Courtney Clenney is allegedly being targeted by inmates inside a Miami-Dade prison over the killing of her boyfriend, Christian Obumseli. In addition, her lawyer claims that most of the inmates are Black women.

RELATED: UPDATE: OnlyFans Model Courtney Clenney Reportedly Sentenced After Accepting Plea Deal In Fatal Stabbing Of Christian Obumseli

Courtney Clenney Allegedly Targeted In Prison By Inmates

Clenney Has Her Own Jail Cell

Clenney reportedly has a lot of freedom in jail and is now being housed away from the general population in the Miami-Dade jail. She has her own cell equipped with a toilet and sink.

In addition, she can leave her cell to shower, have recreation, see a lawyer, eat meals, and have video calls with family.

Clenney is being transferred to another jail to serve the remainder of her sentence. The 30-year-old killer accepted a plea deal, and her second-degree murder charge was downgraded to manslaughter. Clenney was sentenced to six years with time served. She was previously facing a life sentence, and now, she may get out in two years due to her time served.

Chenney Fatally Stabbed Christian 

The Shade Room previously reported that Chenney fatally stabbed Christian on April 3, 2022, inside their Miami condo. She claimed to be a victim of emotional, physical, and mental abuse by Obumseli and argued self-defense.

Chenney wasn’t immediately arrested despite being found covered in blood by the police. She was later arrested at a substance abuse rehab facility in Hawaii and charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

Audio recordings on Christian’s phone captured Chenney calling him the n-word repeatedly and threatening to slap him. In addition, TMZ released footage from 2021 of the killer beginning a physical fight with Christian in an elevator.

Christian is seen trying to keep her off as she repeatedly lunges at him. After she swung at him, he shoved her away. Clenney also punched Christian’s head and pulled his hair, and continued as he exited the elevator.

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OnlyFans model #CourtneyTailor attacked her BF in an elevator, months before his murder

♬ original sound – TMZ

RELATED: OnlyFans Model Courtney Clenney Reportedly Gets Plea Deal After Stabbing Boyfriend Christian Obumseli To Death

NLE Choppa is back to dropping new music as he enters a new era. During this time, he’s also been navigating his spiritual journey and rumors. As of last week, NLE has also been dealing with his public breakup from Erica Raven.

On Friday, NLE revealed that he got baptized and shared a message about entering a new chapter in his life. He said Christ is still working on him, but he feels ready to embrace this new version of himself. NLE also addressed alleged “witches & warlocks,” voodoo, hexes, and spells that he claims were sent his way. He said God allowed those experiences to happen to strengthen him throughout his spiritual journey.

In the same post, NLE also had a few things to say about some of his fellow rappers. He got a few things off his chest in a new freestyle while addressing his influence in the rap game. 

RELATED: Marissa Da’Nae Shocks Fans After Seemingly Confirming Pregnancy With Pooh Shiesty (PHOTOS)

NLE Choppa Has A Message For Pooh Shiesty As He Gets A Few Things Off His Chest In Latest Freestyle

NLE Choppa took to his IG Story to share a clip from his latest freestyle with the LA Leakers. He spat a few bars about people speaking on his name, saying, “I’ll be the one to hurt you. Stop playing on my name… all love, I’m not trying to start hating. Got my name in conversation, pillow talking like a baby. Where the G’s? We address it. It’s a message, I direct it. If you can’t respect it, make sure you don’t disrespect me.”

In the same post, NLE tagged Pooh Shiesty, who is currently incarcerated, writing, “@poohshiesty showed way too much love to you for you to be pillow talking on my name TO A FEMALE. Imma show you how to be direct homie. Free you tho tell 30 hit me up.”

This seems to come after an alleged phone call surfaced in early July, where Pooh Shiesty reportedly called NLE Choppa gay. The alleged call surfaced amid reports that Marissa Da’Nae, who shares a son with NLE, is allegedly expecting a baby girl with Pooh Shiesty.

But NLE didn’t stop there. While sharing another clip from the freestyle, he made it clear he’s stepping into a new era, writing, “IM BACK AND WHOEVER AGAINST TS F*** EM #NLEVSEVERYBODY.” NLE also showed some love to his ex-fiancée Erica, writing, “Te amo Erica forever & ever.”

NBA YoungBoy & Pooh Shiesty Catch Strays As NLE Choppa Speaks On His Influence In The Music Industry

The rapper later made his way to his page to celebrate his baptism, sharing a carousel of photos with individual captions. The carousel featured NLE, his youngest son, Icon Potts, his chain, his new wick locs, and more.

In one post, NLE spoke about his influence on other artists while mentioning both Pooh Shiesty and NBA YoungBoy. He claimed Shiesty’s chain resembles his and accused YoungBoy of taking inspiration from his camo aesthetic.

NLE also credited himself with influencing younger artists to prioritize owning their masters while reflecting on his success at a young age.

He wrote, “IM HYMM, The one they wanna be, the one they copy, ni**as ain’t have a Momager & Popager til I came on the scene. Shiesty That Chain Look real close to mine, YB ran off my camo aesthetic after I sent it to em, I’m the reason these boys of this generation wanna own they masters ‘I wanna NLE CHOPPA DEAL’ 16 I was 10Ms up first car was a Cullinan truck while yall was riding hemis & scats n sh*t man do yo homework on my influence I can write a book about it but that’s enough ego.”

NLE continued by showing off his new wick locs while claiming YoungBoy previously copied his loc style. Despite the callout, he said it was “all love” and explained that he was simply shedding light on his influence.

He wrote, “Pleaseeeee don’t copy my Wick Locs PLEASE. YB already ran off with my locs style I had to switch it up this go round. All love though just shedding light on my influence. Light it up. Do ya homework before saying I’m clout chasing or lying. The real ones know.”

Social Media Weighs In

Many gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to NLE Choppa’s latest post. While some gave him props for his rapping skills, others questioned why he was specifically coming for Pooh Shiesty and NBA YoungBoy.

Instagram user  @theylovekyraaa wrote, “He must be mad bout Marissa”

Instagram user @poohbaae added, “beefing w a inmate to stay afloat is diabolical.”

While Instagram user @vonnaaaaaajay wrote, “I’m just glad he took that wig off lol”

Instagram user @sexymeme2 wrote, “NLE ate him up y’all act like he can’t rap”

Instagram user @nyakaiorr_ added, “Nie ain’t wrong tho tf”

While Instagram user @mazzydaking wrote, “Minus the antics he does, that boy can actually rap 🤷🏾‍♂️”

Instagram user @gurlkjfunny wrote, “Nle remember when yb was your fav rapper be fron lil 🥷”

Instagram user @ayeee.tae added, “He seen yb arguing with his momma & said ima start back up to try to get a response from him 😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @lilmisssexyjawn_ wrote, “Yall not gon act like NLE wasn’t him”

RELATED: What’s Goin’ On? NLE Choppa Puzzles Fans After Donning Maroon Pixie Wig To Tease Upcoming Album (PHOTOS)

Paramount+’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds hit the streamer during San Diego Comic-Con 2026, where the stars made their rounds from Hall H to Collider’s media studio to celebrate. There, they spoke with our own Steven Weintraub about walking the floor and what fans can expect from the penultimate Season 4, plus new details on the fifth and final season, leading up to Star Trek: The Original Series.

The show, which will see Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise embarking on wild new adventures, has always pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a Star Trek series. In Season 4, even its stars are impressed by the creative risks of co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, from black-and-white noir episodes to full-on puppetry.

Don’t miss the full interviews from the con below, where both groups dig into the emotional and personal aspects of being a part of such an iconic franchise, and what it was like to read that final Season 5 script.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Stars Reveal How Season 4 Takes Its Biggest Swings Yet

In our first interview, stars Mount, Rebecca Romijn (Commander Una Chin-Riley), Celia Rose Gooding (Cadet Nyota Uhura), and Ethan Peck (Lieutenant Spock) share why they still love attending Comic-Con, both as stars and fans, and answer a round of unique questions, including their favorite karaoke song and most memorable fan interactions. They also tease some of Season 4’s most ambitious moments, and discuss what it was like reading and filming the Season 5 finale.

Check out the full video below, with time codes provided.

• 00:27 – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast marvel at Comic-Con 2026’s Hall H turnout.
• 01:27 – The SNW stars answer fun questions about their go-to karaoke song, movies and TV that inspire them, and tons more!
• 07:07 – (Some of) the stars weigh in on their favorite Star Trek captain.
• 07:33 – They share what it was like first reading Season 4’s ambitious scripts.
• 09:48 – Rebecca Romijn discusses singing in Klingon.
• 10:43 – Everyone teases the biggest creative swings in Season 4.
• 12:50 – The stars discuss the puppets, and specifically Pike’s with his signature hairdo.
• 14:01 – The cast reflect on reading and filming the Season 5 finale.
• 15:52 – Did they “borrow” anything fun from set?
• 16:56 – Anson Mount discusses Pike’s Season 4 tattoo.
• 18:32 – Everyone shares the wildest challenge the writers asked them to perform.
• 20:25 – The SNW stars reveal their preparation for filming and what a typical week looks like.
• 23:10 – The group share what they were on the hunt for at Comic-Con!
• 26:10 – Ethan Peck explains his affinity for Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis games.

‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Season 5 Is a “Meditation on How to Say Goodbye”

This crew discusses significant episodes, the status of Season 5, and the series finale read-through.

Next up in the Collider studio, Weintraub welcomes cast members Paul Wesley, Christina Chong, and Melissa Navia, as well as co-showrunners Goldsman and Myers. They answer another round of fun questions, and Navia shares details about the Season 4 episode that holds personal significance for them, plus the team discusses the now-famous puppet episode. Don’t miss out on the full conversation in the video below, with time codes provided, where they also share updates on Season 5 and take us behind the scenes for that emotional series finale table read.

• 00:44 – The Strange New Worlds crew answer a fun series of questions to get to know them better!
• 05:21 – Melissa Navia on the personal significance of Ortegas’ Season 4 episode.
• 06:34 – The team shares their favorite Star Trek series.
• 11:05 – Akiva Goldsman shares an exciting update on the status of Season 5.
• 11:48 – Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers reveal what fans can expect from Season 5’s format.
• 13:04 – They discuss the famous puppet episode, from how long it took to shoot to what to expect.
• 16:06 – Everyone fesses up to the Star Trek props they “borrowed” from set.
• 18:13 – The Strange New World crew talk about what it was like at the table read for the series finale.
• 20:28 – Goldsman and Myers discuss their intentions for the series finale leading into Star Trek: The Original Series.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 is now available to stream on Paramount+. New episodes will be available weekly on Thursdays.

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Release Date

2022 – 2027-00-00

Network

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Paramount+

Showrunner

Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman

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Directors

Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman

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Writers

Onitra Johnson

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UPDATE 8/14/26 at 5:53 p.m. ET — Frankie Valli has no current plans to retire despite his brother Bobby Valli’s comments to the contrary.

“He is not retired. This is false,” Frankie’s longtime rep, Victoria Varela, told Variety on Friday, August 14.

Frankie further assured fans that he had not yet hung up his microphone in a follow-up social media statement, writing, “In spite of what you might have heard, I am not retired.”

Original story continues below:

Legendary Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli is ready to retire, according to the singer’s brother.

“My brother Frankie, whom I am so proud of and love him dearly,” Bobby Valli wrote via Facebook on Thursday, August 13. “He has had a wonderful life; a dream come true. He is an incredible singer, has had a magnificent career in music. [Frankie is] an icon, a living legend [and] he has millions of fans who love him dearly.”

Bobby continued, “He is now 92 [years] old. In his illustrious career, he has sold over 100 million records [and been inducted into the Rock and Roll] Hall of Fame. He has been performing for six decades. He will now retire.”

Frankie has not publicly addressed his musical future himself. Us has reached out for comment.

Related: Frankie Valli Reacts to Fan Concern Over His Performance

Frankie Valli has responded to concerns from fans over the 90-year-old singer’s recent Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons performances. “I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air,” Valli shared in a statement given to Us Weekly on Monday, September 30. […]

“We will always have special memories of Frankie Valli,” Bobby continued on Thursday. “He has reached a place in his life where his family is there to love, cherish and to be there for him. We appreciate your love and concern.”

Just three months earlier, Frankie canceled the remainder of his concerts this year to “focus on [his] health.”

“I’m so sorry to disappoint the folks who have purchased tickets to my shows, but I have decided to take the rest of the year off from touring to focus on my health,” he wrote in a May statement shared via social media. “I’m looking forward to getting healthy and seeing you all again soon. Thank you for all your good wishes.”

Frankie’s longtime publicist, Victoria Varela, later explained why the singer had opted to cancel his shows instead of postpone the performances to a later date.

“Promoters want to prolong things and not give people their money back, but he needs to not keep rescheduling these shows,” Valera told Variety that same month. “He realized he needed to take a break and get his health in order, and that is the true issue — he wants to get better without prolonging, through the rescheduling process, the pain of people who’ve bought these tickets.”

Related: Frankie Valli’s Family Guide: Meet His 6 Children and Their Mothers

In addition to his legendary music career, Frankie Valli is a father of six. The Four Seasons frontman first became a father figure in 1957 when he married ex-wife Mary Mandel, who shared daughter Celia with a former partner. Valli and Mandel later welcomed two more children together before they divorced in 1971. Valli went […]

Frankie and the Four Seasons had previously rescheduled shows initially set for April that are now canceled entirely. Frankie, who has not further detailed his apparent health concerns, had been performing with the Four Seasons since they cofounded the group in 1960.

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“You should be doing it out of the fact that you love, and it and it’s the most important thing in your life,” Frankie said of performing in a February interview with Danny Zelisko. “If I had not become successful, I’d probably still be working in some little bar. I love music that much.”

Frankie’s decision to retire comes nearly two years after he was forced to address fans who had expressed concerns about him performing lethargically and seemingly lip-synching.

“I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone [is] forcing me to go on stage,” he told People in September 2024. “Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

Matthew McConaughey has had plenty of memorable roles throughout his decades-long career, but his first on-screen appearance is particularly unexpected. Before his rise to fame, the actor appeared on “Unsolved Mysteries,” taking part in the reenactment of a crime and helping catch a killer a few weeks after the episode aired.

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Matthew McConaughey’s career has taken him from rom-com hearththrob to acclaimed dramatic actor. Before nabbing those major credits, however, the actor had to start somewhere.

On August 14, McConaughey was presented the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at the Filmland film festival in Arkansas. Before the screening of his latest project, “The Rivals of Amziah King,” the actor spoke about his career, and his first-ever on-screen role was brought up.

While his breakout role was in 1993’s “Dazed and Confused,” not many people know that he appeared in an episode of the series “Unsolved Mysteries” just a year prior.

“I’m gonna toot my own horn a little bit. The ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ episode I did? They caught the guy weeks later – based on what I did,” McConaughey joked, per Variety.

The Actor Portrayed A Slain Marine

McConaughey portrayed Larry Dean Dickens in Season 5, Episode 13 of “Unsolved Mysteries,” which originally aired in December 1992.

Dickens, a 26-year-old former Marine, was mowing his mother’s lawn when he overheard her on the phone reporting a man exposing himself to young girls. He confronted Edward Harold Bell and took the keys from Bell’s ignition to prevent him from fleeing before authorities arrived. Bell then pulled out a gun and fatally shot Dickens multiple times when he refused to return the keys.

“I was the guy who got shot while mowing my mother’s grass,” McConaughey said in past interviews.

Bell, who had been on the run for 14 years before his case was highlighted in “Unsolved Mysteries,” was recognized by a viewer and alerted authorities. He was arrested soon after the episode aired and died in prison in 2019.

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Matthew McConaughey’s Acting ‘Has Come A Long Way’

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In 2023, the documentary “Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy” was released in lieu of the show’s 35th anniversary. In it, one of the producers said McConaughey’s episode was shot in the summer in Texas, which prompted the director to tell the then-unknown actor that he could take his shirt off despite no need for it in the scene.

Looking back at the reenactment, the producer said, “Matthew McConaughey had to do a fairly robust death scene. He was working in his garage, and he was shot by a man who pulled up with a shotgun. Let’s just say… his acting has come a long way since then.”

At that time, McConaughey was studying film at the University of Texas, and “Unsolved Mysteries” held a casting call. “Matthew showed up, and he was cast. The director could have easily cast someone else,” the show’s co-creator, Terry Dunn Meurer, told The Dallas Morning News.

The Actor Got His Breakout Role Months After His ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Appearance

McConaughey’s breakout role came as David Wooderson in “Dazed and Confused,” where he delivered the iconic “Alright, alright, alright,” a line that became synonymous with the actor.

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In an episode of “Bear Grylls Is Running Wild,” the actor discussed his “Unsolved Mysteries” role and jokingly said he figured he did “a decent job” because the fugitive was caught. As for the Wooderson role, McConaughey said that he was just at the right bar, at the right time.

The majority of the movie was shot in Austin, Texas, and a bartender he knew alerted him that filmmakers were in town to shoot a movie. McConaughey introduced himself to Don Phillips, the casting director, and he was given the chance to read for a part.

Writer and director Richard Linklater was hesitant to cast McConaughey at first because he was “too handsome” to portray the sleazy character. However, the aspiring actor won him over during auditions and even wrote more scenes for him.

Matthew McConaughey’s Rise To Stardom

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After “Dazed and Confused,” McConaughey landed more roles and established himself as a Hollywood star in just a few years. His first major leading role was as lawyer Jake Brigance in the 1996 drama, “A Time to Kill,” based on the John Grisham novel.

In the years following, he appeared in “Contact,” “Amistad,” and “The Newton Boys,” and later appeared in back-to-back romcoms including “The Wedding Planner,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Failure to Launch,” and “Fool’s Gold.”

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After a hiatus from acting, the actor transitioned to more dramatic roles. McConaughey has received multiple Emmy nominations for his role in “True Detective” and won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Ron Woodroof in “Dallas Buyers Club.”

Megan Fox is taking on critics as she addresses public commentary surrounding her postpartum appearance after sharing new images on social media.

While many users praised her and her appearance, the actress received negative criticism about her age and outfit choices, following a series of photos she posted to her Instagram account over a year after welcoming her daughter, Saga.

Rather than ignoring unwanted criticism regarding her age and outfit choices, Megan Fox confronted the critics, showing her refusal to let online users dictate her self-expression or lifestyle.

In her Instagram post, the “Transformers” star shared photos wearing a black bandeau top, matching chaps, sunglasses, and a necklace alongside the caption “Intellectual Compatibility>>.”

The stylish upload generated significant engagement in the comment section, attracting a majority of praise from the comments but also criticisms regarding her body, age, and outfit choices.

When one user was curious about her good physical appearance post-birth, saying, “How does she look so good after just having a baby?? I’m jealous,” Fox humbly attributed all credit to “a good photographer.”

Another user would post, “Still out here making aging look like a myth.”

“You look like the reason ancient civilizations made sacrifices to the gods,” a witty remark from a third.

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However, a social media user questioned the appropriateness of her revealing outfit, claiming she was too old to post such photos.

“You’re still really pretty, but you’re already old,” the Instagram commenter said, per reports. “You should’ve taken your clothes off more while you were young.” The user continued, saying, “Nobody wants to see a 40-year-old woman almost naked.”

Fox didn’t hold back, directly shutting down the critic with a concise clapback: “Then don’t look, sis.”

The Actress’s Family Structure And The Birth Of Saga

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The public exchange comes nearly a year and a half after the arrival of Fox’s youngest child, born in March 2025.

The actress shares daughter Saga with musician Colson Baker, professionally known as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK).

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The birth was announced on social media in the same month she was born, and her rather unique name was later revealed in June of that year.

In addition to daughter Saga, Fox has three sons, namely Noah, Bodhi, and Journey, from her previous eleven-year marriage to actor Brian Austin Green, which ended in 2021 after a divorce.

Megan Fox’s History Of Postpartum Challenges And Body Dysmorphia

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The mom of four’s direct responses to critics follow prior public statements regarding the physical and psychological challenges of postpartum recovery.

As reported by Bustle, Fox gave an update on how she was doing and the issues she was facing, seven months after the birth of her baby.

At an October 2025 screening for ‘Jennifer’s Body’ hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Fox spoke candidly about experiencing brain fog and severe sleep deprivation months after welcoming Saga.

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Fox has also been transparent about her ongoing struggles with body image. Despite being categorized as a global fashion icon throughout her acting career, she revealed in a 2021 interview with British GQ that she lives with body dysmorphia and deals with deep-seated physical insecurities.

The “Jennifer’s Body” star added that she “buried a lot of that because it didn’t have a place to live.” She admitted having done a lot of work on herself to cope with her challenges and noted that public scrutiny amplifies these challenges.

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Fox’s choice to directly reply to social media critics aligns with a long-held pattern of addressing public scrutiny, double standards, and body-shaming.

Throughout her career, the actress has time and again utilized public platforms to speak out against public judgments regarding her parenting, appearance, and personal relationships.

The actress famously slammed sexist criticism over her age-gap relationship with her now ex MGK, pointing out double standards and condemning the scrutiny during her interview with InStyle in 2021.

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Fox told the publication, “The fact he’s four years younger than me, and people want to act like I’m dating a younger man,” she continued, “He’s 31, and I’m 35.”

She argued that a male celebrity with a partner of a similar age gap wouldn’t “ruffle any feathers.”

Megan Fox Took A Shot At Her Former Partners

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More recently, Fox has even shaded her exes while responding to negative comments from online critics.

The actress had shared a post in which she flaunted her body in a gothic-inspired look, while rocking black lingerie, paired with a black veil.

However, she was once again met with harsh remarks from social media users, with one particular comment stating, “This sh-t is so unbelievably embarrassing for a 40-year-old mom to be posting … 16 year old tumblr sh-t.”

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Fox didn’t waste time cleverly hitting back at the critic while also shading her former lovers, writing, “Which one of my exes is this”

By directly engaging with commentators criticizing her age and social media posts, Fox shows she is not giving in to harsh criticisms and is fully committed to expressing herself in whatever ways she deems best.

It’s time to say “Bye, Bye, Bye” to boring cocktails because two ’NSync heartthrobs are officially serving up something new for fans.

Lance Bass and Joey Fatone are back together, shaking things up as the hosts of E!’s new series Cocktail Wars, judging amateur bartenders battling it out one splash, muddle and sip at a time. But the hosts aren’t just handing out judgment — they’re picking up on a few lessons of their own.

“We thought we knew cocktails until we started doing this show.” Bass, 47, exclusively told Us during the premiere of the cocktail competition. “By the end of the season we knew something,” Fatone added, with Bass summing up their expertise as merely the two being “fake experts”.

While the world memorized their harmonies and choreography (frosted tips and goatees included), Bass and Fatone say they were also learning their way around a cocktail menu while on the road with the band. “We’ve toured around the world, gone to many different states in America as well, and tried a lot of cocktails,” Fatone said, reminiscing about the time spent sampling favorites and flops along the way. “We had our fair share of other different cocktails, what we like, what we didn’t like.”

But one particular spirit the singer says he couldn’t quite get behind was gin. Fatone revealed that he spent most of his life avoiding the tipple entirely, only to have a change of heart while filming the show. “I would never really drink gin. I never liked [it]” Fatone, 49, told Us. “But a lot of the actual drinks that people have made in this competition, I like gin 1786802597, crazy.”

Turns out he’s not the only one who underwent a gin conversion on set. Professional mixologist Melissa Brooke, who joined the host on the season’s challenges, revealed she’s responsible for turning Bass into a fan of the liquor, adding that Fatone also picked up on an “affinity” for blackberry whiskey during filming.

Their taste in spirits isn’t the only thing that has evolved. Back on tour, Fatone says he would keep his order simple with a rum and Coke, and Bass admits he was loyal to Jack and Coke — but these days they say it’s less about the order and more about the ritual behind it. “I think I enjoy the experience of getting with friends and having a cocktail, and just that experience is different now at an older age than just being young and just being like ‘get me drunk!’” Bass told Us.

For Fatone, observing competitors on the show has made him something of an amateur mixologist. “There’s a lot of science to a lot of this stuff,” he said. “Now I’m like literally going to the bar going ‘Do I taste that?’, ‘Excuse me, is there a wash line?’, ‘What are they using in there?’ [and] ‘What is that’?”

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Each episode of Cocktail Wars brings in a batch of mixologists who go head-to-head in themed challenges, with a $10,000 prize on the line and judges weighing in on creativity and presentation as much as taste. For Brooke, who has led Michelin-starred restaurants with her bartending talents, admitted she even found the competition to be fierce. “I don’t know that I would want to be a contestant on the show,” she told Us, singling out the season’s stencil challenge as one she wouldn’t dare attempt despite years of professional experience. “I even further recognize 1786802597 how difficult the job is that I do for a living,” she added.

Among this season’s guest judges, drag icon Peppermint said stepping into the competition alongside the hosts was an easy yes, but when it came to judging, she made her standards clear almost immediately. “I’d rather the drink look good and taste bad than taste good and look horrible,” she told Us.

Cocktail Wars premieres August 18 at 10 P.M. ET/PT on E! and features a rotating cast of famous faces joining Bass, Fatone, and Brooke as guest judges, including political commentator Rachel Maddow, RHONJ star Melissa Gorga, actor Seth Green, and RHONY alums Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer.