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Did Star Trek Ruin Its New Show By Listening To Fans?

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Did Star Trek Ruin Its New Show By Listening To Fans?

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Starfleet Academy has generated plenty of controversy among old-school fans who hate the changes that Paramount has made to Star Trek. It’s common for those fans to blame executives like Alex Kurtzman, who has admittedly done his best to make NuTrek completely unrecognizable compared to what came before. However, some of the new show’s alleged problems have technically been caused by the fandom: after all, the low-stakes, episodic, highly-comedic storytelling of Starfleet Academy is clearly Paramount’s attempt to address what fans hated about earlier NuTrek shows such as Discovery and Picard.  

Let’s start with some of the biggest complaints that the fandom (especially older fans) have been making about Starfleet Academy. One criticism I have heard very frequently is that the show’s stakes are way too low for this venerable franchise, as evidenced by plot points like “who will become laser tag captain” and “will Starfleet’s cadets manage to win the prank war?” So far, the most serious plot point has been the cadets keeping Nus Braka from running away with their warp core, which had all the gravitas of scaring away a tweaker before he could snatch your catalytic converter.

Foul Mouths Lead To Foul Jokes

Another complaint (one I have admittedly made myself) about Starfleet Academy is that it has too much humor, and much of it is painfully unfunny: Voyager’s Holographic Doctor makes poop jokes, for example, while another cadet earnestly complains about eating her comm badge. The half-Klingon, half-Jem’hadar cadet master, meanwhile, cartoonishly punches people across the room and screams every line like a drill sergeant having a heart attack. Oh, and the third episode had rival cadets hacking the school’s technology to beam half-naked cadets into public areas, an insanely problematic crime that is presented as just another cheap laugh.

The humor leads into the most persistent complaint about Starfleet Academy: the overly modern language, which has the cadet master referring to a situation as a “dumpster fire” while the chancellor tells her nemesis to “blow it out your a**” during an argument. Characters constantly refer to each other as “b*tch,” and one character straight up insults another cadet by saying that he has a small “fish d*ck.” That same character touts the virtue of “toilet wine” earlier in the episode, and the chancellor refers to the toes on her constantly-exposed feet (is the target audience Quentin Tarantino?) as “little piggies.” 

Star Trek Is Still Trying To Make The Grade

Now, I’m not here to defend the modern language; even though I think Starfleet Academy has gotten a little better each episode, there’s still nothing more distracting than hearing 32nd-century genius cadets communicating like 21st-century Redditors. However, the sheer prevalence of the distracting vulgar language left me consistently wondering why the heck Star Trek sounds like this now. Soon enough, I realized the depressing truth: everything wrong with this spinoff is Paramount’s attempt to fix what fans hated about Discovery and Picard, but they are going about it in the stupidest possible way.

Discovery, for example, kicked off the annoying NuTrek trope of having entire seasons revolve around big mysteries, like “who is the Red Angel” and “what caused The Burn?” This was an attempt to modernize Star Trek and give it the kind of mystery box mystique that made shows like Lost so compelling. Unfortunately, the fandom was quite accustomed to episodic storytelling, and the big downside to Discovery’s approach is that if you don’t care about the central mystery, you won’t really care about the various episodes trying to unravel it.

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Bursting The Bubble Of Our Expectations

This same mystery box storytelling effectively ruined most of Picard, a show whose tangled first season was about finding the connection between Data’s daughter, synthetic research, computer-hating Romulans, and Borg body parts. Sadly, the mystery was boring from the beginning, which forced all the show’s flaws (like poor characterization and an utter disregard for the lore) into stark relief. The second season was even worse, and the only thing saving Season 3 (which also had a weird, season-long mystery) was the introduction of fun new characters like Shaw and the reunion of the Next Generation crew.

Strange New Worlds tried to course-correct by bringing episodic storytelling back to Star Trek, but they still swung for the fences with the Enterprise crew taking on larger-than-life threats like genocidal time-travelers, hungry Gorn, and even the ultimate embodiment of evil. Starfleet Academy similarly embraced episodic storytelling, but the stakes are lower because our heroes are all snot-nosed cadets rather than seasoned officers. This is a further attempt to make up for the narrative shortcomings of Discovery and Picard, and let’s be real: if these cadets were out saving the galaxy instead of playing laser tag, the grumpier elements of the fandom would dub them all Mary Sues.

The Naked Truth About NuTrek

Something else that many hated about Discovery and Picard is that both shows were almost shockingly violent and gruesome. Discovery included intimate assault, murder, torture, and cannibalism, all while asking us to root for a Federation that wants to blow up the entire Klingon homeworld. Picard, meanwhile, ripped a beloved Voyager character’s eye out while turning another Voyager character into a murderer; later, we’d find out that Picard thought his father was abusive, that his mentally ill mother ended her own life, and that his evil doppelganger brutally killed everyone from Gul Dukat to General Martok, keeping their skulls as trophies.

Once again, Strange New Worlds walked so Starfleet Academy could run (or should that be warp?): SNW tried to lighten Star Trek’s tone through wildly trope-y stories, including a body-swap episode and even a musical episode. Now, Starfleet Academy has refined that more lighthearted approach, creating a show where the characters are constantly tease each other in the crudest and most vulgar way. Sure, it’s annoyingly modern teen speak, but this broad comedy is pretty much the antithesis of Discovery and Picard’s violent, grimdark storytelling.

The New Star Trek Show Is Finally Perking Up

Now, none of this is meant to be some kind of full-throated defense of Starfleet Academy’s excesses; the show may be improving, but the criticisms about lame storylines and bizarrely modern dialogue are still quite valid. But it’s worth considering that the reason these elements are so present in Star Trek’s latest spinoff is that Paramount has been trying to fiercely course-correct from the earlier failures of NuTrek. Furthermore, they are doing so in an admittedly flawed attempt to give the fans what they want, which is something completely different from Discovery and Picard.

If you’re a “warp core half full” kind of person, this is a reason to be optimistic: Paramount has time to iron out the wrinkles of Starfleet Academy, and it’s somewhat edifying to know these executives are finally (if a bit belatedly) listening to the fans. But we’re already seeing how course corrections can go too far, resulting in shows that don’t really feel like much like classic Trek or NuTrek. Unless execs like Kurtzman can finally find the sweet spot, Paramount may completely drive away the franchise’s older fans, effectively turning Star Trek’s 60th anniversary celebration into a prolonged funeral.

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Country singer gets 5 stitches after fan throws phone at him: 'Sewed up'

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The “Hell of a Way to Go” singer joked that he would be passing out phone tethers at his next concert after the painful incident.

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Jamie Foxx Tells Michael B. Jordan” He Deserves ‘Two Oscars’

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Michael B. Jordan with his Oscar

Jamie Foxx was one of the names mentioned by Michael B. Jordan during his acceptance speech at the 95th Academy Awards.

Foxx later returned the love with a series of emotional posts on Instagram celebrating his former co-star’s big Oscars victory. The pair previously worked together in the 2019 legal drama “Just Mercy.”

Jordan took home the trophy for Best Actor after earning widespread acclaim for portraying twin characters in the period vampire film “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler.

In one of his posts, Foxx was full of praise for Jordan’s performance in the film, especially the fact that he played two roles.

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For this, the “Django Unchained” star argued that Jordan deserved two Oscars.

Jamie Foxx Says Michael B. Jordan Is ‘Operating In Rare Air’ After Oscars Win

Michael B. Jordan with his Oscar
OConnor-Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

As he accepted his award, Jordan made a point of acknowledging every Black winner of the accolade before him.

“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” the actor said. “Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. And so many others who kicked doors open so that actors like me could walk through them.”

Foxx appeared overjoyed to welcome Jordan to the exclusive club. He also promised him a worthwhile after-party to celebrate the achievement.

“Congratulations, my brother,” Foxx wrote. “You’re operating in rare air right now. Celebrate it to the fullest… and trust me, the after-party is going to be crazy.”

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Foxx Shared Multiple Instagram Posts In Jordan’s Honor

As the evening went on, Foxx shared several Instagram posts celebrating Jordan’s historic achievement.

In one of the uploads, he reposted a clip of the newly crowned Best Actor delivering his speech acknowledging those who paved the way for him. Foxx captioned the moment: “Words can’t express how proud I am of you. You deserve this and so much more. Congratulations, my brother.”

The multi-talented star shared several other tributes, including montages highlighting Jordan’s many roles throughout his career.

One clip featured Jordan’s character from “The Wire” asking, “So, how do you become a king?”

Another montage showed Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character Rocky Balboa declaring, “It’s your time.”

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Jamie Foxx Says Jordan ‘Changed The Culture’

Michael B. Jordan on the red carpet
JPA/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Foxx and Jordan have frequently spoken about each other with deep admiration, even before they eventually co-starred in “Just Mercy.”

In 2018, Foxx hosted the BET Awards, where he praised the cultural impact of Jordan’s performance in “Black Panther.”

“You moved everybody; everybody was moved by that. You changed the culture,” Foxx said.

He then invited Jordan to the stage and asked him to repeat a line from the film that Foxx described as “so significant for today.”

The Killmonger actor responded by quoting his character’s powerful final words from the movie: “Burn me in the oceans with my ancestors [who] jumped from the ships because they knew that death was better than bondage.”

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The ‘Black Panther’ Star Calls Foxx His ‘Big Brother’

Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx on stage
Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup / MEGA

That same year, the pair joined forces for a basketball shoot-off as part of Jordan’s MBJAM’s fundraiser for Lupus LA.

Speaking to ET Online on the sidelines of the event, Jordan revealed that the sport had actually played a key role in strengthening his relationship with Foxx.

“I met Jamie when I was really young and first moved out here,” Jordan said. “Playing basketball together, we had a lot of mutual friends, and he’s just always been a mentor and a big brother to me.”

The “Creed” star also expressed his admiration for Foxx’s wide range of talents. “He’s a multi-faceted, talented man who can do so many different things,” Jordan said.

Jamie Foxx Promotes His New Song ‘Somebody’ On Instagram

Over the past year, Foxx has been steadily returning to the spotlight following the serious medical emergency he suffered in 2023.

Before celebrating Jordan’s Oscar win on his Instagram, the singer had already taken to the platform to promote his latest single.

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“Somebody” is the title of Foxx’s new ballad, which he released on the eve of Valentine’s Day this year.

In the post, the artist can be seen holding a rose and standing on a boat deck out on the ocean at night.

Superimposed on the image is text that reads: “Jamie Foxx. Somebody. Available on all streaming platforms.”

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It’s Not a Zero-Sum Game

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Julianne Nicholson in Paradise Season 2 Episode 4

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for Paradise Season 2 Episode 6.

If viewers thought that the first season of Hulu’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi series Paradise was intense, the show’s return ups the ante on a variety of fronts. Not only does the story finally move beyond the Colorado bunker to confirm what life has been like for the survivors left behind on the surface, but the situation inside Paradise has never been more fraught, with increased security and monitoring even before Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) makes an extreme move to take her power back. On the surface, Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) has flown away from the bunker in an effort to reunite with his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma), but their reunion is proving more complicated than he could have foreseen.

Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with several cast members, including Brown and Nicholson, about some of their characters’ most pivotal moments over the first six episodes. Over the course of the interview, which you can watch above or read below, Brown explains why the Dan Fogelman-created series will never become too bleak, while Nicholson reveals what Sinatra is thinking about that big group, led by Thomas Doherty‘s Link, that just showed up outside the bunker, as well as her ever-complicated dynamic with Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom).

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COLLIDER: Sterling, there’s a lot more story that takes place outside the bunker this season, including flashbacks with new characters and a really strong sense of what it’s been like for survivors on the surface, but it always feels like the show circles back to emphasizing the innate goodness in people. What kind of conversations did you and Dan [Fogelman] have about always trying to showcase kindness between the survivors over the tone that a lot of these other post-apocalyptic narratives tend to take, where they’re a little bit more brutal?

STERLING K. BROWN: I think that’s an astute observation, and I think that’s sort of core to who Dan is as a person, and what he wants to point the world towards, is that in a global catastrophe, what have you, there’s a tendency to either become very selfish or selfless, and that you can afford and try to keep things to yourself, or you can open yourself up and recognize that there is a greater level of community and existence that we have when we share ourselves with each other, rather than keeping ourselves apart.

So, I think he wasn’t interested in the bleakness of the world so much as how it affects people and what it pulls out of you. I think in his own little way, he’s always saying that moving towards the light is good for everyone. It’s not a zero-sum game, right? I think especially in today’s world, there’s this prevailing feeling that if somebody gets something, somebody else has to lose something. The rising tide can lift all boats. A win for me can be a win for everybody else. So, I think it’s subtle, but I think it’s present, for sure.

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“No one else can come inside.”

Julianne Nicholson in Paradise Season 2 Episode 4
Julianne Nicholson in Paradise Season 2 Episode 4
Image via Hulu

What’s happening on the surface sits in sharp contrast to what’s happening in the bunker in Season 2, where there’s this increased sense of paranoia, law and order have really taken this more militaristic feeling. Julianne, Sinatra still sits at the heart of it. Even though, initially, you believe that she may be knocked down, she’s not out at all.

BROWN: “I get knocked down, but I get up again…” [Laughs] That’s great.

I loved the twist [of] the breath mint reveal.

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BROWN: [Laughs] It’s so good!

JULIANNE NICHOLSON: I don’t think I knew that when we were filming it. I think that I figured it out later. I don’t know why the ball dropped later. I was like, “Oh, no, it’s not just his breath.” [Laughs]

Sinatra seated for questioning with Gabriela reflected in the mirror behind her in Paradise Season 2 Episode 3


3 Episodes In, ‘Paradise’ Season 2 Just Confirmed the Bunker’s Biggest Threat

A wolf in sheep’s clothing might tear everything apart.

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Not only does it leave the door open for her to basically walk back through and assume her seat of power again, but then it builds to Link and the caravan that is setting up outside the bunker, and how Sinatra is going to deal with it. Do you feel like Sinatra really has any intention of negotiating in good faith, or is her outlook, “What do I have to do to get rid of these people?”

BROWN: Oh, this is good.

NICHOLSON: No. I think she wants to get rid of these people. No one else can come inside. Paradise has been designed within a fraction of a millimeter of its life to be able to maintain this amount of people for X amount of time. So, she is not interested at all, and she’s trying to give them something that they want and send them on their way.

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Sterling K. Brown Explains How He Became the “Baby Whisperer” in ‘Paradise’ Season 2

“I’m kind of like Cesar Millan, but with babies.”

Xavier holding Annie's baby against his chest in Paradise Season 2 Episode 4
Xavier holding Annie’s baby against his chest in Paradise Season 2 Episode 4
Image via Hulu

Sterling, I just spoke with Shailene [Woodley], and obviously, the circumstances around what happens with Annie this season are so heartbreaking, but it is very sweet to see you carrying around a little baby this season. How much of the parenting knowledge that Xavier extends this season came from your own experience, or Dan’s, or any of the writers’?

BROWN: I have way more experience than Fogelman with kids. He’s just got one, and he’s only about five years in. I’m 14 years into the game, Carly. And let us emphasize, for the spoilers of it, it’s not just a baby. I like little white babies. I like to carry little white babies around. It makes me very happy. I think it’s a delightful picture. No, I love babies. Actually, my whole career, I’ve always had babies and children in my sphere, and off-camera, I will go to the nurse or to the moms, and I hang out with the babies so we get a sense of comfort with one another, so when we get on screen with each other, the baby knows me. It is one of my favorite things to do. I’m kind of like Cesar Millan, but with babies.

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NICHOLSON: He’s the baby whisperer.

BROWN: I’m the baby whisperer. So, yeah, it’s great — mostly for me. And I think Dan actually likes putting me in scenes with children because I think he knows I’m just a 50-year-old child to begin with.

NICHOLSON: Wait, because then you have all those little kids, as well.

BROWN: That’s right.

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NICHOLSON: That’s so sweet.

Pivoting to an almost mother-daughter relationship that’s maybe a little less maternal, but I get the feeling this season with Sinatra and Jane that Jane almost regards Sinatra as the mother that she never had. Julianne, what do you think Sinatra’s feelings are towards Jane, especially in the wake of the shooting in the finale of Season 1?

NICHOLSON: She’s not giving it all away to Jane at this point. It was so fun to do that scene that Jane and Sinatra have together that our fantastic Ken Olin directed, where they’re figuring out, sussing out, what Sinatra remembers and what Jane feels comfortable sharing. It’s a really fun relationship to play with Nicole [Brydon Bloom]. She’s such a wonderful actor, and I do think she looks at Sinatra as sort of a mentor or mother figure, like somebody to look up to. But Sinatra, again, is keeping both eyes open. Fool me once.

New episodes of Paradise Season 2 premiere Mondays on Hulu.

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Taylor Frankie Paul, Ex’s Drama Halts ‘Mormon Wives’ Filming

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Taylor Frankie Paul

Taylor Frankie Paul and her on-again, off-again relationship with ex-boyfriend (and the father of her son) Dakota Mortensen has always been one of the major storylines on the massively popular Hulu reality series “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” but apparently, recent drama between the two has caused production for the show to be paused.

As fans continue to take in the show’s fourth season, which recently dropped on March 12, the cast has been filming the upcoming fifth season. However, the former couple reportedly had a recent incident that resulted in production being shut down.

‘Mormon Wives’ Production Reportedly Shuts Down Due To Drama With Taylor Frankie Paul And Dakota Mortensen

Taylor Frankie Paul
LISA OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

According to TMZ, inside sources connected to “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” told the outlet that due to a heated incident between the show’s star, Taylor Frankie Paul, and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, production for season 5 has been paused for now. 

Currently, the details of the reported fight have not been revealed, but apparently, it was serious enough to cause filming to cease. 

Sources further shared with the outlet that production is “taking the matter seriously and handling with caution.”

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Throughout the recently released fourth season, Paul and Mortensen have multiple blow-up fights that put the rest of the cast in the middle of the drama.

Taylor Frankie Paul Revealed That Season 4 Of ‘Mormon Wives’ Was ‘Extremely Hard’ To Watch

In a recent Instagram post, following the release of “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” season 4, Taylor Frankie Paul shared insight into the difficulties of filming the season.

“I for the first time sat down and watched this season and it was extremely hard to do,” Paul began in the caption of the post. “These aren’t just story lines, these are our actual lives we are sharing. I’ll speak for myself on this, I’m not sharing to appease or switch ‘story lines’ for anyone’s entertainment.” 

“A big reason I continue on is to potentially help someone,” she continued. “I know this because I’ve personally watched and listened to people’s experience and it helped me. Takes courage to share such vulnerable topics with an audience. My heart goes out to those around me that share and everyone else that continue to do so the hugs will always outweigh the hate for me.”

The Reality Star Recently Shared Her Mental Health Struggles

On February 23, Paul shared on Instagram that she has been recently “struggling” with her mental health.

She posted a series of photos documenting her recent struggles with mental health, including a cluttered home, screenshots of texts of her checking in on friends, and a main image of her smiling through tears.

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Paul coupled the photo dump with a lengthy caption detailing her struggles with mental health, despite how things may appear on the surface.

“I guess an upside of struggling mentally is you start to sense and see the signs of others feeling the same,” Paul’s caption began. “We’re out here just checking in on each other when we can, and when we don’t respond, it’s not taken personally because we get it.”

“Just be mindful that sometimes that person checking in is the one needing help… and that one took me time to learn,” the reality star continued. “I sometimes ask myself what’s the point of all this sharing this sh—t and I tell myself it may be as simple as making someone feel less alone and if it helps just a few people than it’s worth it.”

Paul Is Gearing Up For Her Controversial Debut As ‘The Bachelorette’

Taylor Frankie Paul
MEGA

On March 22, Taylor Frankie Paul will make her debut on the 22nd season of the long-running ABC reality dating series and will make history as the first non-‘Bachelor’ alumna to lead the franchise.

Many fans of the show and critics of her past indiscretions were not happy about her joining the show, including “The View” co-host Joy Behar, who questioned whether she is “Bachelorette” material.

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“She has three kids and two baby daddies,” Behar said shortly after Paul’s casting announcement. “Will these bachelors line up to be baby daddy number three?”

The ‘Mormon Wives’ Star Addressed The Criticism Of Her ‘Bachelorette’ Casting

Mormon Wives
River / MEGA

In a November 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Paul noted the mixed reaction from the show’s fans but said she was still up for the challenge.

“I feel like it’s very fair to see some things and be like, ‘Oh, not a fan,’ if you’re looking at just very few things. What I will say is maybe tune in to make sure you’re really getting a read on who and how I am,” she said. Because if [you’ve] not really seen anything [I’m in], then you maybe only know my news headlines, which maybe aren’t the prettiest ones.”

“I feel like if you were to ever watch me, hear my story, I think I come off a little bit differently than people would just assume,” Paul continued. “I think maybe just give me a shot and see, and then at the end, if you’re still like, ‘Nah,’ then that’s up to them. But until then, I would just maybe give me a shot at just seeing who I am, really. That would be my only ask.”

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Virgin River’s Ben Hollingsworth Recalls Nina Dobrev Rumors

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After false romance rumors in the past, Virgin River‘s Ben Hollingsworth would love to work with friend Nina Dobrev on a rom-com.

“There was always this rumor that Nina and I used to date. That’s not true. We didn’t,” Hollingsworth, 41, exclusively told Us Weekly. “We used to be housemates in Toronto when I was a guest star on Degrassi and she was on Degrassi at the same time. We needed another roommate in our house — we had four actors living in a house — and she came in.”

Hollingsworth recalled Dobrev, 37, subsequently booking her lead role on The Vampire Diaries.

“We went to Los Angeles at the same time she booked The Vampire Diaries and I booked a show on the CW called The Beautiful Life, which only went for a minute,” he continued. “It would be great to reunite with Nina. She’s awesome and we’re great friends. Although it’d be a little weird, it’d be a lot of fun to do it.”

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The actor, who shares three kids with wife Nila Myers, told Us that he is having a blast starring in romantic projects. However, he is also interested in any and all opportunities as he prepares to film season 8 of Virgin River.

“[Romance projects are] something that comes to me often. We get a lot of offers for that stuff, but it’s really tricky because you want to balance that,” Hollingsworth explained. “I’m a trained actor. I went to a conservatory and spent three years studying acting when I was 19 through 21. So I’ve got a really diverse background of theater training and I love stretching my range. I’ve had the opportunity to do it a little bit — and I want to continue to do that.”

He continued: “Maybe I can do [something like] Bridgerton. I love the idea of doing a period piece. I love action stuff and you see Brady do a little bit of it in Virgin River. I love doing my own stunts and working with stunt doubles. So it’d be fun to do kind of like a buddy cop action movie, too. We’ll see.”

Hollingsworth had a memorable season on Virgin River after his character Brady was involved in a motorcycle crash.

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Virgin River Casts Dating Histories Through Years


Related: ‘Virgin River’ Cast’s Dating Histories Through the Years

Virgin River centers around the dramatic love lives of those living in a small town, but the cast has found more stable relationships in real life. The Netflix drama, which debuted in 2019, centers around Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a widow who answers an ad to work as a midwife and nurse practitioner in […]

“That’s pretty much on par for Brady’s luck,” Hollingsworth quipped to Us. “I guess I just can’t have nice things. I guess Brady just can’t have nice things.”

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Hollingsworth hinted that “it won’t be all smooth sailing” when Netflix’s longest-running scripted series returns for season 8, adding, “I definitely can’t spoil that. I think that’s going to be something that the audience is just going to have to wait another year to find out.”

Hollingsworth confirmed he knows where Brady will end up. “I would love for Brady to be back. That would be nice. I’d love for him not to die — especially because he finally just got what he wanted,” he concluded.

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Virgin River is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Netflix’s Very R-Rated King Arthur Epic Is A Sexy, Bloody Road Trip

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The Green Knight 2021

By Chris Snellgrove
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The Green Knight 2021

Do you ever long for a film that smashes together several very different genres, effectively creating something new? The Green Knight (2021) is currently streaming on Netflix, and what I like best about this film is that it blends together two of my favorite genres: high fantasy and bonkers road trip. That is, it has all the magic and mystical adventure you’d expect from a Lord of the Rings movie and all the wacky supporting characters and inexplicable side quests you’d expect from a National Lampoon’s Vacation movie.

The result is something oddly hypnotic, and this film transforms a dusty text from the 14th century into something provocative and unapologetically sexy. You can enjoy it as a poignant deconstruction of one of the most famous works in literary history, or you can simply enjoy it as a beautiful road trip full of sex, violence, and monsters. With more than a few drops of horror movie blood in its DNA, The Green Knight remains one of the most memorable weird films of the last decade. 

Working On His Knight Moves

The premise of The Green Knight is that a young warrior, Sir Gawain, is eager to prove himself by landing a blow on the titular Green Knight, ignoring the warning that, in one year’s time, he’ll need to receive a similar blow from his foe. He doesn’t think that will be a problem after he decapitates his foe. However, the Green Knight calmly picks up his head and reminds the young man of the bargain he made. One year later, Sir Gawain gathers his courage and his honor as he embarks on a road trip that can only end one way: with his own decapitation.

The Green Knight doesn’t have too many big names: the titular villain is played by Ralph Ineson (best known for The Witch), and Barry Keoghan (best known for Saltburn) has a small role as a scavenger. Sean Harris (best known for Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation) plays King Arthur, while Alicia Vikander (best known for Ex Machina) plays Sir Gawain’s love interest. As for Gawain, he is played by Dev Patel (best known for Slumdog Millionaire), who is mesmerizing as our lead. He sells the initial cockiness of his hot-blooded knight as well as the humbling transformation of his quest, ultimately making one of literature’s most famous characters flawed and compellingly down-to-Earth.

Questions, Axed And Answered

The Green Knight 2021

If some of this sounds familiar, that means you haven’t entirely drunk away the memories of your college Literature courses. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a 14th-century verse poem written by an unknown scribe, and it’s considered one of the most popular and influential stories about King Arthur and his court. The original poem inspired Lord of the Rings creator J.R.R. Tolkien, and in a bit of inspired irony, the beautiful picaresque production of the movie clearly takes some visual inspiration from the LOTR adaptations directed by Peter Jackson.

Despite its lush visuals and impeccable casting, The Green Knight didn’t have enough “green nights” at the box office. The movie ultimately earned $20 million against a budget of $15 million, making it far less of a breakout pop culture success than other A24 productions like Hereditary and Midsommar. Nonetheless, this medieval mashup was a huge hit with the critics and with anyone who loves losing themselves in an impossibly detailed fantasy world.

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A Scary Good Time

The Green Knight 2021

When The Green Knight came out, it was one of those films that delighted critics and baffled general audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 89 percent critical score, with reviewers praising the film for being such a fascinating deconstruction of its medieval source material. They also commended the movie as a spectacle, one that successfully cast a spell on the audience. Not everyone who watched felt that way, though: The Green Knight notably has a 50 percent audience score, with general moviegoers complaining that the film deviates too much from the original tale and frustratingly leaves major aspects of the story up to interpretation.

So, with critics loving it and casual audiences hating it, that brings us to the big question: why should you watch The Green Knight? The first, most obvious reason is that this film is a visual feast. From beginning to end, everything feels mesmerizingly dreamlike, and each scene will bring you deeper and deeper into this film’s fantastic spell. While they are very different types of movies, the visuals in The Green Knight often reminded me of the surreal visual landscape of Mandy, which turned every frame into the nightmare fuel of a fever dream.

Dungeons And Dreamers

The Green Knight 2021

Plus, at the risk of glazing the picture a little too much, The Green Knight may be the best fantasy movie since the original Fellowship of the Ring. That’s partially because of the amazing worldbuilding. Like the Hobbits in Peter Jackson’s seminal film, those watching this modern medieval masterpiece never know what fantastic vision will greet them next. For better or for worse, The Green Knight also cribs from the original Lord of the Rings texts in focusing less on fantastic battles and more on exploration and introspection. That’s bad news for those expecting endless duels, but great news for those wanting a fantasy movie that makes them really think.

It may not seem like it from the outside looking in, but The Green Knight is also perfectly aimed at men because this tale of knights, fights, and medieval tights is secretly all about exploring masculine ideas. What does it mean to be honorable, this movie asks, and why is it important to put your life on the line for what you believe? What does it mean to dedicate your life to a higher cause, and how is such a decision as confining as it is liberating?

Your Sexy Adventure Awaits

The Green Knight 2021

I get that you might have stayed away from The Green Knight because it looks like a frilly, frou-frou fantasy, but trust me: this movie is steeped in the chivalric code of the medieval world, and its exploration of what it means to be a real man almost shockingly echoes the concerns of the modern world. Plus, this exploration of masculine ideals is wrapped in such stunning visuals that you won’t want to miss a single frame. A film about manly men, served up with some serious eye candy. Honestly, what more could you want? 

Are you ready to dive into the trippiest literary adaptation ever filmed, or would you rather just read the Cliff’s Notes rather than finish The Green Knight? The only way to find out is to undertake your own epic quest (from the bathroom to the living room) and retrieve the most enchanted object in your home: the remote control. It might not help you cut the head off an immortal warrior, but it will help transport you to the most ambitiously weird blockbuster of the last decade.


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Teyana Taylor Addresses Heated Exchange At 2026 Oscars (Video)

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Teyana Taylor Addresses Viral Clip Heated Exchange Security 2026 Oscars

Teyana Taylor might’ve looked like the one dripped in Chanel at the 2026 Oscars. However, a heated moment with security proved she wasn’t—at least, not one to play with!

RELATED: Hollywood’s Biggest Night! Major Moments From The 2026 Oscars Red Carpet & Ceremony (RECAP)

Viral Clip Shows Teyana Taylor Clocking Man

As mentioned, the internet learned of the heated moment after a clip from X account @MattWallace888 circulated. The viral video has over 1.9 million views on X as of Monday morning, more than 1,300 replies and over 17,000 likes.

In it, Teyana Taylor is heard telling the unidentified man and onlookers that he shoved her. She also calls him “very rude” several times while pointing in his direction.

“You’re a man putting your hands on a female,” the ‘One Battle After Another’ star says in the viral clip.

Another woman near Teyana is heard saying, “…uncalled for” and afterwards gently grabs Taylor’s pointing hand. TT then explains to another woman near her why she popped off, saying, “Everybody’s having a good time. But when you shove me, it’s a different story…Do not touch me, do not shove me.” 

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SWIPE BELOW TO SEE THE CLIP. 

Teyana Explains Why She Popped Off

Later in the evening, TMZ caught up with TT. She was open about her reason for sounding off on the security guard, clarifying that everything was “all good.”

“Security was just doing a lot,” Teyana Taylor said. “There’s always that one, but I’m perfectly fine. I’m happy. There’s nothing to wonder. The first thing people do is definitely make assumptions. But at the end of the day I just don’t tolerate disrespect, especially when it’s unwarranted and unprovoked.”

Taylor Didn’t Win First Oscar, But ‘One Battle After Another’ Cleared

On Sunday night, Teyana Taylor was up for her first Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’ She got the nod for her role as Perfidia in ‘One Battle After Another.’ However, she ultimately lost to Amy Madigan in ‘Weapons.’

Meanwhile, the film itself came in with 13 nominations, and by the end of the night had won six. ‘One Battle After Another’ cleared in the ‘Best Picture,’ ‘Best Director,’ ‘Best Casting,’ ‘Adapted Screenplay,’ ‘Editing’ and ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for Sean Penn. While accepting the ‘Best Picture’ award, filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson credited Teyana Taylor and the rest of the cast, who joined him on stage.

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RELATED: History Maker! 5 Times ‘Sinners’ Stole The Show At The 2026 Oscars (VIDEOS)

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Who Do They Play in Taylor Sheridan’s Show?

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Spring TV Preview 2026 The 10 New Shows Everyone Will Be Talking About Soon

Taylor Sheridan has assembled a star-studded cast in his newest hit The Madison — but who does each actor play after numerous shocking onscreen deaths?

According to the official synopsis, The Madison follows the Clyburn family from New York City, who “relocate to the Madison River valley of southwest Montana for emotional recovery following a tragedy that shattered the family.”

Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell make up the cast in addition to stars Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Matthew Fox, Beau Garrett, Alaina Pollack, Amiah Miller as members of the Clyburn family. Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers. Rebecca Spence and Danielle Vasinova are also featured in the hit Paramount+ series.

“Taylor has a wonderful knack of putting what he wants to be known from the script into the script. There is always a specificity to what locations are — to what moment of the scene is the most resonant to character descriptions,” executive producer and director Christina Alexandra Voros exclusively told Us Weekly about collaborating with Sheridan. “There’s so much DNA in the scripts themselves that there are fewer conversations than you would think [between us]. We’ve been working together for a very long time. I feel lucky enough to have been trusted with interpreting his writing for screen for a very long time.”

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Voros also weighed in on Russell calling The Madison “a very female-gaze-oriented show,” adding, “I agree with Kurt. It is through a feminine gaze. But Taylor has always written strong women. He has always imbued his female characters with ferociousness and complexity that is really exciting to play with as an actress and also as a director.”

She continued: “In some ways, The Madison feels like a more feminine gaze — perhaps because you have all of these female protagonists — but I think he has had that element in his writing all along.”

Scroll down to see who is in The Madison cast:

Michelle Pfeiffer

Spring TV Preview 2026 The 10 New Shows Everyone Will Be Talking About Soon
Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Michelle Pfeiffer plays Stacy Clyburn, who is the matriarch of the Clyburn family and Preston’s widow.

Kurt Russell

The Madison First Look
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The actor portrays Preston Clyburn, the patriarch of the Clyburn family and Stacy’s husband.

Beau Garrett

Beau Garrett
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Abigail Reese is Stacy and Preston’s older daughter — and the mother of Bridgette and Macy Reese.

Patrick J. Adams

The Madison First Look
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In addition to Russell being Paige’s husband, he is also Stacy and Preston’s son-in-law.

Elle Chapman

Elle Chapman
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Elle Chapman is Paige McIntosh a.k.a Stacy and Preston’s younger daughter and Russell’s wife.

Amiah Miller

The Madison First Look
Emerson Miller /Paramount +

Abby’s older daughter is played by Amiah Miller, who is also Stacy and Preston’s oldest grandchild.

Alaina Pollack

The Madison First Look
Emerson Miller /Paramount +

Abby’s youngest child is portrayed by Alaina Pollack.

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Kelly Reilly Weighed In on Beth Journey Before Yellowstone Finale


Related: Which ‘Yellowstone‘ Spinoff Shows Are Going Through Delays Off Screen?

Yellowstone has expanded with several spinoffs — but some of the shows have been going through extreme offscreen production delays. Taylor Sheridan‘s hit show, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. It became an instant hit for the Paramount Network, which inspired prequels including […]

Ben Schnetzer

THE MADISON
Emerson Miller /Paramount

Van Davis — the sheriff of the Madison River valley — is played by Ben Schnetzer.

Kevin Zegers

The Madison First Look
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Kevin Zegers was introduced as Cade Harris — Stacy and Preston’s neighbor — in the season 1 premiere.

Rebecca Spence

Rebecca Spence
Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Stacy’s friend Liliana Weeks was played by Rebecca Spence.

Matthew Fox

Why The Madison's Matthew Fox Won’t Return for Season 2
Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Matthew Fox made an appearance as Paul Clyburn a.k.a Preston’s brother and Stacy’s brother-in-law.

Danielle Vasinova

The Madison First Look
Emerson Miller /Paramount +

In season 1, Danielle Vasinova was introduced as Kestrel Harris, who is Cade’s wife.

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1967 Classic Hit Song Was Ranked as One of the Greatest Songs of All Time

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The Dark Side of the Moon - 1973

When it comes to classic rock, there are a few names that rank as particularly legendary, with an influence that has endured through the decades. Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones are among those names, along with early trailblazers like Big Mama Thornton, Fats Domino, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. But within the realm of mid-century counterculture, one band stands out: The Doors.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, The Doors became synonymous with psychedelic rock. Their unique melding of electronic elements with blues instrumentals set them apart from their contemporaries, influencing future rock acts such as Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. And while, as with any band, it’s impossible to distill The Doors’ legacy into a single song, one track epitomizes their influence more than any other: “Light My Fire,” the second single off their first album.

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“Light My Fire” Is an Anthem for Its Era

The Doors recorded their eponymous debut album in 1966, just a year after they formed, but it wasn’t released until 1967. With it came three singles that remain among the band’s most popular songs: “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” “Light My Fire,” and “People Are Strange.” The first, a hard rock track with mambo influences, was a moderate hit in the United States and United Kingdom. “Light My Fire,” however, truly put the band on the map, spending three weeks at number one on the United States’ Billboard Hot 100.

The Doors’ entire discography is original, departing from the conventions of hard rock, blues, and folk that previously dominated the industry. Throughout their brief career (cut short by lead singer Jim Morrison’s untimely 1971 death), they infused their work with literary, poetic, and philosophical themes, even taking their name from Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, a title that was, in turn, borrowed from the poetry of William Blake. In terms of their sound, The Doors borrowed from jazz, hard rock, blues, classical, flamenco, mambo, and more. In songs such as “Light My Fire,” they also experimented with the organ and snare drum, crafting a wholly unique sound that came to define psychedelic rock and acid rock.

But the musical composition of “Light My Fire” isn’t the only element that made the song so groundbreaking upon its release. Its lyrics are overtly sexual, with its insistent chorus of, “Come on, baby, light my fire/ Try to set the night on fire.” Furthermore, lines such as “the time to hesitate is through” and “out love become a funeral pyre” infuse the song with a desperate longing that was both taboo in its time and dripping with existentialist dread. Thus, in both its rebelliousness and its depth, “Light My Fire” became an anthem for the counterculture movement of the late 1960s.

The Dark Side of the Moon - 1973


10 Popular Songs That Are Completely Different From the Band’s Usual Sound

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The Influence of “Light My Fire” Transcends Time and Genre

“Light My Fire” also transcended genre in its influence. Puerto Rican musician José Feliciano covered the track in 1968, transforming the anthem into a seductive acoustic ballad infused with Spanish flamenco guitar and subtle Caribbean rhythms. The cover earned Feliciano Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist, and the original version of “Light My Fire” re-entered the Hot 100, peaking at number 87.

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In “Light My Fire,” one can also hear how The Doors’ distinctive sound led to the development of newer rock subgenres. In addition to ushering in the psychedelic and acid rock genres that are still going strong, the band helped inspire the punk, goth, and grunge genres that blossomed in the decades that followed. Punk icon Patti Smith, for instance, wrote in her memoir Just Kids that Morrison’s poetic nihilism had a profound effect on her own work. Decades later, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain would compare himself to Morrison as a “rock and roll poet” in a 1991 interview with music journalist Roy Trakin.

“Light My Fire” is more than just The Doors’ defining track, although it can arguably be called just that. It’s also considered one of the greatest songs of all time for its singular sound—one that’s still considered groundbreaking—and its impact on music as a whole. In crooning those iconic lyrics over and over, Morrison truly did light a fire, though it was far from the one he expected.

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Timothée Chalamet Seemingly Mocked By His Girlfriend’s Ex After Oscars Loss

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Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026

Travis Scott sparked online speculation after sharing a post following the Academy Awards that some fans believed was aimed at Timothée Chalamet, who lost the Best Actor award to Michael B. Jordan.

The moment added to an already eventful night for Chalamet, which also included jokes from host Conan O’Brien and renewed debate over the actor’s past comments about opera and ballet.

The resurfaced remarks drew criticism from figures in the classical arts community, who defended the cultural relevance of the art forms while slamming Timothée Chalamet.

Travis Scott Appears To Shade Timothée Chalamet Following Oscar Loss To Michael B. Jordan

Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2026
OConnor-Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Travis Scott seemingly took a subtle jab at his ex-partner’s current boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet.

The moment came after the Academy Awards, where Chalamet, 30, was nominated for Best Actor but ultimately lost the award to Michael B. Jordan. Jordan, 39, appeared visibly emotional as he accepted the honor for his dual performance in the film “Sinners.”

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Shortly after the ceremony, Scott, 34, posted a photo to his Instagram Stories showing Jordan wiping away tears during his acceptance speech.

Although the rapper did not include a caption, the post quickly sparked debate online, with some fans suggesting it was less about celebrating Jordan’s win and more about highlighting Chalamet’s loss.

Scott shares two children with Jenner: Stormi, eight, and Aire, four. The pair was in an on-and-off relationship beginning in 2017 before separating a few years later. Jenner then later began dating Chalamet.

Travis Scott’s Instagram Post Fuels Fan Speculation About Subtle Jab At His Ex-Partner’s Beau

Fans have previously accused Scott of referencing the actor in his music. On his track “Meltdown,” Scott appeared to allude to Chalamet’s role in “Wonka,” leading some listeners to interpret the lyrics as a subtle dig.

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After the Instagram post circulated, users on platforms like X and Reddit weighed in with mixed reactions. Some found the move amusing, calling it “iconic,” while others criticized the rapper as being unnecessarily petty.

One commenter joked that Scott seemed unusually invested in the Oscars, while another argued the rapper should move on instead of targeting the man dating the mother of his children.

Others chimed in with remarks such as, “He’s so happy Timmy didn’t win,” and, “Last year he wanted Adrien Brody over Timmy, this year he’s supporting MBJ. Travis don’t f-ck with Timmy confirmed.”

Despite the speculation, the night could have led to an awkward encounter as Scott later attended the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where Jenner and Chalamet were also present and reportedly appeared affectionate throughout the evening.

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Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’ Co-Star Kevin O’Leary Lost $1,000 Bet After Best Actor Upset At The Academy Awards

Meanwhile, Chalamet’s “Marty Supreme” co-star Kevin O’Leary revealed he had lost a $1,000 bet after the actor failed to take home the Best Actor prize.

O’Leary, 71, who plays Milton Rockwell in the upcoming film directed by Josh Safdie, said he had been confident Chalamet would win for his role as Marty Mauser. Instead, the award went to Jordan for “Sinners.”

Speaking to CNN on the red carpet, O’Leary said he had placed the wager shortly before entering the ceremony, explaining that he believed voting had already closed before controversy surrounding Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet began circulating online.

“I just put 1000 bucks on Kalshi walking in here that he’s going to win,” he said, per the Daily Mail. “The kid is a great kid. He took a bum rap on that. And by the way, gave a lot of promo to opera houses and ballet.”

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Conan O’Brien Jokes About The Actor’s Opera Comments During Academy Awards Monologue

Timothee Chalamet at the 98th Annual Academy Awards
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Chalamet’s remarks about the art forms had drawn criticism in the days leading up to the awards ceremony.

During the broadcast, host Conan O’Brien referenced the controversy in his opening monologue, joking that security was especially tight because of potential “attacks from the ballet and opera communities.” “They’re just mad you left out jazz,” he quipped.

The camera then cut to Chalamet and his girlfriend Jenner in the audience, where the actor appeared to laugh along with the joke.

Later in the proceedings, O’Brien seemed to lighten the moment by addressing Chalamet again, telling the audience the two were simply “vibing.” Turning toward the actor, he asked, “We’re vibing, right?”

Chalamet’s response wasn’t picked up by the microphones, prompting O’Brien to add with a grin, “He doesn’t think so.”

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Timothée Chalamet Faces Backlash Over Resurfaced Opera And Ballet Remarks As The Royal Ballet And Opera Responds

The controversy traces back to remarks Chalamet made during a conversation with his “Interstellar” co-star Matthew McConaughey for a Variety-produced Townhall, where the pair discussed shrinking attention spans and the challenges of keeping audiences engaged with slower-paced storytelling.

During the conversation, Chalamet joked that he wouldn’t want to be working in art forms like ballet or opera that struggle to maintain mainstream attention.

“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive even though no one cares about this anymore,” he said with a laugh, before adding that he meant “all respect” to those communities and joking that he had probably “lost 14 cents in viewership” by making the remark.

The comments quickly circulated online and drew criticism from members of the classical arts community.

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A spokesperson for The Royal Ballet and Opera in the United Kingdom responded in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, pushing back against the suggestion that the art forms have lost their relevance.

“Ballet and opera have never existed in isolation,” the organization said, adding that both disciplines have long influenced theater, film, contemporary music, and fashion.

The statement noted that millions of people around the world still engage with the art forms today.

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