Summer House is returning to Bravo for an 11th season — but no casting decisions have been finalized just yet.

“I have heard reports and everything is premature. We’re still figuring out the cast,” Bravo’s VP of current production, Josh Brown, told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published on Thursday, June 4. “Anything that people are reading — we’re just not there yet.”

Brown confirmed that Summer House casting decisions aren’t “officially” made until late June. (The show traditionally starts filming in The Hamptons during 4th of July weekend.)

“We’re definitely talking about casting, and we’re obviously talking about next season a lot, but no final decisions have been made yet,” Brown added. “Every week we get closer, so yes, we are closer!”

Bravo fans have several questions about who will appear on the upcoming Summer House season in the wake of Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s relationship reveal.

The costars announced that they are dating with a joint statement shared via Instagram in late March. Amanda was married to fellow Summer House star Kyle Cooke for four years before moving on with West, her best friend Ciara Miller’s ex. The season 10 reunion, which airs its third and final installment later this month, has shown the fallout of Amanda and West’s romance.

A source told Us Weekly late last month that Ciara hasn’t made a final decision about returning to the show just yet.

“Ciara is thinking about coming back to the house,” the insider shared. “Likely for one last season to prove a point.”

The source noted that “there is a chance she will face Amanda and West” if she goes back to The Hamptons this summer. The cast, however, is skeptical about Ciara’s return “because they don’t think she will face them.”

The same insider hinted that production “may not even ask West to come back because he was lying to them about other women he was dating.” The season 10 reunion revealed that West was dating Meija Moreno just before the Amanda scandal broke.

“Producers are not happy that he’s been lying to everyone,” the source added. “Kyle, Ciara, the rest of the cast have been vulnerable, at least about who they were dating.”

The season 10 Summer House finale had emotional moments from the cast, almost as if they knew there was change to come. Brown addressed this during his THR interview on Thursday.

“It really surprised some of the cast, I think, especially the original cast, about how emotional it was. I think it was unknown territory for everyone,” he said. “Kyle and Amanda were at a place in their marriage they’d never been at before that I think was scary to each of them. They didn’t know what was going to happen in real life to their marriage.”

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Kyle, Amanda and Lindsay Hubbard were also gearing up to start filming In the City, which brought in a totally new aspect.

“Nothing about that said that was the end of their time on Summer House. But they knew, ‘We’re in unknown territory now. We’re onto a new series, after 10 years of filming on this other series,’ which was very familiar to them,” he added. “I think it felt new and I think everybody got caught up in the emotion, including the production crew. It was emotional for everyone.”

Part 3 of the Summer House season 10 reunion aris on Bravo Tuesday, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET.

Bold and the Beautiful finds that right now, there are several characters that B&B viewers have said they would like to see gone off of the character canvas. Starting with R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) and Remy Price (Christian Weissmann) and several other people that for one reason or another have fans either wanting to scream or fast forward through their scenes.

We’re going to talk about five characters, actually a little more than five, that fans consistently say they’d like to see gone. So, we’ll talk about why fans are off-put by these characters and want them out. And just to clarify, this is nothing to do about the actors. It is about what fans are saying on soap social media and on fan forums about the characters.

R.J. Forrester: The Smug Nepo Baby

Let’s get right into it. The first thing we got to talk about is nepo baby R.J. Forrester. Ever since they recast him, Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge Forrester’s (Thorsten Kaye) son came back so smug. He acted like he owned *Forrester Creations*, and he’s just so darn unlikable. It’s not the actor’s fault. It’s Brad Bell and his insane writing. From the moment R.J. rolled into *Forrester Creations*, he began pursuing Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace), even though R.J. knew that she was in a serious relationship with Will Spencer (Crew Morrow).

And R.J. immediately approached Will and they made a deal that they wouldn’t be rivals like Bill and Ridge. But R.J. was a jerk to Will almost from the jump. And of course, Ivy Forrester (Ashley Brewer) didn’t help the situation, but her meddling wouldn’t have worked if R.J. wasn’t such a little twerp.

He thinks he’s entitled to whatever he wants, which is Electra. And he has said the nastiest things to Will. Yes, Ivy encouraged it, but R.J. is a smirking little brat boy. And to be fair, I know there are fans who would actually like to see both Will and R.J. out at Bold and the Beautiful. But when it comes down to Will versus R.J., fans are much more annoyed by Brooke’s whiny little boy.

Sheila Carter: A Redemption That Failed on B&B

Another that many fans think can just fade out at this point is Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) for a couple of reasons. First of all is that Brad Bell’s attempt to redeem her was a joke from the start. Sheila is a very bad person. She tried to murder Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and her own son John “Finn” Finnegan (Tanner Novlan). Plus, Sheila is at loose ends right now.

It was icky to have Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) cheat with Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig), but they went there. And now that Deacon dumped Sheila and moved on with Taylor, there’s really nothing left in LA for Sheila. The B&B writers shoved her offscreen from the moment Deacon broke things off with her, and now he and Taylor are back, but Sheila hasn’t been seen. Now, we’ve heard about her new roommate, but honestly, there’s not a lot of room on a 30 minute soap to even get into all this. Now, at this moment, I currently suspect that her new roomie might be Remy, who’s another really problematic person. But at this point, why not just leave her offscreen?

I will give Sheila credit for not murdering Taylor when Deacon chose her. But now that Deacon and Taylor are officially coupled up, what storyline is there that’s going to work for Sheila? Without her going back to her old vengeful ways, she’s kind of pointless. I do love Kimberlin Brown, but I just don’t feel like there’s a place or a purpose for Sheila now. And a lot of fans agree.

Bold and the Beautiful: Remy Price – A Criminal Who Doesn’t Belong

Now, another character who just came back, but could have stayed gone is Remy Price (Christian Weissmann). Another case of Brad Bell trying to redeem the irredeemable. What Remy did to Electra was disgusting. And now they’re writing dialogue having Remy say it was no big deal. But it was. And bringing him back into Electra’s orbit and trying to blame his criminal activities on him being in the closet feels tone-deaf and very poorly written. If they want to give Deacon a romantic interest, great. But why Remy? I grant you Christian Weissmann is a good actor. Again, this is not actor issues.

But the character they created was never meant to stick around. Remy was a nightmare predator that came on to terrorize Electra and then he was supposed to be gone for good. Deacon does not deserve to be stuck with that creep. And making him Dylan’s cousin just makes him more icky.

And there’s the fact that Remy seems to not have changed at all. He has no remorse for what he did to Electra. So why not bring in somebody less gross to be with Deacon? Somebody who hasn’t made deep fake nudes of a girl who trusted him. I have seen suggestions that it would have been better if they brought R.J. back as a gay partner for Deacon. That might make him more likable, but the bottom line is Remy just isn’t liked.

Bold and the Beautiful: Electra a Whiny Troublemaker?

And speaking of Electra, she’s another one that fans wouldn’t mind seeing gone. I’ve also seen fans saying Ivy should be gone, but actress Ashley Brewer is out on maternity leave, and I’m honestly not expecting to see her back. It just wouldn’t be proper. But the issue fans seem to have with Electra is that she’s whiny and pouty and self-absorbed. And she never came clean to Will about all the times she kissed R.J. At this point, it seems like Electra was leading R.J. on or, you know, juggling both to see how it fell out.

That came, of course, after he’s been so awful to Will. And even so, we keep seeing Electra defending R.J. Electra just called R.J. sweet while talking to Dylan. And I’m sorry, what? Creeping on your cousin’s girlfriend is a jerk move. And yeah, Will sucker punched him, but he had it coming. So many times, R.J. deliberately goaded and trash talked Will. So, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) told Will, “Good job for the punch.”

Plus, Electra was also unlikable during the whole thing where Dylan had been living on the street and she was in danger. And Electra was so mean to her about staying a couple of months in a spare room over Will’s garage, not even in his main house. And Electra bullied Dylan from the first moment that she moved in there, even knowing how bad her life was. It was awful, rotten, spoiled behavior.

I doubt she would be missed by many if she fell off the Bold and the Beautiful canvas. And I especially see complaints whenever Electra is on back-to-back episodes. Fans want to see less of her or preferably none of her. Despite that, I don’t see her leaving anytime soon.

Carter Walton: Underused and Poorly Written

The last character that fans think might as well exit is Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). So, a lot of fans think Ridge never should have forgiven Carter for stealing *Forrester Creations*. But what I see more fans saying is that Carter is underused and that they don’t write well for him.

You know, we’re supposed to be seeing him and Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) as newlyweds working on the baby making, but in fact, we rarely see Carter and it’s been forever since we’ve seen Daphne. I really enjoyed Carter with Quinn Fuller (Rena Sofer) and then poof, she was gone. I didn’t enjoy Carter with Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) because of the whole coup thing. Plus, they retconned and faked this insta love and they made up nonsense about how Carter had a crush on her for years. None of that had happened and it felt disingenuous.

So, basically, it seems like Lawrence Saint-Victor only gets screen time to prop other characters.

Other Characters on the Chopping Block

And another character that fans would actually love to see back is Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson). And of course, Brad Bell made a big deal out of his return and then it was a couple of episodes and then gone again. So fans felt cheated. Other fan gripes are that Finn has no storyline and just shows up for shirtless couch nookie. I am glad that Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) is back. I love him. And while I do like Brooke, I’m not sure bringing back baby-selling felony flop’s mom Shauna Fulton (Denise Richards) makes any sense.

With a 30 minute runtime, the actual storyline time on a given episode is about 19 minutes. So thinning the cast makes sense, not adding to it, especially not when they’re bringing in irredeemable jerks that have fans fast forwarding through a lot of scenes and sometimes skipping entire episodes.

Summer is approaching, but the future of “Summer House” remains anything but settled.

As tensions from Amanda Batula, West Wilson, and Ciara Miller’s highly publicized love triangle continue to spill into the season 10 reunion, Bravo is still weighing key decisions about the cast.

With filming expected to begin soon, viewers are eager to know who will return and who may be left behind.

As speculation swirls online, Bravo executives are urging fans to slow down. Despite numerous reports about possible casting changes, the network says no final decisions have been made regarding season 11.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Bravo Vice President of Current Production Josh Brown made it clear that discussions are ongoing but far from complete.

“I have heard reports and everything is premature,” Brown said. “We’re still figuring out the cast. Anything that people are reading—we’re just not there yet.”

The timing has added much more intrigue. Production on “Summer House” traditionally begins around the Fourth of July weekend in the Hamptons, leaving only a short window for the network to finalize its lineup.

Brown acknowledged the approaching deadline while emphasizing that official decisions are still weeks away.

“We don’t make our decisions until later in June, officially,” he explained. “We’re definitely talking about casting, and we’re obviously talking about next season a lot, but no final decisions have been made yet.”

Still, he offered one clue about the process, noting, “Every week we get closer, so yes, we are closer.”

Amanda Batula And West Wilson Romance Changes Everything

The uncertainty surrounding the cast stems largely from the drama that unfolded after Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirmed their relationship in March.

The romance shocked many viewers because Batula had previously been married to longtime cast member Kyle Cooke, while Wilson had dated Batula’s close friend, Ciara Miller.

The complicated relationship dynamic has become one of the reunion’s central storylines, with emotions running high on all sides.

The fallout has left many fans wondering whether the cast can realistically move forward together next season.

Insiders have suggested that some relationships within the group may be beyond repair.

As a result, Bravo is now faced with balancing compelling television against ongoing personal tensions among cast members.

‘Summer House’ Cast Faces More Questions Over Ciara Miller

While Amanda Batula and West Wilson have been at the center of the controversy, Ciara Miller’s future may be just as important to the show’s direction.

A source recently told Us Weekly that Miller has not made a final decision about returning.

“Ciara is thinking about coming back to the house,” the insider revealed. “Likely for one last season to prove a point.”

According to the same source, a return would potentially put her face-to-face with Batula and Wilson once again.

“There is a chance she will face Amanda and West,” the insider said.

Not everyone believes that will happen, however. The source claimed some cast members remain doubtful because “they don’t think she will face them.”

Meanwhile, questions have also emerged regarding Wilson’s standing with production. Another claim from the insider suggested that producers were frustrated by revelations surrounding his dating life.

The source alleged that production “may not even ask West to come back because he was lying to them about other women he was dating.”

The insider further claimed, “Producers are not happy that he’s been lying to everyone. Kyle, Ciara, the rest of the cast have been vulnerable, at least about who they were dating.”

Amanda Batula’s Reunion Walk-Off Sparks Concern

Season 3 of Euphoria introduced an intriguing new character in Rue’s friend Daisy — but does that mean breakout star Jessica Treska could lead her own spinoff?

“It’s so shocking to me that I’ve made the impact that I have and that people are talking about Daisy as much as they are,” Treska, 23, exclusively told Us Weekly. “We made a comment while we were there filming, ‘Oh, you should make a spinoff of the farm family.’ But never did I imagine even one person to say that after it aired.”

Treska was taken aback when Daisy’s scenes ultimately blew up on social media.

“The fact that anyone is saying it 1780682934 is so cool and so shocking to me,” she added. “I would love to do that, of course, but I’m not getting my hopes up. I think this is the end for Daisy and everyone in the show — but of course I can dream.”

Season 3, which concluded late last month, began with Rue (Zendaya) staying at a homestead near the U.S. and Mexico border. The hit HBO series briefly touched on the bond Rue formed with the religious family that resided there — including their sheltered daughter Daisy.

“When I [auditioned] I was told who Daisy was in the sense that she lives on a farm and she doesn’t have any connection to the outside world. The backstory was there and the perspective was already there. It was easy to pull from that,” Treska recalled. “You always have to pull from yourself when you’re playing a character. What you bring to the table is you bring yourself if you had grown up how they grew up. So I just tried to portray what I would be like, which is a gentle, soft, kind and curious human.”

Treska originally had no idea the role Daisy would ultimately play in Rue’s story line, adding, “It was a very under the wraps production. So when the audition came in, I actually had no idea that it was a role opposite Zendaya. … I had to film it a few times while trying to get my look down and I guess it finally worked.”

While discussing her experience on the show, Treska praised Zendaya as her scene partner.

“She was an incredible human being and an incredible actress. It took 10 seconds for her to be in between laughing with me to being in Rue’s head. She is so talented and was so great,” she recalled. “I feel like I got to know her relatively well when I would have to drive her in the scene all the way there and the entire drive back we would be talking. That helped us have that connection that Rue and Daisy would have.”

Related: ‘Euphoria‘ Cast: See the HBO Show‘s Stars Then and Now

Euphoria fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. Based on the Israeli series of the same name, Euphoria follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The series also explores topics including mental illness, toxic relationships, sexuality and more. After […]

It was that onscreen bond that ultimately contributed to Daisy’s emotional reaction when she found out Rue died. For Treska, the most difficult part was not spoiling the shocking ending amid the wait for season 3 to premiere on HBO.

“My friends constantly were theorizing and talking to me about it. They were trying to read my facial expressions but even to them, I stayed true. I didn’t tell anyone,” she shared. “Because I know how it works. One person knows and then it’s just a game of telephone. It was hard to keep it a secret though.”

For Daisy, meanwhile, the realization about Rue’s death will likely alter her world moving forward, with Treska adding, “It’s the first time that she’s experienced tragedy like that — especially for someone that she cared so much about. She’s waiting that whole time so it really, really hit her hard to hear that news. It’s the first time that she’s experienced that so she’s definitely going to mature from it. But I also think it’s interesting how she got to see a piece of that world.”

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She continued: “There’s a lot that is probably going through Daisy’s mind. … I’m envisioning her having conversations with her dad and her mom afterwards and being like, ‘I thought you guys taught me about the world as being good and God is everywhere. How could something like this happen to someone who’s so beautiful and someone I love so much?’ I can see her having a conflict with her parents in that way and wanting to see what the real world is like. Obviously, it’s not this perfect picture that they’ve painted. I can totally see her being curious and wanting to go out there and see for herself.”

Looking back at that final scene with Daisy, Treska shared what she hoped viewers took away from it, telling Us, “Faith and hope and belief in something greater than yourself that is good and that there is something after this life can literally take you out of the deepest depths. With Rue and what she’s going through, it lifted her out of that. The biggest part of that is taking you out of your own guilt. That’s one of the worst sufferings is feeling like you’ve done wrong in this world. Rue was able to search for redemption and her story is so unique. But that same faith touches Daisy. It can just look so different in everyone’s lives.”

Euphoria is currently streaming on HBO Max.

Rather than hide away after the leak of an intimate tape, Daphne Joy has been working her moment in the spotlight! She’s been pushing her risqué videos, teasing her adults-only content. Recently, she showed off her best twerk on the ‘gram and her followers instantly started cuttin’ up in her comment section. When AI (Artificial Intelligence) was mentioned, she instantly clocked her own tea! Then, by early Friday morning, Daphne was once again trending on X as folks discussed the twerk clip and her overall online energy following the alleged intimate video leak featuring Diddy and another male.

RELATED: Daphne Joy Breaks Silence On Viral Video Allegedly Showing Her, Diddy & A Male Engaging In An Intimate Act

Daphne Reacts To “AI” Comment About Twerk Video

As previously reported, Daphne Joy riled up her supporters and internet users after dropping a twerking video on her IG feed on June 3. In the clip, she’s wearing a dark brown sundress and heeled sandals. She’s seen bent over, making her cheeks bounce toward the camera. At one point in the short clip, she stoops to the ground and back up and even “makes it clap.” Also, she added Drake and Popcaan’s song’s ‘Amazing Shape’ to the video. One of the 2,200+ comments under the video asked, “Nah Daph is this AI or real.” She replied, “AI could never baby.”

SEE THE VIDEO & COMMENT HERE. 

X Is Cuttin’ Up Over Daphne Joy Dacing

As mentioned, Daphne Joy was a HAWT topic on X two days after showing off her ability to “make a dead man rise.” One tweet on June 4 included the clip and mentioned how Daphne Joy has continued to push her explicit content after the leak of the alleged Diddy and Sly Diggler tape. The post has been viewed over 2.2 million times and garnered over 1,000 retweets and replies.

“Ever since Daphne Joy and Diddy’s tape leaked, she’s been having a ball,” @baddietvv said in the caption.

Here’s a pull of what some folks are saying in response to the viral video. 

She got free marketing & is capitalizing on it, i cant even hate on her https://t.co/OtPMblCjlJ

— VEEM💗 (@veesm26) June 5, 2026

That leak was free guerilla marketing for her…rates bout to go up https://t.co/XronqaTpx2

— Uncle Pas (@8EightPillars) June 4, 2026

What else do you expect her to do? Cry and hide from the world? She’s owning her narrative. https://t.co/iEe2JQCY8f

— Bunni Gold (@msbunnigold) June 4, 2026

As she should. They gave her all the advertisement in the world. https://t.co/oDityWvm6y

— ⚠️ (@TakeishaLafaye) June 4, 2026

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I refuse to believe that Daphne Joy / Diddy sex tape leaked. That rollout was smoother than most record labels could pull off and the bitch been showcasing her talents everyday since 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

— Peaches 🍑 (@_KingArii) June 4, 2026

Of course her stock is at an all time high she will be a fool not to capitalise https://t.co/oQg5ololWh

— Dogecoin Papi (@KingAimez) June 5, 2026

I think she leaked it herself uno. Or Kim Kardashian’s mum is now managing her and done what she done with Kim https://t.co/SUTv96WKm6

— El Patron (@Mik3z_) June 5, 2026

Calling her as a prosecution witness was the sinking ship of that case Ibr. After I listened to her testimony I said Yhh Diddys getting out https://t.co/avMcV7vX5Y

— tiwaah.x (@TiwaahX) June 5, 2026

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this would’ve been my initial response https://t.co/ySImVgXTjH

— phnxrising (@rakim_beau) June 4, 2026

Lmaooo i followed her after that day 😂😂😂 omm she been going up https://t.co/UufKI7nY8o

— NATIONAL TREASURE 🦉 (@theRCKLSSone) June 5, 2026

Be careful who you have children with man https://t.co/dcmxbMsS7r

— MrAceBoog85 (@MrAceBoog85) June 5, 2026

Wasn’t they crying about her son being affected? But she out here doing this? 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/5YSU6e1kHX

— Asshole 💩 (@ItsReddAgainn) June 5, 2026

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Daphne Joy leaked her own video 😂🤣

— Ms. Victorious Locs ✨ (@_xokaitee) June 5, 2026

That was a promo for her I know she got tons of offers like a first round draft pic https://t.co/9QKZydsK44

— OGZG🇹🇹 (@FAABMIAMI) June 5, 2026

She said y’all already seen how she give it up, she might as well 😂 iktr https://t.co/4VdWHTrAqr

— Ty 🧜🏽‍♀️ (@sagi_terrorist_) June 4, 2026

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop With The Explicit Content? 

Following the leak of the intimate tape, Daphne Joy posted and later deleted a lengthy statement about it. She clarified that she had not consented to being filmed. Additionally, she described the contents of the video as abuse, admitting that watching it was triggering and painful. “Seeing myself so lost is excruciating,” Daphne shared in the statement.

While some supporters sympathized with what she shared, others have been side-eyeing the energy in the statement compared to her online activity. Since the leak, she’s teased a Q&A about “size” and “being watched,” and posted herself several times wearing lingerie. Then, there’s the twerk video. And even after that last one turned heads, she returned to the ‘gram with another reel showing her posing sexily in a living room in sheer and black lingerie.

RELATED: Who Is Daphne Joy? 7 Things To Know About The Model Trending Over Viral Diddy Video (WATCH)

By TeeJay Small
| Published 12 seconds ago

In 2026, Star Trek is a franchise that dates back over 60 years, spanning dozens of films, television series, and novelizations. Fans of the series who grew up in the late 20th century had the luxury of catching the wave when there was still a realistic chance to see everything, but modern audiences lack that opportunity. These days, it can be quite daunting for new fans to break into the franchise, not knowing if they should dive right in with the latest season of Strange New Worlds, or strap in for a prolonged binge of The Original Series.

If you’re not sure where to begin, there’s a helpful alternative on Hulu that might be a little less daunting. The series in question, The Orville, is a total Star Trek clone with only three seasons of material, which you can use as a litmus test to see if The Original Series or The Next Generation is right for you. Star Trek purists may balk at the idea of using the comedic sci-fi show as a jumping off point, but some say that The Orville captures the spirit of the franchise better than most of the newer entrants you’ll find on Paramount+.

More Star Trek Than Star Trek

For those not in the know, The Orville was created by animation legend Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane also stars in the program, alongside Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Peter Macon, J. Lee, and American Dad‘s Scott Grimes. Legendary performers including Norm Macdonald, Chad L. Coleman, and Ted Danson round out the cast in bit parts. Rumor has it, the series was originally pitched as an official Star Trek show, but executives at Fox greenlit the series as an independent venture instead.

To say that The Orville is inspired by Star Trek is a massive understatement. For all intents and purposes, the show is Star Trek without all the in-universe baggage and continuity. Creatures known as Moclans, Krill, and Kaylon are obvious stand-ins for Klingon, Romulans, and Borgs, and Seth MacFarlane spends much of the first season doing a James T. Kirk impression to mixed results. In any other show, these similarities might feel like a tepid ripoff, but The Orville manages to wear its influences on its sleeve while bringing some bold new ideas to the table.

Each episode of The Orville centers on the space-faring team aboard the eponymous space shuttle as they investigate new worlds, grapple with alien antagonists, and navigate complex cultural barriers between different alien species. Occasionally some Family Guy style humor rears its head, but it never feels completely out of place, or undercuts the severity of the main plot. Over three seasons, the series continually gets better and better, culminating in a stunning batch of episodes titled New Horizons.

Whether you’re interested in getting into Star Trek and don’t know where to begin, or you’re just looking to scratch that Trekkie itch while you wait for new installments of Strange New Worlds, The Orville is a great unofficial companion series. It carries the heart and soul of the franchise, without getting bogged down in decades of existing material.

The Orville is streaming on Hulu.

More than a year after the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, the trial against 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony is underway. Friday (June 5) marks day two, as opening statements began on Thursday before an all-white jury that was finalized and seated on Wednesday. Prosecutors came in hot, rejecting any claims of self-defense and emphasizing that the high school track meet stabbing was murder.

RELATED: Karmelo Anthony’s Family Speaks Out After He’s Indicted For Fatal Stabbing Of 17-Year-Old Austin Metcalf

Recap Of Track Meet Stabing

For context, Karmelo Anthony pleaded not guilty over last year’s stabbing, which stunned an affluent suburb where the pair attended school. The death last year quickly drew wide attention, in part because of social media posts that amplified the case in racial terms. Anthony, now 19, is Black, while the Metcalf was white. According to an arrest report, Anthony told police he was protecting himself when the two got into a confrontation during the meet in Frisco.

The stabbing happened on a rainy morning in April 2025. Witnesses told police the confrontation began when Karmelo Anthony sat under a tent belonging to Austin Metcalf’s team, according to an arrest report. The teens went to different schools in Frisco. When Metcalf told Anthony that he needed to move, Anthony reached inside his bag and allegedly replied:

“Touch me and see what happens,” the report said.

A short time later, Austin Metcalf allegedly grabbed Karmelo Anthony, who then pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest, the report said.

What Did Prosecutors Say During Opening Statements In Karmelo Anthony’s Trial? 

On Thursday (June 4), prosecutors told jurors Thursday that Karmelo provoked Metcalf from a rival team before fatally stabbing him in the stadium’s bleachers as other students looked on. Prosecutor Bill Wirskye explained to jurors that it was a “senseless murder” and not a case of self-defense. He called it a “sneak, surprise attack” and said Anthony “knows he goaded the murder.”

“He didn’t want a fight,” Wirskye said of Austin Metcalf.

Karmelo Anthony faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder.

Karmelo Anthony’s Defense Doubles Down On Self-Defense 

Meanwhile, an attorney for Karmelo Anthony said his client did not instigate the fight with Austin Metcalf. Instead, the lawyer told the all-white jury that it was instead an act of self-defense. In his opening remarks, defense attorney Mike Howard said it was Metcalf who made the first contact.

“In that split second, Melo has a decision to make: how and when to act,” Howard said. “Self-defense is useless if you wait too late to defend yourself. … He reacts in a split second of fear, chaos,” Howard said.

Coaches Reportedly Testified In Packed-Out Courthouse 

Robert Starr, a track coach at Memorial High School, where Austin Metcalf was a student and athlete, explained to jurors that a tent at a track competition “marks your spot.” The tent, coach said, is similar to a team bench in other sports.

“You just don’t go into someone else’s tent uninvited,” Starr testified.

Coach Starr told the jury that he rushed to the tent when he saw commotion. “I see Austin on the ground and his face is purple, and he has a big hole in his chest,” the coach said, choking up in the witness chair.

Another area track coach, Vincent Hooper, testified that he put his arm around Karmelo Anthony and asked what had happened. Anthony replied that he stabbed someone who had “put his hands on me,” Hooper recalled.

As mentioned, the jury was seated this week under increased courthouse security. Additionally, a Collin County judge set strict rules over the proceedings, including prohibiting attorneys from discussing the case publicly. Meanwhile, dozens of people lined up to get a seat in the courtroom on Thursday.

What Have The Teens’ Parents Said? 

The parents of both teens have said their children were good students who planned to attend college. Austin Metcalf’s father has condemned those who seized on the race of the teenagers after the killing.

“This was not a race thing. This is not a political thing. Please do not comment if you do not know what happened,” Jeff Metcalf said on Fox News’ ‘America Reports.’ “This is a human being thing,” he said. “This person made a bad choice and it affected both his family and my family forever.”

Authorities have also issued warnings about online discussions surrounding the killing. Frisco Police Chief David Shilson urged people last year to beware of posts spreading “misinformation, hate, fear, and division.”

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Associated Press writers Jamie Stengle and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.