Katy Perry’s sexual assault controversy continues to raise its head amidst her career milestones. 

Ahead of the World Cup, the “I Kissed A Girl” hitmaker has been tapped to headline the U.S. opening ceremony. 

However, many soccer fans are unhappy with the decision, with several pointing to the singer’s ongoing controversy following accusations from Ruby Rose.

On Friday, reports revealed that FIFA plans to stage special opening performances before the first group-stage matches involving host countries Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Per the NY Times, the soccer organization has lined up several artists for the opening festivities, with Perry reportedly chosen to lead the show for the United States ceremony.

The “California Girls” singer is expected to perform on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, where the U.S. men’s national team will face Paraguay. Other performers set to feature at the event include Future, Los Angeles-based DJ Sanjoy, Lisa, and Marilina Bogado.

Fans Slam Katy Perry’s Headlining Gig

News of Perry’s World Cup performance quickly made its way to X through Pop Crave and immediately sparked backlash from social media users, many of whom criticized both Perry and FIFA.

One X user questioned, “Why is someone under investigation for sexual assault performing?” Another critic argued that “they could’ve picked someone better.”

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A different spectator wrote, “Katy Perry opening the World Cup feels like FIFA found an old 2014 playlist and said, ‘yeah, this still works!’”

“Y’all are trying so hard to make her relevant again,” another critic remarked, while someone else called the choice a “shame for FIFA fans.”

A sixth internet user added, “If Katy Perry is the artist chosen, then that tells you everything about how chop that event is.”

Katy Perry Facing Fresh Claims From Another Actor

On August 11, 2019, Male Josh Kloss model accuses Katy Perry of pulling down his pants and exposing him to her friends after working together on ‘Teenage Dream’ music video. He stated ‘Females with power are just as disgusting as men’ pic.twitter.com/ibaIujhjSC

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) May 3, 2023

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While fans continue criticizing FIFA’s decision to feature the “Firework” singer, another actor has revisited an encounter with Perry that allegedly left him uncomfortable.

As The Blast reported, Josh Kloss claimed that during a 2012 party, Perry pulled down his pants and underwear in front of other guests, exposing him without his consent.

Kloss, who played Perry’s love interest in her “Teenage Dream” music video, said he felt humiliated and embarrassed by the incident. According to him, the 41-year-old singer laughed it off, while he did not view it as a joke because they did not share that kind of playful relationship.

He first spoke publicly about the incident in 2019, admitting he had a crush on the mom of one at the time but still felt degraded and ashamed by what allegedly happened.

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 Katy Perry Under Fire Following Allegations From Ruby Rose 

Kloss’ recount of his experience with the “Dark Horse” hitmaker adds to the scrutiny she is facing following sexual assault accusations from Australian actress Ruby Rose.

Rose made explosive claims on social media, accusing Perry of sexually assaulting her at Spice Market nightclub while describing the incident in detail. 

After Rose’s post, police in Melbourne have confirmed they are investigating an alleged incident, while Perry has denied the incident. 

The claims have sparked widespread reaction online, with many social media users criticizing Perry for what they see as a pattern of crossing boundaries.

“Katy Perry’s abuse has been well documented and recorded over the years,” one user wrote, per The Blast, while others piled in, noting they were unsurprised by the abuse. 

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Details Of The Alleged Incident Between The ‘Roar’ Singer And Rose Resurface

As the investigation continues, more details from the night in question have resurfaced, including footage from a prom event the pair reportedly attended before going to the nightclub.

According to The Blast, the clip, filmed at a high school prom in August 2010, showed Perry jumping onstage to join students performing Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” Rose was reportedly with her that night but did not appear in the footage or photos.

Another resurfaced account came from the former manager of the now-closed nightclub, who said he did not witness anything inappropriate and remembered the pair leaving on friendly terms after drinking heavily.

He also claimed he saw no signs of anyone being sick that evening, contradicting Rose’s account that she vomited after the alleged assault.

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Royal author Andrew Lownie defended his decision to share an allegation that Sarah Ferguson had a “friends with benefits” relationship with disgraced mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

“I stand by it,” Lownie, 64, told London’s The Times on Saturday, May 9. “It’s fully sourced with former employees of P Diddy and Sarah Ferguson.”

Lownie made the allegation about Ferguson and Diddy’s alleged sexual relationship in the expanded edition of his book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, the 2025 tell-all that kicked off a new round of controversy over Ferguson and her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connections to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In this new paperback edition of Entitled, Lownie alleged that Ferguson, 66, and Diddy, 58, met at a 2002 party thrown by Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell and that they began a sexual relationship two years later. (Epstein died by suicide at age 66 in August 2019 after being arrested on federal sex crimes charges. Maxwell, 64, is serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2022 conviction on sex trafficking-related offences.)

Related: Sarah Ferguson’s Companies Shut Down After Jeffrey Epstein Email Revelations

Six companies directed by Sarah Ferguson are in the process of being dissolved following fresh revelations about her past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Filings submitted this month to Companies House seek to shut down the U.K-registered businesses, including S. Phoenix Events Limited, Fergie’s Farm, La Luna Investments, Solamoon Limited, Philanthrepreneur Limited and […]

A portion of Entitled serialized in The Daily Mail claimed that Diddy bragged to colleagues about sleeping with Ferguson and allegedly once said “he could not wait until Fergie’s daughters come of age.” (Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, share two daughters: Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35.)

The author claimed that Ferguson introduced both of her daughters to Diddy during a yacht party weekend in 2006. (Eugenie was 16 years old at the time.)

Lownie also wrote that Ferguson and Diddy met multiple times at hotels in Africa and Europe, including once staying at a seven-star hotel that cost £50,000 per night.

Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Diddy and Ferguson for comment.

Diddy is currently serving a 50-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix in New Jersey after his 2025 conviction of two counts of transportation for prostitution. (He was acquitted on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy following an eight-week trial.)

Lownie made numerous shocking claims about Ferguson in the hardcover edition of Entitled, including that she was “obsessed” with Kevin Costner and had crushes on both George Clooney and Tiger Woods. (There is no insinuation that anything ever happened between Ferguson and any of the three men mentioned.)

The author accused Mounbatten-Windsor of sleeping with “more than a dozen women” before he’d even celebrated his first wedding anniversary with Ferguson in the 1980s.

The book further explored alleged troubles in Ferguson and Mountbatten-Windsor’s marriage prior to their 1992 separation. Per Lownie, Ferguson allegedly told friends that the then-prince was “never there when I need him” and simply was “just not strong enough.”

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Entitled’s allegations about the now-former Duke and Duchess of York’s ties to Epstein began a series of new scandals that led to Mountbatten-Windsor being stripped of his royal titles by King Charles III in late 2025. (Ferguson has stopped using her royal titles in deference to her former husband.)

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly passing confidential financial information to Epstein when he was a U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. The former prince has not entered a plea.

If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Alec Baldwin may be embracing a quieter life focused on family, but insiders claim the emotional and physical strain of raising seven young children while navigating the aftermath of the “Rust” tragedy is taking a serious toll on him.

The movie star has also opened up about how deeply the incident affected his health, career, and personal life, while ongoing legal battles continue to keep the devastating shooting in the spotlight.

Friends reportedly fear that the pressure of balancing fatherhood, stress, and lawsuits may be becoming overwhelming for Alec Baldwin.

The 68-year-old actor, who shares his children with his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, has largely stepped away from Hollywood following the fallout surrounding the “Rust” shooting incident and is now focused on family life.

“Alec has been running on empty for years,” an insider told a news outlet. “And now he likes to take on the lion’s share of child-minding, allowing Hilaria time and space to do her own thing, especially as she’s got plenty of work projects and other passions that take up so much of her time.”

The couple also prefers not to depend heavily on nannies, leaving the former “Match Game” host with “his hands full, literally morning till nightfall.”

This has reportedly left Alec looking like an “exhausted zombie with bags under his eyes 24/7.”

The Actor Is Still ‘Very Affected’ By The ‘Rust’ Shooting Incident

Those close to Alec now claim that the parenting pressure has only intensified following the aftermath of the tragic “Rust” shooting incident.

The actor was charged with involuntary manslaughter after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot on set in 2021, though the case was later dismissed due to the prosecution withholding key evidence from the defense.

Despite the criminal case being over, Alec has yet to recover from the negative toll it took on his life, with a source noting that he is “very affected still by the tragedy.”

“It’s a dark cloud that hangs over his head and still weighs him down terribly,” the source added, per reports.

Alec Baldwin Says ‘Rust’ Tragedy Took ’10 Years’ Off His Life As He Admits He No Longer Wants To Work

Speaking on the “Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction” podcast, Alec admitted the experience changed nearly every aspect of his life.

“I can tell you, [the ‘Rust’ tragedy] broke every nerve in my body, spiritually, financially, work-wise, my career, my wife, my kids, my friends, my health,” he said, adding that the ordeal has “taken at least 10 years off my life.”

In another interview on “Awards Chatter,” Baldwin reflected on how dramatically his priorities shifted after the incident. He explained that he spent years mostly at home with his children and became deeply attached to that routine.

“I was home, and I got used to it, and I don’t want to leave my house anymore,” he confessed. “I don’t. I don’t want to work anymore. I don’t. I really don’t. I want to retire and stay home with my kids.”

The Actor Says He Felt Forced To Return To ‘Rust’ As New Lawsuit Heads Toward Trial

Alec also revealed that returning to complete “Rust” in Montana was not an easy decision. According to the actor, finishing the movie became part of a legal agreement tied to the settlement with Hutchins’ family.

He claimed producers would have pursued legal action against him had he refused to return to set, despite ongoing health concerns at the time.

At the same time, Alec is still facing ongoing legal challenges connected to the tragedy. A judge recently ruled that a civil lawsuit tied to the “Rust” shooting incident can move forward toward trial.

As reported by The Blast, the case was brought by lighting technician Serge Svetnoy, who alleges that Alec and the film’s production team failed to follow proper firearm safety procedures on set.

Svetnoy claims he was standing close to Hutchins, only a few feet away behind a monitor, while Alec rehearsed a cross-draw maneuver when the revolver discharged.

In the lawsuit, Svetnoy argued there “was no reason for a live bullet to be placed in that .45 Colt revolver or to be present anywhere on the Rust set,” calling the weapon a “lethal threat to everyone in its vicinity.”

Alec Baldwin Faces Renewed Scrutiny As ‘Rust’ Lawsuit Claims Crew Member Narrowly Escaped Death

The filing further alleges that after Hutchins was shot, Svetnoy rushed to assist her and remained by her side for roughly 20 to 30 minutes until paramedics arrived.

According to the lawsuit, he later realized just how narrowly he escaped being struck himself.

“He realized that he had been squarely in the zone of danger posed by the loaded weapon in Defendant Baldwin’s hand, and what he felt pass by him from the discharge of the Colt Revolver was not mere pressurized air,” the lawsuit read. “But for an inch or two, possibly less, that bullet could have ended his life.”

The lawsuit also claims the scene being rehearsed did not require Alec to fire the revolver at all, while emphasizing that the weapon should not have contained live ammunition under any circumstances.

Steven Soderbergh may never have gotten to make his “Star Wars” movie starring Adam Driver, but that’s not going to slow him down. While promoting his new movie “The Christophers,” the Oscar-winning director revealed that the project, tentatively titled “The Hunt for Ben Solo,” was “going to be the biggest thing” that he had ever attempted to make.

Steven Soderbergh Shares New Insight On Scrapped ‘Star Wars’ Film

In October 2025, Adam Driver revealed that he planned to return to a galaxy far, far away with his character, Ben Solo, who was redeemed from the dark side and ultimately died in 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Although Lucasfilm initially seemed on board with the idea, Driver claimed Disney CEO Bob Iger scrapped the film after he didn’t see how Ben Solo could come back to life.

Soderbergh has since expressed “frustration” and “disappointment” that the project was scrapped, telling BK Mag “that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt.”

Soderbergh Told Adam Driver Not To ‘Editorialize’ Why The Movie Was Cancelled

Steven Soderbergh says he wasted 2 and a half years on his Star Wars film ‘THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO’

“I’d made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”

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(Source: https://t.co/85OT35Hwzi) pic.twitter.com/DkR3wO4auJ

— Cinema Solace (@SolaceCinema) February 18, 2026

He continued, “When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”

“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,” he continued. “I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one—where they go, what is this going to cost? And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”

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Steven Soderbergh Thought It Would Be ‘The Biggest Thing’ He’s Ever Made

Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh says even with new Star Wars leadership, he doesn’t plan to pursue his Hunt for Ben Solo project with Adam Driver

“If it was gonna happen, it would have happened”

via: The Playlist pic.twitter.com/sF0RkgNuej

— ScreenTime (@screentime) April 7, 2026

In another interview with The Daily Beast, Soderbergh admitted, “In the last few years, most of the projects have been either small or mid-sized, and I’ve been hankering for something a little bigger.”

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He went on to say, “Star Wars was going to occupy that slot. That was going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever attempted to make. And I was excited about working on a big canvas. You know, it’s been a while. I’ve got other stuff that I’m trying to get going that’ll satisfy that desire.”

After admitting that he had been working on “The Hunt For Ben Solo” for a “long time,” he compared it to “complaining about the weather,” saying, “You just have to figure it out. It’s the artist’s job to adapt.”

Soderbergh Is Not Afraid To Approach Another Franchise

When asked if he was afraid to approach another franchise after his experience with Disney, Soderbergh jokingly called himself “the cockroach after the nuclear winter.”

“There’s no version of the business that I don’t think I can find a way through,” he said. “I didn’t view that as stepping into the maw of some machine that was going to chew me up. It’s conceivable—whether it’s an idea that I generate or if I’m approached by something that is ‘hell yeah!’—that I would find myself working in a franchise context. I’m not worried about that. I can function properly in that atmosphere.”

Steven Soderbergh Reveals His Stance On Another ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ Movie

Soderbergh was also asked in the interview if he planned to revisit the world of “Ocean’s Eleven.” Even though some fans have been looking forward to his return to the franchise, especially after his “Star Wars” project with Adam Driver didn’t work out, Soderbergh seemed ready to hand over the reins to someone else.

“Between the three I did and then Gary’s movie [Ocean’s 8], I’ve put in the hours. Honestly, somebody else should make it theirs,” he said. “I put my signature on the three I directed, and it’s all teed up for somebody else to do that, and they should.”

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“They’re tricky, but they’re fun. And it’s fun to make things that are fun,” he added. “I have very fond memories of my Ocean’s duty, but it’s somebody else’s turn. I don’t know what else to give it.”

It’s more than obvious to anyone who’s a fan of David Fincher that the man has a massive love for true crime and fictional crime alike. A quick scan of his sprawling portfolio will reveal favorites among his following, like the Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.-led Zodiac and his Netflix series Mindhunter. Both are based on true events, with the former stemming from a pair of books penned by Gyllenhaal’s character, Robert Graysmith, and the latter digging into the pages of John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s co-penned book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. With precision, dedication to the stories on which they’re based, and a personal obsession with the cases at the center of both tales, Fincher backed two masterful pieces of true crime content.

On the fictional side of things, the Fight Club helmer was so taken aback by the story that Gillian Flynn wrote in her 2012 novel Gone Girl, that he directed a feature-length production. While the crime at the core of the psychological thriller’s plotline is fake, the movie perfectly captures how well the director can shape a pulse-pounding, anxiety-inducing take of fear, betrayal, lies, murder, and consequences. Additionally, while his work as the visionary behind the award-winning drama The Social Network technically can’t be counted as true crime, Fincher ensured that audiences would be able to have conversations surrounding the legality of what they saw during the two-hour film.

Long before Zodiac, Mindhunter, Gone Girl, and The Social Network, Fincher blew the minds of theatergoers everywhere when he introduced one of the greatest fictional crime dramas of all time with the release of 1995’s Se7en. Not only is the piece considered to be one of the genre’s absolute classics, but it is also the second feature-length project to hail from the helmer, showcasing his rising talent in the industry. For those who have yet to be pulled into the twisted narrative of the star-studded feature that sees Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as detectives tracking down a madman, you’re in luck, as Se7en is set to arrive on Tubi beginning on June 1.

What’s ‘Se7en’ About?

Unfolding during the film’s runtime is a game of cat-and-mouse between a soon-to-be-retired detective named William Somerset (Freeman) and his fresh-faced partner David Mills (Pitt), who are on the trail of a sadistic serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins as a blueprint for his murders. Filling out the rest of the primary cast are Gwyneth Paltrow and John C. McGinley.

Head over to Tubi on June 1 to stream Se7en completely free of charge.

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Release Date

September 22, 1995

Runtime

127 minutes

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Writers

Andrew Kevin Walker

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Producers

Arnold Kopelson, Phyllis Carlyle

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Country music star LeAnn Rimes is sharing her go-to home remedies for two health issues amid the controversy surrounding her viral jaw release video.

“No, after being on antibiotics, I’m trying to heal thrush in my throat and acid reflux… dear lord help me,” Rimes, 43, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, May 9, over a photo of the singer holding a clear drink on ice.

“Sunshine, grounding [and] coconut water & aloe vera juice with fresh rosemary from our yard,” she added, outlining the ingredients in her drink helping her treat her illnesses.

Rimes has been in the spotlight as of late for her experience with alternative medicine, including the now-viral video of the singer having a “deep jaw release” to ease tension in the body.

Related: Brandi Glanville Shades LeAnn Rimes for Crying During Jaw Release Treatment

Brandi Glanville is far from impressed after country music singer LeAnn Rimes shared an emotional video highlighting her recent jaw release treatment. “We did see LeAnn Rimes in the news today,” Glanville, 53, said on the Thursday, April 2, episode of her “Unfiltered” podcast. “I don’t understand why I saw it, and I’ve had that […]

“Healing isn’t always quiet,” the singer captioned a March 29 video shared via Instagram, featuring Garry Lineham, cofounder of the wellness platform Human Garage, reaching into Rimes’ mouth as she expressed pain at different pressure points. After nearly 60 seconds, the singer started to cry, signifying that her jaw was back in alignment.

“Sometimes it’s a physical letting go of things,” the captioned continued, “we didn’t even know we were carrying.”

The video went instantly viral, prompting many to allege that the video was somehow fake and that Rimes was simply acting.

“The people were commenting on [the post], being [like], “Of course the camera was on, she was gonna cry,” Rimes said on the April 18 livestream with Lineham, addressing the viral claims. “I’m like, ‘I can act, but I am not that good.’ I am not that good. I’m not Meryl Streep.”

After seemingly attacking Rimes for allegedly taking her “husband, kids, boobs, bronco” and “random illnesses,” The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Brandi Glanville came to the singer’s defense.

“She really is sick,” Glanville, 53, said on the Thursday, May 7, episode of her “Brandi Unfiltered” podcast. “She has something. I know she gets sick every time she leaves the country, much like myself. We’re twinning all the time.”

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Related: LeAnn Rimes Reveals ‘Severe Illness’ After Deep Jaw Release Video Drama

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LeAnn Rimes says she’s “truly heartbroken” after she was forced to cancel upcoming concerts for unidentified health reasons. “Due to severe illness, I am unable to travel & perform this week,” Rimes, 43, announced via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, April 29. “I’m sorry to share that the upcoming shows in Spokane and Seattle will […]

Glanville went on to reveal that her two sons, whom she shares with ex-husband Eddie Cibrian, have shared updates on Rimes’ illnesses with her. (Cibrian, 52, has been married to Rime since 2011.)

“They are like, ‘She is so sick,’” the reality TV star claimed. “They are so health-conscious, [and] they have, like, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in their dining room.”

She continued, “She really is sick, she does have laryngitis, she has a tooth situation and everything she’s doing is to protect her moneymaker. That’s been her life for, think about it, since she was a child. So, they go to bed at 8:30. They have, like, a whole room of all these machines and lymphatic drainage and they wake up at 4:00 and do yoga. They’re, like, ‘Health, health, health.’”

Many who grew up in the 1990s remember waking up on a Saturday morning, grabbing that bowl of cereal, and getting comfy on the couch to watch cartoons. It was the same tradition as kids in the ’80s had done, but by the ’90s, cartoons weren’t just restricted to Saturday mornings. Even coming home after school, cartoons were part of life for kids who grew up in the era. Not only were they great for younger audiences, but they had enough jokes to keep older viewers entertained.

The best ’90s cartoons will never die, not if today’s fans and creators have anything to say about it. Only time will tell what ’90s classics will continue well into the 21st century, or which will receive revivals and get the modern treatment they deserve. If you’ve been bitten by the nostalgia bug, these cartoons from the ’90s are great to comb over and pick up on all the things that went over your head.

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‘Captain Planet and the Planeteers’ (1990–1996)

Image via TBS

The spirit of the Earth, Gaia, puts together a group of teenagers known as the Planeteers, who are given the power of the five elements to help protect the planet from pollution and those who take advantage of its natural resources. When the Planeteers unite their powers, they have the ability to summon an elemental being known as Captain Planet to help them in their fight.

Captain Planet and the Planeteers is a blend of a traditional superhero series combined with an educational theme that makes it one of the most unique cartoons of the 1990s. Despite mixed reviews over the series’ subject matter, Captain Planet was still a revolutionary cartoon at the time and captivated viewers with its characters and their elemental superpowers that varied from other popular superhero shows. While the series was surrounded in some controversy, young viewers still enjoyed the show’s passion and originality, cementing it as one of the most innovative cartoons of its time.

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‘Rocko’s Modern Life’ (1993–1996)

Image via Nickelodeon

Rocko’s Modern Life is another bizarre but clever ’90s cartoon that follows a wallaby, Rocko (Carlos Alazraqui), who moves from his home in Australia to the United States, but when he arrives, he realizes things aren’t exactly what he had imagined. Between his annoying neighbors and a series of never-ending life issues, Rocko tries to navigate his way through his new life and, with the help of his friends and canine buddy, Spunky, he manages to overcome any obstacle thrown his way.

Rocko’s Modern Life wasn’t an initial hit but, like other shows at the time such as The Ren and Stimpy Show, it gained a major cult following and became one of the most popular animated series of the 1990s. The series was hit with some concern over its slight adult humor and social commentary, but all in all, Rocko’s Modern Life puts a comedic spin on the difficulties that come with growing up and finding your place in the world and also emphasizes the importance of friendship and family, deeming it to be a top-notch cartoon of the ’90s.

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‘Darkwing Duck’ (1991–1992)

Image via Disney

Drake Mallard (Jim Cummings) may seem like an average avian citizen of St. Canard, but by night, he becomes the terror that flaps in the night, Darkwing Duck. Though he fights crime to keep the city safe, it’s born just as much from his egotism as it is from his altruism. Fortunately, he is kept in check by his adoptive daughter, Gosalyn (Christine Cavanaugh), and sidekick from DuckTales, Launchpad McQuack (Terry McGovern).

Darkwing Duck was one of Disney’s first attempts at an action series, which helped to give it a unique identity. It played heavily into darker superhero tropes, with Darkwing in particular mirroring the likes of Batman and The Shadow, while also poking fun at the tropes through moments like Darkwing providing his own narrations. Speaking of Darkwing, he’s a terrific character thanks to Cummings’ performance, and the writing emphasizes that, despite his many faults, he is a worthy superhero. —Tyler B. Searle

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‘Tiny Toon Adventures’ (1990–1992)

Image via Warner Bros.

Years after the classic Looney Tunes cartoons wrapped up, the characters opened a university in Acme Acres to educate the next generation in the art of cartoon comedy. The students included the likes of genre-savvy rabbit duo Babs (Tress MacNeille) and Buster Bunny (Charlie Adler and John Kassir), egotistical waterfowl Plucky Duck (Joe Alaskey), and Elmyra Duff (Cree Summer), a little girl who just wants to hug every animal she sees. Naturally, things quickly go wacky and loony, in and outside the classroom.

Tiny Toon Adventures was the first of several Warner Bros. cartoons produced by Steven Spielberg, and while other examples would surpass it in terms of comedy, it’s still a fantastic show. The show knows how to take the classic Looney Tunes style of humor and re-interpret it for newer, younger audiences, while still retaining a lot of its risqué bite. It also helps that the characters are all solidly constructed, paying homage to the classic characters while retaining more than enough originality so they can stand on their own. —Tyler B. Searle

26

‘Freakazoid!’ (1995–1997)

Image via Warner Bros.

A freak accident infuses Dexter Douglas (David Kaufman) with the power of the internet, transforming him into the hero Freakazoid (Paul Rugg). Though he gained super durability, speed, strength, and the knowledge of the 1990s internet, he was also left easily distracted and a little bit wild. So while Freakazoid will save the day and stop the various villains who threaten him and his community, it’ll rarely be in the most direct and expected way.

Freakazoid! can best be described as controlled chaos boiled into an animated show. Its humor completely demolishes the 4th-wall as Freakazoid leans heavily into cartoon physics and gags, to the point where the show can be considered a progenitor to the type of humor that would develop around meme culture. Things get even better when you look at the voice cast for the show, including Ed Asner, Tim Curry, and Ricardo Montalban. —Tyler B. Searle

25

‘Spider-Man: The Animated Series’ (1994–1998)

Image via Marvel

After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Peter Parker (Christopher Daniel Barnes) gains enhanced strength, durability, powers of precognition, and the ability to climb walls. He eventually decides to adopt the superhero persona of Spider-Man to keep New York City safe, both from regular criminals and a plethora of superpowered ones. When he’s not stopping the likes of the Hobgoblin (Mark Hamill) or The Kingpin (Roscoe Lee Browne), his time is divided between attending school, being there for his friends and family, and maintaining his photography job at the Daily Bugle.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series did for the web head what Batman: The Animated Series did for the caped crusader. Despite numerous cases of network censorship that included limited physical violence and a mandate that Spider-Man can’t harm any pigeons if he lands on a roof, the show captured the universal appeal of Spider-Man through a healthy emphasis on Peter’s social life and the struggles of his loved ones alongside the action. The show also crossed over with numerous other Marvel TV shows at the time, allowing Spidey to team up with the likes of the X-Men and Iron Man (Robert Hays) long before the MCU was an idea. —Tyler B. Searle

24

‘Superman: The Animated Series’ (1996–2000)

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

To the people of Metropolis, Clark Kent (Tim Daly) is a mild-mannered reporter from Kansas who works at the Daily Planet. However, he is actually an alien from the planet Krypton who protects the Earth as Superman with a wide array of powers derived from Earth’s sun. While most of the people of Metropolis love the Man of Steel, he does have one major enemy in Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown), the genius, megalomaniac founder of Lexcorp, who sees Superman as a challenge to his authority.

Superman: The Animated Series was made by the same team behind Batman: The Animated Series, so it’s no surprise that its writing quality turned out as good as it did. Its stories included a healthy mix of lighthearted capers like classic Silver Age storylines, and darker, more mature outings, especially when they involved Darkseid (Michael Ironside). Though it was canceled prematurely, many of its storylines would later be used in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which capped off the DCAU. —Tyler B. Searle

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‘Gargoyles’ (1994–1997)

Image via Buena Vista Television

After spending thousands of years in a cursed petrified state, a series of gargoyle statues are transported from Scotland to New York City, where they each come alive at night. At night, the nocturnal creatures awake from slumber and serve as guardians and protectors of the city, but at sunrise, they turn back into stone, concealing their power and ancient magic from the outside world.

Disney’s Gargoyles was a unique 90s cartoon series that was known for its dark tones, complex storylines, and well-developed characters which were brought to life by an array of voice talents, including Keith David, Ed Asner, and Tim Curry. The series ran for three successful seasons and while it may have been a short-lived show, Gargoyles has an extremely loyal following of fans and remains to be a beloved 90s cartoon.

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‘The Angry Beavers’ (1997–2001)

Brothers, Daggett (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Norbert (Nick Bakay) decide to venture from their hometown in Oregon and gain their own sense of independence, living in a nearby forest. After building an impressive bachelor pad, the brothers soon find themselves in a series of whacky and comical situations that keep their lives entertaining.

The Angry Beavers is a highly underrated animated series from the 1990s that ran for a successful five seasons on Nickelodeon. The series never loses its touch of unpredictability and always delivers some zany or out-of-this-world scenario for the brothers, who are complete opposites and constantly at childish odds over something. The characters’ in-depth development and creator, Mitch Schauer’s dedication to keeping fans on their toes is what makes The Angry Beavers a top-notch animated series of the 1990s.

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‘Ed, Edd n Eddy’ (1999–2008)

Image via Nickelodeon

In a seemingly average suburban neighborhood, three friends, Ed (Matt Hill), Edd (Samuel Khouth), and Eddy (Tony Sampson), try to survive their adolescent years and rely on one another to make it through each day. The boys find themselves in endless shenanigans with the local group of colorful neighborhood kids or being chased by the Kanker Sisters, or on a quest for their favorite treat, jawbreakers.

Ed, Edd n Eddy is a ridiculously humorous animated series that had an impressive run for six seasons and featured an array of characters that stood out with their own signature qualities. Between a boy, Johnny, whose best friend is a piece of wood known as Plank to Ed, who really loves butter toast, Ed, Edd n Eddy gave young audiences the effective encouragement to be themselves and embrace their own sense of weirdness and uniqueness.