originally ended with its fifth and final season two years ago, but Taylor Sheridan‘s iconic neo-Western franchise has endured thanks to two spin-off series revolving around the next generation of Duttons. While Kayce (Luke Grimes) has put down roots to protect his home state of Montana on the CBS procedural Marshals, his older sister Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip (Cole Hauser) have moved to Texas for a fresh start on the aptly named Dutton Ranch.

Beginning again, miles away from the original Yellowstone, is easier said than done after a devastating illness sweeps through their new herd, forcing Beth and Rip to reach out for help from their most prominent rival, Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening). Yet these two families slowly become more and more connected in ways that go beyond unexpected employment. Beth and Rip’s adopted son, Carter (Finn Little), has fallen for Beulah’s granddaughter Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind).

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That complicated dynamic culminates in a publicly embarrassing display for Beth and Rip at the same party where Beulah officially confirms her bad-apple son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), as her heir after initially promising Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) that he would be rewarded. Even after Beulah’s heart attack, it’s clear that Joaquin may be preparing to cut ties with his own family, especially once he goes to Sheriff Handy Wade (Josh Stewart) with what he knows about the disappearance of the 10-Petal’s former ranch hand. Ahead of the premiere of Episode 8, “Whiskey Limits,” Collider spoke with Raba about Joaquin’s biggest personal betrayal, how that mysterious phone call sets up next week’s Season 1 finale, and why Beulah’s eldest son is now willing to fight dirty.

COLLIDER: When Joaquin buys himself a cowboy hat for the first time, it does feel like a symbolic moment for the character, but what does that scene really represent for him at this point in the season?

JUAN PABLO RABA: I love that you bring it up. So, here’s the deal. It became a whole thing on the show because, from the beginning, I was wondering, like, “Why don’t I have a hat?” And I was busting everyone’s chops about it. I was talking to the girls in wardrobe, “When are we getting a hat? Why doesn’t Joaquin have a hat?” Now, I understand why he didn’t have a hat. It’s because we had to make a moment out of it.

The day that we shot that scene, my God, the crew, and wardrobe, and everybody’s so fantastic, we made a Hat Day out of it. They made a piñata of Joaquin with a hat. It was very symbolic.

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If you read it on paper, you’re like, “Oh, Joaquin goes and buys a hat.” There was so much more to it. It’s that moment where Joaquin says, “Okay, everything that I’ve done, everything that I’ve worked for, I have accomplished. I put Rob-Will out of the picture. My mother’s tired. This is it. This is my moment. I’m the prince — I’m going to get my crown, and I’m going to go to that party, and I’m going to get crowned in front of everybody else.” That hat moment became so important because it’s not only buying a hat; it’s the moment he realizes, “I’m going to get it. I did it. I won!”

‘Dutton Ranch’s Juan Pablo Raba Explains Joaquin’s Reaction to Beulah’s Betrayal

“Despite you hurting me in this way, I still love you, and I’m still here.”

Juan Pablo Raba and Annette Bening in Dutton Ranch Episode 2
Juan Pablo Raba and Annette Bening in Dutton Ranch Episode 2
Image via Paramount+

As the audience, we’re definitely made privy to a conversation that Joaquin isn’t: the exchange in Beulah’s office when Rob-Will pressures her to announce him as her official successor over Joaquin. For Joaquin, what do you think that moment does, especially on the heels of any current feelings that he’s having towards her that are probably a lot more conflicted now that she’s publicly said, “Rob-Will is the prince”?

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RABA: That moment, he realizes, “I’m not going to get it. I did everything right, and I still didn’t get it. I still don’t belong. They still make me feel like I am not a Jackson.”

But yeah, he really loves her. I think there are only two people in Joaquin’s life that he actually loves because he has felt some kind of love from them, too, which is Beulah and [Oreana]. Those are the only two human beings that he feels some kind of real empathy towards. So, it just shows, “Despite you hurting me in this way, I still love you, and I’m still here. You made a fool out of me. You lied to me. You made me feel I’m not worthy, but I’m still here. I can’t help this feeling I have for you.” So, it becomes even more heartbreaking.

In terms of Joaquin’s dynamic with Oreana, you and Natalie don’t really have a chance to share the screen a lot this season, but there is that moment in the waiting room when the two of you just embrace. Did the two of you have any conversations about that relationship and his support of her, even though his feelings about her dad aren’t as kind?

RABA: Well, in my backstory, I always thought — and this is something I shared with Natalie and with the writers — that even if we don’t get to play it too much, these two really need to have a bonding connection. Especially because Rob-Will, being the kind of human he is and the absent father, I’m pretty sure there were plenty of times when Joaquin read Oreana her bedtime story, when he tucked her into bed, where he told her that everything was going to be all right. Of course, she’s at a time in her life where she wants to rebel against a bunch of stuff, but her tío is something very important to her because that’s probably her only fatherly figure.

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Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser in Dutton Ranch Episode 4


‘Dutton Ranch’ Is the Ultimate Fix for ‘Yellowstone’s Controversial Series Finale | Review

‘Dutton Ranch’ premieres with its first two episodes May 15 on Paramount+.

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I feel like in that embrace, there’s a lot that has been said. Then also, you have to think that it doesn’t matter how complicated Beulah is; she’s still the matriarch. She still holds the reins, and she holds them close. It doesn’t matter what other people feel about her. If she falls, everybody’s going to be there either to pick her up or to watch her fall, but there are a lot of people who are going to be there to watch what happens with her.

Despite showing up for Beulah after the incident, it seems like Joaquin’s pretty much done with the Jackson family. Is there any one moment that drives him to cut ties, or is it a steady progression of mounting disrespect that kind of all culminates in him deciding to break away?

RABA: I think there are two huge moments for Joaquin, and they’re both equally heartbreaking. The first one is realizing Beulah will not give him the throne while doing everything correctly. He’s spent all his life with only one objective, and he’s done everything that had to be done. So, that’s heartbreaking.

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But the other one, and I think this one is even more heartbreaking, is the moment he makes the call, because he’s smart. He knows that by making that call, he’s going to change everyone’s life trajectory. He had the possibility to make that call for years, and he hasn’t done it. He knows that by doing this, everything’s going to change, and he’s going to try to get what he thinks he deserves, but now, he is willing to play dirty.

‘Dutton Ranch’s Juan Pablo Raba Discusses the Possibility of Joaquin Teaming Up With Beth and Rip

“Yes, he wants the power, but he doesn’t want the violence that comes with it.”

Juan Pablo Raba in Dutton Ranch Episode 8
Juan Pablo Raba in Dutton Ranch Episode 8
Image via Paramount+

I’m glad you brought up the phone call, because it’s setting up a huge finale. Beth and Rip have, almost surprisingly, had to get involved with the 10-Petal — not just as a way to keep an eye on their rivals, but also to stay afloat themselves. Do you think there’s a possibility of Joaquin now teaming up with them?

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RABA: Carly, I would love to give you any kind of answer, but I have no clue. The season finale is such a cliffhanger, and things change so much from where they started that I think the possibilities are endless. I’m just going to say that I only had one strong scene, one with Beth and one with Rip, and the one with Rip really, really helped me understand how I wanted to play this character.

I’ve got to tell you, it’s scary to think that you’re going to get into a truck at night with a guy like Rip who is holding a gun right there. The moment this guy stops the truck, he’s terrified. Anything can happen right now, and I was not going to play this with macho and bravado. I was going to play this as human as possible, and just going to be scared to death of what’s going to happen. I was not going to play into the kind of Yellowstone masculinity of, “I’m a cowboy. I’m tough. You put a gun to my face, and I laugh at you.” No, I was going to be really scared because he doesn’t know how to deal with this. This is not what [Joaquin] wanted to do. He wanted to be a rancher. Yes, he wants the power, but he doesn’t want the violence that comes with it.

We do see Joaquin go to Sheriff Wade with what he knows about Wes’s murder and Rob-Will’s involvement in it. Has he just been holding onto the evidence in his back pocket with the possibility of using it, and why is he playing that card now?

RABA: He keeps it for a reason. That’s what he does. He plays chess. So, his master play was, “Oh, okay, Rob-Will did this. Perfect. That’s my perfect excuse, like, ‘Hey mom, we have to put him away because he’s a lot of trouble. I’m gonna have to clean up this mess. Oh, poor me. What am I going to do? You have to give me the throne, because this guy, he can’t do it right.’”

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Then, when Rob-Will comes back, [Joaquin] still doesn’t threaten him. He still doesn’t say, “Hey, get out of here because I’m going to do this.” This is his power play. “Okay, I couldn’t do this the right way. Now I’m going to do it the wrong way. You made me do this. I’m gonna have to play dirty now. I tried to send you to a nice rehab facility. I’m gonna have to put you in jail, but I will do it because I am the right person for this job.” It’s just very confusing because now he feels like he’s being forced into basically a whole persona that he doesn’t want to become.

New episodes of Dutton Ranch premiere Fridays on Paramount+.

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