By Robert Scucci
| Published 13 seconds ago

The Simpsons is undeniably one of the greatest and most well-known cartoon sitcoms of all time, but the series we celebrate today was almost entirely scrapped by its producers before it even got off the ground. These days, when an animated series launches, it’s fully developed. Character quirks are established right out of the gate, the animation style is locked in, and the entire creative process is a well-oiled machine before a premiere hits the airwaves. The Simpsons, on the other hand, got off to a very rough start when it transitioned from a series of crude shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show to a full-blown animated sitcom.

Rife with continuity errors and wildly inconsistent animation, Season 1 of The Simpsons is a rough showcase of raw potential. It was so raw that the series was nearly canned due to a failure to launch on time, thanks to a disproportionate amount of behind-the-scenes chaos. Character design was all over the place. Barney had blonde hair, Moe and Milhouse had black hair, Smithers was a Black man, Mr. Burns’ office at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant looked completely different, and, most insane to think about, the episode that was supposed to kick off the entire series, “Some Enchanted Evening,” ended up airing as the season finale because the animation studio they outsourced to botched the job so badly that 70 percent of the episode had to be overhauled.

While the show seemed doomed from the start, we’re fortunate that Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon stuck to their guns and stuck their necks out for the show that would eventually become the master template for adult animated series for decades to come.

Animation And Continuity Was Tragically Bad

Most long-running animated series go through some growing pains on the animation front, and that’s expected. As more efficient ways to produce a show materialize, animation becomes sharper, smoother, and more fluid.

The same can be said for live-action shows, as better shooting and lighting methods are implemented and budgets are opened up to allow for more sophisticated productions, making later seasons look far superior to earlier ones. 

South Park is an excellent example of animation evolving over time. The show was originally produced in a stop-motion style with construction paper sets and characters. Once Trey Parker and Matt Stone figured out how to produce episodes using computers and editing software, the show’s aesthetic gradually improved into the style we’re familiar with today. That’s just show business, and every animated series, no matter how well-developed before premiering, will evolve visually to some degree.

For The Simpsons, though, it’s comical how inconsistent the animation is in Season 1. The original Simpsons shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show were animated by Klasky Csupo, with the process handled in-house. When The Simpsons was picked up as a series, animation duties were split across multiple studios as a cost-cutting measure because the show was the first of its kind and a massive creative risk for Fox at the time. As a result, character and background layouts were produced in Los Angeles, while coloring and filming were handled by AKOM, a South Korean animation studio.

When “Some Enchanted Evening” came back for test screenings at Gracie Films, James L. Brooks reportedly said, “This is sh*t,” the room cleared out, and the show’s future was suddenly in question. The premiere was delayed by months while the animation was reworked, and had the next completed episode been just as bad, the entire project may have been scrapped. Fortunately, “Bart the Genius” came back looking more refined, with only minor tweaks needed to get it ready for air.

The Christmas special, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” which was originally intended to air later in the run, ended up becoming the series premiere, creating a major continuity issue with the family dynamic. In this episode, Homer, down on his luck after losing his Christmas bonus, takes a side gig as a mall Santa and loses his meager paycheck at the dog track. He then adopts the losing greyhound, Santa’s Little Helper, presenting the dog to his family as both a new pet and a Christmas gift.

With the episode order scrambled and most of the season already in the can, we’re asked to ignore the fact that The Simpsons technically begins with the family adopting a dog, only for that dog to barely appear again until Episode 11, “The Crepes of Wrath,” and even then mostly in the background. Had the episodes been completed properly from the start and aired in their intended order, there would have been a clear progression. The Simpson family would have no dog, we’d spend most of a season with them, and then they’d adopt one who would become a regular presence.

Homer Wasn’t Always A Total Idiot

These days, it’s easy to forget that “Jerkass Homer” wasn’t always the default. Back in The Tracey Ullman Show days, Dan Castellaneta’s performance had more of a Walter Matthau influence. Homer came across as a wholesome father figure. He was dimwitted at times, but he could also serve as the voice of reason when in his element.

He wasn’t outright stupid. He was a lower-middle-class guy trying to do right by his family, but with clear blind spots. He didn’t know what he didn’t know. He wasn’t willfully ignorant, but he could be selfish in the way a lot of working-class dads are when they try to carve out a little peace for themselves in a chaotic household.

By Season 2, Homer was fatter, louder, and far less self-aware. The version of Homer we recognize today was starting to take shape, but he was still in an active stage of development as Castellaneta refined his vocal delivery, and the writers worked to shape him into a more complex character. Most of Homer’s early characterization came from The Tracey Ullman Show, which made sense in short bursts, but needed to be expanded once The Simpsons became a full sitcom.

What Could Have Been

If you own The Simpsons DVDs, you can find original footage from “Some Enchanted Evening,” and it’s clear that delaying its release was the right call. Roughly 70 percent of the episode was rewritten and reanimated, and if you look closely, you can still spot traces of the original version in what ultimately aired to over 14 million viewers. It’s a rough demo and a final master, all in one episode, and it’s jarring.

The finished episode plays like a confident introduction to the Simpson family. After heavy revisions, each character feels distinct enough to carry forward into future seasons. The strange reality, though, is that we only got that version because the original was bad enough to force a complete overhaul.

But show business is still a business. To keep the show alive, episodes had to air, intended order or not. Because of that, Season 1 doesn’t make much sense from a continuity, and sometimes, even a characterization standpoint. When you consider the alternative, it had to happen this way, or we probably wouldn’t still be talking about The Simpsons in 2026.

The Simpsons had a chaotic start, and Season 1 still holds up as a diamond in the rough. What’s more frustrating to think about is how many creators today will never get the same level of leeway. There are likely countless shows that never made it past a rough first pass because studios decided they weren’t worth the trouble.

There’s no denying that The Simpsons helped pave the way for shows like South Park and Family Guy to become household names, but it’s wild to think about how many missteps happened behind the scenes before the show truly hit its stride.

Like the rest of the world, Netflix has lately found an interest in the fascinating world of cults. However, its newest venture isn’t a true-crime documentary fans may be used to, but a six-part drama series starring Christopher Eccleston. Unlike the optimistic preacher he plays in HBO’s The Leftovers, Eccleston’s role as Mr. Phillips, the leader of a religious cult, is something quite different.

Unchosen follows a strict religious sect in the UK that has all the makings of a dangerous cult. At the center of it all is Rosie (Molly Windsor), a devout wife and mother, who starts to get disillusioned by the only world she has ever known. Though the cult swears off any contact with the outside world or modern technology, Rosie is relieved when her brother-in-law, Isaac (Aston McAuley), possesses a contraband phone, which allows them to call an ambulance when her daughter Grace almost drowns. This one event causes a chain reaction that makes Rosie start to question the world that she has always accepted.

Cults are often a source of fascination, but Unchosen doesn’t exploit the pain of others for entertainment value. The series is inspired by the real stories of cult survivors who were affected by religious indoctrination.

‘Unchosen’ Delves Into the Real World of Religious Cults

The opening text of Unchosen Episode 1 establishes that there are over 2,000 active religious cults spread across the United Kingdom. The Netflix series is completely fictionalized, but the realities of these communities inspired the show’s creatives. Series creator Julie Gearey reached out to many real-life former cult members, as she told Tudum.

“What we found was that quite a lot of them were traumatized. It was important to reassure them as much as we could that, firstly, nobody watching the show would ever recognize them and, secondly, that whatever they had to say about the emotional experience of being involved, we would try to respect and reflect as truthfully as possible within the show.”

The story at the center of Unchosen is more romantic than a show like this may typically have. The catalyst for Rosie’s separation from the cult is represented by the man who saved her daughter’s life. Played by Hawkeye’s Fra Fee, an escaped convict by the name of Sam dives into the pond where Rosie’s daughter starts to drown. He saves her, and immediately, Rosie is drawn to him. The titular “unchosen” man is outside the community and a direct contrast to Rosie’s fanatical and controlling husband, Adam (Asa Butterfield). A spark starts to kindle between Rosie and Sam, an obvious violation of the cult’s rules.

Sam notes that Rosie’s world has a lot of these rules, as she starts to buckle beneath the weight of it. This setup is an exciting way to attract viewers to the story, but the reality of these characters is close to these cults in real life. Like Rosie’s day-to-day, many of these cults are hierarchical, placing women beneath their husbands. They are not allowed to question the men or have minds of their own in many cases. Unchosen has invented many of the more narratively dramatic aspects, but the core emotional resonance is what is truthful.

Grearey’s series protects the identities of the real-life cult survivors by doing this, but is still able to communicate the dangers of these types of communities. The creator also doesn’t punch down on these stories and offers empathy for those inside these places.

“I think there’s a real comfort and support in these groups. You don’t have to worry about where you’re going to live, what you eat, or whether you’ve got any friends. It’s a very, very secure social structure … When it works, it really works, but if you start to question their methods … that’s where the problems start.”

With that in mind, there is no question as to why Unchosen is doing so well on Netflix. Other series, such as Ryan Murphy’s world of serial killers, seem to take all the wrong lessons from true crime. The fictional sect in Unchosen isn’t admired in any way, but it also doesn’t judge the characters who find refuge inside it. The truthful telling of these people’s experiences has resulted in a series unlike anything else on the platform.

Noah Beck’s mom, Amy Beck, will be allowed back in her classroom after being placed on administrative leave, Us Weekly can confirm.

Amy will return from her leave of absence from Coyote Hills Elementary School on Monday, May 4, according to a Friday, May 1, statement from the Peoria Unified School District. The school and district “have addressed concerns regarding videos that were published in 2020, appropriate measures have been taken.”

Coyote Hills Elementary School principal Julie Abbott sent a letter to parents announcing Amy’s return.

“While we cannot discuss the specifics of her leave, please know that the district’s investigation concluded that Mrs. Beck’s actions outside of the workplace did not interfere with her ability to fulfill her teaching responsibilities,” the letter read. “Additionally, appropriate follow-up measures have been taken in accordance with Governing Board Policy.”

Related: Haley Beck Is Being Investigated by Police for 2nd Student Relationship

Police are investigating a new allegation made about Noah Beck‘s sister Haley Beck. The Peoria Police Department in Arizona confirmed to Us Weekly on Friday, May 1, that they are “looking into” accusations about a possible inappropriate relationship between Haley, 27, and a second student. Authorities also stated it’s based on a tip they received […]

The message also stated that “providing a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment for all students” is the school’s “highest priority.”

“We expect all staff members to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and character, both within and beyond the classroom, with an understanding of the impact their actions may have on the school community,” the letter continued. “I recognize there has been an increase in media coverage surrounding the district’s investigation. If you have any questions or concerns, I urge you to reach out to our administrative team.”

Amy made headlines earlier this week after she was placed on “paid administrative leave” from the school. While the school didn’t reveal the reason for Amy’s leave, several fans speculated it was due to a resurfaced TikTok video of her seemingly simulating oral sex with her son, Noah, back in 2020.

While the video has been removed from Noah’s TikTok page, it resurfaced via Reddit. The clip featured Noah, as he held his mom’s head and moved her up and down in front of the camera as the mother-son duo lip-synced to the song “Kings Dead” by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake.

Us previously reached out to Noah’s spokesperson for comment, but did not hear back.

Related: Haley Beck Calls Students Her ‘Best Friends’ in Video Amid Grooming Claims

Noah Beck referenced sister Haley Beck’s alleged relationship with her students in a resurfaced video amid claims the former educator groomed a male teenager. In a resurfaced clip shared via TikTok on Monday, April 6, Noah, 24, and Haley, 27, can be seen participating in the so-called suspect running trend. (The viral trend mimics a […]

News of Amy’s administration leave came weeks after daughter Haley Beck — who is also a teacher — was accused of grooming one of her students last year. Haley was put on administrative leave from Centennial High School in 2025 amid an investigation into grooming allegations.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

The investigation was conducted while the student in question was 18 years old, but the alleged grooming took place when he was underage. According to the Peoria Police Department, Haley allegedly sent the student $630 via Apple Pay and confirmed that she communicated with the student via social media throughout the summer. She denied that they had a sexual relationship.

Haley was ultimately fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday (April 30) with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.

RELATED: Oops, She Did What? Britney Spears Released From Jail After Arrest In California For Alleged DUI 

What To Know About Britney Spears’ Charge

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office charged Britney Spears with a single misdemeanor count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug. However, the criminal complaint does not specify what kind of alcohol or drugs, or what amount, Spears allegedly used.

Police arrested Britney Spears on March 4. She was pulled over for driving her black BMW fast and erratically on U.S. 101 near her home, per the California Highway Patrol. She appeared to be impaired and took a series of field sobriety tests. Following Britney Spears’ arrest, law enforcement took her to a Ventura County jail. 

Where Is Britney Now?

Britney Spears was released on bail the following day on March 5. Police completed their investigation and presented it to prosecutors on March 23. A representative at the time called Spears’ actions “completely inexcusable.” Also, the rep said it would ideally be “the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”

Spears voluntarily checked into a substance abuse treatment facility just over a month after the arrest. However, a representative for the 44-year-old pop star had no immediate comment on the latest udpate, per the Associated Press.

What Happens Next In Spears’ Case?

Britney Spears’ arraignment is set for Monday (May 4). Because it is a misdemeanor charge, she will not be required to appear in court, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the case will be handled according to their standard protocol for defendants with no DUI history, no crash or injury on the road and a low blood-alcohol level.

In court on Monday, prosecutors plan to offer Spears a “wet reckless,” which allows a defendant to plead guilty and get a year of probation, credit for any time served in jail, a required DUI class and state-mandated fines and fees. The offer is common, especially for defendants who have independently shown motivation to address their problems and seek treatment, the district attorney’s office said.

The singer has a home in Ventura County just outside the Los Angeles County line. Her arraignment will take place in the city of Ventura, a seaside community of about 110,000 people about 70 miles northwest of downtown LA.

Britney Spears After The Conservatorship

In 2008, a court placed Britney Spears under a conservatorship, run primarily by her father and his lawyers. That conservatorship would control her personal and financial decisions for well over a decade. Finally, in 2021, it was dissolved.

Since then, Spears has married and divorced. Also, she’s released a bestselling, tell-all memoir, ‘The Woman in Me.’ However, in music, she has essentially been retired in recent years. Her last full album dropped in 2016, but she released a few collaborative singles since then, including, ‘Hold Me Closer’ and ‘Matches.’

RELATED: Oop! Bobby Brown Says He “Couldn’t Take It” After Hearing Britney Spears’ Spin On His Hit ‘My Prerogative’ (WATCH)

AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

By Robert Scucci
| Updated 20 seconds ago

“I’m a bad man! I commit egregious acts of corporate espionage in my sleep. I extort my neighbors into helping me operate my highly illegal gambling and drug-running syndicate. I vape in public bathrooms that have ‘No Vaping’ signs. I loiter at the Pokémon card vending machine outside of my local Kroger so I can snag all the good ones and sell them on eBay despite the explicit instructions posted all over the place telling me not to do this. I document all of my crimes extensively, and have a massive paper trail.

But don’t worry, because when the FBI and a rogue beat cop collaborate to finally lock me up for good, I have the best solution: I’ll compile all of these incriminating paper documents, throw them into a comically large barrel, and drop a single match into it right before I walk off into the sunset without ever looking back. There’s no way they’ll ever catch me.”

Sounds pretty stupid, right?

This is standard practice in crime movies and TV series, and it’s all for dramatic effect. When you break it down, though, the old flaming barrel evidence destruction dodge leaves a lot to be desired.

On one hand, I get it. We need a visual representation of a very bad person, in a last-ditch effort, trying to destroy evidence that will later come back to bite them in the ass. It’s a great visual shorthand to show the audience that the criminal in question is taking the necessary steps to make sure there’s no record of their crimes against humanity. However, it’s clear that none of these guys have ever seen that Smokey Bear commercial that instructs you to let the fire burn down, hit it with a bucket of water, mix it with a shovel, and hit it with even more water. You have to be thorough.

Not only are these idiots not making sure the evidence is thoroughly destroyed, they’re also not making sure the surrounding structures don’t burn to the ground, adding yet another offense to their rap sheet.

The Smartest Criminals Do The Dumbest Things 

I’ve been thinking about the flaming barrel trope, and evidence destruction in pop culture in general, ever since I sat down and watched 2025’s Relay. In the film, a fixer named Ash (how fitting) uses a complex network of jerry-rigged communication systems involving jailbroken burner phones and a telecommunications device for the deaf that he uses in collaboration with a legitimate relay service for the hearing impaired. The man’s a genius, and he operates like a ghost. He knows where and when to show up when he’s fixing to get his whistleblowing clients out of a jam. He knows how to not blow his cover. He communicates by proxy to get the job done, and he’s always one step ahead of everybody.

But when it comes time to destroy the evidence, what does he do? He rips the document in half, tosses it in a trash can, and sets it on fire. The guy who’s so careful that most of his clients don’t even know what his voice sounds like just tosses the documents all willy-nilly in front of a train full of potential witnesses before getting back to work.

Are you a fan of Breaking Bad? If so, you already know how painstakingly careful Gustavo Fring is in running his meth empire. He has an overseas alliance with an obsessive-compulsive contact at the Madrigal Electromotive GmbH megacorporation named Lydia Rodarte-Quayle, an accounting expert who can cook the books with her eyes closed. He distributes Walter White’s meth across the Southwest United States through the distribution lines already in place from his sprawling fried chicken enterprise, which operates as a front for his more illicit activities.

Going even further into how careful Fring is, the meth he distributes comes from an elaborate, $8 million underground lab that took the entirety of Better Call Saul to construct. It’s hidden under an industrial laundromat with state-of-the-art air filtration systems that let him cook massive quantities without ever being detected by the authorities. Werner Ziegler, who built the facility brick by brick, was executed under Gus’ order when he inadvertently compromised the project’s secrecy.

Living his double life as a fast food franchisee turned drug lord, Gus Fring once forced his assistant manager, Lyle, to clean the fry baskets until his hands bled while he sat in his office for hours, waiting for one of his associates to complete a series of dead drops, establishing an alibi and keeping his hands clean.

It’s all a really smart way to operate, but this level of obsessive attention to detail goes completely out the window when Gus makes incriminating phone calls, barks orders into a flip phone, breaks it in half, and simply tosses the device into the trash can in front of his place of work, something he does often. If you want a prime example of dropping the ball at the one-yard line, this is it. After all, we see what finally happens to Gus when he stops being careful (ding, ding, ding!).

I could list examples of sloppy evidence disposal all day, every day, but it’s such a common occurrence in the media that all I ask of you, dear reader, is that you open your eyes and see for yourself.

Shred It, Bro!!!

It’s very rare that this kind of behavior gets called out in TV and movies, but a great example of the trope being dismantled can be seen in 1992’s Batman Returns. Corrupt businessman Max Shreck thinks he’s in the clear after flushing shredded documents down the toilet. What he didn’t anticipate was Oswald Cobblepot, more affectionately known as The Penguin, painstakingly piecing the documents back together to blackmail him, famously saying he accomplished this with “a lot of tape and a little patience.”

Listen, I’m not telling anybody out there to go out and commit crimes. I’m not encouraging more thorough concealment of heinous acts that should, by all rights, land you behind bars. But you have to think about the implications here.

I worked for years as a payroll auditor, and we had those giant Shred-It bins all over our office. When I first started that job, I asked the higher-ups what happened to those bins when they were swapped out every week. Without hesitation, they told me they were loaded onto trucks, shredded into confetti, rendered into pulp, de-inked, and manufactured into new, blank paper. After that, a Certificate of Destruction is issued, stating, for legal purposes, that these bins full of Personally Identifiable Information were securely disposed of. A chain of custody is documented, and that’s that.

I’m not a criminal, and I’d argue that I’m not even all that smart a civilian. But when I’m tossing out a paystub or an old tax document, you better believe it’s thoroughly destroyed after it’s served its purpose. Proper document destruction is an integral part of both criminal and civilian life. If there’s any lesson to be learned here, whether you’re a good guy or a bad guy, it’s that if insidious people want to access your deepest, darkest secrets, your old 1099-NECs, or even worse, your entire iPhone camera roll full of trash riffs, they’ll find a way if you’re not careful.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 minute ago

It’s not uncommon for your typical disaster movie to have a non-human antagonist in the form of a hostile alien takeover, or even a comet hurtling toward Earth. The drama that we so desperately crave often presents itself as a conflict between overreaching government agencies and civilians who find themselves at odds with one another in their efforts to battle some unknown force of nature. In the case of 2022’s Moonfall, we don’t get much aside from “the moon is up to something, and we have to kill it.”

This Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) directed film could be described as a B-movie with a $150 million budget. The special effects and cinematography are quite impressive, but the screenplay leaves a lot to be desired. Despite Moonfall’s shortcomings, it’s incredibly fun to watch, and leans into all of the science-fiction disaster movie beats that we all know and love.

We Have To Kill The Moon!

Moonfall’s story starts in 2011, when Brian Harper’s (Patrick Wilson) Space Shuttle, the Endeavor, gets attacked by some unknown anomaly that kills one of his crew members, and leaves the other unconscious. Upon his return to Earth, Harper is immediately disgraced by NASA because there were no other witnesses to the disaster, leading everybody to believe that he was responsible for the incident.

The rest of Moonfall takes place 10 years after the incident, and we learn that everybody should have taken Harper a little more seriously. Harper, who can barely make rent, but still somehow has disposable income to work on classic cars and motorcycles in his garage, makes a modest living through public speaking as a former astronaut.

We learn that Harper is estranged from his teenage son, Sonny (Charlie Plummer), who is serving time in jail and awaiting trial after getting in a highly publicized high-speed chase with the cops. Though Moonfall very much needs this secondary plot to make the story relatable, it spends too much time trying to establish drama on Earth, and it feels more like an afterthought rather than a primary source of tension.

At the same time, the bickering between Harper, his ex-wife Brenda (Carolina Bartczak), and her new husband Tom (Michael Pena), provides a healthy amount of comic relief. Meanwhile, conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley), is conducting his own research, and makes a shocking discovery about the moon that corroborates Harper’s initial claims.

Houseman has reason to believe that the moon is a man made mega-structure that is powered by a white dwarf star, and suspects the moon has been knocked out of orbit, causing irregular seismic and gravitational activity on Earth.

NASA makes a similar discovery, and wants to keep the issue under wraps. But Houseman already posted his findings on social media, and immediately causes a global panic, which carries Moonfall into its third act.

Harper suits up with Jocinda Fowler (Halle Berry), the other surviving member from the 2011 incident, and Houseman. They defy logic in every conceivable way as they board a rocket with severely damaged engines, and their goal is to blow up whatever it is inside the moon that’s causing the disturbances.

At this point Moonfall is operating on two fronts: outer space, and Earth. Having reason to believe that the moon can detect the presence of electronics, the crew relies on Houseman’s on-the-fly hand-calculated flight paths without the guidance of an onboard navigation system. Luckily, Houseman is quite good at math, and they’re able to continue their mission as intended.

Back on Earth, Sonny gets himself into another high-speed chase, but this time he’s speeding away from looters who want his oxygen tanks. The chase sequences also defy logic, as the moon’s gravity seems to pick and choose what objects (and people) get thrown around.

In a classic “race against the clock” kind of scenario, Moonfall haphazardly jumps between these two settings for the remainder of the film, tries to put a neat bow on the narrative, while also trying to leave the ending open for a sequel.

What Critics Say About Moonfall

Not only did the film perform poorly at the box office, it was critically panned upon its release, receiving a 35 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Moonfall may very well have been a failed attempt at recreating the glory Independence Day, but it’s still a highly entertaining disaster movie that deserves your attention. Though the premise is highly flawed, it still delivers a satisfying amount of action and comedic relief between otherwise highly predictable beats.

As of this writing, Moonfall is not available for streaming, but could be viewed on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

While Avengers: Age of Ultron probably isn’t people’s favorite MCU movie, (even though, I, for one, think it’s underrated), Chris Evans’ Captain America is certainly many people’s favorite superhero, and for good reason. He represents the best in humanity, never forgetting Dr. Erskine’s (Stanley Tucci) warning in Captain America: The First Avenger, to not forget about being a “good man,” when he’s trying to be a “perfect soldier.” Many also resonated with Cap’s anti-government sentiment, which really began in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and then came to fruition in Captain America: Civil War.

Age of Ultron largely skipped over this aspect of the character, however, instead focusing on the personal divide between Cap and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). And yet, one deleted scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron not only showed exactly why Steve Rogers connected with so many, but also would have shown the beginning of the end for the Avengers, as well as continuing this arc of the character becoming more nomadic. Not only should the scene have been kept in to show this character beat, but it would’ve begun the conversation around Cap’s costume, which we would later see thoroughly explored in later MCU projects. And though we’ll get to see how Rogers’ story continues in Avengers: Doomsday when Evans returns for his long-awaited return to the MCU, it’s worth noting that one of the most significant moments came in a divisive Marvel movie.

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Had a Deleted Scene With Captain America Tossing His Helmet

Image via Marvel Studios

The deleted scene in question is one that occurs at the beginning of the third act. The scene shows Cap and some other Avengers, including the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), getting out of the Quinjet in Sokovia before battling Ultron (James Spader). Cap sees graffiti artwork that depicts him as a “fasista” (fascist) as he goes to put his helmet on. Upon acknowledging how the Sokovian people feel about the Avengers, a western force entering their country to conduct operations without sanction, rather than wearing the accessory, Steve throws it back in to the jet, allowing people to see his face and therefore connecting with the people of Sokovia more.

While it is understandable why such a scene would be removed for runtime, with Age of Ultron already having a 2-hour 21-minute length, this scene should have been kept because it shows the growing divide in the Avengers that would continue into Captain America: Civil War. Throughout Age of Ultron, we see how Iron Man and Cap disagree, with Iron Man being a “big picture” thinker, whereas Cap is far more grounded, and this scene would have shown Cap’s side quite well, as most of Age of Ultron dealt with Iron Man’s paranoia.

This ‘Age of Ultron’ Scene Would’ve Started a Conversation Around Captain America’s Costume

This isn’t the first time Captain America’s costume has been a contentious issue. In The Avengers, it is Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) who says people need the classic “old-fashioned” Captain America costume and see it as something familiar to give them hope, before the world changed with the reveal of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the more fantastical elements. Therefore, with Cap throwing away this helmet, we’re seeing him doubt the message that the Stars and Stripes and the idea of a soldier fighting for America are good ways to be a superhero for the world, a refreshingly self-aware representation of how many in the world view not just the West, but America itself. This idea is also discussed in Falcon & The Winter Soldier, where Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) points out the inner conflict he faces as a Black man wearing an American flag.

All of this is to say that this deleted scene should have been kept because it is part of the story of Captain America and his costume, and the costume truly does mean so much to the audience and character. Wearing a uniform or flag matters, and we cannot pretend it doesn’t. In this deleted scene, we see Cap beginning, more than ever, to outright reject his Western-centric image, and it would have been a nice clue as to the way the series was going to start turning. Some could argue that Captain America: The Winter Soldier did show this, yet that doesn’t mean Age of Ultron should’ve ignored it the way it did, as it focused on a more personal conflict rather than internal one on Cap’s side.

RELATED: Who Ordered Crime? Chick-fil-A Employee Allegedly Busted In $80K Mac & Cheese Scam

Domino’s Driver Accused In Tip Dispute Turned Violent

According to a probable cause affidavit from the Fulton Police Department, officers responded shortly after 7:20 p.m. to a residence on Bluff Street after reports of a crash involving injuries. The caller alleged that a Domino’s driver became upset over not receiving a tip and struck someone with his vehicle before leaving the scene. The victim and a witness told police the situation escalated after a verbal argument, with Walton allegedly yelling profanities and making threats before getting into his car.

Police Say Walton Fled Scene After Alleged Collision

Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Walton engaging in the heated exchange. Following, he returned to his vehicle and accelerating toward the victim, who was walking up the driveway. Police say the victim was struck and landed on the hood of another car, suffering visible injuries to his hand and additional scrapes. Authorities also noted that Walton fled the scene “at a high rate of speed” without contacting police.

Walton Held After Alleged Admission To Police

Officers later tracked Walton down at a local Domino’s, where he was taken into custody following the alleged incident. During questioning, investigators say he admitted to driving toward the victim but claimed his intent was to “scare” him. Additionally, Walton also acknowledging that he left the scene afterward. Authorities further noted that Walton has a prior criminal history, including convictions for domestic assault and false imprisonment. Walton reportedly faces multiple felony charges and remains held at Callaway County Jail without bound as the case moves forward.

RELATED: Oh, Nah! Woman Sues Trader Joe’s After Allegedly Finding “Finger” In Orange Juice As Her Past Cases Reportedly Resurface

The internet stays in debate mode, and this time folks have their eyes on 21 Savage, thinking he just addressed GloRilla’s sister Victoria Woods after she took shots at Latto amid her pregnancy. 21 didn’t drop any names. He just slid in with a quick lil’ message on social media, but now fans are trying to read between the lines, wondering if he was clapping back at her.

RELATED: Latto, Drake & Soulja Boy Catch Strays As Victoria Woods Claps Back At Sister GloRilla Over ‘GOMF’ Diss (VIDEO)

Fans Think 21 Savage Low Key Reacted To Victoria Woods’ Viral Video

On Friday, May 1, 21 Savage came through with a message making it real clear that people might think they know him, but they don’t. Out of nowhere, the rapper dropped a post on his Instagram Story that read, “I really learn things about my life on here,” alongside three laughing emojis. He didn’t tag anyone, but fans think he was lowkey clocking GloRilla’s sister Victoria Woods after she called out Latto in a now-viral video. In the clip, Victoria specifically says Big Mama isn’t claimed by her man in public and alleges she’s having a baby by a married man.

“Latto, you not even getting claimed in public by your baby daddy, b***h. Like, h*e you pregnant by a married man while you wanna sit here and put Glo on a record,” Victoria said.

The internet streets have been trying to prove that Latto and 21 are expecting a child together ever since she announced her pregnancy in March. The speculation grew even more after fans thought they peeped some clues in Latto’s ‘Business & Personal’ music video. The visuals show a mystery man with tattoos that folks think resemble 21’s, and his baby photos seemingly appear in the scrapbook Latto puts together. But even with all of that, neither Latto or 21 have confirmed whether they’re expecting a child together.

Social Media Can’t Agree On Whether 21 Was Just Posting Or Responding

After The Shade Room reposted 21’s message, folks ran to the comment section. Plenty of Roomies said they think his post was a lil’ clap back at Victoria Woods. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @karranr_ wrote, “This in reference to StudRilla for sure.” 

Instagram user @____cretia_x wrote, “Speak on the pregnancy dawg we craving the tea😭😭😭” 

While Instagram user @prettyjazzlifts wrote, “So you learned about the baby on TikTok like we did?”

Then Instagram user @just__sayingtho wrote, “Basically he said ain’t married…but if y’all want to keep on with the lie y’all created just keep going.”

Another Instagram user @myrical.c wrote, “So he ain’t married ?🫠😂” 

Instagram user @doniesharoshae_ wrote, “Lmao. Latto told him he better say sum. 😂”

Then another Instagram user @emis_mommyyyy wrote, “You responding when she never said your name .. although it might be in reference to, you responding is still very telling sir 😂” 

While another Instagram user @1994rebel wrote, “I knew he was gone say sumn 😂”

Finally, Instagram user @b3autiful_._ wrote, “Not Brorilla brought him out the woods 🤣🤣🤣🤣” 

Why Did BroRilla Call Out Latto?

You’re probably wondering why Latto caught a stray in Victoria Woods’ clap-back video. Well, Victoria it appears Victoria made her video in response to Glo’s diss on Latto’s ‘GOMF.’

On the record Glo says: “Get out my face, ho (Ho), beggin’ for change, ho (Yup). Get you a hustle and get that p***y out your face, ho (Yup). You coulda been anything, it’s a million ways to get paid, ho (Yup). But you ain’t s**t but a freaky stud that’s laced.”

Victoria clearly peepd it and wasted no time going in on her sister while calling out Big Mama too. She didn’t stop with the ladies either. Victoria also came for Drake and Soulja Boy. She went off on Drizzy for suing Kendrick Lamar over his diss track. Woods didn’t spare Soulja one bit either, she criticized his style just because he sampled the song. Latto’s ‘GOMF’ actually samples Soulja’s 2007 hit, ‘Yahhh.’

“Soulja Boy your outfit still big as f**k ever since youuuuuuu and you lame as f**k and can’t rap. I’m coming for all y’all heads, f**k all y’all and anybody who like that motherf*****g song and has stamped it…” Victoria said in the clip.

RELATED: Alleged Mom Of 21 Savage’s Two Sons Seemingly Reacts To Latto’s Pregnancy Reveal (PHOTO)