German tennis pro Alexander Zverev poked fun at his rival Ben Shelton’s girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, following his U.S. Open men’s singles win.

“Trinity, I thought you had a game today, no?” Zverev, 29, said during his winner’s speech inside New York City’s USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sunday, September 13, following his 6-3, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 defeat over Shelton, 23. Shelton and pro soccer player Trinity, 24, began dating in March 2025.

“Well done to you as well,” the Grand Slam winner continued to direct at Trinity, whose father is NBA legend Dennis Rodman, as the crowd erupted in laughter. “You’re the lucky charm, so … not today, but usually.”

Trinity, who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Woman’s Soccer League, took the lighthearted jab in her stride, laughing at Zverev’s comments before agreeing that today wasn’t her day, per footage of the moment shared via ESPN’s TikTok account.

Related: Olympian Trinity Rodman Cheers on Boyfriend Ben Shelton During BMW Open 

Olympian Trinity Rodman was boyfriend Ben Shelton’s No. 1 fan and cheerleader during the BMW Open tennis tournament. Rodman, 22, stepped out in Munich on Saturday, April 19, for Shelton’s semifinal match against Argentine athlete Francisco Cerundolo, sitting in a private box. The soccer player, for her part, dressed sporty chic in a black T-shirt […]

The athlete has served as a loyal supporter to Shelton throughout the tournament, spotted cheering him on during his semifinal matchup against Frances Tiafoe on Friday, September 11. She took her encouragement online after the match, which saw Shelton compete in his first U.S. Open final, taking to her Instagram Stories to spread the love.

“Onto the next,” she wrote atop coverage of Shelton’s progress into Sunday’s final. Trinity also showed her support on Shelton’s Instagram grid, commenting on a carousel of images her shared prior to Sunday’s match. “Love you so much,” she wrote, drawing a string of praise from fans of the athletic duo.

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Trinity also threw her support behind Shelton through her U.S. Open fashion choices, sharing a look at her “I Love My Boyfriend” cropped T-shirt via an Instagram carousel of her own on September 4. Her snaps captured her standing outside Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Sunday’s final was staged, in paired white heels, a mini skirt and a designer clutch.

Shelton spoke to Us about his romance with Trinity in April 2025, admitting that he knew some people would talk about their union. “But I didn’t think it would be a ‘break the Internet’ type of thing,” he said of the couple’s social media debut . “I’ve always been like, ‘OK, if I have a serious girlfriend,’ then [I’m] posting about it on Instagram … isn’t that crazy.”

He continued at the time, “I feel like for the past six months, whenever I would get seen with somebody, people would think we were dating. It’s like, ‘No, we’re just friends.’ Or if I’d hang out in a group of three and it was a guy and a girl, they’d cut the guy out and make it seem like I was on a date. It’s either gonna be I post about my girlfriend or they post about assuming who my girlfriend is.”

Fantasy has been one of the most beloved movie genres ever since its inception. Ever since the work of artists like Georges Méliès, lauded as the father of fantasy cinema, the genre has seen great development over the decades. With its use of complex magic systems, mythical creatures, and inventive magical concepts, fantasy can delight and shock, bringing audiences to new worlds and drawing powerful parallels to the real one.

There are many ways to classify fantasy, but the most popular classify it into two categories: “Low fantasy” and “High fantasy.” Whereas high fantasy brings its fantastical elements (such as magic and fictional creatures) to a parallel world, low fantasy places them in everyday situations, quite literally bringing fantasy to the real world. From the iconic, like the Harry Potter franchise, to the underappreciated, like Wings of Desire, low fantasy has a kind of charm that no other subgenre of fantasy can replicate.

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‘A Matter of Life and Death’ (1946)

Image via Eagle-Lion Films

Originally released in the United States as Stairway to Heaven, the British romance drama A Matter of Life and Death is nothing short of one of the best fantasy movies of all time. Directed, written, and produced by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, it’s a delectably creative and exciting fantasy gem unlike any other the genre has ever produced.

Blending color and black-and-white to emphasize the difference between the real world and a fantastical one wasn’t unheard of in 1946, but A Matter of Life and Death does something refreshingly different by making Earth the one that’s in gorgeous three-strip Technicolor and the afterlife the one that’s in black-and-white. This is but one of the reasons why this beautiful romance drama, one of the most dazzling fantasy films of the 1940s, is such a masterpiece.

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‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)

Image via GKIDS

Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon has been making some of the greatest animated fantasy movies of modern times since 2009. Their second-ever feature film was Tomm Moore‘s Song of the Sea, which is far and away one of the best animated fantasy movies the big screen has ever seen. Perfect for kids, families, and adults alike, it’s the sort of pure movie magic that’s humanly impossible to resist.

Heavily inspired by Irish folklore, this impressively animated little gem is a profoundly hard-hitting tale about grief, family, and all the reasons why humanity needs pain in order to feel truly alive. These are complicated themes for such a cutesy-looking family film, but it’s precisely that emotional maturity which Song of the Sea hides under its surface that makes it a must-see.

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‘The Fall’ (2006)

Image via Roadside Attractions

Directed by Tarsem Singh, The Fall is one of those R-rated fantasy movies that forever changed the genre. Though its botched distribution strategy and the polarized critical reception that it drew guaranteed its becoming one of the most notorious fantasy film flops of the 2000s, it has since become one of the decade’s most widely beloved low fantasy cult classics.

All in all, The Fall is low fantasy at its most delectably artsy and surreal: visually striking, wonderfully imaginative and dreamlike, and largely reliant on jaw-dropping on-location shooting over cheap visual effects. Couple that with an emotionally stirring meta-narrative about the act of storytelling itself, and you get what’s one of the most essential fantasy cult classics of the 21st century so far.

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‘Army of Darkness’ (1992)

Image via Universal Pictures

Horror lovers and fans of campy movies will find the perfect marriage of both in Sam Raimi’s 1992 classic Army of Darkness, the third installment in Sam Raimi‘s The Evil Dead trilogy. It also happens to be a dark fantasy film, where Ash is transported to the year 1300 and must retrieve the Necronomicon and battle his way back home.

By far the most absurd, outlandish, and, arguably, funniest of the three installments, Army of Darkness sees Raimi at his Raimi-est. In many ways, Army of Darkness is a hilarious satire of big fantasy blockbusters and traditional horror movies. It’s an experience that’s vastly different from its two darker, gorier, scarier predecessors, but in a delightfully fun way.

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‘My Neighbor Totoro’ (1988)

Image via Toho

Known for his ability to create immersive, enchanting, fantastical worlds that anyone would love to visit, Hayao Miyazaki has dominated the modern anime industry for years. My Neighbor Totoro is among his most wholesome and highly acclaimed works, following two girls who move to the country to be closer to their ailing mother, where they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live there.

Funny, sweet, and touching, My Neighbor Totoro is simply humanly impossible to hate. It exudes magic and wonder as only the best family fantasy movies can, and the fact that it all happens in the scenic Japanese countryside makes it all the more delightful. With some fun interactions with the real world, such as a big chubby creature standing under the rain with an umbrella at a bus stop, Totoro is a masterclass in low fantasy done right.

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‘The Green Mile’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Doubtless one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work, Frank Darabont‘s The Green Mile is one of the most singular and moving prison movies ever made. Set on death row in a Southern jail, it follows the lead guard who realizes a gentle giant awaiting his execution has the mysterious power to heal people. Michael Clarke Duncan is magnificent in the role that gave him his only Academy Award nomination, and Darabont – who also directed The Shawshank Redemption, another top-tier adaptation of a Stephen King story set in prison – does a beautiful job behind the camera.

The Green Mile is a tearjerker like few others, with potent social commentary on prejudice and racism and beautiful themes of spirituality, magic, and healing. Its fantasy elements are simultaneously the foundation of the story and a subtle detail to boost the power of its deeper message, which is precisely what low fantasy is all about.

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‘Wings of Desire’ (1987)

Image via Orion Classics

Known for his austere, almost poetic approach to filmmaking, Wim Wenders has made some really magical movies, even those that aren’t fantasy. One of his most acclaimed works is the criminally underrated Wings of Desire, a slow-burn low fantasy drama about an angel who, tired of merely overseeing human activity in Berlin, longs for the pleasures of physical existence when he falls in love with a mortal.

Poignantly romantic and philosophically profound, Wings of Desire has some of the most beautifully composed scenes of any ’80s film and two of the best angel characters in media. Wings of Desire is an arthouse film that requires patience and attention. However, audiences willing to grant them will be graced with one of the most beautiful fantasy movies they’ll ever see.

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‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya’ (2013)

Image via Toho

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Though he’s the face of Ghibli — and arguably contemporary Japanese cinema in general — Miyazaki isn’t the only exceptional Japanese filmmaker. Isao Takahata has made some of the most bewitching animated films of all time, including the enrapturing The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. It’s about an old bamboo cutter and his wife discovering a tiny girl in a shining bamboo stalk, who they raise as their child as she rapidly grows.

Set during Japan’s Heian period, the film is based on an iconic piece of Japanese folklore. It’s extremely easy to get emotionally invested in the story and characters, following a deeply moving story of womanhood and parenthood that makes perfect use of its fantastical elements and historical setting.

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‘Princess Mononoke’ (1997)

Image via Studio Ghibli

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Princess Mononoke is a surprisingly mature and violent action fantasy drama about a confident young warrior who, on a journey to protect his village from a demon, finds himself in the midst of a war between a mining colony and the forest gods. Miyazaki’s exploration of the eternal humans-versus-nature conflict and how harmony can be found within is a film that has aged like fine wine.

Although Princess Mononoke was set up for failure in the US, it became an international success. Visually striking and with a timeless story, Princess Mononoke offers as many constant thrills as it does thoughtful scenes of world-building. Its story is set in the late Muromachi period of Japan’s history, introducing fantasy elements like gods, demons, and spirits. A fascinating slice of history with its director’s signature magic touch, Mononoke is a must-see for Japanese history buffs, low fantasy fans, and animation lovers.

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‘Harry Potter’ Franchise

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Entering a hidden platform through a wall in King’s Cross Station; driving a flying car through the skies of the Scottish Highlands; going down to the Ministry of Magic through a London phone box. These are some of the magical things that only low fantasy can offer, and the Harry Potter movies make the best use of them. Taking place over seven years, the eight movies follow the adventures of a trio of young sorcerer friends.

Harry Potter is one of the most popular fantasy franchises of all time. From Chris Columbus‘s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to David Yates‘s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, the films beautifully grew and matured alongside their loyal fanbase. Each Harry Potter installment has something unique to offer, and together, they form one of the most beloved sagas cinema has ever seen.

The backlash surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s latest commercial has been impossible to ignore, but the actress appears to have found a way to respond without typing a single word. 

Days after her headline-making Novig campaign sparked criticism online, the actress quietly shared a series of images that many fans interpreted as a pointed message to those questioning her decision to appear nude in the ad.

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Rather than address the controversy directly, Sydney Sweeney let her Instagram Stories do the talking. 

On Sunday, the “Euphoria” actress uploaded a collection of images featuring some of the biggest names in sports who have previously posed nude or nearly nude for magazine shoots and promotional campaigns.

The athletes highlighted in her posts included Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, and Caroline Wozniacki. 

Sweeney’s roundup wasn’t limited to women. She also featured male athletes including Myles Garrett, Rob Gronkowski, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jason Kelce, all of whom have participated in revealing sports-themed photo shoots over the years.

The timing of the posts immediately caught attention because they arrived just days after criticism erupted over her new Novig advertisement. 

Notably, the movie star never directly referenced the backlash. Instead, she paired the Stories with another clip from the commercial and promotional images from the campaign itself, allowing followers to draw their own conclusions about what she was trying to say.

Sweeney Says The Campaign Was About Sports, Not Shock Value

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At the center of the debate is Novig’s new nationwide advertising push, which featured Sydney Sweeney as both a strategic partner and equity holder in the company.

As The Blast reported, the “Anyone But You” star appeared nude while posing with footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, hockey equipment, and other athletic gear. The ad repeatedly returned to one message: sports.

“The campaign was about embracing a fun idea,” Sweeney said in a statement per Variety, adding, “The concept is simple: cut through the noise and put the focus entirely on sports. The campaign brings that idea to life with confidence, humor and a playful edge.”

The actress drove that point home throughout the ad. “Think you know sports? Prove it. Novig is just sports. So they wanted to show just sports,” Sweeney said while posing atop a basketball hoop.

The commercial then moved through a series of sports-themed scenes featuring football pads, baseball gear, hockey equipment, and billiards. At one point, she joked, “You can’t trade this. I just look good here,” while stretched across a pool table.

Sydney Sweeney’s Investment In Novig Helped Shape The Campaign

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The 29-year-old’s involvement with Novig goes beyond appearing in commercials. She also owns an equity stake in the company, making her one of the most visible faces associated with the platform’s rollout.

Novig launched nationwide last month under a federally regulated framework and is restricted to users 21 and older. Unlike some prediction markets that allow wagers on politics, current events, and other topics, Novig focuses exclusively on sports outcomes.

That distinction reportedly played a major role in attracting Sweeney. According to Novig founder and CEO Jacob Fortinsky, Sweeney appreciated the platform’s narrow focus. Fortinsky recalled that the star expressed discomfort with prediction markets that ventured into highly personal territory.

“She said, ‘I’m uncomfortable with other platforms that have markets on what color underwear I’m going to wear,’” Fortinsky said per the Daily Mail. He added that Sweeney believed, “There’s something clean about sports.”

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Sweeney’s Ability To Command Attention Was Part Of The Strategy

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While critics focused on the nudity, Novig’s leadership openly acknowledged that Sydney Sweeney’s ability to dominate conversations was one reason she became such an important partner for the company.

Fortinsky praised the actress’s knack for generating attention and keeping audiences engaged, something the company clearly benefited from after the commercial’s release sparked widespread debate online.

“Sydney is great at captivating audiences and being the center of attention,” Fortinsky said. The executive suggested that creating discussion around the campaign was never viewed as a negative outcome. “In some sense, it forces us into the national discourse,” he added.

Sydney Sweeney’s Bathwater Soap Ignited A Firestorm Before Novig

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If the debate over Sweeney’s Novig campaign feels familiar, that’s because the “Christy” actress found herself at the center of a nearly identical controversy more than a year earlier. 

Long before critics accused her of using sex appeal to sell a sports app, Sweeney sparked a social-media frenzy when she partnered with Dr. Squatch to release a limited-edition soap made with her actual bathwater. 

The controversy erupted on May 29, 2025, when Sweeney and Dr. Squatch announced “Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss.” 

In a post that quickly went viral, the actress told fans, “You kept asking about my bathwater after the @drsquatch ad … so we kept it.” The company described it as “A very real, very limited-edition soap made with my actual bathwater.” 

The soap wasn’t just a joke product. Dr. Squatch revealed that the bar contained sand, pine bark extract, and what it described as “a touch of Sydney’s real bathwater.” Only 5,000 bars were produced, with 100 given away before the official launch. The product sold for $8 and was released on June 6, 2025. 

Reaction online was immediate and divided. However, rather than back away from the criticism, Sweeney fully embraced the campaign. 

“When your fans start asking for your bathwater, you can either ignore it, or turn it into a bar of Dr. Squatch soap,” she said in a press release for the product per PEOPLE. She added, “It’s weird in the best way, and I love that we created something that’s not just unforgettable, it actually smells incredible and delivers like every other Dr. Squatch product I love.” 

What happened next only amplified the story. The soap sold out almost immediately, demand overwhelmed the launch, and bars began appearing on resale sites for dramatically inflated prices.

Football season is officially back — and Simone Biles wouldn’t miss a moment with her husband, Jonathan Owens, on the sidelines before kickoff.

“Back to INDY,” Biles, 29, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, September 12, sharing an airport pic of her luggage as she prepared to board a flight to Indianapolis.

After touching down in Indiana, Biles got all glammed up for Owens’ season opener against the Colts. (The NFL safety, 31, signed with the Colts in March after spending the previous season with the Chicago Bears.)

For Sunday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens, Biles rocked a plunging Colts-blue halter minidress embroidered with Owens’ last name across the bodice. The back, meanwhile, featured his No. 38 jersey number. She completed her look with knee-high white boots and a delicate silver choker.

Related: Simone Biles Reacts After NFL Husband Signs With Indianapolis Colts

Simone Biles has her husband Jonathan Owens’ back — no matter what NFL team is listed on his jersey. “No Friday the 13th scaries here,” Biles, 28, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, March 13, reposting the news that Owens, 30, signed a one-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts. “So proud of you, baby. […]

For glam, Biles entrusted hairstylist Erica Lueken to style her dark dresses in loose waves. Makeup artist Brianca Johnson, for her part, applied a full beat to complete the gymnast’s look.

“Kicking off the season game day glam for my girl @simonebiles 💙🏈🙌🏾,” Johnson captioned Instagram footage of Biles’ glam process.

Greeting her man on the sidelines before the game, Biles and Owens sweetly shared a kiss for the crowd.

Owens, who previously played for the Houston Texans and the Green Bay Packers, began dating Biles in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything,” Owens told Texas Monthly in 2021, detailing the origins of the pair’s love story. “We used it to get to know each other — really get to know each other. It created our bond and made it stronger. Now, I’m so thankful.”

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While Owens was initially unaware of Biles’ Olympic accomplishments, they managed to connect on a personal level that transcended their respective careers. The pair, who said “I do” in 2023, have since become one another’s biggest cheerleaders.

“It is not much motivation you need to do, just because you don’t want to put extra, added pressure on anyone. I just tell her, ‘Go do your thing, baby,’” Owens exclusively told Us in July 2024 of supporting his wife’s gymnastic meets. “You get a different type of focus whenever you just have this one person that you’re focusing on.”

He continued, “I’ve played a lot better since [meeting Simone]. I’ve just been focused and locked in, and you come home, talk about my day and play with the dogs, you know what I mean? That’s just kind of, like, our thing.”

Hayden Panettiere‘s on-off boyfriend’s brother, Zach Hickerson, has broken his silence after his arrest following an alleged bar altercation in South Carolina.

“It’s super frustrating, all that we’ve been through and all the rumors that get started and then people believe them,” Zach, the brother of Brian Hickerson, told TMZ on Sunday, September 13, while sitting on a bench in front of the Greenville County Detention Centre. “And then they attack, as a result of the rumors. That’s what p***es me off.”

Us confirmed via a spokesperson from the Greenville Police Department one day prior that Zach was arrested for alleged disorderly conduct and later released on bond, per jail records viewed by Us. Brian, 37, was briefly detained himself after allegedly throwing a barstool, according to the spokesperson, but was released at the scene without any charges.

During Zach’s interview with TMZ, he was asked whether he wanted to “clarify” any details from the alleged altercation, to which he refused. “I’m just trying to go get my car and go back to my life,” Zach told the outlet.

Related: Brian Hickerson Accused of Drug Use Before Hayden Panettiere’s Death: Report

Hayden Panettiere‘s ex Brian Hickerson was reportedly accused of drug use three days before the actress’ unexpected death at 36. According to court records obtained by People on Friday, August 21, prosecutors accused Hickerson, 37, of continued drug use amid his efforts to expunge his domestic violence convictions. Neither Hickerson nor his attorney attended the […]

When he was further asked how Brian, who dated the late Panettiere on and off between 2018 and 2020, was “holding up,” Zach remained silent while scrolling on his phone. (A 2020 domestic violence incident between Brian and Panettiere in Wyoming saw the former couple firmly break off their relationship, however Brian and Zach were both at the scene of the actress’ death at the age of 36 in August.)

Us has reached out to representatives for Brian for comment.

TMZ reported over the weekend that “an eyewitness” claimed the siblings “were being heckled” inside the bar “over Hayden’s death” which allegedly sparked the altercation. The outlet published a video from the incident that seemingly showed Brian throwing a barstool prior to authorities arriving on the scene.

Related: Hayden Panettiere Was ‘Vulnerable’ After Custody Decision, Estranged Mom Says

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Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mom is opening up about how the late actress allegedly felt after relinquishing full custody of her daughter. “The situation with Hayden and [Wladimir Klitschko] and their daughter, that was a very difficult period for her,” Lesley Vogel said during a sit-down interview that aired on Good Morning America Monday, August 24. […]

Panettiere died inside a South Carolina residence on August 16 with no cause of death confirmed at the time of publication. An autopsy showed “no signs of trauma,” and a police report obtained by Us at the time confirmed that the Hickerson brothers were present at the scene of her death.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Brian’s lawyer Sloan Ellis told Us in a statement on August 20. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

Zach spoke to TMZ on August 21, sharing details into his and his brother’s experience. “When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious,” he told the outlet at the time. “I immediately called 911, and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point, we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life.” (Narcan, also known as Naloxone nasal spray, is a medication that “treats narcotic drug overdose,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.)

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Related: Hayden Panettiere’s Ex Brian Hickerson Details Past Abuse Amid Memoir Claims

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Hayden Panettiere’s ex Brian Hickerson is addressing allegations of abuse in their previous relationship ahead of the highly-anticipated release of her upcoming memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning. “Man, I mean, I think it speaks for itself … I got arrested for abusing her,” Hickerson said in an interview with TMZ on Tuesday, May 12. […]

Panettiere had travelled to South Carolina from her Los Angeles home prior to her death.

A witness who was inside Panettiere’s former West Hollywood building exclusively told Us on August 26 that more than six federal agents entered the actress’ residence one night prior. The witness said the agents had a warrant to search the premises.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Simone Biles is the GOAT for many reasons, including her game day style.

Biles has been husband Jonathan Owens’ No. 1 cheerleader ever since they started dating in 2020.

“[I] had been on the [dating app Raya] for a couple days and then she pops up. I’m like, ‘Lemme see who this is,’” Owens, who played for the Houston Texans at the time, said during a December 2023 appearance on “The Pivot” podcast. “I never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity [and I was like], ‘I’ll see what’s up.’”

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After the gold medalist slid into Owens’ DMs, they went on a date and instantly “hit it off.” After two years together, Owens proposed.

Less than one month after their April 2023 nuptials, football safety Owens signed with the Green Bay Packers. Throughout the 2023 NFL season, Biles cheered on her husband from the sidelines in customized Packers merch. When he joined the Chicago Bears the next year, Biles made sure to get decked out in accompanying gear for each game. Owens signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2026, which prompted his wife to share her pride via social media.

Keep scrolling to revisit every game day look Biles has worn to support Owens:

Hayden Panettiere’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was detained after an alleged altercation in a local Greenville, South Carolina bar.

Hickerson, 37, was briefly detained after allegedly throwing a barstool on Saturday, September 13, a spokesperson for the Greenville Police department confirmed to Us. Hickerson was released on the scene and not charged. The police, however, confirmed that Brian’s brother, Zach Hickerson, was arrested for alleged disorderly conduct. Zach was later released on bond, per jail records viewed by Us. (TMZ was first to report the news.)

Additional information regarding the incident was not made available at the time of publication. Us reached out reps for Brian for comment.

Brian dated Panettiere on and off from 2018 to 2020, breaking up for good following a domestic violence incident in Wyoming. Brian was sentenced to one year in jail, which a judge ultimately suspended in exchange for one year of probation.

Related: Inside Hayden Panettiere’s On-Off Relationship With Brian Hickerson

In the years after they broke up, Hayden Panettiere’s relationship with Brian Hickerson was still complicated even at the time of her tragic death. “Hayden and Brian have been on and off for years, but have pretty much always remained in contact,” a source exclusively shares with Us of the pair’s history prior to her […]

Panettiere was found dead in August at the age of 36, with a local police report revealing that Brian and his brother were both at the scene when Panettiere died.

“After EMS officially declared Hayden deceased, I escorted Zach and Brian out of the apartment,” a police report obtained by Us read. “I observed Zach to be very emotional while EMS were working on Hayden. Brian did not become emotional until EMS declared her officially deceased.”

A cause of death for Panettiere, who reportedly suffered an apparent overdose, has not yet been publicly revealed.

Brian broke his silence on the Heroes alum’s death several days later.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” Hickerson’s attorney Sloan Ellis told Us in an August 20 statement. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

Related: Why Hayden Panettiere Hired Security When Ex Brian Hickerson Returned

Hayden Panettiere felt compelled to set firm boundaries with ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson in the months before her death, including taking steps to protect herself. “She helped him from time to time because he made her feel guilty, claiming he was trying to turn his life around, but couldn’t because she put him in jail,” a […]

In addition to Brian, Panettiere is survived by her parents and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with ex Wladimir Klitschko.

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“Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief,” Klitschko, 50, wrote in a social media tribute, mourning Panettiere’s death. “The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Sandra Bullock is recalling the not-so-glamorous start to her acting career.

During a recent chat with close friend Jennifer Aniston for Interview magazine, Bullock, 62, opened up about her acting comeback in Practical Magic 2, which comes four years after her roles in The Lost City and Bullet Train.

“Looking at these questions, it feels like you dropped out of making movies 30 years ago,” Aniston, 57, asked, to which Bullock replied, “I did, but I’m back.”

Aniston then asked Bullock whether she had made a “deliberate choice about the kind of career” she hoped to have, or if her idea of success simply “evolved” over time.

“I was in New York, I was a waitress, I was auditioning for every pervert that existed, asking me to drop my pants. I was like, ‘Nope, not the role for me,’” the Miss Congeniality actress recalled of the infamous culture within the entertainment industry. “I was working my way up. Every working actor thinks you will never work again so you just take what you can get and make the most of it.”

Bullock added that she only ever made an “intentional” choice regarding her career when she decided that she needed to branch out beyond the romantic comedy genre.

“I was getting so much s*** for them,” she continued. “And I took a role in this film called Crash.”

The crime drama film Crash, which premiered in 2004, starred Bullock as Jean Cabot, the wealthy wife of a Los Angeles district attorney whose worldview is shaken when the couple is carjacked at gunpoint by two Black teenagers. The movie, directed by Paul Haggis, explored complex racial and social tensions and won an Oscar for Best Picture. It also marked Bullock’s shift from rom-coms to more serious roles after starring in the classics While You Were Sleeping (1999), Two Weeks Notice (2002) and others.

“It was a genius film,” Bullock told Aniston of Crash. “I wanted to start flexing other muscles.”

Bullock admitted, however, that she misses the days when she primarily did comedies.

“I want to do nothing but that now,” she shared. “Some people want to bring sexy back. We’re going to bring the funny back.”

Bullock’s breakout role came in 1994, when she played Annie Porter in the action thriller Speed opposite Keanu Reeves. She went on to star in several box office hits, including Miss Congeniality (2000), The Blind Side (2009), The Proposal (2009) and Gravity (2013). Her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side earned Bullock her first and only Oscar win for Best Actress. (Bullock was later nominated for the award again for her role as Dr. Ryan Stone in Gravity.)

Related: ‘Practical Magic’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Practical Magic’s spellbinding tale of the Owens sisters’ quest to break their family curse isn’t just a film for the Halloween season — although it’s a must-watch during the fall. The 1998 film starred Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens and Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens, both of whom are unlucky in love thanks to a […]

Though Practical Magic initially bombed at the box office upon its 1998 release, having grossed $68 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $75 million, the film later became a beloved cult classic.

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“We thought, ‘This is going to be such an amazing film. People are going to love it.’ And then it got quiet. It got quiet,” Bullock recalled to Variety at the August 31 premiere of Practical Magic 2. “[They] were like, ‘How many women in a film do you need? How many tones do you need? What kind of film is this?’”

Practical Magic starred Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian, respectively, who must navigate their family’s generational curse dooming any man who falls in love with them to an untimely death. The pair reprised their roles in the sequel, which premiered in theaters on Thursday, September 10.

“It just happened,” Kidman, 59, told the outlet of the sequel. “It was more like serendipity, and it came, and we were ready, and everything fell into place. It’s like in life — you try to force things, it doesn’t work. You have to wait, be patient, and we [were] both kind of open to it.”