Taylor Lautner’s wife, Tay Lautner, revealed that he is loving her newfound curves amid her pregnancy with baby No. 1.

“My husband’s enjoying my big boobs,” Tay, 29, quipped on the Wednesday, July 22, episode of her “The Squeeze” podcast. “Honestly, like, the boobs getting bigger is crazy to me. The fact that I’m literally, like, a double-D is crazy.”

Taylor, 34, and Tay announced in March that they are expecting their first baby, later revealing that they will welcome a little girl.

Until then, Tay sat down with besties Natasha Perry and Amy Atia, who are also pregnant with their first babies, on her podcast to discuss the biggest changes. In terms of her growing breasts, Tay lamented that she’s “in denial” of the bigger size.

Related: Taylor Lautner‘s Wife Tay Lautner Is Pregnant With 1st Baby

Baby Lautner is on the way as Taylor Lautner‘s wife, Tay Lautner, is pregnant with their first baby. “What’s better than two Taylor Lautners?🤍,” the couple captioned maternity photos via Instagram on Thursday, March 26. Taylor, 34, and Tay, 29, have been married since 2022, taking their time before expanding their family. “Sometimes we get […]

“I still will wear my C-cup bra and just be uncomfortable,” she stated, noting that is the “biggest” change she’s noticed in her pregnancy, as well as stretch marks and cellulite.

While navigating the changes, Tay is grateful to have such a supportive partner in the Twilight actor.

“I know we were all very heavily reliant on our husbands for a lot of stuff,” Tay said on Wednesday, referring to Perry, 27, and Atia. “I know, for me, Taylor was literally just making grilled cheese all the time — and the best grilled cheese literally ever.  [He also handled] the food, filling up the water, doing things around the house, taking care of the dogs. I relied so much on him.”

Tay felt particularly reliant on her husband throughout her first trimester, when she felt overwhelmingly sick.

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Related: Taylor Lautner’s ‘Twilight’ Costars React to His Wife’s Pregnancy

There’s a new member of the Twilight coven on the way. “What’s better than two Taylor Lautners?🤍,” Taylor Lautner wrote via Instagram on Thursday, March 26, sharing maternity photos of himself kissing wife Tay Lautner’s baby bump while she held up a sonogram. Years before Taylor married Tay in 2022, he starred in the Twilight […]

“My first trimester, I didn’t really want to be touched. I didn’t want to be, like, snuggly because I just felt sick,” she recalled. “When I feel bloated or anything, I’m like, ‘I don’t really want to be touched.’ So, I definitely went quite a few weeks not wanting to be touched, and now I’m like, ‘OK, now I want to snuggle.’”

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Tay continued, “I’ve really been feeling [like] the biggest thing for me is I struggle with confrontation and saying how I’m feeling. If it’s something not related to Taylor or a hard conversation, it’s just me being anxious, I’m totally fine talking about that. But anything that has to do with [telling] Taylor I feel … based off of something someone else did is hard for me to do.”

After speaking with a therapist, Tay realized it wasn’t healthy to keep her emotions bottled up.

“I just feel, like, I need to say whatever I’m feeling, and it’s literally been the best thing,” she gushed. “It’s been really cool to be able to voice how I’m feeling and my deep thoughts or things that have bothered me to Taylor and it’s been nice to finally have … the oomph to do that.”

Young and the Restless shows Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) really struggling to stay clean right now. But there’s so many things going on in his life that it seems like he’s going to be popping pills again at any moment. And in fact, that is pretty much the foremost thing on his mind because of all this other stress.

We’re going to talk about the shocking reason Nick might relapse soon and why he might be off the wagon and back on drugs any day now.

Young and the Restless: Nick Flies Off the Handle

So, this week we had Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) making out with Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) up at the GCAC bar. And of course Nick walked in, saw it, and totally lost it. And then Phyllis basically ignored and rejected all of Nick’s objections to this romance. Talked about what a great guy that Matt was. And then while Nick was watching, Phyllis took him upstairs to her room. And even wilder, Nick followed them upstairs and was pounding on the door. And then they just abruptly ended the scene and never went back to it. That seemed like bad writing, bad editing. I don’t know.

Next thing we know, Phyllis woke up alone. Matt’s on the sofa. Turns out they didn’t have relations, but they’re going to. And right now, Nick’s assuming the worst that they already did. And then he told Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) about the incident. And Nick told Sharon this week how hard, really hard, that he is struggling to stay clean at the moment. But with Nikki Newman’s (Melody Thomas Scott) eyesight crisis and Phyllis going rogue and all the issues with Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), it seems like Nick is hanging on by a thread and that is about to snap. So, we’re going to talk about his inevitable relapse, what drives him back to illegal opioids and wrecks his recovery.

Nick’s Multiple Triggers for Relapse on Y&R

So, one of the biggest things eating at Nick is Matt Clark still being in Genoa City. I mean, that’s the guy that got Nick hooked on fentanyl to start with. And now, to make it worse, he assumes Matt’s in bed with Phyllis, and I’m sure he will be soon. We saw Nick bickering with Phyllis, but she won’t back down on Matt.

And he’s also angry that Victor Newman seems to want Matt to stick around and keep working for him. And his son Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) keeps having to deal with Matt. And Nick knows Sharon wants her rapist out of town. So, this is all really getting to Nick. He told Sharon that Matt being there makes everything so much harder on him.

And that is why Nick was talking about putting an end to Matt for good. And that has Sharon really scared because she is worried that Nick is just going to snap and is going to go kill Matt. And she’s worried about that and how that would affect his sobriety. So, if anything pushes Nick back to drugs, I think top on that list is Matt being in Phyllis’ life and still in Genoa City.

Young and Restless: Nick Not Allowed at Newman

Another big issue for Nick that could push him towards relapse is that Victor won’t let Nick go back to work at Newman Enterprises. Victor told Nick that he’s got to complete his recovery and be totally clean and on the other side of this before he can have his job back. In the meantime, Victor has Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) running Newman Enterprises and Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Newman (Melissa Claire Egan) are going to be running Newman Media.

So, it’s pretty much just Nick who’s completely left out of the family business. And that’s a sucky feeling. I mean, it’s not like he’s broke or anything like that, you know, but because Victor is banning him effectively, Nick has nothing to distract him from the temptation of drugs. And this week he told Sharon that he cannot stop thinking about the pills.

And of course, Victor thinks he’s doing the right thing. And I will say I think this is coming from a place of love and concern. But also, I think Nick knows himself well enough to know that he needs to keep busy. The whole “idle hands are the devil’s playthings” thing. You know, without a sense of purpose or usefulness, all Nick’s doing is sitting around and thinking about drugs and about pills and about how he screwed up and how rough his life is right now.

Young and the Restless: Family Crises and Isolation Compounding Crisis

Another huge source of stress that could push him over the edge is Nikki Newman’s ongoing blindness. Because Nick tells Sharon this week that Nikki got her bandages off, yet she’s still blind. And Nick says that Nikki may never see again. And of course, Nick feels awful for his mom and he wishes there was something he could do. But he’s powerless to help Nikki on Young and the Restless.

And for a guy like Nick that loves to save people, that’s a tough spot to be in. If Nikki got her sight back tomorrow, of course, that would be a huge load off Nick’s mind. But I suspect Nikki’s got a long road ahead and that could help tip Nick back into using drugs.

Another big stressor in his life is Victor’s non-stop quest for revenge because Nick’s not that kind of guy. And he’s having to sit there and watch Victor wage war against people, some of which that Nick really cares about. Not all of them, but some. And I don’t think he respects Victor bringing Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) back to town and targeting Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman).

But this is another area where Nick is totally helpless because Victor won’t stop what he’s doing. He won’t listen to Nick or anybody else. And if Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) can get the DA to cut a deal with Patty, that’s a game changer because then Victor may be arrested for these attacks on Jack and Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters). And that’s all true.

Victor to Blame on Y&R

Victor put all this in motion. So, it could happen if Kyle gets Patty to flip on Victor and Christine Williams (Lauralee Bell) presses charges on the Newman patriarch. I think that would hit Nick hard. Even though he knows that Victor’s done wrong, seeing his dad arrested could devastate Nick. And that could tip him over the edge and back to using fentanyl.

Last but not least, there’s the fact that Nick’s support system is not what he really needs right now. Yes, Noah, Sharon, and others in his life are worried about Nick, but he lives alone with no one checking on him at home. The family’s mostly wrapped up in worry about Nikki or dealing with Victor’s revenge games. Of course, Noah is busy working on his Shadow Room club in Genoa City, and his sister Summer is in a whole other country. Now, if Nick had a wife or a girlfriend, I think that would help him a lot. If he had somebody to go home to that he was getting loving, personal attention all the time.

Young and Restless: Nick’s Final Relapse

And yes, Sharon cares about him. She’s concerned, but she doesn’t live with Nick and they’re not together. They’re not in a relationship. And I think he realizes that this is a big problem because he tells Sharon this week he’s considering checking into rehab. And when Nick’s talking to Sharon, she goes ahead and offers to bring Nick to a meeting. It’s not that she’s not being supportive, but Nick’s going to tell Sharon it won’t help. And that’s when he brings up rehab.

So, I do think it’s admirable that Nick is self-aware enough to realize that things aren’t working and he doesn’t have the support he needs to stay clean. But Victor may not agree with him going to rehab. Remember, he didn’t want Nikki to go to rehab after her vodka IV nightmare. So, Victor might worry with all the stuff with their companies being taken that if Nick goes to rehab, it could make the Newman family look bad.

And Victor should prioritize Nick, but that doesn’t mean he will. And in the end, I think Nick’s going to end up relapsing and then he really will need rehab. After the Phyllis and Matt incident and Nick telling Sharon he saw his old dealer, I think he’s on a knife’s edge trying to keep clean and it all falls apart very soon.

Roommates, Anthony Edwards is officially off the market! Reports are alleging that the Minnesota Timberwolves star has married his longtime girlfriend, Shannon Jackson.

RELATED: UPDATE: Georgia Sets Anthony Edwards’ Monthly Child Support Amount For Daughter With Ayesha Howard

Anthony Edwards Has Quietly Entered His Husband Era?

TMZ reports that Minnesota marriage records show that the couple said “I do” on July 16. Anthony and Shannon have reportedly been together for years, but they officially made their relationship public in 2020. The couple also shares a 2-year-old daughter, Aislynn. Per ESPN, Anthony sparked marriage rumors when he popped out at Fanatics Fest recently wearing a black band on his ring finger. As it turns out, the ring apparently wasn’t just part of his fit.

At this time, details about Anthony and Shannon’s possible wedding ceremony are unknown.

Anthony Edwards didn’t let a messy paternity situation keep him from secretly getting married https://t.co/wRdRkQ5an1 pic.twitter.com/89VtkDoigk

— New York Post (@nypost) July 23, 2026

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More About Anthony & Shannon

Okay, Roomies, if you’ve been out of the loop, let us put you on game. Anthony Edwards reportedly has four children. Aislynn, whom he shares with Shannon Jackson, Aris Ariel Carlyle, whom he shares with influencer Daja Carlyle; Amir, whom he reportedly shares with a woman named Ally D, and a daughter, Aubri Summers, whom he shares with Ayesha Howard. Ayesha is also the mother of Lil Baby’s eldest son, Jason.

Anthony Edwards Life Update Comes After Reaching A Child Support Agreement With Ayesha Howard

Anthony Edwards and Shannon Jackson’s marriage comes shortly after Anthony reportedly wrapped up his child support case with Ayesha Howard. According to TMZ, a Georgia judge finalized the child support agreement between the former couple involving their 1-year-old daughter, Aubri Summers. The ruling requires Anthony to pay Ayesha $3,222 each month in child support for Aubri. The amount reportedly factors in both parents’ financial situation, with Anthony’s income listed at more than $200 million and Ayesha’s listed at zero. Ayesha has been receiving support for Aubri as Anthony started making payments in 2025.

He previously paid $20,000, followed by another $5,000 leading up to their trial, per TSR’s previous report. So far, Anthony has reportedly paid Ayesha $110,000 in child support.

RELATED: Congrats! Paige Hurd & Royce O’Neale Tie The Knot With Special Tribute To DMX (VIDEOS)

Kelly Clarkson left little to the imagination while telling her Las Vegas audience about a brutal hotel bathroom experience. The singer wondered aloud whether she had contracted cyclosporiasis, a foodborne parasitic illness that has reportedly affected nearly 7,000 people nationwide. However, Clarkson did not say she had been tested or diagnosed with the illness. She instead turned the unpleasant ordeal into a story filled with jokes about “Bridesmaids,” heated toilets, and her future dating prospects.

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Clarkson recounted the incident during a recent Studio Sessions residency show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. “This is TMI, but I’m gonna go ahead and say it,” Clarkson began, according to fan videos shared on social media. “I don’t know if I got that thing, that, you know, like, people eat lettuce. Sh-t, I don’t know what. I don’t know what the f-ck… But last night during the show, I was like, ‘Oh my God. Jesus.’”

The “Stronger” singer appeared to be referencing cyclosporiasis amid reports of rising cases across the country. Clarkson did not confirm what she had eaten before becoming ill or whether she sought medical attention. Her remarks therefore should not be interpreted as confirmation that the parasite caused her symptoms.

The Singer Compares Her Ordeal To ‘Bridesmaids’

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Clarkson said the situation intensified after she returned to her hotel room following the show. “I get back to my room, and I have never been so happy there is not a man in the room cause he for sure would never make sweet love to this again,” the Grammy winner joked.

She then compared the incident to the memorable food-poisoning sequence in the comedy “Bridesmaids.” “Bridesmaids ain’t got sh-t on what happened in my room. I was like, ‘Oh, Lord.’ And you know the part where you think it’s over. You’re like, ‘It has to be over.’ No, girl!”

Clarkson found at least one benefit hidden within the uncomfortable experience: the amenities provided inside her Las Vegas hotel bathroom. “But you know what’s awesome? They have, like, warm toilets for you here,” she told the crowd.

Kelly Clarkson Jokes About Her Dating Future

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The singer also connected her embarrassing hotel experience to her relationship status. “Oh, I’m gonna be single until I’m dead. It’s fine. I’m gonna find another weird motherf-cker out there,” Clarkson said, who got divorced from the late Brandon Blackstock in 2022.

After revealing more than she originally intended, Clarkson struggled to find a smooth way to transition back into her residency performance. “But all that to say… there’s no segue from that,” she admitted. “I hope tonight is not like that. It’s not. I feel fine, thank you.”

Cyclosporiasis Cases Are Rising Across The Country

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Nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis had reportedly been recorded nationwide as of last week. The source of the contamination had not been identified, although raw produce such as lettuce was being considered as a possible link.

Despite the uncertainty, Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at People Inc., said health officials were not advising Americans to eliminate fruits and vegetables from their diets. “The good news is that health officials are not recommending people stop eating fruits and vegetables,” Imtiaz told PEOPLE. “Fresh produce remains an important part of a healthy diet.”

The doctor did, however, recommend that consumers take additional precautions while the cause of the outbreak remains under investigation.

Which Foods Could Carry A Higher Risk?

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According to Imtiaz, prewashed bagged lettuce and salad mixes may carry an elevated risk because produce from several farms can be washed, chopped, and packaged together. That process could allow contamination to affect a larger batch.

Precut fruits and vegetables are another concern because removing their skin or peel exposes the interior. Imtiaz described that outer layer as a “natural protective barrier” and said shared processing equipment can also create opportunities for cross-contamination.

Leafy greens grow close to the ground and may come into contact with soil or contaminated irrigation water. Their textured surfaces, folds, veins, and edges can also provide places for the parasite to remain.

Fresh herbs, particularly basil and cilantro, were also identified as higher-risk items.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 7 seconds ago

I’m not a religious person, but I consider myself blessed to have grown up in real time as The Simpsons was airing its Golden Era. It was that magical time in my life when the show was still appointment viewing, and Sunday night meant it was time for a new episode. It was my favorite part of the week by a long shot.

My love of The Simpsons translated well into adulthood, where I’d get invited to social occasions and suss out the people I’d actually want to hang out with by saying things like “Dental plan!,” or “Are you saying ‘Boo’ or ‘Boo-urns’?” and waiting for the appropriate response.

It’s a perfectly cromulent way to make friends that will embiggen even the smallest of men.

By the time The Simpsons hit Season 12, it was no longer appointment viewing for me, and until Disney+ came along, I was relegated to watching the DVDs I’d accumulated over the years, all of them from Season 10 or earlier. Suddenly, I could fire up every single episode with the click of a button, and it dawned on me that I could watch some of my favorite episodes with my kids.

Now that my son and daughter are 5 and 7 years old, respectively, I’m reveling in the fact that I can corrupt their blank slates with some of my favorite episodes. What I didn’t expect was for my daughter to barrel into the later seasons and actually pick out some certified bangers that are now in my regular rotation, even though I’m still a purist who barely dares venture past Season 10.

The moral of the story? If you grew up during the Golden Era and have kids of your own now, Simpsons night should be mandatory.

Transcends Generations

As somebody who chose to die on the “Simpsons haven’t been good since the ’90s” hill, one thing I really admire about the Golden Era is that it became the perfect time capsule. Everything about The Simpsons during that stretch is so undeniably ’90s that you can’t ignore it. I’m pretty sure my kids learned what a payphone was by watching The Simpsons with me.

But it’s not just about educating your kids on what a great animated sitcom looks like. Episodes like Season 7’s “Summer of 4 Ft. 2.” land especially well with my daughter, who’s about Lisa’s age and navigating some of her first friendships at school. My son, who’s so into dinosaurs that he has a Jurassic Park-themed bedroom, loves “Treehouse of Horror XXIX” for its third segment, “Geriatric Park,” which revolves around Grandpa Simpson turning into a Grampasaurus.

Ironically enough, it’s one of my favorite modern Halloween specials in the entire series, and I have my kids to thank for that.

Now that the kids are older, and they actually let me choose the episodes with a little more authority, I’ve been shoving them headfirst into the Golden Era because I want them to grow up to be superior human beings.

Here’s how it’s working out for me.

The last time we went to the zoo, my daughter said, “Remember, we’re in the Itchy lot!” when we parked the car, and nobody batted an eyelash because even my wife, who’s a casual Simpsons fan at best, knew it was an “Itchy & Scratchy Land” reference.

The last time I cooked burgers at home, my son started ranting about the Northern Lights being localized entirely in my kitchen. He couldn’t quite enunciate “Aurora Borealis,” but credit where it’s due.

Those little moments are honestly my favorite part. Half the fun of introducing my kids to The Simpsons isn’t watching the episodes. It’s hearing those jokes come back days or weeks later in completely unrelated situations, knowing they landed the same way they did when I was their age.

Let Them Get On Your Level Sometimes, They’ll Surprise You

I’m beyond guilty of showing my kids The Simpsons, South Park, Futurama, and Rocko’s Modern Life. Obviously, I’m not showing them the extremely risqué episodes, and they’re not watching unsupervised, but if you show your kids something that’s even remotely adult adjacent while you’re just vegging out around the house, they’re surprisingly receptive to shows that aren’t Bluey or Paw Patrol.

But the real party starts when I barge into their rooms at midnight on a Friday yelling, “Kids, I don’t want to alarm you, but there may be a boogeyman, or boogeymen, in the house!”

I, of course, follow this upsetting, Jerkass Homer, statement with, “Just kidding, we’re watching The Simpsons,” and then we all pick an episode and let it rip on the projector we have set up in the apartment.

Sidebar: if you want your kids to not watch TV during the day, get a cheap projector, because you physically can’t use it when the sun is pouring into the room.

We’re able to bond over one of my favorite shows, but for different reasons. I love the scathing satire of yesteryear, while the kids are mostly into slapstick humor. It feels like a full-circle experience because when I was their age, I valued the show for the exact same reasons they value it today. When a joke flies over their heads, I get to offer sage-like advice like, “You’ll understand when you’re older,” knowing full well I used to hear the same thing. 

One day, they’ll probably outgrow our midnight Simpsons binges. They’ll have their own friends, their own hobbies, and eventually they’ll think hanging out with Dad isn’t nearly as exciting as it is now. That’s just part of growing up. But for the moment, I get to share something that meant the world to me with two little people who are discovering it for the first time, and that’s a pretty incredible feeling.

At my house, Simpsons night has become a staple. It starts with doors getting kicked open in the middle of the night and ends with everybody quoting along in real time before I tell them to promise me they’ll let Mom and Dad sleep in because they got to stay up way past their bedtime.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, it never works.

Ariana Biermann sparked a connection with Next Gen NYC costar Liam Obergfoll following her split from Hudson McLeroy.

“Honestly, he checked off every single box, and I remember calling my mom, being like, ‘Oh my God!’” Ariana, 24, exclusively tells Us after she and Liam, 29, explored a flirtationship during the first few episodes of Next Gen NYC season 2, which premiered on June 24.

Ariana continues, “After the first time I ever met [Liam], we just kind of hit it off immediately. We laugh like no other together, and we just always have such a great time. And he’s a really good person, and I could tell that from initially meeting him.”

The Bravolebrity also gushes about meeting Liam’s parents.

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Related: Ariana Biermann Seemingly Hints at Reconciliation With Hudson McLeroy

Next Gen NYC star Ariana Biermann has sparked reconciliation rumors with costar Hudson McLeroy six months after their split. Ariana, 24, took to Instagram on Thursday, April 16, to share a video of herself lounging on the beach as a mystery man’s hand reached over and gently brushed her hair before resting on her head. […]

“I have a terrible mouth. I got tattoos all over my body. Like, I was so nervous. I hadn’t met somebody’s family in, I don’t even know, years and years,” she explains. It’s been a while since I met a family that I like really cared about their opinion of me.”

Despite her fears about meeting Liam’s family, Ariana says it went “great.”

“He has an incredible family. His mom and his dad are awesome, and his siblings are great, and they were so welcoming,” she shares.

Ariana connected with Liam after she and Hudson, 23, called it quits in October 2025 after seven years of dating on and off.

“Since I was 14, I saw this boy who I loved, who I wanted to help. He always called me when he was down bad,” Ariana admitted during the season 2 premiere. “He knew I was going to be there because I care about this person so deeply and they deserve somebody to be there and hold their hand. As time went on, I kind of realized nobody was holding mine.”

Though Ariana said Hudson wasn’t there for her in the way that she needed, she still cared about him “deeply.”

Ariana’s connection with Liam has caused a stir in Next Gen NYC as she and Hudson navigate their own dynamic post-breakup. At one point, Hudson expressed concern over Liam getting close to Ariana after costar Shai Frutcher warned him about his ex hitting it off with someone new.

Related: Gia Giudice Reacts to Ariana Biermann and Hudson McLeroy’s Breakup

Gia Giudice is sharing her thoughts on Next Gen NYC costars Ariana Biermann and Hudson McLeroy’s split. During a Tuesday, October 21, appearance on SiriusXM’s The Julia Cunningham Show, Giudice, 24, said she was surprised by the long-term couple calling it quits after dating on and off since junior high. “I mean, wow. I love […]

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“Liam can try all he wants, but I don’t think Ariana’s gonna go from me to dating some guy who rides horses for a living,” he said.

Ariana tells Us that she was happy to know that Liam was unbothered by the chatter surrounding their dynamic.

“It made me feel like I like a man who is strong and doesn’t care what the outside factors are saying,” she explains. “It’s about what’s right here in the moment between us, and so I think that it was another reason for me to be attracted to him.”

Though Ariana says she had “strong feelings” for Liam, she is hesitant to label their situation as a relationship.

“You know, I realized, and you’ll kind of see throughout the season, that I don’t fully understand dating these days, right? And I think I’m also saying that because I didn’t know where my head was fully at at the time,” she notes. “I think he was the only person I went on a date with outside of when I was broken up with Hudson for all of those months, but he was there for me through so much stuff as well. And he was helping me as I was grieving some things with Hudson and with a lot of different things. So he is a one-of-a-kind person. … I have nothing negative to say about him.”

Related: Next Gen NYC’s Hudson Addresses Rumor Gia Caused Ariana Biermann Split

Next Gen NYC star Hudson McLeroy is shutting down rumors that Gia Giudice had anything to do with his split from Ariana Biermann. “The biggest rumor was you’re the one that caused the breakup,” Hudson, 24, said during the Monday, June 29, episode of Gia’s iHeartRadio “Casual Chaos” podcast. “We could put that to rest […]

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Ariana adds that she and Liam are “friends” today.

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As for where she stands with Hudson, Ariana teases that she and her ex are “figuring [it] out day by day.”

[We’re] trying to make sure that we’re growing independently still,” she shares. “Like, I really want to keep my independence and have my peace. And I feel like if my peace is interrupted, I found peace when I was by myself and I was alone, the peace that I hadn’t had in quite some time. And so, if that is interrupted, then I feel like that’s when we kind of are going to be wagering, like, ‘What are we gonna do here?’ But I love him, and I always will. You know, he’s so important to me, no matter what.”

To find out where Ariana ends up with Liam and Hudson, tune in to new episodes of Next Gen NYC on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

Days of Our Lives delivers Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) absolutely furious that her designer handbags have been counterfeited. She immediately assumed that Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) are behind the design theft.

Which honestly makes zero sense at all to me. Gabi was planning to bail them out. So, why would they ever screw her over? We’re going to get into the epic blindside coming Gabi’s way when the thief is revealed.

Days of our Lives: Gabi Horrified at Knockoff Handbag

Now, let’s talk about these purloined purse designs. So, Gabi was stunned when she saw Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) carrying one of her Gabi Chic bags. And at a glance, Gabi thought it was legit and was excited. But when she got up close and looked at Gwen’s bag, she saw it was a cheap knockoff of one of Gabi’s brand new designs.

Gwen didn’t know it, but she bought a very expensive, very fake bag online. And now, of course, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) is involved, and before she went missing, he and Gwen were talking about it. They had discussed buying all kinds of fake designer goods on sketchy shopping sprees in the past. That was before either of them had much money to spend.

And Gabi explained how much this hurts the designer when these original pieces are copied and tagged with a fake designer label. It’s really bad for business. I personally feel her pain. My videos get stolen constantly. My thumbnails get stolen, my website name, my YouTube channel name.

There’s a sketchy channel that’s basically copied my thumbnail colors and style trying to fool you guys into clicking on them. So, Gabi’s all fired up and she’s got Leo and Gwen on board to investigate and find the thief. Of course, Gwen’s not going to be much help because she’s been kidnapped. And Leo got the go-ahead from Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) to write an article about Gabi’s counterfeit issue and the whole world of fashion fakes.

DOOL: Tracking the Counterfeit Designer Ring

So, at first, Gabi assumed it was the Titan co-CEO Xander and Philip. And Gabi thinks because Titan handles her overseas shipments, they popped open a crate, stole bags, and used them to make knockoffs. That’s why Gabi reneged on her deal to bail out Titan with her inheritance. Now, I’ll say this. She should be thinking about the last time she jumped to a conclusion on Days of our Lives.

That was after Philip dumped her because he found out she set them up and was doing corporate espionage on Tony DiMera’s behalf. If you remember, Gabi accused Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) of spilling the beans, and she was 100% wrong. And I think she’s 100% wrong about Xander and Philip.

Days of our Lives: Kate’s a Likely Suspect

But Gabi invoked the morality clause that was in her contract with Titan, and she backed out of the deal that she made with them. And of course, she knows Xander and Philip can’t afford to fight her in court, but I don’t think they did it. So, the question is, who really is copying Gabi’s designs? One person to consider is Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow).

She plotted with Xander and Philip to set up Johnny with that plagiarism suit. That was dirty. Kate despises that Gabi did Philip so wrong and broke his heart. And as we know, Kate can be ruthless because it all came out, you know, Philip and Kate know that Gabi was spying on Titan and the reason she did it to get this CEO job with their chief rival, DiMera Enterprises.

It would have worked if Tony hadn’t double crossed Gabi and hired Theo instead. And Mama Kate doesn’t let anybody mess with her sons. She would go to bat for payback on Philip’s behalf in a minute. She doesn’t want Gabi to get away with what she did. So, could be that Kate is behind these phony Gabi Chic handbags. But I doubt that.

Days of Our Lives: Suspects and the Dark Truth

So, assuming that it’s not Xander or Philip or Kate, maybe it’s Tony DiMera. He and his fashionista wife Anna DiMera could be behind this whole operation. Tony may be annoyed that Gabi turned down the job when he asked her to be CEO after Theo decided to step down. We know DiMeras love revenge games and they love to manipulate people.

So, Tony might be trying to mess with Gabi. I mean, he might have set it up to even look like Xander and Philip did it so that Gabi would turn her back on them and she might reconsider being CEO of DiMera, answering directly to Tony because he doesn’t want Johnny in the job. But I doubt it.

Days of our Lives: EJ to Blame?

Another DiMera though could be behind this. Why not EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel)? He could be messing with Gabi. He hates that she got her hands on part of Stefan’s inheritance. She proved to Theo that she was Stefan’s widow, not his ex-wife. And of course, Theo knows Gabi wanted to use the money to bail out Titan.

So, EJ might have found out that Gabi was going to ride to the rescue and help Philip because she feels guilty. And if you remember, EJ set up a holding company and he bought Titan’s loan and set these terrible new terms, a lot higher interest rate, more frequent payments.

So, I wouldn’t put it past EJ to have his henchwoman, Rita, set up a counterfeit ring to sell Gabi Chic bags to mess with her and of course to drive a wedge between Gabi and the guys at Titan. I think EJ is able to multitask revenge plans quite cleverly. But I feel like he’s got bigger fish to fry than Gabi, so I don’t think it’s him.

Theo the Culprit on DOOL?

Another DiMera to consider though is Theo Carver. He’s totally plausible. He’s really angry at Gabi for assuming he blabbed her dirty corporate spy secret to Philip. And let’s face it, Theo is certainly smart enough to set up a counterfeit ring and those knockoff websites. He’s a computer genius.

So, Theo could have hacked into Gabi Chic’s servers and stole the patented designs from there. However, I don’t think Theo would do this because he had a big crush on Gabi that could still be lingering. Plus, Theo is one of the few good DiMeras. So, that brings me to the person that I think it actually is – somebody truly shocking.

We’ll see, of course, when the official reveal is made, but I suspect it could be Javi Hernandez’s (Jacob Martinez) hot new boyfriend, Gus (Michael Ocampo), who’s doing this. At a glance, he seems like a really nice guy, and Javi’s crazy about him, and Gabi approves of him. She’s still annoyed, of course, that Leo broke Javi’s heart.

Gus Makes Perfect Sense on Days

But here’s why I suspect it’s Gus. All these years, and Gabi’s handbag designs never got stolen, no issues. All of a sudden, there’s knockoffs for sale not long after Gus moved to Salem. Plus, he lives with Javi at Casa Hernandez and Gabi works from home a lot. And remember, she was living with Philip at the Kiriakis mansion, but he kicked her out and she moved back home with Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and others. And then all of a sudden, knockoff bags.

We know her laptop’s been lying around the house, maybe even some design sketches. And remember what Javi’s job was when he first came to Salem? He was Gabi’s assistant at Gabi Chic. So, that means Javi had access to all her files. And based on proximity, Gus has access to Javi’s laptop. And since he’s family, Gabi might not have shut off Javi’s credentials to Gabi Chic’s files. So question is, why would Gus do this? Greed or a crime of opportunity or both?

DOOL Needs Gus Out of the Way

Javi’s boyfriend might have a sick family member that needs money. So, he might have a personal motive. In the end, the main reason I think it’s Gus is because he’s got to go. Presumably, Leo’s going to end up back with Javi and they need Gus out of the way. But right now, he seems like a super nice guy, a really good guy. Maybe a little too good to be true, though.

It’s no coincidence that Leo’s working with Gabi to crack this counterfeit case because I expect Leo to get the goods that proves it is Gus. But from there, Gabi and Javi won’t want to believe it. They might even think Leo is deliberately setting up Gus because he’s jealous. We’ll see how it goes. But Gabi’s handbag design thief might be right under her nose and the last person she’d ever think would betray her – Javi’s new love interest.

John Branca, the longtime attorney and estate executor for Michael Jackson, was all smiles this week as he and his wife, model and beauty entrepreneur Kristina Tuckute, celebrated a milestone after “Michael” had officially crossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

Speaking with Ravv in Beverly Hills, with Tuckute at his side, Branca made clear the moment was not just about him.

“Worldwide love for the Michael biopic is undeniable,” he said. “There’s a lot to celebrate.”

The Lionsgate biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by Graham King, has overtaken “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Oppenheimer” as the highest-grossing biopic of all time.

Asked whether the film’s abrupt ending leads to a follow-up, Branca, who is also a producer of the film, stopped short of confirming the rumor but hinted at a possibility.

“Well, people are calling for it, that’s for sure,” Branca said. “Nothing is set yet. But think about this. First billion-dollar biopic. Could it be the first biopic with a sequel? Nothing set yet.”

Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller, praised the actor’s take on him during the peak years with Jackson.

“Incredible,” Branca said. “Listen, everybody in that cast did amazing. Jaafar deserves an Academy Award. Colman Domingo, Miles, Nia Long, everybody. Graham King, Antoine Fuqua, what a team.”

Jaafar Jackson, the late singer’s nephew, stars in the title role. 

Fuqua, who began his career directing music videos for artists including Prince and Stevie Wonder before films such as “Training Day” and the “Equalizer” franchise, has described the project in deeply personal terms.

“The first films of my career were music videos, and I still feel that combining film and music is a deep part of who I am,” Fuqua said when he joined the production. “For me, there is no artist with the power, the charisma, and the sheer musical genius of Michael Jackson.”

He has also credited Jackson with shaping his path as a filmmaker, “seeing how he refused to get put in a box as just a Black artist only.”