After a major setback in her ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively‘s image in the industry has seemingly suffered a blow, with a Hollywood source saying the case has “ruined her.”

A few days after a federal judge dismissed several of her claims against Baldoni, the actress shared a statement on Instagram, expressing her desire to see the case through while also noting she’s doing it for other victims of harassment.

Now, experts have also claimed that Blake Lively’s defiant remarks could cost her greatly if she loses the court case, noting that she must win in order to save her reputation.

Industry Sources Claim Lively’s Lawsuit Has ‘Ruined’ Her In Hollywood

Lively’s lawsuit against her “It Ends With Us” costar Justin Baldoni is now in a critical stage, as their trial is scheduled for May 18, barely five weeks away.

However, it appears some within Hollywood circles have already surmised her fate, and it’s not looking good at all.

According to the Daily Mail, a Disney executive shared that the lawsuit has tainted Lively’s image in Hollywood, and it’s very unlikely she will recover from the fallout of the court battle.

“This lawsuit has ruined her in Hollywood… the truth is she was never that popular. She had a reputation for being difficult, one of those toxic people who always thinks she knows best,” the industry insider said.

Within those industry circles, the source went further to explain that it is believed the “Gossip Girl” star was the architect of her legal problems, adding that no one would feel bad over Lively’s potential career decline.

The Hollywood source said, “The general view now is that she’s made her bed and she can lie in it. I don’t think people in Hollywood are shedding tears over her.”

The Actress’s Claim Of Sexual Harassment Was Dismissed

Lively’s legal standoff with Baldoni has been going on for almost two years after she accused him of sexual harassment and launching a smear campaign against her to tarnish her image.

The director denied the allegations and filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, citing intimidation, but that suit has since been dismissed.

However, just like Baldoni, Lively’s case also recently suffered a massive blow after Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of her 13 claims against her former co-star, including sexual harassment and defamation. It leaves her with just 3 allegations to prove, namely breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation, which will all now go to trial.

According to the Daily Mail, her lawyers reportedly got on a conference call with Baldoni’s lawyers to talk about a possible settlement, but it appears that meeting didn’t yield much, as Lively’s lawyers later filed a letter doubling down on their intention to see the case through.

Blake Lively Says She Is Fighting To ‘Expose The Systems And People Who Seek To Harm’

After her major claims were dismissed, the “Another Simple Favor” actress took to Instagram to share a statement, essentially saying that she’s not doing it for herself.

“I’m grateful to the court’s ruling which allows my case to be presented to a jury next month, and for the ability to finally tell my story in full at trial, for my own sake, but also for those who don’t have the same opportunity to…many of whom I have known and loved deeply in my life, and the countless I’ll never know,” the statement began.

Lively explained that she never wanted the lawsuit, but after suffering a “pervasive retaliation,” she decided to file for her sake and others, adding that she hopes it will help other possible victims speak up.

She also reflected on the media circus that ensued after she filed her lawsuit, while calling out how the media is painting it as a “celebrity drama.”

“I will never stop doing my part in fighting to expose the systems and people who seek to harm, shame, silence, and retaliate against victims,” Lively concluded her statement. “I know it’s a privilege to stand up. I will not waste it. Your support keeps me going.”

The Actress’s Risks Becoming A ‘Pariah’ Like Amber Heard

Brand experts have since weighed in on Lively’s legal troubles, noting that she is currently in a challenging situation with her career at risk, especially after her defiant remarks about the lawsuit.

In a chat with Fox News Digital, Jordan Matthews of Holtz Matthews LLP explained that a verdict completely exonerating Baldoni could leave the actress in a vulnerable state, similar to Amber Heard, who has since become somewhat of a “pariah” in Hollywood.

“It could essentially put her in the same category as Amber Heard, and she could be viewed as a pariah,” Matthews noted. “If she and Baldoni both testify, then this will largely come down to witness credibility and how effective each of their legal teams are at cross-examination.”

Entertainment attorney Tre Lovell had a similar stance, as he emphasized the importance of the trial’s outcome for Lively’s career and public image.

“Her reputation has taken a very big hit, and she needs to resurrect her brand, the first step of which will be to win the case,” Lovell told the news outlet. “As a result, aggressive litigation can only help her; now is not the time for her to take her foot off of the pedal.”

Blake Lively May Move To The U.K. After Her Legal Battle With Justin Baldoni

Meanwhile, rumors are rife that Lively and Reynolds will settle for a new life in the U.K. after her case with Baldoni is over. The move reportedly comes in response to both their careers now standing on shaky ground.

As reported by The Blast, podcaster Lady Colin Campbell, the couple has already bought a house in Barnet, a posh town on the outskirts of London, and could move there on a “semi-permanent” basis.

Campbell claims that they’re both aware their careers are now “in the tank,” with Reynolds’ standing in Hollywood being “revised.”

Amid the case, the couple has also suffered strained ties with some of their Hollywood pals, most notably Taylor Swift, who was dragged into the case after Baldoni alleged Lively likened her to one of her “dragons.”

April is loaded with great options for movies and TV shows on the major streamers.

The hard part is going to be finding the time to watch them all, especially considering the logjam that began this week.

Watch With Us has taken the time to narrow down this month’s numerous films and series to the five new movies and TV shows that you need to watch in April.

The first show on the list has already dropped, and if you’re not quick to watch, then it may take you until May to catch up with the rest.

Related: New Movies and Shows on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, More in April 2026

Streaming subscribers are going to have a lot to watch in April, and it may take some serious time management skills to catch everything good. Netflix and Apple TV are debuting new seasons of Beef and Your Friends & Neighbors, respectively. Meanwhile, Prime Video is bringing The Boys to a conclusion after five seasons. Hulu […]

‘The Testaments’ (2026)

Agnes MacKenzie (Chase Infiniti) has no idea about her link to the revolutionary June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) when The Testaments begins, but the links to The Handmaid’s Tale will only increase going forward. Despite June’s best efforts, Gilead remains standing and her daughter may be lost to her. Agnes is deep in her training to become a Handmaiden herself, which is the only life she’s ever known.

Lucy Halliday costars as Daisy, a Canadian girl who has willingly come to Gilead to become a Handmaid. Daisy is also carrying a secret that may help her bring down Gilead from within. But she won’t be able to do it without help. And if Daisy trusts the wrong person, then she may never leave Gilead alive.

The Testaments is streaming on Hulu.

‘Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair’ (2026)

After 20 years, the family is coming back together in a four-part miniseries, Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, and they’re all pissed at Malcolm (Frankie Muniz). For the last two decades, he’s avoided his siblings — Francis (Christopher Masterson), Reese (Justin Berfield), Dewey (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark), Jamie (Anthony Timpano) and Kelly (Vaughan Murrae) —  as well as their parents, Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), for his mental well-being. And it worked for a long time.

Now that Hal and Lois are celebrating their 40th anniversary, they’re forcing Malcolm back into the fold. But they’re also quite cross to learn that he has a daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), and a girlfriend, Tristan (Kiana Madeira), neither of whom they knew about. Leah is at least interested in knowing her grandparents and uncles, but she doesn’t realize what she’s in for.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair will stream on Hulu on April 10.

‘Outcome’ (2026)

Jonah Hill cowrote and directed Outcome, but he only has a supporting role as Ira Slitz, a crisis lawyer for fallen Hollywood superstar Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves). Reef has taken some time out of the spotlight to rebuild his life and identity, but both could go down in flames after someone uses his past as an extortion attempt to bilk him for money he may not have.

Reef’s solution is to reach out to people he knows, including Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer), and make amends for anything he’s done to hurt them. That may not expose the person who’s blackmailing Reef, but it might give him what he needs to truly move on.

Outcome will stream on Apple TV on April 10.

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Related: 27 Best Shows to Watch on Apple TV Right Now (March 2026)

One of the benefits of Apple TV‘s less-is-more approach to TV shows is that most of its greatest originals run for long runs. For example, the alternative history/sci-fi series For All Mankind premiered in 2019 and was among the first Apple TV series. It’s returning in March for season 5. But first, Apple TV has […]

‘Beef’ (2023 – Present)

This may be the second season of Beef, but it’s practically a brand-new show with a completely different cast of characters. The only thing that’s remained the same is anger and the destructive carnage it leaves in its wake. This season, the beefing couples are Josh Martin (Oscar Isaac) and his wife,  Lindsay Crane-Martín (Carey Mulligan), who find themselves at odds with Austin Davis (Charles Melton) and his fiancée, Ashley Miller (Cailee Spaeny).

Josh is the general manager of a country club, while Austin is simply trying to become a personal trainer. It’s not entirely clear what’s going to set off this couples’ feud, but if it’s anything like season 1, the two sides are both going to regret the mess this leaves behind in their lives.

Beef season 2 will stream on Netflix on April 16.

‘Apex’ (2026)

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Sasha (Charlize Theron) probably wouldn’t consider herself to be the title character of Apex. She’s just a woman who needs her space to grieve, which is why she’s taken a solo trip to the Australian wilderness. Her passion is rock climbing, and she’ll have plenty of excuses to use that skill. Just not the reasons she was expecting.

Related: 3 Most Anticipated New Netflix Movies of Spring 2026: ‘Apex’ and More

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With blockbuster second seasons of Beef and Running Point set to release in the next couple of months, it’s clear that Netflix is concentrating primarily on its TV slate. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t high-quality films set to debut on the streamer. Among my most anticipated new spring 2026 Netflix movies are the unjustly […]

Taron Egerton costars in the film as a serial killer who sees Sasha as his latest prey. But if he thinks she’s just going to roll over and play dead, then he’s got another thing coming. Sasha’s going to fight for her life, and she may yet prove herself to be the real Apex of this duo.

Apex will stream on Netflix on April 24.

Phil Mickelson is clearly not a fan of some of the changes at Augusta National.

“Watching @TheMasters and seeing so few players long enough to go for 13 &15 now has taken away so much excitement and intrigue to the back nine,” said the three-time Masters champion on Friday, April 10, via X. “Another example of how longer isn’t always better.”

Mickelson, 55, is referring to the changes made on holes 13 and 15 in 2023, lengthening the distance from the tee box to the pin on both holes.

Both holes are considered iconic par-5 holes on the back nine of the classic course, set up in a way that gives golfers a good chance at an eagle score (two shots under par) — relative to other holes along the course, at least.

Related: Why Golfer Phil Mickelson Abruptly Pulled Out of the 2026 Masters

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson has abruptly withdrawn from the 2026 Masters Tournament, which begins on Thursday, April 9. “Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson, 55, shared via Instagram […]

Mickelson argued that lengthening the holes (making it more difficult for golfers to score an eagle) takes away from the “excitement and intrigue” of the final stretch of the course.

“Not a single eagle putt on 13. Crazy 🤦‍♂️,” Mickelson posted.

Despite the complaint, Mickelson wasn’t totally accurate in claiming that no golfer putted for eagle on hole 13. Through the first two rounds of the tournament, five golfers scored an eagle on 13, and two more hit the score on 15.

Just before the tournament teed off, Mickelson abruptly withdrew from competition to take care of a family “personal health matter.”

“Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson shared via Instagram on Thursday, April 2. “I have great respect for Augusta National Golf Club and it is definitely the most special week of the year.”

He added, “I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.”

Mickelson also took some time off in February due to a “family health matter” and ended up missing four tournaments.

Mickelson returned to competition at LIV Golf’s South Africa event last month, his first since August 2025.

He has been married to his wife, Amy, since 1996, and the couple share three children. Both of Mickelson’s parents, Phil Sr. and Mary, are still alive.

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Entering the third round of the tournament, Rory McIlroy leads the pack with a historic six stroke lead through 36 holes.

“I’ve always felt like this golf course can let you get on runs if you allow it,” McIlroy told reporters after the second round on Friday. “I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie six of the last seven. But it just shows what you can do around here.”

The Masters continues with the final two rounds of play on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12.

Stars didn’t hold back with their creative outfits at the 2026 Coachella Music & Arts Festival.

Bachelor Nation’s Kit Keenan, for example, hand-made her sparkling ensemble with help from her designer mom, Cynthia Rowley. She documented the design process via TikTok earlier this month, sharing behind-the-scenes clips of her mom busy at work sewing pieces together for her.

Another celeb who delivered the drama with their festival look was Alix Earle, who wore rocked an animal-print corset top with denim cutoffs on the first day of the festival

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“Please please please take me to Sabrinachella,” Earle wrote via Instagram, referring to headliner Sabrina Carpenter.

This year, Carpenter joins Justin Bieber, Karol G and Anyma as headliners for the iconic music festival, which takes place in Indio, California, from April 10 through 12, and again April 17 through 19. (Anyma’s April 11 set, however, was canceled amid “strong wind conditions.”)

Keep scrolling to see the most iconic 2026 Coachella outfits:

Temptation Island questioned whether established couples could stay together despite obstacles — such as meeting hot single people — but which are still dating and who has broken up?

The reality TV show originally debuted on FOX and followed four unmarried couples who traveled to a tropical island to have their fidelity tested. The couples are separated for two weeks and are required to spend time with a group of single people who are trying to make them have an affair.

Hosted by Mark L. Walberg, Temptation Island aired from 2001 to 2003 before moving to USA from 2019 to 2023. Temptation Island received major backlash from viewers for its controversial premise but has continued to air new episodes with a 2025 move to Netflix.

Scroll down to find out whether your favorite Temptation Island couple is still together:

Related: Couples Who Survived the Reality TV Curse (So Far) 

Who says true love doesn’t exist on reality TV? While it seems to be a trend that many marriages on reality TV end in divorce, there are still some reality TV couples out there beating the odds. Big Brother‘s Nicole Franzel and Victor Arroyo met while filming season 18 of Big Brother in 2016. The timing […]

Alexa Santamaria and Lino Troisi

After the couple left the island together, Alexa and Lino confirmed they are engaged.

“Lino and I are a team,” Alexa told Netflix’s Tudum in March 2025 about their “indestructible” relationship. “Every single word that we were both saying throughout the [experiment], we were thinking of the other person.”

Alexa and Lino plan to exchange vows in Sorrento, Italy, in fall 2026.

Shante Glover and Brion Whitley

Brion and Shante are still dating but aren’t in a rush to walk down the aisle. The pair weathered plenty of issues on screen — including having threesomes with other women — before Shante chose to stick by Brion.

“As sad as it is and as annoying as it is, I don’t know that we would’ve had those conversations if that didn’t happen,” she told Tudum in March 2025. “We could have just been down this bad spiral of not really knowing how each other feels.”

Brion and Shante have been in therapy as they prepare to move in together. “I even cried talking about how I grew up — something I hadn’t thought about in forever,” he added at the time. “It was a big learning experience for me to really see the value of the woman that I have.”

Tyler Breshears and Tayler Bird

As season 9 came to an end, Tayler left the island alone while Tyler and newcomer Kay remained together. Tyler is no longer with either woman but he does have someone special in his life. Tayler, for her part, is single and working on her mental health while Kay got back together with an ex before moving on with a mystery man.

Ashley Moore and Grant Larsen

The March 2025 finale confirmed Ashley left with Danny while Grant decided to leave the island alone. Ashley and Grant briefly got back together but are now over for good — and are both currently single.

“I was single for a very long time before Grant, and I was very OK with it,” Ashley told Tudum. “I really need to pay attention to people’s words and actions aligning, and I don’t need to give someone a million chances just because they beg for it.”

Grant, for his part, reflected on his onscreen journey, saying, “I think I was very unaligned with my soul. I was so distracted and overwhelmed that my decisions at the time weren’t extremely thought-out. I still feel like I was being my wholehearted self, so I don’t regret anything besides Ashley having to watch.”

Kaylee and Summit

The season 2 couple is still together after their season aired in April 2026.

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Sydney and Mikey

After season 2 came to an end, Sydney and Mikey chose not to remain together.

Scarlett and Cole

Another fatality of season 2 was Scarlett and Cole, who formed a connection on screen.

Shyanne and Jack

Season 2 brought Shyanne and Jack together but they didn’t last once the season came to an end.

SZA shut down rumors that she was paid “six figures” to be a backup headliner in case Justin Bieber cancelled his set at Coachella 2026.

“Lmao who made this up ? I’ve seen this 4 times now,” SZA, 36, declared via Instagram on Saturday, April 11.

The “Luther” singer-songwriter responded to a blind item claiming she’d received “six figures to keep her schedule open for both weekends [of Coachella] — just in case Justin Bieber had to drop out at the last minute.” The post mentioned that, although Bieber, 32, was already been heard sound-checking his performance at the Indio, California, festival, “fans aren’t letting this theory go.”

“I’m in New York no one paid me a dime . Wishing everyone the best,” SZA clarified in the blind item’s Instagram comment section.

Related: Hailey Bieber Was a ‘Big Influence’ on Justin Booking Coachella 2026

Hailey Bieber remains her husband’s biggest fan. After Justin Bieber announced he will perform at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, multiple sources exclusively tell Us Weekly that his wife was the one to encourage him to book the gig. “Hailey was a big influence on Justin’s decision to headline Coachella,” one source […]

A significant amount of mystery indeed surrounds Bieber’s two Coachella sets on Saturday, April 11, and Saturday, April 18. Prior to the festival headlining slot, he’d performed a much more intimate set at The Roxy in West Hollywood in March.

Earlier this week, Us Weekly exclusively learned that Bieber was directly involved in planning nearly every aspect of his Coachella 2026 set.

“He’s been involved in everything all along, from negotiating his own paycheck to working on the show’s creative direction,” a source told Us. “He even helped design the merch that’ll be sold on the grounds — T-shirts, hoodies, hats, etc.”

Bieber meticulously curated his Coachella setlist to celebrate the success of his two Swag albums, in addition to highlighting tracks from his 17-year career.

“Justin is very proud of his Swag albums [released in 2025], so he wants to spotlight them, but he’s also packing his set with old hits that he hasn’t performed in years. He knows the crowd will want to hear those too,” the insider told Us. “He’s been fine-tuning and changing some things as recently as this week. It’s all very fluid, but the bulk of the show is finalized and has been run through.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Coachella pass-holders enjoyed sets from The Strokes, Addison Rae, David Byrne and Labrinth, among many others.

British punk rockers Lambrini Girls were supposed to be on the Coachella bill on Saturday but they pulled out at the eleventh hour. Frontwoman Phoebe Lunny revealed on Friday, April 10, that she was recently diagnosed with an “acute brain injury” and a fractured neck.

“We have received quite a lot of messages re Coachella, we are so gutted, guys,” Lunny acknowledged. “We want to be there so badly. If it was a broken leg, I would do a Dave Grohl and play it. This isn’t something we are taking lightly and we are really sad. We hope and pray there’s some universe [where] we get to play next year instead … Because it is my neck and brain, our hands are tied for now, but I’m lucky and expect a speedy recovery.”

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Related: Inside Hailey and Justin Bieber’s Coachella 2025 Weekend

Justin Bieber and wife Hailey Bieber had a blast during the first weekend of Coachella 2025. Us Weekly can exclusively report that Justin, 31, and Hailey, 28, have been staying at his house in La Quinta, California, about a 20-minute drive from the festival’s location in Indio. After driving there together on Saturday, April 12, […]

Friday’s headliner, Sabrina Carpenter, publicly apologized for an off-handed comment during her set where she compared a fan’s zaghrouta chant to a “weird” yodel. (A zaghrouta chant is a common way to express joy in Arabic-speaking countries.)

“My apologies I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly,” Carpenter wrote via X on Saturday. “My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. Could have handled it better! Now I know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”

Coachella 2026 continues on Sunday, April 12, with headliner Karol G, plus sets from Young Thug, FKA Twigs, Iggy Pop, Wet Leg, Kaskade and many more. The same artists will perform next Sunday, April 18.

Euphoria is finally returning for its third season on HBO following major delays and multiple cast deaths off screen — but when do the new episodes air?

HBO confirmed that the show is coming back on April 12 at 9 p.m. ET. In a press release, creator Sam Levinson teased story lines for each character in the show’s final season.

“We basically pick up Rue [Zendaya] south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie [Martha Kelly], trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off,” he revealed about Rue ending season 2 sober — but owing a drug dealer money after being threatened with human trafficking.

Levinson went on to address where the other characters ended up after a time jump.

Related: Which ‘Euphoria’ Characters Are — And Aren’t — Returning for Season 3

Eddy Chen/HBO The third season of Euphoria is officially come back after a major delay — but not every fan favorite is returning for more episodes of the show. Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggles to remain sober after rehab. The ensemble cast initially included Hunter […]

“And then Cassie [Sydney Sweeney] is living in the suburbs with Nate [Jacob Elordi],” he added. “They’re engaged and she’s very addicted to social media and envious of what appears to be the big lives that all of her high school classmates are living at this point in time.”

Levinson promised the “best season yet,” sharing, “I will say that Cassie and Nate do in fact get married. I’m confirming it. And I promise that it will be an unforgettable night.”

Hunter Schafer’s Jules will be “in art school, very nervous about having a career as a painter and trying to avoid responsibility at all costs.” Maddy (Alexa Demie), meanwhile, is “working in Hollywood at a talent agency for a manager, she’s obviously got her own side hustles going.”

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

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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 […]

Lexi (Maude Apatow) has found success as “an assistant to a showrunner played by Sharon Stone, who is just absolutely delightful and a true icon,” Levinson concluded.

Euphoria, which premiered in 2019, originally followed troubled high school student Rue as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The hit HBO series was quickly renewed for a second season after its premiere, but it took nearly three years for the episodes to air.

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Season 3 was originally set to air on HBO in 2025 before facing several obstacles, including Levinson’s commitment to his short-lived series The Idol. The dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which took place in late 2023, prolonged the delay.

Since season 2 concluded, the cast went through a loss when Angus Cloud died at age 25 in July 2023 following an accidental overdose. The show is expected to address the fate of his character, Fezco, while Eric Dane‘s Cal made an appearance in the trailer one month after the actor’s death following a battle with ALS. He was 53.

Euphoria returns to HBO on April 12.

Joey Fatone is weighing in on the likelihood of an *NSYNC reunion, addressing the ongoing speculation that has kept fans hopeful for years. The former boy band member shared information on where things stand today, offering a clearer picture of whether the iconic group could reunite again in the future.

All The Members Of *NSYNC Discussed The Possibility Of A Reunion

In the past few years, speculation about an *NSYNC reunion has resurfaced repeatedly, fueled by fan interest and occasional public appearances by the boy band, consisting of Joey Fatone, Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, JC Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick.

In a conversation with Page Six published on April 10, Fatone shared an update, saying that after conferring with all the members, he now has a concrete answer. Unfortunately, it’s not something die-hard *NSYNC fans want to hear.

Fatone said the conversation was more about catching up with each other and finding out how everyone was doing. They did touch on the possibility of a reunion, but sadly, it isn’t happening. “Literally we just said, ‘Hey, do we see anything happening in a couple of years of *NSYNC?’ And that was a no,” Fatone told the outlet.

Joey Fatone ‘Finally Got An Answer’

Fatone also shared that he believes not all of the members are interested in a reunion, though he did not specify which ones. “So do I see anything happen in the next two to four years? Probably not. Flat out. Finally got an answer,” he shared.

The former boy band member made it clear that a reunion is unlikely in the next few years, but he did not completely shut down the idea of it happening down the line.

In 2025, Fatone publicly shared his interest in reuniting with his former bandmates, but back then, they hadn’t talked about it. He admitted that it was difficult to get all five members’ schedules aligned, as reported by The Blast. “Everybody has families and relationships now. It’s hard to get the five of us together and it’s a huge commitment,” Fatone said at that time.

*NSYNC Announced An Indefinite Hiatus In 2002

*NSYNC formed in 1995 and released their debut single, “I Want You Back,” in Germany in 1996. It was released in the U.S. in 1998 and was followed by several hit songs, including “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “Bye Bye Bye,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” and “This I Promise You.” After four albums together, the band went on an indefinite hiatus, but did not make a formal breakup announcement.

Following their Celebrity Tour in 2002, the group decided to take a break and pursue other opportunities individually. In November that same year, Timberlake released his first solo album, “Justified.” In 2017, Timberlake revealed that he left the group because he felt he “cared more about the music than some of the other people in the group.”

Joey Fatone Felt ‘Blindsided’

In 2023, Fatone shared his thoughts about *NSYNC’s “breakup,” telling Yahoo Entertainment what happened behind the scenes. He said he wasn’t surprised about the band’s “breakup,” but felt “blindsided” after learning that Timberlake was releasing his own album and touring. In his mind, Timberlake was going to pursue a solo career, but would be coming back to *NSYNC.

However, he didn’t blame Timberlake. Instead, he said “it was the record company” that didn’t keep him in the loop about what was going to happen.

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In 2024, Bass and Kirkpatrick also talked about that time in the documentary “Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands,” saying they were told *NSYNC was getting back together after a six-month break. “That just never happened. So it just fazed out without any fanfare, at all, with no goodbye. We just never got back together,” Bass said.

Kirkpatrick recalled feeling “anger,” “animosity,” and “resentment” back then, adding that they were confused about what was happening with the boy band.

*NSYNC’s Last Performance Together Was In 2024

Though not officially reuniting as *NSYNC, the five members have performed together as a boy band over the years. In 2013, they reunited at the MTV Video Music Awards, where they performed a medley of their songs. Ten years later, all five members got together to release the song “Better Place,” which they collaborated on for the movie “Trolls Band Together.”

Their last performance together as a group was in March 2024, a surprise performance at Timberlake’s “One Night Only” concert in L.A. *NSYNC performed a few of their hits, including “Bye Bye Bye,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” and “Girlfriend,” much to the delight of fans. They also performed “Paradise,” one of the tracks in Timberlake’s 2024 album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” that features his former band members.

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After sampling the other two Flavor Swap flavors, I have reached the final bag: iShowSpeed’s Doritos x Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream. In full disclosure, I don’t know what a Dorito should actually taste like. I recognize the red and blue bags from childhood soccer games, but I rarely encountered a Dorito since graduating from college. I’m not going to date myself and say how long ago that was, but I will say that it has been a while since I’ve eaten a Dorito. I was worried that I might be opening a door to a new addiction when I popped open the bag, but fortunately, these Doritos just didn’t do it for me. And I wasn’t alone in my assessment. My Dorito-loving friends who took this taste test with me also didn’t see much to write home about. 

Doritos Did Not Win This Flavor Swap 

Out of the Flavor Swap Cheetos and Ruffles potato chips, I declared Ruffles the winner. My opinion has not changed, and I am not honestly sure the Cheetos or the Doritos deserve the second spot, because I disliked them both equally. The Cheetos were missing the cheese dust that everyone expects from a Cheeto, and the Doritos were lacking flavor. 

At first, I thought I got a bad bag, as the Doritos tasted a bit stale to me. I was quickly informed that’s just how Doritos taste (are tortilla chips really supposed to be THAT crunchy, though?) My second thought was that the Doritos didn’t really taste like anything. 

That comment got pretty much universal agreement. One taster spent a whole episode of “Scrubs” trying to figure out what it reminded them of before they realized they were thinking about the limited edition Doritos flavor that was essentially flavorless.

Wait, Did Doritos Really Make A Flavorless Dorito? 

After doing my research on snack foods, I learned that Doritos actually became the very first tortilla chip available for purchase in the United States in 1966. Their original flavor was just “toasted corn.” The iconic taco seasoning wasn’t introduced until 1967, and the nacho cheese chip didn’t surface on grocery store shelves until 1972.

Although they’re known for their eclectic flavors, the original “Toasted Corn” plain chips were discontinued in 2019. However, they are still reportedly available in the UK, where they are called “Lightly Salted” and made up of ground corn (maize), vegetable oil, and salt.

Ironically, although the original Doritos product was a success, they began to add seasoning because – you guessed it – many customers, especially those in the Southwest, thought that they were too bland. Unfortunately, this Flavor Swap flavor might be a little too close to the original.

So Who Is iShowSpeed?

I’m going to again be showing my age a bit here, but I had never heard of iShowSpeed before this Flavor Swap test. To be fair, I had never heard of Dude Perfect, either, until I tried their Flavor Swap mash-up. I was more familiar with Madison Beer, but I had only heard a few of her songs. Considering that this product launch was targeted towards a Gen-Z audience, I’m clearly in the wrong demographic, but I enjoyed taking an opportunity to learn more about celebrities who are apparently famous enough to appear on a chip bag.

iShowSpeed, real name Darren Jason Watkins Jr., has been described as “one of the most energetic and chaotic streamers” on social media. He’s best known for gaming, variety streams, high-energy reactions, and IRL adventures. He got his start early, hosting gameplay videos on YouTube in 2016 when he was only 11 years old, and started streaming in 2019.

His channel grew big in 2021 thanks to some of his TikTok clips going viral. As of 2026, he has over 50 million subscribers across his main YouTube channels and around 47 million followers on Instagram.

Who Won The Taste Test?

Dude Perfect’s mashup of Doritos Cool Ranch and Ruffles easily won this taste test for me. The texture of the chip and the bite were just right. I highly recommend that you pick up a bag if you see it in stores. It is a limited edition flavor, after all.

Madison Beer put Lay’s Sweet Southern Heat BBQ seasoning on Cheetos Crunchy, and it still does not appeal to me. The “heat” was missing, and the lack of cheese made it less like a Cheeto and more like a puffy snack. I think it ties with these Doritos. Neither one brought the flavor the bag seemed to promise.

However, I have learned a bit more about three celebrities that I didn’t know much about before, so I’m sure they’ll count that as a win. It remains to be seen how successful the PepsiCo Foods Flavor Swap experiment was, but if it was profitable, I’m sure we’ll see more influencers gracing the packaging of more chip bags.

Anyone else interested in a Miss Vickie’s x Fritos mash-up?