By Brian Myers
| Updated 1 hour ago

Some fans of the 2026 Lord of the Flies Netflix series have begun exploring older incarnations of the 1954 William Golding novel. Transitioning the late novelist’s words onto the screen has been met with mixed success over the last three-quarters of a century, with a British film adaptation from 1963 being critically lauded and a 1990 American version resulting in mediocre reviews and box office receipts. But between the big and small screen versions of Golding’s work, one adaptation reigns supreme: a 22-minute episode from Season 9 of The Simpsons, entitled “Das Bus.”

The 1998 installment follows a main storyline where students from Springfield Elementary are headed on a field trip to New York City, where the Model U.N. Club will get to visit the actual U.N. Building in Manhattan. When Bart, Nelson, Milhouse, and Ralph “It Tastes Like Burning” Wiggum compete to see which of their fruit will roll to the front of the bus the fastest, a grapefruit gets stuck under the brake pedal. When bus driver Otto presses on it, the juice squirts into his eyes and temporarily blinds him. This causes the bus to careen off a bridge and into a river where he and the students are carried away by the current. While Otto is swept one direction (ultimately getting brought aboard a Chinese fishing vessel and forced into hard labor), Bart and the gang drift out to sea and wind up stranded on a deserted island.

Brief, But Thorough (Zeppelin Rules!!!)

Though a brief but thorough parody of the novel, “Das Bus” manages to pack in plenty of sight gags, well-timed humor, and memorable one-liners. Amazingly enough, the sequence of events also follows a good amount of the novel’s story arc. The bespectacled Milhouse stands in for the book’s Piggy, while Bart and Nelson are almost immediately at odds with one another in the style of Ralph and Jack. “Das Bus” also utilizes the book’s conch shell and “beast.” Like the source material, the students of Springfield Elementary are split into two camps. One (Bart, Lisa, and Milhouse) represents logic and order, while the remainder (led by Nelson) are animated embodiments of social devolution, and the chaos that erupts when the social contract is removed from the equation.

For anyone who has read the novel, you’ll recall how the boys on the island are eventually and unexpectedly rescued by a British naval officer, who had seen the flames from the forest fires that were set by Jack. This story resolution by an unexpected character is a literary device known as deus ex machina, from the Latin phrase “God from the machine.” Though originally associated with ancient Greek tragedies, it has found a use in countless works of literature and film in the centuries since it was first introduced by Aeschylus nearly 3,000 years ago.

Consider The Source, Respect The Absurdity

The writers at the helm of this episode of The Simpsons made use of deus ex machina, albeit in their own hilarious way. After the kids seem to resolve their conflict, a narrator (voiced by special guest star James Earl Jones) leaves viewers with the following words: “So the children learned how to function as a society, and eventually they were rescued by, oh, let’s say … Moe.” There are no attributing actions to that effect, no dialogue leading to that direction prior to, just the episode fading out with a hilarious angle.

“Das Bus” gave fans more than just a parody of Lord of the Flies. Animated reimaginings of both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Swiss Family Robinson are easy to catch, while an action sequence on the bus that mirrors the 1994 action-comedy True Lies might take a sharper eye. The title of the episode is an homage to the 1981 West German war film Das Boot, and the coconut-shaped radio and Teri/Sherry’s pony tails are visual nods to Rescue From Gilligan’s Island and The Flintstones, respectively. 

A Common Simpsons Practice

The Simpsons using film and television favorites as a source for parody was already a go-to move in the show’s playbook well before the record-breaking show’s ninth season. The animated series had already spoofed everything from A Clockwork Orange to The Twilight Zone to Citizen Kane before taking on Golding’s classic novel. Now in its 37th season, the show has stacked up more references and parodies than you might imagine. As of April 2026, Bart, Homer, and the gang have used this sort of plot device more than 2,700 times for just film alone. That’s an average of 6.1 times per episode (per SpringfieldGoogleplex).

“Das Bus” remains not only the greatest take on Golding’s novel but also has etched itself deep into the fandom of a favorite animated series. The parodies from its writers keep them coming episode after episode, but this 9th-season installment sure is a hard one to top.

The Simpsons can be streamed on Disney+.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 26 seconds ago

Brad Pitt is, without a doubt, one of the biggest movie stars in the world. One of the reasons he grew so popular is that he (a character actor stuck in a leading man’s body) took on so many different types of movies. He had already dominated the ‘90s with very different roles in breakout films like Seven, 12 Monkeys, and Fight Club. Heading into the early aughts, he kept the momentum going with movies like Ocean’s Eleven and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Between those last two films, though, he headlined a largely forgotten blockbuster: Troy. 

This 2004 film was a huge deal at the time. Not only did it star big names like Pitt, Sean Bean, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom, but it was directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the mastermind behind hits such as The NeverEnding Story and Air Force One. However, this huge production ground to a halt for six weeks due to the most ironic injury in film history. You see, he managed to get injured in literally the only place that his onscreen character was vulnerable: his Achilles’ heel

Blessed By The Gods

If you slept your way through English back in high school, you may need a little context for this mythic movie tale. In Greek mythology, Achilles was an accomplished warrior born to a goddess, Thetis. There are multiple myths about Thetis attempting to make her son immortal. The most popular is that she held him in the river Styx, and everything the water touched became immortal. But she held him by the ankle, which was still mortal and, therefore, left his heel vulnerable. Eventually, he is shot in the heel and ultimately killed by Paris, the man who started the Trojan War by stealing Helen. 

In case you never knew, that’s where the expression “Achilles’ heel” comes from. Colloquially, this term is typically used to describe a single vulnerability (often a hidden or surprising one) on someone who otherwise seems impossible to defeat. The film Troy takes great liberties with many aspects of Greek mythology, but it keeps most of the biggest ones in place. For example, Brad Pitt’s Achilles is presented as a warrior who seemingly cannot be beaten on the battlefield. However, he is ultimately defeated after Paris fires a skillful arrow shot directly into this demigod’s heel. Long before they filmed that scene, however, Brad Pitt ground production to a halt due to his own unexpected weakness.

Life Imitates Art

After training for six months to get into demigod shape for Troy, Brad Pitt was happy to do many of his own stunts. In fact, his epic onscreen duel with Eric Bana was filmed without the use of any stunt doubles. Normally, this is a good thing; a sign that the actor is taking a role very seriously and wants to give every scene a personal touch. Unfortunately, during one of his stunts, Pitt actually injured his own Achilles tendon. It took him time to heal, and production of this $175 million movie stopped entirely while he recovered.

Looking back on the incident, Pitt had a sense of humor, saying that he injured his Achilles heel “in a bout of stupid irony.” Director Wolfgang Petersen was reportedly far less happy. Any delay of a blockbuster production schedule is bad, and production had previously been delayed when a hurricane destroyed many of the film’s props. It’s easy to sympathize with an acclaimed filmmaker having to deal with these delays, but he really should have seen it coming. After all, who would know better than the director of Troy how casually cruel the gods can be?

By Robert Scucci
| Published 1 hour ago

If you lived in rural California and suspected alien activity near your farm, what would you do about it? Would you contact the authorities or set up trail cams for your personal safety? Or would you go into hiding so you don’t have to deal with getting abducted, probed, and all of the other horrible things that allegedly happen after getting sucked up by a UFO’s weird laser beam thing? If you’re like the characters in 2022’s Nope, you might have the wise idea to try getting the perfect shot of the spacecraft so you could sell it to the highest bidder, sell the ranch, and become filthy rich off that sweet, sweet alien money.

At its core, Nope is a film about exploitation, and the lengths people go to make something out of themselves, consequences be damned. Looming just beneath the surface, though, is another story about resilience, ingenuity, and adapting to an increasingly bizarre situation, not just for clout, but for survival and saving face.

I’ve Been Through The Desert On A Horse And Got Maimed

When we’re first introduced to OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) in Nope, it’s under tragic circumstances. During a freak accident in which metal objects fall from the sky, OJ’s father (Keith David) is struck dead when a nickel goes through his eye and into his brain. Suddenly stuck managing the family farm, OJ finds himself in a tough spot. The family business involves training horses that can be used in Hollywood productions, but after a grisly on-set incident, OJ and his younger sister Em (Keke Palmer) are kicked off the movie lot.

To close the financial gap, OJ starts selling horses to Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun), a former child star who now owns the theme park Jupiter’s Claim. Ricky does well for himself despite his traumatic past. As a child, Jupe starred in Gordy’s Home, a sitcom about a family with a pet chimp. The show was suddenly canceled after the chimp on set was pushed to its limit, resulting in the cast and crew getting mauled. In addition to running the theme park, a grown-up Jupe allows fans of the sitcom to spend the night in a room full of memorabilia from the show, for a nominal fee, of course.

While OJ struggles to get through each day running his late father’s farm, he starts noticing electrical disturbances, and his prized horse, Lucky, begins behaving strangely. OJ swears he sees some sort of unidentified object hiding behind the clouds, so he and Em purchase trail cameras and all the equipment they can get their hands on, inadvertently recruiting a tech salesman named Angel (Brandon Perea) to help them out with their project. The goal is simple: capture solid footage of the UFO, then reap the benefits.

What OJ doesn’t know, however, is that Jupe is also aware of the alien presence and has been using the horses he bought from him as bait. He’s already making a living exploiting his horrific past, and it seems to be a solid business model for him, so why not exploit what he can in the present as well? Luckily, OJ and Em have something Jupe doesn’t: the help of renowned cinematographer Antlers Holst (Michael Wincott). As the UFO slowly descends on the community of Agua Dulce, California, there’s no telling what its motivations are, but it’s reasonable to assume it has been watching everybody for a very long time and has some serious apprehensions about being discovered and documented.

Believable Characters In A Preposterous Situation

While the scenery, cinematography, and action sequences are top notch in Nope, what really kept me enthralled was the relationship between OJ and Em. Their interactions as brother and sister feel completely authentic, and if you didn’t know they were actors in a movie, you’d think they were actually related. I haven’t seen sibling chemistry this good since Donnie Darko, where Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal used the fact that they’re siblings in real life to effortlessly portray a believable brother and sister dynamic on-screen.

OJ is clearly the more responsible sibling, feeling the weight of obligation to do right by his father’s business. He has a legacy to think about, but you can tell he’s tired. So tired, in fact, that he has almost zero patience for Em’s more fast-and-loose approach to life. In her mind, she and her brother will one day sell the farm, collect a nice payday, and move on with their lives. OJ is tempted, but you can tell he isn’t quite ready to do that.

However, both come to the same conclusion that while they still own the farm that just so happens to have an alien presence, they should take a page from Jupe’s playbook and exploit the opportunity to get a perfect shot they can sell to the tabloids for an epic payday. The parts that made me laugh the most, even though they’re not overtly hilarious, involve Em getting ready to settle down for the day while OJ flatly announces that after all of the extracurriculars they just did, he still has to get back to work because he has mouths to feed. It’s total big brother energy.

Add in the ingenious absurdity of using a bunch of Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men as bait to lure the entity out of the sky, and you have a movie that really looks like nothing else.

Nope is sincere, exploitative, gorgeously shot, and packed with vibes thanks to its setting alone. It will also make you want to drive out into the middle of an empty field with a good camera in hope of finding alien life, because we all know they’re out there somewhere, but every single picture we’ve seen so far has been blurry and inconclusive.

Nope is coming to Netflix on May 18, 2026, so be sure to set a reminder if you’re ready to sit down with what may very well be Jordan Peele’s best film.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 13 seconds ago

In the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, nobody was done dirtier than John Boyega. Ahead of The Force Awakens, he was teased as the franchise’s newest Jedi, but this was a bait-and-switch: Rey became a Jedi, and Finn became nothing more than comic relief. He was later given the absolutely stupidest plot from The Last Jedi, complete with a new love interest who disappears after this film. In The Rise of Skywalker, Finn has become so unimportant that his plot is left incomplete, and we never learn what deep secret he was about to confess to Rey. 

For these reasons and more, I was excited to learn that John Boyega is likely to return to the Star Wars universe. Previously, the actor had boldly claimed he had no intention of returning to the franchise, which is understandable. Why give Disney a third chance to waste his talents? Now that he seems likely to return to the fold, though, Finn may be able to finally finish his arc. You see, the secret he was going to confess to Rey was that he was actually a Jedi!

Somehow, Finn Returned?

There have been rumors about John Boyega returning to Star Wars ever since the end of The Rise of Skywalker. Early on, he did his best to get ahead of those rumors with a pre-emptive answer. When Variety asked in 2019 whether he would be returning to this famous galaxy far, far away, the actor bluntly (and hilariously) replied, “You ain’t gonna Disney+ me!” After watching Disney mishandle his character for three consecutive movies, Boyega seemed understandably checked out of the franchise that made him a household name and never wanted to return.

However, as the late Sean Connery might have reminded the younger man, “never say never again.” Rumors have been intensifying that Boyega would be returning to Star Wars, and these rumors reached a fever pitch when the actor confirmed he had run into Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni. Now, reliable scooper Daniel Richtman is reporting that Boyega has begun official discussions to return to the franchise, though it’s not clear whether this would be in the form of movies, TV shows, or both. They might Disney+ him and give Boyega his own series, or (with his luck) he might end up a sidekick in the long-rumored Rey movie.

There Is Another

However Finn pops back up in Star Wars, I just want to see his intended story play out. In The Rise of Skywalker, when his character is getting sucked into some sand (it gets everywhere, you know), Boyega says “Rey, I never told you…” before getting cut off. At the time, many fans thought he was going to confess his love to the Jedi warrior he had crushed so hard on in The Force Awakens. But Boyega later confirmed something much wilder: the rest of the line was “I’m a Jedi,” confirming he can use the Force. Despite saying the line during filming, it was ultimately cut. 

Cutting the line was arguably for the best. The Rise of Skywalker was such a cluttered mess of a movie that there wouldn’t have been time to properly develop this exciting new story for Finn. Still, it’s hard not to feel like Star Wars did John Boyega dirty yet again. Actually making his character into a Jedi would have partially made up for only teasing his Force-sensitive nature back in The Force Awakens. But by cutting the line entirely, JJ Abrams buried the only really cool thing to happen to Finn in the entire trilogy. 

Head Towards The Light (Saber)

Now, a new Star Wars movie or show featuring John Boyega can finally rectify that mistake by showing Finn as a Jedi. If he pops up in a movie with Rey, she could help him learn the ways of the Force as they fight the last of the First Order. If it’s a show, maybe Finn could use the Force to help other former Stormtroopers see the light. No matter how it’s handled, a Jedi storyline could finally give John Boyega’s character a proper arc and fix the stupidest thing about The Rise of Skywalker by following up on that cut line. 

Now, will the return of Finn magically make the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy any better? Let’s be honest, y’all: not even the Force could do that!

The clock is ticking, and the internet is already in detective mode. While fans count down the hours until Drake officially drops ‘ICEMAN,’ social media is doing what it does best. Digging for clues, dissecting every rumor, and now apparently leaking music before the rollout is complete. Now, fans are debating whether Drake used his album to take shots at Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, J. Cole and others!

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

Everybody Seems To Be Catching Strays On Drake’s New Leak

Drake is officially set to drop ‘ICEMAN’ on May 15, marking his first solo release since his explosive back-and-forth with Kendrick Lamar. Despite the massive hype surrounding the album, Drake has remained relatively quiet leading up to the release, choosing not to push a formal lead single. But now, leaks are beginning to force the conversation early. A track reportedly titled ‘1 AM In Albany’ surfaced online Thursday, and listeners immediately began connecting the dots. The nearly five-minute record appears to feature Drake addressing multiple familiar names tied to the past year’s rap drama.

At one point, he seemingly throws shots at Kendrick Lamar with bars referencing height and competition. “Muggsy Bogues dunked for once, even I’m a bit amazed, someone give the kid a raise,” the rapper cites. While other lyrics appear aimed at LeBron James over his perceived support of Kendrick during the feud. “I shouldn’t even be shocked to see you in that arena, because you always made your career off of switching teams up,” Drake raps. “Please stop asking what’s going on with 23 & me, I’m a real n****, and he’s not, it’s in my DNA.“

Drake also appears to reference J. Cole’s decision to step away from the rap battle conversation, calling out a “married rapper” who backed down. Still, the response online has already been intense, with fans debating every line and trying to figure out who else Drake could be targeting.

The Comment Section Said “Now Aubrey…”

Chile, the roommates wasted NO time running to The Shade Room comment section after the leaked Drake track started making rounds online. And whew, the opinions were all over the place. Some folks said Drake needs to “hang it up… flat screen.” While others argued that he actually snapped on the record and everybody knows it deep down. Meanwhile, plenty of commenters were stuck on one thing: if Drake is still throwing diss bars, they feel like he can’t also be suing behind the scenes too.

This Instagram user @bcg_mag claimed, “Having to ‘Leak’ music before an album drop is always funny. Remember: Kendrick Lamar just dropped and let the world hear everything when they did.“

And, Instagram user @1rockemx added, “Now when Kendrick wake back up, don’t file no lawsuits… 📝”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @blaqbuety said “Man Dey got new viruses and gas is sky high…. Respectfully.. we don’t care 🎯🙏🏿”

While Instagram user @porshadeshannon wrote, “Drake saving hip hop and the Summer yet again. 😂”

Then Instagram user @bella_rrt shared, “Please move on Drake 🫠 Don’t let your L define you.“

And, Instagram user @itsladielike commented, “Hang it up, flatscreen.. Plasma.“

Finally, Instagram user @luxuryhairbynaijabosslady said, “He ateeee with this … sorry.“

Joe Budden Enters The Chat

While Drake’s leaked track ‘1 AM In Albany’ instantly sparked conversation over the apparent shots aimed at Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, J. Cole, and Dr. Dre, Joe Budden’s response quickly became a storyline of its own. During a recent conversation with Ian Schwartzman, Budden seemingly brushed off the diss with humor, acknowledging that just about everybody is probably catching strays on Drake’s upcoming album. At one point, Budden even joked that he and Ian may need to throw their next few podcast episodes behind a paywall, clearly aware that fans are now waiting on his full reaction to the leaked record. Budden laughed through most of the discussion. Still, listeners couldn’t help but notice that he largely avoided directly addressing Drake’s more personal lyrics involving his girlfriend and the rapper’s wild references to Budden’s infamous naked hallway moment.

Joe Budden’s reaction to finding out Drake slept with his girl on 1am in Albany pic.twitter.com/ZxlZqa4Op7

— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) May 14, 2026

RELATED: Time Flies! Social Media Users Are Doin’ A Double-Take After Drake & Adonis Attended Toronto Raptors Game

After nearly two years of legal drama overshadowing the original “It Ends with Us” movie, reports suggest actor-director Justin Baldoni is going back to the drawing board and already working on a sequel.

Despite the messy court fight, the project is reportedly still in motion, leaving fans with one major question: whether his co-star, Blake Lively, will be part of it.

Lively and Baldoni reached a settlement earlier this month, but the actress is reportedly still seeking damages over alleged retaliation tied to his dismissed $400 million countersuit.

Lively and Baldoni appear to be on very different paths following the end of their contentious court battle.

While insiders have claimed the “Gossip Girl” alum has become unpopular in some Hollywood circles, with one industry source alleging that no one wants to work with her again, Baldoni is reportedly already focused on another, possible “It Starts with Us” movie.

Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, still owns the rights to a sequel and is said to have begun early development on the project following the success of the original movie.

“Justin finally feels like he can breathe again,” an insider told Rob Shuter’s #ShutterScoop. “For months, it was nonstop lawsuits, backlash, and crisis management. Now he’s focused on rebuilding.”

Lively And Baldoni’s Feud Nearly Sank The Franchise

The original film’s momentum took a massive hit after Lively filed a lawsuit in 2025, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment on set. He denied the allegations and fired back with a $400 million countersuit against her, though a judge threw it out last year.

Their court battle also spilled beyond the two stars, dragging several high-profile names into the drama, including Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, and her former friend, Taylor Swift.

Fans labeled their dynamic “toxic” and feared the bitter legal fight may have marked the end of the film franchise. However, a source claimed Baldoni is now moving on regardless, even if that means doing it without Lively.

Justin Baldoni ‘Wouldn’t Mind’ Working With Lively

Despite their public fight, Baldoni reportedly believes the story’s message is bigger than the behind-the-scenes drama and is willing to push ahead to bring it back to life.

“Justin still believes in these stories and believes audiences are ready to move on,” a source explained. “He thinks the focus can finally return to the movies instead of the drama.”

However, per Mandatory, whether Lively will reprise her role as Lily Bloom remains the multimillion-dollar question for many fans. Although sources claim it is highly unlikely, Baldoni is reportedly leaving the door open and “wouldn’t mind” working with her again.

“Justin would work with Blake again if it helped save the franchise,” an insider revealed. “He’s not interested in revenge. He just wants to make movies again.”

Lively And Baldoni Settled Their Legal Fight

The news comes barely a week after they reached a settlement that reportedly didn’t cost either party anything.

Before then, the “A Simple Favor” actress had already suffered a massive blow to her case after a judge dismissed 10 out of the 13 claims she made against him, including sexual harassment and defamation.

In a statement released as part of their settlement, they noted that starring in the film and raising awareness about the rigors of domestic violence remains a source of pride for both parties, per Variety.

“We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard,” they continued. “We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”

Justin Baldoni Reportedly Wants To ‘Tell His Story’

Meanwhile, it may be hard for Baldoni to remain silent about everything that has happened, as reports suggest he is considering a tell-all to share his side of the fallout with Lively.

Their co-star in the film, Adam Mondschein, who appeared as a doctor, accused Lively of hurting his friend and claimed Baldoni wants to “tell his story” because he “deserves to be heard,” despite her camp allegedly doing everything to prevent that, per Radar Online.

Another source claimed Baldoni felt “vindicated” by how things played out before the settlement, adding that Lively probably did not expect the case to be challenged as “aggressively” as it was.

Niall Horan has officially confirmed that he will not be attending the upcoming wedding of his former bandmate Harry Styles and actress Zoë Kravitz. 

During a recent media appearance, the Irish singer addressed the swirling rumors regarding the high-profile nuptials and his own social calendar for the coming months. 

His comments come as fans eagerly anticipate a reunion of the One Direction members at what is expected to be one of the biggest celebrity events of the year.

Horan recently shared that while he has several weddings on his upcoming schedule, the highly anticipated ceremony for Styles and Kravitz is not among them.

During a guest appearance on a New Zealand radio show, the 32-year-old singer expressed his general excitement for wedding season, noting that “we all love a wedding” and mentioning that he is looking forward to celebrating with a few close mates. 

However, when the radio hosts pressed for more specific details, asking if his plans involved a “particular month” or “old people you used to work with,” Horan quickly caught on to the reference to his former One Direction bandmate. 

Laughing off the implication, he clarified that his current wedding invitations are only for personal friends and not for any former colleagues, per U.S. Weekly. 

To put the rumors to rest, Horan joked about his hectic schedule, stating plainly, “I am not going, if that’s what you’re asking.” He followed up by playfully adding, “I’m a busy man,” suggesting that his professional commitments are keeping him from joining the guest list for the Styles-Kravitz nuptials. 

Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz Have Reportedly Taken The Next Step In Their Relationship

While Horan may be too busy to attend, the excitement surrounding the couple continues to grow as they prepare to take the next big step in their relationship. Reports that Styles and Kravitz are officially engaged intensified following weeks of public speculation and new photographs. 

Insiders described their connection as a whirlwind romance that quickly turned serious, leaving friends and family unsurprised by the news. According to The Blast, a source close to the couple shared that the “As It Was” singer is “completely smitten” and would do anything for the actress. 

This deep affection is reportedly mutual, with Kravitz said to be “on cloud nine” as the pair celebrates this new milestone.

Zoë Kravitz Reportedly Rocked Her $1M Engagement Ring A Few Weeks Ago

This deep commitment was recently put on full display when Kravitz was spotted in New York City wearing a breathtaking diamond ring that has captivated fans.

Moving casually through the city in a cab, the actress made no effort to hide the massive sparkler on her wedding finger, which experts estimate is a ten-carat oval stone set in yellow gold. 

Valued at approximately $1 million, the custom-made bezel-set piece was actually first seen on her hand back in December, suggesting the couple has been privately celebrating for months. 

Insiders shared that the proposal itself was a traditional and romantic gesture that Kravitz accepted without a moment’s hesitation. Her immediate “yes” reportedly stemmed from being deeply in love and appreciating the unique way the singer supports her, per The Blast.

Rumors Suggest That The Couple Is Open To Having A Baby

As the couple prepares for their upcoming wedding, those closest to them believe that a new addition to the family could be arriving sooner than later.

Friends of the “Watermelon Sugar” singer have revealed that he has his heart set on becoming a father and has been vocal about his desire for a child for some time. 

The Blast reported that this longing for a family was reportedly sparked by the birth of his niece, which led the musician to reflect on his priorities after years of focusing on his massive career.

Insiders also suggest that Styles is so dedicated to Kravitz that starting a family together feels like a natural next step, and many in their circle would not be surprised by a pregnancy announcement in the near future. 

The Actress Publicly Criticized Hulu For Their Post About Her Engagement

While those in their inner circle are focused on the future of the couple’s family, Kravitz has been busy defending the boundaries of her personal life from corporate exploitation. The actress recently publicly criticized Hulu for using her high-profile engagement to Styles as a marketing tool on social media. 

The streaming service had shared a photo of Kravitz from her series “High Fidelity,” which they canceled in 2020, with a caption referencing Styles’ fourth studio album, per The Blast.  

Finding the connection offensive, the 37-year-old star commented: “This is tacky.” She also tagged the platform, leading them to quickly delete the post.

It’s been four days since Netflix released ‘The Roast of Kevin Hart‘ and the internet is still sounding off about it! Tony Hinchcliffe, in particular, is catching heat for what many are calling a tasteless joke referencing the death of George Floyd. And the backlash is coming from more than just fans and viewers! Celebrities like Tamika D. Mallory and Sukihana are voicing their disappointment. Floyd’s family and friends, including his brother, Terrence Floyd, and close friend, Stephen Jackson, are also speaking out.

RELATED: George Floyd’s Brother Demands Lil Yachty Rewrite His Controversial Verse To Honor His Legacy

What Did Tony Hinchcliffe Say About George Floyd? 

During his set, Hinchcliffe reportedly referenced the brutal death George suffered on May 25, 2020. On that day, Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes during an arrest in Minnesota, even as he repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe. In 2021, a state court convicted him of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. His sentence was 22.5 years in prison, which he is serving concurrently with an additional 21-year sentence for pleading guilty to violating Floyd’s constitutional rights. His death launched a movement against police brutality, dubbed ‘Black Lives Matter.’

Still, despite that context, Tony Hinchcliffe used the horrendous death as a punchline, live on Netflix and Kevin Hart was cackling in response.

“The Black community is so proud of you right now. George Floyd is looking up at us all, laughing so hard that he can’t breathe,” Tony Hinchcliffe said.

Tony Hinchcliffe made a WILD George Floyd joke while roasting Kevin Hart 💀

“The Black community is so proud of you… right now George Floyd is looking up at us all laughing so hard he can’t breathe.” pic.twitter.com/33T2anzhja

Advertisement

— Killa 🌺 (@KillaKreww) May 11, 2026

The George Floyd joke isn’t the only reason Tony Hinchcliffe is catching heat. He and Shane Gillis both made jokes about Sheryl Underwood’s husband, who died by suicide in 1990. Additionally, ‘The Kevin Hart Roast’ is reportedly the second roast at which Tony has cracked a George Floyd joke. He did the same thing in 2024 during Tom Brady’s roast, saying that Rob Gronkowski looks like “the final boss in George Floyd: The Video Game,” per the Star Tribune. So far, it doesn’t appear that Hinchcliffe has addressed the backlash over his recent or past controversial jokes, leaving critics to question whether he has a pattern.

RELATED: ‘Human Traffic Cone’ Tou Thao Sentenced To 4+ Years In Prison For Contributing To The Killing Of George Floyd

Recap Of Family, Friend & Celeb Reactions To Joke

Speaking with ‘The Breakfast Club’s Loren Lorosa, Terrence Floyd slammed Tony for presenting his brother’s death as comedy. He said Kevin Hart should’ve shut down the joke, especially given that he attended George Floyd’s funeral in Minnesota. “A lot of it just felt argh…it wasn’t tasteful,” he said. Terrence also shared that George Floyd’s daughter often has to deal with the fallout from controversies involving her father’s name, especially near his death anniversary.

“This is crazy. We’re upset but I’m focusing more on the well-being of my niece,” Terrence said.

Meanwhile, George Floyd’s close friend, Stephen Jackson, also addressed the joke via social media. The second time, he insisted that no one can tell someone else what to be offended by. “Everybody laughing…until it’s their family member that gets murdered, then it ain’t funny,” he said in a video. He called the behavior “clown sh*t,” adding that he traveled to 29 states, marching in his brother’s name in real-time and won’t be told how to react. In his caption, Jackson added:

“Forever gone ride for my brother. If u don’t like me nor respect my brother Unfollow is all u gotta do. I don’t give a f*ck. Respect it or Check it and nobody ain’t checking sh*t here. Wallahi. Your opinion don’t matter to me. Keep it. Ciabatta still come 1st on the month regardless 😂.”

Additionally, Sukihana took to social media with a video, expressing her disbelief that “a group of white colonizers” disrespected George Floyd and made a joke of his death. “I’m more appalled at the Black people that sat there and watched it and laughed. Nobody got up? Nobody said…this is my cue, I’m leaving?” she said.

As mentioned, Tamika D. Mallory also released a statement slamming Tony Hinchcliffe’s jokes. She said there was “nothing funny” about George’s murder.

“Allowing that white man or any other man to stand up there and disrespect US, while laughing, is disgusting. Part of the reason Black folks continue to face SEVERE attacks against our rights, is because some of us think everything is sh*ts and giggles. It wasn’t funny AT ALL.”

SWIPE BELOW TO SEE THE VIDEOS & STATEMENTS DESCRIBED. 

Has Kevin Hart Spoken Out About The George Floyd Jab?

As mentioned, Kevin Hart was one of many at the roast who laughed when Tony Hinchcliffe used George Floyd and his death as punchlines. After the event, Hart took to Instagram to applaud all the comedians who popped out. He claimed the event went exactly as planned. Roasts, per Kevin, should be “hard-hitting, relentless jokes with no consequence. That’s the concept of a roast, you go hard or you go home.” Of Tony Hinchcliffe specifically, Hart said:

“Tony Hinchcliffe f*cking understood the assignment. Relentless as he always is, but funny. You can’t have emotions. You gotta understand what the f**king assignment is. Everybody came out there and did their f**king thing.”

Since that video on Monday (May 11), Kevin Hart has made seven additional Instagram feed posts promoting the roast. He has not directly addressed the backlash concerning the George Floyd jokes. Still, his comment sections are being flooded with mentions of it.

RELATED: Play Too Much! Four Times Kai Cenat & Kevin Hart Had Us In TEARS During Their Viral Livestream

Bold and the Beautiful suggests Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) is being shoved out of her job if Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) get their way.

But some tidbits were dropped on a recent episode that tease an epic twist that could be coming when Steffy has had enough of all of this.

So, we’re going to talk about what insane shakeup might happen that could change Forrester Creations forever. All because Hope is playing these little games.

Steffy Has Been Unpleasant But The Business Decision Makes Sense on Bold and the Beautiful

So, to be clear, I absolutely agree that Steffy has been unpleasant in the way that she talked to Hope about shelving her line. However, focusing on Eric Forrester‘s (John McCook) new collection makes sense for the company. Back in 2024, when Hope for the Future was shelved, even Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) agreed that it makes sense and everybody else agreed.

But Hope freaked out back then and she manipulated Carter into the coup. And now, because of Eric’s new collection, Hope for the Future is on the back burner again. And even Brooke agrees with that decision. However, Hope is ticked off again and refuses to accept it. And she’s pulling almost the same stunt with Brooke. A coup slightly more legal this time, but still.

Steffy Appalled on B&B

Steffy, of course, didn’t react well when Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) trotted over to Forrester Creations this week and suggested that Steffy give her job to Brooke after she guilted Ridge and seduced him and told them they would be the new Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery) and Eric. In the end, it’s Hope who is selfishly manipulating things again. And that sets the stage for this possible twist that I want to talk about.

So, Ridge has to go home and tell Brooke that Steffy will not step aside. And Ridge probably thinks, “Okay, that’s the end of it.” But Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for later this week say Hope and Brooke make a new path forward. The only path really is to get Eric on their side.

I expect Brooke to go play on her history with Eric and convince him to agree to make Brooke co-CEO. And with Eric on her side with his shares, basically Ridge can’t refuse. And Brooke wouldn’t let him. So, I suspect Ridge and Eric have to tell Steffy to step aside. And I suspect that she’ll ask Eric and Ridge, don’t do this to me. She’ll probably trash talk Brooke. But I think Eric and Ridge are thoroughly under Brooke’s control and won’t back down. So, now we get to the point of the epic twist that I anticipate could happen.

Steffy Foreshadowed What Could Happen on Bold and the Beautiful

So, it was actually Steffy who foreshadowed what could happen. When Ridge admitted that if not for Steffy, Forrester Creations wouldn’t be where it is and would have been absorbed by a big conglomerate, she agreed. She told Ridge, “Yeah, like Spencer.” Steffy reminded Ridge that if not for her, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) would own Forrester Creations. And Steffy said she saved the family business and made sure it stayed in their hands, which is true.

Then she also told Ridge she’s the one with relationships with influencers and buyers and vendors while Ridge focuses primarily on design. And then Steffy said that he needs to show her respect as co-CEO. Now, that was a valid argument because it was about business, not about being Ridge’s daughter or trying to guilt him, you know, put me first. The problem is Brooke is in Ridge’s bed and also in his head. And Brooke’s got a lock on Eric, too.

Bold and the Beautiful: Steffy Makes Huge Move

So, here’s the twist. Steffy was talking about how Spencer almost owned Forrester Creations. So, I could see her making a huge move to undo what Brooke did and regain control and make sure Ridge and Eric can never push her aside again. Remember, while Steffy and Ridge were debating, there was a lot of stress over at Spencer/Logan. Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) told Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and Bill about Brooke’s move.

And Katie and Bill realized with Brooke in the co-CEO seat, she may bring back Hope’s line, so she would have no reason to come over to Logan. Katie’s frustrated and was telling Bill about another bad portfolio from a designer. And Katie definitely needs a designer. And remember, Hope isn’t a designer. Now, neither is Steffy, but she knows a lot of designers across the industry. She is extremely well-respected.

Steffy Could Convince Zende To Follow Her To Logan on Bold

Plus, Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz) is ticked off this week and ranting to Carter about designing a line that is on the shelf. Because even with Brooke as co-CEO, I think Hope for the Future will stay on the back burner for a while because of Eric’s new couture line. Brooke agrees with Ridge on that point. So, Brooke may tell Hope she has to be patient and wait, and she probably will because she knows her mom won’t leave it on the back burner forever.

But Steffy might be able to convince Zende to follow her over to Logan and be a lead designer there. He’s never had a lead designer gig. I think he’d love it. He’s certainly talented and he respects Steffy. Also, honestly, it’d be nice to see more of Zende. And from there, Steffy could bring in other designers. She could use her influence to get Logan the best materials. And she’d be in a position to sabotage Forrester Creations because of all of her contacts.

Bold and the Beautiful: Steffy Could Get Bill on Board

Now, I don’t think Steffy would destroy Forrester Creations, but I could see her aligning with Bill and conspiring to cause a lot of problems with Forrester Creations to destabilize it so that Spencer could take it over with the promise that Steffy could be the sole CEO and that Forrester Creations would remain under the Spencer umbrella, but with her running it. If she dangled to Bill a way to permanently crush Ridge, I know for a fact he would jump at the chance.

And Katie might be hesitant at first, but honestly, she might be secretly thrilled because it wasn’t Steffy who sidelined her at Forrester Creations. It was Brooke and Ridge who went and hired that outside PR firm that basically made her obsolete. So, I could actually see Katie agreeing to be co-CEO with Steffy at Logan with the long-term goal of taking over Forrester Creations and Steffy being the sole CEO there while Katie then resumes being the sole CEO at Logan and Steffy could really help her make it happen. And her walking away from Forrester Creations would cause a huge issue.

Forrester Creations Can’t Function Without Steffy on B&B

So, if this happens, I’m sure Brooke would tell Ridge, “Look, it’s fine. We can do this without Steffy,” but I kind of don’t think they can. As she reminded Ridge, he’s primarily a designer and Steffy makes all the deals and she keeps the wheels turning. Now, Carter admittedly does some of that, but Steffy is a huge part of the company’s ongoing success, and Brooke doesn’t have any clue how to do what Steffy does. As Ridge was saying, Brooke is more of the face of Forrester Creations for the bedroom line primarily at this point.

And yes, it would get a lot of PR if they announced Ridge and Brooke Forrester are running Forrester Creations together. But if Steffy walks out because Brooke got Ridge to push her out of her position, the negative PR might outweigh the positive, especially since Brooke and Ridge pushed Eric out and that was a PR nightmare, and Bill made sure that the fashion press knew that they had forcibly retired Eric. And Hope pushing Brooke to push Ridge honestly could be the end of Forrester Creations as we know it.

There is no way that Steffy’s going to take a backseat and answer to Brooke and let her take her job with no consequences. And I could see a world where she and Bill conspire with Steffy and make sure that long-term it’s better for Forrester Creations to be in her hands rather than Ridge and Brooke’s hands. So, we’ll see what happens, but I think this would be a really cool twist.