Entertainment
Bold and Beautiful: Sheila Manipulates Taylor with Hidden Knowledge – She’s Known About the Affair All Along?!
Bold and the Beautiful stuns as Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) shows up at the Malibu cliff house with a gift for Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), and she may barge in and cause a huge scene. But is there a chance that Sheila’s there with an agenda and already knows more than we realize?
We’re going to talk about Taylor and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) getting blindsided if Sheila already figured out that her husband fell for Taylor.
Taylor and Deacon Finally Make Love on Bold and the Beautiful
All right, let’s talk about a big twist. This week, we’ve got Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and her husband Finn (Tanner Novlan) and their kids heading for an overnight trip. And that means Taylor has the house to herself. And since Steffy’s treating Taylor like a lovesick teenager, she’s going to act like one.
She’s going to invite a boy over while, you know, mom’s away, even though Steffy told her mother, “Try not to get into too much trouble.” So Deacon and Taylor decide to use this opportunity to have intimate time alone. And Deacon finally makes love to Taylor.
So, as suspected, the Bold spoiler about two people doing the deed for the first time is indeed about Deacon and Taylor. So, Deacon’s going to sneak in the back sliding door at the cliff house, and he and Taylor are going to start making out on the sofa and then head upstairs to shed their clothes and get down to business.
Deacon has Taylor in her bed stripped down to just her bra and panties. And Deacon’s telling Taylor they tried hard to stay apart, but Deacon says nobody’s going to come between them anymore.
Hope Covers for Deacon on B&B
And he enlists his daughter, Hope Logan (Annika Noelle), to cover for him so he can sneak off to be with Taylor. So, it sounds like Hope is going to be more than happy to conspire with Deacon to make this hookup happen. He makes a whispery phone call to Hope asking for her help.
Official Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for this week say that Deacon lies to Sheila about what he’s doing and where he’s going for the evening. Deacon is going to fib to his wife and then call Hope and say that he’s sorry to put her in this position, but he told Sheila that he’s having dinner with Hope tonight.
And we all know that Sheila is not welcome over on the Logan estate. And Hope wants to know from Deacon if he is seeing Taylor tonight. So, Hope is going to be there to help make Deacon’s night alone with Taylor happen.
Bold and Beautiful: Hope Hits Back at Steffy
And I think part of this is to spite Steffy. If you remember, she ranted at Hope and said their parents can never ever be together. Steffy was chewing Hope out and being high-handed and things got really tense between them. So, this is a little payback on Steffy because Hope really wants Deacon away from Sheila and wants him to be with Taylor.
Does Sheila Already Know About the Affair?
And another B&B spoiler says Sheila takes matters into her own hands. So when she shows up at the Malibu house, it may be to bring a gift or, you know, maybe much more, maybe some trouble. So, she may bring flowers to Taylor as a pretext, hoping to catch Deacon and Taylor being bad.
We could get a Bold and the Beautiful twist if Sheila already knows that Deacon and Taylor are involved because she’s been doing a lot of creeping and a lot of watching and a lot of listening and she may have already gotten the clue.
So, Sheila may bring flowers along so she can innocently claim that with Deacon busy with Hope, she decided to come and bring a gift to her really good friend Taylor. And if for some reason, you know, she ran into Steffy or Finn, Sheila could say it’s a little thank you for helping mend her marriage to Deacon. But they’re not going to be around and the flowers are a shield in case something happens and they cancel their trip. But really, Sheila may be playing a long con on Taylor and Deacon, and she might have figured out a while ago that they were involved. So, could be Sheila’s been trying to catch them in the act.
Sheila Hunting for Proof on Bold and Beautiful?
That way, she has concrete proof that Deacon is cheating with Taylor. Because without evidence, Deacon can simply lie and deny. So, Sheila may be holding out for 100% irrefutable proof that she sees with her own eyes. She may want to catch Deacon and Taylor in the act, catch them red-handed
And that would explain why Sheila has been non-stop stalking Taylor. You know, maybe she had suspicions and Sheila kept showing up at Taylor’s office. Remember, she would bust in without knocking, without an appointment. So, Sheila might have been trying to catch Deacon with Taylor in his arms all along.
And Sheila might have even brought the toe cookies over—because you remember she nagged at her—so that she could later laugh at forcing Taylor to eat her feet. Something really twisted. And when Deacon tells Sheila he’s going to be out for the night using Hope as an excuse. Well, she might see right through that and it confirms her suspicions.
She may realize instantly that Deacon is sneaking out to hook up with Taylor. And so Sheila may play innocent and say, “Oh yeah, sure. Go see Hope. Go help her out.” You know, go have fun. No problem. I’ll be waiting at home. And Sheila may think this is her big gotcha moment where she gets to confront Deacon with Taylor.
Sheila Is Not Stupid on B&B
And I mean, let’s be real. Sheila Carter is not stupid. Never has been, but she is unhinged and she’s lethal. And she knows Hope and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) haven’t exactly been subtle about it either. So, Sheila may realize everybody’s conspiring against her and are determined to keep her in the dark while he keeps on cheating.
So it makes sense that Sheila would show up and stage a confrontation. And you know, we do know Deacon has a lot of allies. But Sheila might have one of her own because Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda) is back on Thursday. And Li is the one who tells Sheila that Steffy and Finn are going to be out of town overnight.
And that seems to inspire Sheila’s visit to the cliff house. But also, if Sheila does suspect cheating, Li might help out in another way. Because I bet Finn’s mom has a key to the house. So Li might loan her spare key to Sheila. And with Finn and Steffy, you know, hopefully gone like they said, Sheila can use the key to get inside, creep upstairs, and find the cheaters and call them out.
I could see Li helping Sheila because, let’s face it, she despises cheaters. And that’s because of her ex-husband, Jack Finnegan (Ted King). Ironically, it was Sheila that Jack was cheating with many years ago and he got her pregnant with Finn.
Will Sheila Catch Them in the Act?
So, it’s confirmed Deacon and Taylor make love this week and we know that they are thinking that they are completely alone. Steffy and Finn are gone and he thinks he’s got his bases covered because Sheila thinks he’s with Hope. This is so teenagery. It reminds me when you lie to your mom, you know, back in the day and tell her you were spending the night with a friend when you were really, you know, going out with a boy.
So, I think Deacon and Taylor are going to be so enamored and wrapped up in each other that they’re not going to be on their guard. They’re going to assume that they’ve gotten away with this, you know, got away with going behind Steffy and Sheila’s back to do what they want, which is each other. So, it’ll be shocking if Deacon and Taylor are rolling around in bed and his wife Sheila walks right in on them.
Bold and Beautiful Star Promises Big Things
In a recent interview, by the way, actress Kimberlin Brown said that when Sheila Carter inevitably finds out about the Deacon and Taylor affair, the fallout is going to be huge. Everything’s going to hit the fan.
So, we’ll have to wait and see if Sheila is blindsided or if she already figured out Deacon and Taylor were cheating and she was playing innocent and waiting to confirm it and blow everything up at the worst possible moment. And let’s face it, that would be a big twist.
Continue Reading
Entertainment
‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Swaps Fists for Heart in This Underrated Streaming Favorite
Not every Alan Ritchson role involves punching people through furniture, though it is understandable if your brain goes there first. This one swaps brute-force action for a much softer, more emotional kind of story. It is still about someone moving mountains, technically, but this time the mountains are medical bills, grief, a snowstorm, and the crushing helplessness of watching a child need help you cannot afford. Slightly fewer broken bones, significantly more tears.
Ordinary Angels is now streaming on Peacock, giving the 2024 drama a new wave of attention. Based on true events during the 1994 North American cold wave, the film follows Sharon Steves, a struggling Kentucky hairdresser who finds renewed purpose when she helps Ed Schmitt, a widowed father trying to care for his two daughters while his youngest waits for a liver transplant. The movie grossed around $20.5 million worldwide against a reported $12–13 million budget, which is the exact kind of result small studios want when they put out a film like this. Nice and reliable.
The cast includes Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) as Sharon Steves, Emily Mitchell (Priscilla) as Michelle, Skywalker Hughes (Joe Pickett) as Ashley, Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing, So I Married an Axe Murderer) as Barbara, Tamala Jones (Castle, What Men Want), and Drew Powell (Gotham, Straw Dogs).
Is ‘Ordinary Angels’ Any Good?
Ritchson, who’s earned praise for his action roles, is being recognized here for something entirely different. As Collider’s Taylor Gates noted in our review, Ritchson does a great job of delivering even under the constraints of a trope — “the macho construction worker with a warm heart under all his muscles” — but it’s the writing of the film that ultimately lets it down. However, comparing Ritchson to David Harbour or Pedro Pascal in Stranger Things and The Last of Us, Taylor felt that the movie was still worth seeing for Ritchson.
And he’s not alone in stealing hearts. Swank gives what many are calling her most moving performance in years, capturing Shannon’s chaotic energy and hidden pain with nuance and grit. Her chemistry with Ritchson brings both levity and fire to an otherwise deeply emotional story, especially as the duo battles not just bureaucracy, but blizzards. It’s a strange but affecting film when the villain is terminal illness, not drug dealers, demogorgons or zombies.
Ordinary Angels is now streaming on Peacock.
- Release Date
-
February 23, 2024
- Runtime
-
118 Minutes
- Director
-
Jon Gunn
- Writers
-
Meg Tilly, Kelly Fremon Craig
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/joni-lamb-died-050826-6233d4f117fd4792a0e409fe53751e79.jpg)
The network’s president suffered from health issues that she kept private, along with a back injury that led to a more serious medical condition.
Prime Video already has a stacked sci-fi library, but among heavyweights like The Man in the High Castle and The Expanse, there’s an overlooked series that packs its own punch. Traditionally, the genre tells far-reaching tales of how technology alters humankind, but Night Sky takes a surprisingly grounded approach. Set in a small town in Illinois where little ever seems to happen, the series centers on two people whom audiences would least expect to be guarding something extraordinary within their own home. Yet, the story is less about spectacle and more about what it means to carry something that vast so quietly. Despite being short-lived, Night Sky is a hidden sci-fi gem that deserves the utmost recognition.
What is ‘Night Sky’ About?
Night Sky introduces a couple in their 70s living in rural Farnsworth, Illinois; Franklin York (J. K. Simmons) is a hard-headed former woodworker, and Irene York (Sissy Spacek) is a retired English teacher who suffers from a serious illness and often uses a wheelchair. Married for more than 50 years, they seem like any other elderly couple living in a house that has grown too big for them. However, beneath their outdoor shed is a hidden chamber that can teleport them to a strange, deserted planet. There, they retreat to a protected, refurbished room where they gaze out at the galaxy through a massive window.
3 Prime Video Shows You Need to Binge This Week (#2 Is an Underrated Sci-Fi Masterpiece)
#1 was executive produced by ‘Parks and Rec’ and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s creator.
The couple keeps the chamber’s existence a secret, especially from their obnoxiously nosy neighbor, Byron (Adam Bartley), but it’s soon revealed that the Yorks aren’t the only ones who have a chamber on their property. All the way in Argentina, single mother Stella (Julieta Zylberberg) has one as well, which she protects with her life, unbeknownst to her teenage daughter, Toni (Rocío Hernández). When Stella learns of a mysterious man on the run, presumably using these same chambers to teleport himself, Stella and the Yorks eventually cross paths during a dangerous manhunt.
‘Night Sky’ Puts Veteran Actors at the Center of the Sci-Fi Genre
Irene and Franklin are probably the last people that viewers would expect to care for a beaten-up stranger with seemingly intergalactic origins — not because they’re incapable, but because sci-fi stories like this rarely make space for characters like them in the first place. Sci-fi has long been dominated by younger, action-driven leads, often pushing veteran performers to the sidelines, but the genre has seen an increase in seasoned actors taking center stage.
What makes Night Sky special is that Spacek and Simmons’ characters don’t feel the need to fit the stereotype of being geniuses when faced with something cosmically foreign. Aside from their trips to outer space, they’re remarkably ordinary people. They’re not brilliant, not particularly tech-savvy, and easily flustered. They also face the physical limitations that come with aging and no longer have the strength they once did. Yet they also bring a genuine sense of warmth and humanity into their home — one that extends to anyone, regardless of their origins. It’s a refreshing way to ground a genre that often embraces pragmatism and hyper-rationality.
‘Night Sky’ Is a Sci-Fi Story With Deeper Themes
Although Irene and Franklin chat and bicker daily, there is an unresolved wedge between the couple, shaped by unspoken grief. Part of Night Sky‘s overarching story revolves around a personal tragedy in their household, but more broadly, it explores how differently people process loss. As the first episode suggests, Irene and Franklin were once lively and full of energy, but as time passed — as it inevitably does — tragedy found its way in. What separates the two is not the loss itself, but how they choose to live with it. Franklin refuses to let the past anchor him, while Irene remains tethered to what was lost.
As interesting as its sci-fi premise is, Night Sky is also a story about love, loss, and perseverance — made possible by Simmons’ and Spacek’s moving performances as a married couple who’ve been through rough times together. It may lack the spectacle of more conventional sci-fi, but Night Sky finds beauty in reflection, making it Prime Video’s most underrated series you probably haven’t watched.
- Release Date
-
2022 – 2022-00-00
- Network
-
Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
Juan Jose Campanella
- Directors
-
Juan Jose Campanella
- Writers
-
Juan Jose Campanella
Amazon is currently planning an elaborate reboot of the James Bond franchise, having taken over creative control from long-time custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. This is arguably one of the most valuable franchises acquired by the tech giant, which previously shelled out $1 billion for the rights to a new Lord of the Rings streaming series. That plan didn’t exactly succeed, with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power struggling to retain viewers through the course of its run. The James Bond franchise, which will be re-launched with a new movie directed by Denis Villeneuve, will also expand into the world of streaming. Amazon has already experienced growing pains in the area of mega-budget, long-form espionage programming, and it would hope to not make the same mistakes with the 007 franchise.
Around the same time as it developed The Lord of the Rings series, Amazon reportedly spent $300 million on just six episodes of a globe-trotting spy thriller show, which was designed to spawn a shared universe. To spearhead the project, Amazon roped in Joe and Anthony Russo, who were coming off the record-breaking success of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. What transpired in the next few years remains one of the streaming era’s most infamous stories. The show’s first season saw a behind-the-scenes conflict that resulted in it being significantly re-shot, with the original creative team making way for a new set of filmmakers. Two spin-offs followed, but after a recent managerial switch at Prime Video, it was announced that both shows had been canceled. The fate of the original “mothership” series, which returned with a second season this week, remains unclear.
Prime Video’s Mega-Budget Misfire Couldn’t Unseat ‘The Boys’
We’re talking, of course, about Citadel. Starring Priyanka Chopra, Richard Madden, Stanley Tucci, and Lesley Manville, the series borrows heavily from the James Bond and Mission: Impossible franchises. It follows operatives of the secret spy society Citadel, who must bring down their sworn enemy, a nefarious organization known as Manticore, before global catastrophes unfold. According to FlixPatrol, the second season of Citadel debuted at the number two spot on the global Prime Video viewership chart, behind the holdover hit The Boys. The second season wasn’t promoted with the gusto of Season 1, which premiered in 2023 and holds a 51% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
April 28, 2023
- Network
-
Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
David Weil
- Directors
-
Newton Thomas Sigel
- Writers
-
John Applebaum, Bryan Oh, David Weil
Taylor Swift‘s legal team is pushing back on a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Maren Flagg, a Las Vegas entertainer, claiming the pop superstar’s latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” infringes upon her own brand. Flagg trademarked the phrase “Confessions of a Showgirl” in 2015 and is asking the court to stop Swift from selling merchandise related to the phrase.
In response. Swift’s attorneys filed an opposition to the lawsuit, calling Flagg’s claims “absurd” while citing the First Amendment and noting the Vegas entertainer’s online behavior following the release of Swift’s album.
On May 6, Taylor Swift’s attorneys filed a brief opposing Maren Flagg’s lawsuit against the singer, in which the Las Vegas entertainer claimed trademark infringement, false designation, and unfair competition because of her 2025 album “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Swift’s side fired back, as reported by Variety, alleging that Flagg is taking advantage of Swift to “prop up her brand.” They added that Flagg comparing her cabaret show to Swift’s album was “absurd,” adding that it was highly unlikely that audiences would confuse the two entertainers. The attorneys threw shade at Flagg, saying that she “performs, if at all, in small intimate venues,” listing locations such as golf resorts, 55+ communities, cabarets, and hotels. “Her website lists no upcoming performances,” they added.
Overall, Swift’s attorneys say that Flagg’s claims are “meritless.”
The Singer’s Attorneys Question Maren Flagg’s Motive
Swift’s attorneys also questioned why Flagg, who professionally goes by the name Maren Wade, filed her lawsuit several months after the singer’s album release. “The Life of a Showgirl” was released in October 2025, and Flagg filed her lawsuit in late March 2026.
Furthermore, Swift’s counsel alleges that just days after the album’s release, Flagg “reframed her brand around the album,” posting social media content about Swift and her latest release and using it to promote her “little-known cabaret show.” “Plaintiff flooded her Instagram and TikTok pages with 40+ advertisements for her brand using Ms. Swift’s music, trademarks, and other intellectual property without permission,” the attorneys noted.
As an example, they said Flagg used Swift’s album cover and music track, even using the hashtags “#swifties,” “#ts12,” and “#thelifeofashowgirl,” among others. The attorneys implied that they may take legal action over the cabaret entertainer’s use of Swift’s images and music.
Taylor Swift’s Album Title Is Reportedly Protected
Despite the similarities between “The Life of a Showgirl” and Flagg’s brand “Confessions of a Showgirl,” Swift’s attorneys claim that the pop star’s album title is protected by the First Amendment, citing past cases with similar arguments.
They pointed out that “a plaintiff cannot establish infringement without showing the title (1) is either not artistically relevant to the underlying work; or (2) explicitly misleads as to the source or content of the work.” Moreover, they enumerated several works over the years, such as “Portrait of a Showgirl” and “Confessions of a Vegas Showgirl,” saying that Flagg didn’t launch a legal battle against any of those despite having a trademark for the phrase “Confessions of a Showgirl.”
Maren Flagg’s Legal Arguments
Shortly after filing the lawsuit, Flagg’s attorney spoke with Rolling Stone, saying that the Las Vegas entertainer built her brand around “Confessions of a Showgirl.” Flagg writes a column for Las Vegas Weekly using the phrase, and also has a podcast with the same title.
Her lawyer, Jaymie Parkkinen, shared that Flagg has owned the “Confessions of a Showgirl” trademark since 2015. As cited in her client’s lawsuit, Swift’s trademark application for “The Life of a Showgirl” was refused due to a “likelihood of confusion.”
“We have great respect for Swift’s talent and success, but trademark law exists to ensure that creators at all levels can protect what they’ve built. That’s what this case is about,” Parkkinen explained.
There’s ‘No Chance’ Taylor Swift Fans Will Confuse Merchandise
As part of the filing, Swift’s attorneys pointed out the singer’s observant and dedicated fans, citing their “legendary” attention to detail when it comes to any and all information about their idol. “There is no chance they would be confused between plaintiff’s cabaret shows and Ms. Swift’s album and related promotional merchandise,” they noted.
Flagg’s side has responded to the filing, confirming that they have read Swift’s response. “We read it. Defendants assert First Amendment protection for napkins and hairbrushes. We look forward to filing our response next week,” Parkkinen declared.
Blue Heron isn’t a mystery in the traditional sense. There’s no crime to solve or murderers to apprehend. Instead, it examines a family slowly coming apart and a young girl who silently takes in everything around her — especially her older brother (Edik Beddoes), who seems like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment.
Sounds like a drama, right? Well, Blue Heron is that, too. It’s a lot of things: a meditation on memory, a portrait of mental illness and the power of storytelling to piece together people and events from the past.
That’s what makes it the best 2026 movie I’ve seen so far this year. Small in scope but big in the emotions it conjures up inside you, it’s a deeply personal and technically superb film about how we can never really know our own family, especially the ones that fascinate and scare us the most.
What Is ‘Blue Heron’ About?
Edik Beddoes in Blue Heron Janus Films
The first half of Blue Heron is set in the 1990s, as it follows a young family as they settle into their new home in British Columbia. Through the eyes of pre-teen daughter Sasha (Eylul Guven), we realize something is off with the oldest brother, Jeremy (Beddoes). Distant and mostly silent, he’s always walking behind everyone else and disobeying mom and dad’s orders. Gradually, a more unsettling portrait emerges: Jeremy has some psychological issues that the parents have tried to address, to no avail.
Sure, 2025 had plenty of incredible movies, but what about a best-of list filled with the films that actually kept Us talking — not just the ones making the most awards season noise? Don’t get Us wrong: Frankenstein, Hamnet, One Battle After Another and the rest of the other Oscar-buzz crowd absolutely deserve their moment, but sometimes […]
The second half of Blue Heron is set decades later, with a grown-up Sasha (Amy Zimmer) now working as a social worker. She’s still trying to solve the mystery of her brother’s behavior and understand the effect he had on her and the rest of her family. What happened to Jeremy? What caused him to act the way he did? And how did the family cope with someone who always seemed more like a stranger than a relative?
What Makes ‘Blue Heron’ 1 of 2026’s Best Movies So Far?
Eylul Guven in Blue Heron Janus Films
Writer and director Sophy Romvari answers some of these questions, but not all of them. One of the major points of Blue Heron is that some mysteries can never be fully explained, only dealt with, and that’s the case with Jeremy. All these years later, Sasha is still haunted by her brother’s behavior and how even he seemed like a prisoner in his own body.
I’ll be honest — I dreaded the moment this material would become sensationalized. We’ve seen young disturbed boys like Jeremy in mass media before, and they are almost always portrayed as villains or boogeymen who inevitably perform some kind of act of shocking violence, like a school shooting or a murder.
That’s not the case with Blue Heron, which is more interested in Jeremy’s behavior and his family’s reaction to it than in depicting what Jeremy actually does — if he does anything at all. It’s the possibility of violence that Jeremy poses, through his anti-social actions and his tossed-off threats that seem to come from nowhere, that sets everyone on edge and causes his mother and dad to seek professional help. But their therapist doesn’t really know anything either, and what they’re left with is a troubled child they love, but who could pose a danger to them and their other children.
Forgiving But Not Forgetting
In several interviews, Romvari has confessed that many aspects of Blue Heron are autobiographical. That makes sense when you watch it, as the film’s ambiguity has the power of truth behind it. Near the end of the film, adult Sasha confronts her memory of Jeremy head-on.
When was the last time you were scared while watching a horror movie? And I mean really scared, the kind of freaked-out that stays with you long after the movie is over. A24’s new horror movie, Undertone, does just that. The Canadian film, out now in theaters nationwide, achieves what few other films in the […]
Through a sequence involving some fill-in-the-gaps narration and a simple edit, Romvari expands our knowledge of him and gives him a moment of grace and forgiveness. There’s more to Jeremy than Sasha, or the audience, will ever know, but what’s left behind is a portrait of a son, brother and boy who was just as much a victim of his own behavior as his family was.
Blue Heron is playing in theaters right now.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/The-View-050826-1-91ca5c121b9c4126ae16348162807512.jpg)
“You’ve kind of become like a bona fide sex symbol,” Ana Navarro said.
Blake Lively’s legal war with Justin Baldoni may officially be settled, but the ugly public battle is still raging behind the scenes.
Just days after both sides agreed to end their explosive courtroom showdown, Baldoni’s attorney launched fresh attacks against the actress, accusing her of avoiding trial because she was “scared” to testify under oath.
The renewed back-and-forth has reignited public interest in the messy “It Ends With Us” fallout, with both camps now fighting over who actually walked away victorious.
Blake Lively is facing fresh criticism after Baldoni’s lawyer claimed the actress settled their legal dispute because she did not want to testify in court.
As The Blast reported, both parties reached a settlement Monday, ending their nearly two-year legal war just weeks before a May 18 trial was expected to begin.
However, Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, immediately challenged the idea that the agreement represented a win for Lively.
“Part of the reason Blake settled is because she was scared to take the witness stand at trial. She did not want to face cross examination by anyone because that would require her to tell the truth,” Freedman told TMZ.
The lawyer also questioned why the “Gossip Girl” star chose not to publicly fight the case in court if her goal was truly to stand up for victims.
“If she’s doing this for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment and retaliation as she says, then why don’t you take the stand at trial and prove it to the world?” he asked.
Freedman further argued that “A trial would have exposed her lies and the entire smear she was talking about in her interviews that she did.”
Lively’s Legal Team Fires Back At Baldoni’s Lawyer
The courtroom battle took a major turn last month after a judge dismissed many of Lively’s claims, including several tied to sexual harassment allegations.
Freedman pointed directly to those setbacks while arguing Lively gained little from the settlement. The attorney claimed the actress “ended up with nothing” after suing Baldoni for $300 million.
“If this is a resounding victory, what does a defeat look like?” he added.
Blake Lively’s attorneys wasted little time responding to Freedman’s explosive comments following the settlement announcement.
“I guess he’s no longer ‘ecstatic’ about the settlement,” her legal team told the outlet.
Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni Continue Trading Accusations
Lively and Baldoni may have reached a settlement, but both sides are still accusing each other of dishonesty.
Freedman claimed Lively “lied about telling Sony to destroy the dailies,” referring to footage connected to “It Ends With Us.” According to the lawyer, the Hollywood star’s testimony conflicted with an email from Sony executive Ange Giannetti.
He also accused Lively of misleading investigators regarding author Colleen Hoover. “She lied that she never told Colleen Hoover to unfollow Justin Baldoni. In her deposition, Colleen said Blake asked her to unfollow him,” Freedman stated.
The attorney insisted there were “more lies” beyond those allegations. Meanwhile, Lively’s attorneys released their own lengthy statement defending the actress and attacking Baldoni’s legal strategy.
“By agreeing to this settlement, and waiving their right to appeal, Justin Baldoni and every individual defendant now face personal liability for abusing the legal system to silence and intimidate Ms Lively,” the statement read per the Daily Mail.
The lawyers also pointed to language in the settlement acknowledging that Lively’s concerns “deserved to be heard.”
Lively Still Wants Legal Fees And Additional Damages
Blake Lively may have settled the main case, but the financial fight connected to the lawsuit is still ongoing.
The 38-year-old is reportedly seeking legal fees and damages tied to Baldoni’s failed $400 million defamation countersuit against her, Ryan Reynolds, and The New York Times.
Court filings show Lively is also demanding “compensatory damages tripled, and punitive damages.”
Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, argued that California law protects people who publicly report sexual harassment claims.
He noted that California Civil Code Section 47.1 was specifically designed to ensure complainants can “share their experiences with courts, agencies, the press, and others without fear of suit.”
Judge Lewis Liman previously agreed with that argument when dismissing Baldoni’s defamation case last year. However, the director’s attorneys blasted the actress’s latest demands as excessive.
The legal team argued that forcing Baldoni to pay her costs would be “draconian.” According to Baldoni’s camp, he had every right to defend himself against Lively’s accusations.
Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni’s Film Became A Massive Hit
Lively and Baldoni’s ugly legal fight unfolded after the release of “It Ends With Us,” the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel.
The movie starred Lively as Lily Bloom, a flower shop owner whose relationship with Baldoni’s character, neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, eventually spirals into domestic violence.
Despite the controversy surrounding the actors, the movie became a major box office success. “It Ends With Us” grossed more than $351 million worldwide after its release.
In a joint statement announcing the settlement, both camps acknowledged the importance of the project itself. They described the film as a “source of pride” while also recognizing the difficult legal battle that followed behind the scenes.
The statement added that both parties hoped the agreement would “allow all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online.”
Entertainment
Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless clash in fiery “First Take” reunion, a decade after last debate
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/First-Take-Stephen-A-Smith-Skip-Bayless-050826-5254e38a6e2e4501bc932b50338f884e.jpg)
After five years together, Bayless left the ESPN show in 2016.
Kim Kardashian’s whirlwind romance with Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton is already sparking marriage speculation, and even her longtime best friend Jonathan Cheban can’t help but laugh about it.
After the pair recently went public with their relationship following months of rumors, fans immediately began wondering whether Kim could be preparing for a fourth trip down the aisle.
While Cheban clearly finds the idea entertaining, he also admitted the reality star and racing icon seem surprisingly perfect together.
Kim Kardashian’s close friend Jonathan Cheban had a hilarious reaction when asked whether wedding bells could eventually ring for the reality mogul and Hamilton.
While attending Vulture’s Virtual Reality Masterminds celebration at The Lawn Club in New York, the 52-year-old reacted to the growing buzz surrounding Kim’s romance with the Formula One champion.
“Oh God, I will not go there,” Cheban joked to the Daily Mail when asked about the possibility of marriage. He added, “I’ve been through two. This is it. I’m stopping while I’m ahead.”
Even though he avoided making any bold predictions, Cheban made it clear he approves of the relationship. The reality TV personality, who also goes by Food God, described Kim and Hamilton as “a gorgeous couple.”
“They fit perfectly. They’re like a good yin and yang,” he said. Cheban added that he had met Hamilton before and immediately noticed similarities between the pair. “They’re both very cool. Very fashionable,” he shared.
Kim And Hamilton Finally Go Public
Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton recently took a major step in their romance by showing public affection for the first time.
Earlier this week, the pair were photographed holding hands while leaving the Broadway play “The Fear Of 13,” starring Adrien Brody.
Although the couple has reportedly been dating for six months, the public display officially confirmed the relationship for many fans.
Kim and Hamilton have actually known each other for more than a decade, but insiders say things only became romantic late last year.
The pair reportedly spent New Year’s Eve together in Aspen alongside friends before taking multiple trips together in Europe. In February, they were spotted in the Cotswolds before traveling from the United Kingdom to Paris.
That same month, Kim and Hamilton also appeared side by side inside a VIP suite at the Super Bowl. Their romance continued to heat up in March, when they enjoyed a luxury getaway in Utah before traveling to Tokyo with Kim’s children.
The two have also been spotted at Coachella, shopping for furniture in Los Angeles, and paddleboarding in Malibu, where they were reportedly seen kissing and hugging.
Kim Kardashian Previously Admitted Marriage Still Feels Complicated
Even with her new romance flourishing, Kim previously admitted she remains uncertain about ever getting married again.
The SKIMS founder opened up about relationships during a 2024 appearance on SiriusXM’s “This Life of Mine with James Corden.”
“There’ll be moods where I’m just like, ‘You know what? I understand my life is really big and I understand it takes a really, really, really special, unique person to want to deal with that,’” she explained.
The mother of four admitted that balancing fame, business, and motherhood can make relationships difficult. “I think my life is really fun and whoever comes in my life will have a really good time, but it’s a lot,” she said.
Kim also stressed that she does not feel lonely despite being single at the time. “I’m not lonely, so I’m good. I have my kids, I have work, I have my family, but it would be nice to share your life with someone,” the socialite shared.
She added, “But when you do, it’s such a big [commitment], I don’t take that lightly.”
Kim has previously been married three times, including her headline-making 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries and her highly publicized relationship with Kanye West.
Kim Says Motherhood Changed Her Friendship With Cheban
Kim Kardashian and Jonathan Cheban may not be photographed together as often these days, but the longtime friends insist their bond remains strong.
Earlier this year, Kim addressed speculation about their friendship while appearing on her sister, Khloé Kardashian’s “Khloé in Wonder Land” podcast.
“I love Jonathan. We should call him,” Kim said, adding, “Jonathan and I are good. Here’s the thing, I had kids.” She admitted that motherhood dramatically changed her social life and friendships.
“It’s really hard to maintain friendships when you have kids and you’re like in it,” Kim explained. She also noted that Cheban’s lifestyle is completely different from her family-focused routine in Calabasas.
“Jonathan is not going to come and sit around Calabasas all day. He’s like always on the move,” she added. Khloé agreed, pointing out how difficult it can sometimes be for friendships to stay the same when people are living very different lives.
Kim Kardashian’s Friendship With Jonathan Cheban Still Stays Strong
Cheban later addressed the friendship rumors himself and insisted there has never been any real distance between him and Kim.
“People post me in things and people say that Kim and I aren’t friends anymore and it’s so funny to watch this stuff ’cause we are friends and we talk all the time,” Cheban told Us Weekly in March 2025.
The television personality said social media speculation often makes him laugh because their friendship continues privately even when cameras are not around.
“We’re going to be friends forever — and it’s fun,” he said. Cheban explained that Kim’s busy life as a mother and entrepreneur naturally limits how often they physically see each other.
“She’s got so many kids and so many things to do and I’m all the way on this coast,” he shared. Still, he revealed the two remain in constant contact, noting, “We talk all the time, and anything happens that I feel like we should discuss, we just send it right away.”
Crypto World12 seconds ago
Stablecoin execs warn on hard part ahead
Entertainment1 minute ago
‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Swaps Fists for Heart in This Underrated Streaming Favorite
Business5 minutes ago
(PHOTO) Olivia Rodrigo Stuns in FC Barcelona Kit as Spotify Collaboration Sparks Viral Frenzy
NewsBeat2 months ago
Manchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
Politics4 weeks ago
US brings back mandatory military draft registration
NewsBeat1 month ago
Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
-
Crypto World1 day agoHarrisX Poll Found 52% of Registered Voters Support the CLARITY Act
-
NewsBeat6 days agoChannel 5 – All Creatures Great and Small series 7 new post
-
Crypto World2 days agoUpbit adds B3 Korean won pair as Base token gains Korea access
-
Tech5 days agoImage AI models now drive app growth, beating chatbot upgrades
-
News Videos6 days agoAP Dhillon – Old Money (Official Audio)
-
NewsBeat2 days agoNCP car park operator enters administration putting 340 UK sites at risk of closure
-
Fashion22 hours agoWeekend Open Thread: Marianne Dress
-
Entertainment7 days ago
New Netflix Movies in May 2026 — My Top 3 Picks to Stream
-
Sports7 days agoFive killed in Texas plane crash identified as Amarillo pickleball players
-
Crypto World7 days agoPi Network Mandates Protocol 23 Upgrade for All Mainnet Nodes Before May 15 Deadline
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Anna Nicole Smith’s Daughter Attends 2026 Kentucky Derby
-
Crypto World7 days agoBitcoin mining equities rise in 2026 as BTC lags behind
-
Entertainment7 days agoMelissa Joan Hart and More Stars Attend 2026 Kentucky Derby
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Venus Williams’ Best Met Gala Looks Over the Years
-
Business3 hours agoIgnore market noise, India’s long-term story intact, say D-Street bulls Ramesh Damani and Sunil Singhania
-
Business6 days agoLuka Doncic Injury Update: Doncic’s Hamstring Recovery Slows Lakers’ Hopes Against Thunder: Can He Run Yet?
-
Entertainment7 days agoNetflix’s 10-Part Miniseries Based on a True Story Is a Perfect Weekend Binge
-
Entertainment7 days ago
“Storage Wars” star Darrell Sheets' ex-wife breaks silence on his death
-
Sports6 days agoIs Man United v Liverpool on TV? Channel, streaming and how to watch Premier League fixture
-
Business7 days agoKuwait International Airport Resumes Operations After Closure as Regional Tensions Ease in 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment Login