Entertainment
Halley Kate McGookin Can Still Feel Injury After Being Punched in NYC
TikToker Halley Kate McGookin says she can still feel her head injury nearly two years after she was allegedly punched by a man in the streets of New York City.
McGookin, 25, appeared at the Manhattan Supreme Court trial of Skiboky Stora on Tuesday, February 3, where she claimed that she was on her way to record a podcast in March 2024 when she was punched by a stranger, according to the New York Post. She further testified that she was so caught off guard by the alleged assault that she even apologized to her attacker.
“He was screaming at me, using a lot of profanity, saying it was my fault,” McGookin testified, according to the outlet.
McGookin claimed she can still feel pain at her hairline where she was allegedly struck.
“I couldn’t really touch anywhere near that spot,” she continued. “I couldn’t really brush my head because it was so painful, tender. “I can still feel in my hairline where I was hit.”
Stora, 42, is charged with three counts of third-degree assault as a hate crime, one count of stalking as a hate crime and second-degree aggravated harassment connected to several alleged random attacks in NYC, including an incident where he allegedly attacked a Jewish couple and yelled, “Die, Jews! Die!”
“Skiboky Stora allegedly committed a series of hate-motivated incidents against several individuals based on their perceived gender, race and religion,” said District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. in May 2024, according to ABC News. “Much of what defines our city is respect and acceptance of all people. Nobody should have to fear for their safety because of their identity. I thank our prosecutors for their unwavering commitment in seeking justice for these victims.”
Stora was arrested two days after the alleged attack on McGookin, following an investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and the Manhattan DA’s office.

McGookin, who did not directly identify Stora as her attacker, posted a video to TikTok about the alleged assault shortly after she claimed it occurred.
“You guys, I was literally just walking, and a man came up and punched me in the face. Oh my God, it was so bad. I can’t even talk,” McGookin said in the video, which went viral and prompted several other TikTok users to come forward with accounts of similar alleged incidents.
Stora, a self-proclaimed rapper, appeared in court wearing a tie with his first name on it. He is representing himself in the trial and reportedly ignoring advice from a legal adviser, according to the NY Post.
Stora asked McGookin a series of unusual questions in court, including one about allegedly being the target of a federal probe and another about a “TikTok trend going around that people were saying they were punched, sucker-punched too.”
The questions were shut down by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Josh Hanshaft.
Stora’s trial is set to resume on Wednesday, February 4.
Ahead of her appearance in court on Tuesday, McGookin, who has 1.6 million followers on TikTok at the time of publication, took to Instagram to share a video of herself walking down the sidewalk to “The Phantom of the Opera.”
“What plays in my head as I am walking up to the courthouse to testify against the man who hit me in the head two years ago,” she wrote over the clip.
McGookin added in the caption, “He hit the wrong girl lemme tell u that.”
Entertainment
Don Lemon Says A Dozen Federal Agents Pulled Up To Arrest Him
Independent journalist Don Lemon said about a dozen federal agents came to his Los Angeles hotel to arrest him last week, even though his attorney had told authorities he would turn himself in to face federal civil rights charges over his coverage of an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church.
RELATED: Don Lemon Breaks His Silence After Jail Release & Arrest For Minnesota Church Protest (VIDEOS)
Lemon told ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that sending the agents was a waste of resources because law enforcement wouldn’t have had to dispatch agents to follow him if he had been allowed to surrender to authorities.
“I was walking up to the room and I pressed the elevator button, and then all of a sudden, I feel myself being jostled and and people trying to grab me and put me in handcuffs,” he said Monday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
He asked the agents who they were and said they identified themselves. Lemon asked to see a warrant and was told they didn’t have it. The agents then summoned an FBI agent to come from outside to show Lemon the warrant on a cellphone.
The Department of Justice didn’t respond to a message seeking comment. The FBI’s Minneapolis office said it would be inappropriate to comment because the case has reached “the adjudication phase.”
Kimmel introduced Lemon, his first guest of the night, by saying he “was arrested for committing journalism.”
Lemon’s attorney has said Lemon plans to plead not guilty. He told reporters “I will not be silenced” after he was released in response to a judge’s orders.
A grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon, another independent journalist, Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul, where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor.
Fort, in an interview with MS NOW’s Rachel Maddow on Monday, said it was “extremely traumatic” for her family when nearly two dozen agents came to her house to arrest her. She has three daughters, and initially thought the youngest two — aged seven and eight — slept through most of it.
“I did find out at some point my eight-year-old woke up but she was so terrified, she just laid in her bed and cried,” Fort said. “Now what we’re seeing from them, they’re afraid to be alone. They’re having issues going through their normal routines. And so we’re just — we’re trying to recover from this.”
Fort said there’s been a strategic attack on the press for some time, but the arrests of her and Lemon takes things to a new level. “I really want American people to understand, attacking the press is not simply attacking journalists,” she said. “It’s attacking the public’s right to know.”
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following a bumpy run as a morning host, has said he isn’t affiliated with the group that disrupted the church service. He told Kimmel he wasn’t a protester.
“I went there to be a journalist. I went there to chronicle and document and record what was happening. I was following that one group around, and so that’s what I did. I reported on them,” Lemon said.
Lemon said he asked the arresting officers if they would let him make a phone call. He said he was told no and that he could talk to his attorney the next day. He tried to use Siri on his Apple Watch to call his husband and his attorney but neither picked up.
A diamond bracelet he was wearing kept getting caught on his handcuffs, which hurt, and the agents told Lemon they would take it off. Lemon said he asked if the agent would mind taking it up to Lemon’s husband in his hotel room and they agreed to do that.
“And that’s how my husband found out. Otherwise, no one would have known where I was,” Lemon said.
Lemon said he was kept in a holding room at the federal courthouse from midnight until 1 p.m. the following day.
Kimmel himself became a symbol of a fight against censorship last year, when ABC suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for remarks made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr pressured broadcasters to take Kimmel off the air shortly before that.
ABC lifted the suspension after a public outcry, and Kimmel returned to the air with much stronger ratings. In Congress, Democratic senators raised concerns that Carr’s actions trampled on the First Amendment.
RELATED: Whew! Nicki Minaj Seemingly Hints At Turning Up The Heat After Don Lemon Accused Her Of Using Slur Against Him
Associated Press writers Audrey McAvoy and David Bauder contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Paeka Brings Peak Girls’ Day Energy as Celeb Host
TMZ.com
Another weekend, another TMZ Brunch Tour … and if you thought a pre-Valentine’s girls’ day couldn’t get any girlier, Paeka said hold my pink drink!
Our Grammy Sunday brunch turned into a full-blown red carpet on wheels, with celeb content creator Paeka showing up pretty in pink and absolutely owning hostess-with-the-mostest duties by becoming the first celeb host to livestream the entire Brunch Bus.
The tour was co-hosted by DJ Coach West, and the crew bounced around L.A.’s hottest brunch spots, including The Henry and Beaches … where Paeka had everyone up, dancing, and fully locked into Beaches’ iconic drag show!
By the time we hit the grand finale at Saddle Ranch, things were officially off the rails. A bull ride AND a drag show on a Sunday afternoon? Yeah, we were all in!
If you’re feeling the FOMO — don’t. You can snag tickets and hop on the Brunch Bus chaos yourself!
Entertainment
Woody Allen’s Wife Sent Wild Emails to Jeffrey Epstein Supporting Anthony Weiner
While most of the country was aghast at Anthony Weiner‘s relationship with a 15-year-old girl back in 2016, Woody Allen‘s wife, Soon-Yi Previn, seemed more disgusted with his victim … according to an email exchange with Jeffrey Epstein.
In just-uncovered messages — part of the millions of Epstein Files documents released by the Department of Justice — Soon-Yi calls the minor “a despicable and disgusting person.”
In one email, dated September 22, 2016, Soon-Yi writes … “I know. It’s an incredible story. You have to feel sorry for him. He can’t seem to learn,” referring to Weiner.
Then she takes a turn, going right at the underage female involved, writing … “I also thought it was disgusting what the 15-year-old did to him.”
She continued … “I hate women who take advantage of guys and she is definitely one of them. She knew exactly what she was doing and how vulnerable Wiener was and she reeled him in like fish to bait.”
According to Soon-Yi, the poor girl was “sick” for having “done this to him” and “should be ashamed of herself.”
While it’s shocking anyone could feel like that, somehow it’s not as earth-shattering coming from Soon-Yi.
As you know … she’s been married to Allen — her adopted mother Mia Farrow‘s ex-husband — since 1997, when she was 27, and he was 62. They first met when Soon-Yi was just 10 years old.
Weiner, a former congressman, was sentenced to 21 months in federal lockup for transferring obscene material to a minor.
We’ve reached out to Allen for comment. So far, no word back.
Entertainment
Bold and the Beautiful: Taylor & Deacon Start Forbidden Romance Behind Everyone’s Back?!
Bold and the Beautiful has Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) determined to be together despite the fact that Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) just hit Taylor with a heartbreaking ultimatum.
Bold and the Beautiful: Deacon and Taylor Tangle
So, last week we saw Deacon Sharpe and Taylor Hayes professing their love to each other and they shared a passionate kiss. Deacon thinks he and Taylor are meant to be together and she agrees. They talked again with Deacon reiterating that he’s ready to leave Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) to be with Taylor.
And then we saw Taylor telling Steffy Forrester that she and Deacon can’t deny their feelings anymore and they want to be together. Of course, Steffy freaked and she told Taylor this can’t happen. Then Steffy took things further and told Taylor that if she’s with Deacon, that’s a deal breaker.
Steffy said Taylor’s not just putting herself in danger, she’s putting Steffy and the kids in danger because Sheila will come after them all. She will lash out if Deacon leaves her. So Steffy told Taylor, “If you start seeing Deacon, I will cut you out of this family.” Of course, that horrified Taylor.
Deacon and Taylor Vow to Fight for Their Romance on B&B
But spoilers for this week confirm that Deacon and Taylor vow to find a way to be together and they share another kiss. So, they’re not going to give up. While Steffy was raging at Taylor, we had Deacon trying to low-key bring up divorce to Sheila. What didn’t help was that when Deacon was trying to talk to her, Sheila had that giant hatchet knife that she was using to chop up fish.
So, Deacon’s trying to ease Sheila into the idea of divorce, talking about what a good person she is now and how much she’s changed, whether or not they’re together. But the only problem is basically what Deacon did was he put Sheila on high alert and she’s going to be suspicious. Meanwhile, Taylor and Deacon are very intent on being together because they are in love. Steffy’s ultimatum is a problem and so is the fact that Deacon is pretty much scared of Sheila.
A Secret Affair and the Search for a B&B Love Nest
I suspect that Deacon and Taylor are going to start a secret affair while they figure out how to make sure Sheila doesn’t come unhinged and doesn’t start hurting people that she loves. And of course, Deacon and Taylor could always wait to be together and they could be patient, but I doubt we’re going to see that, especially because we’re in February sweeps.
I think Deacon and Taylor are going to keep seeing each other. They’re going to keep smooching and I think they’re going to do even more than that. I think we’re on a countdown to seeing them getting intimate, but Deacon and Taylor need some place to be together because they definitely can’t go to his place. Deacon lives with Sheila and they can’t go to her place because Taylor lives in Steffy Forrester’s guest house and she has hit her with that ultimatum.
So, I suspect Taylor and Deacon are going to get themselves a little love nest somewhere they can sneak off and be together. Because as of now, the only way for Taylor to be with Deacon is to sneak around. Until they can figure out how to get Sheila to calmly accept that Deacon doesn’t want to be with her, they either have to stay away from each other or they have to creep around and develop this relationship in secret.
Protecting Taylor Hayes from Sheila Carter’s Revenge on Bold and the Beautiful
Taylor and Deacon also need to meet in secret to strategize on how to get him extricated from his marriage to Sheila without her trying to kill Taylor or Deacon or both him and Taylor. I don’t think Deacon is patient enough to wait to be with Taylor, but at the same time, he doesn’t want her to be at risk.
Official 2026 Bold and the Beautiful spoilers said that Deacon is very intent on protecting Taylor from Sheila and the potential risk that she might go nuclear and want revenge on Taylor for taking her man. Of course, if Deacon can find a way to peacefully divorce Sheila, then Steffy may reconsider the ultimatum.
But as of now, I can see why Steffy’s right not to trust Sheila. I don’t think there’s any way to stop her from going bat crap crazy if Deacon tells her he wants a divorce. That’s bad enough. But to make it worse, if he tells Sheila he’s in love with Taylor and wants to be with her, that’s going to be a huge problem because Sheila is giving Taylor the credit for saving their relationship.
Hope Logan and Brooke Logan Join Team Taylor and Deacon on Bolf
And even worse, if Deacon brings his kids into this and says, “Look, part of the issue is my kids don’t want you around Sheila but they totally approve of me being with Taylor.” I mean, that is going to hit Sheila twice as hard. And in the end, I don’t think there’s any stopping the train wreck that’s coming. But Taylor already said she’s willing to take the risk and she isn’t afraid of Sheila.
And flat out, Taylor said she’s not going to live in fear, but she can’t do anything about Steffy’s fear, which is tangible and justified. So, she and Deacon are definitely going to pursue their relationship, and they need time alone so that they can bask in these newfound feelings and sort out the Sheila situation.
So, they need a love nest, and I’m wondering where that’s going to be. Bold has an unused set that they could remake into a romantic little hidey-hole where those two can be together. Do you remember Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada)’s little apartment? I think that would work. That’s a set they’ve got built and on hand and was used recently.
Finding a Secret Hideout on The Bold and the Beautiful
The problem with a hotel room is that would leave a money trail unless it was some little ratty cash-only place. But B&B has a set for that, too. Do you remember that icky little hotel where Eric Forrester (John McCook) and Quinn Fuller (Rena Sofer) used to meet before they were publicly outed in a relationship? Then again, Taylor could take a page from Bill Spencer (Don Diamont)’s playbook and have a naughty little sex room built next door to her office.


Hope & Deke Support Secret Romance on Bold and the Beautiful
Taylor and Deacon could also just lock the door and get busy on her shrink couch, but anybody could catch them there, including Steffy or Sheila. I think Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) and Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) would actually help them as much as possible. They might even run interference so that Deacon could sneak around to be with Taylor
We know that both of Deacon’s kids want him to leave Sheila and they very much want him to be with Taylor instead. I also think that when Hope hears that Steffy gave Taylor this ultimatum and threatened to cut her out of the family, I could see Hope doubling down to help Deacon and Taylor on the sly.
This week, Steffy’s going to go tell Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) that Taylor has feelings for Deacon. I’m sure Ridge is going to be outraged and he’ll tell Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). But I think Brooke would support Taylor being with Deacon. Brooke might also try and help get through to Steffy and help Deacon find a way to get Sheila to accept a divorce without getting violent.
Will Deacon & Taylor Survive the Sheila on B&B?
One thing we know for sure is that Deacon and Taylor are very happy to have found each other and they are falling in love. They’re already saying, “I love you.” I think they could have a really good life together. But Sheila is the primary and most terrifying obstacle to this relationship.
If they can deal with Sheila and get her to accept things, I think that Steffy would drop the whole deal about cutting her mom out of her life. In the meantime, I expect to see Deacon and Taylor sneaking around and finding some place where they can be together without prying eyes seeing them.
Wait to see if they find a little love nest all of their own. It is February sweeps, so I’m expecting them to find some place with a bedroom and they’re going to hit the sheets.
Entertainment
GloRilla Slammed By Sister For Neglecting Mom And Siblings
Roommates, some heavy family tea is spilling about GloRilla and her relationship with her loved ones. While the rapper has been making waves in the industry and building a name for herself, her sister Victoria Woods is now speaking out about what she claims has—or hasn’t—been done for their family.
RELATED: Clocked It! GloRilla Claps Back After Trolls Criticize Her Viral Bare-Faced Video (WATCH)
GloRilla Accused Of Leaving Her Family Hanging After Fame
In a video circulating online, Victoria Woods, also known as Scar Face Woods, reveals that their mom is still clocking in at FedEx. She also claims that GloRilla hasn’t contributed to household expenses since her rise to fame. Scar Face pointed out that GloRilla has 10 siblings she hasn’t helped financially but allegedly has supported friends along the way. And, she didn’t hold back referencing a viral video that showed GloRilla buying their father a Jaguar, claiming that while it was a flashy gift, it didn’t even have gas and that the parents still require financial assistance.
Additionally, Scar Face stressed that GloRilla doesn’t publicly acknowledge the family support they still need, leaving fans and followers talking. While GloRilla hasn’t publicly responded to the allegations yet, the post has already sparked online conversations, with fans debating the responsibilities, if any, that come with fame—and whether family obligations should come first.
So… What Else Did She Say?
Taking to Facebook, GloRilla’s sister Scar Face Woods seemingly aired out the rapper even more. From detailing their parents’ money struggles to their upbringing and even their autistic brother, Victoria Woods went IN on GloRilla. She wrote:
“I’ll Really Go Live And Expose Yall Favorite Rapper!! Same Mom, Same Dad, 10 Siblings!! Yall Think she this upright a** person when she really not ain’t fwu since she got on and I’m constantly getting acknowledgment for being her sister and she ain’t fwu at all Gloria Woods call my bluff it’s been 4 years why the media haven’t seen your siblings? And don’t say cause you protecting us cause we still in Memphis it’s cause you talk about our struggles and you don’t fwu!! !! na let’s clock it”
In another post, she added:
“And our parents are not straight!! Our dad just borrowed 100$ from our mom yall think yall know shit but don’t !! I had to give my mom 1800$ on a 2400$ rent cause Yall favorite rapper blocked her !! Im tired of being quiet!!!!”
And she continued, calling attention to their siblings’ living conditions:
“…Not finna put our autistic brother on here it’s 10 !! ion gaf about how yall put it she ain’t gave none of the ones she struggled with SH*T! !Same house with [rats] and [roaches] sleeping on busted air mattresses taking baths outta water bottles when our parents couldn’t make ends meet she’s Wrong no matter how yall put it”
GloRilla Caught In Family Tea, Fans Drag Hard
As soon as the drama broke, fans ran straight to TSR’s Instagram comment section to share their two cents. Some defended GloRilla, saying she doesn’t owe grown family members financial support. While others insisted there’s probably more to the story than what’s being shared. Of course, countless people also took the sister’s side, saying that no matter what, the family would be living it up alongside her if she wanted to help.
One Instagram user @heyimdeo commented, “She don’t have to support yall! TF!“
This Instagram user @kingbarbieee_ said, “If I get as much money as glo my mama ain’t working no where now my siblings is different but my mama daddy n granny I’ll die bout it“
And, Instagram user @skinnynene___ added, “My mama and siblings won’t struggle if I make it period idgaf“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @itsjasleeee shared, “Maybe yall didn’t support her dream ? Idk but she always said her friends stuck by her and gon ball with her so 🤷🏽♀️”
While Instagram user @dramaqueenb__ asked, “Ok the mom still working at fedex is crazy a little thou , no ?“
Then Instagram user @carmensangel said, “I’m on the side of I don’t have to take care of grown ppl 🤷🏽♀️ I worked hard for my accomplishments ain’t gon just mooch off me.“
Finally, Instagram user @trinidadrell commented, “Wish my family would when the time comes 😂😂😂”
RELATED: Toosii Opens Up About His Mental Health While Adjusting To Being An LSU Student (VIDEO + PHOTOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Coldplay Couple’s Kristin Cabot Is Keynote Speaker at Crisis PR Conference
Coldplay Couple’s Kristin Cabot
Cashes In At Corporate Conference!!!
Published
Kristin Cabot — one half of the couple who went viral on social media this summer when they were caught getting cozy at a Coldplay concert — is the keynote speaker at a crisis PR conference in D.C. … where tickets are going for $875.
The former “chief people officer” for Astronomer will share the stage with PR pro Dini von Mueffling for a 30-minute discussion titled “Kristin Cabot: Taking Back the Narrative.”
It’s part of PRWeek’s Crisis Comms Conference and tickets to the April event range from $750 to $875 … with 14 other speakers scheduled to grab the mic.
Kristin has a recent crisis PR experience to lean on … she resigned from her cushy job after being caught on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert snuggling up to her boss, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron.
Grace Springer via Storyful

7/16/25
While Kristin was separated from her spouse, the internet did not know that — and she was also immediately labeled a homewrecker. She recently blamed the ordeal on alcohol and told the New York Times she was stalked by paparazzi, receiving 500 or 600 calls a day, and received dozens of death threats after the incident unfolded.
TMZ.com
When describing Kristin’s speaking gig, the conference’s website states … “Cabot experienced firsthand the extremity of public shaming that women have long experienced when in the negative spotlight of the media, one their male counterparts often seem to avoid. During this session, the former Astronomer chief people officer and her PR representative, industry legend Dini von Mueffling, share the strategy — both immediate and long-term — that has helped Cabot take control of her narrative and rewrite her story.”
Folks who shell out big bucks to attend will learn how to “pivot at a moment’s notice for unexpected occurrences that are now the norm, not the exception.”
Entertainment
10 Animated Movies That Are 10/10 but Nobody Remembers
An animated movie gets labeled underrated all the time, but most of those picks are just popular films that people want to sound special about. This list is different. These are the ones that feel quietly perfect and still somehow slip through the cultural cracks, even though they play like total classics. They’re not that popular either. You might not have heard about most of these.
Each pick is a clean 10 out of 10 for me because the craft disappears, and you just feel the story working. Some are funny, some are heavy, and a couple are downright strange, but every one of them has real staying power once you finally press play. So if you’ve been hunting down an animated 10/10 watch, lock in.
10
‘April and the Extraordinary World’ (2015)
April and the Extraordinary World is a pulp adventure that hides a surprisingly sharp idea inside its fun. In this version of history, science keeps vanishing, so Paris feels stuck in a smoky, steampunk limbo while a teen, April Franklin (Marion Cotillard), chases the truth behind her parents’ disappearance. The movie earns your attention fast because every invention feels practical, and every chase has stakes.
As it escalates, it never forgets the emotional core, which is April choosing curiosity over fear. There is a clean sense of momentum to the mystery, and the villains stay unsettling without turning cartoonish. By the time the finale clicks, the story feels complete rather than overexplained, and you realize it pulled off a big, strange premise with real control. It’s a good watch for both children and adults.
9
‘The Red Turtle’ (2016)
The Red Turtle barely uses dialogue, yet it still tells a full life story with clarity. A castaway washes up on an island and keeps trying to escape, until a red turtle blocks him in a way that feels maddening, then meaningful. The film turns survival into a relationship with place, time, and consequence.
What makes it linger is how it keeps changing shape while staying simple. There is no wasted emotional noise, just images that do the work and transitions that feel earned. It’s a 10/10 because it proves animation can hold an entire human life in a handful of images, and somehow make it feel more real than dialogue ever could.
8
‘Tokyo Godfathers’ (2003)
This film starts as a messy night out and turns into a chain of plot turns that never stops paying off. Tokyo Godfathers follows three homeless friends who find an abandoned baby, and instead of treating it like a cute gimmick, the movie forces them to follow the baby’s trail through Tokyo’s backstreets, debt, family secrets, and bad luck. Hana (Yoshiaki Umegaki) keeps the group moving with stubborn warmth.
The magic is that every “coincidence” hits like life, not writing (and that’s a major problem with most animated films). It is directed by Satoshi Kon, who seems to have kept that feeling checked. The film, therefore, keeps the pacing sharp like a thriller but never loses the bruised humanity underneath the jokes. It’s funny in that painful way where you laugh and immediately feel something catch in your throat. And by the time all the threads collide, you realize the movie wasn’t just about finding where the baby belongs, it was about watching these three people accidentally find their way back to themselves.
7
‘Persepolis’ (2007)
Persepolis is so different. It looks simple on the surface, yet it carries enormous emotional weight without ever getting stiff. It follows Marjane (Chiara Mastroianni) growing up through the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, and the story keeps focus on what that does to a kid’s identity, friendships, and sense of safety.
That whole premise makes it an excellent film, giving it that rewatchability factor for anyone who clicks with the themes, and how it refuses to flatten anyone into a symbol. You get clear personal stakes in every phase, from teenage rebellion to exile loneliness, and the film never pretends those phases are neat. Any child who feels the same things in their life ends up loving it.
6
‘Fantastic Planet’ (1973)
There are animated films that feel whimsical, comforting, even playful, and then there’s this strange, unnerving sci-fi fever dream from 1973 that seems designed to make your skin crawl in the best possible way. Fantastic Planet drops you onto a distant world where humans aren’t heroes or explorers, but tiny, disposable creatures treated like pets (or pests) by towering blue beings called Draags.
From the very first minutes, the movie radiates imbalance. Everything is off-kilter: the scale, the power, the cruelty baked into everyday life. Terr (Jean Valmont), the human who escapes captivity, isn’t framed as some shiny savior figure. He’s just surviving, learning, resisting, and the film refuses to turn his struggle into a simple fantasy of triumph. The ending doesn’t wrap things up with some satisfying overthrow or blood-soaked payback. Terr doesn’t defeat the Draags. Nobody wins, nobody is redeemed, and that’s why it sticks.
5
‘Millennium Actress’ (2001)
Millennium Actress makes memory move like cinema itself — fast, fluid, impossible to hold still. A filmmaker interviews retired legend Chiyoko Fujiwara (Miyoko Shōji), and her answers don’t arrive as neat recollections. They explode into scenes: her life collapsing into the roles she once played until the boundary between performance and reality stops mattering.
The film jumps across centuries, wars, and romances with dizzying speed, but it never loses its center. Everything is anchored to Chiyoko’s longing, that single emotional current pulling her forward. It qualifies as a 10/10 for me because it frames love not as something she ever has, but something she is always moving toward. The story becomes a chase stretched across an entire lifetime — not for a man exactly, but for the feeling of pursuit itself. By the end, it appears that the blurred timelines were the only honest way to show what she spent her life running after.
4
‘The Secret of Kells’ (2009)
The Secret of Kells feels like a story carved into illuminated manuscript pages and then brought to life. The plot follows Brendan (Evan McGuire), a young monk in a fortified abbey, and his world is ruled by fear of invasion and strict boundaries. And once he meets Aisling (Christen Mooney), the film shifts into a quest where art becomes the thing worth risking everything for.
The movie stands out because it commits fully to its visual style. Inside the abbey, everything looks stiff and controlled, straight lines, tight spaces, repeated shapes, which match how Brendan’s life is ruled by rules and fear. Once he goes into the forest with Aisling, the animation changes. The backgrounds get looser, filled with curves and swirling patterns, like the world is opening up. The design is taken directly from the real Book of Kells: flat perspective, heavy outlines, and decorative detail packed into every shot. That’s why the film doesn’t feel like a typical fantasy cartoon.
3
‘A Scanner Darkly’ (2006)
A Scanner Darkly uses rotoscope animation to make paranoia feel physical. Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover cop sinking into addiction while spying on his own friends, and the film never gives you a safe viewpoint. Every conversation feels slightly off, like you are listening through a damaged wire. Donna (Winona Ryder) might be honest, or she might be another angle.
What makes it stick is how it turns comedy into discomfort. The group’s jokes have real nervous energy, and the story keeps tightening until Bob cannot tell what he knows anymore. When the final reveals land, they are brutal because they are quiet, and the movie makes you sit with the cost instead of dressing it up.
2
‘Ernest & Celestine’ (2012)
Ernest & Celestine is one of those rare kids’ films that feels genuinely kind. Celestine (Mackenzie Foy) is a young mouse raised on the idea that bears are basically monsters, and Ernest (Forest Whitaker) is a broke, hungry bear who looks scary on paper but is basically just exhausted and decent. Their friendship doesn’t just “challenge society” in some vague way, it pisses off an entire world built on fear and tradition.
What I love is how calm the movie is about its message. It doesn’t do big speeches or melodrama. The prejudice is baked into everything: the courtrooms, the rules, the way crowds immediately turn cruel. And the softness of the watercolor animation makes that harshness hit harder, because the world looks gentle even when it’s being unfair. The movie feels like watching two outsiders accidentally expose how ridiculous the whole system is, just by refusing to play along.
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‘Song of the Sea’ (2014)
Song of the Sea is one of the most emotionally wrecking animated films that somehow still looks like a bedtime story. It follows Ben (David Rawle), an angry, shut-down kid who is carrying grief like it’s poison, and Saoirse (Lucy O’Connell), who is quieter, almost otherworldly.
What makes the film work so well is how tightly the fantasy connects to the family’s emotions. The folklore animation is the movie’s way of showing sadness, memory, and healing without spelling everything out. The story itself, setting off on a quest to liberate the fairies and protect the spirit world from the forces of evil, is just beautiful and makes it an ideal watch for children. It’s like Spirited Away, but at a low heat.
Song of the Sea
- Release Date
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December 10, 2014
- Runtime
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93 Minutes
- Director
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Tomm Moore
- Writers
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Will Collins, Tomm Moore
Entertainment
Young and the Restless: Nick’s Addiction Destroys Everything – 5 Devastating Consequences Ahead
Young and the Restless gives Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) struggling with pain every day. He’s not being honest about the extent of it, and he may be headed down the dark and scary path of addiction.
Nick’s Current Struggle on Young and the Restless
Not too long ago, Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) took Nick back to the doctor and they wrote him a refill on his pain pills. That’s a good thing because after he ran out of the prescription meds and he was still in pain and was raging—I think in part because of the pain—he did consider taking one of Matt Clark’s (Roger Howarth) fentanyl pills, but he didn’t.
Then Sharon helped him get a legitimate refill. So, for now, even though Nick is still in a lot of pain from breaking his leg and the surgery, at least he’s got one bottle of legal pain meds that he can still go through. But that refill is going to run out, especially with him taking more pills than he should. And then what happens? The doctor’s not going to keep refilling the opioids. That’s not what doctors do anymore.
Nick Newman’s Breaking Point: Will Pain Pills Lead to a Y&R Addiction Storyline?
We can all see that Phyllis Summers‘ (Michelle Stafford) and Cane Ashby’s (Billy Flynn) attack on Newman is really stressing Nick out. The threat of Matt Clark had been upsetting him, especially since he’s to blame for the car crash that broke Nick’s leg that required the surgery in the first place. Also, I don’t think Matt Clark is done.
We’re in February sweeps and they exited him off-screen. That would be insanely bad writing and a big miss for ratings. So, we’ll see. But we’ve also always seen that Nick’s got a short temper. He always has, but it’s gotten even shorter lately. Like when he was arguing with Phyllis about her teaming up with Cane and using the AI to take everything from Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and the other Newmans.
Then, Noah Newman’s (Lucas Adams) planning to leave town with his much older lover, Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun). Sharon is spiraling because she just found out Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes) kidnapped Dominic Chancellor (Ethan Ray Clark) and ran off with him. So all of this is going to have Nick stressed out. That’s going to aggravate his pain, and I think that one bottle of pills he got is going to go really fast.
Fentanyl and the Newman Family: The Dangerous Path to Illegal Drugs on Young and the Restless
From there, I think it’s feasible that Nick may turn to fentanyl or some other illegal drug once the doctor cuts off the legal pain meds. If he wasn’t going to take the drugs that Matt Clark gave him, I think Nick would have already flushed them or tossed the bag out, but he didn’t.
I think one tablet of fentanyl may be enough to get Nick hooked given the addiction gene that runs in the Newman family. So, we’re going to talk about some of the bad outcomes if he does pop those illegal pills that Matt Clark gave him. The road to addiction could lead Nick to some very bad places.
First of all—and this would be a terrible thing to do—we could see his judgment so askew that Nick goes and winds up in bed with Phyllis. Obviously, she and Cane are going to crash and burn because he’s still in love with Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), and he already told Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) that what he’s got going on with Phyllis is not love.
Manipulation and Betrayal: Nick and Phyllis’ Complicated History on Y&R
This week, Victor tells Cane that he’s got Lily and the twins and he’s trying to scare Cane into stopping the Newman takeover. If that works and Cane backs off, I think Phyllis is going to turn on Cane in a heartbeat. And I think Phyllis will try and continue the Newman takeover plot on her own.
Nick might think that he can outsmart her, get close to Phyllis, convince her to stop, and try and use her feelings for him to shut her down. But if Nick’s on drugs, his judgment’s not going to be the best and he might mess up while trying to manipulate Phyllis. You know, Nick has a long, complicated history with Phyllis.
And yes, she is a train wreck, but she’s also been in love with Nick for a long time. At one point, he loved Phyllis. And if he’s deep in the throes of addiction, I think Phyllis might get the chance to sink her claws into him again. And that leads us to the next possible disaster to talk about.
The End of Shick? How Addiction Could Ruin Nick and Sharon’s Young and the Restless Reunion
The second thing is that Nick may screw up things with Sharon. She and Nick were on their way to a reunion. They shared a couple of kisses and they talked about reuniting and it seemed to be that they agreed on it, but then nothing happened. It’s not even a slow burn for Sharon and Nick at this point. It’s a no burn. There’s not even a simmer of action happening between them.
It’s like Josh Griffith hates the idea of writing anything romantic for Nick and Sharon. Or maybe he just forgot. I don’t know how to explain the fact that he just abruptly dropped it. If Nick spirals into addiction, I think fans of him with Sharon may never get the real reunion they were hoping to see at last.
Now, I will say if Nick is struggling with addiction, I think that’s something Sharon can handle and help with. But if Nick gets too close to Phyllis, that could be a dealbreaker. I think Sharon would be absolutely disgusted if Nick tangled with Phyllis after what she’s done to his family.

Violence and Rage: The Dark Side of Nick Newman’s Hot Temper on Y&R
Over and above Nick being with Phyllis, if Nick’s not thinking clearly, he might fall in bed with random women. Maybe strangers, maybe chicks he meets while out looking for street drugs. I think that would be something Sharon couldn’t handle or tolerate. Another thing we could see if Nick falls into opioid addiction is he could turn really violent.
I mean, Victor’s son is already a hothead and Nick has a tendency to punch first and think about it later. So, he might get physical with Cane because he’s already eager to give him a beating. That could get him arrested. Nick might snap at Sharon. There’s no telling who Nick might let loose on.
I don’t think he would physically hurt Sharon, but he may throw things around and scare her. Even without pills in his system, I mean, we know Nick got a terrible temper. He’s been like that for years. So, I would expect more anger, more rage, and him maybe smacking some people around.
Nikki Newman and Jack Abbott: Confronting the Signs of Opioid Addiction
Another thing we might see is that if Nick’s getting hooked on painkillers, then Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) may be the first ones to notice the signs of addiction. But I think if either of them approached Nick, I think he would lash out at them.
Addicts always get defensive. They deny they have a problem. And Nick might spew ugly things at his mom, Nikki, and snark about her sobriety issues, making her paranoid. You know, addicts can get really mean and they say stuff they wouldn’t otherwise.
I think Jack in the end could end up saving Nick if it goes down this road because Jack’s been addicted to pills. So, he really understands the struggle. But I think Nick would have to be pushed to accept help.
Ruining the Brotherhood: Nick and Adam Newman’s Fragile Bond on Young and the Restless
The last thing to consider if Nick gets hooked on drugs is that he may ruin his newfound brotherly bond with Adam Newman (Mark Grossman). They’ve gotten really close recently, but before that, Nick and Adam had years of rivalry, and we all know that drugs bring out the absolute worst in people.
So, Nick might start being a real jerk to Adam. And I think he might figure out that Nick is struggling, and I think Adam might actually try to help, but I think Nick would just lash out at Adam and say, “Oh, you finally have all of Victor Newman’s attention.” That kind of thing.
I think Nick’s going to lash out at a lot of people. Addicts usually turn on people they love. And Nick’s already snapping at Sharon, at Noah, and at Sienna. He’s threatened to get physically violent with Cane. He was threatening Phyllis. And that’s before Nick touched illegal drugs. If he pops a fentanyl, I think from there, all bets are off.
Entertainment
Days of our Lives: Theo Discovers Shocking Truth About Mom Lexie’s Death?
Days of Our Lives fans, we’ve got some big shockers coming for Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson). Now that he’s out of the hospital, the family felt like he was ready to hear that his grandpa Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo)’s bones were the ones that they found in the crypt.
But there’s another huge secret lingering that’s been lingering for years. That’s the truth about the death of Theo’s mom, Lexie Carver (Renee Jones). We’re going to talk about why Theo’s been kept in the dark about his mom’s fate and how that is going to play into what’s ahead.
Theo Carver Leaves the Hospital Amidst Stefano DiMera Bone Discovery on Days of Our Lives
So, Theo’s finally out of University Hospital, but when Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) told EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) that it was Stefano’s bones in the crypt, Theo was still a patient. And he even said that the FBI made doubly sure they DNA matched those bones to both Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and EJ.
So they have all the certainty in the world those are Stefano’s bones. Chad was up at the hospital to see Theo, but he did not tell them about what the FBI found out. So, that left it to his dad, Abe Carver (James Reynolds), to tell Theo about Stefano’s bones.
And later, Paulina Price (Jackee Harry) and Abe both agreed that the truth about Stefano’s role in Lexie’s death would be just too much for Theo to hear at this point. But I think it’s going to come out anyway, especially since I’m increasingly certain that his mom, Lexie, is the lady in the test tube that Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton)’s about to revive.
The Complex Bond Between Stefano DiMera and Theo Carver on DOOL
So, Days of Our Lives history tells us that Stefano and Theo did have a really close relationship. Stefano never had any issue about Theo being neurodivergent. He treated him with love, with kindness, and master chess player Stefano even taught Theo the game and they played whenever they could.
And that’s why he still loves the game even now was because of Stefano. So on the flip of that, Lexie tried to shield Theo from the dark side of Stefano. And Lexie often struggled with her own DiMera heritage and she occasionally engaged in sketchy behavior while defending Stefano and the DiMera family.
So, in the end, what Lexie had was a complex and loving but also a very strained relationship with her dad Stefano. She was good for him. I will say that Lexie brought out the softer side of crime boss Stefano.
Revisiting Lexie Carver’s Tragic Death in the DiMera Tunnels on Days
And later in her life, Lexie faked her death and she went into hiding. But then Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) abducted her, if you remember your history. And from there, he stashed Lexie down in the toxic, fume-filled, infamous underground DiMera tunnels for many, many months.
And despite Andre snatching her, Lexie was eventually rescued and she was reunited with the family. But she had already been exposed to the toxins for way too long. And sadly, that’s why Theo’s mom developed inoperable brain tumors that took her life. If you were watching back then, you may recall that Stefano felt personally responsible.
He felt a lot of deep guilt about Lexie’s illness that finally took her life. And if it weren’t for all the DiMera family schemes and Andre’s actions, obviously Lexie would never have been down in the tunnels to be exposed to the toxic fumes. So while Stefano didn’t directly cause Lexie’s death, he did bring Andre into their lives and those were DiMera tunnels. So he had an indirect hand in it.
Lexie Carver’s Legacy and the Secret of Her Final Forgiveness on Days of Our Lives
And in the end, Stefano got Lexie’s forgiveness before she died. She told Stefano that she loved him. And then Lexie passed away peacefully in Abe’s arms. That was June 20th, 2012. She was just 46 and she left behind obviously her loving husband Abe and her young son Theo.
Lexie and Abe had conceived Theo after a long period of infertility issues. And if you were watching then, you know she was a devoted, loving, and fiercely protective mom. Lexie and Abe both advocated for their autistic son, and they always gave Theo the best life they could.
And then in Lexie’s final weeks of life, she spent as much precious and meaningful time as she could with Theo and Abe. And of course, losing his mother took a toll on young Theo. But Abe and everybody else in the family made sure to keep Lexie’s memory alive for him.
Is Dr. Wilhelm Rolf Reviving Lexie Carver in the Secret Test Tube?
All these hints about Dr. Rolf’s human test subject in the tube absolutely point to Lexie being back to the land of the living at long last. I suspect Stefano had Lexie frozen, kept her in cryostasis, and tasked EJ and Rolf to find a way to resurrect her and restore her to life since felt responsible for her death.
And that way, Theo could eventually have his mom back. But before Lexie is resurrected, assuming it is her in the tube, Theo may finally learn the ugly truth about his mom’s death and Stefano’s role in it. Now, recently, Abe and Paulina were talking about Stefano, Lexie, and Theo.
And Abe was wondering aloud if he should tell Theo the truth about Stefano’s indirect role in Lexie’s death. But Paulina shut that down and she said it could be really damaging for Theo to hear that. Basically, nothing productive could come of it and they should just let Theo keep the good memories of Stefano and his good memories of Lexie. And Abe agreed.
Abe and Paulina Struggle to Keep the Truth From Theo Carver on DOOL
But we all know from watching soap operas that if somebody works that hard to keep a secret hidden, that means it’s going to come out sooner or later and in this case many years later. So far, Theo’s extended family and friends have kept quiet because a lot of people know exactly why Lexie got sick and died. And Theo may find out the truth soon.
And you never know, he might hear it directly from Lexie if EJ and Dr. Rolf succeed in bringing her back from the dead. If you remember, Theo was just nine when he lost his mom and then later Days of Our Lives aged his character up. But at the time that Lexie passed, Theo was just an elementary school kid. So, I personally think it should be left to Lexie to explain how she got the tumor that killed her.

Stefano DiMera’s Memorial Could Reveal Explosive Family Secrets on Days
But with Stefano’s upcoming memorial, anything is possible. I don’t think anybody would say something deliberately to hurt Theo, but it could slip out of someone’s mouth in a careless way, especially if things get contentious at the memorial.
You know, it could be Roman Brady (Josh Taylor) that spills the beans because he despised Stefano and he pretty much is ready to dance on his grave. Also, this week, Chad’s trying to get EJ and Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) to play nice.
So, one of them could blurt out something at the memorial while bickering about the family. One way or another, Theo is going to learn the hard facts about Stefano and the role he played in Lexie’s illness and death.
And it could be EJ who tells his nephew that Stefano wanted to make things right for Theo and explain that he and Dr. Rolf have been working to bring Lexie back for Theo for many years.
Will Lexie Carver’s Return Heal or Tear Apart the DiMera Family on Days of Our Lives?
So, I think he may be initially angry at the role that Stefano played in him losing Lexie, but then Theo might actually be grateful if EJ and Dr. Rolf revive her on Stefano’s orders after all these years. EJ really cared about Lexie and he seems to care for Theo as well.
So, this could be a big family bonding moment or could be something explosive that rips the DiMeras apart. I think we’re going to find out sooner rather than later because it’s February sweeps which wraps up on the 25th of this month. I suspect we could see Lexie revived by then.
Entertainment
How I Met Your Mother Cast: Where Are They Now? Josh Radnor and More
How I Met Your Mother was a pop culture phenomenon during its nine-season run and in the years that followed.
How I Met Your Mother told leading man Ted Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) love story in reverse — ultimately leading up to the moment where he meets the mother of his children. Radnor starred alongside Alyson Hannigan (Lily Aldrin), Jason Segel (Marshall Eriksen), Neil Patrick Harris (Barney Stinson) and Cobie Smulders (Robin Scherbatsky).
The sitcom, which ran on CBS from 2005 to 2014, also featured the late bob Bob Saget narrating as a future version of Ted Mosby.
“Something about How I Met Your Mother was [that] it always upended your expectations,” Radnor told HuffPost Live in 2016. “It always made you cry, it always was not what you thought it was.”
Shortly after the show concluded, it was announced that a spinoff series titled How I Met Your Dad was in the works at CBS with Bays, Thomas and Emily Spivey. The project was ultimately scrapped, but a new version, with Hilary Duff in the lead role, debuted in January 2022. How I Met Your Father was canceled in 2023 after two seasons.
Scroll down to see where the original How I Met Your Mother cast is now:
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