A shocking petition is highlighting mixed reactions in Australia ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s upcoming visit.

With thousands reportedly opposing taxpayer support for their trip, the royal couple is still continuing with their plans for appearances in Sydney and Melbourne.

At the same time, Harry and Meghan are pushing back against claims of tension with Netflix, insisting their partnership remains strong despite reports suggesting otherwise.

Petition Opposes Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Australia Visit

According to Sky News Australia, a growing online petition is giving insight into how some Australians feel about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ahead of their upcoming visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to travel to Sydney and Melbourne in April for what’s being described as a mix of “private, business, and philanthropic engagements,” their first trip to Australia since 2018. But the reception may not be as warm as before.

Royal commentator Tom Sykes has suggested the couple should brace themselves for a less enthusiastic welcome, noting they are no longer guaranteed the public support they once enjoyed.

That sentiment appears to be echoed in a petition circulating on Change.org, which has already attracted over 10,000 verified signatures.

The campaign argues that Australian taxpayers should not be responsible for covering any costs associated with the couple’s visit, including “security, logistics, or government coordination,” since they are no longer working royals.

The petition emphasized that “Harry and Meghan no longer represent the Crown and now operate private commercial ventures from the United States.”

As such, it insists their visit should be treated strictly as a private one, even if it includes media appearances, business ventures, and public events.

Petition Urges No Taxpayer Funding For The Royal Couple’s Visit Due To Cost Of Living In Australia

The petition also points to ongoing cost-of-living challenges in Australia, arguing that “public resources must be used responsibly.”

According to the petition, providing official support would place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers.

The message is made especially clear in its closing statement, which stresses that “taxpayers should not fund a private celebrity visit.”

The campaign is accompanied by an image of the couple alongside the Australian flag, paired with the caption: “We don’t want you here.”

About Prince Harry And Meghan’s Trip And The Duchess’s Special Women’s Retreat

Despite the backlash, Meghan is still scheduled to headline a high-profile women’s retreat in Sydney.

Organized by events company Besties, founded by Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and Gemma O’Neill, the three-day “Her Best Life Retreat” will take place at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee.

Tickets are priced at $3,000 and include a gala dinner featuring an in-person conversation with Meghan, along with networking sessions, “laughter and unforgettable experiences.”

In addition to Sydney, the couple is also expected to spend time in Melbourne. During the visit, Harry will appear as a keynote speaker at the InterEdge Summit, an event focused on fostering healthier and more productive workplace environments through discussions with leaders and industry experts.

The Duke And Duchess Denied A Bombshell Report About Their Relationship With Netflix

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan are also addressing speculation about tension in their professional relationship with Netflix.

A spokesperson for the couple has pushed back against claims made in a report by Variety, which suggested the streaming giant had been caught off guard by some of their independent ventures.

Among the concerns raised was their high-profile 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, conducted while they were working on their docuseries, “Harry & Meghan.”

Although the interview did not breach any contractual terms, the report alleged that Netflix had concerns about “poor communication,” particularly in relation to activities involving their production company, Archewell.

The couple’s representative, however, firmly rejected that narrative, calling claims that Netflix was unaware of the interview “categorically false” and noting that legal teams on both sides were involved throughout the process, standard practice for major deals in Hollywood.

Netflix Slams Claims Of A Rift With Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Despite Reports Of Cooling Partnership

The report also comes shortly after Netflix stepped back from its involvement with Meghan’s lifestyle brand, As Ever.

While the streamer had supported the brand ahead of its launch and collaborated with Meghan on “With Love, Meghan,” a spokesperson confirmed the Duchess will now continue to grow the venture “independently.”

At the time, Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting the global reach and impact of Harry and Meghan’s storytelling through Archewell Productions.

Still, according to Variety, the relationship may have cooled since the pair signed their multi-year deal in 2020. While “Harry & Meghan” delivered strong viewership, surpassing 81 million hours watched within days of its release, other projects, including “With Love, Meghan,” reportedly underperformed.

This has led to internal discussions about whether ventures like e-commerce are the right long-term direction for the collaboration.

Even so, Netflix has dismissed suggestions of a breakdown in the partnership. A spokesperson described claims that executives, including co-CEO Ted Sarandos, have lost confidence in the Sussexes as “absolutely inaccurate.”

“Archewell has been a thoughtful and collaborative partner,“ Bajaria said, “and we’ve really enjoyed working with Harry and Meghan. They’re deeply engaged in the storytelling process and bring a unique, global perspective that aligns with the kinds of impactful projects our members respond to.”

Bold and the Beautiful enthralls fans as Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) on fire about Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) announcing that Eric Forrester (John McCook) designed Logan’s debut line.

And even worse, Bill spilled that Ridge kicked Eric out of his own company, and Brooke declared war on Katie. So, I suspect she and Ridge might play dirty and go after Katie, Bill, and the Logan Fashion House. We’re going to talk about Brooke and Ridge’s devious plan to sabotage Katie.

Brooke Declares War on Katie on Bold and the Beautiful

So, recently, we had Katie and Bill hold a mini launch for Logan to give the press a little sneak peek of their first collection. And they announced that it was Eric Forrester who designed the gowns. And then Ridge, Eric, and Brooke crashed and things exploded.

If you haven’t seen the episodes yet, Bill put Ridge on blast and told everybody the ugly truth that he kicked his father to the curb. And then Eric came over to Logan and he and Katie were excited to work with the legendary Forrester founder.

And of course, Ridge, Eric, and Brooke were all horrified. They were furious. And then Brooke raged at Katie declaring war. And she did try to diffuse the press shock about Eric’s forced retirement by saying he was happy to be back at Forrester where he belongs.

But it’s quite clear at this point that Brooke and Ridge aren’t going to sit back and let Katie and Bill get away with using Eric’s designs even though they paid for them. I believe it’s Logan Designs. And Brooke vowed to destroy what she called Katie’s so-called fashion house. What a diss.

So, let’s talk about the sabotage that Ridge and Brooke are likely going to be plotting soon and how explosive it’s going to get between them and Katie and Bill.

Ridge and Brooke Could Launch a Media Blitz on B&B

So, the first thing is I expect a clapback media blitz that turns into mutual warfare. You know, Brooke and Ridge could hold a press conference of their own that’s essentially a public smear event that trash talks Bill and Katie and Logan. That way, they can counter Bill trashing Ridge over disrespecting Eric.

They might offer some salacious gossip about Katie and Bill. You know, they could claim that Katie poached Eric while he was vulnerable and then she and Bill worked the poor old guy into exhaustion and collapse. And Brooke can claim that Katie stole the Logan trademark and that the designs Eric did actually belong to Forrester Creations.

And you know, Brooke could get all teary eyed about Katie betraying her and the Forrester family who gave her so many opportunities. They could even use that new PR firm that they brought in to replace Katie—technically to supplement her, but it really insulted her and that contributed to her leaving Forrester and taking Bill’s offer to start this new fashion house.

Bold and the Beautiful: Katie & Bill Prove Bridge Wrong

So, Brooke and Ridge could have the PR team flood social media with side-by-side comparisons of Eric’s former Forrester designs versus Logan’s new line, implying outright copying, you know, knockoff Temu Forrester Creations, whatever you want to call it.

And of course, Bill may respond by releasing some of Eric’s, you know, messages and emails to them proving that he was the one who came to Katie and that was because he wasn’t valued at Forrester Creations and Eric, you know, talking excitedly about the designs.

And Katie could do an exclusive interview and talk about Eric, you know, telling her he wanted to be her lead designer and saying he wanted to teach Ridge and Brooke to respect their elders, which is exactly what he said. They could just drop truth bombs and Ridge and Brooke could do the same, but with wilder accusations of theft and things like that.

Ridge and Brooke Could File a Lawsuit on Bold

So, another thing Ridge and Brooke might do is file a lawsuit, something like trying to get an injunction to stop Katie and Bill from using the designs. But in case you don’t know it, you actually cannot copyright a clothing design. Like if there was a trademark on it, like the FC logo, that’s something you can trademark a logo. But that’s why you see items on the runway and then a couple of months later there’s knockoffs like at H&M and Target.

So, Brooke and Ridge could also engage in other nuisance activities like telling the high-quality fabric vendors to refuse to sell to Logan. You know, Ridge could threaten to walk away from them forever if they work with Katie and Bill. Just, you know, little things to try and slow up production through different methods of interference.

Ridge May Target Bill Directly on Bold and the Beautiful

We could also see Ridge target Bill directly. You know, Ridge might challenge Bill out in a public space and it turns into a confrontation that people are taping and posting online. You know, maybe at Il Giardino or at Logan’s first big full fashion show for the entire collection. Ridge may call Bill a thief for funding Katie’s so-called fashion house and call it a low-quality knockoff Forrester Creations.

And that might escalate to Ridge and Bill punching each other. You know, they’re both hotheads. Or it could be a mic drop humiliation moment where Bill reveals more dirt on Ridge. And of course, he could turn around, flip the script, and spill dirt on Bill, like when Dollar Bill had Justin Barber (Aaron D. Spears) throw Ridge out of a helicopter and try and kill him.

Brooke also knows a lot of Bill’s secrets, and she could confront Katie in public, calling her jealous because Brooke is prettier and better than Katie. You know what she told her, and just humiliate her baby sister. Also, I mean, really, there’s no cap on this.

Brooke and Ridge Could Sabotage Katie’s Fashion Show on B&B

Brooke and Ridge could take it even further than that. They could show up and sneak in with a twisted plan of fashion show sabotage when Katie and Bill show the full collection. We could see Brooke and Ridge causing backstage chaos. You know, they could swap outfits, break zippers, tamper with the lighting, the microphones, the music.

Or worse, Brooke and Ridge could loosen the seams to cause a wardrobe malfunction on the runway that would make the outfits look like they’re cheap and just falling apart. That would be terrible. Since, you know, the influencers will be live streaming, it would go viral as an epic disaster, tanking Logan’s reputation before Katie’s company ever really gets started, which is exactly what Brooke wants to do, you know.

Or something else they could do is launch a new exclusive Forrester collection on the same day. Ridge and RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti). They could hustle out their men’s collection at the same day, same time, and steal the spotlight and all the press coverage knowing that fashion journalists will come to a Forrester event over an event held by Bill and Katie’s startup. Bill would be seething, Katie would be crushed, it would be a mess on Bold and the Beautiful.

Ridge and Brooke May Weaponize the Kids

And the last thing to think about, Brooke and Ridge might retaliate against Bill and Katie in a very personal way and involve the kids to get the next generation in here. You know, Ridge kind of already kicked this off with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) this week, and Ridge could weaponize RJ, who already accused Will of corporate espionage and being a double agent.

And Brooke could use this to make Katie look like a bad influence on Will or even a bad mom who had her son spying on Forrester. And Brooke and Ridge may continue trying to manipulate Will to turn against his parents as punishment for Bill publicizing what Ridge did to Eric.

So, before all is said and done, big question. Will Brooke destroy her own sister Katie? You know, we could see Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) and Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) get dragged into this. Maybe Brooke pressures Hope to side against Katie and try and get Liam Spencer to flip on them.

Also, whether Ridge and Brooke do, you know, one or more or all of these awful things to sabotage Katie and Bill, I think the fallout is going to be massive. So, we’ll see what happens. But I’m ready to see this war explode. And I just hope I really really hope that Brad Bell doesn’t wimp out and really delivers the drama.

A Louisiana woman is facing negligent homicide charges after she drove over her toddler son, who’d fallen out of her car in Baton Rouge, Us Weekly has learned.

In addition to negligent homicide, Elizabeth Aguilar was also charged with failure to use a child passenger restraining system.

Police only announced the arrest this week, but the incident occurred on February 20 at approximately 11:21 a.m.

Cops were called to a Murphy’s gas station, where the alleged incident unfolded.

“Upon arrival, officers learned that Nicholas Aguilar had been seated in the rear passenger seat of a vehicle,” reads a statement from Baton Rouge Police. “While the vehicle was making a turn in the parking lot, the child fell out and was run over by the vehicle.”

Related: Mom Abandoned Child, Drove Across Several States Before Fatal Car Crash

A woman has been arrested after she abandoned her child and drove across several states, ultimately striking a woman with her car once she made it to Indiana during an October 2025 incident. Adria Wilkerson was taken into custody by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, February 17, after she was found responsible for […]

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Officers rushed the child to a nearby hospital, where medical staff were unable to save him.

Elizabeth, 22, is still in police custody without bond. Authorities said they continue to investigate the incident.

Aguilar does not have an attorney who can speak on her behalf, and she has not been asked to enter pleas yet.

A similar tragedy unfolded recently in Texas, leading to the arrest of a 17-year-old mom whose baby was ejected from her car during a crash and died.

Police alleged that Karla Lopez ran a red light, causing the collision in Fort Worth. She was charged with reckless injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury.

The baby was identified as Sebastian Reyes, who was just 6 months old at the time of the crash.

The fatal accident took place on March 7 near the intersection of Rock Island Street and Azle Avenue, police confirmed to Us.

Officials said that Sebastian suffered serious injuries and emergency responders transported the infant to a nearby hospital. Medical staff attempted life-saving treatment, though Sebastian couldn’t be saved and he ultimately died from his injuries.

The baby’s mother was transported to a local hospital for unspecified non-life-threatening injuries.

After she was treated, she was formally charged and taken to jail. It is not currently clear if Lopez has entered a plea or retained legal representation following her arrest.

The Fort Worth Police Department told Us they had no additional statements to share as of time of publication. Police have not shared the condition of the other person involved in the car crash.

If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Taylor Sheridan is not wasting much time expanding the world of Tulsa King. The prolific creator’s next Paramount+ series, Frisco King, has officially hit a major production milestone, with filming now set to begin in Fort Worth, Texas. For a Sheridan project, that probably counts as both a practical update and a statement of intent, especially since this series was once expected to take shape somewhere very different. Now, instead of heading to New Orleans, the show is planting itself firmly in North Texas.

According to local production details from The Dallas Morning News, Frisco King is scheduled to begin filming on Friday, March 20, with activity centered around the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. Street-use permits tied to the production include multiple lane and sidewalk closures across the area on March 19 and March 20, making this the clearest sign yet that the Tulsa King spin-off is officially moving into production.

The series stars Samuel L. Jackson as Russell Lee Washington Jr., a hitman who crossed paths with Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi in Tulsa King Season 3. Paramount+ has also confirmed that Sheridan is personally writing all eight episodes of the first season. Paramount+ recently announced that Asa Germann, Kai Caster, Lilah Pate, and Savanna Gann have joined the series. Sheridan, Jackson, and Stallone are all executive producing, alongside David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Christina Alexandra Voros, Michael Friedman, and Keith Cox.

Related

Whatchu Talkin’ About, Willis? — The Collider TV Quiz!

From long-running series to one-off guest spots, Bruce Willis has been all over our television screens. How many of these appearances do you know?

Is ‘Tulsa King’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s review stated that Tulsa King Season 3 wastes absolutely no time getting going, and that’s exactly what the show needed. After a slower, more uneven second season, this new chapter comes in with sharper focus, bigger threats, and a much stronger sense of momentum. It’s easily the most exciting the series has been so far, even if it still has a few rough edges.

“It boasts greater involvement and development of some key, formerly underutilized players, which benefits its storytelling. There’s also a promise of greater mob danger as the narrative plays out, keeping the pressure on Dwight and refusing to let go. While it’s impossible to say how well everything will ultimately come together, Tulsa King Season 3 is a thoroughly tense ride nonetheless — and the best that Sheridan’s series has been so far.”

Frisco King is in production now, while Tulsa King is streaming now on Paramount+.

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Release Date

November 13, 2022

Network

Paramount+

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Showrunner

Dave Erickson, Terence Winter

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Directors

Allen Coulter, Benjamin Semanoff, David Semel, Guy Ferland, Joshua Marston, Kevin Dowling, Lodge Kerrigan, Jim McKay

Writers

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Joseph Riccobene, David Flebotte, William Schmidt, Taylor Elmore, Tom Sierchio, Regina Corrado, Stephen Scaia, Terence Winter

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The internet loves a full-circle moment—especially when receipts, real-life footage, and a little creativity collide. And for Afroman, what started as a shocking situation inside his own home turned into a headline-making legal battle that had everyone watching closely. Now, after years of back-and-forth, the rapper is finally getting the last word.

RELATED: Afroman Officially Files Paperwork To Run For President In 2024: ‘Cannabis Commander-In-Chief’

Afroman Wins Defamation Case Against Ohio Deputies

The Grammy-nominated artist, born Joseph Foreman, just scored a major legal victory after a group of seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies sued him for defamation. The lawsuit stemmed from a series of viral music videos where Afroman used his own home security footage to highlight—and mock—a 2022 raid on his property. The deputies were reportedly seeking nearly $4 million in damages, claiming the videos subjected them to public ridicule. But in the end, the court sided with Afroman, and Judge Jonathan Hein confirmed that none of the plaintiffs’ claims prevailed.

“The whole raid was a mistake. All of this is their fault. If they hadn’t have wrongly raided my house, there would be no lawsuit. I would not know their names,” Foreman revealed. “They wouldn’t be on my home surveillance system, and there would be no songs, nothing.”

Viral Raid Footage Sparks Music, Legal Firestorm

If you’ve seen the clips, then you already know why they went viral. As previously reported, the footage showed armed deputies entering Afroman’s home, searching through personal belongings, and even pausing near a cake on his kitchen counter—moments that later inspired tracks like ‘Lemon Pound Cake.’ He also alleged that $400 went missing after the search, further fueling his frustration and the message behind his music.

During the trial, Afroman leaned heavily on his First Amendment rights, explaining that the music was both commentary and a way to recover financially from damages caused during the raid, including a broken gate and door. He also shared that the incident deeply impacted his family, especially his young children at the time.

Notably, no charges were ever filed against him following the search, which had been tied to a drug and kidnapping investigation. After the verdict was announced, an emotional Afroman celebrated outside the courthouse, declaring it a win not just for himself—but for freedom of speech as a whole.

The Comment Section Reacts To Afroman’s Win

Meanwhile, folks wasted no time running to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section—and whew, it was lit UP. Some users said they love a full-circle moment, while others pointed out that Black people rarely win lawsuits this big, calling it a victory for the culture as a whole. Plenty of commenters also added that none of this would’ve even gone viral if the deputies hadn’t spoken up in the first place.

One Instagram user @breezylaboy added, “Blacks rarely win lawsuits. I’m happy for him😂😂”

This Instagram user @pretty_brown_round_ said, “He and his lawyers ATE!!! 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾”

And, Instagram user @chefbae_ wrote, “Now repair that man’s door!!😂😂😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @fatbellyjam commented, “‘I just won this lawsuit because I got high’ 😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @ak.grabbers said, “I thought this was Cedric the entertainer at first.”

Lastly, Instagram user @__whatsyourflava__ shared, “And most of us probably wouldn’t have ever seen the videos if they hadn’t sued him. 🤣😭😂”

RELATED: Ohio Police Sue Afroman For Using Footage From Raid On His Home For Commercial Purposes

While Apple TV has become synonymous with its sci-fi programming — the streamer has delivered hits such as Severance, Foundation, and Pluribus — it has released equally respected titles across various genres. The comedy-drama Ted Lasso‘s success cannot be overstated, while the limited series Black Bird remains one of Apple’s best-reviewed titles. In 2022, the streamer debuted the dark comedy series Bad Sisters, which went on to win a Peabody Award as well as several other prestigious honors at the BAFTAs and the Emmys. Bad Sisters revolved around close-knit sisters who band together when they suspect that one of their own has murdered her abusive husband. Now, a year after the series returned with a second season, Netflix has delivered a darker companion piece that has emerged as an instant hit.

Like Bad Sisters — which featured Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Anne-Marie Duff, Sarah Green, and Eva Birthistle — Netflix’s show is based on a book. However, it changes key details from the book, such as the characters’ cultural identity. The Netflix series is in Spanish. It follows three sisters on a vacation to the Dominican Republic, where things take a horrible turn when one of them accidentally kills someone. The show is structured like HBO’s Big Little Lies and presents its central mystery from each sister’s perspective; they’re played by Paula Usero, Claudia Salas, and Clara Galle as the Arbizu sisters.

Related

Whatchu Talkin’ About, Willis? — The Collider TV Quiz!

From long-running series to one-off guest spots, Bruce Willis has been all over our television screens. How many of these appearances do you know?

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Netflix’s New Hit Is Defying Mixed Reviews

We’re talking about the six-part thriller series That Night, created by Jason George, who also developed the Belgian Netflix series Into the Night. The new show opened to mixed reviews and is currently sitting at a 63% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. In her review, Collider’s Jasneet Singh wrote, “It may begin as a high-stakes thriller about the consequences of an unwitting kill, but That Night evolves into a far more resonant family drama, one that gorgeously and quite painfully questions the worth of family loyalty.” By comparison, Bad Sisters holds an overall 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with the first season perched at a perfect 100%. Despite the mixed response, however, That Night is trouncing the competition. According to FlixPatrol, it was among the most-watched shows on the global Netflix chart this week, behind only One Piece and Virgin River.

That Night is streaming now on Netflix. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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2026 – 2026-00-00

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Netflix

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Days of Our Lives delivers EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) reluctantly released by the police department when they didn’t have enough evidence to prove he pulled off a kidnapping in Salem. And District Attorney Belle Brady (Martha Madison) Black was very angry that she had to let her ex go and couldn’t charge him.

But did EJ pull off another epic kidnapping in Alamania where Belle and the Salem PD have no jurisdiction? And it seems that Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) and her henchmen went missing and the trail may lead right back to EJ.

Vivian and Ivan Have Vanished on Days of Our Lives

We saw on recent Days of our Lives episodes that Andrew Donovan (Colton Little) just dropped big news to Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) and Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) about Vivian and her loyal sidekick Ivan Marais (Ivan G’Vera). Andrew said that they just vanished.

They were supposed to go to the cemetery and then gone. And if you remember, Leo was wearing a wig and was right there where they were supposed to be. So all of this makes it look like foul play.

But I feel like Leo in that wig and coat, it reminded me in the Harry Potter movies when the kids were imagining that Boggart to look like different people and there was this Professor Snape in a dress thing. That’s exactly what Leo looked like to me.

Anyway, so when EJ was in the interrogation room making a desperate call to Rita instead of dialing a lawyer, you know, EJ might have had a very good reason for that because he might have something more to hide than just his secret lab experiment that he was doing on his sister Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford).

Was Elvis Jr.’s call with Rita to confirm that Vivian and Yvonne had been successfully snatched from Alamania and dumped somewhere on DiMera property?

EJ Has Multiple Kidnapping Plots in Play on DOOL

You know, EJ has a lot of plates that are spinning right now. Belle grilled him about Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) and Jeremy Horton’s (Michael Roark) kidnapping. And truly, EJ did not know that Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) had hired Owen Kent (Wes Ramsey).

But what Belle doesn’t know is that EJ found out that Rolf saw Stephanie and Jeremy in the storage room. And EJ even told Rolf that they basically needed to be disposed of because he can’t let anyone find out about Lexie yet and can’t risk the research.

And now, of course, EJ’s lab is under more scrutiny because Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) found the empty person pod that until very recently was Lexie’s storage space. Plus, Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) has been scrambling to stay one step ahead of Dimitri, you know, trying to keep him in the dark about his kidnapping that she and EJ pulled off.

So, with this Vivian and Ivan reveal that they’re also missing, this may be the third kidnapping with ties to EJ. I mean, technically four if you count his own kidnapping because there was Dimitri and then the DiMeras and then Stephanie and Jeremy and now we’ve got Ivan and Madam Vivian.

Days of our Lives: Leo Helped Dimitri

And if you recall, Leo helped Dimitri escape to go to Alamania and prove that he wasn’t working with Peter Blake (Dan Gauthier). And Dimitri denied all along that he was involved in kidnapping the DiMeras.

But Vivian and Gwen planted evidence that looked like the CCTV video feed from the crypt was going to Dimitri’s tablet that they planted in a room at Vivian’s mansion along with some of his belongings.

And Madam Vivian claimed that Dimitri was an unwanted guest. But he’s insisted all along he was held elsewhere and had himself been kidnapped. And then we had Ivan trying to poison Leo and Dimitri and presumably also hired a sniper to take a shot at them.

You know, that’s down to the whole Gwen and Vivian thing. So thankfully, ISA super agent Andrew stopped the unknown assassin from killing Leo and Dimitri. However, Andrew had bad news to deliver.

Dimitri Still Looks Guilty on Days

The ISA went to the house Dimitri found on Zillow where he claims that he was held. But Gwen had already alerted the Alamanians and they cleaned up the mess. Somebody went in there and just emptied out the house. But Andrew said they got DNA samples and fingerprints that match Dimitri.

But both Andrew and Dimitri know that’s not enough to prove that Dimitri was held captive there, just that he was there at some point. And Andrew said with Vivian and Ivan missing and foul play presumed, the ISA and the local cops suspect that Dimitri is responsible for this crime.

So, back to square one for Leo and Dimitri because they got to prove that he had nothing to do with the kidnapping of EJ and his siblings and nephew. And also now Vivian and Ivan. And Dimitri is determined.

He wants to prove that Gwen was behind his kidnapping. And now he’s also got to prove who’s behind Vivian and Ivan’s kidnapping. Because he could go down for that.

Did EJ Have Rita Kidnap Vivian and Ivan on Days of Our Lives?

So, with Leo and Dimitri spotted creeping around Vivian’s house several times and Leo at the cemetery, they are obvious culprits. But I suspect that since EJ and Gwen did a bang-up job of keeping Dimitri hidden for a year in Alamania, they probably had local contacts that EJ could use to hire to grab Vivian and Ivan.

I don’t think that Gwen is in on this kidnapping though. Because she had been conspiring with Vivian. So EJ may be going behind the back of his partner in crime, Gwen. You know, EJ wants revenge on Vivian for her role in his family’s kidnappings and planned murders. Obviously, he’s holding a grudge for very good reason.

And Gwen’s plans to get revenge on Dimitri have also made things hard on EJ because it messed up funding for Rolf’s secret lab. EJ is not happy that Gwen pulled this stunt that complicated his sister Lexie’s resurrection. And Gwen just couldn’t help herself. She wanted to make Leo miserable. And now Gwen’s nearly broke. And EJ may be thinking about strangling her, honestly.

Days of our Lives: Rita’s Beyond Loyal to the DiMeras

And it really does serve Vivian right if EJ had Rita make arrangements to snatch her and Ivan. Rita, if you remember, she kills me. She’s so great. She’s been helping the DiMeras get out of scrapes since the Stefano DiMera (Joe Mascolo) heyday. She excels at doing sensitive tasks for EJ and there’s no limits, no low to which Rita will not stoop for the DiMeras. Kind of scary.

And it makes sense that she would agree to help EJ get Vivian and Ivan out of the way. Plus, Rita has undying loyalty to EJ and the DiMeras. And I think she would gleefully punish anybody who tried to hurt them. So she probably is neck deep in this. Rita always supports EJ’s plan. She scolds him now and then.

You know, she’s his trusted adviser and operative for all the secret and juicy DiMera goings on. She even helped EJ convince Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) to help out at DiMera while Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson) recovered from the brain injury he got during the kidnapping.

And you know, it was kind of funny, too. Because Theo told JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) he hoped that another kidnapping wouldn’t happen in Salem for a long time. Little bit of foreshadowing there. You know, they’re not very subtle.

Vivian and Ivan May Be in the DiMera Crypt on DOOL

Even though Vivian and Ivan were taken in Alamania, I think they will be in Salem possibly in the DiMera tunnels or in a more ironically sinister move. Rita may have stuck them in the DiMera crypt right in EJ’s backyard. And Rita might have had it sealed, using the excuse that it’s too traumatic for the DiMeras to go in there after their kidnapping ordeal.

And since Vivian helped conspire with Peter to trap EJ and the others in there to kill them with Sarin gas, I think it’d be karma if Vivian is now stuck in there with Yvonne. It’s not exactly the lap of luxury. But I got to say, I love me some evil EJ. I don’t know about y’all. But his sexy little dimples just do it for me, even when he’s doing bad.