Nestled deep inside Toronto’s iconic Distillery District, Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie already feels like a place built for a little drama. The restaurant is huge and unmistakably French, with a marble bar, tiled floors, and the kind of dining room that makes you sit a little straighter once you reach your table. But when Collider stepped inside the fancy establishment (and wore dress pants for the occasion) this past winter, dinner service looked a little different. For starters, Gordon Ramsay was decked out in chef attire and sipping from a water bottle near the kitchen entrance, watching guests pour in because MasterChef had taken over the restaurant. Cameras were tucked into just about every corner, and the Top 6 were getting ready for one of the toughest tests of Season 16.

We had already spent time on the MasterChef set earlier in the day, but its legendary Restaurant Takeover challenge has a completely different vibe. Cluny’s central open kitchen became an extension of the show’s own, only now there was a real dinner service that didn’t care whether its chefs were ready for the heat. Airing August 26 on FOX, Restaurant Takeover splits the Top 6 into teams and asks them to run appetizer and entrée service inside the sprawling neo-Parisian bistro. At the end of the night, one cook will not make it through, and after watching a bit of that service unfold in person, it was easy to see why this challenge is one of the series’ most daunting.

‘MasterChef’s Restaurant Takeover Is a Whole Different Kind of Chaos

If the regular MasterChef kitchen is already chaotic enough and riles up your IBS just as much as ours, Restaurant Takeover makes it feel almost comfortable by comparison. The usual kitchen is massive and packed with cameras and crews in addition to its contestant cooks. But that’s built specifically for a competition. Cut to Cluny, and the remaining contestants had to fit themselves into a restaurant that was already established and somehow make it run as if they belonged behind the line. That’s a much bigger ask than making one great plate for Ramsay.

For Restaurant Takeover, the cooks now have a whole dining room to take care of. With one plate after another, the pressure is high, all while making sure diners aren’t sitting around wondering what happened to their dinner (which did obviously happen to a few). But Ramsay’s co-judge, Joe Bastianich, isn’t watching all of this from the sidelines. Instead, the longtime restaurateur is right in the middle of service. “I’m the one managing the dining room. I take the orders, I bring them to Gordon. If the plates don’t come, I answer,” Bastianich told Collider ahead of the chaos. “I’m intimately involved.”

With Ramsay monitoring the kitchen and Bastianich handling the dining room, the contestants are essentially caught in the middle, which is why Bastianich wants diners waiting for their meals to get the same experience they would on any other night. “I value creating an authentic restaurant experience with quality — fast timing, flavors, temperatures, beautiful dishes that taste good that you would have in this restaurant as if it were being run by a professional crew every night,” he said.

You know, no big deal for a group of home cooks! But that’s what makes Restaurant Takeover such a great test. By the time the Top 6 are announced in the season, cooking is no longer a part of the equation. Sure, they can all cook, but they have to prove they can do it quickly, consistently, and alongside others while orders continually pour in. And those orders are where things can get ugly fast.

When asked what tells are evident that a restaurant service is starting to fall apart, Bastinach doesn’t point to a bad plate or even a cooking mistake. It’s what happens when the kitchen stops moving. “The biggest red flag is when the first orders start coming in, and they’re not responding and not moving in the process towards cooking the plates,” he said. “And then it starts to spin out of control.”

Watching as an insider (who greatly enjoyed their meal), it’s easy to understand how quickly all of that could happen. Though there were no subtitles floating around for us while observing the central open kitchen, expressions from each contestant were a dead giveaway for the heat each was facing. There isn’t much room to stand around and figure out what goes wrong when another order is already coming in. One delay becomes two, another person gets backed up, and suddenly guests sitting in that very pretty dining room want to know where their food is.

Gordon Ramsay Wants the ‘MasterChef’ Top 6 To Prove Everything They’ve Learned

Of course, Restaurant Takeover isn’t just about throwing six home cooks into a restaurant like Cluny and watching it catch fire. Ramsay might be leading the charge, but at this point in the competition, he’s also spent weeks helping contestants become more aware and just, overall, better. But they have to prove they’ve listened — an aspect of communication that Ramsay takes very seriously. “I want the best, and so some of those challenges are culinary training. I just want them to shine,” Ramsay told Collider. “You can’t just stand back and watch those mistakes happen, and I’m going to do my job and be there.”

But there is a bit of a catch, as he puts it. He’ll help you figure out the problem, but he’s not going to fix it for you. “I’ve always said that you give me a problem, I’ll come back to you with a solution, but you’re going to execute that solution,” he said.

Inside Cluny, that’s a pretty important distinction. Ramsay can be standing at the pass, but he can’t cook six people’s food for them. According to Tiffany Derry, that starts with knowing when to actually listen. “I think that being a leader, especially here at MasterChef, you have to lead, but you also have to listen,” Derry told Collider. “I don’t think the leader is just the loudest voice, because I’ve been in many kitchens my whole life where the loudest one has no clue what they’re doing, really. They’re just barking.”

It might sound funny, but it’s also exactly the kind of thing Restaurant Takeover can expose very quickly. Derry adds that a good leader has to know their team well enough to put people where they’ll actually succeed, and that means relying on everyone around you, respecting what they can do and, in her words, knowing when to “let the egos go.”

It sounds like you’re asking a lot when you’re down to six contestants, and every person left can practically see the finale from where they’re standing. But the show serves as a nice portrait of their growth. Ramsay said that what he enjoys most is seeing that progress happen, especially as cooks start picking up smaller skills that can make a huge difference under pressure.

Behind the scenes, he even helps shape the culinary classes around what they’re struggling with, whether that’s plating, execution, or simply getting a sauce finished properly. “I just want to be a prolific coach,” Ramsay said. “They’re going to love me, they’re going to hate me, they’re going to be unsure about me, but at the end of it, I think they’re going to leave a much better individual.”

MasterChef: Global Gauntlet airs “Restaurant Takeover” on Wednesday, August 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX and streams the following day on Hulu.

Social media is reacting to Blueface, Nevaeh Akira, and their days-old son getting patted down by cops during a recent livestream.

RELATED: Jaidyn Alexis Responds To Blueface Saying Javaughn & Journey Can Be Replaced As He Shares Closer Look At Newborn Son Johnathan Jr.

Blueface, Nevaeh Akira & Their Days-Old Son Get Pat Down By Cops During Recent Livestream

On Sunday, August 24, Blueface was streaming live via Kick, apparently showing off his family’s Sunday funday. Following a trip to the park and a stop at Blueface’s seafood restaurant, King Crabs, things took a turn for the group. While they were eating, something outside appeared to catch their attention.

“We’re being swatted? Oh lord,” Blueface said as Akira appeared concerned. “We’re being swatted.”

See clips from the incident below.

Social Media Reacts To Cops Patting Down Blueface, Nevaeh Akira & Their Days-Old Son

Social media users reacted to the video of Blueface, Nevaeh Akira, and their days-old son, Johnathan Jr., being patted down by police in TSR’s comment section.

More On Recent Events & Livestreams

On Friday, August 21, Blueface also went live via Kick, streaming his day and outing with another female. Apparently, during his time out, he linked up with fellow streamer India Love.

RELATED: Whew! Karlissa Saffold Seemingly Calls Out Blueface Over His Alleged Comments About Replacing Javaughn & Journey (VIDEOS)

Almost a year after announcing their engagement, Toosii has revealed that he and Samaria J. Davis have called it quits.

RELATED: He’s A Fiancé! Toosii Proposes To Longtime Girlfriend Samaria J. Davis (VIDEOS)

Toosii Reveals He & Samaria J. Davis Have Called It Quits

On Monday, August 24, Toosii apparently took to Instagram to share a now-deleted message via his Story. “Me and Samaria are not together and we haven’t been for some time now,” he wrote.

See his now-deleted message below.

Social Media Reacts To The Update A Year After Their Engagement

Social media users reacted to the update on Toosii and Samaria J. Davis in TSR’s comment section.

More On Toosii & Samaria’s Engagement

As The Shade Room previously reported, in September 2025, Toosii proposed to Samaria J. Davis. This months after they welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Aliza, into the world.

“We laugh together, we cry together, but most importantly we pray together. What the Lord has planned, no man can dismember. He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and Lord knows I found a great thing. I pray the Lord allows our love to be as steadfast as His is to us. Listen to me, you’re a gorgeous woman! May life with you be like a field full of flowers or the beak of a toucan—bright and full of colors. May we grow old and ripe together, and our souls never be untethered. Thank you for loving me unconditionally when I didn’t love myself. You are superwoman. ❤️ @samariajdavis,” he wrote in the caption of his post announcing their engagement.

In May, Davis made headlines when she shared an interesting message online.

Additionally, it appeared to surprise Toosii.

At this time, Samaria J. Davis has not publicly weighed in on Toosii’s relationship update.

RELATED: Pump The Brakes! Toosii Reacts After Samaria Says She Doesn’t Want To Live With Him After Marriage (VIDEO)

It’s been a great year for horror in theaters, with the likes of Obsession and Backrooms proving big favorites. This past weekend, Insidious: Out of the Further became the latest horror flick to find quick success, turning its $18 million budget into $60 million in just three days. However, it is the latest in a line of films to fall victim to the all-conquering Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which now ranks as the fifth highest-grossing film of all time. With Brand New Day continuing to dominate the box office, you might need to look elsewhere for something fresh to watch. With that in mind, here’s a list of three movies you should stream on Netflix this week.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

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‘M3GAN’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 6.3/10

With September just around the corner, it isn’t long before sepia leaves fall, and spooky season is upon us. To get in the mood early, why not catch one of the most inventive slashers of the decade so far? The brilliantly original M3GAN follows robotics engineer Gemma (Allison Williams), who introduces a groundbreaking robotic AI into the life of her orphaned niece, unaware of the bloody consequences that would follow.

A film arguably ahead of its time with an anti-AI message that hits harder today than four years ago, M3GAN is, at its heart, a thoroughly enjoyable slasher. Absurd and prescient in perfect measure, M3GAN successfully blends comedy into its shocking thrills for a viewing experience that will have you laughing whilst watching through your fingers.

2

‘The Great Wall’ (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes: 36% | IMDb: 5.9/10

One of the biggest hits of the summer, Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey puts Matt Damon center stage as the King of Ithaca in one of his best roles in years. If you are one of the many millions to have watched and enjoyed Nolan’s highest-grossing film yet, then you might be interested in this arguably underrated Damon historical performance from 10 years ago.

The Great Wall, directed by Yimou Zhang, follows Damon’s European mercenary William Garin as he discovers the titular Great Wall of China, learns that it is built to keep away dangerous monsters, and joins the disciplined armies of the Nameless Order in its defense. Also starring Andy Lau, Pedro Pascal, and Willem Dafoe, this gritty, ambitious epic marked the Hollywood feature debut of Chinese director Yimou and, despite facing mixed reviews from critics, still enjoys streaming success to this day.

Rotten Tomatoes: 85% | IMDb: 7.6/10

There have been many great new movies debuting on Netflix this year so far, with Remarkably Bright Creatures being one of the best. An adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt‘s debut novel of the same name, the movie stars Sally Field as a grieving widow whose life-changing discovery during night shifts at an aquarium leads to bonds being formed and a new joie de vivre emerging.

Field is one of the best actors of her generation, and she brings her customary warmth, heart, and emotional nuance to her latest performance. She is joined by both Lewis Pullman, ahead of his performance in Avengers: Doomsday, and the great Alfred Molina in a true streaming gem that is sure to have you beaming from ear to ear.

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Release Date

May 8, 2026

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Runtime

111 Minutes

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Olivia Newman

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Music legend Chaka Khan is gearing up to release her 13th solo album, “Chakzilla,” in September, following the lead single of the same name. Recently, while promoting her new music, the “I Feel For You” singer issued an impassioned response to those who believe she and Prince had been intimate in the past.

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Khan has a long history with Prince, having first met the late musician in 1977 while he was working on his debut album. Of course, she later covered his song “I Feel for You” in 1984, and the single reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, earning her a Grammy.

In August 2026, the “Chakzilla” singer spoke to The Observer. During the conversation, the reporter mentioned her friendship with Prince, who passed away in 2016, and wondered if she’s often asked about the dynamics of their relationship.

She responded, “Hell yeah I do! It’s sad that they just assume I’m either a whore or a singer. Make up your mind! What do you want me to be?”

Regarding many music fans wanting the rumors of romance between her and Prince to be true, Khan added, “I’m not going to lie to you and add to your fantasy. This ain’t Disneyland. I’m living for real.” She then said, “If I’d slept with all the guys I’ve done tours with, I don’t know what I’d be right now. I’d probably be dead.”

Chaka Khan Discusses The Impact Prince Had On Her Career

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During the Observer interview, Khan discussed not only the impact of covering Prince’s song on her career but also his artistry. According to her, “He plucked me out of a place where I was trying to survive. My record company [was] in my ass, being the meanest people on the planet.”

She continued, “I felt like I was being pimped. I cried a lot, because I was falling out of love with music. I was ready to throw in the towel, and then Prince came along.”

Regarding how she sees the music icon as an artist, she stated, “He was a really deep and beautiful thinker. Prince just grabbed ideas out of the air and left you wondering: where did you get that?”

Chaka Previously Opened Up About Meeting Prince

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Khan spoke to The Guardian in 2019 and opened up about her first encounter with Prince, which came after they were both in San Francisco, and he called her hotel room pretending to be Sly Stone.

According to her, “I could have sworn it was Sly; Sly and I were very close. He said: ‘I’m at a studio in Marin County doing this album, do you want to come?’ So I drove for 100 years and get in there, and it’s like dark and sterile and very eerie. There’s this little guy with a guitar. I said, ‘Excuse me, where’s Sly?’ and he put his guitar down and said, ‘I’m sorry, that was me.’”

She continued, recalling having said, “Well, who the f-ck are you? I was truly pissed about this. He told me who he was; I said, ‘OK, nice meeting you, but I’m really pissed now, so goodbye,’ and I left.”

The Songstress Had No Idea Prince Was Battling Addiction To Painkillers

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Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, after an accidental fentanyl overdose. During her interview with The Guardian, she opened up about his passing and revealed that she was unaware that the music legend had been struggling with painkillers.

She stated, “I never, ever got any indication that he was on pills. I knew he was doing certain things; I knew he had a couple of bouts with acid and all that. That’s OK. A one-off here and there, you got the money, you ain’t working. You like acid – go do it.”

After that, she shared that Prince was “totally against drinking” beyond the occasional glass of red wine. Khan then said, “Secrets kill. Secrets kill, and if he hid from me for so many years where he was really at, and I was like his confidante in many ways, you know … It’s hard to keep a secret like that from me.”

Khan went on to reveal how Prince’s untimely death may have saved her. She said, “So I learned a lot, you know. I just said: ‘I better go check myself.’ And I’m alive maybe because he’s dead. I went to a doctor, and I said, ‘Here’s the deal,’ and he told me there are certain pains you’ve just got to live with; that’s part of life.”

Chaka’s New Album Is On The Horizon

Khan’s new album, “Chakzilla,” is set for release on September 18 and features contributions from Sia, Lenny Kravitz, and Snoop Dogg. She unveiled the title track from the album in May 2026 before releasing another song, “Curious Subject,” in August.

In shedding light on the album title, she told PEOPLE, “When I was a kid, I really liked the ‘Godzilla’ movies. When we came up with [‘Chakzilla’] as a title, lots of things just ran through my head and made a lot of sense.”

She went on to say, in reference to the title track’s music video, “Instead of becoming a monster and just tearing up things, I became sort of a monster of a person who does good things.”

The last few years have been the definition of booked and busy for Morena Baccarin, who is soon to have a key figure in her life join her in her hit CBS series. Best known for her role as Vanessa in the Deadpool movies, Baccarin recently teamed up with another MCU veteran in Anthony Mackie for the 2024 sci-fi thriller, Elevation. The film has found a home streaming on Hulu this year after an underwhelming performance at the box office. Baccarin also played a key role in another massive box office bomb, Amazon’s Masters of the Universe movie, but the film is well on its way to completing its redemption arc. News broke over the weekend that Masters of the Universe has been one of the most-watched movies of the year on Prime Video.

While the success of movies and TV may come and go, Baccarin has one of the most popular shows on CBS to fall back on in Sheriff Country. The first season of Sheriff Country wrapped up earlier this year on CBS, and after picking up a Season 2 renewal, the network has already confirmed that the Baccarin-led procedural is coming back for Season 2 starting October 9. The premiere is getting an extra-special dose of love, also, as it was announced this afternoon on Instagram that Ben McKenzie, Baccarin’s real-life husband, will also play a key role in the first episode of Sheriff Country Season 2. This will be something of an on-screen reunion for Baccarin and McKenzie, who previously starred together in several episodes of the DC series, Gotham, which ran for five seasons between 2014 and 2019.

What Is ‘Sheriff Country’ About?

The first season of Sheriff Country follows Mickey Fox, a straight-shooting sheriff, as she runs the small rural town of Edgewater, California. Together, Mickey and her stepsister, Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone, must balance the demands of law enforcement with the complexities of motherhood, community politics and a past that won’t stay buried. Sheriff Country is a spin-off of another enormously popular CBS show, Fire Country, which was written and created for TV by Max Thieriot, who also stars as Bode. Matt Lauria and W. Earl Brown also star in Sheriff Country as Nathan Boone and Wes Fox.

Check out the first season of Sheriff Country on Paramount Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 2, which is coming soon to CBS.

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Release Date

October 17, 2025

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Showrunner

Matt Lopez

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If there was any doubt about just how massive Grand Theft Auto VI is going to be, the latest pre order data may have put it to rest.

According to a new report from digital intelligence firm Sensor Tower, an incredible 89% of GTA 6 pre orders are reportedly for the $99.99 Ultimate Edition, compared to just 11% for the $79.99 Standard Edition.

The numbers are particularly surprising considering premium editions traditionally account for a much smaller percentage of early game sales. Sensor Tower’s data reportedly shows the trend is nearly identical across both major console platforms, with approximately 88.5% of PlayStation pre orders and 90% of Xbox pre orders going toward the Ultimate Edition.

That means players aren’t simply lining up for GTA 6. They’re overwhelmingly choosing the most expensive version available.

Take Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently acknowledged that the Ultimate Edition was outselling the Standard Edition, attributing the early trend to the franchise’s most dedicated fans.

“The most avid consumers are the ones who are pre-ordering now,”

Zelnick said.

The $99.99 Ultimate Edition includes additional premium content, including vehicles, weapons and apparel integrated throughout Jason and Lucia’s story. Rockstar has priced the Standard Edition at $79.99.

The staggering 89% figure also arrives shortly after Take Two described overall demand for GTA 6 as “unprecedented.” Zelnick called the response to pre orders both “unprecedented and astonishing,” although the publisher has stopped short of revealing exactly how many copies have been reserved.

Pre orders officially opened on June 25, and the response further illustrates the enormous anticipation surrounding Rockstar’s first new Grand Theft Auto installment in more than a decade. Grand Theft Auto V has sold more than 230 million copies since its original 2013 release, creating an almost unprecedented built in audience for its successor.

GTA VI [rockstar games]

The Ultimate Edition’s dominance could also be an important indicator for the broader gaming industry. Publishers have increasingly experimented with higher prices and premium editions, but convincing nearly nine out of every ten early buyers to spend an additional $20 would be an extraordinary achievement for any franchise.

Of course, the percentage could change significantly as launch approaches. Early adopters are typically among a franchise’s most dedicated fans, while more casual players may ultimately gravitate toward the cheaper Standard Edition.

Still, an 89% premium edition share this early is another indication that GTA 6 isn’t behaving like a normal video game release.

Grand Theft Auto VI launches November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Hayden Panettiere‘s mom, Lesley Vogel, opened up about the sudden deaths of her two children in an emotional sit-down interview.

“It’s a process. And I think it will probably hit me later on,” she told ABC News reporter Rhiannon Ally on the Monday, August 24, episode of Good Morning America.

The interview aired eight days after news broke of the actress’ death at the age of 36. Hayden’s brother, Jansen Panettiere, previously died in 2023 at the age of 28.

“I would say to the haters out there, you don’t have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child,” Vogel, 70, said during Monday’s interview. “That’s my domain.”

Vogel choked up as she recalled the moment she learned about Hayden’s death. “I was numb. I was just numb,” she admitted. “I just couldn’t feel anything. I still [am] not grasping this is real. It doesn’t feel real. My mind tells me it’s not at times. It’s going to be a process.”

When asked how she moves forward after losing her two children, Vogel was once again overcome with emotion. “I think you just have to find that inner strength,” she said. “I have been knocked down throughout my life and I’m not complaining, because I have the strength to get back up. … It’s how we get back up that defines who we are.”

Vogel, who was estranged from the Heroes alum prior to her death, also told the outlet how she hoped her daughter would be remembered.

“I want Hayden to be remembered for the talented, beautiful, outgoing, intelligent woman she really was,” she said. “But I also want people to understand that it is my belief that she was suffering. Now, that doesn’t make sense. Because when you look at a beautiful career who’s got an incredible career, even though it had its ups and downs, but you look at that big picture and you go, ‘Why would you be suffering?’ People don’t understand that you can have all of this, but that doesn’t mean that’s what’s going on [inside] matches.”

She noted that Hayden “had a very happy life” until she was cast as Claire Bennett on Heroes at 16. “So here she was, the star of a major TV series. But I would say at about 17, I started seeing her going downhill,” Vogel claimed. “As she got older, it wasn’t my voice anymore. I wasn’t in charge of her choices. I tried to give her the best advice I could. But again, you know, any young person, teen, they want to be liberated. And I get that. I did get that.”

Related: Hayden Panettiere’s Mom Shares What She Told Cop at Scene of Actress’ Death

Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother, Lesley Vogel, has revealed what she claims she told authorities at the scene of her daughter’s death after the late actress was found unresponsive from an apparent drug overdose. “[The officer] said to me, ‘Well, what do you think about Brian Hickerson?’ And I said, ‘I think he’s culpable,’” Vogel, 70, […]

Vogel previously opened up to The New York Times about spending time with Hayden one year prior in Los Angeles. “She was in pain,” she told the outlet. “She was afraid. She couldn’t physically function properly.”

Following news of Hayden’s death, Gayle King publicly criticized Vogel’s public statement the loss, which claimed her daughter had “lost her way” amid not staying “true to herself.” Vogel reacted while speaking to the Daily Mail on Saturday, August 22.

The mom, who served as Hayden’s manager when she was a child actor and model, told the outlet that she was “very, very hurt and deeply disappointed” about the criticism’s “lack of professionalism” and compassion. “No one reached out to me before. It’s shameful. It’s unconscionable to me,” Vogel told the outlet on Saturday.

Hadyen’s father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed his daughter’s death in a statement to Us on August 16 after she was found unresponsive in a South Carolina apartment. The late star is survived by her parents and her 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, whom she shared with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

A cause of death has not been confirmed, however, an autopsy showed “no signs of trauma” contributed to her passing. A local police report claimed that Hayden’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were both in attendance at the scene of her death.

Brian’s attorney told Us in a statement that there were “no signs of foul play” amid an ongoing investigation into Panettiere’s death. Zach later told TMZ that he and Brian had attempted to save Hayden’s life.

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“When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious,” Zach alleged to the outlet on Friday, August 21. “I immediately called 911, and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point, we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life.”

Narcan is a nasal spray “designed to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency,” according to the brand’s website.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Kacey Musgraves is not just talented; she is also extremely generous!

The musical powerhouse took some time out of her busy tour schedule to solicit assistance, both monetary and in other ways, for children whose parents were affected by the current wave of deportation in the United States.

Kacey Musgraves’ reputation for giving so freely over the years has been widely written about, including a financial apology for a sarcastic joke targeted at her roots in Texas.

The talented songwriter opened her “Middle of Nowhere” tour with a bang on Friday, August 21 evening at Chicago’s United Center, asking her eager audience to help. She asked fans to donate to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights as part of her upcoming birthday celebrations.

She explained that the non-profit organization helped children whose parents were deported by giving them legal aid and money. Musgraves clarified that her plea for help had nothing to do with politics and stemmed from genuine concern for the affected children.

Musgraves’ public appeal on Friday doubled down on an initial move she made in April, when resale platform Depop announced that 20 pieces from her wardrobe, including clothing from music videos and tours, would be sold in capsule drops. 

As Page Six reported, Women’s Wear Daily said all proceeds from the sale would benefit the Young Center. Musgraves’ North American tour will run through the rest of October. 

The Grammy Winner Made A Major Impact With Six-Figure Charity Fundraiser

In 2019, The Recorder reported that Musgraves headlined the “Sing Out Loud Festival Benefit” concert, which raised $225,392.50 for two local charities. The organizations were identified as HorsePlay Therapy Center and the Green Hands Initiative for St. Johns County Public Schools, which the singer personally selected.

Tickets for the benefit concert saw sales surge within an hour of their release in March for the September show. Before taking the stage, she presented each organization with a check for $112,696.25.

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Horseplay Therapy Center provides horseback-based physical, occupational and speech therapy for kids with special needs. The organization planned to use its share for therapy scholarships and a covered arena that would allow services to continue year-round.

As for the Green Hands Initiative, its donation would fund filtered water refill stations in St. Johns County schools, encouraging reusable bottles while teaching students to reduce waste and protect the environment.

In 2024, TMZ noted that the singer tried to smooth over drama with her hometown of Texas after a remark during one of her concerts upset locals. 

To bolster her apology, the country singer doled out a whopping $10,000 to the Alba-Golden Seniors Scholarship Fund after a clip surfaced of her saying Golden, Texas, was not exactly something to celebrate while performing in Canada. 

The singer explained that her comment was meant as playful sarcasm, not a criticism of the community, emphasizing her affection for her Texas roots and apologizing to anyone who took offense. Musgraves reportedly also contacted organizers in Golden privately to express her regret, as locals turned the viral moment into a fundraiser of their own. 

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The Golden Sweet Potato Festival began selling “Something to Cheer For” shirts inspired by Musgraves’ remark, generating about $8,000 for the same scholarship fund before her $10,000 contribution. Festival organizers welcomed Musgraves’ apology and donation, saying they appreciated her continued connection to Golden.

The ‘Slow Burn’ Singer Previously Shelved Her Opening Concert

Musgraves’ ongoing tour experienced an unexpected shake-up shortly before the North American leg kicked off. Musgraves struck out three concerts, including the Chicago show, which was billed to kick off the tour.

As stated by The Blast, fans were informed via Ticketmaster that the Chicago date slated for August 20, the Boston show slated for August 29, and the September 2 Brooklyn performance would no longer take place. 

The Grammy winner had planned over 20 performances across 25 North American cities, with a show in Seattle wrapping things up in October. The country singer is also scheduled to take the tour train to Australia in January 2027 before heading to the United Kingdom the months after.

Musgraves’ musical career began in the early 2000s when she was still a teenager and independently released her first album “Movin’ On” in 2002, at just 13. The star has 8 Grammy Awards to her name from 15 nominations, with her album “Golden Hour” winning Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

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Kacey Musgraves Faced Outburst Over Collaboration With Walmart

The singer’s wardrobe collab with the retail giant faced a different kind of criticism over the sizing of her Kacey Lee collection at Walmart. Musgraves created the denim brand, which carried a series of western-inspired lines, including 100 pieces across clothing, swimwear, and pet accessories.

The collection was made affordable through pricing and offered a broad selection, but it left some shoppers disappointed with its limited size range. Many of their tops reportedly ended at XXL, while most bottoms went up to size 18, failing to tend to the plus-size community.

Several content creators, including Megan Ixim, called out the collab for the sizing issues and for not extending larger sizes across all lines. Walmart listings showed that 2X and 3X sizes were mainly available for certain swimsuits, including bikinis and one-pieces, but not for the rest of Musgraves’ collection.

Hayden Panettiere reportedly instructed her private security team to keep Brian Hickerson away from her as she promoted a memoir detailing their tumultuous relationship. The security directive was allegedly issued before the actress began her book tour in May, approximately three months before Hickerson was present at the South Carolina residence where she died. The revelation offers new insight into where the “Heroes” star reportedly stood with her on-again, off-again boyfriend before they reconnected.

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Panettiere released her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” in May and began promoting the book with an appearance in New York City on May 19. According to The New York Times, the actress’ private security team received “clear instructions” to prevent Hickerson from approaching her during the tour. Barnes & Noble in Union Square, which hosted the first stop, was reportedly given a “specific instruction” to “not let in a man named Brian Hickerson.”

The report does not indicate that Hickerson attempted to enter the event. However, the alleged security measure suggests Panettiere wanted distance from him while publicly discussing their relationship and the domestic violence she said she experienced.

Brian Hickerson Was Present When The Actress Died

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Despite the security directive, Hickerson was with Panettiere when she died on August 16 at age 36. A police report confirmed that Brian and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were at the Greenville residence when emergency personnel attempted to save the actress.

Brian showed officers a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was reportedly taking. The responding officer described Zach as “very emotional” while first responders worked on Panettiere. Brian reportedly did not become visibly emotional until she was pronounced dead.

The heavily redacted police report does not provide a complete account of the hours preceding her death. Hickerson has not been accused of causing or contributing to Panettiere’s death.

Hickerson Breaks His Silence Through His Attorney

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Hickerson addressed Panettiere’s death in a statement released by his attorney, Sloan Ellis. “Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” he said. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

The statement did not address the report that Panettiere’s security team had been instructed to keep him away during her book tour. The investigation remains active while authorities await toxicology results and additional studies.

Hayden Panettiere Previously Spoke Out About Abuse

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Panettiere and Hickerson began their on-and-off relationship in 2018. He was later arrested on multiple domestic violence charges. After his 2020 arrest on eight domestic violence charges, Panettiere publicly addressed her experience.

“I am coming forward with the truth about what happened to me with the hope that my story will empower others in abusive relationships to get the help they need and deserve,” she said at the time. “I am prepared to do my part to make sure this man never hurts anyone again. I’m grateful for my support system, which helped me find the courage to regain my voice and my life.”

Hickerson pleaded no contest in April 2021 to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend. He was sentenced to 45 days in county jail, four years of probation, 52 domestic violence classes and a $500 fee. He also received a five-year restraining order barring him from going near Panettiere.

Actress Later Reconnected With Hickerson

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During a 2022 interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Panettiere described her relationship with Hickerson as “a very dark and complicated time in my life.” “I wanted to party, I wanted to do everything I wasn’t supposed to do. Acting was my life, but I felt so bad about myself that I lost trust in myself. And that is very detrimental. The idea of not having a responsibility was very appealing at the time,” she explained.

Panettiere had reconnected with Hickerson as a friend by the time of that interview. “I think [Brian] has done his time and was willing to get help. I think about the things I have done in my life that people forgave me for. Making amends is a really important thing that you learn in treatment,” she said. “And it gives you a lot of inner peace.”

The police report from the day of her death identified Panettiere as Hickerson’s girlfriend, indicating their relationship had reportedly become romantic again.

Lesley Vogel Calls Their Bond ‘Codependent’

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Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, claimed her daughter and Hickerson shared a toxic “codependent bond” that was “much more powerful than people realized.” Vogel has repeatedly expressed concern about Hickerson’s influence and said her daughter once recognized that she needed to remove him from her life.

Hickerson has not publicly responded to Vogel’s latest allegations.