Political commentator Candace Owens has slammed Erika Kirk for pulling out of a Turning Point USA event alongside Vice President JD Vance at the last minute.
Taking to X on Tuesday, April 14, just hours after Erika, 37, confirmed she was cancelling her appearance at the University of Georgia due to alleged security threats, Owens, 36, claimed the circumstances were falsely reported.
“Stop. This is exhausting. You pulled out because of bad ticket sales. For the same reason TPFaith had to “reschedule” the Pastor’s Summit and various other events quietly,” Owens directed to Erika, referring to Turning Point USA Faith, a division of the organization that is staging the Fast Forward Pastors’ Summit in Texas on April 21. (It is unclear when the original scheduling was set.)
Owens’ post replied directly to Erika’s earlier X post that announced her event withdrawal. “I was so looking forward to tonight’s event at the @universityofga with our Vice President @JDVance, but after all our family has been through, I take my security team’s recommendations extremely seriously,” Erika had written.
Advertisement
Owens continued, “People don’t believe you and don’t line up for you because you struggle to tell the truth about even the most basic facts. Where is the video of Charlie appointing you as CEO weeks before his death?” (Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and Erika’s late husband, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. He was 31 years old.)
A report by Fox 5 Atlanta on Tuesday stated that Vance, 41, said on stage that he had consulted with the Secret Service in light of “threats” that had been directed towards Erika.
Candace OwensJason Kempin/Getty Images
Owens, who has maintained an ongoing feud with Erika in the wake of Charlie’s death, disputed the claim, writing in her post, “The Secret Service sits above your security team. Were there actually a viable threat, the vice president would not have continued the event.”
Owens concluded her post with one final criticism aimed at Erika and her Turning Point USA team. “Your closest threat is the s*** public relations team you hired that continues to operate under the delusion that they are smarter than the public. They aren’t,” Owens wrote.
Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet detailed Erika’s no-show while stepping into her place at Tuesday’s event. “I’m on stage here instead of our friend Erika Kirk because unfortunately she has received some very serious threats in her direction, which is terrible,” Kolvet told the crowd. “It’s a terrible reflection on the state of reality and the state of the country.”
Advertisement
Vance also commented on Erika’s absence, telling the room, “Well, first of all, I love Erika. And I know that she did get some threats. And, you know, about two hours ago, Andrew, I was a little worried that we were going to have to cancel the event because Erika was not going to come, and she was very worried about it,” Vance said. “I said, ‘You know what? Let’s let Erika do what she needs to do for herself and her family.’ The people telling you that Erica wasn’t grieving her husband are full of s***, and we need to be honest. But if your instinct is to go after a young mother because she’s grieving in a way that you find wrong, well, why don’t you stay in your lane and mind your own business?”
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
Erika KirkOlivier Touron / AFP
Owens’ feud with Erika was ignited when she started sharing conspiracy theories about Charlie’s murder via social media. The posts led Erika to ask Owens to “stop” during a December 2025 interview with CBS News.
Despite a “very productive conversation” between the duo in the weeks that followed, Owens continued to speak out against Erika at the beginning of 2026, leaking apparent audio of Erika speaking to Turning Point USA team members two weeks after Charlie’s death.
Advertisement
Owens claimed at the time that Erika’s tone was audibly “upbeat” and “off putting.”
According to JustJared, Beyoncé took on her hosting duties once inside the Met Gala. Per the outlet, Beyoncé changed into a Robert Wun dress, which reportedly featured “golden faceted Swarovski crystals embroidered throughout and a sculptural skirt.”
Per Elle, Wun reportedly referred to the ensemble as the “stargaze gown.” The outlet adds that it was “modeled after the view from a night plane over a coastal city.”
It Has Internet Users Talkin’
Internet users were sharing their thoughts, talkin’ about Beyoncé’s Met Gala wardrobe change in TSR’s comment section.
Advertisement
Instagram user @loveyorganics wrote, “Girl why you ain’t wear this on the red carpet ????🔥🔥🔥”
While Instagram user @l1feofjay added, “This look is better than the one on the carpet.”
Instagram user @nellykin1 wrote, “After 10yrs she came and swept the room out 😍🔥”
While Instagram user @parischea added, “Would’ve loved this for the carpet 😍”
Advertisement
Instagram user @tee_kuro wrote, “Y’all just insatiable lol, if she wore this one on the red carpet and the silver dress inside the hall everyone would still complain!! The first dress with all that fur train was clearly made to spread on the carpet not sit in a hall”
While Instagram user @inkmychina69 added, “fashion was never in her she could never dress”
Instagram user @tanyabaddazz_1 wrote, “I swear to God y’all be hyping up nothing”
While Instagram user @est215_ added, “Yall be saying anything in the comments. She look tf good. 😍😍😍😍”
Advertisement
Instagram user @droppsofhoney wrote, “Idk for some reason it’s giving ‘Galaxy’ 🌌”
While Instagram user @lamont_stone added, “Y’all really not ready for Bey, and it’s okay! 😂”
More On Beyoncé’s Appearance At The Met Gala
As The Shade Room previously reported, Beyoncé returned to the Gala for the first time in 10 years yesterday. But that wasn’t all, she also popped out alongside Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy. Per Elle, Beyoncé donned a bejeweled Olivier Rousteing gown when she hit the carpet.
What do you get when you combine Pete Davidson, Anthony Hopkins, a smart car capable of locking in and torturing anybody who dares break into it, and the kind of battle of the wits that was popularized by the first Saw movie? If your guess was 2025’s Locked, you’d be mostly correct, except that there is no Pete Davidson. It’s Bill Skarsgard, covered in tattoos, with bleached-blond hair and a pink hoodie. I knew it was Bill Skarsgård the whole time, but I kept seeing Pete Davidson, like he was originally cast and got swapped out at the last minute.
Oddly enough, Glenn Powell was supposed to take on the lead role for Locked, but he couldn’t commit due to scheduling conflicts, probably because he had to star in another legacy sequel or something.
Identity confusion aside, Locked is a pretty straightforward thriller, and right up your alley if you’re into moral dilemmas, sadistic antagonists with total control, and one of the most irredeemable main characters you still have to root for. At the same time, you kind of hope he gets at least a little maimed along the way because he doesn’t seem capable of learning a valuable lesson.
It’s Basically Saw In A Car With No Torture Or Likeable People
The entire premise for Locked plays like a Saw movie, but not nearly as interesting. Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgård doing his best Pete Davidson) is a former (read: still active) criminal and deadbeat father. He doesn’t pay child support, and he always forgets to pick up his daughter Sarah (Ashley Cartwright) from school in the dangerous part of town. When he’s not trying to sell scrap at the auto shop and blow what little money he has on scratch-off tickets, he breaks into cars for walking-around money.
He breaks into the wrong car on this day, a heavily tinted and suspiciously placed Dolus SUV, and his life takes a turn for the worse when the vehicle locks him inside, making it clear that this was exactly what it was designed to do. He receives a phone call from the car’s owner, William (Anthony Hopkins), who explains that after a series of break-ins, he’s decided to take matters into his own hands by turning his car into a rolling torture box. The seats are electrified, and William can control every other feature in the car, like the heat, air conditioning, radio, and even the engine and steering wheel.
The SUV is also soundproofed, with heavily tinted windows, meaning nobody can hear Eddie scream or see inside, despite the fact that it’s parked in a busy lot. The remainder of the film becomes a claustrophobic test of wills as Eddie and William get to know each other. William reveals that he’s a terminally ill doctor, and this is his twisted version of vigilante justice. Eddie initially resists William’s demands to divulge personal information that could ruin his life, but eventually caves when faced with the car’s heat and William blasting yodeling music for hours on end.
Advertisement
In a desperate search for a blind spot in William’s cameras, or a way to short-circuit the car, Eddie uses his street smarts to outmaneuver his captor. The problem is that William has thought through every angle, leaving Eddie with very few options and almost no room for error.
We Have Saw At Home
There’s no way to talk about Locked without bringing up the Saw movies. Here, we have a bad guy in the sense that he’s a petty criminal squandering his life while his daughter actually needs him. He makes no effort to improve his situation, which is exactly how he ends up in William’s car. William is the menacing antagonist whose entire M.O. mirrors Jigsaw from the first Saw film. So we’re not even talking about a deep cut, we’re talking about the core premise of a massive horror franchise, just done in a car, and with its thermostat being the most elaborate booby trap.
Bill Skarsgård and Anthony Hopkins play well off each other, even though it looks like whoever handled the wardrobe really wanted Skarsgård to resemble Pete Davidson. Their adversarial dynamic has a strong ebb and flow, especially when Eddie thinks he has the upper hand, only for William to already be 10 steps ahead. From a production, cinematography, film score, and sound design standpoint, Locked is beyond solid. The problem is that the premise has been done to death.
By the time Eddie gets shocked by the car seats for the fourth time, you start to wonder if anything new is going to happen, or if it’s just going to be a guy trapped in a car, grunting uncomfortably the whole time. If I wanted that experience, I would have kept the family hatchback instead of upgrading to an SUV so I could live it every day. Boring.
That said, Locked isn’t a terrible film. It’s just not an original one. If you’re not a horror junkie and are only vaguely familiar with the Saw movies by name, I could see this being a solid watch. But since it’s been done before, and better, I mostly felt underwhelmed despite the strong performances across the board.
Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé shrugged at a Met Gala rule with their exquisite dates.
The actress and singer who co-chaired the star-studded fashion event along with other A-list industry stars left many talking, and not only because of their stunning looks. The former Destiny’s Child vocalist still made heads turn, marking her first appearance at the event in a decade.
Nicole Kidman and Beyoncé are not the only stars whose names remain on the lips of many after walking the Met Gala red carpet on Monday night. While the co-chairs’ appearances ignited conversation, the absence of many highly anticipated entertainers raised speculation.
Advertisement
Wey, Nicole Kidman a lado de su hija se ve espectacular….la temática?? No se, ya le busque la referencia al arte y no encontré pero se ve perra#MetGalapic.twitter.com/UlittmNRJO
Kidman made her debut at the Met Gala in 2003, and over two decades later, she walks hand in hand with his daughter, Sunday Rose. Sunday graced the 2026 Fashion is Art themed event for the first time, dressed in a strapless pink and lilac floral gown with a billowing bodice as she flashed smiles for the cameras.
The 17-year-old sealed the look with matching statement earrings and a purse while her brown straight locks were neatly parted to the side, thanks to celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. The “Babygirl” star walked right by her daughter’s side, donning a deep red sequined Chanel gown that was part of Chanel’s 2027 Cruise collection.
PEOPLE shared that Kidman’s look featured a drop waist accessorized with a feather peplum and small train. She wore her blonde straight hair in a banged-down look that ran past her shoulders.
Advertisement
Why Sunday Rose’s Appearance Has Many Talking
Sunday is one year shy of the Met Gala’s age limit, which states that invitees must be 18 years or older to attend the event. This rule was brought to light in May 2018 when “Dance Moms” alum Maddie Zieler told news outlets that she could not attend the event because she was not old enough at the time.
The theme for the event that year was “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and widespread speculation was that the age restriction was in place due to the theme. However, the Met Gala organizers clarified that the age limit had nothing to do with the theme. They stressed that it was an executive decision that “it’s not an appropriate event for people under 18.”
Even though Sunday’s first-time appearance at the event seemingly bent the rules, she is no stranger to cameras, fashion, and strutting in glamorous outfits. The young model made her catwalk debut as part of Miu Miu’s summer/spring 2025 show in Paris in October 2024 and has since been a fixture at Fashion Week.
The Met Gala Age Limit’s Bar Dropped With Beyoncé’s Date
RCF / MEGA
While Kidman’s daughter is just a year below the age limit, Beyoncé walked onto the red carpet with her 14-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter. The “If I Were A Boy” singer’s appearance at the event after ten years turned a family affair as she not only walked the Met Gala carpet with her daughter but also with her husband, Jay-Z.
The young singer caught eyes effortlessly as she stepped out in a white gown with a dramatic bubble skirt, a matching jacket, and metallic heels. The iconic look that carried so much elegance beyond Blue Ivy’s years was completed with a pair of striking sunglasses, which she refused to take off for pictures on the carpet, as reported by The Blast.
Advertisement
Blue Ivy became one of the youngest attendees at the Met, totally defying the age limit by four years, leaving many talking. Her presence sparked debate online as many questioned why the organizers did not uphold the rules. “But so Blue Ivy is a minor too (14 years old isn’t 18), so she had no business being on the red carpet if we stick to the rules,” one netizen called out on X.
Another viral video showed that the 14-year-old did not succumb to signals from paparazzi as she posed for pictures with her parents. Red-carpet etiquette typically involves removing sunglasses for photos, especially during close-up shots, but Blue Ivy stood her ground even after Jay-Z asked her to take them off.
Inside Other Eye-Catching Debut Appearances
Besides Sunday and Blue Ivy, other celebrities walked the Met Gala carpet for the first time clad in striking outfits tailored to the event’s theme. Jaafar Jackson, who plays his late uncle in the biopic “Michael,” stepped onto the carpet looking dapper in a black velvet Ralph Lauren suit and bow tie with intricate gold detailing.
His look was reminiscent of one of the late entertainer Michael Jackson’s looks. The Blast reported that Jaafar admitted that although his outfit was a “bit last-minute,” he was able to collaborate with the brand to achieve the stylish look, which not only matched the theme but also “felt not just visually striking, but intentional.”
Advertisement
“Saturday Night Live” breakout star Marcello Hernandez made his Met Gala debut alongside his girlfriend, Ana Amelia Baylor Cabral. The comedian wore a black double-breasted Thom Browne suit with a bow tie, which he accessorized with a brooch from his mother.
Another jaw-dropping reed carpet debut look was served from South Korean-American singer Kim Eun-jae, professionally known as Ejae, known for her Oscar-winning song “Golden”. Ejae came dressed in a sparkling silver gown, which she revealed to news outlets was inspired by her Korean culture. Among other accessories, she added binyeos, traditional Korean ornamental hairpins, to her hair.
Some Celebrities Walked The Met Gala Carpet Solo
While fashion is the order of the day at the star-studded event, romance still finds its way to the table of discussion as many industry stars attended the event without their famous partners, sparking online conversations. Among the many A-list stars absent, Harry Styles‘ absence could not go unnoticed as he was not seen by his beau’s side days after news of their engagement made headlines.
While fans had expected a major debut from the singer and his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz, they were met with disappointment as the actress stepped out solo. Another detail that raised whispers was that Kravitz’s left ring finger was missing a piece of jewelry, her diamond ring, which she flashed for cameras days ago during outings.
Advertisement
The Blast also reports that Timothée Chalamet skipped the event, leaving girlfriend Kylie Jenner to walk solo for the second year in a row. Chalamet reportedly chose to watch a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden rather than attend the fashion event with his partner. Katy Perry also walked the red carpet alone, and so did Gigi Hadid.
Did Nicole Kidman & Beyoncé start a trend that other stars will follow at the next Met Gala?
Not your average tee! Zoë Kravitz, Gracie Abrams, Laufey, Audrey Hobert, and a growing list of It-girls are stocking their wardrobes with Cleo’s signature tops, and once you see them, the appeal is instant.
With three-quarter length sleeves, a reversible neckline (low in the front or the back), plus two delicate buttons on the left side, the tee strikes a balance between effortless for day and elevated for night.Cleo Camp/Instagram
So, what’s the secret behind the viral staple? According to founder Cleo Camp, it all starts with that wear-anywhere appeal.
“I design an everyday elegance line for the girl who I imagine is the busiest girl in the world. She is busy building her own dream. … Cleo clothes and accessories fit 9-5 and 5-9 because my customer can do it all, without stopping at home to change,” she tells ET.
Advertisement
The celebrity co-signs prove the point.Kyle Berger
“Audrey shows up on stage in front of hundreds of people in my Cleo Tees in the same way she would meet a friend or go out to dinner,” Camp notes.
With six colors available, along with two dress options, the brand makes it easy to build a rotation you can rely on all week, something that feels especially personal to Camp.
“My grandmother, Christie, is my big inspiration. She had a signature look. She would re-wear the same silhouettes in different colors and materials over and over again, creating a stylish uniform that I knew as only hers,” she shares.
Advertisement
Laufey/Instagram
That familial influence goes beyond philosophy; it shaped the top’s form itself.
“My mom and grandma always wore quarter sleeves which I found really flattering and I was really focused on silhouette when I designed my tee. I wanted to frame the shape of the female body. … I used that to create my version of the perfect tee, and luckily others thought so too.”
Outside of her chic relatives, Camp’s aesthetic is rooted in a love of vintage fashion and pop culture. She often looks to designers like Agnès B., Vivienne Westwood, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, Norma Kamali, and Betsey Johnson, as well as iconic television shows for inspiration. Cleo Camp/Instagram
“Fashion is just what I consume and look for naturally. … In the studio, I replay episodes of Entourage and Sex and the City. I obsess over the details of every outfit from an era or style in fashion and TV that I wish still existed and find vintage designer pieces online late at night from eras before I was born.”
Advertisement
To take your own look up a notch, Camp recommends pairing her tees with the brand’s handcrafted leather and suede bags, which are equal parts practical and conversation starting.
“I’ve heard stories of women meeting on the street in a foreign city because they both had the same bag or a guy using my bag as an excuse to talk to a girl,” the California native spills.Cleo Camp/Instagram
But the designer’s ultimate outfit formula brings it back to individual style.
“Wear an accent or floral pin, a pair of standout shoes, heels or not, a perfectly fitting pair of Levi’s, and something meaningful that’s been passed down to you.”
After years of trying to get this project out of dry dock, Paramount finally confirmed that we’ll be getting a new Star Trek movie. The fandom is generally divided on this announcement. Some are happy that we’ll finally get Trek on the big screen again, and the fact that it will be written by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (the duo who wrote the excellent Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) is just icing on the cake. Others are quite unhappy that we are bidding a definitive goodbye to Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and the rest of the Kelvinverse cast in favor of a new continuity.
That new continuity is actually what worries me the most about this upcoming film. It’s weird enough that Star Trek is getting its third, brand-new timeline, which will inevitably make things weird for casual audiences. But so far, Paramount hasn’t commented on how this new movie will affect plans for future Trek TV shows. As a lifelong fan of the franchise, I’ve got some friendly advice for Paramount: unless the TV shows retain the continuity that began with Star Trek: The Original Series, this franchise is doomed.
Set Your Phaser To “Reboot”
The franchise got its first real reboot with JJ Abrams’ Star Trek in 2009. At the time, Paramount worried that Star Trek’s decades of tangled lore would be too much for casual moviegoers to keep up with. The solution was a time travel plot that ended up rebooting the entire universe, and this resulted in something of a creative compromise. The Trek films would take place in the new timeline known as the Kelvinverse. Meanwhile, future shows (including Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Picard) would take place in the same timeline as shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager.
Now, ironically, Paramount finds itself in the exact same position. Those Kelvinverse movies did a good job of reviving the franchise, but it’s been the better part of two decades since the first one came out. Nervous that audiences might have trouble keeping up with the lore of this not-so-new continuity, the powers that be have decided to reboot the franchise yet again. While there is no firm release date or story details, we do know that the upcoming movie will be set in a continuity that is different from both the TV shows and the Kelvinverse films.
Making Audiences Sick
What is even less clear is what the future of Star Trek television looks like. By the numbers, NuTrek has been a failure: every single show except for Picard (which was planned as a three-season show) ended up getting prematurely canceled. Furthermore, Starfleet Academy’s streaming numbers were so underwhelming (one unconfirmed report claimed it only averaged 40,000 views per episode) that the show ended up getting canceled after one season. This, combined with Paramount’s upcoming acquisition of Warner Bros., may tempt executives to ditch everything that came before and set future shows in the same continuity as the upcoming movie.
Despite NuTrek’s many failings, this would be a huge mistake. If there’s one thing Star Trek fans are, well, fanatic about, it’s the franchise’s continuity. Old timers find it endlessly rewarding to see how newer episodes callback to other ones. For example, even Starfleet Academy’s biggest haters mostly enjoyed the show’s tribute to Deep Space Nine’s Captain Sisko. Similarly, Discovery’s harshest critics generally enjoyed how the entire final season was a follow-up to a mostly forgotten Star Trek: The Next Generation episode. Clearly, if any new iteration of Star Trek is to retain its legion of older fans, it simply must continue to build on the continuity begun back in 1966 with Star Trek: The Original Series. Done right, this will give Paramount the best of both worlds: new timeline movies to hook newer fans and old timeline shows to keep the older fans.
Advertisement
Done wrong, however, and the studio may very well doom this franchise. What if audiences reject the latest movie, only after Paramount has planned multiple TV series around it? Keeping timelines different for the films and the shows allows execs to hedge their bets rather than going all-in on a single continuity. Plus, it’s an olive branch to the legacy fans who form the core of the fandom. Keep those fans happy, and you keep the franchise alive. Drive those fans away, though, and it will die even quicker than Starfleet Academy.
“Zia? Seeza? How do you say her name?” the 83-year-old asked, before saying she enjoyed “Bad Bunny as Wolf Blitzer” and warning Heidi Klum to avoid pigeons.
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
As spring calendars fill with garden parties, travel plans and long afternoons spent outdoors, finding sandals that actually balance comfort and style can feel surprisingly difficult. Too often, warm-weather shoes look chic but leave your feet begging for relief by lunchtime. Martha Stewart’s latest outfit, however, proved that comfy spring sandals really can deliver both.
While out in New York City on April 29, 2026, Stewart stepped out in a bright lime green sweater, skinny jeans and a structured black tote. But it was her surprisingly chic Crocs Soho Y-Strap Sandals that really caught our attention. The neutral-toned sandals added an easy, practical finish — and they’re now on sale for just $45 on Amazon.
Advertisement
Get the Crocs Soho Y Strap Sandals or $45 (Was $60) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
If you’ve been assuming Crocs are limited to garden clogs, Stewart’s look may change your mind. The Soho Y-Strap style features a sleek, minimalist silhouette with slim straps and a supportive sole that looks far more refined than traditional comfort sandals. They’re the kind of versatile spring shoe that pairs just as easily with denim as they do breezy dresses or linen trousers.
Jessica Alba just reminded Us why flattering wide-leg jeans remain one of fashion’s most powerful wardrobe staples. The right pair can instantly lengthen the legs, smooth the silhouette and create that coveted model-off-duty effect — and her latest look delivered exactly that. Her pair proved that wide-leg denim isn’t just trendy, it’s one of the […]
Beyond their polished appearance, these sandals are designed for serious all-day wear. Made with lightweight EVA material, they offer flexible support without feeling bulky, while the adjustable hook-and-loop strap allows for a more customized fit. That combination makes them especially practical for busy spring days filled with errands, travel or long walks.
Shoppers are equally impressed, with the sandals earning praise for their “arch support” and “extremely comfortable” feel. Several reviewers also note that they’re “wide foot friendly,” while others love how effortlessly they blend into everyday wardrobes. With more than comfortable construction and stylish versatility, it’s easy to see why Stewart reached for them.
The exact Crocs sandals come in several versatile colors and are currently available on Amazon for now 25% off, just in time for spring. For anyone looking to refresh their spring shoe lineup with something supportive, stylish and genuinely wearable, Stewart’s practical-chic pick makes a very compelling case.
Advertisement
Get the Crocs Soho Y Strap Sandals or $45 (Was $60) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Crocs here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Jennifer Lawrence has once again proven that practical fashion can still feel incredibly chic. The actress is known for making low-key staples look polished, and her latest spring outfit may have just confirmed that Mary Jane sneakers are officially the comfiest it-girl shoe of the season. Equal parts sporty and feminine, the trend feels like the […]
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen novel in possession of a good legacy must be in want of an adaptation. Such has been the case for Austen’s most acclaimed and popular work, Pride and Prejudice, which has received countless adaptations, from a classic Hollywood black-and-white drama to a BBC miniseries to a millennial cottagecore rom-com to even a zombie horror comedy. Most of these efforts range between “great” and “solid,” but few actually have something meaningful to say about Austen’s seminal novel.
Luckily, The Other Bennet Sister isn’t “most” adaptations; in fact, it’s among the rare ones that approach its source material with reverence, but its much-welcome sense of independence allows it to feel refreshing and, far more importantly, timely. The show premieres with its first three episodes May 6 on the criminally underappreciated streaming service BritBox, and it’s a must-watch, not only for hardcore Janeites or those who crave Regency romance as if it were oxygen, but for anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted and exceptionally executed story.
Advertisement
What Is ‘The Other Bennet Sister’ About?
As the title implies, The Other Bennet Sister centers on Mary (Ella Bruccoleri), the most overlooked of the five Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice. Introverted and often disregarded by her family, Mary attempts to take control of her own story, much to the annoyance of her mother, Mrs. Bennet (Ruth Jones), and the loving indifference of her father, Mr. Bennet (Richard E. Grant). Through her distinct and invigorating perspective, we see the well-known events of Pride and Prejudice before the series’ story sends her on a journey of self-discovery to London, where she experiences the kindness of her relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner (Richard Coyle and Indira Varma), and might even encounter love for the first time.
Based on the eponymous novel by Janice Hadlow, The Other Bennet Sister also stars Dónal Finn as Tom Hayward, a close friend of the Gardiners who becomes crucial to Mary’s journey, and Laurie Davidson as Mr. Ryder, a free-spirited bachelor who catches Mary’s eye. Most of the main players in Pride and Prejudice also appear, including Mary’s four sisters, Jane (Maddie Close), Lizzie (Poppy Gilbert), Lydia (Grace Hogg-Robinson), and Kitty (Molly Wright). Mr. Collins (Ryan Sampson) and Charlotte Lucas (Anna Fenton-Garvey) play prominent roles, as does Caroline Bingley (Tanya Reynolds), Charles Bingley’s haughty sister and a minor antagonist in Pride and Prejudice, who becomes Mary’s main rival here.
‘The Other Bennet Sister’s Cast Makes the Series Soar
From the get-go, it’s clear that the main strength of The Other Bennet Sister is its outstanding cast. At the center of it all is an incandescent Bruccoleri as Mary, a remarkable period heroine and a true breath of fresh air. In many ways, Mary is less a reinvention of the classic Austen heroine and more of a logical progression of the archetype. She is shy, clumsy, and more than a little awkward, the type of character that many would consider “autistic-coded,” yet she’s also bold and, in her way, adventurous. While Mary is afraid to open herself up to new possibilities, she does so nonetheless — not because others compel her to, but because she wants to.
Advertisement
The Other Bennet Sister is, at its core, a wallflower story, but Mary is free of the tropes that permeate that subgenre. There’s no makeover here, no magical transformation that brings her out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight; Mary embraces herself, quirks and all. More importantly, she isn’t married to any notion of either life-altering romance or hopeless spinsterhood, while actively pursuing love; she tries, is disappointed, tries again, and dares to believe she can indeed find a match. It’s so invigorating to see a character like Mary, so honest and relatable, in a romantic period drama, not as the best friend or the comic relief, but as the object of attention and desire.
If Mary is the logical next step for an Austen heroine, then Dónal Finn’s Mr. Hayward is an Austen leading man to a tee. He has all the bumbling charm of Edward Ferrars, the witty intellectualism of Henry Tilney, and the silent longing of Frederick Wentworth. If you like soft, enchanting leading men who are just the right amount of pathetic, you’ll love this guy. Gallant, shy, and just as awkward as Mary, Tom Hayward might just be the best period romance leading man we’ve had since Matthew Macfadyen‘s Mr. Darcy, complete with his own version of the hand flex (who knew forearms could be so appealing?). After being a highlight in the latter two seasons of the cruelly canceled The Wheel of Time and outright stealing this year’s Young Sherlock, it’s great to see Finn receive some much-deserved recognition.
The rest of the cast is uniformly great, too. Coyle and Varma are simply exceptional as the Gardiners, Mary’s de facto fairy godmothers. Davidson’s free-spirited Mr. Ryder is a wonderful sparring partner to Mary, and the familiar but underrated Tanya Reynolds is a riot as the loathsome Caroline Bingley. Perhaps most surprising is how the show reframes the classic characters of Mr. Collins and Charlotte Lucas, two of Pride and Prejudice‘s biggest punching bags. Particularly inspired is the series’ version of Mr. Collins, often depicted as absurd at best and outright pitiful at worst. Here, he’s just a misunderstood man trying to find love and understanding, and his unexpected connection with Mary is among the show’s many highlights.
Advertisement
‘The Other Bennet Sister’ Takes a Bold Creative Swing With the Bennets
‘The Other Bennet Sister’Image via Britbox
If there’s an element that is bound to be divisive, it’s The Other Bennet Sister‘s depiction of the titular family. In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennets are somewhat embarrassing but largely respectable and loving to each other. Here, those dynamics are altered. On the page, Mary is indeed the odd one out; Jane and Lizzie are best friends, and so are Kitty and Lydia, meaning Mary is often ignored by everyone in the household. The Other Bennet Sister takes that to the next level, where many members of the Bennet family are actively unkind toward Mary.
This approach isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s just what fits best for this story, yet one can’t help but suspect that Austen purists will feel betrayed. The other four Bennet sisters are mostly true to their roles in Austen’s story, except for Lydia, who assumes a more antagonistic role. The biggest change comes with the show’s depiction of Mrs. Bennet. In Pride and Prejudice, the Bennet matriarch is loud, abrasive, frivolous, and melodramatic but mostly harmless and well-meaning towards her daughters. In The Other Bennet Sister, she’s an outright villain and actively mistreats Mary to the point of bordering on actual cruelty. In short, she’s less Mrs. Bennet and more Lady Tremaine, a change that’s bound to ruffle some feathers.
Advertisement
Overall, though, The Other Bennet Sister is nothing short of a triumph. Its aesthetic is classic Regency drama, but with a welcome splash of color that feels lively without entering into anachronistic territory. Narratively, it’s a beautiful and winning story with just enough edge to feel modern while still offering everything a romance fan could want. Thematically, it’s the type of story that only takes a few rewatches to become a proper feel-good classic, and there’s also genuine heat, filmed through a distinctive female-gaze approach that makes it all the more effective. The Other Bennet Sister is the show you’ve been waiting for but didn’t know you needed, the perfect offering for these dark times, and a prime example of how timeless and irresistible the period romance subgenre can be when it’s actually done right.
Kylie Jenner continues to prove that beauty is pain, and sometimes ruined facial features!
The socialite sparked mixed reactions on social media platforms after her bold choice for this year’s Met Gala.
She took the dress code “Fashion is Art” quite seriously, going all out with her outfit and makeup. However, Kylie Jenner was in for a shock after the event.
Advertisement
Instagram Stories | Kylie Jenner
The “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” alum updated fans on her Instagram Story after the prestigious fashion event, revealing she had paid a price for her bold fashion statement. The video captured Kylie unable to stop laughing at herself.
She showcased her eyebrows, which appeared to have been damaged after getting bleached to match her skin for the event. In the clip, Kylie had one eyebrow that had been successfully bleached back to black, but it appeared thinner than it used to be.
“My brows are ruined. What is this? What the f-ck is this?” Kylie asked in between giggles. “This looks horrible,” she declared while someone in the background could be heard laughing and blaming Kylie’s celebrity hairstylist, Iggy Rosales, for leaving her with “no hair.”
The Socialite Opted For A Nude Illusion Ensemble
Instagram Stories | Kylie Jenner
For the annual Met Gala, Kylie used her body as a canvas to express her artistic side, as seen in pictures shared on her Instagram page. She stepped out in a sexy yet bold ensemble that gave off the illusion of a dress being taken off, with a voluminous, embellished satin skirt hanging from her waist.
Kylie was fully committed to the half-dressed look, rocking a nude corset with faux nipples and a belly button indentation. She also bleached her brows to match her skin, giving off the illusion that she had shaved off her eyebrows, while her hair fell down one shoulder in grateful waves.
The custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture ensemble impressed some fans, who believed she had embodied the “Fashion is Art” dress code perfectly. On the other hand, some fans argued that Kylie’s nude illusion had gone too far and was not Met Gala worthy.
Advertisement
Fans Were Divided Over The TV Personality’s Bold Ensemble
Fans shared their thoughts about Kylie’s outfit on X, with one supporter raving about her perfect ensemble. “Honestly, this look just hits. The fit, the fabric, the way the train moves — everything feels effortless,” they wrote. Another agreed, declaring:
“Definitely my favorite outfit. I love the way the top blends in with her skin.”
A third applauded Kylie, comparing her outfit to a Greek statue. On the other hand, critics were not impressed and slammed the reality TV star’s fashion statement as a flop. “What a stupid outfit! She’s so thirsty!” someone claimed. An X user echoed similar sentiments, wondering why Kylie had bleached her eyebrows.
More About The Kylie Cosmetics Founder’s Bold Met Gala Look
Kylie’s celebrity hairstylist, Iggy Rosales, opened up about her Met Gala outfit in an interview with Vogue. He explained that the goal of the custom Schiaparelli outfit was to give the illusion of a dress slipping away and make Kylie look like “a living sculpture.”
To achieve the illusion, Rosales experimented with different eyebrow looks before settling on bleaching Kylie’s brows to match her skin. “We even tested no brows just to see how far we could push it,” the hairstylist revealed.
Advertisement
Rosales wanted a similar effect as the dress with Kylie’s hair, noting he wanted “tension between something sculpted and something undone.” He styled the entertainer’s hair in curly waves, allowing the midsection to have more precise shaping around the face, and a kiss-curl over the eye area.
Kylie Jenner Is No Stranger To Post Met Gala Hiccups
zz/DPRF/starmaxinc.com/Newscom/ MEGA
Kylie’s bleached eyebrow drama isn’t the first time her fashion statements have caused undesirable aftermaths. Last year, she attended the annual fashion event in a sleek, futuristic Ferragamo ensemble that gave off corseted elegance.
She complemented the stunning look with a pair of strappy stilettos that later became the price she had to pay for beauty. After the event, HOLA! reported that Kylie had shared her woes on Instagram, revealing the shoes were stuck to her feet.
Kylie had shared a video of her assistants spraying glue release on the shoes while trying to pry her feet out. The process appeared painful, as the reality TV star could be heard wincing. As for what happened, Kylie explained that Ferragamo’s creative director, Maximilian Davis, had advised her to tape her shoes to her feet.
Was Kylie Jenner’s Met Gala look worth ruining her eyebrows?
You must be logged in to post a comment Login