Entertainment
How The All-Time Greatest Trilogy Was Saved From Hollywood Destruction
By Joshua Tyler
| Published

In the early twenty-teens, Hollywood was flying high off a decade of cinematic successes. The future had never been brighter, and the plan was to just keep delivering more of the same.
The decade of huge wins had started with the massive masterpiece success of The Lord of the Rings, when the trilogy released its first movie in 2001. It made sense that the best way to kick off the next decade was to do a lot more of that.
So the greedy ghouls behind the scenes in Tinseltown began plotting a way to bring Lord of the Rings back. They went to the man who’d made it all happen, director Peter Jackson, and poured on the pressure. Eventually, Jackson relented and gave them what they wanted, but only by refusing to compromise the world he created. He gave them more, but he did it his way, under tremendous ever-mounting pressure.
When it was all done, everyone dismissed his work as a failure and sent him off to the Gray Havens. We were all so, so terribly wrong.
This is why The Hobbit Trilogy failed.
Peter Jackson Resists Hollywood’s Greed
When Hollywood began demanding more Lord of the Rings, he resisted. Jackson knew he’d created absolute perfection with the LOTR trilogy, and matching that would be nearly impossible. Probably, he was also just tired, having spent so much of his life already living in Tolkien’s Middle-earth.

Eventually, he relented and signed on to produce The Hobbit, but he still pushed back against doing all the day-to-day work, so he started lining up other directors to take over, hiring Guillermo del Toro to helm a two-movie version of The Hobbit. Unfortunately, repeated delays caused del Toro to exit.
Facing tight deadlines, the studio turned to Jackson, who finally relented and stepped in as director with little to no prep time at all before he had to start shooting one of the most important movies in the world. To make matters worse, the studio then pressured Jackson into making The Hobbit three movies, when most fans already thought two movies was far, far too excessive.
It was excessive because, in book form, as written by JRR Tolkien, The Hobbit is a more straightforward, shorter adventure story than The Lord of the Rings. It’s focused on a single group of characters as they go on a quest to slay a dragon. It’s easy to see how you could divide it into two movies, but there isn’t enough material there for three. There just isn’t.

For Jackson, being forced into three Hobbit films must have felt like the height of irony. With The Lord of the Rings he had to fight desperately to get Hollywood to let him plan it as three movies instead of one or two. Now, spoiled by his success with making three, they pressured him into making more movies than he wanted.
Unlike The Lord of the Rings, which was created out of Peter Jackson’s total passion for Tolkien’s stories, The Hobbit was a project driven by Hollywood greed. It almost felt as if the only reason Jackson stepped up to direct at all was to save Tolkien’s world from the disaster Hollywood was trying to make out of it.
The Hobbit Trilogy Should Have Been A Disaster
Given the realities under which The Hobbit went into production, it had no business NOT being a total disaster. That’s what it should have been; that’s what always happens when Hollywood forces a prequel that has no business existing.
And yet…

With the fate of Middle Earth hanging in the balance, a weary Peter Jackson moved forward, determined to save the world he’d created from Hollywood’s greed. He pulled in ancillary material from other Tolkien sources, expanded scenes only hinted at in The Hobbit, and came up with enough script for three movies.
As it begins, the first movie in The Hobbit trilogy sticks closely to the book’s format, with a Hobbit living in a cozy Hobbit hole that’s invaded by a grumpy wizard and a bunch of hungry dwarves demanding dinner. It’s glorious, it feels perfect.

Every inch of the Hobbit hole, Bag End, is lovingly crafted. The dwarves are both hilarious and sad. Gandalf is looming and omnipresent. Martin Freeman is perfect as a young Bilbo, put upon, confused, and unwilling to admit that he’s intrigued by the possibility of an adventure.
As they often did in JRR Tolkien’s books, the dwarves begin singing a brave and mournful song about the place they’re going, their former home, Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. The haunting melody of their song becomes the musical theme of the entire series, and it’s maybe even better than the amazing score of The Lord of the Rings movies, as it carries thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, and a mysterious gray wizard out of Bag End, across middle Earth on an adventure to free the Dwarven leader Thorin’s kingdom from a murderous dragon.
The Artistry And Beauty Of The Lord Of The Rings Is Present In The Hobbit

All the artistry and beauty of the original Lord of the Rings movies is here and only added to. No role was recast, Ian McKellan returns as Gandalf, and we arguably get more of him than even in The Lord of the Rings. Orlando Bloom and others return, too, but not gratuitously, only when it makes sense for the plot and adds to the story.
The first movie ends with Bilbo reading riddles in the dark, and the scene is a masterclass in conveying darkness while still letting the audience see what’s going on. It’s a skill that modern Hollywood seems to have totally forgotten. Bilbo’s riddles in the dark with Gollum is a good endpoint for the film, with our heroes narrowly escaping the clutches of goblins and going on the run.

The escape from goblin kingdom is one of the weakest points in The Hobbit movies. It relies too much on CGI, it’s too chaotic and difficult to follow, and it’s not the finale for the first chapter that many might have wanted.
Given the constraints Jackson was working with, especially the pressure he was under to get this first movie out, you have to wonder if that sequence was really what he wanted to do himself. Because that chaotic goblin scene never becomes a pattern. There’s never another confusing, distractingly CGI moment in the rest of the series, or at least not anywhere that matters.

Sure, The Hobbit movies use more green screen and CGI than Lord of the Rings, but not nearly as much as pretty much every other Hollywood movie does. Jackson still built sets, and you feel the weight of real things being interacted with in every frame of the film.
The second Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug, might be the best. The dragon is reached, battled, and sent screaming from the depths of Erebor. Martin Freeman shines as Bilbo, engaged in another battle of wits with a malevolent force, this time one that breathes fire. Thorin’s complexity only grows.

Don’t come at me about the barrel riding scene. It’s not errible. It’s fun, really fun, and it’s something the series sets up by showing us the dexterity and skill of the dwarves in the first film’s opening moments.
The third movie, The Battle of the Five Armies, is the biggest departure. The book itself is almost two books. The first half of it is the quest of some Dwarves and a Hobbit to get to the mountain and slay the dragon. The second half is a gigantic battle between kings and orcs for supremacy in this part of Middle-earth.

The third movie covers that second half, which means largely sidelining most of the characters we’ve gotten to know over the first movie. Still, it brings it back to them in the end, and feels like a completed story. A real adventure. One that sticks with you, long after the credits roll.
The Hobbit Is Filmmaking At A Level Hollywood Is No Longer Capable Of

The level of quality and care established by the first film continues over all three, and matched against modern filmmaking, The Hobbit trilogy is like rediscovering Atlantis, a forgotten world of high-level storytelling that it doesn’t seem like anyone knows how to do anymore.
At the time it was released, we were spoiled. We didn’t understand what we were experiencing. Sure, there are minor missteps and the nature of the story is different than The Lord of the Rings. Our heroes are less clearly heroic; Thorin Oakenshield, in particular, is a complex leader who makes many big mistakes, and Dwarves in general are hard to like, by design.

Those minor quibbles aside, The Hobbit trilogy is nearly as big, grand, and beautiful as its cinematic predecessor.
Instead of celebrating the film’s incredible achievement against all odds, people nitpicked over a few dodgy green screen moments and compared it to The Lord of the Rings, which may be the greatest movie trilogy ever made, and up against which literally any movie would be found inadequate and wanting.
Looked at now through the wreckage of the unending mediocrity of modern movies, it must be said that: Holy hell, The Hobbit movies are actually really, really good.
The Hobbit Trilogy Was A Box Office Mega-Hit

The Hobbit trilogy made a lot of money. An Unexpected Journey (2012) opened strong and rode holiday legs to about $1.02 billion worldwide. The Desolation of Smaug (2013) dipped slightly to roughly $959 million, still massive, still a global event. The Battle of the Five Armies (2014) closed things out at around $956 million, proving fatigue hadn’t killed demand. Combined, the trilogy pulled in just under $3 billion worldwide. Less than The Lord of the Rings, but way more than anything in theaters in the last few years.
Critics liked the first one, but reviews began to sour as the trilogy went on. And audiences began to lose patience, too, as The Hobbit trilogy began being labeled a desperate cash-in, a movie series squandering the goodwill created by the absolute goddamn triumph of The Lord of the Rings movies.
Why The Hobbit Failed

Despite its success, The Hobbit movies are now talked about as if they’re hated. Like critics, audiences grew increasingly lukewarm toward the movies as they watched them. Now it’s viewed as a failure, despite its financial success.
We were wrong. We were all wrong. We were all lost in the midst of a never-ending cinematic summer and had no idea that the creative winter we’re in now would soon come.
Peter Jackson basically stopped making movies after The Hobbit trilogy. His long-time collaborator, a cinematographer, Andrew Lesnie, died shortly after they finished releasing The Hobbit movies, and Peter has admitted that his heart just wasn’t in it anymore after that.
Jackson says, “I realize that I’ve avoided doing drama films because I’d have to work with someone else who isn’t Andrew, and I think his death changed my creative path.”
We Owe Peter Jackson A Debt
When you read other things Jackson has said about the making of The Hobbit, I think it’s more than that sadness over the death of his friend. I think he simply gave all he had to give, and he had nothing left.
Peter Jackson gave it all to salvage The Hobbit from the wreckage Hollywood was creating out of it, in an era where the movie industry was already beginning to embrace anti-merit inclusivity practices and shifting its focus toward identity over quality storytelling.

If you look at photos of Peter Jackson making The Lord of the Rings, he looks like a hobbit himself. A husky, smiling man with tousled hair and tousled clothes, he looked like he’d be right at home dancing with Rosie in the Shire.
By the time The Hobbit trilogy was over, Peter Jackson had become a drained, lifeless husk of his former self. As if he’d had all the energy sucked out of his body by the forces of Mordor. As if he’d been carrying The One Ring up Mount Doom, all by himself.

Everything Jackson had left after already nearly destroying himself to make The Lord of the Rings went into The Hobbit. He did it at a time when he should have been resting, enjoying the fruit of his rewards. Taking it easy. Living it up in New Zealand, making weird independent projects for fun.
He did none of that; instead, he gave it all to us. He gave it all to The Hobbit. He gave it because he knew that by doing so, he was also preserving the legacy of his masterwork, THE masterwork, The Lord of the Rings.

Despite the prevailing view that The Hobbit trilogy was a failure, it isn’t. Peter Jackson succeeded. Sure, The Hobbit isn’t as good as The Lord of the Rings, but it’s still really, really good. More importantly, it continues the legacy of Jackson’s first three movies, carrying the torch of Tolkien’s Middle Earth without ever tarnishing it. How many other franchises can say that about their prequels?
So the next time you’re watching Amazon’s terrible Rings of Power spinoff or Star Wars’s latest awful prequel, take a moment to say thank you to Peter Jackson. Thank you, Peter, thank you for preserving a beautiful legacy. Thank you for giving it all you had, against impossible odds, year after year after year, when you could have just quit.
Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Jackson. You’ve earned it.

Entertainment
The Raunchiest Anime Of All Time Is Banned In China But Streaming On Disney+
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Whenever someone says they’re a fan of anime, a good follow-up is, “which anime?” Anime is a medium that simply means animated shows or movies from Japan, and within that are countless other genres including Shonen (One Piece, Demon Slayer), Isekai (Overlord, Sword Art Online), Romance (The Apothecary Diaries), Slice of Life (Your Name), and then there’s different styles within all of that, including the one that people bring up when they want to tear down anime as being mindless fanservice: ecchi.
Ecchi anime is incredibly suggestive. This is where you’ll find the gratuitous male gaze shots of every single female character, and plots with adult themes that are not mature because they also tend to have purposely juvenile comedy to them. That’s why it’s surprising to browse on Disney+ and find that 2010’s High School of the Dead is available for streaming.
High School Of The Dead Is The Most Famous Ecchi Series

High School of the Dead is one of the most infamous anime of all time thanks to its blatant, gratuitous fanservice that you’ll either love or hate within the first five minutes. The plot is about a group of high schoolers trying to survive the zombie apocalypse, and as with The Walking Dead, the real danger is the complete breakdown of society. Not only the support systems they took for granted, but their own morals and ethics, all of which get tested. Within a few minutes of his introduction, you’ll think that teacher Koichi Shido is among history’s greatest villains when his inner monologue reveals he wants to reshape society with himself on top.

The first few episode of High School of the Dead center around Takashi and Rei, both second-year students at Fujimi High School, who become the de facto leaders of the band of survivors. Some of the students get a chance to show off skills that’ve learned in clubs (kendo club turns out to be really useful), or studying abroad (the nerd who spent a month in America learned to shoot from a Delta Force member), while others quickly become fodder for the slow-moving horde.
There’s one sequence early on that says everything you need to know about High School of the Dead. Two girls are running form zombies, talking about how they will be best friends forever, when one of them is grabbed by a zombie. As she’s getting pulled into the horde, her skirt rides up letting you know that this is absolutely an ecchi, and at the same time, her BFF is yelling at her to let go, and even stomps on her hand, leaving her to die. Violence, language, fanservice, and a dark sense of humor. That’s the entire series in one 20-second scene.
The Most Banned Anime Of All Time

High School of the Dead is not for everyone. If you’re fine with the fanservice, you’ll discover it’s a decent zombie apocalypse anime with two good leads in Takashi and Rei, both of whom are allowed to grow and develop as society collapses around them. Getting to the good bits of the plot requires going through an awful lot of “plot” that should be listed in the dictionary right next to “male gaze.”
The sex and violence found in every episode of Highschool of the Dead was enough for the Chinese government to ban it from the country in 2015. The manga has also been banned from countless libraries and schools before staff learned that not all manga is for kids. Sadly, for those who enjoyed the series, creator Daisuke Saito passed away in 2017, and out of respect, the publisher quietly canceled the manga and anime, leaving it forever at only one season.

High School of the Dead is one of those anime that you’ll either love or hate, and a lot of it comes down to your personal sense of humor and how you like your horror. If you’re a fan of the 70s and 80s horror, you’ll find the series hits a similar tone, but if you’re not and you’re curious about it, think twice because the level of fan service can be hard to handle when you’re not on the same wavelength.
If you do want to check it out, fire up Disney+, scroll past Bluey, and the entire run of High School of the Dead is available for streaming.
Entertainment
Lawyer For Big30 Speaks On Gucci Mane Robbery
Arthur Horn, the lawyer for Pooh Shiesty‘s alleged co-conspirator, Rodney Wright Jr., also known as rapper Big30, has shared a statement in response to the kidnapping and robbery allegations involving Gucci Mane.
RELATED: UPDATE: Pooh Shiesty, His Dad & Others Reportedly Arrested For Kidnapping & Robbing Gucci Mane At Gunpoint (VIDEO)
Arthur Horn, Lawyer For Pooh Shiesty’s Alleged Co-Conspirator Rodney Wright Jr. A.K.A. Big30 Shares Statement
According to Localmemphis.com, Arthur Horn spoke exclusively with the outlet. He issued a statement in a report initially published on Thursday, April 2. Per the outlet, Horn noted the kidnapping and robbery allegations against his client as “shocking.”
“He doesn’t have a criminal history. He’s been making music for a number of years. He and Pooh Shiesty came up in the music game together. They were very close and made music together. It’s just sad that this is happening right now,” Horn reportedly told the outlet.
Furthermore, the lawyer also urged the public not to “pass judgment” on Big30 and the others “until all the facts come out.”
RELATED: Whew! YSL Woody Weighs In As Social Media Users Share Their Thoughts On Pooh Shiesty Allegedly Kidnapping & Robbing Gucci Mane (WATCH)
“I just hope that people will wait to pass judgment on Rodney and these other individuals until all the facts come out,” he reportedly concluded.
Per Horn, a detention hearing will center around Big30 on Friday, April 3.
“The first thing is, we’ll hopefully be able to get Rodney a bond. And then, once we are able to get him a bond, he’ll be able to fight this case,” he said.
Per Localmemphis.com, Pooh Shiesty’s dad, Darrion McDaniel, Kordae Johnson, and Damarian Gipson, will appear in the federal court at 2 p.m. alongside Big30 for the hearing.
More On The Gucci Mane Kidnapping & Robbery Allegations
As The Shade Room previously reported, on Wednesday, April 1, the FBI raided the family home of Pooh Shiesty and his father, Lontrell Williams Sr. Furthermore, at the time, the target of the search remained unclear. However, by the end of the day, Williams Sr. was reportedly arrested, and Pooh, who was reportedly in Dallas, Texas, was taken into custody as well.
To note, as The Shade Room previously reported, in October 2025, Pooh was released from behind bars. This, after serving three years for a federal firearms charge. According to The Independent, it was believed that Pooh had been staying at a residential reentry facility in Dallas since his release. Furthermore, he was reportedly expected to remain there until April 11.
On Thursday, April 2, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for North Texas revealed that Pooh, his dad, Rodney Wright Jr, and six others were the target of an investigation into a kidnapping and robbery involving three victims, per The Shade Room. Ultimately, it was revealed that on January 10, 2026, the group executed an “armed takeover,” luring victim later identified as Gucci Mane, and two others, to a studio in Dallas. There, allegedly forcing him to sign a music release contract at gunpoint.
RELATED: From Co-Signs To Controversy: A Look Back On Pooh Shiesty And Gucci Mane’s Business Relationship (VIDEOS)
Authorities reportedly connected Pooh and the group to the incident through electronic monitoring of the rapper’s location, cell phone records, license plate readers, car rental records, surveillance footage, fingerprints, Greyhound records, and social media posts of the alleged conspirators wearing stolen jewelry from the victims.
What Happens Next For Pooh Shiesty, His Alleged Co-Conspirator Rodney Wright Jr. A.K.A. Big30, & The Others
After the revelation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, social media users swarmed Pooh Shiesty’s comment section with shocked reactions at his alleged actions. Additionally, Pooh’s mother, Gladys Baines, took to social media. This, to share a few cryptic posts amid his and his father’s arrest, per The Shade Room.
Furthermore, by Thursday evening, the full 32-page criminal complaint against the group was released. As The Shade Room previously reported, the complaint broke down how the group allegedly cornered the victims in the studio. This, allegedly with “AK-style pistols.” And stole jewelry, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and other high-end goods while allegedly barricading doors and choking a victim near unconsciousness.
Additionally, the complaint detailed what the group allegedly did after the incident — including social media posts made. And how authorities connected them to the alleged crime. At this time, it is being reported that all nine suspects “could face up to life in prison.”
RELATED: UPDATE: Criminal Complaint Against Pooh Shiesty & His Conspirators Surfaces With Alleged Gucci Mane Kidnapping Details (SEE HERE)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Vanessa Trump posts message to boyfriend Tiger Woods after his DUI arrest
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The model shared her love for the professional golfer following his arrest.
Entertainment
HBO’s ‘Shrinking’ Replacement Brings Back Steve Carell’s Classic ‘Office’ Energy in New Sneak Peek [Exclusive]
Although he’s done far more on both film and television, stretching his range to new comedic and dramatic heights, Steve Carell will always be remembered by many as Michael Scott, first and foremost. His leading role on The Office helped catapult him to superstardom with endlessly quotable lines and memorable moments that cement him as one of entertainment’s greatest bosses. Now, he’s channeling that same awkward energy into one of his biggest comedy hits set beyond the walls of Dunder Mifflin. Collider can exclusively share a new sneak peek at Episode 5 of HBO‘s new series Rooster that sees Carell’s Greg Russo weighing how to reconnect with his ex-wife when he leans on a very familiar greeting.
The footage opens with Greg floating a potential family get-together with his daughter Katie (Charly Clive) and her mother, Beth (Connie Britton). For the former, it’s a welcome surprise given how badly her father has taken the split and how ugly the former couple’s previous meetings since the break-up have been. Still, Greg thinks he’s ready, and Katie is right there to support him, though he struggles to make the first move. His initial instinct is to just send a “Wassup” to Beth via text, but his daughter quickly overrules him and instead just gives her mother a call to make the arrangement. When Beth inevitably wants to talk to Greg, Katie hands over the phone, and her father, not knowing how to even start talking, delivers a gravelly “Wassup” like he’s greeting Jim Halpert. It may be painfully awkward, but by the end of the call, they have a date.
At its heart, Rooster revolves around how Greg navigates his complicated relationship with his daughter and the feelings he’s left with after a bitter divorce. It’s the whole reason his speaking event at the college Katie works at soon turns into something more as he not only embraces academia, but strives to support his daughter and her career. In that context, Episode 5 is shaping up to be an emotional one that will confront the lingering familial tension head-on, though not without a dose of good-hearted humor mixed in and a genuine effort from Greg to make things right.
Don’t Give Up on These Shows That Got Off to Rocky Starts — The Collider TV Quiz!
Some of the most beloved shows got off to a rough start. Here are eight that either had trouble finding an audience or were axed before they could.
‘Rooster’ Earns More Good Grades for Bill Lawrence
Rooster is the latest effort from Scrubs, Ted Lasso, and Shrinking creator Bill Lawrence and even features a few of his regular collaborators. Phil Dunster trades his AFC Richmond uniform for a professor’s attire as Katie’s ex-husband Archie, and John C. McGinley leaves Sacred Heart behind to play Ludlow College’s president, Walter Mann. Danielle Deadwyler and Lauren Tsai round out the main cast. So far, they’ve helped create another winner for Lawrence, becoming HBO’s most-watched comedy premiere in over ten years with 2.4 million cross-platform viewers within its first three days. Critics and audiences have also given the series good grades so far, with Collider’s Tania Hussain going as far as to say “Rooster belongs at the top of your must-watch list this season” in her 9/10 review.
Rooster Episode 5 airs on Sunday, April 5, on HBO. Check out our exclusive sneak peek in the player above.
- Release Date
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March 8, 2026
- Network
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HBO
Entertainment
Tiger Woods Appeared to Call President Trump After DUI Crash
Tiger Woods appeared to call President Donald Trump from the scene of his car crash on March 27, per police bodycam footage obtained by TMZ on Thursday, April 2.
Woods, 50, can be seen telling a police officer, “I was just talking to the president” from the site of the accident in Jupiter Island, Florida.
The golf player was reminded by the officer to stay close as he appeared to take a phone call. “Thank you so much. All right. You got it. Bye,” Woods can be heard saying on the phone.
Trump, 79, previously described Woods as a personal friend while addressing the crash with reporters on March 27.
“I feel so badly. He’s got some difficulty,” Trump said. “There was an accident and that’s all I know. Very close friend of mine. He’s an amazing person, amazing man. But some difficulty.”
Woods is dating the president’s former daughter-in-law, Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
Trump also presented Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S., in May 2019 during his first term in office.
Trump gave an update on Woods’ condition while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, March 31.
“I think he’s doing great, he’s doing good,” the president said. “He tested negative for alcohol, as you know, and he is under a tremendous physical pressure from his various ailments, you know, the back and the leg. He lives a life of pain. He has a lot of pain. He’s an amazing guy. He’s an amazing athlete. He does have pain.”
Woods was charged with a DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test following the rollover car crash involving his Land Rover. He pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge.
The golfer broke his silence on his arrest on Tuesday, revealing that he plans to seek treatment.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” he said in a statement. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.”
He continued, “I’ve committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”
Entertainment
Internet Reacts To Cross-Dressing Report
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked for “privacy and prayers” this week. Instead, the internet has been making wild jokes about her husband, Bryon Noem, following reports of him allegedly cross-dressing and sending money to fetish models. From parody videos to GIFS and spicy tweets, social media users are on day three of cookin’ Bryon, Kristi and their marriage.
RELATED: Brenay Kennard Must Pay $40,000 As She Appeals $1.75M Judgment Awarded To Husband’s Ex-Wife Akira Montague (UPDATE)
Why Is Kristi Noem’s Husband Going Viral?
On Tuesday (March 31), The Daily Mail released its bombshell findings regarding an investigation into Bryon Noem’s “double life.” Their exclusive report alleged that Bryon was active in online fetish communities, specifically the “bimbofication scene.” He allegedly sent messages and money, at least $25,000, to sex workers who had that real-life doll look from surgical enhancements.
Also, in some messages, Bryon Noem allegedly shared his love for “huge, huge ridiculous boobs.” DM even secured photos that reportedly show Bryon posing in pink pants with fake breasts made from inflated balloons.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s husband exposed as a cross-dresser, Daily Mail reports. pic.twitter.com/zFINxTPuYW
— Remarks (@remarks) March 31, 2026
Former Homeland Security Secretary Addresses Cross-Dressing Report
Keep in mind, The Daily Mail released their report amid the end of Kristi Noem’s time with Homeland Security. President Donald Trump fired Noem in early March via social media amid bipartisan criticism and questioning of her leadership, per the Associated Press. Her last day as Homeland Security Secretary was on March 31. Yup, that’s the same day DM published its findings about Bryon.
Rather than go out on a high note, Kristi Noem took time on Tuesday to address the report about her husband. Her representatives gave a statement to the New York Post.
“Ms. Noem is devastated. The family was blindsided by this, and they ask for privacy and prayers at this time,” the statement reportedly said.
Social Media Is Going IN With Jokes About Bryon Noem
More than 48 hours after the report went live, users on X, formerly Twitter, have not let up. While Kristi has already broken her silence with the privacy request statement, Bryon Noem hasn’t said a word…at least not on this side of the internet!
Still, social media users aren’t missing the chance to signal the irony of Noem’s “glass house.” Tweets with either Bryon’s name or “Kristi Noem husband” in the caption are going viral. Then, there’s the videos of women bouncing their breasts. There’s references to Kristi Noem’s past comments about the LGBTQ community, immigrants and her infamous story about shooting her dogs.
Not gonna happen.
The internet is forever. 😂 pic.twitter.com/1ORQORmn8E— Patton (@GeneralPatton83) April 2, 2026
Nobody:
Kristi Noem’s husband: pic.twitter.com/cOLEFaaMex
— frankie gabagool 🤌 (@beantownthot) March 31, 2026
Kristi Noem’s husband when he hears the door open pic.twitter.com/MfEoRXuErg
— 7/11 Truther (@DaveMcNamee3000) March 31, 2026
Kristi Noem’s husband while she’s out attacking drag queens pic.twitter.com/9fwXOjgVxc
— Nick | ❤️❤️ (@EnjoyMissJanet) April 2, 2026
kristi noem’s husband while she’s outside shooting dogs pic.twitter.com/ikxbBUFYAE
— Guilty as Slade? ✨🤌🏼 (@Jesse_bslade) March 31, 2026
Nobody:
Kristi Noem’s husband: pic.twitter.com/VubKvoWSxd
— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) April 1, 2026
Nobody:
Kristi Noem husband: pic.twitter.com/jzDkkQc3s8
— shenellica bettencourt (@_Cordelra_) April 1, 2026
Kristi Noem at a podium trying to frame citizens as terrorists
Her husband at home: pic.twitter.com/mtLdMv9b7G
— uninspired beige (@TallForNxthing) March 31, 2026
Kristi Noem’s Husband https://t.co/9cnZWn6LP8
— Katie (@KayTeeeOh) March 31, 2026
me to bryan noem pic.twitter.com/0ywbDfGQ46
— Christian Snow (@cgraysnow) April 1, 2026
Byron Noem in the house while Kristi was outside shooting dogs pic.twitter.com/3xfFyq7Lny
— act iii Updates (@B7Album) March 31, 2026
Kristi Noem: *oversees illegal disappearance of POC and murder of Americans*
Kristi Noem’s Husband: pic.twitter.com/hUnBa3jY3V
— Sidney (as in Prescott) (@TheSidJoShow) March 31, 2026
Kristi Noem and her husband 😭 pic.twitter.com/710PO4ELrY
— Gizmo Memes (@GizmoMemes) March 31, 2026
kristi noem’s husband in the fitting room pic.twitter.com/pwgdDq7bEN
— jake 🪷 (@jakehasaproblem) April 1, 2026
Is this why Kristi Noem shot her dog execution style in the backyard? Because they knew too much!?! pic.twitter.com/HyuRtUH6xi
— Nico The Lowly Tarnished (@Nicosaesthetic) March 31, 2026
I’m in actual tears!!! 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/E7956AEOwn
— Goddess L. (@GoddessL_) April 1, 2026
kristi noem’s dog to her husband before she took him out back with the rifle pic.twitter.com/E3kZwK38tx
— noah, like the ark (@sentient_dorito) March 31, 2026
kristi noem’s husband next time they go to their favorite Mexican restaurant. pic.twitter.com/QwXfglnyTv
— colibri (@senorcolibri) March 31, 2026
south park writers hearing the news about kristi noem’s husband pic.twitter.com/mK38CLgH5d
— aj (@trafficparadise) April 1, 2026
Kristi Noem’s husband as soon as she leaves for work: pic.twitter.com/GNGWTt0yKZ
— Tony Michaels 🎙 (@thetonymichaels) April 1, 2026
Bryon Noem at a baseball game pic.twitter.com/jyrIMRMF9U
— Damin Toell (@damintoell) April 2, 2026
me in the elevator with Bryon Noem: pic.twitter.com/3Pzrhekpvh
— frankie gabagool 🤌 (@beantownthot) April 2, 2026
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/gbHAHCt1HK
— Andrew (@AndrewDamien) April 2, 2026
Kristi Noem: I’m Devasted
Her Husband: pic.twitter.com/PTazWH9l90
— La Coochie Versace (@CoochieReloaded) April 2, 2026
RELATED: Wait, WHAT?! President Trump Seemingly Tells Erika Kirk To Sue Druski Over His “Conservative Women” Skit (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
17 Best Coastal‑Grandma Cardigans to Shop for Spring 2026
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Most spring fashion trends are rather predictable, like florals, pastels and lightweight knits. But this season has a few surprises up its sleeve. Coastal‑grandma cardigans are majorly in, and we’re leaning into the soft, seaside‑inspired vibe. Though it first popped up around 2022, this social‑media‑famous trend pays tribute to the linen‑loving, beach‑walking women who embody quiet coastal luxury. We’re talking Nancy Meyers–style icons like Meryl Streep and the late Diane Keaton — women who make coastal-inspired fashion look youthful and elegant, not frumpy and forgettable.
In honor of this cozy-chic aesthetic, we’ve rounded up 17 coastal‑grandma cardigans that capture the breezy charm, soft textures and easy elegance the look is known for. From puff‑sleeve silhouettes to colorful and open‑stitch styles, these picks from Amazon, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Abercrombie & Fitch make coastal luxury feel totally wearable. Shop the look below — starting at $17.
17 Youthful Coastal‑Grandma Cardigans Made For Spring
1. Our Favorite: With an ultra‑relaxed fit, this lightweight cropped cardigan lets you rock the coastal‑grandma trend while keeping things fresh, flirty and totally comfortable. The compliment-worthy style comes in a range of colors, including red, green and butter yellow.
2. Nantucket Vibes: Go full nautical-chic in this blue‑and‑white cardigan, complete with an eye‑catching scallop trim. The cozy silhouette makes it an easy match for distressed denim, boho maxi skirts and everything in between.
3. Boutique Style: Achieve rich‑mom style on a budget with a textured knit cardigan from Amazon. The roomy piece has that heirloom quality that brings a touch of quiet luxury to even your simplest looks.
4. Work to Home: It looks and feels like cashmere, but Petal & Pup’s elbow-length cardigan is breathable, affordable and totally spring‑ready. Reviewers rave that it’s the cozy staple they reach for from desk to downtime.
5. Slimming Silhouette: Cleverly draw attention away from your midsection with a peplum‑style cropped cardigan from All In Favor. Even better, it’s finished with sweet feminine details like ruffle sleeves and a classic pointelle knit.
6. No Heaviness: Get the cable‑knit look without the heaviness with Lucky Brand’s short‑sleeve cardigan. It captures the coastal‑grandma feel while staying modern rather than frumpy.
7. Scenic Style: Put your love for coastal fashion on display in this roomy Abercrombie & Fitch layer. The cream knit features a charming sailboat scene that instantly channels breezy seaside style.
8. On Point: At first glance, this pointelle gray cardigan seems understated, but the intricate stitch detail makes it a coastal classic with quiet‑luxury appeal. Reviewers can’t get over how soft it feels and how high‑end it looks.
9. Spring-Approved: We love a cardigan you can rock well into spring (maybe even summer), and this cropped short‑sleeve option is the perfect lightweight layer for warmer days. Pick from spring-centric colors like red, green, cream or blue.
10. Beach Babe: Long walks on the beach feel more feasible and fashionable in this open‑knit short‑sleeve cardigan. Reviewers say the breezy layer gives off major vacay vibes.
11. Affordable Luxury: No brand nails affordable luxury style like Quince, and the brand’s cropped cotton cardigan is the perfect example. Soft, breathable and elevated enough to wear with anything, it’s the perfect addition to any coastal-grandma capsule collection.
12. Celeb-Loved: Luxury lovers, don’t miss Quince’s best-selling Mongolian cashmere short‑sleeve cardigan. Jessica Alba has worn a similar style from the brand, giving the piece that celebrity‑approved coastal polish.
13. Keep It Light: If you’re not ready to commit to a full‑on button-up, consider this tie‑front crochet cardigan. It’s a lovely spring layering piece that instantly lightens up your coastal-chic closet.
14. Lived-In Look: For that laid‑back luxe vibe, reach for this oversized Free People cardigan. The tie‑front silhouette, roomy sleeves and distressed wash give it immediate coastal charm.
15. Puff-Sleeve Pick: Color Us surprised because we never expected Levi’s to pull out a puff-sleeve cardigan as chic as this. Everything from the oversized buttons to the delicate pointelle knit gives it a soft, feminine feel that’s worlds beyond its usual denim staples.
16. Breezy Design: We’ve seen our fair share of crochet cardigan sweaters, but none have been as chic and wearable as this cropped one. It’ll look especially lovely with monochrome trousers and a pair of easy slip‑on sandals.
17. Seasonally Sensible: Looking to nail the coastal‑grandma aesthetic without being too trendy? CeCe’s V‑neck cardigan — available in a gorgeous lavender and a classic navy — keeps things flirty and fun while still feeling timeless enough to wear year after year.
Entertainment
Brandi Glanville Recalls Buying New Vagina With Ex’s Amex
Brandi Glanville has Dorit Kemsley’s back as the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star navigates her divorce and drama with PK Kemsley.
The former cast member, 53, defended the current Housewife, 49, after Dorit came to blows with her costars during the Thursday, April 2, episode of the reality show.
“Leave Dorit alone!” Brandi wrote via X on Thursday night. “When I was in her place I got a brand new vagina and put it on my ex-husband’s Amex. We all are a little erratic when we are heartbroken and going through divorce! Team Dorito!”
Brandi was referencing her vaginal rejuvenation surgery, which she got after her split from ex-husband Eddie Cibrian in 2009.
The reality TV star detailed her surgery in her 2013 memoir, Drinking and Tweeting and Other Brandi Blunders.
“I decided that since Eddie ruined my vagina for me, he could pay for a new one,” she wrote. “A week after the vaginal rejuvenation surgery, he was on the phone screaming, ‘What the f**k cost you $12,000? Did you get a nose job?’”
She continued, “I responded simply, ‘Yes. A nose job.’ And I hung up.”

Dorit Kemsley. (Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)
In Thursday’s RHOBH episode, Erika Jayne took aim at Dorit for constantly being late and keeping the other Housewives waiting. Dorit defended her tardiness, claiming it was because she was on the phone with her kids, son Jagger, 12, and daughter Phoenix, 10. (Dorit filed for divorce from their father, PK, in April 2025.)
“Great, how long does that take? We all have kids. Why would you keep us all waiting? Because your kids are more important than everybody else’s kids?” Erika continued. “Send us a text and say, ‘Hey, I’m checking on my kids, I’ll be down in five.’ … You don’t think you need to do that?”
After Rachel Zoe suggested that Dorit was going through a lot due to the breakdown of her marriage to PK, Erika hit back.
“We’re all going through a f*** ton,” Erika began before Dorit interrupted to express her disbelief that Erika was also going through hard times.
“Are you kidding? What the f*** do you think it is? My husband went to prison. The f*** are you talking about? I’m going to trial,” Erika responded. “Your kids and your divorce are like — let’s not do the pain thing, like, where we do the pain Olympics.”
Erika’s estranged husband, Tom Girardi, was convicted of wire fraud in 2024 and sentenced to seven years in prison. While Erika was never charged with a crime, the trustee presiding over Tom’s bankruptcy case sued her for $25 million. That trial is set to start later this year.
In the episode, tensions ultimately escalated to the point where Erika and Dorit called each other “c***s” during the heated exchange.
Entertainment
Prince Harry Teaches Archie How to Ski in New Meghan Video
Prince Archie is hitting the slopes with a little help from his dad, Prince Harry!
In a sweet video shared by doting mom Meghan Markle via Instagram on Thursday, March 2, Archie, 6, can be seen practicing his skiing skills with his father.
Archie follows behind the Duke of Sussex, who leads the way on the slopes, and appears to be picking up his new skill as he glides along the snow with ease.
“My boys. Quick learner, Archie! So proud ❤️,” Meghan, 44, captioned the video.
As well as Archie, Meghan and Harry are the parents of daughter Princess Lilibet, 4.
One of Meghan’s best friends, Kelly McKee Zajfen, recently gushed about the Duchess of Sussex’s parenting abilities exclusively to Us Weekly.
“She’s my best friend and such a support,” Kelly told Us at the Alliance for Children’s Rights 34th annual Champions for Children on March 19 in Beverly Hills. “It’s incredible to watch her as a parent.”
“She leads also by example, and she’s such a warm light, and she always says yes, so it means everything,” added Kelly, who was supported by Meghan at the event.
Meghan and Harry, 41, also recently praised a landmark ruling against Meta and Google over social media addiction among minors.
On March 25, a Los Angeles jury ordered the two companies to pay $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages to a young woman who alleged that its platforms were designed to be addictive and caused her harm as a minor. Meta owns Instagram, while Google owns YouTube.
“This verdict is a reckoning,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement to Us at the time. “For too long, families have paid the price for platforms built with total disregard for the children they reach. We stand with every parent and young person who refused to be silenced. Today, the truth has been heard and precedent has been set.”
A jury ruled that Meta must pay the woman — identified as K.G.M. — $4.2 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages. Google was ordered to pay $1.8 million.
Both Meta and Google said they disagreed with the jury’s verdict and expressed plans to appeal.
“Teen mental health is profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously as every case is different, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online,” a Meta spokesperson told NBC News in late March.
Google spokesperson José Castañeda told NBC News that the case “misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”
Entertainment
‘The Pitt’ Star Opens Up About Santos and Garcia’s Complicated Relationship
Everyone’s juggling a lot in The Pitt Season 2, but Isa Briones’ storyline as Trinity Santos feels especially full. Not only is being a second-year resident at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center’s Emergency Department especially taxing, but on this particular day, she also faces the return of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), Dr. Robby’s (Noah Wyle) pending exit for his sabbatical, and the realization that she might not get precisely what she wants out of her relationship with Dr. Garcia (Alexandra Metz). As is very often the case with The Pitt, the writers do an exceptional job of blending workplace challenges with personal concerns to craft stories about fully realized people giving everything they’ve got to others, while trying to figure out how to care for themselves in the process.
With The Pitt closing in on its Season 2 finale, Briones carved out the time to swing by the Collider Ladies Night studio to discuss everything that’s happened through Episode 13, “7:00 PM,” before jetting off to New York City for her run in Just in Time on Broadway. We covered lessons learned from her father, Jon Jon Briones, takeaways from Star Trek: Picard, what it was like joining the cast of The Pitt, and, of course, everything Santos is trying to power through on July 4th.
Robby Leaving Is More Destabilizing for Santos Than You Might Think
“She’s losing a bit of a safe space.”
Dr. Robby is the Chief Attending Physician at the ED. Him leaving for a three-month sabbatical is bound to impact everyone working in the department, but it could prove especially trying for Santos.
In the middle of Episode 12, “6:00 PM,” Robby is supervising her, and when the patient embraces the risk he took that landed him in the hospital, Robby says, “Amor fait,” which means, “Love of fate.” Santos says back, “Memento mori,” which translates to, “Remember you must die.” Robby follows that up with, “Tomato, tomahto,” a response that leaves Santos speechless.
“Doing the scene, what we were really trying to solidify in these last few episodes was just how much she’s kind of clinging to Robby, and how him leaving is yet another destabilizing thing amongst so many destabilizing things in the day that she’s having. He’s one of the only people who knows what happened and who felt like was on her side with the Langdon stuff, and now she’s entering a world where he’s back and Robby’s gonna be gone. She’s losing a bit of a safe space, and so I think hearing him talk so morbidly about his trip is kind of like, ‘What the hell?’ It’s this like, ‘Oh, I might be really losing this person,’ and that just kind of digs it a little deeper for her to retreat into her little sadness shell.”
‘The Pitt’ Star Breaks Silence on The Show’s Divisive ICE Storyline
Fiona Dourif discusses Dr. McKay’s biggest Season 2 moments, including the Roxie storyline and her Episode 12 concern for Dr. Robby.
Santos Wants More from Garcia
“No one loves me, and I’m gonna be alone, and I should be alone.”
Another person Santos appears to be losing in Season 2 is Garcia. In Episode 10, “4:00 PM,” while passing in the hall, Santos calls Garcia out for criticizing her in front of Langdon and asks, “Whose side are you on?” Garcia tells her, “Langdon made a mistake and owned up to it. Let it go.” As one would expect, that doesn’t sit well with Santos and she continues to push her side of the argument. But, Garcia puts are hard stop on it by telling her, “You want to have sex and eat ramen in bed, I’m your girl, but if you want to talk about this Langdon shit again, call a therapist.”
Given the rocky state of their relationship and that it’s abundantly clear Santos isn’t getting everything she wants from it, I asked Briones to compare her relationship goals at the start of the show to what Santos’ is looking for from a partner now. She began:
“When you first meet her, she’s so go-getter and so coming-in-hot and wanting to prove herself, and I think there was obviously attraction there, but I also think it was like, oh, this is someone who is not off-put by my testing energy. She’s actually matching it and kind of likes it. So, I think there was kind of like an, ‘Oh, we feel like equals in a way, and we feel like we get each other.’ Also, ‘She’s in surgery. I want to go into surgery.’ There may be a little bit of that.”
What changed? As Briones put it, “I think now she’s caught feelings a bit.” She continued:
“You see that Whitaker has become a person that she is now kind of letting in reluctantly, and with Garcia, I think it’s like, this is someone who should be the person that I would let in, like a romantic partner. In her attempts, that has been shut down to make it go anywhere more serious. I think all of that compounding on this day is just leading her to further believe, ‘No one loves me, and I’m gonna be alone, and I should be alone.’ The one person who is showing her love and wants to be there for her is Whitaker, and she’s like, ‘Fuck you!’”
And this doesn’t just pertain to what’s happening in The Pitt Season 2, or even what’s happened since the beginning of the show. Santos’ frustrations are also connected to times in her life pre-The Pitt when she wasn’t heard. Briones explained:
“I think she’s felt not heard a lot in the past, obviously, about the Langdon stuff, but also about things far before the show starts that we hear a little bit about. I think she’s not been believed when she’s told the truth before, and so I think just wanting someone to hear her is a really big thing.”
Santos Needs Whitaker, And This Scene in Episode 12 Proves It
“Clearly everything is coming to the surface, and she has to spit this out at someone, and it’s gonna be him.”
As Briones noted, the one person who’s especially eager to hear her out and support her is a person she consistently pushes away — Whitaker (Gerran Howell).
Episode 12 concludes with a significant exchange between the two. It’s not just about Langdon. It’s about everything. It begins with Santos taking a blade from the suture cart and then when Whitaker asks her what’s going on, she lets it all out — the frustrations with the Langdon situation, feeling abandoned by The Pitt community, concerns about Robby leaving, pressure from Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), things not working out with Garcia the way she’d like, and then, to top it all off, she calls Whitaker out for not telling her about “squatting at Robby’s bachelor pad.”
It’s a phenomenal performance beat by Briones who imbues an exposition-heavy moment with significant emotion and subtext. When asked about tackling such a scene, Briones even mentioned, “Sometimes you have a dialogue like that where it’s clear you’re just trying to remind the audience what has happened, but it’s like, no, no, this was clearly everything is coming to the surface.” She continued:
“If you really look at the subtext of it, it shows how comfortable she is with him. She doesn’t really talk about anything with anyone else, but the fact that she’s willing to confront all this stuff to his face and accidentally show, ‘I’m scared to be alone,’ that’s really a very special character moment where you realize just how much she needs him.”
Looking for even more from Briones on Santos’ The Pitt Season 2 storyline? Be sure to watch her full Collider Ladies Night interview in the video at the top of this article.
- Release Date
-
January 9, 2025
- Network
-
Max
- Showrunner
-
R. Scott Gemmill
- Directors
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Amanda Marsalis
- Writers
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Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa
-
Noah Wyle
Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch
-
Tracy Ifeachor
Dr. Heather Collins
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