Entertainment
Jason Statham’s Most Expensive Flop Is Quietly Taking Over Streaming Again
In the last few years, Jason Statham has been primarily focused on starring in original action movies, but the famous movie star has plenty of experience with franchise work. One of his first big roles that immediately comes to mind is Deckard Shaw, who he’s been playing for years in the Fast & Furious franchise. Statham’s Deckard Shaw was such a hit with fans that he and Dwayne Johnson were recruited to lead the 2019 spin-off film, Hobbs & Shaw, which grossed over $700 million at the global box office. It’s expected that Statham will return and star as Deckard Shaw in the eleventh and final Fast & Furious movie coming to theaters in 2028, and while this has yet to be officially confirmed, it was alluded to in the 2023 blockbuster, Fast X, when he briefly returned.
Another massive franchise role for Statham has been that of Lee Christmas, who he has played in four Expendables movies over the course of nearly 15 years. Back in May, it was reported that a new Expendables movie was in the works, but Statham is not expected to star in the project, as it will focus on an all-female team, shifting the focus away from Statham and other stars like Sylvester Stallone. Following the announcement of the next Expendables movie, fans have been rushing to check out Statham’s final outing as Lee Christmas in droves, which has led Expend4bles back into the global VOD top 10 in a handful of countries around the world. The Expendables 4 is also widely viewed as Statham’s biggest financial misfire — the film grossed only $37 million at the box office against a $100 million budget.
What Is ‘The Expendables 4’ About?
An official synopsis for Expend4bles, which also stars Megan Fox and 50 Cent, reads as follows:
“When the world needs its last line of defense, it calls the Expendables. Barney Ross and Lee Christmas lead their elite crew of mercenaries on a mission to Libya to stop ruthless arms dealer Rahmat from seizing nuclear warheads for a shadowy terrorist known only as Ocelot. But with betrayal from within and a plot to ignite World War III, the old guard and a lethal new generation must unite to save the world — or die trying.”
Expendables 4 is one of the lowest-rated movies of Statham’s career, earning an abysmal 14% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were kinder to the film, rating it a solid 69% on the Popcornmeter.
Check out The Expendables 4 on VOD platforms like Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Jason Statham’s future projects.
- Release Date
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September 15, 2023
- Runtime
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103 minutes
- Writers
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Max Adams, Kurt Wimmer, Spenser Cohen, Tad Daggerhart
- Producers
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Jason Statham, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner
Entertainment
Keith Urban Seeks Nicole Kidman Peace Amid Daughter Drama
Reports claim Keith Urban is seeking to rebuild communication with ex-wife Nicole Kidman following their 2025 separation and divorce.
Insiders claim the country singer hopes to clear the air and restore a more cordial relationship, though the actress has reportedly remained distant.
The situation is also said to involve their co-parenting dynamic, with Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban focusing on stability for their daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith, under a structured custody arrangement.
Keith Urban Reportedly Seeks Peace With Nicole Kidman Amid Post-Divorce Distance

A new report claims that Keith Urban is hoping to get back on speaking terms with his ex-wife, Nicole Kidman, following what insiders describe as a distant and emotionally strained period after their separation was finalized.
Urban is said to be uncomfortable with how little contact the former couple has had since the split and would reportedly “love the chance to clear the air and get to a place where they can at least be more cordial.”
However, the same sources suggest Kidman has so far remained “a brick wall” to attempts at reconciliation, “but he’s hoping she might soften towards him now that she’s found happiness with someone new.”
The reports link his desire for a truce to changes in Kidman’s personal life, especially speculation that she may be dating a “high-profile entertainment executive,” something insiders claim has been difficult for Urban to process, even as he tries to avoid resentment.
“There’s no denying it’s a lot to take in, but he’s making a conscious effort not to be bitter because he knows that won’t help anyone,” the insider noted.
Keith Urban Reportedly Seeks Family Reconnection As Nicole Kidman Shares Father’s Day Tribute

Beyond his relationship with Kidman, the narrative also claims Urban is hoping to repair his bond with their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith, amid suggestions that the girls have “essentially cut off contact” between them since the divorce.
According to sources cited by the National Enquirer, he is said to believe that easing tensions with his former wife could also have a positive ripple effect on the wider family situation.
“He knows Nicole holds a lot of influence,” one insider said, adding that “he’s desperate to repair things with her.”
Kidman, meanwhile, marked Father’s Day on Instagram with a simple tribute that included a general message celebrating fathers, alongside a black-and-white photo of her with her own father, as well as a picture of Urban carrying their daughters on his shoulders, which came as a surprise to some fans online.
Keith Urban Wished Nicole Kidman A Happy Birthday In A Surprise Move

Kidman and Urban share two daughters, Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith, 15, whom they welcomed during their nearly 20-year marriage.
The couple, who tied the knot in June 2006, ended their relationship in 2025, with their divorce finalized the following January.
Due to their separation, Urban’s recent online activity drew some attention when he publicly wished Kidman a happy birthday via social media, writing an enthusiastic message on his Instagram Stories.
While he has largely stayed quiet about the breakup in public, the gesture was widely noted given the high-profile nature of their split.
Nicole Kidman Reflects On Family And Co-Parenting After Divorce From Keith Urban

Unlike Urban, Kidman has addressed their divorce directly during a March interview, where she emphasized her focus on stability and family.
The Oscar winner described herself as someone who is “always going to be moving toward what’s good,” adding that her priority remains keeping her family unit intact in spirit, even after changes in structure.
She also spoke warmly about her daughters, referring to Sunday and Faith as her “beautiful girls” and expressing deep gratitude for motherhood.
During Mother’s Day celebrations, Kidman also shared a message dedicated to mothers everywhere, alongside a personal note to her daughters, writing, “To my beautiful girls, the greatest joy is being your mother. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the world.”
Nicole Kidman And Keith Urban Finalize Divorce With Structured Co-Parenting Agreement

In September 2025, reports confirmed that Kidman and Urban had been living apart for several months after separating earlier in the summer. Kidman subsequently filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences
The divorce was later finalized in a Nashville court at the beginning of the following year. As part of the settlement, Kidman’s residence was designated as the primary home for their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith, while Urban was granted scheduled visitation time, including alternate weekends.
Despite the arrangement, both parents retained joint responsibility for major decisions affecting the children.
Court documents also outlined expectations for co-parenting conduct, emphasizing that both parties were to “behave with each other and each child so as to provide a loving, stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the child even though they are divorced.”
The agreement required them to avoid speaking negatively about one another in front of the children and to “encourage each child to continue to love the other parent and be comfortable in both families.”
Entertainment
HBO’s Fantasy Juggernaut Is Already Under Attack on Rotten Tomatoes
Despite having received the best reviews of its run, which indicate that the show has finally hit its stride, HBO’s House of the Dragon is dividing audiences right down the middle. House of the Dragon was HBO’s first released Game of Thrones spin-off, and fans of the original haven’t always been on board. This typically happens with genre titles that tackle queer themes, or are led by actors from minority communities. The third season of House of the Dragon may have earned the series’ highest score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, but it seems like we’re also witnessing the earliest instances of review-bombing. This is when a group of hardcore fans launch a concerted effort to decrease a film or show’s audience score on aggregators such as Rotten Tomatoes.
For instance, the latest season of the fantasy series currently holds a “Certified Fresh” 91% score on the aggregator website, where the consensus reads, “The fate of Westeros comes to a head in a reinvigorated and riveting third season of House of the Dragon, complete with wicked new characters and more thrilling battles, crafting a punchy prequel that matches the expectations of its predecessor.” However, the new season’s audience score has dropped to 69%. The last time that something like this happened to an HBO title was the second season of The Last of Us, where Bella Ramsey was targeted by certain members of the audience.
‘House of the Dragon’ Made a Splashy Debut
Some viewers on Rotten Tomatoes made their negative feelings known. “HBO desperately needs to clean house on the creative involved with this project,” one person wrote, unfavorably comparing House of the Dragon with the second Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. “Awful show. Acting is appalling, the writing is terrible,” a second person wrote, while a third commenter felt that House of the Dragon “disrespects” Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, who has criticized the series in the past. Critics disagree with these observations. In her review, Collider’s Therese Lacson called the new season “game-changing.” Created by Ryan Condal and Martin himself, the series stars Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Matt Smith, and others. House of the Dragon made a strong debut this past Sunday, jumping to the top of the global HBO Max viewership charts, according to FlixPatrol. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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August 21, 2022
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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George R.R. Martin
- Directors
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Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
- Writers
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Gabe Fonseca
-
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Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole
Entertainment
Larry David turns the Declaration of Independence into a list of petty grievances in new miniseries premiere
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“I don’t want to live in a country where people share umbrellas.”
Entertainment
Millie Bobby Brown Puts Sultry Spin on Naked Dress Trend
Millie Bobby Brown turned heads in a daring sheer look while stepping out with husband Jake Bongiovi.
The actress, 22, embraced the naked dress trend in a lingerie-inspired ensemble from Mirror Palais, while attending an Enola Holmes 3 after-party in New York City on Thursday, June 25.
Brown wore a plunging nude illusion top with sheer long sleeves, pairing it with a coordinating lace-trimmed slip skirt that showed off a hint of her midriff.
She completed the look with strappy nude heels and softly tousled waves, accessorizing with a printed headscarf for an effortlessly chic finish.
In photos shared via X, Brown was snapped holding hands with her husband, Bongiovi, on the night. Brown was also joined by Enola Holmes 3 costar Louis Partridge and Stranger Things costar Noah Schnapp at the event.
Earlier in the evening, Brown donned a Cinderella-style gown for the premiere itself and posed by her husband’s side on the red carpet.
The dress was a stunning custom pale blue silk Galia Lahav gown with a sweetheart bodice and a long pleated skirt. The look also carried special meaning for Brown, who wore the same designer when she walked down the aisle to marry Bongiovi in 2024.
“After creating her custom wedding gown, it was an honor to create for another unforgettable moment. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey,” Galia Lahav wrote via Instagram on Thursday about the dress. “A vision from every angle.”

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)
After getting married in Italy, Brown and Bongiovi went on to welcome their first child via adoption last year.
“This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” Brown and Bongiovi wrote in a joint Instagram statement in August 2025. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. And then there were 3. Love, Millie and Jake Bongiovi.”
In the past, Brown has been open about why she saw marriage and children on the cards with Bongiovi.
““We were modeled wonderful, loving relationships,” she explained to Glamour in October 2023. “So, it’s something that we both had that mutual drive for.”
She added, “My dream was to have a baby. I wanted to be the woman that my mom is to me and I wanted to be the woman that my grandmother was to me. So that was never my, like, intention, to be a wife. But after meeting Jake and seeing, ‘Oh, I don’t have to be this stereotypical wife for him. He doesn’t want me to be that either. He wants me to go and do my thing and live my life, and he will hold my hand in the process of that.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I do want this.’ … It’s like, why wait? Let’s go for it.”
Entertainment
Prime Video’s 3-Part Sci-Fi Western Is Quietly Taking Over the World
What a year it’s been for Prime Video, who has ended one of its longest-running shows in The Boys, which had been around since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Video dropped the first season of The Boys as a binge all the way back in 2019, and there was no way of knowing at the time that it would go on to become one of the streamer’s flagship properties. The Boys’ sci-fi spin-off, Gen V, may have been canceled after only two seasons, but there is more content coming out of the franchise in the form of Vought Rising. Prime Video dropped the first trailer for Vought Rising in the days following The Boys Season 5 finale, also confirming that the show would premiere before the end of 2027. Prime Video has become a prestige home for sci-fi TV in the last few years, but one recent show stands out among the rest.
The series in question is Fallout, which is based on the popular video game series developed by Bethesda that’s been around for years. Prime Video made the bold choice with Fallout to craft a new story that fits into existing canon, rather than trying to adapt the events of the game one-for-one. This allows the creatives, including writers Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, more freedom to not feel shackled by past events that must be followed to the letter to please certain fans. After it was announced earlier this year that Fallout had officially earned over 100 million views, fans have still been unable to stop watching the show — it’s one of Prime Video’s top 10 most-watched shows months removed from its Season 2 finale.
When Does ‘Fallout’ Season 3 Come Out?
Prime Video has yet to set a release date for the third season of Fallout, but with news breaking recently that production is set to begin at the end of this summer, this puts its most likely window of return sometime in 2027. Fans were also treated to some exciting news not long ago when it was announced that long-time Breaking Bad veteran Aaron Paul had been cast in a key role in Fallout Season 3. He was followed last week by Manny Jacinto, who is best known for playing the Star Wars villain Qimir in The Acolyte.
Check out the first two seasons of Fallout on Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 3.
- Release Date
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April 10, 2024
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
- Directors
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Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, Clare Kilner
- Writers
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Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
Entertainment
Joshua Jackson Spotted With Model Olivia Burgess in NYC
Joshua Jackson has been spotted hanging out with model Olivia Burgess — almost three weeks after they were snapped holding hands on a different outing.
Posting via its Instagram account on Friday, June 26, Deux Moi shared photos of the pair spending time together in New York City.
Jackson, 48, and Burgess, 37, opted for casual attire for the outing. The Doctor Odyssey star rocked jeans teamed with a white t-shirt and a navy blue button-down top while Burgess opted for a denim skirt and chocolate brown tank top combo. She accessorized with a belt in a matching brown hue.
The sighting comes after Jackson and Burgess were spotted holding hands while out and about in the Big Apple on June 7, according to photos obtained by TMZ at the time.
For their previous outing, the duo once again kept it casual. The Affair alum rocked a linen button-up shirt and matching pants paired with sneakers and sunglasses. The model, who has walked the runway for the fashion brand Jean Paul Gaultier, went for a black tank top, gray Bermuda shorts and mules and opted for a messy updo.
Just two days after being spotted with Burgess, Jackson made headlines when he publicly praised longtime friend and former Dawson’s Creek costar Katie Holmes.
The actor shared an “appreciation post” for Holmes, 47, via his Instagram on June 9 after they worked together on the movie, Happy Hours.

Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
“It takes many hands to make a movie. And I am thankful to every hand that touched this one. But … this is a Katie appreciation post,” Jackson wrote. “It is because of her light that all those hands were brought together. Because of [the] generosity of her spirit that she wanted to bring this wonderful, loving, hopeful story into the world.”
He continued, “Because of her tenacity that she shepherded it from the blank page through the editing room and onto that screen last Saturday night. Because she is such an incredible friend that she made the space for us to be able to play together again after all these years.”
The film marked the first time Jackson and Holmes have acted together since Dawson’s Creek ended in 2003. Jackson and Holmes played Pacey and Joey, respectively, in the show and briefly dated offscreen for about a year following the show’s debut in 1998.
At the Tribeca Film Festival Jackson reflected on his working relationship with Holmes and their Dawson’s Creek stint with fondness.
“The time that we spent together when we were young is very precious to both of us,” Jackson told a reporter at the event, while standing beside Holmes and holding her hand in a clip shared on June 7. “And [it] is like one of the core personal and professional relationships in my life.”
Jackson was previously married to Jodie Turner-Smith, with whom he shares daughter Juno, 6. The former couple announced their split in 2023 before finalizing their divorce in May 2025.
Entertainment
Lukas Gage On Being ‘Fearful’ Of Coming Out As Gay
Lukas Gage is coming into his own. In a new interview, the “White Lotus” alum reflects on embracing his sexuality as a gay man after years of hiding it.
In a previous exclusive interview with The Blast, the actor discussed writing his memoir, “I Wrote This For Attention,” in which he shares deeply personal stories about his struggles with people-pleasing, mental health, family trauma, and addiction.

Speaking with E! News, Gage, 31, said that he’s now finally able to embrace his identity as a gay man following years of hiding his sexuality. While he was open with the people closest to him, Gage said he used to be “fearful” of telling those who didn’t know him well.
“It was the people that didn’t know me that I was the most fearful about,” he said before revealing that something finally shifted in him, giving him the courage to live life on his terms.
“I don’t know what happened, maybe it’s growing older or maybe it’s just life experience,” he said, adding, “If people don’t want to work with me because of how I identify or who I have sex with, they’re probably people I don’t want to work with anyway.”
Growing Up Had An Impact On How Lukas Gage Viewed Himself

Gage, who appeared in the 2025 series “Overcompensating,” said that growing up gave him the confidence to truly embrace who he was.
“When you’re younger, it feels more intense than it actually is, or more important,” he said, adding, “but ultimately, the right people are going to find you.”
Gage explained that after making peace with himself, he realized he could “take a deep breath” and live a little. “At first, having a secret can be fun and it can feel like you’re mysterious. Then it starts to eat away at you and you just can’t keep up with it anymore,” he said.
How Being ‘Upfront’ About His Identity Helped Lukas Gage ‘Be More Free’

Gage, whose 2026 credits include “People We Meet on Vacation,” “Rosebush Pruning,” “Love Language,” and “Voicemails for Isabelle,” said coming out of the closet allowed him to “be free.”
“Just being upfront was the thing that allowed me to be more free,” he said before revealing that it also impacted how he showed up to work.
“… [Coming out] allowed my work to be better and allowed me actually to work with the right people. It aligned me in the right way,” he said.
What Gage Hoped To Get Across In His Memoir, ‘I Wrote This For Attention’

In a past interview with The Blast, Gage opened up about his memoir, “I Wrote This For Attention,” and spoke about why he believed it was important to share his personal story.
“The message that I share throughout the book is that the little boy who was desperate for attention and love and validation became a man who was also a little bit desperate for love and validation and attention,” he said. “I try to share how that manifested. And I try to put a different spin on our innate human need for attention, our desire to be seen, and show how you can do that in a positive way instead of only being seen for negative attention.”
The 320-page memoir touches on Gage’s “broken family, struggles with addiction, sex, borderline personality disorder,” and much more.
Gage Gets Real About The Importance Of PrEP And Sexual Health

Elsewhere in his conversation with The Blast, the “American Vandal” actor opened up about the importance of sexual health and why PrEP—a once-daily medication that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed—is so important for those at risk.
“I think that the way that we become knowledgeable is to have an open conversation about these things and to not live in fear and uncertainty,” he said. “The way that we just bring awareness is that we step away from the taboo and from the stigma that we have wrapped around these topics.”
Regarding PrEP, Gage said being “safe” is a vital part of his “self-care” routine, calling it “just as important as working out and eating well.”
“[Getting on PrEP] might feel like a scary step, but you just have to take the leap. And if you are uncomfortable talking to your primary care doctor, you might consider telehealth options where you can talk to someone from the comfort of your home. Regardless, there is nothing to be ashamed of. The more we talk about sex and how to have safe sex the less taboo it becomes,” Gage said.
Entertainment
Blake Lively’s European-Looking Lounge Pants Style Is on Amazon
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If there’s one thing I remember from my recent trip to London, it’s polka dots, and Blake Lively just brought the rich mom look to New York City. Not only that, but she also nailed the elevated lounge pants trend. I found her comfy-chic style for just $23!
Heading out to dinner, Lively was spotted with husband Ryan Reynolds wearing a simple tank, a leather-like blazer and polka-dot pants that make you question every pair of tight trousers you own. Loose, breezy and incredibly sophisticated, these pants channel ‘summer in Kensington’ vibes without even trying.
Get the Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants for $23 (was $30) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
These Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants mirror Lively’s in every way, with the same relaxed shape, smocked waistband and tapered ankles. The black-and-white polka dot print is also similar, reading polished from across the street and playful up close.
Better yet, these upgraded lounge pants are as comfortable as, well, lounge pants. They have a stretchy high waist and a billowy cut that drapes in all the right places. I’m especially obsessed with the tapered ankles that work just as well with sneakers as they do with heels. Oh, and did I mention pockets?
One happy fan highlighted the flattering fit and wrote, “These lay so nicely on the body, hiding lumps and bumps. So soft and perfect for the hot summer yet you can wear them well into fall. The wide ruched waistband smooths your tummy and in a not tight way.”
These flowy wonders are labeled lounge pants, but don’t let that fool you. Classy and luxe, these pants dress up any outfit. No matter how you style them, you’ll look like a London rich mom and a New York City celeb simultaneously. Score!
Get the Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants for $23 (was $30) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Entertainment
Love Island’s Ariana Madix Breaks Up Verbal Fight After Recoupling
Love Island USA host Ariana Madix had to step in when a brutal recoupling turned into a verbal argument.
The Friday, June 26, episode got heated at multiple moments as the guys and girls reunited. While a majority of the girls chose not to couple up with a new guy in favor of their existing partner — the same couldn’t be said for the group coming from Casa.
KC Chandler got the most backlash when he brought Tierra Davis back with him. He stood by his decision despite how much it affected his former match Aniya Harvey, who chose to remain single so she could recouple with him.
After KC defended his actions, Tierra stepped in. This didn’t sit well with Trinity Tatum who confronted KC but ended up in a verbal argument with Tierra instead. As everyone shouted over each other, Ariana, 41, broke up the fight.
“It’s a lot of emotions. It’s a really hard night tonight,” she told the group. “It’s hard for the girls to come from Casa. It’s obviously gonna be really hard for you guys as well.”
She continued: “So if we could squash it now, that way we can get to everybody and we can find out how everyone’s feeling.”
This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in. Earlier this month, Ariana addressed claims that voting was rigged in the villa. The host
replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.
“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.
Fans were left frustrated when Sol and Gabriel Vasconcelos ended up dumped from the villa following a group vote. This came after America chose their favorite couples — and the bottom three were left at risk of elimination, leaving the remaining girls to decide which guy went home and vice versa.
This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”
She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”
At the time, Ariana also denied that any Islanders were coming into the villa with a plan on how to win.
“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”
Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Entertainment
One of ‘SNL’s Biggest Stars Was Never the Same After a Freak Live TV Accident
Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary show was a big success as cast members from the beginning until now showed up for the celebration. If you were watching the broadcast on NBC (which is now available to stream on Peacock), you might have noticed that one former cast member was moving quite gingerly. Chris Kattan, one of SNL‘s most popular names in the late ’90s and early 2000s, looked like he was in pain as he moved around the stage. So what’s that about? The truth is much more shocking. In 2001, Kattan broke his neck live on TV during a Saturday Night Live sketch. He has been dealing with the physical and mental consequences ever since.
Chris Kattan Was Known for His Wild Physicality on ‘SNL’
In the mid-1990s, Saturday Night Live was going through a time of big change, as major names like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and Chris Rock started to leave the show. Going into the latter half of the decade, SNL nearly started from scratch, hiring new future featured players such as Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Darrell Hammond, Cheri Oteri, and Ana Gasteyer. Another impactful name brought in was Kattan. Kattan was seemingly born for comedy, as his father, Kip King, was a cartoon voice actor and one of the founders of the sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings. Kattan ended up being part of The Groundlings, too, leading to Lorne Michaels hiring him for Saturday Night Live in 2001.
Kattan became one of the biggest names in the cast thanks to his willingness to do anything. He could do celebrity impressions, but what he became most known for was three original characters. One was the flamboyant exotic danger named Mango, and another was Mr. Peepers, with Kattan stripping down, putting on bigger ears, and jumping around like a monkey while he devoured apples, with bits of fruit flying everywhere. His physicality became so well known that there’s a scene in Jordan Peele‘s Nope where Jupe (Steven Yeun) is talking about the terrifying chimp scene from the film being portrayed in a fictional SNL sketch. And who should play the chimpanzee? Kattan.
Kattan was also known for his recurring sketch as one of the Butabi brothers alongside Will Ferrell, two eccentric men who like to bob their heads to “What Is Love” by Haddaway. They think they are cool even as every woman rejects them. The sketches were so popular that they even led to a feature film, 1998’s A Night at the Roxbury. Everything was going right for Kattan, until it really wasn’t.
Chris Kattan Broke His Neck During an ‘SNL’ Sketch
In 2019, Kattan wrote a memoir titled Baby, Don’t Hurt Me: Stories and Scars from Saturday Night Live. In it, he details the highs and lows of being a famous cast member on one of America’s most well-known shows, but the lowest of lows for Kattan came during the May 12, 2001, episode. He was involved in a sketch parodying The Golden Girls, when Kattan’s character began to shake wildly, as he often did. Kattan flailed about so much that he fell back in his chair, tipping it over as intended, but when he did, he landed on the back of his head.
Kattan went on with the rest of the show as normal despite being in a lot of pain. He continued with Saturday Night Live until 2003, and no one knew what had happened, or why he largely disappeared from acting in the years right after. Finally, in 2017, when he was cast on Dancing With the Stars, Kattan sort of came clean, wanting to explain why his dancing was so rigid and stiff. He said that he had broken his neck in the past without going into detail. Kattan ended up being the first contestant eliminated.
In Baby Don’t Hurt Me, Kattan revealed the whole story about how he injured himself. He hoped that the pain would just eventually go away, but nearly a year later, with the pain worse, his chiropractor got him to finally see a doctor, where it was discovered he had broken his neck. In total, Kattan has had five surgeries, but Saturday Night Live wasn’t there to support him for all of it. In his book, Kattan wrote:
“NBC had stopped paying my medical costs after the second surgery. The ‘SNL’ family I was part of had stopped taking care of me, and soon I wasn’t able to pay for everything myself.”
Kattan admits that he didn’t handle things the right way. He tried to hide his injury, pretending that everything was fine, because he didn’t want to sue anyone. However, in an interview with Variety, he said he wishes now that he’d stuck up for himself, because he waited so long that he could no longer get workers’ compensation. “It’s a different day and age where people, if they get any injury or harassment or anything, it’s a good time to say anything about it. This is not too long ago, but it was more of a faux pas to say anything, especially if it has to do with your showbiz family.”
Chris Kattan’s Career Has Suffered Because of His Injury
In another interview with Variety, Kattan said that he’s 95% okay now, thanks to physical therapy, but he does have limitations due to permanent nerve damage, including not being able to fully open and close his hands. Still, he admits, “There is a lot of pain involved.” The pain for Kattan hasn’t just been physical, either. As has sadly happened with too many people who have had a serious injury, Kattan then found himself addicted to painkillers. That led to an arrest and the end of his marriage. After marrying model Sunshine Deia Tutt in 2008, the pair divorced just months later. In his memoir, he wrote, “The impact that my injury and subsequent surgeries had on my career was immense, but more importantly, the fallout proved to be devastating to some of the closest relationships in my life.”
Five months after his SNL accident, Kattan was the lead in the feature film Corky Romano. It was a critical bust, with a lowly 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it made a respectable $24 million domestically at the box office. Later in the 2000s, he was still acting, but here and there, in small, forgotten movies, or doing guest spots on TV shows and voice work. That’s still not a bad career, but it’s a big fall off for someone who was once just as big as Will Ferrell.
‘Saturday Night Live’s Worst Season Ever Accidentally Saved the Entire Show
The season was noted as “weird — and not always in a good way.”
Thankfully, he has turned his life around. He told Variety, “Comedy is what brought me out of it. I was born to be funny and to perform comedy.” Kattan, who said he was once ashamed of going outside because he didn’t want to be judged for his appearance, is now doing stand-up comedy regularly. He also found love again, getting engaged in 2023 to his girlfriend, Maria Libri. Thankfully, he was at Saturday Night Live‘s big 50th celebration, standing on the stage where he belonged.
Saturday Night Live is now available to stream on Peacock.
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