Brad Pitt is keeping it real about why he can’t participate in certain vices. However, it is not for the reason fans might think.

The “Fight Club” actor’s complicated personal life has continued to play out in the public eye, with his children, shared with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, continuously cutting ties.

However, Pitt has remained largely silent on the issue until now.

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In a new cover story, the award-winning actor gave his commentary on the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, picking issues with how players dramatically fell to draw a foul.

“I’m gonna start a class for flopping, because these guys are terrible,” Pitt revealed, adding, “It’s some of the worst acting I’ve ever seen.”

The Hollywood big shot then teased that his first client will be Brazilian player Neymar, promising to teach him how to sell his falls better.

Diving deeper into the topic, Pitt told Esquire Magazine, “It’s one of those things that’s accepted but that no one likes—like forties acting, when the female actors would swoon. Lawd! Bad acting drives me crazy. It’s why I can’t watch p-rn.”

Brad Pitt Is No Longer Completely Sober

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While the “Mr & Mrs Smith” star might be turned off by x-rated content, he hasn’t completely given up his desire to drink, despite being sober for almost a decade.

After offering the interviewer a glass of wine, Pitt dished on why he ditched the conventional method of staying completely away from alcohol.

“No, I got — I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon. Yep, nope, not good for me.’ Not in big quantities,” he disclosed, per The Blast.

The 62-year-old noted that he had tried drinking without constrictions, but that always led him back to where he was escaping.

Now, he has to tread carefully, only letting himself take a few glasses so he doesn’t exceed his limit.

The ‘F1’ Actor Made Rare Confession About His Family Troubles

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During the interview, Pitt also broke his silence on the family turbulence he has been experiencing following his split from Jolie.

The duo called it quits in 2019 and were embroiled in a nasty divorce that has dragged on for years. Four of the couple’s six kids have since made moves to drop Pitt’s name from their surname, distancing themselves from the actor.

While he didn’t go into details about the elephant in the room, the two-time Golden Globe winner opened up about a time he battled suicidal thoughts.

According to The Blast, Pitt, who described himself as a “congenital optimist,” recalled a time when things were so dark, he “just didn’t see a way out.’

Luckily, he relied on his survival instincts to pull him out, admitting it wasn’t an easy experience. When asked if it had anything to do with his estrangement from his children, the actor simply answered, “Family stuff. We could leave it at that.”

How Angelina Jolie Feels About Kids’ Estrangement From Pitt

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With the “World War Z” star having a few words to say about the dicey situation, sources close to his ex-wife reveal how she truly feels.

As The Blast reported, an insider debunked speculations that Jolie was responsible for turning the children against their famous father.

Instead, the “Tomb Raider” is said to have moved on and is mainly focused on everyone finding healing. The source added, “If people knew the whole truth, they would have more sympathy for the children and respect them.”

The truth of Jolie’s reaction comes after her and Pitt’s youngest child, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, took legal steps to relinquish her dad’s name.

Daughter Shiloh kickstarted the name-dropping pattern in 2024 after filing to be called Shiloh Jolie. Siblings Maddox and Zahara have since followed suit with flings of their own.

Pitt’s Image Might Be At Stake Amid Family Drama

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With only two out of the six children, Pax and Knox, still bearing the “Babylon” actor’s surname, concerns continue to rise about Pitt’s public image and what that would do for his career.

Attorney Tre Lovell, a family attorney, explained that given his extensive career accolades, Pitt might remain untouched and survive the scandal. 

However, communications expert Kaivan Shroff believes otherwise, telling The Blast, “[Pitt’s] talent remains unquestioned. But when multiple adult children publicly choose to stop using your surname, the conversation inevitably shifts from career to character.”

Reese Witherspoon can breathe a little easier after a frightening family emergency involving her father, Dr. John Witherspoon.

Days after the 84-year-old retired physician was rushed to the hospital following an alarming discovery near the pool at his Nashville condo, he has reportedly been released and returned home.

The reassuring update comes after the “Legally Blonde” star personally addressed the scare and assured fans that her father was receiving excellent medical care.

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John Witherspoon was released from the hospital on Sunday after spending two nights under medical care, according to Page Six.

A source told the outlet that the retired doctor had returned to his luxury Nashville condo following the frightening incident on Friday.

The building’s management has reportedly asked residents to respect his privacy and avoid discussing the situation publicly.

The latest news marks a welcome development after John was discovered face down on the concrete near the building’s pool.

A resident reportedly spotted him from above and alerted staff, setting off the emergency response that ultimately resulted in his hospitalization.

No detailed medical diagnosis has been publicly disclosed, making it unclear exactly what caused the fall or whether any underlying health issue contributed to the incident.

John Witherspoon Was Found Face Down Near His Condo Pool

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The circumstances surrounding the emergency initially caused significant alarm.

According to Page Six, a resident noticed John lying face down near the pool and quickly alerted the doorman.

Building staff then approached him and rolled him over while asking whether he was okay.

“The doorman and building manager rolled him over and they said, ‘Dr. Witherspoon, are you OK?’” a source told the outlet. “He blinked his eyes, and that’s when he was rushed to the hospital.”

Nashville Metro later confirmed that a medical incident had occurred at the residential building, though officials did not publicly identify the patient involved.

That lack of detail initially left questions surrounding the severity of John’s condition until his famous daughter stepped in to reassure concerned fans.

Reese Personally Reassured Fans After The Scare

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As reports about her father’s hospitalization began circulating, Reese Witherspoon addressed the situation herself through a post on her Instagram Stories.

“Earlier today, several outlets reported that my dad was taken to the hospital after a fall,” the actress wrote.

She quickly moved to calm fears about his condition, adding, “I want to let everyone know that he is fine now. He is being taken care of by wonderful doctors and nurses.”

Reese concluded by thanking those who had reached out to her family, saying their support “means the world.”

Her statement was particularly notable because the actress does not frequently share updates about her father’s personal life publicly.

Reese Witherspoon’s Dad Spent His Career Helping Others

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Long before finding himself on the receiving end of hospital care, John Witherspoon spent much of his own professional life treating patients.

He worked as an otolaryngologist, specializing in conditions affecting the ears, nose and throat, before retiring from medicine.

Medicine was deeply embedded in the household. Reese’s mother, Betty, built a career in nursing, meaning both parents spent their professional lives in healthcare.

That environment left a lasting impression on their daughter.

Reese Witherspoon’s Early Childhood Was Shaped By Her Dad’s Military Service

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John also served in the U.S. Army and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, with his military career taking the Witherspoon family overseas during Reese’s early childhood.

The actress spent several of her first years living on a military base in Wiesbaden, Germany, because of her father’s service before the family eventually settled in Nashville.

Reese has previously explained that growing up around parents who believed they were helping people every day instilled the same sense of purpose in her, even admitting that she once struggled with giving up her childhood dream of becoming a doctor herself.

Although Reese Witherspoon ultimately chose Hollywood instead of medicine, she has frequently connected her ambition to the household in which she was raised.

Her parents have also supported major moments in their daughter’s extraordinary career.

John and Betty attended the 2006 Academy Awards, where Reese won Best Actress for portraying June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line.”

Avatar: Aang: The Last Airbender may be giving fans another adventure with Aang and the original Team Avatar, but it is hardly the only way to keep exploring this world. The Avatar universe has grown far beyond the events of the animated series, with a collection of novels that dig into the lives of the Avatars who came before Aang and, more recently, the ordinary people caught in the middle of the Hundred-Year War.

The books are particularly useful for anyone who finished Avatar Aang wanting more. The movie sends Aang (Eric Nam), Katara (Jessica Matten), Sokka (Román Zaragoza), Toph (Dionne Quan), and Zuko (Steven Yeun) on another adventure years after the original series, but the novels go in the opposite direction, looking back at the history that shaped the Avatar the world would eventually come to know. They make the history of the Four Nations feel considerably bigger than what could fit into an animated series.

The Kyoshi Novels Are a Perfect Place To Start

Image via Abrams Books

If there’s one Avatar book series that makes the case for reading beyond the screen, it’s F.C. Yee’s Chronicles of the Avatar novels. The series begins with The Rise of Kyoshi, set 396 years before Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA), when Kyoshi is still an uncertain young woman rather than the intimidating Avatar remembered by history.

Kyoshi’s origin is anything but straightforward. After years of searching for the Avatar, the world believes it has found its next incarnation in Yun; Kyoshi, meanwhile, is an unassuming servant who doesn’t realize the significance of her own bending abilities until everything begins to unravel. Forced to flee with Fire Army officer Rangi, Kyoshi finds allies among the daofei, the outlaws operating in the shadows of the Earth Kingdom, while struggling to figure out what kind of Avatar she wants to become. ATLA occasionally tells viewers that past Avatars were complicated people, but the novel actually gets to live in that complication. Kyoshi is a young woman learning what justice means, dealing with grief, falling in love, and trying to survive a world that suddenly expects her to fix it.

The Shadow of Kyoshi continues that story as Kyoshi travels across the Four Nations attempting to maintain peace while confronting a new threat from the Spirit World. Together, the novels offer a version of the Avatar universe that is more politically complicated and considerably more interested in the consequences of violence. And now, fans can collect both stories in the Kyoshi Novels Ultimate Collector’s Edition, which packages the duology together in a single premium edition with a cloth slipcase, foil stamping, stained edges, die-cuts, and a satin ribbon bookmark.

Yangchen and Roku Show What the Avatar World Looked Like Before Aang

Image via Abrams Books

The other major advantage of the Chronicles of the Avatar books is that each Avatar feels genuinely different. The Dawn of Yangchen and The Legacy of Yangchen move away from Kyoshi’s more aggressive approach and into political intrigue, diplomacy, espionage, and the uncomfortable compromises required to keep the Four Nations from tearing itself apart.

Yangchen is the composed, almost saintly Avatar who Aang encounters through his past-life memories and spiritual connections in ATLA. The novels complicate that image by showing her before she has become the legendary figure Aang knows. In The Dawn of Yangchen, she navigates a corrupt Earth Kingdom city where political loyalty can be bought, while The Legacy of Yangchen heightens the stakes as the Four Nations face the threat of Unanimity, a weapon capable of catastrophic destruction.

Another familiar name in the prequel novels is Roku, whose history is already deeply woven into ATLA after being the center of the start of the Hundred-Year War we come to know in the 2005 series. Randy Ribay’s The Reckoning of Roku takes readers back to the beginning of Roku’s Avatar journey, when he is still struggling with self-doubt and training at the Southern Air Temple alongside a young Gyatso. His friendship with Crown Prince Sozin gives the story an immediate connection to the history fans already know, while the novel fills in the years that the animated series could only glimpse. The Awakening of Roku continues the story three years later, sending Roku north to investigate a mysterious illness threatening the Northern Water Tribe. For fans who want the strongest direct connections to ATLA, the Roku books are an especially natural next step.

The Yangchen books are also getting their own Ultimate Collector’s Edition later this year, bringing both novels together in the same kind of premium package as the Kyoshi collection. For collectors, there’s also a four-book hardcover box set containing both Kyoshi and Yangchen duologies, complete with a bonus character poster.

‘City of Echoes’ Proves You Don’t Need To Be an Avatar

Image via Abrams Books

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Perhaps the most interesting expansion of the universe comes from City of Echoes, Judy I. Lin’s first Avatar Legends novel. Instead of following an Avatar, the story centers on Jin, the young woman fans briefly meet in Ba Sing Se during Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Jin is a refugee living in the Lower Ring, caring for her grandfather while trying to survive in a city that insists there is no war beyond its walls. When her best friend’s family falls into financial trouble, Jin gets pulled into a dangerous world involving the city’s black market, the Silver Fangs, and a conspiracy unfolding as the Fire Nation closes in on Ba Sing Se.

The novel revisits several familiar events from Jin’s perspective, including moments from the Book Two episode “The Tales of Ba Sing Se,” Jet’s attack on the Pao Family Tea House, the aftermath of Jet’s death, and the eventual liberation of Ba Sing Se. It’s the sort of story ATLA could never have fully told because of its focus on Aang’s journey.

Avatar Aang gives fans more of the characters they already love, and the novels offer the history behind those characters, the people living in the corners of the world they never got to visit, and a much clearer sense of how massive the Avatar universe actually is. For fans who aren’t ready to leave that world behind, that’s a pretty good reason to keep reading.

Pack your bags! Shay Mitchell headed to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on Sunday, Aug. 9 to host a special event celebrating the BÉIS x Disney collection.

The evening kicked off at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, where guests, including Mitchell’s Pretty Little Liars costar Tyler Blackburn, arrived ready for a little magic.

The group gathered by the lobby fireplace before a royal butler whisked them away by shuttle to a private 2,200-square-foot residence.

Attendees climbed a tucked-away staircase above New Orleans Square and stepped into 21 Royal, a retreat originally envisioned by Walt Disney for entertaining, which Mitchell made her own for the night.

And inside, there was plenty to unpack! The venue was decked out with artwork, whimsical touches, and pieces from the actress’ latest collection, which officially launches on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

As guests explored their lavish surroundings and got a first look at the new offerings, they sipped on cocktails, enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, and heard welcome remarks from Mitchell.

“This collection is really fun. … The fact that I’m even saying we have a BÉIS x Disney collab is kind of insane for me considering I’ve been here since I was a little kid and I’ve been such a fan of Disney and everything. … It is really the happiest place on earth,” she said.

There was no need to wish upon a star for the perfect ending. The crowd snacked on specialty desserts before heading out to the balcony to watch Fantasmic! and a fireworks show.

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OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney will spend just two more years behind bars after she accepted a plea deal and was sentenced in the 2022 murder of her boyfriend, Christian “Toby” Obumseli.

During a court hearing on Monday, August 10, prosecutors and her attorneys revealed that Clenney, 30, was ultimately charged with manslaughter with a deadly weapon as part of a plea deal.

Prior to accepting the deal, Clenney had been facing second-degree murder charges after she fatally stabbed Obumseli, 27, in their Miami high-rise apartment.

Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson ultimately sentenced Clenney to six years behind bars with time served. Once she is released from prison, Clenney will have to serve five years of probation.

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Clenney is expected to be behind bars for about two more years, as she has already served four years after her arrest in 2022. With credits, she could be released in just over a year and a half.

After Clenney’s sentence was revealed, Obumseli’s mother, Chio Obumseli, addressed the courtroom. “There is simply too much pain to put on paper,” she said, according to The Daily Mail. “Four years later there are still nights when I cannot sleep. I do not want Christian to be remembered only for how he died.”

“Christian was my son, everyone who knew Christian can attest that he was kindhearted, compassionate, friendly and respectful,” Chio continued. “Nothing can describe what it feels like for a mother to stand at the grave of her child.”

Chio went on to say that their family has “lived with the loss every day and waited for accountability” for the past four years.

“Today closes a legal chapter, but it certainly doesn’t close our grief. No sentence, no plea can bring back my son to me,” she concluded.

Clenney wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue as Chio gave her victim’s impact statement, per the outlet.

As Us previously reported, Clenney was arrested just days after Christian was killed on April 3, 2022. An autopsy report revealed that he died from a single, three-inch-deep stab wound to the chest that punctured his subclavian artery.

She claimed to have killed him in self-defense, alleging that she threw a knife at him during an altercation.

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Before she accepted the plea deal, Clenney’s legal team revealed that they planned to use text messages the defendant exchanged with Christian in order to prove that he was abusive.

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Clenney claimed that Christian was abusive at least nine times over the course of their relationship. She also alleged that he punched her in the face and fractured her ribs just months before he died.

Obumseli’s family, however, said that she was the aggressor in their relationship and that he was often subject to abuse.

Prior to the killing, Clenney had a large following on social media. She had over 2 million followers on Instagram, as well as had a popular presence on OnlyFans.

Days of Our Lives 2-Week Spoilers for August 10-21, 2026 pull at the heart with Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) making a selfless sacrifice, but it might not pan out how he thinks. We’ll also see Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) threatening a woman when he has lost his patience.

Also, the week of August 10th through the 21st, there’s Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) in labor, Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) making a rough decision, and Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) demanding answers.

Days of Our Lives Spoilers: Cat Grills EJ

Monday, August 10th on Days of Our Lives, Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) is questioning EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel). Now, already Cat knows from Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) that EJ didn’t kidnap Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien). So, this might be about Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford). And I wonder if EJ will admit the truth that Lexie is at the mansion and wants to die away from everybody else.

And EJ tells her that he’s taking care of his sister. That might actually make Cat a little sympathetic. Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) repeats to Stephanie what he said on Friday that he’s going to move into Joy’s room. Alex says he’ll stay at the pub for a while to take care of Kelsey since Alex can’t have her at the apartment right now because Stephanie was banned by Joy from the kid.

So, Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) tells Alex, “No, you won’t do that.” And then Stephanie makes a heartbreaking decision. So, she may step away from Alex because of this Joy thing. Not in the manner of Stephanie breaking up with Alex, but she may stay with her parents, Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols), Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans), so Alex can have Kelsey at their apartment.

DOOL Spoilers: Chanel Expresses Herself

Stephanie also talks things over with bestie Jada, at her place. And Chanel offers Alex some perspective. I’m sure Chanel’s got harsh things to say about Joy since Chanel hates Joy and is 1,000% team Stephanie. Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) is keeping a secret and I wonder if this is referring to keeping it from Chanel that Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) tried to have him killed.

That’s a huge secret or it may be about EJ being responsible for Kristen going missing. Lonnie comforts a distraught Theo. He is obviously very upset that Lexie took off without a return ticket and she told Theo, you know, I’ll call you, don’t call me. It’s just a whole lot since she just came back from the dead.

Days of Our Lives: Dimitri’s Obsession and Rafe’s Rescue

Tuesday, August 11th on Days of Our Lives, Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) is determined to force Leo to be with him. And this week, we’re going to see Leo making Dimitri a tempting and shocking offer. So, Dimitri threatens Leo and Gwen this week and says, “I don’t think anyone will ever find you.”

But then Rafe walks in and says, “Somebody already has.” And Leo and Gwen’s jaws drop. Also, Theo is keeping a secret from his dad, Abe Carver (James Reynolds), about Lexie. So, we’ll see if Lonnie finds out some things and shares them with Theo. You know, the ugly truth that Lexie is dying is out to her family by the end of the week.

By the way, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) listens as Belle Black (Martha Madison) pleads her case. Also, this week, Chad and Belle are smooching at the pub enjoying some romance. And then Chad needs a favor from Cap. So he could ask her if EJ has Lexie because Chad’s helping out Theo this week in the search. Also on Tuesday, a big deal, John Oliver makes his Days of Our Lives debut on Tuesday. We’ll also see him on the Wednesday and Friday episodes. He turns up at Paulina Price’s (Jackee Harry) office and surprises her.

Days Spoilers: Chanel’s Labor and Family Crisis

Then on Wednesday, August 12th’s episode of Days of Our Lives, Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote) and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) have a heartfelt and heartbreaking talk about Kristen. Rachel is crying in her dad’s arms, distraught. Meanwhile, we have Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) deciding to try something drastic to save Titan. Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) is also desperate and has a crazy idea. He pitches to Gabi. All three of them have a tense meeting this week.

Arianna Hernandez (Vico Escorcia) and Aaron Greene (Louis Tomeo) plan a surprise for Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and Tate Black (Leo Howard). And we’re also going to see Aaron and Tate flexing at the gym this week. Then on Thursday, August 13th, Days of Our Lives, Alex needs Steve’s help, and this may be about Stephanie.

Abe and Theo worry about missing Lexie. So maybe Abe got wise and phoned Celeste  Perrault (Beverly Todd). So, Abe might have asked about Lexie and found out she is not in South Africa visiting her mom. And that is going to scare him and Theo both.

This week, Paulina feels Chanel’s baby kicking and they spend some time playing with Trey. Paulina and Marlena are leaning on each other this week. They may be worried about Chanel, Johnny, and Lexie. Also, this week, Chanel says she thinks she is in labor. And in the summer promo, we’ve got Kayla checking Chanel out. She’s up at the hospital and Johnny says Chanel’s bleeding. So, Kayla tells Paulina and Lani Price (Sal Stowers) they have to go. Chanel tells Johnny that she’s scared.

Dimitri is not going to stop. He is obsessed with making Leo his man again. So, we’ve got Rafe in Alamania. There’s a deal on the table and Leo’s asking Dimitri if he won’t make a deal with Rafe. Will Dimitri make a deal with him? So, maybe Leo offers to stay in Alamania if he lets Gwen go because Rafe can’t just take her. He’s got no jurisdiction. But Rafe has an offer that Gwen may really like. Of course, he wants to give Gwen immunity if she will testify against EJ.

Days of Our Lives: August 14-21 Spoilers

Then on Friday, August 14th, Days of Our Lives, we’ll see Lonnie there comforting Abe. They’re at The Bistro together. This is clearly before he finds out that EJ’s got Lexie in the basement. At the mansion this week, Theo is threatening Rita Lesley (Maggie Carney). It says, “If you don’t get out of the way, I will make you get out of the way.” She’s obviously trying to keep him out of the tunnels, but Theo and Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) find something devastating.

They head into the tunnels and Chad is right behind Theo as the two go into Lexie’s room below the mansion. Theo is shocked and calling out mom. From there, I’m sure he notifies Abe because by the end of the week, he has joined him at Lexie’s deathbed in the DiMera basement.

So, we are also going to see Johnny having a crisis of conscience. And this may be about keeping one of EJ’s many secrets. Something about Kristen. You know, I don’t think it’s a secret about Chanel going into labor. I just hope that Johnny doesn’t have to choose between Chanel and the baby because of the high-risk labor and delivery.

Cat gets some worrisome news and it may be an update from Rafe and Alamania. We’ve got EJ and Rita forced to act fast. So, Friday is when Rita wakes up her boss EJ, crawls onto his bed, and shakes him. And then John Oliver’s character burst into EJ’s bedroom with a briefcase and an agenda. We’ll see if this is about DiMera Pharmaceuticals or some other shady deal.

Then the week of August 17th through the 21st, we’ll see Lexie transported from the DiMera mansion over to the hospital for her final hours under proper medical supervision. Chad confronts Cat very soon, and it may be about Lexie. Chad is ranting at Cat, “You knew about all this and you did nothing.” And Cat’s trying to tell Chad there’s reasons that she hasn’t told him everything.

We also have scenes soon with Theo demanding answers. He wants to know what else that Johnny’s hiding from him. So, this may be about Lexie or Kristen. I’m sure it’s EJ adjacent. Some people are shaken by John Oliver’s visit and the aftermath of this cameo. I hope he does well. I’ll tell you guys, his cameo on General Hospital was extremely well done.

It lasted the same. It was like two or three episodes and it was so good. Leo may convince Dimitri to head back to Salem with him. However, Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) is desperate to get to Alamania to save Leo from evil Dimitri. And Gus (Michael Ocampo) is being a naysayer and as a result, Javi soon realizes that he still loves Leo and he wants him.

Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) and Brady swap I love you soon. Chanel gives birth, but it’s very high risk. Theo could turn to Stephanie in his grief. They’ve been supportive friends. We’ll see if it turns into more. Paulina tries to comfort Abe in his grief, but it may take some time to reunite as a couple. And we’ll find out more about Joy’s spinal issue and her prognosis.

A Georgia woman alleges that she was wrongly diagnosed with cancer and underwent an unneeded hysterectomy. All because of a labeling error. Cassandra Barksdale and her attorneys filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente on Tuesday (August 4). She alleges the mix-up led to the surgery and months of physical and emotional pain and is seeking damages.

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According to the lawsuit, another patient’s tissue sample was mistakenly labeled as belonging to Barksdale, who at age 43 then underwent a full hysterectomy on May 15, 2025, and was told she would get instructions about chemotherapy.

It’s unclear how the mix-up occurred. In September, Barksdale was informed that a DNA analysis found the tissue sample showing an aggressive form of endometrial uterine cancer belonged to a different patient and not to her, the lawsuit says.
“She came into Kaiser Permanente looking for answers, and she left with a diagnosis that did not belong to her. And every step that was taken after that was based off of misinformation,” her attorney Shannan Young said.
Barksdale went to Kaiser Permanente Southwood Medical Center in Jonesboro, Georgia, in early 2025 to seek treatment for heavy bleeding and fibroids, which are noncancerous growths in and around the uterus. She underwent a biopsy on March 10, 2025.
Barksdale said that after she got the biopsy results on March 17, 2025, she lived for months believing she had an aggressive type of cancer, sending her and her sons into a deep depression.
“I even started making funeral plans with them to let them know, you know, if I don’t make it out, this is what I want done,” Barksdale said.
Representatives for Kaiser Permanente wrote in a statement that, “Ms. Barksdale should not have experienced this.”
“We have highly trained staff and very thorough processes in place to prevent errors like this from taking place. After this occurred last year, we took immediate steps to ensure it could not happen again. We realize the impact of this incident and are committed to working with Ms. Barksdale and her counsel to resolve this in the most fair and accountable way we can.”
Because of privacy laws, information about the other patient — including what happened to her and whether cancer treatment was delayed — isn’t publicly available.
It is not clear just how often pathology samples are mislabeled or mixed-up during medical testing. An Ohio woman filed a similar lawsuit saying a 2019 error on a biopsy led to a misdiagnosis of lung cancer and unneeded surgery. Researchers studying prostate cancer discovered three cases of biopsy sample misidentification over two years, according to a 2011 research paper.
Labs have turned to a number of best practices to try and prevent errors, including barcode systems for specimen labeling and point-of-care testing.
The Georgia lawsuit asks for unspecified damages.
“There’s no amount of money that’s going to return back to her, her healthy organs, or erase the experiences and the pain that she’s had. But our justice system recognizes that when somebody’s negligence harms another person, accountability requires more than ‘I’m sorry,’” Young said.

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Associated Press writers Kim Chandler and Emilie Megnien contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

Season 17 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is nearing its end, with part one of the reunion having aired. Now, as fans await news about the next installment of the hit Bravo series, beloved friend of the show Cynthia Bailey is revealing that she will, in fact, be returning. This comes after Andy Cohen squashed rumors about a shakeup for the “RHOA” cast.

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Bailey took to the “Humble Brag” podcast, which she hosts with Crystal Kung Minkoff, to discuss “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” during the August 10 episode. They started with Minkoff mentioning Cohen’s comments, where he essentially said, ‘everyone’s back.”

Bailey then said, “I definitely saw him say that this was the cast, and there was a photo I was in, so I am a part of that as well.” Minkoff then stated, “You heard it here, Cynthia’s back, obviously,” with Bailey then laughing, saying, “Andy said it first.”

She went on to discuss the most recent “RHOA” season, stating that she had “the most fun” she’s ever had filming the series.

Cynthia Bailey Does Not Have Plans To Become A Full Housewife

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Bailey continued this line of discussion by mentioning that many had asked if she desired to return to her status as a full-time cast member instead of a friend of the show. According to her, “This is my sweet spot.” However, she’s not ruling out a casting upgrade in the future.

The 59-year-old continued, “I’m not saying that I won’t ever because I’m not an idiot. I’m not gonna say that. I may wake up next week and say [change my mind].” Bailey went on, “But I love the space that I’m in now.” After that, she stated that she “invented the friend contract. I invented the friendship contract so I feel like in some way I manifested this space for myself.”

As for why she prefers to be a friend of the show on “RHOA,” Bailey stated that it allows for flexibility in her career, noting that she recently booked a movie role. The Bravo star added, “It works for me.”

The ‘RHOA’ Fan-Favorite Initially Left The Series In 2021

Bailey joined “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” during the show’s third season as a full-time housewife. She then appeared on the series for 11 consecutive seasons before announcing her exit in September 2021. Bailey announced the news on Instagram.

She said at the time, “After much thought and consideration, I have made the very difficult and heartfelt decision not to return for the next season of Real Housewives of Atlanta. Thank you, NBC Universal, Bravo, and Truly Original for over a decade of partnership. I can’t wait to see what we do next!”

Bailey’s statement continued, “Most importantly, THANK YOU to my fans! I could not have done it without your blessings, love, and support. Without the fans, none of this would be possible. I love and appreciate all of you.  
It’s time to move on to my next chapter, and I look forward to sharing it with all of you.”

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Andy Cohen Says He’s ‘Very Happy’ With The Current ‘Real Housewives Of Atlanta’ Cast

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As season 17 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” edged closer to its conclusion, rumors began to swirl about the cast moving forward. Notably, many stated that current cast members Shamea Morton and Kelli Ferrell would not be returning and that NeNe Leakes would rejoin the show.

However, in early August 2026, Cohen took to SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live” to debunk the reports about season 18 of “RHOA.” He said, “There are a lot of casting rumors online, which came out over the weekend, and I’m gonna tell you that they’re not true.”

Cohen continued, “If you want a preview of next season of Atlanta, look at this cast. This is the group, guys. I mean, we love this group. So spoiler alert, we’re very happy. As you can see from the reunion, I was very happy as the day went on.”

Cynthia Bailey Will Be Featured On The New ‘Ultimate Girls Trip’

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Bravo’s new limited series, “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th,” premiered on Bravo on August 9, after being announced at BravoCon 2025. The series features seven primary cast members: Vicki Gunvalson, Kyle Richards, Luann de Lesseps, Teresa Giudice, Porsha Williams, Gizelle Bryant, and Lisa Barlow.

In addition to the main cast, close to 100 current and former “Housewives” stars are also set to appear, including the likes of Dorit Kemsley, Ashley Darby, Tamra Judge, and Bailey.

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