Riley Dearmas, a 13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas, lost her life following an after-school fight stemming from an escalated case of bullying. The fight reportedly involved a 10-year-old boy and has now added to the long list of similar incidents happening nationwide.

Now, families are speaking out. And demanding justice.

The Shade Room’s Justin Carter is diving in on ‘TSR Investigates.’

What Happened To 13-Year-Old Riley Dearmas Due To Bullying

According to Carter, Riley Dearmas, and a group of children, including the 10-year-old boy, were arguing over a weed pen. Per Riley’s mother, Ashley, the boy believed the pen was allegedly stolen by two of Riley’s friends.

“She had no idea what was going on… did not know. She backed up… even walked away,” Ashley explained of the altercation.

At that point, Riley’s two young friends went to get their older sister. Per Carter, that’s when “chaos ensued.”

“Riley stayed too long,” her mom told Carter. “Wrong place, wrong time. Too long.”

Footage of the incident captures someone yelling, “Who brought out a knife, bro?”

Ultimately, Ashley found out about her daughter’s death on social media. Furthermore, she didn’t know where her daughter was. Then, she received a call from the Coroner’s Office to confirm the passing of her daughter. However, she didn’t receive the opportunity to see Riley in person.

“I did not see my daughter’s body up til three days of her funeral when it was time for me to go and give the funeral home her clothing… and things of that nature,” Ashley told Carter, adding that police even lacked empathy in giving her updates on the case.

More On The After-School Fight In Houston

Furthermore, family members are reportedly skeptical about how police obtained information on the case, with officials reportedly asserting that Riley Dearmas arrived at the location with the intent to fight.

Scroll above to watch as family members explain what they believe really happened at the scene. Additionally, Carter shares the stories of other families who’ve faced the passing of their young children due to physical altercations with other children. Furthermore, licensed clinical mental health counselor Gretchen Campbell weighs in on how families can better nurture their children’s emotional and mental health and development. Lastly, Carter shares an update on Riley Dearmas’ case.

RELATED: Black Ice Cream Truck Owner Targeted In NC Neighborhood | TSR Investigates

Oop! Skai Jackson has the timeline talking after sharing a series of AI-generated photos on Snapchat featuring herself alongside some major celebs.

RELATED: Skai Jackson Addresses Cast Beef Rumors As Fans Question Why She Missed ‘Jessie’ Link-Up (PHOTOS)

Skai’s AI Photo Dump Has Folks Confused & Cracking Up

On Friday, April 10, Skai Jackson shared a series of photos on Snapchat. However, many users quickly noticed that the pictures weren’t ordinary; they appeared to be AI-generated. The viral snaps feature moments of Skai kicking it with names like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, with one photo showing them holding stacks of cash.

Another image shows a full celebrity link-up, with Skai appearing alongside A-listers Zendaya, Millie Bobby Brown, Rihanna, and Kylie Jenner, posing in front of lockers.

Other photos also appear to feature Timothée Chalamet and Kim Kardashian.

See below.

Social Media Reacts

Skai Jackson’s Snapchat AI dump had social media users sounding off in The Shade Room Teens comments.

Instagram user @amaaye.coutre wrote, “She gone be the reason we don’t have no water to drink in 2030 😂”

Another Instagram user @stiffmoods wrote, “Yall going to wonder why it’s going to be cold in June”

While Instagram user @mimihidd3n wrote, “She’s been odeing since AI came out SkAI Jackson please”

Instagram user @morena.jada wrote, Why cant she just take actual photos with them?? Im sure she knows most of these people 😂”

Another Instagram user @gatewayspam wrote, “Chat only allows 3 photos so she must paid for the unlimited feature”

While Instagram user @Chelsea.aso wrote, “she ate idc 😭”

Instagram user @afeniixtynisaa wrote, “she actually needs her phone taken lmao”

Another Instagram user @vick.grg wrote, “Why she in the elevator with Kylie and Timotheeee 😭😭”

While Instagram user @keepingupwithnaee._ wrote, “Ngl ts a lil weird”

Skai Jackson Celebrates 24th Birthday In New TikTok

Before the AI pics had everyone talking, Skai Jackson was in celebration mode for her 24th birthday. On April 8, she shared a TikTok that has amassed more than 1.3 million views, playing into the viral “You Da Birthday” trend.

In the video, Skai wore a rose gold tiara as she sang along to ‘Birthday Girl’ by Hunxho. She captioned the post, “ITS THE QUEENS BDAY TODAYY.”

Related: Too Cute! Skai Jackson & Baby Kasai Serve Mommy-Son Goals During Pumpkin Patch Trip (PHOTOS)

Ben Affleck is reportedly willing to part with his $30 million stake in the Beverly Hills estate he once shared with ex-wife Jennifer Lopez if it means him being free from her forever.

The estranged couple finalized their divorce in January last year, but have been unable to offload their pricey marital mansion.

Meanwhile, the “Argo” actor has maintained close ties with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, and the former couple recently stepped out for an outing with their son Samuel.

Ben Affleck Wants To Close Lopez Chapter At All Costs

Ben Affleck seems to be fed up with anything relating to Jennifer Lopez, so much so that he’s willing to walk away from $30 million if it means he’ll never have to deal with her again.

The estranged couple went through a very public split for most of 2024, after Lopez filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Their divorce was finalized early the next year, after which they had to sort out the division of assets and interests as they didn’t sign a prenup when they tied the knot.

However, the exes still had to deal with each other because they had been unable to sell the $60 million Beverly Hills mansion they bought to host their blended family during their time together.

All that has changed now, with sources claiming that the “Accountant 2” actor is handing Lopez his share of their mansion so he can finally walk away and never have to deal with the singer again.

“This isn’t him giving anything,” an insider said. “This is him paying to be done. That house is the last tie, and he wants it gone, fast.”

The Actor Only Has Freedom On His Mind: ‘He Wants A Clean, Absolute Break’

At this point, having some peace of mind and tranquility is more important to the Oscar winner than making any profit or getting reimbursed for the mansion he owns with Lopez.

“He’d pay anything at this point,” the insider explained to journalist Rob Shuter’s #ShuterScoop. “Because peace of mind is worth more than the money.”

However, this is not him just throwing money around or some charitable ventures. It’s a calculated plan, the source shared.

“Ben isn’t acting out of kindness,” they noted. “He’s making a smart decision for himself. He wants a clean, absolute break, and this is the quickest way to get there.”

The move will see the “Maid In Manhattan” actress own full control of the property as well as any future profits from it,  but Affleck doesn’t mind.

“He’s not thinking about the upside,” the source explained. “He’s thinking about being free.”

Ben Affleck Reunited With Ex Jennifer Garner

Unlike his relationship with Lopez, Affleck has maintained close ties with ex-wife Jennifer Garner following their 2018 divorce.

On Friday last week, the pair reunited for an outing with their son Samuel, and one couldn’t easily tell whether or not anything like a divorce had happened between them.

Both actors seem to be doing well on their co-parenting journey and have often reunited for special occasions like Thanksgiving Day, birthday anniversaries, and special holidays.

Affleck and Garner, who also share children Violet and Fin, came together in February to host a paintball party in commemoration of Samuel’s 14th birthday.

According to the Daily Mail, they were seen arriving at Combat Paintball Park in Castaic, California, ready to have fun with their child.

They raised eyebrows at the same occasion last year when Affleck was seen affectionately hugging the “Elektra” actress.

Jennifer Garner Weighed In On Her Co-Parenting Relationship With Ben Affleck

It comes after Garner weighed in on her co-parenting journey with Affleck during a February appearance on Bustle’s “One Nightstand” podcast, revealing that it has taken a lot of sacrifices for them to get here.

“When your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad, and he becomes dad and mom,” Garner said. “You kind of can’t help it, right? Because you don’t have the benefit of both sides, the yin and yang being in the same house, so you have to have a bit of both in the way you parent.”

“There’s a little bit of loss in that, but there’s also something gained in that,” she added, per Fox News. “You also just learn, it’s made me let go and not focus so much on the bringing up.”

Ben Affleck Once Admitted He Didn’t Want To Get Divorced From Jennifer Garner

Affleck previously shared that he never wanted their divorce before noting that they would be “connected” forever, particularly because of their kids.

“I didn’t want to get divorced, I didn’t want to be a divorced person, I really didn’t want to be a split family with my children,” he said in a 2020 “GMA” appearance. “It upset me because it meant I wasn’t who I thought I was, and that was so painful and so disappointing. In myself.”

“When you have children with somebody, you’re connected to them forever,” the actor continued. “And I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children. I’m very grateful and respectful of her.”

Affleck added, “Our marriage didn’t work, and that’s difficult. Both of us really believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents respect one another and get along, whether they’re together or not.”

Since their split, Affleck and Garner have maintained a friendly co-parenting relationship and are regularly seen together supporting their children.

Chaos erupted inside one of New York City’s busiest transit hubs on Saturday after a violent incident sent commuters into panic and authorities rushing to respond. Police identified the suspect as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, whose actions inside Grand Central Terminal quickly turned a routine morning commute into a scene of emergency response and lockdown.

RELATED: Husband Arrested In American Woman’s Bahamas Disappearance As Text Messages Surface And Her Daughter Speaks Out (VIDEO)

Grand Central Machete Attack Leaves Three Injured

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Anthony Griffin allegedly used a machete to stab three people inside Grand Central Terminal. And, victims include a 65-year-old man, a 70-year-old woman, and an 84-year-old man. Authorities say the attack began after Griffin entered the subway system in Queens around 9:30 a.m. Additionally, he rode a No. 7 train into Manhattan and began the assault upon arrival at Grand Central. Police reported that officers later encountered Griffin on the 4/5/6 platform, where he refused repeated commands to drop the weapon before advancing toward officers. Police fatally shot him after a 10-minute standoff.

Victims Stable, Police Shoot Griffin After Standoff

Tisch stated that all three victims sustained serious injuries, including head and facial lacerations. Additional injuries include an open skull fracture, but the victims were taken to the hospital in non-life-threatening condition. Officials also confirmed that the victims did not know Griffin, describing the attack as random. It was also noted that he had three prior arrests. Two NYPD officers are also hospitalized in stable condition following the incident.

Following the attack, Grand Central Terminal was partially shut down as authorities secured the scene with yellow tape and diverted multiple subway lines, including the Nos. 4, 5, and 6 trains. Officials, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, praised the rapid police response as investigations continue and authorities prepare to release body camera footage as part of standard procedure.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Speaks Out After Incident

Mayor Zohran Mamdani also spoke out on Saturday morning, taking to X to address the incident at Grand Central Station. He said he received briefings that a man allegedly slashed three people on a platform with a machete before officers responded and shot Griffin. Mamdani noted that authorities pronounced the suspect dead while they hospitalized the three victims in stable condition, and he thanked the NYPD for their quick response. He also added that officials are conducting an internal investigation and will release body-worn camera footage as part of standard procedure.

I have been briefed on an incident that occurred at Grand Central Station this morning. Reports indicate a man slashed three people on the platform with a machete. Officers shot the man when he did not drop the machete. He has since been pronounced dead.

I’m grateful to the NYPD…

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) April 11, 2026

Advertisement

RELATED: Boston Woman Learns Fate After Killing Young Mom Following Social Media Feud (VIDEO)

The sci-fi genre has received a lot of attention recently with shows like Pluribus, Severance, Murderbot, and many more. However, one notable entry into the genre that deserves more attention isn’t particularly new. In 2009, sci-fi fans were introduced to the fascinating superhero comedy Misfits, which follows a group of teens in trouble with the law as they accidentally gain supernatural powers, placing them in danger. Not only is it an original take on the traditional superhero origin, but with five seasons, Misfits will keep you entertained for a while, especially as it only gets better.

With a talented cast, many of whom were only beginning their careers, Misfits becomes a coming-of-age story as the characters grow from misbehaving teens into more balanced, though still flawed, adults. Even as the cast changes, the show remains engaging with its dark and cynical exploration of superpowers. In this way, Misfits was ahead of its time. These days, there are many gritty superhero shows that question the traditional story, from The Boys to Umbrella Academy to Doom Patrol, but at the time, Misfits was a unique concept. This deconstruction of the superhero narrative highlights the characters’ flaws as well as their powers, creating a more complex and rewarding story that viewers can easily invest in.

What Is ‘Misfits’ About?

While there are many twists along the way, Misfits follows a group of superpowered teens as they figure out who they are. The story begins with Alisha (Antonia Thomas), Simon (Iwan Rheon), Kelly (Lauren Socha), Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), and Nathan (Robert Sheehan), five young individuals doing community service, when a supernatural thunderstorm hits. This gives them unexpected superpowers, or most of them. Nathan struggles to figure out what he can do, while Alisha realizes she can arouse people with a touch, Simon turns invisible, Kelly develops telepathy, and Curtis can rewind time. Yet, they are not the only ones affected; their probation officer, Tony (Danny Sapani), receives superstrength, but it also amplifies his rage, sending him into a frenzy directed at the children. After killing him in self-defense, they must hide the truth of what happened, including their powers, which is easier said than done, especially once Tony’s fiancée and fellow probation officer, Sally (Alex Reid), comes into their lives.

However, with five seasons, that is only the beginning of their journey. The threats they face grow, going from angry probation officers to religious cults and power-switching villains. This allows the story to develop in unexpected ways, and it certainly takes advantage of that. Misfits often takes bizarre twists, incorporating concepts like time travel and resurrection, which are always good for a surprise. However, the show also features grounded elements by showing realistic character struggles, such as difficult family situations, exploring sexuality, and a lack of self-confidence. The result is an exciting series that is impossible to stop.

Related

10 Sci-Fi Shows That Are Almost As Good as ‘Stranger Things’

Not quite the Upside Down, but close enough.

Advertisement

‘Misfits’ Isn’t Your Average Superhero Show

Image via Channel 4

While superheroes have become widely popular, Misfits doesn’t follow all the classic hallmarks of that genre. The series is a less optimistic version of the story as the characters struggle more than ever after they get their abilities. With a grim and violent tone, Misfits doesn’t follow your typical heroes, and that is especially clear in the abilities they receive. The group doesn’t get random powers, but ones that highlight their flaws and insecurities. Take Simon, for example, who often feels ignored and isolated even before he can turn invisible, which only amplifies those feelings. Similarly, Curtis’ power of rewinding time is tied to his feelings of regret. This unconventional method of assigning power highlights the character’s personal struggles and makes their abilities darkly ironic.

As a show centering around the young and superpowered, Misfits is in the vein of Gen V or Marvel’s Runaways, but it was years ahead of its time. When the show premiered in 2009, superheroes were not yet at the peak of their popularity, and a show that highlights the flaws in the hero system was not what people were looking for. However, today, these are some of the most intriguing additions to the genre. Misfits picks apart the traditional superhero story with its dark commentary. Featuring themes of trauma and redemption, the series gets deeper than you might expect, yet it maintains the wit fans love, making it a perfect binge that never loses its touch.

Misfits is streaming on Hulu in the U.S.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2009 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

Advertisement

Howard Overman

Directors

Howard Overman, Tom Green, Jonathan van Tulleken, Tom Harper, Wayne Yip

Advertisement

Writers

Howard Overman, Jon Brown, Mike O’Leary

Advertisement

Franchise(s)

Misfits

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Roommates, the baddies are outside for Coachella this weekend, and the link-ups are heating up timelines. Jhené Aiko and Sexyy Red have fans going wild after they popped out together following their performances in the desert. Now, folks online are wondering if a collab might be on the way.

RELATED: 38, Where? Fans Praise Jhené Aiko For Gettin’ Finer With Age As She Celebrates Her Birthday (PHOTOS)

Jhené AIko & Sexyy Red Have Fans Gagging Over Their Coachella Link-Up

Fans are calling Sexyy Red and Jhené Aiko the duo they never knew they needed after their Coachella link-up. Both of the girlies hit the stage in the desert and later posed for photos together. Red even dropped clips from their time together on X (formerly Twitter). Folks online loved seeing them side by side and joked that they’re twinning since they share the same name, but it’s spelled differently.

Fans Are Livin’ For Jhené x Janae

After The Shade Room dropped the clips of Jhené and Red, the comment section was flooded with heart-eye and fire emojis. Some fans joked that the video basically shows their two personalities in one.

Instagram user @d.denisee__ wrote, “Janae and Jhené 😂😂😂❤️ my two personalities.” 

Instagram user @siannemadi_ wrote, “Ouuuuu I love thisssss 😛😍” 

While Instagram user @chocc__littt wrote, “Love a Pisces and Aries duo.” 

Then Instagram user @kaizarimfalme wrote, “Y’all keep talking bout this y’all two personalities personified but they basically the same personality, Jhene just a singer. 😂” 

Another Instagram user, @pancho_villatoro, wrote, “On the clock vs off the clock.” 

Instagram user @alishaxolivia wrote, “I love this. Sexy vibes with everyone ❤️” 

Then another Instagram user @registered_foodiee wrote, “random but here for it!” 

While another Instagram user @ninaboo_51 wrote, “So when’s the collab 😍😍😍😍” 

Finally, Instagram user @joyprivatelife_ wrote, “wait this is cute af 🥹” 

Lizzo Pulls Up To Coachella For Surprise Performance With Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red popping out with Jhené Aiko wasn’t the only surprise at Coachella. She shocked fans when she brought out Lizzo for a special performance during her set. Lizzo came through, playing her flute and twerking for the crowd. The vibes hit a 1,000 as Red teased a new record while they were onstage. Peep the video below.

They weren’t playing on stage! 🔥 ✍🏾#TSRStaffAS https://t.co/KRZTU99NjJ

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) April 11, 2026

RELATED: Aht! Aht! Michael Jackson’s Estate Reportedly Reacts After Sexyy Red Samples ‘Beat It’ With SPICY NSFW Lyrics (VIDEO)

Some late-’90s thrillers are too weird to stay dead forever. Turbulence is absolutely one of them. The movie bombed when it hit theaters back in 1997, but it has exactly the kind of over-the-top premise and wild villain energy that streaming viewers love rediscovering. That’s especially true when the villain is Ray Liotta in full maniac mode.

And funnily enough, the movie has climbed its way to the top of the streaming charts across the country. In fact, if you note the streaming charts now, you’ll note that it was sitting just behind the top title on the service. That’s a pretty amazing second life for a movie that made only about $11.5 million worldwide in theaters.

The full main cast of Turbulence includes Lauren Holly as Teri Halloran, the flight attendant forced to take control of the plane; Liotta as Ryan Weaver, the chained serial killer who turns the flight into a nightmare; Brendan Gleeson as Stubbs, the armed robber being transported alongside him; Hector Elizondo as Aldo Hines; Rachel Ticotin as Martha; Jeffrey DeMunn as FBI agent Frank Sinclair; John Finn as the air traffic controller helping from the ground; and Ben Cross as pilot Captain Matthew Reynolds.

Is ‘Turbulence’ Worth Watching?

Image via MGM

Well, in a so-bad-it’s-good way, sure. Roger Ebert‘s review stated that Turbulence is the kind of thriller that never stops moving, even though almost none of it makes sense. The movie throws a killer, a storm, a nearly empty 747, and a long list of disasters into one story, then keeps piling on more chaos without worrying much about logic. The result is not tense so much as completely ridiculous.

“There are more questions. Like, if a 747 sheers off the roof of a high-rise restaurant, wouldn’t that cause it to crash? Like, if a 747 plows through an outdoor billboard, wouldn’t that cause it to crash? Like, if it sweeps all the cars off the roof of a parking garage, wouldn’t that cause it to crash? Like, if it gets a truck caught in its landing gear, what would happen then? (‘It’s a Ford!’ a sharp-eyed observer says, in a line that–for once–I don’t think represents product placement.) Oh, yes, there are many moments I will long remember from Turbulence. But one stands out. After Lauren Holly outsmarts and outfights the berserk killer and pilots the plane through a Level 6 storm, the FBI guy still doubts she can land it. ‘She’s only a stewardess,’ he says. To which the female air traffic controller standing next to him snaps, ‘She’s a . . . flight attendant!’”

Turbulence is streaming now.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

January 9, 1997

Runtime

Advertisement

100 minutes

Director

Robert Butler

Advertisement

Writers

Jonathan Brett

Advertisement

Producers

David Valdes, Keith Samples

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

One situation involving a paycheck has folks doing a serious double-take. And now, Rene Nichole Coleman is at the center of a case that’s raising plenty of eyebrows. Because baby… this wasn’t just a little mix-up. This is the kind of payday that’ll have everybody checking their direct deposit real quick.

RELATED: Dirty Business? Tennessee Nurse Learns Fate After Smearing Dirty Diaper On Coworker’s Face (VIDEO)

Coleman Arrested After $1,650/Hour Payroll Mix-Up

According to reports, authorities arrested Rene Nichole Coleman, 50, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, months after a judge reportedly found probable cause to charge her with felony theft involving more than $5,000 but less than $25,000. The case stems from an alleged payroll error at her former job. And apparently, officials say she was mistakenly paid an eye-popping $1,650 per hour for a 12-hour shift. Investigators claim Coleman, who normally earned $16.50 an hour, ended up receiving an overpayment totaling $19,388.

Company Demands Money Back As Dispute Escalates

Once the company realized the mistake, the CEO reportedly attempted to recover the funds, but things took a turn when Coleman allegedly refused to return the money. Reports state that the employer then brings the situation to law enforcement, providing financial documents and emails to support the claim that the overpayment was made in error. Authorities say the situation escalated after attempts to resolve the issue directly failed.

Missed Meeting Leads To Arrest And Court Date

According to investigators, Coleman initially agreed to speak with authorities about the situation but never showed up for the meeting. Authorities later issued a bench warrant, took her into custody on Monday, and booked her into the Craighead County Detention Center. Furthermore, a judge set her bond at $15,000, and she is expected to appear in court again on May 18 as the case continues to unfold.

RELATED: Check, Please! Restaurant Calls Out Family Over Alleged $600 Armpit Hair Scam To Avoid Hefty Bill (VIDEO)

By Robert Scucci
| Published 10 seconds ago

Before John Frusciante joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers and solidified the “classic lineup,” quit the band in 1992, was replaced by Dave Navarro for One Hot Minute, rejoined in 1998, quit again in 2009, was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, and returned yet again in 2019, the band’s sound had already been molded by another guitar genius: Hillel Slovak. Netflix’s latest rockumentary, The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel, looks back at those early days when Anthony Kiedis and Michael “Flea” Balzary were just kids from broken homes, and how their best friend and spiritual brother Hillel offered them a lifeline through art, music, and, most tragically, drugs.

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers tells a heartbreaking story about the band’s early, turbulent years as kids running amok through Los Angeles in the 1980s, shaped by their environment and an unbreakable friendship. Through beautifully composed segments featuring archival photos brought to life with striking animation, the documentary feels kaleidoscopic at times, like a drug-induced fever dream, and brutally sobering at others. We hear from band members past and present as they reflect on their soul brother Hillel Slovak and how instrumental he was in shaping them into the musicians they became.

While a healthy amount of time is spent on the thrill of starting a punk-funk hybrid band in 1980s Los Angeles, Slovak’s life, impact, and lasting legacy takes center stage, doing the impossible by making an ending fans already know still land like a gut punch that makes you want to call up an old friend and check in.

From Triumph To Tragedy

While I’m fighting every urge to wax poetic about the band whose frontman once sang “Say what? You got a pumpkin in yo pants,” I can’t understate the emotional weight of The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s a look at the band’s early days, when both Flea and Kiedis felt completely lost as teenagers. They abused drugs, got into all sorts of trouble, and, thanks to unstable home lives, were mostly unsupervised and searching for something to hold onto.

They went from lost to found when they met Hillel Slovak in high school, not yet realizing how chaotic their lives would become as they bonded over art, music, and their freewheeling youth, something that they thought would last forever.

Flea spends a healthy amount of time talking about how he might never have picked up a bass if Hillel hadn’t needed someone to play for one of his earlier projects, Anthym. Around this time, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were conceptualized, though scheduling conflicts created tension between Flea, Kiedis, then-drummer Jack Irons, and Slovak, who was committed to his other band, What Is This?

Their debut album featured Jack Sherman on guitar, but things didn’t click. By the time they were preparing to record their 1985 sophomore effort, Freaky Styley, Slovak had returned to the fold, and everything started to take shape on an almost cosmic level. That momentum carried into 1986’s The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, but by then, things were already starting to spiral.

Drugs had taken hold of both Kiedis and Slovak. Flea managed to stay relatively grounded, but the band dynamic was constantly on the verge of collapse just as they were finding their footing. Kiedis got sober, for the first time of many in the band’s documented history, but Slovak couldn’t escape his heroin addiction, which ultimately claimed his life in 1988.

Known as a constant source of positivity and inspiration, it almost feels like Slovak gave his light to the people who mattered most while his inner darkness slowly closed in.

The documentary closes on a somber but reflective note. John Frusciante speaks about Slovak’s legacy and how it shaped his own early playing with the band. Flea and Kiedis get visibly emotional as they remember their best friend, taken far too soon, even after all these years. A true artist and a deeply sensitive soul, Hillel Slovak was one of those rare musicians who radiated authenticity without ever trying. With his life cut short just as the band was beginning to take off, there’s no telling how differently things might have turned out if he had overcome his demons.

It’s A Great Watch, Even If You’re Not A Fan

Listen, whenever I talk about how much I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the first thing people bring up is how Anthony Kiedis openly discusses some pretty troubling behavior in his 2004 memoir, Scar Tissue. And yes, that book has aged terribly, and yes, Kiedis probably has some explaining to do when he arrives at the pearly gates. But that’s not what The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is about.

This documentary is focused on the life and legacy of Hillel Slovak.

For casual fans, that might seem like an odd choice, especially since most of the band’s classic albums feature Frusciante’s guitar work. But it’s worth remembering that Frusciante was only 18 when he joined the band, and Slovak was already his biggest influence. Slovak ran so Frusciante could sprint.

What makes the documentary especially compelling is how it uses archival material to tell its story. As someone who nerds out over old band photos and music history, I was genuinely surprised by how many images from those early days I’d never seen before. They capture the band at their youngest and most naive and explosive, and then those same images are brought to life through trippy, psychedelic animation that makes them jump off the screen and straight into your living room.

It’s a visually visceral way to show youth running wild, and the early days of a band that would eventually take over the world at a time when they were still figuring out where their next meal was coming from.

It’s heavy, heartfelt, and feels like it could be the first chapter of something larger. Maybe I’m reading too much into the title, but I’d love to see a follow-up documentary that picks up around the Mother’s Milk era, when Frusciante’s first stint with the band propelled them into superstardom. Until that happens, this is more than enough to keep me at bay.

In the meantime, I’ll be spending the weekend slapping the bass and revisiting those early records, because if nothing else, this documentary is a reminder of where it all started for a band that shaped my own early musical identity in more ways than I could ever reasonably articulate.

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel SCORE

The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers: Our Brother, Hillel is a Netflix Original and is available to stream with an active subscription.