Meghan Markle is said to have issued a brief but pointed warning to Prince Harry as speculation continues to swirl around the couple’s financial situation.

The couple has been living in California, USA, since stepping down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and has been spending millions annually to maintain their lifestyle.

Meghan Markle reportedly covers most of these bills, while Prince Harry is said to be focused on his philanthropic work and has refused to tap into his inheritance to help out.

Recently, reports have emerged claiming that Prince Harry has left Meghan Markle to be the breadwinner of the family, while he fully channels his energy towards his philanthropic work.

But amid their rising cost of living in the US, Meghan is now said to have issued a warning to Prince Harry, saying: “I can’t do it all.”

According to a source who spoke with Closer Online, it is an “enormous task” for Meghan to keep shouldering all of their bills, and she is currently feeling “immense pressure.”

On the outside, she is putting on a brave face, but is slowly becoming frustrated that Harry does not appear to want to help out.

“She’s putting a brave face on this, but everyone is saying that it’s chipping away at their foundation, just having these very different views on money,” added the insider. “The general feeling among her friends is that Harry needs to do something drastic, and fast.”

The Sussexes Have ‘Massive Outgoings’ Each Month That Must Be Maintained

In California, Meghan and Harry live in a mansion in Montecito, which reportedly costs the couple over $14 million.

Maintaining the house, staff salaries, and other expenses have led to “massive outgoings every month,” and failure to cover them means the couple’s “lives will fall apart,” the source claimed.

Facing this enormous responsibility has reportedly led to more than “a few sleepless nights” for Meghan, who is also dealing with the demands of running multiple businesses.

The duchess is also tasked with being a mother to their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, while she runs her ever-expanding lifestyle brand.

Prince Harry And Meghan Need A Multi-Million Dollar Annual Income To Keep Up With Their Lavish Lifestyle

Although Meghan and Harry have steered clear of discussing their financial situation with the media, insiders have hinted at strain due to reduced cash sources.

Renowned author Tom Bower claimed that the couple would need an income of at least $3 million annually to keep going.

Other sources have stated that the couple would need twice that amount or close to that amount, especially amid ongoing inflation.

Meghan Markle Reportedly Expects Prince Harry To Dip Into His Inheritance

To help support their family, Meghan is reportedly expecting Prince Harry to dip into his substantial inheritance.

The prince is said to have received significant sums from his late mother, Princess Diana, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

“Harry inherited something like $20 million between his mother and grandmother, so it’s not as though he doesn’t have money, but it’s all heavily invested,” a source shared.

“He refuses to dip into it and says it’s for their eventual old age and to help their kids get a start in life with a good education and all of that. He will draw on the interest, which is considerable as far as a monthly income goes, but it’s no match for their massive outgoings; they still need a whole lot more each month to stay out of the red,” the insider added.

The As Ever Founder Also Wants Her Husband To Consider Other Ventures

Alternatively, Meghan reportedly expects Harry to consider taking on other ventures he has previously turned down, especially as some of their past deals have since fallen through.

The couple was unable to renew their deal with Spotify, and Meghan’s “With Love, Meghan” Netflix series was not greenlit for a third season.

Also, new deals have not been coming in as they used to, amid reports that their popularity may have been declining in recent months.

“If Harry wasn’t so precious about things, he could bring in plenty of money in brand deals and other commercial partnerships; there are plenty of Hollywood agents who would sign him,” the insider said.

Despite this desire, Meghan is said to know that Harry won’t agree to it, leaving the burden on her to monetize their “status in whatever way she can.”

A newly leaked toy description for Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have revealed one of the film’s biggest story details, and it could spell trouble for both Peter Parker and Bruce Banner.

While Marvel and Sony have already confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, new merchandise details suggest Hulk’s role may be far more significant than fans originally expected.

According to information tied to a leaked toy line, Banner is reportedly using a device designed to suppress his Hulk transformations. However, when the technology fails, the Savage Hulk emerges, forcing Spider-Man into a dangerous situation that could become one of the movie’s central conflicts.

Spoiler Warning:

The following details are based on leaked merchandise information and have not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

According to the toy description, Bruce Banner’s attempt to control the Hulk goes horribly wrong when the device preventing his transformation fails. The leak suggests that Peter Parker finds himself dealing with the aftermath as the Savage Hulk returns.

If accurate, the storyline would mark the first major appearance of the classic Savage Hulk persona in years. Since Avengers: Endgame, audiences have primarily seen Smart Hulk, the version of Banner who successfully merged his intelligence with Hulk’s immense strength.

*Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Hulk figurine. Image credit: Bandai/Marvel.*

The leak could also explain why Hulk appears to have such a prominent presence in early marketing and reports surrounding the film despite Brand New Day being described as a more grounded Spider-Man story.

For Marvel fans, the possibility of Spider-Man facing Savage Hulk is an exciting prospect. While the two heroes have crossed paths in comics, the MCU has never fully explored a conflict between Peter Parker and an uncontrolled Hulk. Such a matchup would instantly become one of the biggest action sequences in any Spider-Man film.

Of course, fans should take the leak with a grain of salt. Toy descriptions are often based on early story drafts, simplified plot summaries, or marketing material that doesn’t always reflect the final movie.

Still, merchandise leaks have a long history of revealing legitimate details about major superhero films, making this one difficult to ignore.

Whether the leak proves entirely accurate or not, one thing appears certain: Hulk’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Daymay be much larger than anyone expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

Marcia Lucas, former wife of George Lucas, just died at the age of 80. The two have been divorced since 1983, the same year that Return of the Jedi was released. Because this happened a long time ago (in an era far, far away) many younger fans of the franchise have no idea who Marcia is or why she is so important to Star Wars. She and George had a relationship that was just as much creative as it was romantic, and she helped him edit the films of the Original Trilogy. But she had the most influence on A New Hope, the very first film in this blockbuster sci-fi series.

As you might imagine, nobody had quite as much sway with a young George Lucas as his wife. Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill once said as much, claiming, “if she wanted to keep it, it was in. Fortunately for all of us, she had some very good ideas, including everything from little character moments (Leia kissing Luke for luck in the Death Star) to major story beats (like the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi). For these reasons and more, she earned the title “the secret weapon” of this franchise. That means that fans owe a life debt of gratitude to this woman, unbeknownst to almost everyone, secretly saved Star Wars.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

To understand why Marcia Lucas was so important to the franchise, you need to first understand what a nightmare the production of the first Star Wars movie was. Remember, George Lucas was juggling ideas for decades worth of films, and he made the bold (and slightly crazy) decision to make A New Hope the fourth installment of an ongoing story. That meant this first film needed to introduce a galaxy far, far away, give us tons of background info, develop a bunch of younger characters, and make us care about the past of the older characters. Along the way, it needed to balance world-building with humor and plenty of action.

After everything was shot, George had tons of footage, but the whole thing looked like a hot mess. Star Wars was saved in the edit by a series of editors. One of them was Marcia Lucas, who was the real deal when it came to bringing films to life. She wasn’t some nepo hire of her husband’s; in fact, she was so good at her job that she (along with fellow editors Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew) won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing to honor their work on the first Star Wars movie. Thanks to her keen eye, George Lucas’ creation became the biggest sci-fi franchise in the world.

In The Editing Trenches

What changes did Marcia make in editing? For one thing, she re-ordered many of the earliest scenes of A New Hope so that the audience would feel excited and immersed; originally, that first hour was largely composed of boring exposition. She also edited Obi-Wan and Luke’s conversation so that they watch Leia’s “you’re my only hope” message in the middle of talking about Luke’s father. This adds urgency to the narrative, whereas the original cut made it seem like the two were indifferent about rescuing her. Additionally, she spent eight weeks editing the Battle of Yavin so that the film had a thrilling climax that still hit all the right emotional beats.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, George Lucas revealed that Marcia had to edit “40,000 feet of dialogue footage of pilots saying this and that” into a cohesive fight scene. But she never thought that this spectacle should come at the expense of emotionally satisfying character beats. As recorded by The Secret History of Star Wars website, she once told George a blunt truth about the famous trench run sequence: “If the audience doesn’t cheer when Han Solo comes in at the last second in the Millennium Falcon to help Luke when he’s being chased by Darth Vader, the picture doesn’t work.” Incidentally, Luke originally did two trench runs, and she cut it down to just the final one.

Killing Off The Most Famous Actor’s Character

Nobody can deny that George Lucas is a creative genius, and nobody else in Hollywood could have developed something quite as crazy cool as Star Wars. But he’s never been the strongest writer in the world, as evidenced by the cringe-inducing dialogue and bizarre plot beats of the prequels. It was the same from the beginning, and Lucas’ original script for A New Hope was bad. Numerous people dunked on it, including George’s buddy, Steven Spielberg. Fortunately, Marcia was a double threat and was a solid writer on top of being an excellent editor, and she provided some ideas that really saved that first Star Wars film.

Marcia Lucas’ most famous storytelling contribution to A New Hope was convincing George Lucas to kill off Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was originally scripted to survive. It was also her idea to have the Death Star threaten the Rebel base on Yavin IV, creating a sense of urgency for the film’s climax. Additionally, she convinced her husband to keep in many of the quiet character moments of the movie, including Leia kissing Luke and telling him it was “for luck.” Heck, Marcia even convinced him to keep in the part where the mouse droid comes up and gets scared away by Chewbacca’s roar!

Becoming One With The Force

Unfortunately, Marcia Lucas’ importance to the development of Star Wars has been downplayed ever since she divorced from George Lucas in 1983. It was an insanely bitter divorce, one that left George convinced he’d never marry again (though he changed his mind almost exactly 30 years later). Speaking of bitter, Marcia opened up about the divorce in the book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, angrily noting that “George would never acknowledge that to me. I think he resented my criticisms, felt that all I ever did was put him down.” Continuing, she said, “In his mind, I always stayed the stupid Valley girl…he never felt I was very smart and he never gave me much credit.”

Fortunately, a growing number of fans have acknowledged her contributions to this amazing franchise in recent years. Now, with her death, more people than ever before are learning about the awesome achievements that earned her a highly coveted Academy Award for Film Editing. With any luck, the fandom will do a better job of honoring her creative legacy than her husband ever did, and we can remember her for who she truly was: the woman who secretly saved Star Wars from its own creator. 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 minute ago

Star Trek has a handful of beloved actors who regularly play multiple characters. The gold standard is Jeffrey Combs: while most famous for playing Weyoun on Deep Space Nine, Combs also played the Ferengi Brunt (sometimes in the same episode) and several other roles (including fan-favorite Enterprise character Shran) in the franchise. Majel Barrett also played Number One, Nurse Chapel, and Lwaxana Troi, all while voicing the Enterprise computer. Suzie Plakston played Worf’s fierce, Klingon baby mama, a logic-loving Vulcan, and an immortal Q. Brent Spiner played the android Data, but he also played his own evil brother, his own human father, and a growing assortment of characters in that positronic papa’s bloodline.

By contrast, when Trek brings in a big-name actor, it’s usually for a one-off cameo. Such actors include Kelsey Grammer, Vanessa Williams, and even Dwayne Johnson (no, really!). When Babe star James Cromwell was cast to play Zefram Cochrane, the creator of warp drive, in Star Trek: First Contact, many assumed that he was just another one-off bit of stunt casting. However, that assumption is dead wrong: not only did Cromwell play three different Trek roles before landing First Contact, but he returned to the Cochrane character for two different TV shows before ending his Trek through the stars.

James Cromwell As You’ve Never Seen Him

James Cromwell made his franchise debut in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Hunted.” There, he played a corrupt planetary leader, Nayrok,  who tried to exile soldiers after a major war ended; it turned out that his government had turned these guys into super-soldiers, but he was now worried that their wartime experiences and psychological conditioning would keep them from reintegrating into polite society. Cromwell does an excellent job of turning this minor character into a villain you love to hate, which makes it that much more satisfying when Picard beams away, leaving the man’s fate in the hands of the very soldiers he had screwed over.

In Cromwell’s next Star Trek: The Next Generation appearance, he was completely unrecognizable. In the two-part episode “Birthright,” he played a Yridian named Jaglom Shrek. This freaky-looking alien tempted Worf by telling him something unbelievable: namely, that the Klingon security chief’s father was actually alive. After some not-so-gentle persuasion, Shrek takes Worf to a secret Romulan prison camp; there is no sign of Worf’s father, but the Enterprise officer is taken prisoner. Interestingly, while Shrek is very chatty in “Birthright, Part I,” he says nothing in the follow-up installment. While lines were scripted for Cromwell, he broke his leg between episodes, which resulted in all of his dialogue being cut. 

Cromwell’s Only DS9 Appearance

James Cromwell never appeared in The Next Generation again, but he did pop up in a single episode of Deep Space Nine: “Starship Down.” There, he played an alien trade minister named Hanok who had been swindled by Quark. However, the two are forced to put aside their differences when a Jem’hadar torpedo lodges itself in the Defiant mess hall, with them stuck inside the room. After Quark successfully defuses the torpedo, he convinces Hanok to resume trade negotiations with the Federation. Overall, Cromwell really enjoyed his one episode of DS9, and Quark actor Armin Shimerman enjoyed acting alongside someone he had befriended when they did Shakespearean theatre together.

Cromwell’s next appearance in the franchise practically needs no introduction. In the film Star Trek: First Contact, he played Zefram Cochrane, the human who invented faster-than-light travel. While the time-traveling Enterprise crew thinks of Cochrane as a noble and heroic legend, they are shocked to discover that he just wants to make money and party with beautiful women. However, these visitors from the future convince him that his invention will change all of mankind. As for Cromwell, he needed no convincing to reprise this role for the first episode of Enterprise, and he also played his Mirror Universe counterpart via archival footage. Later, he played a holographic Cochrane in the hilarious Lower Decks episode, “Grounded.”

While he hasn’t been as prolific in the franchise as Jeffrey Combs (hell, few people are!), James Cromwell has played way more Star Trek roles than most fans realize. He played three different aliens before playing Zefram Cochrane on three (or four, if we count that archival footage) separate occasions. Given the number of times he reprised the role, it’s a fair guess that this was Cromwell’s favorite. Incidentally, he became an unintentional Trek icon by following a variation of Cochrane’s famous advice: don’t try to be a great character, just be a character, and let fans make their own judgements.

Roomies, Marissa Da’Nae had social media doing a double take after she dropped a low-key update that started off like a regular life dump—but quickly turned into a moment the internet couldn’t scroll past without noticing something big was going on.

RELATED: NLE Choppa Sparks Debate After Addressing Clips Of Him Flirting With Other Women In Front Of His Fiancée (VIDEOS)

Marissa Da’Nae Confirms She Has A Bun In The Oven

On Sunday, May 31, Marissa Da’Nae hopped on Instagram with a photo dump captioned “Life Lately,” sharing a mix of soft lifestyle snaps that slowly revealed she’s expecting a child. As fans clicked through, ultrasound images and subtle clips—including one dated May 28—confirmed that she has a bun in the oven, sparking instant reactions across social media.

The post also featured sweet moments with her son Chozen, whom she shares with NLE Choppa, alongside shots of Marissa embracing her pregnancy glow while still stepping out and living her best life. From casual mirror selfies to laid-back clips, the update showed her balancing motherhood and this new chapter with ease and style.

The Comments Went Up After Marissa’s Post

Folks quickly ran to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section after Marissa Da’Nae’s announcement started making the rounds, with many flooding the post with congratulations and well wishes. While plenty of users showed love and celebrated her growing family, others joked about how it feels like “everybody’s getting pregnant these days” except them. The mix of reactions had the comments section buzzing, as fans continued reacting to the surprise reveal.

One Instagram user @brittneysage7 commented, “I hope by a man who loves her ❤️”

This Instagram user @vjazmyn_ shared, “pregnancy is in the air rn 😭 yall stay safe out there“

Likewise, Instagram user @bri.ni joked, “WHEW!! Pregnancy is in the WATER aint it?? 👀 Im just so glad that it aint me!!! 🫣🥴”

And, Instagram user @dreamgrrrll added, “so happy for her ❤️”

Then Instagram user @nykia.28 claimed, “Not sure who that is but ok congrats“

Lastly, Instagram user @lovelymewhite wrote, “I got to stop taking these plan bs. I got baby fever now.“

Fans Revisit Marissa Da’Nae’s 2023 Pregnancy Photos

Back in 2023, Marissa took to Instagram to share her maternity photos with followers, posing alongside an elephant while standing bare-chested in the water. In one standout shot, the elephant gently cradled her baby bump with its trunk, adding a symbolic touch to the shoot, as she captioned the post saying she was “forever thankful” while also explaining her choice to include the animal in the imagery. The following day, she returned to her Instagram Story to share clips from her baby shower held at an undisclosed venue, which featured displays from her maternity shoot and signage revealing her baby boy’s name, “BABY CHOZEN,” later confirmed in a repost reading, “Baby Chozen otw.”

RELATED: Hol’ Up! NLE Choppa Seemingly Claps Back At LeBron James’ Memphis Comments As The City’s Mayor Speaks Out

Whew, Roomies! Summer might be here, but temperatures on social media are really giving petty season. Jay-Z has the internet on lock as fans keep breaking down his viral Roots Picnic freestyle. As reactions roll in, everyone is on standby waiting for the folks he seemingly dissed to enter the chat. Well, Dame Dash has shared his thoughts on the viral moment, and now folks are cutting up over his response to Hov.

RELATED: 99 Problems? Jay-Z Seemingly Disses Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ye & More During Spicy Roots Picnic Freestyle (VIDEOS) 

Dame Dash Enters The Chat After Jay-Z’s Viral Freestyle

As timelines keep flooding with Jay-Z viral Roots Picnic performance, social media users are stopping mid-scroll to pause as they peeped Dame Dash reacting to Hov’s verses. Jay had the whole Philly crowd in a frenzy as he took shots at several artists, and Dame was seemingly among the bunch who ended up catching a stray. Jay didn’t name-drop Dame, but fans still assumed he took shots at him when he said, “Teeth tumbling out their mouth and somehow I’m the one to blame.“ That jab had fans brining up the viral moment when Dame’s teeth fell out during a September 2024 livestream. 

Well Dame pulled up on Instagram with a response that let fans know exactly where he stands. He dropped a meme of Hov showing him as Disney’s Goofy with an afro, fully dressed in black like he was at the concert. He didn’t say much in his caption — he just added a laughing emoji and tagged Jay-Z.

The Roomies Are Split After Dame Responds To Hov

Once The Shade Room dropped Dame’s clap back at Hov, the Roomies lit up the comment section with reactions. Some sided with Dame and said he ate with his response, while others crowned Hov the GOAT and left it at that.

Instagram user @_dmargiela wrote, “😂😂😂😂 he ate that one bad.” 

Instagram user @__hot.__.girl__ wrote, “Omg man I’m here for this 😂 sorry cuz dame is unhinged!”

While Instagram user @richlifeshawtydred wrote, “I can’t believe I’m actually agreeing with Dame Dash.” 

Then Instagram user @who_iss_thaaat wrote, “How you hating outside the roots picnic when you can’t even get in?” 

Another Instagram user @hippiieheadband wrote, “We knew bald toothless was coming around the river bend!” 

Instagram user @ad3online wrote, “Jay did Dame so many favors by just mentioning him! lol 😂” 

While another Instagram user @pettysnation wrote, “😂😂😂 nah that goofy pic is funny.” 

Then another Instagram user @mingydagoat wrote, “How he mad and he’s been going on a world tour mentioning him 😂” 

Finally, Instagram user @harrisonala99 wrote, “Dame posting Goofy with the missing teeth…the jokes write themselves 😂” 

LeBron James Reacts To Jay-Z’s Performance As Fans Continue To Break Down His Bars

Dame Dash wasn’t the only celebrity to weigh in on Jay’s Roots Picnic performance. LeBron James also tapped in on his Instagram Story, reposting a clip of Jay’s set with two steamed-faced emojis and a shushing emoji.

Ever since clips hit the timeline, fans have continued to flood social media with reposts of videos and photos of Hov’s performance. As The Shade Room previously reported, the moment went viral after fans assumed that he took subliminal shots at Drake, Ye, Nicki Minaj and more in a freestyle. See a full breakdown of his bars here.

RELATED: Social Media Is Crackin’ UP As Viral Clips Show Jay-Z’s Response To Fans Calling For Beyoncé At Roots Picnic (VIDEOS) 

Keke Palmer and Sean Evans have fans playing matchmaker again after his recent appearance on “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer.”

In the episode, Palmer and the “Hot Ones” host revisited their years-long connection, including a viral on-screen kiss from years ago.

The actress has also been speaking candidly about the bigoted messages she receives online, as well as the health struggles that once took a toll on her.

Palmer and Evans sent fans back into matchmaking mode after he featured in an episode of “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer.”

The “Hot Ones” host joined Palmer on the May 26 installment, where the pair looked back on their relationship over the years, and even rewatched their viral kiss from her 2025 appearance on his show.

After watching the exchange, fans appeared to be just as invested as ever. One viewer was already imagining a much bigger future for the pair, writing in the comments section, “Ready for the wedding and the healthy marriage.”

Another fan felt the moment looked like more than casual banter, joking, “If this is not a soft launch, I don’t know what it is.”

For some fans, there was no need to overthink it. “Keke, that’s your man,” one viewer wrote, while another declared, “I love Sean, and I love Keke! I love Sean and Keke TOGETHER even more!”

Palmer Slams Bigoted Haters

In a recent interview while promoting her colorful new action-comedy film “I Love Boosters,” Palmer addressed the bigoted messages she has continued to receive online since opening up about being queer.

The Emmy-winning actress warned trolls to stop wasting their time spreading negativity when they could be doing something more useful, explaining that focusing on toxicity only takes away from their own lives.

“You might think you’re hurting others, but you’re really hurting yourself,” she told Out. “When you sit there and only put negativity out, and you only stay on that vibration, you’ve got to balance it. You can’t just be up to some bullsh-t.”

“That’s more time away from you doing what you need to do for your life. Try to create a sense of community,” Palmer urged.

Keke Palmer’s New Film Described As A ‘Joy To Watch’

Palmer appears in the vibrant, upbeat film alongside a star-studded group of women, including Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, Poppy Liu, and Eiza González.

The cast encouraged fans to watch the movie as a form of joyful escapism, while also framing it as a story about unity, freedom, and people choosing a better life for themselves.

“The best way to unite people is through joy, and that’s what this film is. It was a joy to make, and it’s a joy to watch! It’s a joy to be around each other, and that’s what we need to be out here representing,” Ackie said.

“The gay community is a community that really knows how that feels. People of color, minorities… you’re just living your life and living your truth. This movie is about women wanting a better life for themselves. It’s about loving yourself and getting the opportunity to live your best life,” González added.

The Actress Opens Up About Her Painful Acne Battle

Palmer has also been open about the toll her health struggles took on her confidence, particularly while dealing with severe acne connected to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS.

In a recent conversation with Gayle King, the “One of Them Days” actress discussed living with the condition and the years she spent without a diagnosis. According to PEOPLE, the 32-year-old described that period as “crippling” and “unbearable,” saying it deeply affected her confidence.

“It hurt emotionally in a way that you can’t describe… I had it all my life, and it was a burden I learned to wear, but I didn’t want it,” she said. “I remember just reaching a point where I said, ‘I’ve got to solve this. I’ve got to fix this. This isn’t just acne; this is my body telling me something more is going on.’”

Keke Palmer Found Answers After Turning To A Specialist

Elsewhere during the conversation, Palmer revealed that the experience pushed her to research several possible causes of acne online.

She eventually began looking into hormones and, after connecting the symptoms with her family history, asked her doctor if she had PMOS, formerly referred to as PCOS. However, because she did not have cysts, the possibility was initially dismissed.

“I was telling doctors, y’all are wrong,” she recalled.

“Everybody was on that glass skin, and I’m over here with cracked glass. It is a very heavy thing on your mental health because [I felt like] if I do it right, I should have the results,” Palmer continued. “I’m eating right. I’m doing the things. I’m exercising. I’m drinking water. Why is my body betraying me?”

It was not until she turned to an endocrinologist that multiple blood tests confirmed her suspicions. Palmer has since started taking medication for her acne.

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 38 seconds ago

In 2006, the Wachowskis, the minds behind The Matrix, poured the proceeds of their success into a lie. A lie they hoped would reveal the truth.

At first, it seemed to work. People bought tickets, critics liked it, and there was hope that their idea might lead to change on a significant scale. Now, 20 years later, the exact opposite has happened. The dark future their movie predicted is closer than ever. 

This is why V For Vendetta failed.

V For Vendetta Was a Conventional Success

By any conventional measure, V for Vendetta was not a failure; it was a moderate success. It got generally positive reviews, performed solidly at the box office, and more than made its budget back.

But V for Vendetta isn’t a conventional film. So before we determine why it failed, let’s define what V for Vendetta is. 

V’s Truth And His Vendetta

Based on the same-named comic series written in 1982 by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, V for Vendetta tells the tale of a near-future England run by an oppressive government and a man, known only as V (Hugo Weaving), who sets out to destroy it. V is a terrorist, and he achieves his goals by murder, subterfuge, and blowing things up. He bursts onto the scene clad in dark clothes, hidden behind a Guy Fawkes mask, and spouting dialogue so complex and full of high-dollar words that it’s nearly another language. 

While skulking London’s deserted, under-curfew streets, he rescues a waifish girl accosted by Fingermen, the government’s assault-hungry secret police. The girl is Evey (Natalie Portman), and it’s the 5th of November, a day the people of Britain will remember.

V takes Evey under his wing as he embarks upon a strategy of governmental destruction. He’s a terrorist, but he’s not terrorizing the people. Instead, his goal is to awaken and empower them, while striking fear into the heart of England’s totalitarian government. “If you want to see who is responsible, look no further than a mirror,” he tells the country’s citizens. “I understand, you were afraid,” he says by way of forgiving them. 

It’s the people who put Britain’s corrupt, hate-driven government in power, and it’s the people who must stop it. “People should not be afraid of their governments,” pronounces V, “governments should be afraid of their people.”

V for Vendetta is a visually rich, dark, and resonant film; one that uses style to convey substance under the guise of pure entertainment. The Wachowski brothers’ script is a faithful adaptation of its source material, tweaked just enough to update it and properly translate it to the screen.

Is the movie political? Yes, but not necessarily in a way specific to any modern political party. It was, after all, written in 1982. These are the same political paradoxes that have been plaguing man for centuries. If you’re British, you’ll almost certainly find a way to apply it to Keir Starmer or Tony Blair, but that’s only because the film’s themes are universal.

Hugo Weaving is incredible as V, acting underneath a stiff, somewhat silly mask that completely covers his face, his eyes, or anything else he might use to convey the slightest emotion. Yet somehow, V is the film’s most passionate, powerful character. 

Hugo uses his voice and physicality to convey that, to bring an awkward, faceless creation to electrifying life. V calls himself an idea, and with Weaving playing him, he’s a very powerful idea.

But Natalie Portman’s Evey becomes the real heart of the movie. V is an unstoppable force; Evey is a real person, caught up in his deadly rebellion. Her conversations with V, not the movie’s one or two action bits, are the driving force of the Wachowskis’ script. Evey resists V’s crusade against oppression; her mind rebels at what he says out of fear and self-preservation. So will you.

V For Vendetta’s Forbidden Message

Referencing the still unseen film back in the days before it was released, one member of a politically minded film forum was quick to declare: “You can’t make a movie about a terrorist now without endorsing bin Laden.” It’s that mindset that makes V for Vendetta so unsettling. 

Sometimes, it almost feels like you’re watching something forbidden, like you’re seeing something you shouldn’t be allowed to see. It’s shocking that a movie like this ever actually got made. It’s even more unbelievable that a major Hollywood studio made it. Would the Wachowskis have been allowed to make it if they were making it now? I doubt it.

It’s fun to accuse Hollywood of excessive activism. Most of the modern message-pushing they do isn’t bravery; it’s adopting a trend and claiming to be a rebel. Not so with V for Vendetta. It’s a purposefully uncomfortable film, one that will affect different people differently depending on what you bring in with you.

Yes, V for Vendetta is rebellious and risky, subversive and dangerous. But it’s not cynical. V’s naïve take on the world is one that believes in the basic strength and goodness of people as strongly as it believes in the intrinsic corruptness of big government. It’s a viewpoint that almost certainly has no basis in reality, but that’s alright. 

What makes the film great is that you’re not asked to subscribe to its philosophy, only think about it and take note. It’s not a call to rise up against your rulers, but a warning about the way fear can be used to give a person or organization too much power. It’s an old lesson, but one that bears frequent repeating. 

Why V For Vendetta Failed

“By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.” – V’s personal motto

V for Vendetta is an idea. An idea’s success or failure must be measured by its impact on the world around it. V for Vendetta had none.

The movie planted a few quotes in the minds of those who saw it. People love repeating that “governments should be afraid of their people” one. But at no point did V for Vendetta cause anything to change.

By any measure, governments have only grown more powerful and less afraid of their people since 2006. In response, people have rushed to hand off even more power to centralized authority figures, citing safety, equity, or some other concern as justification.

Had V for Vendetta flopped and become a cult classic, people would be whispering its words in secret late-night showings. Had it been a box-office juggernaut, it would have cemented its place as a permanent fixture in our culture. It did neither, so it fades away, taking not just its message, but the message of the comic on which it’s based, along with it.

V for Vendetta’s idea has been neutered, and mid-level success was the tool used to do it.

Roomies, Jay-Z and Beyoncé had the Roots Picnic crowd in Philly going up in more ways than one during his headlining set, especially after fans started getting a little loud with their requests for a very familiar superstar to step out on stage. What began as a high-energy performance quickly turned into a viral moment when the audience kept pushing for a surprise appearance, and Hov’s response had everybody talking.

RELATED: 99 Problems? Jay-Z Seemingly Disses Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ye & More During Spicy Roots Picnic Freestyle (VIDEOS)

Fans Demand Beyoncé, Jay-Z Responds On Stage

During the set, fans repeatedly chanted for Beyoncé to appear on stage, turning the moment into a full-blown call-and-response between the crowd and the rapper. Jay-Z eventually acknowledged the chants with a playful grin and told the audience, “Oh, she’s not working tonight,” shutting down hopes of an onstage appearance but doing it in a way that kept the energy light. The moment quickly spread online, with fans laughing, reacting, and running clips back as another unexpected highlight from the festival.

Someone in the crowd asked Jay about Beyoncé and he said “She’s not working tonight” 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Z4FdB2kuwq

— ѕσℓαηgє 🐝 (@thatssoyoncee) May 31, 2026

Beyoncé Proves She’s Her Hubby’s Biggest Fan

Roomies, Beyoncé gave fans a rare glimpse into her low-key wife life as she pulled up in full rock n’ roll glam to support Jay-Z during a private concert in Philadelphia on Friday, May 29. In a video circulating on X, Beyoncé can be seen partially tucked away from the view as she watched Jay-Z perform his track ‘U Don’t Know,’ nodding along to the beat like a true fan in the building. Rocking an oversized black leather jacket, blue jeans, and her signature bouncy blonde curls with a deep side part, the Cécred founder looked effortlessly cool while vibing to her husband’s set. The subtle support didn’t go unnoticed online, with fans loving the rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of the couple’s enduring chemistry after 18 years of marriage.

JAY-Z performing at a private session in Philly with Beyoncé watching from the side!

Bey is all of us when “U Don’t Know” come on 🔥🔥😂 pic.twitter.com/K4n1nKjNKR

— 💎🍾 (@TheRocSupremacy) May 30, 2026

Beyoncé Pulls Up & Makes Grand Entrance As Per Usual

During the same night, Beyoncé was spotted quietly pulling up to support Jay-Z at his private preview concert, making a low-key but noticeable appearance backstage. The exclusive event served as an intimate rehearsal and warm-up ahead of his headlining set at the 2026 Roots Picnic Festival. Clips shared across social media show Beyoncé keeping a low profile as she moved through the venue while fans quickly caught on to her arrival.

RELATED: That’s Me Right There! Jay-Z And Beyoncé React To Blue Ivy’s Met Gala Debut As Fans Are In Awe (VIDEOS)