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Charles Melton Gives the Perfect Answer for the Biggest Mystery of Netflix’s Season 2 Finale of ‘Beef’

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X-Men and Star Trek teams moving together in Marvel Comics

[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Beef Season 2.]

Summary

  • Collider’s Steve Weintraub talks with Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and Season 2 star Charles Melton.
  • In this interview, Lee and Melton talk about Melton’s Tom Cruise moment on set, the themes and message of the Season 2 finale, and Melton’s interpretation of that final shot.
  • Lee also teases his credentials to co-write Marvel’s upcoming X-Men movie.

Netflix’s hit series Beef returned for Season 2, from three-time Emmy Award-winning creator Lee Sung Jin, with a whole new ensemble and story. With all eight episodes now streaming, Collider’s Steve Weintraub spoke with Lee and star Charles Melton to discuss the nuanced finale, from the two thematic oners to what that final shot actually means.

This season, we followed newly engaged Gen Z couple Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Melton) as they found themselves tangled up in their boss’s unraveling relationship. Set against the backdrop of an exclusive country club, after witnessing a heated private moment between their manager Joshua (Oscar Isaac) and his wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), the two couples end up in competition, vying for the approval of the club’s billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung). Season 2 also stars Seoyeon Jang (Butterfly), Song Kang-ho (Parasite), Mikaela Hoover (Superman), and William Fichtner (Talamasca: The Secret Order).

In addition to the season finale, Lee shares exciting news for Marvel’s upcoming, as-of-yet untitled X-Men movie, which he’s set to pen alongside fellow Beef collaborator Joanna Calo, with Thunderbolts* and Beef director Jake Schreier at the helm. Don’t miss what’s in store for MCU fans; check out the full conversation in the video above or in the transcript below.

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Marvel’s X-Men Movie Just Got a Major Rewrite Update

“I hold all these characters near and dear to my heart.”

X-Men and Star Trek teams moving together in Marvel Comics
X-Men and Star Trek teams moving together in Marvel Comics
Image via Marvel Comics

COLLIDER: Beef Season 2 is just fantastic. You guys did such amazing work.

LEE SUNG JIN: Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate that.

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Sonny, I have to start with you as an individual, if you don’t mind. I’m sure you noticed that we wrote about X-Men and your involvement. I have to ask you, are you and Joanna [Calo] adapting? Are you working off a draft, or are you guys doing a page one rewrite?

LEE: Oh, man. I don’t know that I’m allowed to say. Where’s my publicist? I know that there was a previous draft, but I also know that Joanna, Jake [Schreier], and I, and Stephen, the producer, and Kevin [Feige] and Lou [D’Esposito], we’ve been meeting regularly and trying to create a new draft. I love working with these people, often frequent collaborators, so I think the goal for us is just to keep getting in rooms, keep spitballing.

I’m such a huge, huge fan of X-Men. My dad was in town for my daughter’s birthday, my mom and dad both were, and I told them the news about X-Men, and he was like, “That’s the good one.” I have such fond memories of me and my dad on Saturday morning, every morning, waking up, I think it was probably, like, 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. central time. We’d watch every single episode and read the comics. I was a huge Gambit fan growing up, so the love is very strong. I hold all these characters near and dear to my heart.

I think Jake has such a clear vision of what he wants to accomplish through this movie. So, yeah, Joanna and I are here just to service the greater story, and we’re very, very honored to be a part of it.

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I’m over the moon that you guys are working on it.

Cyclops (James Marsden) unleashes the full fury of his optic blasts in Avengers: Doomsda'.


New ‘X-Men’ Movie Officially Hires Creators of 2 of TV’s Greatest Series To Rewrite Script [Exclusive]

The film is expected to premiere in 2028.

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Charles Melton Pushed Himself for the Perfect “Tom Cruise” Shot

“Nobody can pressure me more than I can pressure myself.”

Austin Davis is standing in his country club uniform, smiling.
Austin Davis is standing in his country club uniform, smiling.
Image via Netflix

Jumping into the show. Charles, I’ve watched your work before, but this is by far my favorite work that I’ve seen of you. You’re just so good in this, and I’m just curious, did you put any additional pressure on yourself once you read the scripts, you saw your scene partners, and realized what you were stepping into?

CHARLES MELTON: Yeah. I work with an immense amount of pressure. Nobody can pressure me more than I can pressure myself. That’s kind of my way of life, I guess. But I think the environment that Lee Sung Jin created, and just the collaboration, I know we all individually, the cast, spent hours and hours and hours discussing existential things and shadow selves and experiences, these characters, which were filtered through the mind of Sunny and his own experience for them to write and have us, the actors, just telegraph these stories. It was such an exciting environment to be a part of. We were laughing… I mean, I wasn’t laughing all the time, but…

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LEE SUNG JIN: I don’t know if it’s his football background, because he played football in college, just like Austin did, but Charles has a competitive streak in him that, I think, pushes yourself, whether it’s in ADR. He holds the record right below Song Kang-ho. Song Kang-ho holds the record in terms of how many takes he wants to do in ADR. It’s like literally hundreds. Charles is right there in the 90s.

There’s a shot in the finale when he’s running to grab a taxi. We got it, and we were going to move on. Charles is like, “I can go faster, like Tom Cruise.” We were like, “You can give us the Tom Cruise?” He was like, “Yeah.” So then he went one more time — pulled his hamstring. So, he’s always pushing himself to the limit until his body literally breaks, and I think that’s why we have the performance from him that we do.

MELTON: Thanks, man.

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Is Austin Actually Happy in the ‘Beef’ Season 2 Finale?

Charles Melton has the perfect answer.

Austin embraces Ashley as she smiles at her engagement ring.
Austin embraces Ashley as she smiles at her engagement ring.
Image via Netflix

I do want to talk spoilers. I’ve obviously watched the whole thing, and I love the ending. For both of you, what are your thoughts on the way it ended, especially with the Gen Z couple taking over the country club?

JIN: It was really important for us to bookend the season with those two oners at the country club. Even the event in that oner is an event that depicts the four seasons, which is representative of each of the four couples. A big theme is the turning of seasons, the turning of generations, so we see spring turning to summer, to fall into winter. So, it made sense for us to show how Ashley and Austin ended up becoming a version of Josh and Lindsay.

In our youth, there’s so much hubris in terms of the ideologies that we hold, and there’s nothing wrong with those ideals. I think those are good ideals to have. But then life comes at you fast. I think it’s hard to hold on to those ideals when life throws you curveballs, especially financially. So, whether that’s a right or wrong decision, I’m hoping that the show doesn’t come across like we’re judging that decision. I think it really is open to interpretation, whether that’s something that they had to do or not.

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Charles, I want to ask you a different question. Do you think Austin is ultimately happy with the decisions he made? Because when he’s in the car, he has the kid, he has the family, he’s walking out, and it’s a hard read. I’m just curious what your take was on where Austin is mentally?

MELTON: Dude, that’s a great question, man. I think about the ending, samsara, the aerial view, with Sunny talking about the cycles of life and things repeating themselves, whether they’re aversions of each other or not. I believe, as an audience member, it changes. I think if I watched it today, I’d say he’s happy and he’s in love. I think it depends on the day you’re watching the ending and what projection you may have in that moment for what you’re witnessing as an audience member. I think that’s up to the audience to decide.

But if anything, I think it’s a slice of truth and of reality. Not everything in life is rainbows and stars and sparkly dust. What is life? What Sunny does is, somehow, in the reality of it, capture that which is very universal. So, I think it just depends on the day when you’re watching that finale. I’m sure you’d have a different interpretation if you watched it tomorrow or the next day after having two hours of sleep.

Beef Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix now.

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Release Date

April 6, 2023

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Network

Netflix

Showrunner
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Lee Sung Jin

Directors

Hikari, Jake Schreier, Kitao Sakurai, Lee Sung Jin

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Writers

Alice Ju

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Taylor Swift Influencer Olivia Makes Up to $10K Per Post

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A Taylor Swift-obsessed influencer has claimed she makes up to $10,000 per social media post.

According to a report by the New York Post, published on Saturday, April 18, full-time influencer Olivia Levin has scored the significant sum on multiple occasions. “It ranges, sometimes it’s $1,000, but sometimes it’s like $10,000,” Levin, 26, told the outlet.

Levin’s @SwiftiesForEternity Instagram account boasts more than 630,000 followers and is even followed by Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce, Swift’s soon-to-be mother-in-law. (Swift, 36, and the NFL star, also 36, announced their engagement in August 2025 after nearly two years of dating.)

Levin, based in Connecticut, shares fan sightings of Swift via her Instagram account as well as Swift-related social media content, commentary on Swift’s public outings, interactions with fellow Swifties, memes focused on Swift and updates on Levin’s own life.

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce By the Numbers


Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce by the Numbers: How Much Are They Worth?

It’s safe to say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could afford to rent out (several) restaurants every day for the rest of their relationship. Swift and Kelce broke the internet in September 2023 when they confirmed their romance by the Grammy winner watching Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri. […]

Her prominence as a Swiftie influencer even landed her a book deal. Levin’s debut novel, “The Story of Us: How the Taylor Swift Fandom Changed Our Lives,” was released on Tuesday, April 14.

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In a social media post from September 2025 that announced the book’s release, Levin wrote, “The Story of Us is my love letter to you, the Swifties, who gave me purpose, friendship, and a kind of joy I didn’t even know was possible.”

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Olivia Levin
Courtesy of Olivia Levin/Instagram

Levin continued at the time, “If you’ve been here from the beginning, get ready to revisit the eras, the livestreams, the chaos, the inside jokes, the happiness, the fun, and the magic. If you’re newer here, welcome. I hope reading this book makes you feel like you were part of it all along.”

The influencer told the New York Post that her social media career began after she was laid off from her job in the book publishing industry in 2023. “At a certain point, I stopped looking for 9-to-5 jobs because I met my brand partnerships agent who started getting me brand deals,” she said.

Her foray into influencing coincided with the launch of Swift’s Eras Tour which kicked off in Glendale, Arizona on March 17, 2023. The timing was perfect as she quickly boosted her profile by helping other Swifties secure Eras Tour tickets without being scammed online.

GettyImages-2268544483-Swift.jpg

Taylor Swift
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

“People who had extra tickets or couldn’t make it any more would message me and I would verify the tickets and post them and help them transfer it to another fan at face value,” she told the outlet.

Today, Levin’s posts draw solid engagement, including the September 2025 book deal announcement which attracted support from @kelcebrothers, another prolific Swiftie fan account. “Congratulations Olivia!!!,” the account, which boasts more than 744,000 followers of its own, commented on Levin’s exciting news.

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Natalie Portman’s Rare Quotes About Pregnancy and Motherhood

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Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah's Legal Drama

Natalie Portman has rarely opened up about motherhood through the years, but with a third baby on the way, the Oscar winner is sharing more than ever about parenting, pregnancy and what family means to her.

Portman confirmed to Harper’s Bazaar in April 2026 that she and boyfriend Tanguy Destable are expecting their first baby together. (Portman and Destable each have two children from previous relationships.)

“Tanguy and I are very excited,” Portman told the outlet. “I’m just very grateful. I know it’s such a privilege and a miracle. I grew up hearing about how hard it is to get pregnant. I have so many people I love who’ve had such a hard time with it that I want to be respectful around that as well. It’s such a beautiful, joyous thing, and it’s also not an easy thing.”

She continued, “I know how lucky it is. I’m very aware, and I’m very grateful. I have deep appreciation and gratitude.”

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Keep scrolling for more of Portman’s candid comments about motherhood:

Watching Her Kids Grow Up

Since her divorce, Natalie Portman has started to speak more candidly about her role as a mom. She shares son Aleph and daughter Amalia with ex-husband Benjamin Millepied.

“My kids are always a source of excitement, because you just see them develop into the individuals they are,” she told Jenna Ortega in an Interview magazine profile published in April 2025. “And also, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my friends, with their kids and my kids; that’s pretty fun.”

Portman also subtly addressed her ex when asked whether having kids helped her find a “balance” between her professional and private lives.

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“Having kids, that wasn’t really my motivation,” she said. “I was just excited to have kids, and with a person that I was in love with. But it’s really important to have people in your life who keep you on the ground.”

Navigating Pregnancy in the Spotlight

This isn’t Portman’s first time experiencing the scrutiny that comes with a high-profile pregnancy, recalling the unwanted comments she received while attending the 2011 Oscars during her first pregnancy.

“Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you’re going to pop.’ I was like, ‘I’m four months pregnant,’” Portman recalled on the “Dish From Waitrose” podcast in May 2025. “Everyone was like, ‘You must be giving birth tomorrow. Hope it doesn’t happen on the red carpet.’ I was like, ‘I’ve got five more months to go.’”

She added at the time, “I couldn’t drink at all during all of those events, which was hard. It’s a lot of stress. It’s a lot of attention. … And I was sober while everyone else was not.”

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Portman further joked she was “probably the only actress eating my way to the Oscars” that year. In February 2011, she took home the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Nina Sayers in Black Swan months before giving birth to son Aleph that June.

How Pregnancy With Baby No. 3 Is Different

While speaking with Harper’s Bazaar in April 2026, Natalie Portman compared her pregnancy with her third baby to when she was expecting Aleph and Amalia.

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“I have more energy than I thought I might,” she told the magazine, revealing she has stayed active by swimming, doing Gyrotonics and playing with her eldest kids. “[That] is always the best.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

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Who Does Country Singer Riley Green Play on Yellowstone’s Marshals?

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Marshals

Yellowstone‘s Marshals spinoff has already featured guest appearances from country stars — but who does musician Riley Green play?

During the Sunday, March 8, episode of the Yellowstone spinoff, Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) and Andrea (Ash Santos) shared a drink at the local bar — the Four Sixes — country singer Ashley Cooke performed her song “Next to You” on stage.

Ahead of Cooke’s surprise cameo, it was announced that Green, 37, will appear in multiple episodes later in the season.

“I’m so excited to be joining the cast of Marshals. Being on set with my buddy Luke Grimes made the experience even more memorable,” Green said in a statement in February. “This is my first go around in the acting space and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to this world.”

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Green will play former Navy SEAL Garrett, who arrives at the ranch hoping to lean on his friends Kayce Dutton (Grimes) and Cal to help “put the demons of his past to rest,” according to the official character description.

“It happened really organically. It was through Luke Grimes, who’s become a real good buddy of mine,” Green told People earlier this month about how his role on the show came to be. “He’s starting his music career and was starting to come to Nashville and doing some cowriting and stuff. I was trying to help him out in that world a little bit with some people that I knew. He was like, ‘Man, you should try acting, you know? I think you’d be good at it.’ I was already kind of putting thought into that.”

Marshals
Sonja Flemming/CBS

Green recalled everyone being “so welcoming” to him on set as he balanced acting and performing.

“A lot of my music career, other than writing new songs and adding things to a set, there’s a lot of monotony of playing the same songs over and over again, showing in and out during a tour,” he shared. “This is something that’s brand new every day.”

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Yellowstone


Related: Everything to Know About Yellowstone’s Kayce Spinoff: Planned Cameos and More

The next stop in the Yellowstone universe is a spinoff starring Luke Grimes’ character, Kayce Dutton. Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. After finding success on Paramount, creator Taylor Sheridan grew the Yellowstone world with prequels 1883 and 1923. CBS ordered Marshals, […]

After meeting with an acting coach, Green was taught not to “worry so much about the lines” and instead focus on responding “to what the other person says.” Green also teased how his character has “a lot of vulnerability,” in addition to his extensive military experience.

“He’d been through a lot and had a lot of problems and that’s not the easiest thing to just jump into,” Green noted. “I certainly think there would have been characters that would have been easier for me to sort of tap into that were more similar to me.”

He continued: “This guy was somebody that really had a lot of deep emotional problems from things that had happened to him in the past. And when you haven’t lived those, you really kind of just rely on feedback from other people in the room.”

Marshals airs on CBS Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

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Taylor Paul Shares ‘Ugly Parts’ of ‘Healing’ After Dispute

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The Secret Lives of Mormon WivesTaylor Frankie Paul is opening up about her healing journey after resolving her latest domestic violence dispute with ex Dakota Mortensen.

“Here come the ugly parts of what healing actually looks like,” Taylor, 31, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, April 19. “If you know me you know I’ll admit my parts, flaws, and faults. I’m well aware that’s [a part] of it. We’ll get there.”

She continued, “This public atrocity that I not only lived through once but twice now, on even a bigger scale was ultimately the cost to my freedom. I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy or even the ones who publicized it. I cried on my knees in pain while also saying THANK YOU 🙏🏼.”

Taylor noted that she has a “road ahead” but “regardless [she’s] forever freed from a certain living hell” she “couldn’t find [her] way out of.”

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Taylor Frankie Paul Files for Her Own Restraining Order Against Ex Dakota Mortensen


Related: Taylor Frankie Paul Shares ‘Gratitude’ After Domestic Dispute With Dakota

Taylor Frankie Paul addressed the support she has received after her domestic dispute with ex Dakota Mortensen and their ongoing custody battle. “Just want to say THANK YOU to those that have all helped carry,” Paul, 31, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, April 9. “Nothing but gratitude for these gifts given by different people at […]

“Metaphorically someone witnessed me bleeding out and poured salt all over me … somehow I’m still here,” she wrote. “as we can see barely because I believe God held me through and sent help plus an army which makes me cry because, thank you to all of you that supported [me] even without full context 🙏🏼.”

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She continued, “God undoubtedly had a hand in this because after waiting 7 weeks on the 7th day EXACTLY I received the call all charges dropped. Those are his numbers symbolic [of] his plans which I’m nervous to see what’s in store … steps moving forward are the very basics.”

Alongside the message, Taylor shared several mirror selfies — including one of her hair pulled into a bun as she lifted her shirt to show her stomach.

Taylor noted that she’s working on “eating, movement, rest, and retraining the nervous system,” adding, “I’ll be sharing the process, because if my worst is shared, better bet I’ll share the rebuilding too.”

News broke in March that Mormon Wives halted production on season 5 due to an alleged domestic violence incident between Taylor and Dakota. Taylor’s season 22 of The Bachelorette was also pulled by ABC.

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TCDSELI_HY032 Mormon Wives Cast Terrified to Film With Taylor Frankie Paul dakota mortensen


Related: Inside Mormon Wives’ Taylor, Dakota’s Messy Relationship: What They’ve Said

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives‘ Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen never shied away from addressing their messy — and oftentimes volatile — relationship ahead of their multiple domestic disputes. Before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024, Taylor and Dakota started dating following her divorce from husband Tate Paul in the wake […]

The pair have since filed temporary restraining orders against each other, with Dakota gaining custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever. Taylor has been granted supervised visits for at least six hours per week until their protective hearing on April 30, when the judge will reevaluate her parenting time restrictions. (Taylor is also the mom of daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5, whom she shares with ex-husband Tate Paul.)

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On Tuesday, April 14, Us Weekly confirmed that Taylor would not be charged as a result of the alleged dispute between her and Dakota in February.

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

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Following the decision, Taylor shared her gratitude while uploading a blurry photo of a vase filled with flowers and a card. She wrote via her Instagram Story, “Cried when I got the call. THANK YOU to those that have stood with me.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

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Kaley Cuoco and Fiance Tom Pelphrey Mourn Late Dog Ruby

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Kaley Cuoco and her fiancé, Tom Pelphrey, are paying tribute to their late dog Ruby.

“💫 Ruby 💫 . I knew this day would eventually come but it doesn’t make it any easier. My sweet Ruby has crossed the 🌈 bridge 😭,” Cuoco, 40, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, April 19. “I’ve had her for so many years that I’ve truly lost count. We have been through SO much together, and through everything, she has remained the exact same: the sweetest little angel snowball. Everyone loved her!!”

She continued, “I was doing a TV segment at the east valley shelter a very long time ago. She was the dog they had me hold. I went home that night and couldn’t get her out of my mind, so I went back the next day and adopted her ♥️ best decision I ever made. The more pets we have, the more we go through this familiar pain, but it’s an honor to give these dogs the best life possible because that’s all that matters 💜💖.”

Alongside the message, Cuoco shared a series of photos of her with Ruby through the years — including one of Pelphrey, 43, holding the pup. The couple’s three-year-old daughter, Matilda, leaned down to pat Ruby in a separate pic.

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Pelphrey, for his part, mourned Ruby in a separate post. “Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Ruby,” he wrote via Instagram on Sunday. “Kaley rescued Ruby many years ago — she lived an amazing life and passed on peacefully as a very old lady. Ruby aka ‘Snowball’ aka ‘Ruby from the Block’ was as angelic in temperament as appearance — however she did not suffer fools gladly and punched well above her weight class. We will miss her. 🙏🤍🙏.”

Cuoco, who has been a lifelong animal lover, has given fans glimpses of life with her pooches through the years. In 2024, Cuoco explained that she made the decision to rehome her dog Shirley.

“Most of you know I had [Shirley] for many, many, many years,” Cuoco said in an Instagram video at the time. “All of a sudden, you kind of stopped seeing her, and I started to get a lot of questions as to where she was, because it’s very unlike me to just stop posting about a dog that I’ve had since she was 6 weeks old.”

Cuoco became emotional discussing how Shirley’s “mega fights” with Pelphrey’s German Shepherd, Blue, led to her decision.

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Teri Hatcher Announces the Death of Dog Pumpkin


Related: Teri Hatcher Announces the Death of Her 11-Year-Old Dog Pumpkin

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Teri Hatcher announced that her 11-year-old dog, Pumpkin, has died. “It is with deep sadness that I said goodbye to Pumpkin yesterday,” the Desperate Housewives alum, 61, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, March 15. “Six years ago when I went looking to adopt a dog, I wanted a senior (because I knew most people would […]

“I loved her so much, but I was really scared. I didn’t want something really bad to happen or possibly a person accidentally be there and get hurt,” she noted about her pet handler Tony and his wife Angie taking care of Shirley for her. “They have loved her so so much, and it was an excruciating decision.”

Cuoco explained that Shirley died following a battle with “a very aggressive bone cancer” that “came on very quickly.”

“She was almost 14 years old, which is an unbelievable life for a dog,” Cuoco said through tears. “And I just wanted to share her story and what we had to do.”

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Why Erika Kirk Cancelled Turning Point USA Appearance: Source

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New details have emerged about the alleged security threats that led Erika Kirk to cancel an appearance at a Turning Point USA event.

“The specific threats were targeting her and her ability to get to and from the event,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Her security team felt that they could not protect her life.”

Kirk, 37, was scheduled to headline the University of Georgia event alongside Vice President JD Vance, but later withdrew — facing backlash from conservative commentator Candace Owens and more. Vance, meanwhile, made an appearance at the event. (Erika has served as chairwoman and CEO of Turning Point USA following the September 2025 assassination of husband and cofounder Charlie Kirk.)

“So as you can imagine, for a mother of two young kids who just lost her husband in the way that she did, she felt that she had to take her security team’s advice,” the insider says. “I think anybody would.”

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Related: Candace Owens Responds to Erika Kirk Pulling Out of Event With VP JD Vance

Political commentator Candace Owens 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 Kirk, 37, confirmed she was canceling her appearance at the University of Georgia due to alleged security threats, Owens, 36, claimed […]

The source explains that the alleged threats that led to Erika’s cancellation “were not targeted at the venue,” adding that “they had full confidence in the Secret Service” to keep Vance “safe.”

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“There was absolutely no reason to cancel the event,” the source says. “It was specifically for her participation, her ability to get to and from the event that they were concerned about.”

According to the insider, Turning Point USA takes “security extremely seriously” in the wake of Charlie’s death and shares that this includes “protecting the kids that are attending these events.” The source explains that this “really speaks to the fact that this was not about the event itself, which is why the night itself went forward.”

“This shouldn’t surprise people: a woman who has been basically accused of murdering her own husband — someone the world loved — is facing death threats,” the insider says. “This is what happens. It’s very clear that there’s a coordinated effort here, and I don’t think anybody should be surprised that we ended up in a situation where it was not safe for her to go to an event that she was widely publicized and speaking at because there were threats on her life.”

Candace Owens Slams Erika Kirks Cancellation of Event


Related: Candace Owens Slams Erika Kirk’s ‘Psychotic’ Cancellation of Event

Candace Owens condemned Erika Kirk’s “utterly indefensible and psychotic” decision to pull out of an event with Vice President JD Vance this week. “The public should continue to be outraged over this recent lie from Turning Point USA,” Owens, 36, wrote via X on Friday, April 17. Owens has repeatedly criticized Kirk, 37, for canceling […]

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On Thursday, April 16, CBS News cited a Secret Service source and reported that the agency was not aware of any “credible threats” to Erika or the event. The outlet reported that Vance was briefed that the event was safe and chose to carry on with his appearance. The Secret Service source clarified that Erika and her team may have received “hostile or threatening messages” via social media that were not considered to be actionable by security agents on the ground.

A spokesperson for Turning Point USA explains to Us that the threats related to Erika’s “travel outside the secured perimeter” led the team “to make the difficult decision to withdraw her participation.”

“Our security team continuously assesses security considerations and this was the right call in the interest of her safety,” the statement reads. “We are grateful to law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service for ensuring a safe event.”

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The Greatest 5-Part Sci-Fi Show Ever Made Has Nothing To Do With Star Trek or Star Wars

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B5

The realm of science fiction has given birth to so many great shows that have shaped the fabric of pop culture. Star Wars has moved from the big screen to the small, with mostly successful results. Star Trek has once again cemented its place on television with fare like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Even new series like The Expanse and Silo have managed to become the topic of water cooler conversation. But there is one science fiction show that definitely deserves to be discussed with the same fervor: Babylon 5. Created by J. Michael Straczynski, Babylon 5 wasn’t just a well-crafted science fiction series — it also provides an example of storytelling elements that have shaped modern television.

What Is ‘Babylon 5’ About?

Babylon 5 centers on the titular space station, which acts as a diplomatic hub for the Earth Alliance and various other alien species. It’s a place for people all over the universe to unite and bond… though the crew of Babylon 5 soon finds themselves embroiled in various conflicts. The station’s first commander, Jeffery Sinclair (Michael O’Hare), learned that he was actually Valen — a figure of great importance to the alien race known as the Minbari. Its second, John Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner), became the central figure in a series of prophecies concerning the mysterious beings known as the Shadows. Throughout the Shadow War, there are upheavals in governments, telepathic sabotage, and even a moment where Sheridan is forced to lead an insurrection against the Earth Alliance in order to save mankind.

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

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

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

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🏜️Dune

🚀Star Wars

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01

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





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02

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





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03

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





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04

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





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05

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





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06

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





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07

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





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08

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





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

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

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

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

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


The Wasteland

Mad Max

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

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


Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

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

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


Arrakis

Dune

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

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


A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

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

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

Though Straczynski developed Babylon 5 early in his writing career, it took years for him to actually bring it to life. In his memoir Becoming Superman, he details the process of pitching the show to WB — and it was a rather torturous one. Before he actually pitched WB execs the show, Straczynski had cracked a tooth and attempted to numb the pain by drinking an entire pitcher of ice water. The process left him with a numb mouth, but he managed to somehow impress them into giving the series a green light. However, another obstacle appeared in the form of Star Trek — specifically, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Much like Babylon 5, the series featured a space station as its main base of operations with a commander who became the central figure in a prophesied war.

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Even though Straczynski never felt that Paramount was directly ripping off Babylon 5, he expressed annoyance that Deep Space Nine would beat his series to the punch. “I know full well that even if the Warners PR machine got working 24 hours a day on this, half of all viewers will see this show, coming out after DS9, and think it’s just a last-minute knockoff or ripoff of DS9,” he wrote.

B5
Babylon 5 in all its glory
Image via Warner Bros.

Babylon 5 managed to last five seasons, racking up plenty of awards and acclaim along the way. Even more surprising was that this was Straczynski’s original intent; he planned for Babylon 5 to embody the five-act structure of a novel. What he didn’t anticipate was the large role he’d play in shaping the series. As the series’ showrunner, Straczynski had a major hand in writing for Babylon 5; however, circumstances led to him penning the entirety of Season 3 and Season 4 solo. In fact, the only person to provide a freelance script post-Season 2 was Neil Gaiman for the Season 5 episode “Day of the Dead.” Straczynski was still able to bring the majority of his vision to life, even with cast members departing.

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Straczynski was also able to play the long game with Babylon 5, starting characters at one extreme and placing them at another by series’ end. A key example is Citizen G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas). At first, a wrathful terrorist hellbent on destruction, he transformed into a peaceful man who led his species into a golden age. Likewise, Sheridan, a decorated war hero, was forced to go against his own government in order to save it. While this would become the norm with series such as Lost and Breaking Bad, Babylon 5 beat them to the punch. Straczynski would also employ a similar method with Sense8, the Netflix series he created with Lily & Lana Wachowski.

The Legacy of ‘Babylon 5’ Continues

Babylon 5 The Road Home John Sheridan
John Sheridan with colorful lightning in Babylon 5 The Road Home
Image via Warner Bros.

Alongside the final season of Babylon 5, Straczynski would script four made-for-television movies. One of those movies, A Call to Arms, ended with the Shadows deploying a weapon that would kill all life on Earth within a few years. John Sheridan commissions a vessel called the Excalibur to search for a way to reverse Earth’s fate, leading to the spin-off series Crusade. However, Crusade ran into a major problem with its parent network, TNT: after receiving a study that showed that the audience for Crusade wasn’t really sticking around for other TNT programming. Therefore, the series was canceled after a conflict between the producers and TNT executives, with only 13 episodes being aired.

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Straczynski would attempt to resurrect Babylon 5 over the years — and he finally seems to have succeeded. A reboot is currently in the works, with Straczynski reworking the story to focus on John Sheridan. Sheridan is also the focus of Babylon 5: The Road Home, an animated film that flings him through time and space as he attempts to save Babylon 5 from a horrific fate — and witnesses several alternate realities in the process.

When all is said and done, the impact of Babylon 5 can’t be denied. Its storytelling structure was years ahead of its time, leading to prestige television adopting rich character development as well as serialized story arcs. It gave a major boost to Straczynski’s writing career, leading to him writing several acclaimed comics, including Rising Stars for Top Cow and The Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel. It also proved that science fiction not named Star Wars or Star Trek can thrive in pop culture.

Babylon 5 is available to stream on Max.

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Jennifer Aniston Feels ‘Lucky’ Being With Jim Curtis

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Jennifer Aniston at 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Jennifer Aniston is counting her blessings when it comes to her relationship with Jim Curtis.

The pair have been dating for nearly a year, and the actress is said to feel lucky to have him in her life.

While they have largely kept their romance out of the public eye, sources say it is built on mutual respect, with Jennifer Aniston reportedly feeling more secure in this relationship than in any of her past ones.

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The Actress Feels ‘Lucky’ Being With Jim Curtis

Jennifer Aniston at 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards
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Nearly a year into their whirlwind romance, Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis are still going strong.

For the actress, being in the relationship has reportedly made her realize just “how lucky she is,” especially as he has completely shifted her perspective on life.

“In life and career, yeah, but also in crossing paths with Jim when she did and having the courage to pursue a partnership with him,” an insider told Star Magazine of the actress.

Even fans of the actress seem to have been won over by the hunky hypnotherapist, despite her previously being married to higher-profile figures like Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux, and having been in relationships with the likes of John Mayer and Vince Vaughn.

“No doubt Jen has fans who are skeptical of Jim or who wonder if he’s just after her money or impressive connections,” the source shared. “But Jen is a lot more secure with this man than she was with any of her previous lovers and husbands.”

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The Couple’s Relationship Is Built On Mutual Respect

Jim Curtis
Instagram | Jim Curtis

Aniston and Curtis have kept their relationship low-key, aside from occasionally sharing loved-up photos of themselves online.

Away from public view, the pair are reportedly making a conscious effort to ensure their relationship works by doing all the right things.

“Top to bottom, it’s a relationship built on mutual respect, and they truly prioritize spending a lot of distraction-free time together,” the source revealed about the couple. “She and Jim really are on a journey together and are figuring out their future.”

In the future, the couple is also hoping to explore more beyond their current base in Los Angeles once Aniston wraps up filming the fifth season of “The Morning Show.”

“Jen has the money to shake everything up in her life when that commitment wraps, and Jim has the vision and good judgment to help her do it,” added the insider. “The possibilities are limitless!”

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Jennifer Aniston And Jim Curtis Spend A lot Of Time Together

Jennifer Aniston at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards
C Flanigan/imageSPACE / MEGA

Proof of the duo spending a lot of time together was given by Curtis himself during his recent appearance on the “Ced With Intention” podcast.

“I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend. We spend a lot of time in the house together,” he told his host.

Staying together has come with a number of benefits for the couple, including knowing how best to resolve the occasional issues they have.

“Sometimes, we can have little things flare up. We have the opportunity to be silent, angry, [we] could leave the house, think about it, and meditate on how to change it,” the hypnotherapist revealed at the time.

“Or we can say, ‘Hey, this is what happened, I’m sorry,’ and do the repair, and then go and work on making sure it happens less or doesn’t happen again. Because once you make a repair and it just happens five more times, no one trusts it,” he added.

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The Couple Was Introduced By A Mutual Friend

Jennifer Aniston at the 2024 Golden Globe
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Speculations began swirling in July that Aniston is in a relationship with Curtis when they were first spotted looking cozy on a yacht during a trip to Mallorca, Spain.

The relationship rumors were later confirmed that month, and it was also revealed that they had met through a mutual friend.

“They were introduced by a friend and started out as friends. Jen had read his book and was familiar with his work,” said a source, per People Magazine. “He’s very different from anyone she’s dated before.”

Jennifer Aniston And Jim Curtis Went Instagram Official On The Hypnotist’s Birthday

The couple finally went Instagram official on Curtis’ birthday in November, which officially confirmed to the world that they were an item.

At the time, Aniston took to the platform to share a photo of herself wrapping her arms around him from behind, with the caption, “Happy birthday, my love.”

Her post led to a flood of supportive comments from fans and some of her Hollywood colleagues.

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Actress Reese Witherspoon wrote, “Happy Birthday! LOVE this Lovestory,” while actor Cheyenne Jackson commented, “Love love love this and you.”

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8 Children Killed, 2 Others Hurt in Louisiana Mass Shooting

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UPDATE — 4/19/26 at 7:10 p.m. ET: Authorities have identified the gunman as Shamar Elkins, the father of seven of the eight children who were shot and killed on Sunday, April 19, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The two adults who were injured by gunfire were women, including the mother of the seven slain kids. Both women are listed in critical condition.

Police further clarified the victims ranged in age from 1 to 12 years old. Additionally, a ninth child was wounded jumping from a roof to escape Elkins. That child is expected to make a full recovery.

Original story:
A mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, early on Sunday, April 19, has left eight children between the ages of 1 and 14 dead, according to officials.

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Police said the suspected gunman is dead, and noted that, all told, 10 people were struck by gunfire in shootings that unfolded inside multiple homes.

Investigators are claiming it appears the shooter is somehow related to some — if not all — of the victims.

Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Chris Bordelon described Sunday’s deadly incident as “domestic in nature” while speaking with reporters and said that the multiple crime scenes will take a while to process.

Police have yet to release names of any of the victims, though Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux said some of the injured have been hospitalized for treatment.

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Arceneaux did not provide any information on the conditions of the injured victims.

Children-Adults-Found-Shot-Dead-at-California-Home-After-911-Call


Related: Children, Adults Found Dead After 911 Call About ‘Booby Traps’ at CA Home

Two children and two adults were found shot to death at a California home after police received a 911 call from someone saying they had opened fire inside and set up “booby traps” throughout the residence, according to authorities. Detectives are investigating the Tuesday, January 27, incident at a Rancho Cordova home in Sacramento County […]

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Two of the homes that were targeted on Sunday are on the same street, while a third is in the same neighborhood, police said.

The shootings were first reported by someone who was inside the first home that was targeted by the gunman.

Police said that the suspect fled on foot before carjacking a nearby vehicle. Patrol officers chased after him for a while, but the shooter was eventually killed when officers fired on the vehicle.

The suspect has not yet been identified, but police said he would be named as soon as possible.

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Louisiana State Police will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, because it involved a police officer.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said that he couldn’t “even begin to imagine how such an event could occur” when discussing the mass shooting and said that investigators will be analyzing all of the evidence collected from the different shooting scenes to try to understand what took place.

“My heart is just taken aback,” Smith admitted to reporters.

According to Arceneaux, a shooting like this “affects the entire community,” not just those involved.

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Related: Boys, 4 and 19, Gunned Down During Argument With South Carolina Man

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Two boys with 15 years between them were gunned down in South Carolina late Tuesday, February 17, and now, a 34-year-old man is behind bars facing murder and weapons charges. Police in Rock Hill allege in a statement an argument broke out between Cedric Akeen Creighton and a teen named Jamareon Kimble. According to police, […]

“This is a tragic situation, maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had in Shreveport,” he said, adding, “We all mourn for these families.”

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement on Sunday saying he is aware of what happened, and he and his wife, Sharon LeBlanc, were devastated by the news. “We’re deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.

According to the Associated Press, the mass shooting was the deadliest in the U.S. since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024.

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John Cena Takes On New Role At WrestleMania After Retirement

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John Cena made his return to the ring at WWE’s WrestleMania 42 over the weekend, but his role looked a lot different.

Donning a suit and tie — quite a different look than his normal wrestling uniform — Cena made an appearance on Saturday, April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas as the event’s host, garnering strong cheers from the crowd as he entered the ring once again.

“Wow I didn’t expect that. Thank you so much,” said the 17-time WWE world champion, who retired from the sport in December 2025. “Sorry, long-time fan, long-time performer, first-time host. How am I doing so far?”

He continued, “We’re all in here for the same reason because we know the time to talk is up, the time to deliver is now, and we are all here with one thing on our minds: ‘Who tonight will step up and deliver? … It is such a great honor. Ladies and gentlemen, and everyone watching around the world, welcome to WrestleMania!”

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Related: Jelly Roll Slams Pat McAfee Through a Table at WWE WrestleMania 42

Jelly Roll made quite the entrance at WWE WrestleMania 42. The country singer, 41, joined the main event between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and challenger Randy Orton on Saturday, April 18, where he helped Rhodes, 40, take out announcer Pat McAfee. McAfee, 38, was first thrown onto a table by Rhodes, at which point Jelly […]

The crowd loved it, and the marquee WWE event was underway.

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Cena retired from WWE at the end of 2025, losing his final match to rising star Gunther. Before the match, Gunther said he was “proud” to be Cena’s last match, but added that his plan was always to “spoil” that final match.

“It means everything to me to have the opportunity to spoil John Cena’s last match,” Gunther told People on December 12.

GettyImages-2272001596 John Cena

John Cena hosts WrestleMania 42
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

He added, “It’s undeniable: [Cena is] the greatest of all time.”

After Cena lost that match, he stayed in the ring to take in the moment one final time. He acknowledged the crowd — which, of course, was cheering him on — bowing and saluting the fans.

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Related: WWE‘s Gunther Says He’s ‘Proud‘ to be John Cena‘s Final Opponent

While John Cena received some praise from his final opponent this week, it wasn’t all smiles and rainbows. Before Cena’s final match — which will come on Saturday, December 13, at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C. — his opponent, Gunther, told People that “it’s undeniable” that Cena is […]

Cena spent 23 years as a wrestler, and has become one of the most iconic and recognizable WWE wrestlers of all time. He’s also built up a successful acting career, appearing in movies such as “The Suicide Squad” and “Fast X.”

After his retirement, many celebrities took to social media to congratulate Cena on his career.

“Man, thank you for all these years,” said singer Jelly Roll — who also was featured in Wrestlemania 42 — at the time. “Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for being the role model that we all needed. You deserve this, brother. Congratulations, happy retirement.”

“Congratulations on an incredible career,” said former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. “You’ve impacted the lives of so many people inside the ring and outside the ring. Good luck in your last match. I hope you fare better in yours than I did in mine.”

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