General Hospital fans, we have got all your latest spoilers for the two weeks starting August 17th with Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) taunting someone and things may get vicious. Plus, Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) is spiraling out and it looks like it may be over Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst).

Also, during the two weeks of August 17th through the 28th, we’re going to see Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) packed off to prison, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) waiting in his cell, and a bidding war at the PCPD auction over his assets. Let’s unpack all of that.

General Hospital Spoilers: Carly Teams Up with Hudson

Monday, August 17th, we’ve got Carly Corinthos (Laura Wright) forming a new alliance. It’s with Hudson Parker (Troy Lennon Appel). Carly summons businessman Hudson over and reveals that she owns the Metro Court Hotel where Jax put him up. That’s how Carly found Hudson and knew who he was.

So, Carly wants Hudson to ensure Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) takes the job at JJE. Hudson tells Carly it’s too late, dead end. But Carly says wrong answer. Joss wants Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) to help choosing a CEO for the company. He wants something in return. Tells Joss the price for his help. So, Joss and Michael are meeting with Hudson out at the Q docks, which is a setup obviously for him to be able to get a look at baby Phoebe with Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard).

GH Spoilers: BLQ Horrified by Michael

And speaking of Brook Lynn, she gets news that leaves her reeling. She’s horrified. Michael moves Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen) back into the gate house and Brook Lynn demands her granny, Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), tell Michael it’s not going to happen.

Meanwhile, Willow chats up Chase and says the move has a silver lining. She’s happy to see him. Also, Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett) and Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) have a bonding moment and this may be at the softball game. I think that they are going to get much closer soon. Somebody gets pushback from Serena and it may be Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring).

Britt Stunned by Jason on General Hospital

Tuesday, August 18th on General Hospital. Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) shocks Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) with some news. She and Jason are in their softball uniforms at the park. She’s doing General Hospital. He’s got an ELQ shirt on, not Corinthos coffee.

And I expect Jason to tell Britt that he quit working for Sonny and that Jason’s no longer in the mob. He went legit for Danny Morgan’s (Asher Jared Antonyzyn) sake. And I think that Britt will be shocked but pleased. Also, Joss inadvertently offers up too much info. This may be talking to Hudson after he sees Brook Lynn’s baby.

Joss may reveal the little girl’s adopted and that her mom died in childbirth not too long ago. Basically, enough info for Hudson to start putting things together that Phoebe is his daughter. We also have Lucy shaken on Tuesday and it might be about her and Serena’s scheme.

Plus, Sonny and Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) find they have a common interest and I’m betting it is their mutual disapproval of Carly being with Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). We know that Sonny hates Carly seeing Valentin and Anna may agree. Sonny already failed in his plan to get Brick (Stephen A. Smith) to break up Carly and Valentin, but maybe Anna can make it happen.

GH Spoilers: Ava Worries about Lucas

Ava Jerome (Maura West) has some concerns about Lucas and this may be just her worried about his ongoing grief over Marco, but now he’s spending more time with a cute cop. So, maybe hunky detective Joe is going to lift Lucas’ spirits and I think Ava will be happy for him.

On Wednesday, August 19th on General Hospital, spoilers have Sonny giving a blessing to somebody. So, Jason may circle back around and tell him he’s working for ELQ. Elsewhere, Ric gets an eyeful and could be Sonny and Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) or Ric might see Liz in a close moment with Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) and go spiraling.

Somebody makes Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) an unexpected offer. Valentin already asked Jordan to consult and advise him on Sidwell’s assets. So, Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) might be making Jordan a similar offer or maybe something to do with Curtis packing off for prison.

General Hospital Spoilers: Kai Starts to Worry

Kai is feeling uneasy about something and it may be about Simon the producer pushing Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) and Gio together or it could be about Quen. We may see Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) suspecting that Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) has a stalker. He may notice something creepy going on. Drew and Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) have a tense run in.

They hate each other and Drew might bicker about Willow and promise to find a way to make both of them pay. We also may have Nino reporting this interaction back to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) this week. And of course, he just called out Drew for how he was talking to Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) at the Metro Court last week.

Thursday, August 20th, General Hospital spoilers have Carly realizing something and it may be about Joss, Hudson, or Valentin. Plus, Liz is sharing something with Dante. She may tell him about Ric’s jealousy because that same day he is spiraling. And this may be after seeing Dante with Liz again. So, Ric’s also worried about Sonny right now, but his jealousy over Dante getting closer to Liz is what I suspect sends Ric off the rails.

Joss Meets Tristan on GH

Anna introduces Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) to Joss. They have the WSB in common. I’m wondering if Jack’s going to tell Joss to keep an eye on Tristan. We do know he was in Indonesia with Jason. Plus, Lulu Spencer (Alexa Havins Bruening) has lots to say to Valentin.

Of course, it’s about Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke). Lulu thought Valentin was renting a house in Port Charles, but now he’s buying Spoon Island. So, Lulu may push back on Charlotte moving out to Wyndemere. Also, Friday, August 21st on General Hospital, Drew extends an olive branch to somebody.

I’m curious if that’s on his own volition or if Jack has forced Drew’s hand. Ava is reassuring Portia Robinson (Brook Kerr) on Friday. So, Ava may share her concerns about Trina being crushed by Curtis going to prison, but Ava’s been in Pentonville, so she might have some good advice to give to Portia.

Jordan gets a vote of confidence from somebody. This may be Curtis because he and Jordan have a heartfelt talk at her place this week. They’re saying goodbye before Curtis turns himself in to do his time. And Jordan is absolutely going to stand by and wait faithfully for Curtis.

Sonny Visits Sidwell on GH

Sidwell gets a surprise visit from Sonny at Pentonville. And Sonny might be taunting Sidwell about the piers and other things that Sonny’s trying to buy at the police auction. Plus, Laura Spencer (Genie Francis) asks Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) for something and it may have something to do with Lulu and Charlotte.

Then the week of August 24th through the 28th, we’re going to have Curtis settling in at Pentonville, but I think he’s going to be shocked and horrified to find out Jordan’s ex-boss, Sidwell, is his cellmate. I’m guessing he may be punishing Curtis for Jordan’s betrayal. Jordan’s going to be struggling to adjust to life with Curtis behind bars.

I expect more of Jordan and her tantrums aimed at Portia and Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) because she’s unreasonably blaming them for what Curtis did that landed himself in prison. We’ll find out who gets Sidwell’s assets at auction. Valentin wants Spoon Island and some legit assets.

General Hospital Spoilers: Drew Vows to Take Sonny Down

Drew wants the piers so Sonny can’t have them. So, there may be a bidding war that ends in some serious animosities. I expect to see Valentin getting Wyndemere moving back in. I don’t think Drew or Sonny want to buy it. Although if he knows Valentin wants it, Sonny might bid or drive up the bids just to be a jerk.

Willow and everybody on the Quartermain estate are struggling with her being there. She’s not happy to be under Michael’s thumb, but she’s stuck at least for now. Hudson is going to start digging into Phoebe’s backstory. If I were him, I’d steal a pacifier or something with a baby’s DNA on it to get a paternity test just to eliminate any guesswork.

Scout Cain (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) may be getting to see Alexis and Danny and the others if Jack forces Drew’s hand. And we could see Liz taking a step back from Ric because of his rampant jealousy. Lucas gets closer to Joe, but also to Ava and Britt.

And Anna has her eye on Britt, and Peter August (Wes Ramsey) stays in her ear, telling her to kill Britt. Now, Carly keeps plotting with Hudson about Joss and JJE, but they don’t know exactly what a bad guy that Hudson is. Michael’s going to help Joss get loose of it, and Jack is also trying to help getting some info on JJE from Alexis for her.

Also, Kirsten Storms is back in LA with a cute short blonde haircut. So, fans are wondering if we might be getting Maxie Jones back to GH. We’ll see.

Thriller books are everywhere, but it’s rare for one to keep a reader completely hooked, churning through every page in the hope of getting closer to the truth. Traditional thrillers often contain familiar elements: an unresolved conflict, flawed characters, and the suspense of knowing that we could be just one revelation away from the answer. However, the perfect thriller is the one that completely throws you off your trail, constantly challenging your expectations while keeping you desperate to uncover what happens next.

The best thrillers are also the ones that aren’t ambiguous about the message they’re trying to deliver, whether it’s a commentary on the upper class and their belief that they have the resources to manipulate the truth, or a story about underdogs who start off as unlikely heroes and ultimately become them. From a Stephen King ’80s favorite to books that have been adapted into global movie phenomena, here are thriller books that are perfect from first page to last.

1

‘And Then There Were None’ (1939)

Image via Collins Crime Club

And Then There Were None introduces eight strangers who share nothing in common, except that they’re all visiting a secluded island off the Devon coast. However, instead of meeting their hosts, they all encounter an empty house. All the more eerie is a disturbing gramophone recording accusing each of causing a death.

Thrillers aren’t supposed to be fun, but And Then There Were None somehow makes them so. The premise revolves around a ghastly nursery rhyme that serves as a vividly graphic premonition for the strangers who die one by one. Think of it as musical chairs, but instead of losing when you don’t get a seat when the song ends, you drop dead. The thrilling part is that there is no detective to seek out the culprit. It’s the job of these eight strangers, but like a game of Werewolf, it’s all a guessing game. It’s psychological torture at its best.

2

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1988)

Image via St. Martin’s Press

Now a cult classic, The Silence of the Lambs follows young FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is assigned to question the enigmatic Hannibal Lecter. Instead of helping her identify the serial killer Buffalo Bill, Lecter gives Clarice a series of cryptic clues for her to follow. Clarice is sent on a puzzle-piece investigation of sorts, but with another victim kidnapped, she has no time for second-guessing.

The Silence of the Lambs is a brilliant example of how gender dynamics and vulnerability can be weaponized. It’s not surprising that Clarice gets the brunt of the criticism at the FBI simply for being a woman, let alone hailing from rural West Virginia. Unexpectedly, Lecter becomes her most attentive listener and unlikely sympathizer. However, the novel makes it complicated for readers to root for Lecter. Apart from being a killer, the only way he’s willing to help Clarice is if she exchanges details about her traumatic past with him. Lecter’s empathy toward Clarice is inseparable from his manipulation of her openness.

3

‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1971)

Image via Penguin

Featuring a fictional assassination plot, The Day of the Jackal is set in the aftermath of a failed attempt on the life of the President of France, Charles de Gaulle. Unbeknownst to him, an OAS-backed assassin known as the Jackal is hired to finish the job. As that’s happening, Detective Claude Lebel races to identify the Jackal.

For thriller fans who want to get into the nitty-gritty of a methodical procedural, The Day of the Jackal is the perfect pick. Although the assassination itself is fictional, the author’s real-life objective and journalism experience give it a grounded quality without the unnecessary Hollywood espionage theatrics. Being an assassin may seem sleek and stylish, but the Jackal’s work is anything but glamorous. He undergoes continuous disguises, posing as a French student while obsessing over details like which hair dye to buy and which suitcase matches his identity. It’s meticulous, exhausting, and tense, proving that assassination is all about the details.

4

‘Gone Girl’ (2012)

Image via Phoenix

There’s no telling right or wrong in Gone Girl. On their fifth wedding anniversary, pop-culture journalist Nick Dunne becomes the subject of a murder investigation when his wife, Amy Dunne, goes missing. Known for being the inspiration for her parents’ popular children’s book series, Amy’s disappearance immediately pulls Nick into a media frenzy.

Gone Girl is a true modern thriller because it completely twists the traditional notion of marriage, which is often viewed as sacred and a source of comfort. In the book, marriage becomes a weapon for manipulation, with nearly every conflict between Nick and Amy stemming from their fractured relationship. While most couples keep their problems behind closed doors, Gone Girl takes those private marital issues to disturbing extremes, showing just how far resentment and deception can push someone. Apart from Amy’s now-famous “Cool Girl” monologue, the novel’s massive plot twist remains one of its greatest strengths, turning marital dysfunction into a shocking, suspenseful mystery.

5

‘Misery’ (1987)

Image via Viking

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After bestselling author Paul Sheldon crashes his car during a Colorado snowstorm, he wakes up in the home of Annie Wilkes, his self-proclaimed number one fan. But Annie isn’t exactly the sweet rescuer Paul hoped for. Trapped with two broken legs, Paul is forced to revive his beloved Misery series while desperately looking for a way to escape.

Thanks to the internet, people have become desensitized to “stan culture” and the one-sided parasocial relationships we develop with the people we idolize. While it’s easy to stan someone from behind a screen today, Misery shows how much deadlier that obsession can become when there’s no screen separating the fan from the object of her devotion. Much of the plot takes place in a single bedroom inside a remote cabin, where Paul is completely trapped and unable to escape his captor. Then there’s Annie, who keeps Paul alive enough to write coherently, but she’s also willing to torture him with medication to force him to write.

6

‘The God of the Woods’ (2024)

Image via Riverhead Books

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The God of the Woods begins in 1975, when teenager Barbara Van Laar disappears from her family’s Adirondack summer camp. This isn’t the first time the family’s been struck with tragedy—fourteen years earlier, it was Barbara’s brother who went missing. Rookie investigator Judyta Luptack is up for the job, but the answers are protected by a family desperate to protect its reputation.

The God of the Woods unfolds across two timelines, showing how tragedy doesn’t simply end but instead morphs into the future when left unkempt. With the title alluding to the woods themselves, the wealthy Van Laars are ultimately no match for the wilderness they seek to control, which could swallow them at any moment. Set in an era when female detectives are notoriously undermined in the male-dominated profession, Judyta’s perseverance feels all the more human, with her anxieties and the need to work twice as hard to prove herself making her someone many female readers can relate to.

7

‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2005)

Image via Norstedts Förlag

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The David Fincher neo-noir wouldn’t exist without the original book. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is hired by a wealthy businessman, Henrik Vanger, to dig into the disappearance of his niece, Harriet. Presumably vanished from the family’s remote island, Mikael and his hacker partner, Lisbeth Salander, find the perfect scoop, only for it to lead to the Vangers’ family secrets.

In true Nordic noir, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is grim, dark, and bleak—all qualities that translate directly into the case itself: a cold case dating back a whopping 40 years, as well as the tragic backstories of its protagonists. Most importantly, it introduced Lisbeth to the world, a woman who has lived through the kind of pain that many women are unfortunately familiar with. Rather than allowing that pain to shatter her, she chooses to survive and seek justice outside the boundaries of the law.

Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for the two weeks that start August 17th with Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) all pumped up and acting like a mean girl making threats. Plus, Katie Logan (Heather Tom) is fuming and on the war path when somebody rejects her advice.

We’re going to see Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) begging Daphne, him getting a little too close to Steffy and Fen back to LA and Desperate. Let’s jump into it. We have lots to talk about.

Bold and the Beautiful: Will Steffy & Carter Cross the Line?

Monday, August 17th on B&B. We are still in Monte Carlo. We’re carrying over from Friday’s episode. We’ve got Finn Finnegan (Tanner Novlan) in full panic mode, and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) continues to unreasonably rage at him. Both Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge are going off on Finn for not telling Steffy that Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) was in Monaco.

Ridge hasn’t heard back from Steffy either but isn’t sure that he can tell his daughter that she can trust Finn. Ridge makes it very clear he doubts Finn, who tells them that the look on Steffy’s face is something that will horrify Finn forever.

Also carrying over from Friday, Carter and Steffy are drunk and comforting each other up at the office. Though, will Carter and Steffy get intimate while they’re at a low point in their lives? Both of them think their marriages are over, but still Carter should keep it zipped. Steffy’s telling Carter what happened with Finn and Sheila in Monaco, and Steffy says she just wants to be free of the woman who’s trying to destroy her family.

I’m sure Carter tells her that Daphne left him and they’ll commiserate. Steffy heads home later to sober up but is moping in her bathrobe with Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) asking what’s going on. Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) pops by Steffy’s place to see Taylor with hot coffee and pastries. Deacon’s going to be stunned to hear that Sheila stalked them all the way to Monte Carlo.

Bold and the Beautiful: Finn Heads Back to LA

Tuesday, August 18th on the Bold and the Beautiful. After Brooke and Ridge go off on Finn, he hops a flight home to LA and he’s talking to himself. He’s on the plane saying, “I have got to get to you Steffy before it is too late.” So on Tuesday, Finn is back to Los Angeles and he’s desperately trying to make amends with Steffy. He really doesn’t want to lose her. Taylor may mediate if Steffy wants her there. All of her loved ones are rallying around her with this Finn and Sheila drama.

Then Wednesday, August 19th on Bold and the Beautiful, Katie remains suspicious of Melissa Dylan’s (Sydney Bullock) motives. Then she’s taking a slap at Will Spencer (Crew Morrow). So, Katie’s over at Will’s beach house and she starts chewing out her son. Katie wants to know if Will misses Electra so much, then why is he hooking up with her best friend Dylan? Well, he hasn’t hooked up with her just yet. So, I expect Will to push back. He knows he and Electra are done even though it hurts him. And Dylan is somebody that Will likes and it makes him feel good. Bill Spencer (and Wyatt are team Dylan. They just need Katie on board.

Bold and the Beautiful: Electra & Dylan Face Off

Also, Electra and Dylan get into it again at Forrester Creations. With Daphne leaving, that’s going to bounce Dylan back to being Electra’s assistant, and that won’t go well. R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) has Electra’s ego all pumped up, and she gets really nasty with Dylan, saying, “I am Electra Forrester. If I want it, you are gone.”

She is fully channeling R.J., Dylan’s glaring at Electra and says, “R.J.’s going to blab about this big new line that he’s pitching to Ridge. Ticking off Dylan is a bad idea because she’s loyal to Will.”

We also have Steffy struggling with the idea that she can’t trust Finn ever again. Steffy doesn’t want to end her marriage, but she thinks cutting out Finn’s the only way to protect her and the kids from Sheila.

And we’ve seen Steffy spiral whenever Finn mentions giving his bio-mom a chance. So, I don’t think Steffy and Finn are done for good, but if he can’t convince her, they may be done for now. I fully expect things to turn around at some point. But Steffy’s feeling very, very betrayed right now.

The Bold and the Beautiful: Youth Line Pitch and Marriage Crises

Bold and the Beautiful on Thursday, August 20th. Has R.J. approaching Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz) with his big new idea. So R.J. is going to pitch to Zende likely before Brooke and Ridge are back from Monaco about the youth line. I’m sure Zena will be amped up about this new opportunity, but Electra is not an issue for him. He likes her fine, but Zende is not going to want to answer to R.J. But this new line will be hope for Zende’s future.

Carter and Daphne reach an understanding. Of course, Carter was crushed because Daphne’s going back to Paris and gave Carter back her wedding rings. But maybe this understanding is that she’ll stay in LA and take it day by day despite the awful diagnosis. But Daphne may also leave, but with a promise to return soon. We’ll see.

Bold and the Beautiful: Ridge Tries to Help

Friday, August 21st on the Bold and the Beautiful. Daphne’s confiding in Ridge. And I think Daphne’s going to tell Ridge why she gave Carter back her rings. Because Daphne feels like she can’t give Carter the life he wants. I expect Ridge to tell Daphne he’s never seen Carter feel this way for anybody else and will encourage her to stay in LA and work it out. Since Ridge is Carter’s best friend, I’m sure he’ll help out if he can, but it’s all down to Daphne.

Will and Dylan run into Electra and R.J. at Bikini and it is awkward. So, it looks like Electra and R.J. may be out celebrating the youth line. Will may be hanging out while Dylan’s working, or this may be a legit date, but this run in and seeing Electra there with R.J. may be what triggers Will to finally sleep with Dylan.

Then the week of August 24th through the 28th, we know Will and Dylan are going to get intimate soon, so they may wake up together next week. Katie, of course, is going to be annoyed. And this is one step closer to Dylan getting fired or in a position where she has got to quit Forester. I know if Electra hears Dylan slept with Will, it’s game over. Find a new job.

I do wonder if Electra will go nuts and slap Dylan again. Also, her mom, Darcy Dylan (Kelly Sullivan), arrives in town that week and should shake things up. I expect to see her face off with Katie, but be very nice to Will. Darcy might have some things to say to Electra. And I also wonder if Darcy Dylan is going to chew Remy a new one and tell him that she’s going to tell his parents what he did to elect her because I don’t think they know and it’s super dodgy.

Taylor & Deacon May Go Downhill on B&B

Things may get bumpy between Taylor and Deacon now that Taylor rejected his proposal. Steffy and Finn’s marriage continues to be on the rocks. Sheila’s also back to LA and may try and apologize, but her coming around to see Finn at work, even if she’s trying to make it right, will only make things worse. And I do expect Steffy to catch Finn with his bio-mom, Sheila, again and lose it. We’ll see more of Carter’s issues with Daphne.

Hopefully, she won’t leave or she goes and comes back really fast so that she and Carter can work on things. He’s going to be struggling. And I think we’re going to see Steffy and Carter leaning on each other more, but they may be hiding a dirty secret. We should see the pitch of Electra’s youth line that R.J. is going to make with Zende. I expect an enthusiastic green light from Ridge and Brooke and Steffy once she’s back at work.

Bold and the Beautiful: Li Rages at Sheila?

So, Zende, R.J. and Electra should get started very soon, possibly even this week. And I’m betting Ridge and Steffy plot to stun Logan by doing a blindside launch of this youth line. So we could see Dylan leaving Forrester soon. I do expect her to wind up over Logan working at some point. I bet Bill would jump at the chance to give Dylan a job to keep Will happy at the Spencer Tower and to keep him away from Electra.

Sheila may face some beef from Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda), who won’t be happy that Sheila stalked Finn in Monaco and ruined his marriage. Now, Li does feel bad for her, but I don’t think she will like or approve of this stunt that Sheila has pulled. I wouldn’t be surprised if Steffy gets a visit from Sheila, who tells her, “Fine, you win. I’ll go away quietly.” Because bottom line, if Finn loses Steffy, he’s going to resent Sheila and will refuse to be around Sheila anyway. So, anything she does will make things worse for Finn and Steffy.

Brad Pitt has a complicated history with his sobriety.

Pitt attended Alcoholics Anonymous in 2016 following an incident on a private jet with his family which led to a child abuse investigation. One week after the news broke, Angelina Jolie, whom Pitt married in 2014, filed for divorce. (Jolie and Pitt’s divorce continued in court until it was finalized in December 2024.)

Later that year, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services cleared Pitt. In 2017, Pitt opened up about quitting drinking and how his life had improved.

“Personally, I can’t remember a day since I got out of college when I wasn’t boozing or had a spliff or something. Something. And you realize that a lot of it is, um — cigarettes, you know, pacifiers. And I’m running from feelings,” he told GQ at the time. “I’m really, really happy to be done with all of that.”

Less than a decade later, the F1 star admitted that he had started drinking again — but “in a more restrained manner.”

Keep scrolling to see Pitt’s best quotes about getting sober:

Being Around Alcohol

At the start of Pitt’s struggles, he opened up about how he abstained from alcohol especially while owning his winery, Miraval.

“I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground,” he reflected to GQ in 2017. “ I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good. Don’t want to live that way anymore.”

Knowing When to Stop

Pitt previously told the New York Times in September 2019 that he “had taken things as far as” he could so he “removed” his “drinking privileges.” When the actor sought recovery, he was surrounded by men going through similar struggles.

“You had all these men sitting around being open and honest in a way I have never heard,” he recalled. “It was this safe space where there was little judgment, and therefore little judgment of yourself … It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself. There’s great value in that.”

Unhealthy Coping Mechanism

During a sit down with Interview magazine in December 2019, Pitt referred to his drinking habit as an “escape” and “disservice” to himself.

“I think we’re living in a time where we’re extremely judgmental and quick to treat people as disposable. We’ve always placed great importance on the mistake. But the next move, what you do after the mistake, is what really defines a person,” he reflected. “We’re all going to make mistakes. But what is that next step? We don’t, as a culture, seem to stick around to see what that person’s next step is. And that’s the part I find so much more invigorating and interesting.”

Support System

Pitt credited pal Bradley Cooper as one of his influences to refrain from drinking.

“I got sober because of this guy,” Pitt said after Cooper presented him with the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood during the 2020 National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala. “And every day’s been happier ever since.”

Making Connections in AA

While in AA, Pitt formed a friendship with Dax Shepard.

“You go around in a circle, it’s kind of a spiral because it’s a really crowded room. Dax was usually near the end because he’s been there a while. He’s kind of like an elder statesman. And I really respected it,” he said during a June 2025 appearance on Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. “It was really open, honest, was a way to take whatever theme seemed to go in the evening and then put it in the funniest package. And it meant a lot to me, it really did.”

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Pitt added that when he was in AA where he was at a low point.

“I was trying anything and everyone, anything anyone threw at me. It was a difficult time. I needed rebooting,” he continued. “I needed to wake the f*** up in some areas.”

Brad Pitt Reveals He Ended His Sobriety

“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” Pitt told Esquire in August 2026. “In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, ‘Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities.”

Among the many things that make The Twilight Zone one of television’s greatest achievements is the fact that even decades after its conclusion in 1964, many episodes remain relevant today, almost eerily so. One of its most lauded episodes, “Time Enough at Last,” is one of these. It tells the tale of a man, played by Burgess Meredith (the Penguin from the 1966 Batman series), who wishes for solitude so he can simply have time to read without interruption. And his wish is granted… in true Twilight Zone fashion, that is. The episode’s lessons could, and perhaps even should, be taught today.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Proves That Maybe Wishes Should Never Come True

Henry Bemis (Meredith) is a bank teller. He is also an avid bookworm, and his passion for books often crosses into his job, annoying a customer with a ceaseless barrage of information about the novel he’s currently reading: Charles Dickens‘ David Copperfield. Both his boss and his wife berate him for wasting far too much time reading, with his wife going so far as to destroy a book of poetry in front of him. But Bemis is not one to let others impinge on his passion, and one day, like every other day, he takes refuge in the bank’s vault during his lunch break, allowing him to read without being disturbed.

Suddenly, an enormous explosion outside rattles the vault and lays Bemis out for a time, but after regaining consciousness, he dons his thick glasses and emerges from the vault, where he sees for the first time the utter devastation left by an H-Bomb. He finds the bank has been leveled, and his former coworkers lie dead, and as he ventures out further, he sees that the entire city has been destroyed, a city that was just recently bustling and now serves as nothing more than a graveyard. He realizes that nuclear war has devastated Earth, and he is the lone survivor in the immediate area, saved by being inside the vault.

Bemis is truly and devastatingly alone, with no way of looking for other survivors. He’ll live a lifetime on canned food and whatever other provisions he can find, but without anything to live for, his life is meaningless. He stumbles upon a revolver and comes achingly close to using it to end his life until his eye catches a public library in the distance. He makes his way there and is overjoyed to see that the books are still intact. Everything he has ever read, everything he has ever wanted to read, is right there, and with no one to interrupt or chastise him, he has all the time in the world to read. But as he rummages through the books, he trips, causing his glasses to fall off and shatter. In an instant, his own personal Heaven turns to Hell; he has everything he hoped for – time, solitude, and books – but he will never be able to read them.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Holds a Mirror to Today’s World

So, what does “Time Enough at Last” have to say? The threat of nuclear war is just as real today as it was then, and although we’re generations away from having seen the horrors of Hiroshima firsthand, we are, literally, the press of a button away from global devastation and live under its shadow every day. Only that may be the first lesson “Time Enough at Last” has to teach us: we don’t. Or, more accurately, it’s just one of a legion of shadows we’ve learned to live with. We are constantly bombarded with news from around the world about wars, disasters, and global threats, but, just like the headline of the paper that Bemis glances at briefly that reads “H-Bomb Capable of Total Destruction,” we read and move on, almost unable, or unwilling, to recognize it as anything more than just something else out of our control. That is if we’re paying attention at all. Just like Bemis, who placed his own personal satisfaction over others when they were alive, their own wants and needs come first.

‘The Twilight Zone’s “Time Enough at Last” Exposes the Irony of Isolation Today

Image via CBS

​​​​​​There’s a scene in Bruce Almighty where Jim Carrey‘s Bruce, who has taken on the responsibilities of Morgan Freeman‘s God, gives up on reading the world’s prayers via email and just automatically gives everyone exactly what they’re praying for. That decision is almost impressively bad, with the lack of foresight about the consequences of granting those wishful prayers leading to extreme chaos worldwide. Bemis longed for and wished for isolation, and he got it in spades. But that selfish desire puts himself first before everyone else, including anyone who might be able to repair his glasses (rather shortsighted, right?), and realistically, few people today think of what is to follow after they get what they want.

Interestingly, it’s Bemis’ desire for isolation that speaks loudest to today’s world. Social media and technology have effectively upended the idea of real-world relationships and social interaction, all of it then concentrated in a post-COVID world. But what’s ironic is that we continue digging deeper into isolation while at the same time being instilled with the fear of being isolated. As much as Bemis rejoices over finally having the time to read uninterrupted, the moments before of utter despair will eventually return, broken glasses or not. “Time Enough at Last” is timeless, and we would do us well to learn the lessons from this iconic story before we’re hit with our own personal Rod Serling-ized Twilight Zone ending.

The Twilight Zone is streaming on Paramount Plus in the U.S.

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Release Date

1959 – 1964-00-00

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Directors

John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg

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Writers

Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, Jr., George Clayton Johnson, Jerry Sohl, Henry Slesar, Martin Goldsmith, Anthony Wilson, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Bill Idelson, E. Jack Neuman, Jerome Bixby, Jerry McNeely, John Collier, John Furia, Jr., John Tomerlin, Lucille Fletcher, Ray Bradbury, Reginald Rose, Sam Rolfe, Adele T. Strassfield

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The Van Halen debate has been raging for nearly 40 years. Ask a room full of rock fans who the better lead singer was, and most will immediately say David Lee Roth. He was the original singer, the flamboyant showman who defined and influenced a decade of frontmen, and the face of the band during their unprecedented rise to superstardom. But if the question is who was better for Van Halen in the long run, the answer isn’t nearly as obvious.

When Sammy Hagar joined in 1985, the Mighty VH was coming off the biggest album of its career, 1984, and their first No. 1 single in “Jump.” They had also just lost one of music’s most recognizable frontmen. But instead of fading away, the former SoCal backyard-party band arguably got bigger. The group scored its first chart-topping album with 5150, followed it with three more number ones, expanded its audience, and enjoyed what many consider its most commercially successful period. Could they have done that with David Lee Roth? That’s the real debate.

Roth Was a Huge Star When He Left Van Halen

If Van Halen owned 1984, David Lee Roth was expected to have the following year all to himself. And for a while, it seemed to be trending in that direction. Coming off the band’s blockbuster album, there wasn’t a bigger frontman on the planet than Diamond Dave. He kicked off 1985 co-hosting MTV’s 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Rock ‘N Roll Ball with VJ Martha Quinn, a program which also served as an infomercial for his upcoming solo EP of covers, Crazy from the Heat.

The singer did mention at the top of the broadcast that he had a message from the rest of Van Halen for viewers to make resolutions before the clock struck midnight. But as the evening wore on, and the drinks flowed, talking about the group was the last thing on his mind; he had something else to promote, and it was obvious just how separated he had gotten from his soon-to-be ex-bandmates. However, Roth reassuringly added that his hands were also full with Van Halen goings on, and they would be heading into the studio in January 1985. Those sentiments were echoed the first week of the new year when he appeared as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman, days after the video premiere for “California Girls” at midnight on MTV.

But the more press he did, and the more numbers Crazy from the Heat put up, the further speculation was fueled that Roth was striking out on his own. It wasn’t just in the tabloid rock magazines like Circus and Hit Parader, which for years intimated the band were falling apart. This time felt different. Even the go-to industry publication Billboard ran a headline that screamed “Van Halen’s Roth: Maybe It’s Over,” though the corresponding article hardly indicated such.

Yet as 1985 wore on and Roth’s star kept rising, reports were getting to inescapable levels. The singer had certainly shown he was bankable as a solo artist. “California Girls” was a massive hit on MTV and the single ended up going to No. 3 on the Billboard Top 100 in March. The “Just a Gigolo”/“I Ain’t Got Nobody” medley did similarly, peaking at No. 12 in June. The EP itself had sold a million copies by summer and made it to an impressive No. 15 on the Billboard 200. Roth appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. Then he revealed he’d struck a $10 million movie deal with CBS, also set to be titled Crazy from the Heat.

Finally, the dispatches started stating as fact that the unthinkable had happened: David Lee Roth had left Van Halen. And despite persistent claims to this day that the news broke on April Fool’s Day 1985, there was no official announcement. In fact, it was first reported as an aside in the Random Notes section of Rolling Stone that landed on shelves in late July that year, where Eddie Van Halen said, “The band as you know it is over. Dave left to be a movie star… Me, I’m lookin’ for a new lead singer, ’cause I’ve got so much material ready to go – stuff Dave probably wouldn’t have wanted to sing. It’s a little too melodic for him. If he can’t scream over it, he has trouble.”

Van Halen Flourishes as Roth Unravels

Image via Rhino YouTube

Popular as David Lee Roth was throughout the bulk of 1985, the wheels began to come off that September at the second annual MTV Video Music Awards. Not only was the singer up for a record eight nominations in six categories, but, as part of the hype machine leading up to the show, the music channel also chronicled a stunt in which the singer drove nonstop from Los Angeles to New York City in just three days to arrive at the awards program.

Of course, it was all for show. The vehicle, a 1951 Mercury lowrider seen in Van Halen’s “Panama” video, had been transported across the country on a flatbed while Roth took a budget airline incognito to meet it on the East Coast for the final leg of the trip to New York.

Notably, this was when word had begun to get out that Sammy Hagar was the new frontman for Van Halen. Roth addressed a question about it at the press conference in Los Angeles ahead of the journey. Then, the new lineup appeared in public for the first time at the VMAs, with Alex Van Halen telling a reporter, “This is the actual version of Van Halen. The other one was just, kind of, a tester model – so to speak.”

Hagar, the singer for Montrose in the early ‘70s, had also been a successful solo artist, with songs like “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” modest radio hits, with the former landing in heavy rotation on MTV. He was a known commodity, and linking up with VH would only serve to raise his profile.

To add insult to injury, while his former bandmates were parading his replacement around the VMAs, Roth was completely – and somewhat shockingly – shut out at the awards ceremony. Still, he remained upbeat, touting the movie deal and saying he was looking for a new crop of musicians to back him. Then, CBS did away with its movie production division, effectively nixing any hopes of a film. Suddenly, the frontman was in damage control, attempting to shift the narrative to the music, and saying that he was successful in finding a backing band for his upcoming solo record.

The Rivalry Goes Head to Head

Van Halen had a leg up when it came to new material, as they’d begun working with Hagar in the summer of 1985, and on March 24 the following year, released 5150. It was a synth-heavy affair, showing that previous singles like “Jump” and “I’ll Wait” were just the beginning of Eddie Van Halen’s growing infatuation with keyboards. The singles “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams,” and “Love Walks In” didn’t just prominently feature the instrument; they were also decidedly more pop-oriented than most of the music they’d done previously.

Three weeks after it dropped, Van Halen had their first number one album. It drove home the point that they’d made the right move in bringing in Hagar, as did the ensuing tour, which sold out arenas two and three nights in some cities around the U.S.

For Van Halen fans turned off by the sudden influx of synthesizers and love songs, Roth offered up Eat ‘Em and Smile, released July 7, 1986. It featured what were dubbed “Van Halen assassins” in guitar prodigy Steve Vai and bass wunderkind Billy Sheehan. And while Van Halen chose not to do any videos for 5150, Roth was all too happy to provide MTV with over-the-top clips for the singles “Yankee Rose” and “Goin’ Crazy.” He even catered to the Spanish-speaking population by re-recording his vocals in the language for a version of the record titled Sonrisa Salvaje.

The fact that Van Halen producer Ted Templeman aligned himself with Roth for Eat ‘Em and Smile, and the record making a more than respectable showing on the charts by peaking at No. 4, made it seem like there was an actual contest between the two camps. But the truth became apparent as Roth hit the road in late summer, playing many of the same markets and venues Van Halen did. While the tour was praised in the majority of reviews, the singer was mainly doing one-night stands with the occasional pair of shows in any given city.

Shortly after Roth’s tour began, Van Halen finally began to distribute video clips featuring themselves, taken from the home video release Live Without a Net, recorded across two shows in New Haven, Conn. By contrast, a planned video shoot from the Eat ‘Em and Smile tour in early 1987 was cancelled. The cracks were showing, evident in an interview Roth did with Playboy that summer where the interviewer asked if there was anything he regretted about the split.

“I regret most that Van Halen saw fit to kick me when I was down, and they were on their way up,” he said. “It was unnecessary and particularly vicious, and I think they are a bunch of sick little morons for doing it. I’m angry.”

Hagar Kept Van Halen Relevant

Image via Van Halen YouTube

The battle between Van Halen and David Lee Roth continued through 1988 when, once again, they released new material in the same calendar year. First up was Roth with Skyscraper, a surprisingly keyboard-centric record with programmed bass that turned off his core audience and stalled at No. 6 shortly after it came out in January. The tour to support the LP suffered from low ticket sales while the band’s lineup shifted, with Sheehan splitting before the trek and Vai departing at its conclusion.

That May, Van Halen released OU812, which also saw a marked decline in sales, was panned by critics, but still hit No. 1 in the second week of its release. More importantly, the band remained a top draw on the road, first headlining the Monsters of Rock package tour in stadiums with Scorpions, Dokken, Metallica, and Kingdom Come, then embarking on a run of arenas. On MTV, the videos for the ballad “When It’s Love” and the earworm “Finish What Ya Started” were fast-tracked into heavy rotation.

Going into the new decade, though, is when the competition stopped being close. While a Roth-led Van Halen inspired legions of imitators in the ‘80s – less talented acts with a blond singer up front that would soon be derisively known as hair metal – he was no longer a trendsetter but rather just another frontman in spandex. It was obvious when he released A Little Ain’t Enough in 1991 to stifled yawns that the rock and roll train had left the station with Roth still on the platform. More than a third of Stateside tour dates were cancelled due to a lack of interest from fans.

On the other hand, Van Halen transcended the genre with their own 1991 effort, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Sure, there were many of the rock and roll clichés in songs like “Poundcake” and “Spanked,” but with the smash success of the topical and cerebral single “Right Now,” the band showed they could adjust to the incoming wave of grunge music while others in their peer group faltered. They even took Seattle up-and-comers Alice in Chains out as support on the tour for the record.

Roth, meanwhile, had grown disillusioned with the grind of album/tour/album/tour as returns harshly diminished. He lost interest in doing anything rock-related and wouldn’t tour or put out any new material for three years. And, when he did, it was the intentionally off-brand Your Filthy Little Mouth in 1994, with noted soul and R&B producer Nile Rodgers at the helm. It nosedived off the charts after debuting at No. 78.

Simply put, Roth’s time had passed. He was a shooting star from the late ‘70s through the mid ‘80s, but everything after that was a struggle. Even when surrounding himself with the best musicians available, he couldn’t sustain. Had he stuck with Van Halen, Roth’s antiquated mannerisms and musical directives would’ve likely torpedoed any chance at relevance that was achieved with Hagar.

Against the odds, Van Halen was able to do more than survive with Hagar at the microphone; they managed to evolve as a musical entity. Though he’d always been lyrically challenged, even the singer’s swan song LP with the band, 1995’s Balance, had less cringe on it than anything else prior, and didn’t sound dated at all.

Carole Radziwill and former Real Housewives of New York nemesis Bethenny Frankel’s feud is apparently still going strong eight years after their iconic reunion showdown.

Ahead of her upcoming return to RHONY, Radziwill, 62, “liked” a TikTok video from influencer and comedian Meredith Lynch, who argued in the clip that Frankel, 55, is in need of a rebrand amid the launch of her Supermodel Café in the Hamptons.

“The only thing that’s been a bit of a solid money-maker for Bethenny, and by the way, not even as good of a money-maker as she pretends it to be, is Skinnygirl,” Lynch alleged in the video on Saturday, August 15. “And, unfortunately for Bethenny but fortunately for society, we have moved away from this sort of marketing, ‘This is a skinny-whatever.’ … Bethenny is smart enough to know that the culture has gone in such a way that we don’t want things like Skinnygirl.”

However, Lynch argued that Frankel’s recent launch of the Supermodel Café is just “easily transitional branding.” The content creator pointed out that Frankel has applied for trademarks for “Supermodel” branding for pizza, cheesecake and other products — suggesting that the RHONY alum will try to expand the brand.

“She’s going to try to make it her new brand. I’m not sure if it’s going to takeoff,” Lynch.

Us reached out to representatives for both Radziwill and Frankel for comment.

Radziwill and Frankel were briefly very close friends on The Real Housewives of New York City before their relationship imploded during season 10 in 2018. They had a memorable face-off at that year’s reunion, where Radziwill infamously accused host Andy Cohen of being “full of s***” for seemingly siding with Frankel.

Radziwill left RHONY after the contentious season 10, with Frankel exiting the following year. (Radziwill will return to RHONY for season 16, which premieres on Bravo on September 8.)

The two have continued to trade barbs publicly over the years, including Frankel weighing in when Radziwill was mentioned in the Epstein Files. The tranche of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s personal files released by the Justice Department earlier this year included emails exchanged between Radziwill and the financier’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. (Maxwell, 64, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 after being convicted of sex trafficking-related charges.)

“What I do know is that Carole has been friendly with many notable women,” Frankel said via Instagram in February.

Related: Andy Cohen Reacts to Carole Radziwill’s ‘RHONY’ Return After Their Feud

The rise and fall of Andy Cohen and Carole Radziwill’s friendship may just be fit for reality TV. Before becoming one of the faces of Bravo, the Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host appeared to have a friendly relationship with Radziwill that extended into her initial seasons on The Real Housewives of New […]

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She alleged that “Carole has taken many opportunities to swipe at me, dig at me, speak negatively about me in a post-[RHONY] world.”

“In a post-show world, she has certainly gone for it and I’m not going to do the same,” Frankel argued. “It’s not my business.”

Radziwill has denied having any actual involvement with Epstein or any knowledge of his crimes. In September 2025, Radziwill responded via X when a fan asked her whether it was true that Maxwell was “the photographer for her book” What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love.

“I knew her socially [and] she had a real camera (it was 2004 no one carried cameras) anyway I’d had a pro photo shoot but the pics were bad,” the RHONY alum wrote. “I asked her if she’d take the picture & she said sure. In hindsight was it odd she had a camera? I guess but who knew?!”

Another X user asked how it was possible that Radziwill and others in Maxwell’s sphere of influence didn’t know about Epstein’s misdeeds. (Epstein died by suicide at age 66 in August 2019 after being arrested on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He was previously convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.)

“Sure rich men, creepy people… obvs the men who were involved knew…I’m saying the social party friends especially us girls — we didn’t know. When people are doing bad s*** they hide it well. It’s f***ing creepy,” Carole countered. “The rich people I know are kind and decent. But apparently no one knew anything about her except I guess for the FBI. They should release their report. It’s awful. It’s so dark, no? Better left to authorities.”

In March, she said of Maxwell, “Imagine knowing someone and even being friendly with them and then they turn out to be, like, a monster.”

Meanwhile, Frankel’s spokesperson released a statement to Us amid reports that her Supermodel Café in East Quogue, New York, was served a stop-work warning hours after opening.

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“Today’s Supermodel Café launch drew an extraordinary turnout, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from the community,” a rep for Frankel told Us in a statement on Thursday, August 13. “The café received a yellow notice labeled ‘Warning Stop Work Order’ following concerns surrounding the unusually high volume of launch-day attendees.”

Her spokesperson added, “The team is working cooperatively with local officials and taking the appropriate steps to address those concerns. The notice does not require the café to close, and there is no anticipated disruption to business.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Anxiety disorders affect roughly 40 million Americans, according to Cleveland Clinic, and Gen Z is quietly reshaping how that restlessness gets managed. The anxiety ring, a piece of jewelry with a spinning band, bead or textured surface, has moved from niche meditation shops into TikTok Shop hauls, Etsy bestsellers and mainstream retailers. It looks like ordinary jewelry. It works like a fidget tool. And for a generation that talks openly about mental health, it has become an everyday coping accessory worn to class, to meetings and on the subway.

How an Anxiety Ring Works

Also called spinner rings, worry rings, meditation rings or fidget rings, anxiety rings are designed to be manipulated with the fingers. Wearers spin, roll or rub the band during moments of stress, using tactile sensation to redirect anxious energy. Cleveland Clinic describes the practice as a distraction and grounding technique, not a treatment.

The mechanism itself is not new. Spinner rings drew inspiration from Tibetan prayer wheels, where rotating an outer band is associated with serenity. Brands like Meditation Rings, sold through Giving Tree Gallery, have offered handcrafted sterling silver and gold spinning bands for years. What changed is the framing. Social commerce, Gen Z’s openness about anxiety and body-focused repetitive behaviors and the mainstream popularity of fidget spinners and weighted blankets have turned the spinner ring into a discreet, giftable wellness accessory that reads as jewelry rather than a toy.

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Related: Why Constantly Tracking Your Health Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good

Every step, every heartbeat, every hour of sleep now comes with a score. For a growing number of Americans, checking those numbers has stopped feeling like motivation and started feeling like dread. Over-tracking, the habit of monitoring wellness data so closely that it undermines your health, has become a real concern among sleep doctors, cardiologists […]

Why the Anxiety Ring Trend Matters Now

Skin picking alone affects roughly 2 percent to 5 percent of the population to a degree that causes tissue damage or impairment in daily functioning, according to the TLC Skin Foundation. Nail biting, cuticle picking and hair pulling fall into the same category of body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs. Clinicians often recommend a competing response, giving the hands something else to do. An anxiety ring is a jewelry-based version of that idea, a stimulation substitute worn on the finger.

Gen Z and younger millennials, particularly students and early-career professionals, are the core buyers. Many self-identify with general anxiety, ADHD-like restlessness or BFRBs and want a tool they can use without drawing attention.

What Users and Experts Are Saying

Zoë Ayres, a scientist and mental health advocate based in Birmingham, England, bought a simple silver band with pearls after seeing the trend on social media.

“I use it all the time, from when watching TV to in work meetings,” she told Today. “It’s not a cure for anxiety. It does, however, help to bring a moment of mindfulness if I feel stressed or anxious in a particular situation.”

Ayres emphasized that the object itself matters less than the intention behind using it. “The key to lowering anxiety through any device, be it a piece of jewelry, or a fidget toy is the intention of the user,” she said.

Clinical psychologist Monica Vermani, author of A Deeper Wellness, told PureWow that people with anxiety disorders or attention issues who find it challenging to sit still often fidget when they feel restless or nervous, and that fidget toys including anxiety rings can give those movements an outlet and a focus, helping counter stress through self-soothing.

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Manhattan marketing executive Jon Paul Buchmeyer traces his own habit back to competitive debate. “As a champion debater in high school and college, I developed a habit of spinning my pen in one hand as a way to alleviate pressure. But when I got to the real world, I needed a less distracting substitute for spinning a pen in high-pressure meetings,” he said. He found a spinning pinky ring at the John Hardy design shop in Bali. “That ring got me through some particularly stressful times.”

Where to Buy an Anxiety Ring

Etsy alone lists more than 5,000 “anxiety ring” results, ranging from adjustable bead rings and multi-band spinners to affirmation-engraved and waterproof stainless-steel designs. Walmart carries men’s and gender-neutral fidget bands, including dragon-scale, hip-hop and gothic styles. Pura Vida sells a Mental Health Awareness Fidget Ring and donates 5 percent of the purchase price to Mental Health America. The rotating band features amethyst, celestine, green quartz and rose quartz, blending fidget function with cause marketing. Anxi Ring targets women seeking elegant stackable pieces that quietly mask anxious habits.

Clinicians consistently caution that no ring replaces treatment. But as one optional tool inside a broader coping strategy, the anxiety ring has found its moment.

Connie Britton is paying tribute to Nashville costar Hayden Panettiere after her death.

“This was Hayden. Bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” Britton, 59, wrote via Instagram on Monday, August 17, alongside a series of photos of the pair. “I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now. 💔.”

Britton starred opposite Panettiere in the hit 2010s series, in which the pair played country music singer Rayna Jaymes and rising star Juliette Barnes, respectively. The show ran for four seasons on ABC before CMT picked it up for two additional years. Britton exited in season 5.

Panettiere opened up about her dynamic with Britton in her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, just months before her death.

“My character wasn’t intended to be the show’s star — not even close,” Panettiere wrote in the book, released in May. “That honor went to Connie, whose Rayna Jaymes was in the twilight of her career, facing a dramatic turning point thanks to yours truly.”

She continued, “Unfortunately, after the pilot, it was clear that my billing had gone way up. I went from maybe number five in terms of importance to nipping at Connie’s heels. I was deeply uncomfortable with this development.”

“I was 23 years old, and Connie was in her 40s with three Emmy nominations under her belt,” Panettiere explained. “This should have been her time to shine.”

Three months later, news broke on Sunday, August 16, that Panettiere died at age 36.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” Hayden’s father, Skip Panettiere, said in a statement to Us. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Related: Celebrities React to Hayden Panettiere‘s Sudden Death at 36

Hollywood is mourning the tragic loss of Hayden Panettiere at age 36. The Heroes and Nashville alum’s representative confirmed to Us on Sunday, August 16, that the actress had died. Details surrounding Panettiere’s death were not immediately available. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, […]

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Hayden’s cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. One day after her father’s statement, authorities in South Carolina confirmed that they had responded to reports of an “unresponsive female” at a residence in Greenville. The individual was later identified as Hayden.

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First responders attempted to resuscitate Hayden using “advanced cardiac life support,” including CPR, special medicines, breathing tubes and heart rhythm tracking, according to TMZ. Hayden was pronounced dead after the paramedics were unable to revive her.

Authorities could be heard discussing an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in dispatch audio obtained by People around the time of Hayden’s death. Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.

“The case is under investigation by the Greenville Police Department in conjunction with the Greenville County Coroner’s Office,” authorities said in a statement. “The preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. An acquaintance of Ms. Panettiere placed the 911 call.”

Young and the Restless spoilers for the two weeks starting August 17th with Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) provoking half of Genoa City with his obsessive antics. And that triggers Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) to slap back and reinvigorate the Abbott vs Newman vendetta.

Also, during the two weeks of August 17th through the 28th, we’re going to see Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) getting his flirt on, Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) completely losing it and firing Billy. Plus, Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) are also fighting over Billy while Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) is toasting him. Let’s get right into it.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: Stephanie & Nate Spark

Monday, August 17th on Young and the Restless, Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) talks to Nate about the surgery. She’s lining up for him. He’s hoping to be able to operate again. He cooks for Stephanie and is flirting with her. And Nate says he’s okay if the surgery doesn’t work out.

But what he’s really hoping is this will heal not only his hand, but his relationship with Devon Hamilton (Bryton James). Stephanie likes his cooking. And then Nate asks her out to a sporting event and also dinner. And Stephanie wants to go, but she would prefer that Nate cooks for her instead. There’s sparks flying all over the place for Nate and Stephanie. And I’m curious to see what her son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) thinks.

Y&R Spoilers: Cane & Lily Flip on Billy

Billy cannot wait to tell Lily his big news. Before Billy gets it out though, Lily fires him and says, “Give back the Chancellor documents you took.” But Billy says, “You can’t fire me. I own Chancellor.” So, Cane is lashing out at Billy’s stunt, calling him a spoiled brat. But he says their lawyers are confirming everything.

And Billy says by end of day, he will have the documents sent over to Lily and Cane, and they’ll see. His dad, John Abbott (Jerry Douglas), loaned Philip Chancellor money back in the day. And if it wasn’t repaid in 20 years, John would get Chancellor and it was never repaid by Phillip and John just didn’t happen to come enforce it and take the company. Billy assumes that Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) never knew about the loan. But as far as he’s concerned, that changes absolutely nothing.

So, Cane is fuming that Billy is spitting on the opportunity that Cane gave him. However, Billy blames his mom, Jill Abbott (Jess Walton), for hiding this secret from him. And Billy thinks that it’s why Jill sold Chancellor to Victor before it could come out.

Cane storms off and asks Holden if he found out anything about Billy’s investigation, but Holden has nothing for him. Billy walks over and joins and tells Holden he no longer has a job. Cane starts raging at Billy, who takes off as Cane gets on a call to Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) to tell him he’s coming by. Lily enlists Holden in the war against Billy.

Young and the Restless Spoilers: The Abbotts Discuss Billy

While over at Jabot, Jack’s telling Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) and Traci Abbott (about the Chancellor loan documents. He says Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is vetting it right now with the lawyers. Traci doesn’t like it, but Jack says Billy’s determined. Ashley agrees Jill probably kept it secret to protect her reputation. And Ashley actually thinks this could be good for Billy.

But Jack doesn’t like it because Billy’s hurting people and he really needs to be focused on Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and the new baby. So, Ashley suggests the three of them just stay out of it and let Billy do Billy. Traci winds up agreeing and tells Jack it’s bad for his recovery to get tangled up in Billy’s stress mess. So, Jack’s just worried that their younger brother’s going to tarnish John’s legacy. But in the end, the three older ones agree to step back, let little brother Billy do what he wants.

Young and the Restless: Cane Turns to Jack

Then Jack gets the call from Cane, who shows up right after. Jack warns Traci and Ashley that Billy has started the war. Cane shows up and asks them to shut Billy down. Then Tuesday, August 18th, on the Young and the Restless, Cane makes a new alliance in his war against Billy. I suspect it’s going to be Victor, which of course will probably pull in Adam to use Newman Media as a tool to trash Billy in the public eye. Adam and Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) don’t like Cane, but let’s be real, they hate Billy even more.

Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) reveals a new endeavor to somebody. I suspect this is him playing the new love song that he wrote for Christine Williams Romalotti (Lauralee Bell). Plus, Victoria’s bond with Kyle deepens. We had an almost kiss last week, and we may get a full on lip lock between Victoria and her daughter’s ex-lover, Kyle, this week.

Y&R Spoilers: Nikki & Victor Worry about Nick

Then, Wednesday, August 19th, on Young and the Restless, Victor and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) discuss how they can help Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) stick to his recovery. He is still in rehab, but he’s hanging out with Marie Kirkland (Jade Harlow), and I doubt Nikki will like to hear that. You’re supposed to avoid romantic and sexual relationships while in recovery, and especially during rehab.

Kyle is on damage control. He’s trying to protect the Jabau and John Abbott’s legacy and the family. Jack doesn’t really care if Cane and Lily lose the company necessarily, but what he’s worried about is Billy spiraling and losing Sally. Meanwhile, Matt wants to know if Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) can forgive him. They’re talking at the coffee shop this week.

Then, Young and the Restless on Thursday, August 20th, has Audra stumbling into Billy, who’s in a good mood at Society, and Audra asked Billy what he’s celebrating. And Billy tells Audrey, “Join me.” And then they toast with Champagne after he tells her the big news. I do wonder if Audra is going to be worried about Sally’s reaction since it doesn’t sound like Billy has told Sally at this point.

Adam & Chelsea Bicker on Young and Restless

Adam and Chelsea are disagreeing up at the office. I’m sure it has got to do with Billy and Chancellor because Chelsea always defends Billy and Adam hates the guy. Sally, meanwhile, is worried about Billy’s big Chancellor scheme. So, Sally is back home this week. She’s going to hear about Billy snatching Chancellor from Willie and Cane. And we know Sally’s not going to like this because once again, Billy is painting a huge target on her back. She knows Victor will come after Billy and by association is going to come after her and Audra and their company.

Nina reunites with Tracy and Christine. Nina’s back to Genoa City and sneaks up on her girlfriends at the Shadow Room. Christine’s telling Tracy she knows the Abbotts really are going through it. She may tell Christine about Billy’s thing. And Christine, of course, knows about Jack and Dian’s ordeal. Tracy lays it all out and tells Christine this is why she needs a night out. And that’s when Nina sneaks up and says, “You and me both.” And the three hug each other excitedly.

Friday, August 21st on Young and the Restless. Victor puts a plan in motion to discredit Billy. Once Victor hears that Billy’s taking over Chancellor, you know Victor’s going to lose it. And I expect he’s got Newman Media running a smear campaign, whether Chelsea likes it or not. The rehab center gives Sharon an update on Nick’s recovery. I’m hoping he doesn’t have any sort of setback. And I am curious if Sharon’s going to hear that he’s hanging out with Marie.

Jack Helps Lily on Y&R

Lily asked Jack for his help and I think Lily’s hoping Jack can talk Billy down and stop this plot to take Chancellor, but Jack already said he’ll stay out of it. Then the week of August 24th through the 28th, we’ve got Billy furious and reeling after Victor’s latest attack on him.

And I’m sure Billy’s going to try and up the stakes, but I expect Sally to try and stop Billy before it’s too late. I doubt she’ll be able to. Adam and Chelsea’s relationship is strained because of this Billy mess and Nate and Stephanie keep growing closer. We’ll find out soon if Nate’s surgery is successful. Claire and Holden keep bonding. We may get I love you soon. I’m also interested to see how Claire’s going to react to the whole Kyle and Victoria twist.

We’ll see if Jack agrees to help Lily or if he decides he needs to sit this one out because he doesn’t want got to go back got to war with Victor. We’ll see more of Nick’s recovery and see him in rehab and what’s going on with him and Marie. Billy’s obsession with Chancellor further strains his relationship with Sally. And I’m sure Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) is going to have a hot take on what Billy is doing. But I’m betting that Phyllis is a fan of it. She loves chaos and hates Victor and has a lot of resentment towards Cane.

We’ll see if Sharon can forgive Matt and see more of him getting closer to Phyllis. Lily and Cane teaming up against Billy is probably going to make their relationship stronger and should grow her brother bond with Holden, who is ready to help Lily deal with the threat of Billy. I am curious to see what Devon and Nate have to say when they weigh in on this Billy mess as well.