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Netflix’s Smash-Hit Series Never Needed To Be an Anthology

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Carey Mulligan looking at a mirror with plastic surgery markings on her face in Beef Season 2

Season 1 of Beef was fast-paced, anxiety-inducing, and perfect in many ways. The concept revolved around two people who crashed into each other’s lives after a road rage incident, and their “beef” causes a domino effect of problems in both of their lives. Considering how cleanly it was wrapped up, it was hard to imagine how Beef could justify a second season. It turns out that showrunner and creator Lee Sung Jin had the answer when Season 2 was announced: an anthology.

On the surface, Beef Season 2 has a very similar skeletal composition to Season 1. Instead of two people butting heads, the conflict now involves two couples at very different points in their lives, clashing with each other. This brings with it not only new drama involving the individual couples but also attempts to approach relationships through a realistic and flawed lens. Where Beef Season 2 starts to unravel, though, is when it becomes overly filled with concepts it wants to tackle. From the widening socioeconomic divide to impossible beauty standards to discussions involving race and identity, there’s simply too much for eight episodes, and the result is an ambitious but bloated sophomore season.

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‘Beef’ Season 2 Takes a New Twist on the Conflict

While Beef Season 1 focused on a road rage incident that leads to bad blood between Danny (Steven Yeun) and Amy (Ali Wong), Season 2 expands its focus beyond just two people. Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) are an affluent married couple in their forties who have been growing emotionally and sexually distant. Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Charles Melton) are a younger, recently engaged couple who are financially struggling but happily in love. Ashley works for the country club in bougie Montecito, where Josh is her boss, and when Ashley and Austin witness Josh and Lindsay have a blow-out fight that nearly turns violent, they record the incident and use it as blackmail to get Ashley a promotion.

Threatened with the potential ruin of their reputation, Josh and Lindsay capitulate begrudgingly, and Ashley begins to move up in the world. With Ashley’s new position at work, she also begins to maneuver a full-time position for Austin at the club as a physical therapist, though he has no actual experience with PT. Despite the blackmail and worrying about where rent money will come from next month, Ashley and Austin are very devoted to each other. Austin is highly sensitive and thoughtful, while Ashley is motivated and determined to gain stability leading up to their eventual marriage.

On the flip side, Josh and Lindsay’s marriage is crumbling. Although they live in a beautiful house, Josh has a great job, and they have a cute dachshund named Burberry, they’re burdened with money problems and a growing rift between them. They haven’t had sex in a long time, with Josh preferring to go to OnlyFans and Lindsay flirting with Woosh (BM), the tennis instructor, and random guys who slide into her DMs. They might have loved each other once, and probably still do on some level, but their marriage is fractured. At the heart of Season 2 is the complicated dynamic that these two couples have with each other, which is actually far more interesting than the actual beef that was the impetus for the series, and therein lies the problem.

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‘Beef’ Season 2 Fails to Hit Its Biggest Target: Class Divides

Carey Mulligan looking at a mirror with plastic surgery markings on her face in Beef Season 2
Carey Mulligan in Beef Season 2
Image via Netflix

Josh and Lindsay’s relationship is a dark mirror to Austin and Ashley’s, and one thing that Season 2 gets right is just how complicated romantic relationships can be. You might fall out of love with someone and decide to stay with them, or you might be deeply in love with someone and still decide to separate. Although that offers enough material for a strong series, that kind of show wouldn’t exactly fall under the Beef umbrella.

So, instead, the series puts the relationships center stage, but then clutters episodes with all manner of storylines to offer the twisty roller coaster ride we experienced in Season 1. Like in the previous season, wealth inequality and money are major motifs, but they’re handled much more sloppily here. Rather than solely focusing on the nuances of Josh and Lindsay’s wealth compared to Austin and Ashley’s financial burdens, the series inserts another third party: Youn Yuh-jung‘s Chairwoman Park, the owner of the country club that Josh manages.

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The series is not subtle in the way it continuously reminds us that while Josh is financially more secure than Ashley, he is not nearly as rich as the people he serves. The club members casually jump on a private jet and fly to a chalet for a party, they’ll make quick trips to South Korea for a little plastic surgery, and people like Chairwoman Park can even make the law turn a blind eye if she wants to cover up any mishaps.

Though Youn is, as always, deeply compelling as an actor in her scenes, both she and Song Kang-ho, who plays the chairwoman’s second husband, Dr. Kim, feel like they exist to kick up more dirt and create more drama. The shift in tone when the chairwoman arrives makes the initial conflict of the recorded fight seem almost inconsequential. The series tries to make a commentary on relationships through Chairwoman Park and Dr. Kim’s transactional marriage, but the parallel doesn’t hit quite as well and ends up muddying the waters.

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Austin Davis is standing in his country club uniform, smiling.
Austin Davis is standing in his country club uniform, smiling.
Image via Netflix

While Beef Season 1 tightly orbited its two main protagonists, the larger main cast of Season 2 makes everything messier. There’s not enough in the series to hold it together, and the result is a story that feels disjointed. Social issues, such as commentary on both Austin and Josh’s identity — Austin is half-Korean, and Josh is Cuban — are only lightly touched on and feel almost performative rather than impactful.

The same can be said for the episodes that get into the broken healthcare system in America and the unrealistic beauty standards set for women. The scenes we get present the issue, but offer no new arguments, and the message is about as predictable as you can imagine. Plus, all the storylines with Chairwoman Park feel genuinely lifted right out of a corporate espionage story rather than Beef. The series makes a major tonal shift that is jarring rather than refreshing, and, ultimately, the final twist is rushed in a way that leaves you with more questions than answers.

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Perhaps on its own, without the near-perfect first season, Season 2 might have been a hit, but I found myself wondering several times during Season 2 why this show was even called Beef. Who is the beef with? Is it between the two couples? Kind of, but not really. Is it between the protagonists and the system? Kind of, but also not really. Is it between the couples and Chairwoman Park? Kind of, but there’s not enough runway to make that really work. There’s no doubt that showrunner Lee Sung Jin was ambitious with Season 2, but the result throws the series into disarray; it doesn’t elevate it.

‘Beef’s Season 2 Performances Almost Outshine an Uneven Plot

All complaints aside, the performances at the heart of Beef Season 2 do shine through. Mulligan and Isaac have insane chemistry with each other (as we’ve seen already in their previous collaborations), and as chaotic and toxic as their relationship is, there’s always a part of us that wants to root for them. Both actors are given a chance to shine and are, by far, playing the most complex characters. Though Josh and Lindsay seem easily hateable, especially when their privilege is compared to Austin and Ashley’s humble lifestyle, they are still redeemable. It all culminates in a scene in the finale that’s both triumphant and emotional as well as devastatingly tragic.

Unsurprisingly, Youn and Song are both fantastic. Youn takes on a rare villainous role in Beef that suits her so well that I’m disappointed we haven’t seen her take a darker turn sooner. Though the material she’s given is a little flat and honestly somewhat stereotypical, Youn can make even the most lackluster lines shine with her delivery. Her surprising chemistry with Song creates an interesting foil to the main couples, and Song delivers a great monologue near the end that’s tinted with bittersweet heartache as well as humor, something the actor excels at.

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What is surprising is Melton. Playing opposite Spaeny, Melton’s Austin is the epitome of a himbo — a golden retriever in human form. He’s cluelessly funny, endearingly wholesome, and deeply dedicated to Ashley. However, in the moments when the cracks start to show in their relationship, Melton grasps onto the nuances of Austin’s character and proves that he’s far more than just a pretty face with some muscles. The same, unfortunately, can’t be said for Spaeny’s Ashley. The script does no favors for her, making Ashley one of the most grating characters with the least redeemable traits. Spaeny’s performance also isn’t reaching the same heights as her co-stars — especially opposite someone like Mulligan, whose performance is so subtle, it makes Spaeny’s performance almost fall flat. Spaeny and Melton have decent chemistry, but Melton’s better moments lie with Seoyeon Jang‘s Eunice, Chairwoman Park’s translator and assistant, rather than Spaeny or the rest of the cast.

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‘Beef’ Ultimately Didn’t Need a Season 2

Carey Mulligan talking to a dog in Beef Season 2
Carey Mulligan in Beef Season 2
Image via Netflix

The disappointing thing about Beef Season 2 is that there is a lot to love about it. The performances are fantastic, the banter is sharp when it wants to be, and the moral lessons it’s trying to impart are there — but it just isn’t fleshed out enough. The overload of characters creates far too much clutter, not to mention the story being forced to live under the shadow of Season 1.

The series still retains some of the same style and aesthetic, including pulse-pounding needle drops and frenetic storytelling that jumps from one ridiculous moment to another. The cinematography is compelling, and the production and set design are sleek and stylish. There is one unnecessary “oner” shot that feels more gratuitous than enjoyable, but the series is otherwise shot beautifully. It’s perhaps the only thing that the season properly inherited from the last.

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At the end of the day, Beef Season 2 struggles where so many other shows flounder today: The show is trying to do too much with too little. With double the protagonists, the season would have had more room to breathe with even just ten episodes, allowing for the final arc — which takes our protagonists out of California and over to Korea — to feel a bit more natural in the transition. Season 2 is by no means bad, but it’s a step down from what this series can accomplish, and I can only hope that if there’s a Season 3, the series will course-correct, because this just isn’t working as well.

Beef Season 2 premieres April 16 on Netflix.


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Release Date

April 6, 2023

Network

Netflix

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Showrunner

Lee Sung Jin

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Directors

Hikari, Jake Schreier, Kitao Sakurai, Lee Sung Jin

Writers
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Alice Ju

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Pros & Cons
  • The performances, specifically Charles Melton, Oscar Isaac, and Carey Mulligan, shine through and add depth to the protagonists.
  • The series maintains the same visual language and style as Season 1.
  • Youn Yuh-jung is fantastic as a morally dubious businesswoman.
  • Season 2 doesn’t have enough episodes to pack in all the messages it’s trying to convey.
  • The season doesn’t feel cohesive ? and the titular Beef doesn’t seem to actually matter at all.
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Reese Witherspoon tells women to 'do better' and 'learn more' about AI: 'We don't want to be left behind'

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The Oscar winner — and author of five books — doubled down on Friday after sparking controversy with her encouragement of AI.

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CBS’ 2-Part Detective Series Soars Past a Colossal Streaming Milestone

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One of the best procedurals on CBS, the Max Thieriot-led and executive-produced Fire Country premiered back in 2022 and has proven a favorite of viewers ever since. The chaotic drama inside the walls of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has drawn many millions of live viewers and even more on streaming, with the current fourth season continuing last Friday with Episode 15, “Making Things Go Boom.”

Last month, the series finally crossed over with its hit spin-off Sheriff Country in a two-part event with their respective episodes, “The Finest” and “The Bravest.” Dubbed the franchise’s “greatest achievement yet,” the crossover saw Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin), Bode (Thieriot), Sheriff’s Deputy Nathan Boone (Matt Lauria), and the rest of the cast of both shows face their most explosive challenges yet. No doubt boosted by this crossover, Sheriff Country‘s popularity has gone from strength to strength since, with viewers excited about next week’s installment, “Twenty Four Candles.” The synopsis for the episode reads, “While Skye celebrates her 24th birthday, Sheriff Mickey Fox investigates a brutal attack tied to a land-grab scheme.”

Ahead of the next episode, Sheriff Country has just hit a hugely impressive streaming milestone. At the time of writing, as per FlixPatrol, the show has just passed the 100-day mark in the Paramount+ top ten, on all Amazon channels. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Sheriff Country boasts an impressive 75% score, with one critic writing, “Sheriff Country has already set up some good stories and rivalries in its first episode, and Baccarin strikes the right tone as a person who wants to keep her hometown safe.” In Collider’s review, Megan Vick wrote, “Sheriff Country is at its best when it doubles down on being a relatable family drama with crime elements.”

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Collider Exclusive · TV Medicine Quiz
Which Fictional Hospital Would You Work Best In?
The Pitt · ER · Grey’s Anatomy · House · Scrubs

Five hospitals. Five completely different ways medicine goes sideways on television — brutal, chaotic, romantic, brilliant, and ridiculous. Only one of them is the ward your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out exactly where you belong.

🚨The Pitt

🏥ER

💉Grey’s

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🔬House

🩺Scrubs

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01

A critical patient comes through the door. What’s your first instinct?
Medicine under pressure reveals who you actually are.





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02

Why did you go into medicine in the first place?
The honest answer says more about you than the one you’d give in an interview.





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03

What do you actually want from the people you work with?
Who you want beside you under pressure is who you are.





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04

You lose a patient you fought hard to save. How do you carry it?
Every doctor who’s worked a long shift has had to answer this question.





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05

How would your colleagues describe the way you work?
Your reputation on the floor is usually more accurate than your self-image.





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06

How do you feel about hospital protocol and procedure?
Every institution has rules. What you do with them is a choice.





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07

What does this job cost you personally?
Nobody works in medicine without paying a price. What’s yours?





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08

At the end of a long shift, what keeps you coming back?
The answer to this question is the most honest thing about you.





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Your Assignment Has Been Made
You Belong In…

Your answers have pointed to one fictional hospital above all others. This is the ward your instincts, your temperament, and your particular brand of dysfunction were built for.

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Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center

The Pitt

You are built for the most unsparing version of emergency medicine television has ever shown — one that puts you inside a single fifteen-hour shift and doesn’t let you look away.

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  • You need your work to be real, not romanticised — meaning over drama, honesty over aesthetics.
  • You find purpose inside the work itself, not in the chaos surrounding it.
  • You’ve made peace with the fact that this job takes from you constantly, and gives back in ways that are harder to name.
  • Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center demands exactly that kind of person — and you would not want to be anywhere else.


County General Hospital, Chicago

ER

You are the person who keeps the whole floor running — not the most brilliant in the room, but possibly the most essential.

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  • You show up, do the work, absorb the losses, and come back the next day without needing the job to be anything other than what it is.
  • You care about patients as individual human beings, not as cases to solve or dramas to live through.
  • You believe in the system even when it fails you — and you understand that emergency medicine is about holding the line just long enough.
  • ER is television about endurance. You have it.


Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, Seattle

Grey’s Anatomy

You came to medicine with your whole self — your ambition, your emotions, your relationships, your history — and you have never quite managed to leave any of it at the door.

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  • You feel things fully and form deep attachments to the people you work with.
  • Your personal and professional lives are permanently, chaotically entangled — and that entanglement drives both your greatest disasters and your most remarkable saves.
  • You understand that extraordinary medicine often happens at the intersection of clinical skill and profound human connection.
  • It’s messy at Grey Sloan. You would not have it any other way.


Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, NJ

House

You are drawn to the problem above everything else — the symptom that doesn’t fit, the diagnosis hiding underneath the obvious one.

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  • You’re not primarily motivated by the patient as a person — though you are capable of caring, even if you’d deny it.
  • You work best when the stakes are highest and the standard answer is wrong.
  • Princeton-Plainsboro exists to house one extraordinary, impossible mind — and everyone around that mind is there because they’re smart enough to keep up.
  • The only way forward here is to think harder than everyone else in the room. That is exactly what you do.


Sacred Heart Hospital, California

Scrubs

You understand that medicine is tragic and absurd in almost equal measure — and that the only sane response is to hold both of those things at the same time.

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  • You are warm, self-aware, and funnier than most people in your field.
  • You use humour to get through terrible moments — and at Sacred Heart, that’s not a flaw, it’s a survival strategy.
  • You lean on the people around you and let them lean back. The laughter and the grief are genuinely inseparable here.
  • Scrubs is a show about learning to become someone worthy of the job. You are still very much in the middle of that process — which is exactly right.

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Will ‘Fire Country’ Return?

Fear not, Fire Country fans, your favorite blazing hot procedural is coming back for more. Late in January, it was announced that the series had received the green light for a fifth season following impressive ratings, with the show averaging 8.1 million Live+35 multi-platform viewers. However, this exciting news came with the disappointing reveal that longtime showrunner, Tia Napolitano, would not be returning following Season 4. Season 5 is expected to debut this September or October as part of the CBS fall 2026-2027 lineup.

Sheriff Country streams on Paramount+. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.


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October 17, 2025

Showrunner

Matt Lopez

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“Beef” season 2, “Lorne” pulling back the curtain of “SNL”, and Laufey becoming a 'Madwoman' top this week's Must List

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“Exit 8” and Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson leading “The Fear of 13” round out our picks for the weekend of April 17.

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Who is Tanguy Destable? All about the father of Natalie Portman's third baby

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Portman filed for divorce from her ex-husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, in 2024.

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Ice Spice’s Quiet Hollywood Night Spirals Into Chaotic Brawl

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Ice Spice attends ''Highest 2 Lowest'' New York Premiere In New York, USA

Ice Spice is smooth with the bars and punches, too!

The rapper was spotted squaring it up with an unidentified lady who attacked her while grabbing a meal at a McDonald’s outlet in Hollywood, and it was quite the scene.

Ice Spice has been caught in a few situations in the past, although most of the back-and-forth has been on the internet from former friends and a service provider.

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Ice Spice Throws Down With Mystery Woman In Hollywood

Ice Spice attends ''Highest 2 Lowest'' New York Premiere In New York, USA
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In the trending clip, the songwriter was seen having a conversation with a friend in the nearly empty restaurant as she munched on her plate. A few minutes after the clip started, a tall, slender young woman walks over to the table and starts having a conversation with the duo. The mystery lady even tried to convince Spice’s friend to slide over so she could get a seat at the table.

The rapper promptly intervened, agreeing with her friend that the strange woman should not sit with them and find her way to the door. The displeased fan did not take this in good faith, and she responded with a whack to the rapper’s face, causing a fight to break out. Spice hopped on the table, donning a jogger and hoodie combo, running after the fan who was now headed for the door.

Outside the venue, TMZ confirmed that Spice and the rest of the crew, including those who accompanied the attacker, got into another heated exchange with curse words flying left and right, and another punch being thrown in the singer’s direction. 

The ‘Bikini Bottom’ Rapper’s Attorney Threatens Criminal And Civil Action

Ice Spice at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards
Jorge Estrellado/Image Press Agency / MEGA

Ice Spice did not back down from the fight till the end of the video, although it was unclear who won the exchange of fists. However, her attorney, Bradford Cohen, has issued a statement on the development, assuring news sources that the unprovoked attack on his client has been escalated to the law enforcement agents.

“We will be pursuing any and all avenues to hold the perpetrators responsible for their actions, including criminally and civilly. We are also exploring holding the location responsible for their lack of appropriate security,” the entertainer’s lawyer declared.

The woman in the video who first attacked Spice has now been identified as Vayah and claimed that she resorted to throwing punches because the rapper was rude to her when she tried to approach her politely. Vayah added that Spice called her a b-tch, and that earned her a resounding slap across the face.

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Ice Spice Has Had A Few Past Dramas

Ice Spice performing in Chicago
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The 26-year-old hardly backs down from a fight, be it online or offline, although most of the feuds she has been entangled in happen on the internet. In 2024, HotNewHipHop noted that she publicly fell out with her pal Cleotrapa, who claimed Spice treated her very poorly when she joined her on the Y2K tour.

Cleotrapa claimed that she had to pay for her hotel room on the trip, bought food from her pocket, and did not have a dressing room to change in at the concert. Spice came online to debunk these claims and slammed her former pal for being a user, even though she was generous enough to share her big stage with Cleotrapa.

She was caught in another copyright lawsuit drama after an artist named D. Chamberz took her, her producer, and rumored boyfriend, Riot, to court. Chamberz claimed the rapper and Riot stole his song and made a killing from it, which he now wants a part of.

The Grammy-Nominee Was The Butt Of The Joke For Taylor Swift’s Ex

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In 2023, the songwriter found herself in the center of Matt Healy’s racist jokes during his appearance on a podcast where he described Spice as a dumb Chinese lady and an “Inuit Spice Girl.” Spice later revealed that Healy apologized to him about the comments, and she actually did not care much for the drama.

She was also dragged for failing to pay up for styling her wigs ahead of her Y2K tour, with the hairstylist claiming the order to deliver two dozen wigs for the show was abruptly canceled. The hairstylist claimed that the decision left her feeling like her efforts were wasted, and while Spice’s team promised to make up for the stress, they never came through on the promise.

Another former pal of the rapper Baby Storme equally came for her on social media, ready to expose her secrets while claiming that Spice made the people in her sign non-disclosure agreements. It was during that Spat that Storme shared screenshots of Spice speaking ill of Nicki Minaj, who collaborated with her on “Barbie World,” thus closing the curtain on that friendship.

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Ice Spice’s New Year’s Eve Performance Left Fans Upset

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In January, The Blast noted that the star arrived about 30 minutes late for her headlining show at Brisbane Showgrounds on December 31 2024. Unfortunately for the fans of the rapper, her set ended barely five minutes into her performance due to a 12:30 am curfew.

This decision attracted boos from attendees and complaints online about fans traveling miles and buying tickets to attend a show that practically did not hold. Spice apologized for her tardiness on January 4 at another show, blaming it on her birthday preparations (Ice Spice’s birthday is on January 1).

Before her New Year’s Eve show, Spice took the time to shut down Ozempic rumors by sharing a clip of herself at the gym. As noted by PEOPLE, she also denied ever taking Ozempic to lose weight, stressing that working out, going on tour, and fixing her diet all resulted in her trimmed look.

Will Ice Spice press charges following this attack?

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Queen Elizabeth’s One ‘Mistake’ That ‘Has Outlasted Her’

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Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth‘s legacy lives on, but her mistake lives even longer, according to a royal author.

As the royal family prepares to celebrate the woman who reigned for seven decades, many insights are being drawn into the moves she made during her final years on earth. The monarchy she dedicated her days to has stretched over various angles due to the doings of her children and grandchildren.

Queen Elizabeth took the throne in 1952 at the age of 25 and died at the age of 96. Ruling for seventy years, she set her name in stone as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

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One Decision Queen Elizabeth Made That Still Lingers 

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As the days draw closer to what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, the royal family prepares to mark the special occasion while looking back at her life well lived. One choice that she made in her final years remains on talking lips, and deep thoughts surrounding her moves ensue. As powerful as she was as a monarch, she still had a mother’s heart.

Her instinct to protect the disgraced former Prince Andrew, whom many have described as her favorite son, continues to cast a long shadow, especially due to his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Many insiders remain perplexed at her decision to help fund his estimated $16 million civil settlement in March 2022, months before her passing.

The money was paid to the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused the disgraced royal od sexually abusing her in her teenage days. It should be noted that Andrew denied the claims but still settled with his mother’s support, without the admission of guilt. Robert Hardman, author of “Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story,” scheduled to be released next month, has said that the late queen’s decision “will go down as a mistake … and one that has outlasted her.”

The Late Queen Reportedly Put The Crown First

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PEOPLE report that those close to the late queen have revealed that her decision to help Andrew out of that name-staining situation came after deep thoughts and internal battles. They noted that it remains a complicated part of her legacy, along with the breakdown of her children’s marriages, the tragic death of Princess Diana, and the exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Hardman, however, notes that the queen’s legacy goes beyond the trials facing the family she left behind. “She came into a man’s world, held that institution together and handed it on in far better shape than people expected,” he said after remarking that people ought to take a step back and analyze the full 70-year picture.

Speaking on the late monarch’s “mistake,” a source close to the palace shared that Queen Elizabeth forced her alleged favorite son to step back from public life after effectively sacking him. “I don’t think we should underestimate what it would take for a mother to do that. Throughout, she showed that when it came to the demands of family over the role, the role would win out,” the source added. 

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Queen Elizabeth and King Charles
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Queen Elizabeth was one to put her royal responsibilities ahead, and her son seems to be doing the same thing. King Charles has reportedly drawn a clear line between his role and his personal relationships, even to family members. There is an existing rift between the King and his disgraced brother, former Prince Andrew, and as it stands, reconciliation sits on the back burner.

Sources close to the royal household have revealed that there is a high chance King Charles will never speak to his brother again following the revelations of Andrew’s association with the convicted sex offender. Andrew previously insisted that he had no ties to Epstein, but the recently released files show otherwise. An insider shared that “the King feels that he was lied to and that’s not easy to forgive.” 

The Blast also reports that Prince Edward and Princess Anne have reached out to their brother, showing concern for his well-being, but the King will not follow suit, not only because he feels betrayed by Andrew’s dishonesty but because of his status as the King. He has reportedly moved to set a clear distinction between his office and family bonds. “Charles is not just a brother in this situation but also the King – and in that capacity he has to protect the monarchy above all other considerations, even personal ones,” the insider explained. 

The Odds Seem To Be Stacked Up Against Ex-Prince Andrew

Ex-Prince Andrew at King Charles III's coronation
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Amid the allegations connecting Andrew to Epstein, he was also arrested on his 66th birthday over claims of misconduct in public office. Andrew, who has been stripped of his titles and standing in the royal family and was living in exile, may be facing life imprisonment under U.K. laws if he is convicted.

Besides the links via the release of the Epstein files, the disgraced Duke of York’s former assistant, Charlotte Manley, who also served as his private secretary and treasurer from 1996 to 2003, has recently come forward to speak to law enforcement.

The Blast reports that Manley’s name has come up after swirling whispers that she signed a payment connected to Ghislaine Maxwell during the time she worked for Andrew. The claims are not far-fetched since she handled both administrative and financial responsibilities for the former Prince. Manley, however, insists that she will give her confession to the police rather than the press.

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Queen Elizabeth Had Undisclosed Health Issues

Queen Elizabeth
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Two years after her passing, former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson disclosed that the late regency ruler was diagnosed with bone cancer before her death. He detailed this shocking revelation in his memoir, “Unleashed,”  noting that she had battled with the cancer for over a year before her demise.

Between the pages, the former Prime Minister revealed that he knew she had a form of bone cancer for a year or more, adding that her doctors were worried that her health could sharply decline at any time. The Blast also reports that Johnson detailed his last meeting with the late monarch days before her death. He remarked that she “seemed pale and more stooped, and she had dark ­bruising on her hands and wrists, probably from drips or injections.” 

Queen Elizabeth passed away two days after she met with Johnson, and the official cause of death was linked to old age, with no detailed medical records released. Gyles Brandreth, a royal author, also echoes similar thoughts in his book “Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.”  he noted that there were rumors about the queen suffering from a rare form of myeloma, which is a type of bone marrow cancer.

Is there more to the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth’s said mistake?

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Zayn Malik reveals he's 'unexpectedly recovering' after being hospitalized, cancels multiple appearances

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The singer’s announcement came the same day he released his fifth studio album, “Konnakol.”

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Anya Taylor-Joy’s Underrated Sci-Fi Epic That Keeps Getting Better Finally Gets the Attention It Deserves on Streaming

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Anya Taylor-Joy has only starred in one movie so far this year, but it’s wasted no time in becoming the biggest film of 2026 at the worldwide box office. She can be seen reprising her role as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, the sequel to the 2023 video game movie that also recruited Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) and Donald Glover (TV’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith) for key roles. Taylor-Joy is far from done in 2026, though, even after The Super Mario Galaxy Movie flies out of theaters and inevitably begins what will surely be a successful run on streaming. She’ll make her long-awaited return to TV with a new Apple TV series, Lucky, which co-stars Timothy Olyphant. The show has been set for its premiere on July 15.

Anya Taylor-Joy has been in enough projects now that it’s tough to identify what she’s best known for, but one of her most notable movies, for better or worse, is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The 2024 sci-fi blockbuster was one of the most anticipated movies of the year, especially with the combined star power of Taylor-Joy and long-time Marvel veteran Chris Hemsworth (Crime 101). The Mad Max prequel boasts a $168 million budget, but it barely managed to gross this back, scraping out of theaters after totaling $174 million at the worldwide box office. Despite this woeful box office performance, Furiosa has spent the better part of the last two years redeeming itself on streaming, where it’s still one of the top 10 most popular movies in the world on HBO Max. The film is the perfect blend of Mad Max and Gladiator, guaranteed to please fans of sci-fi and large-scale action sequences.











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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

🏜️Dune

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🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.

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The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.

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Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.

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Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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What Happens in ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’?

The official synopsis for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, reads as follows:

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“After being snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, while the tyrants Dementus and Immortan Joe fight for power and control, the young Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.”

Furiosa earned immaculate scores of 90% from critics and 88% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, which made its flopping at the box office that much more surprising. The film was written and directed by Mad Max veteran George Miller, who has personally handled multiple generations of Mad Max movies starring Mel Gibson, Tom Hardy, and Charlize Theron.

Check out Furiosa on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more streaming updates and coverage of Taylor-Joy’s future projects.


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Release Date

May 24, 2024

Runtime

149 minutes

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Director

George Miller

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Writers

George Miller, Nico Lathouris

Producers
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Doug Mitchell, George Miller

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Boston Blue’s Donnie Wahlberg Addresses Danny, Maria’s Split

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Boston Blue is about to face the wrath of Blue Bloods usweekly fans after breaking up a beloved couple.

During the Friday, April 17, episode of the CBS series, Danny Reagan’s (Donnie Wahlberg) girlfriend, Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez), returned to help with a case. Their dynamic, however, was off and Maria later revealed that she was struggling with her mother’s deteriorating mental health after a Parkinson’s diagnosis. She surprised Danny — and viewers — by hitting pause on their relationship.

“She’s in a crisis. She’s not sure what to do,” Wahlberg, 56, exclusively told Us Weekly at CBS Fest on Wednesday, April 15. “Danny is very stubborn [though so] he ain’t going down without a fight.”

Wahlberg, who has played Danny since 2010, urged fans not to worry too much yet, adding, “They must hold out hope for [them to] rekindle [their romance].” Wahlberg’s onscreen costar — and Danny’s partner — Sonequa Martin-Green weighed in on the twist.

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An emotional roller-coaster. From Riverdale‘s Cheryl and Toni to Nancy Drew‘s Nancy and Ace, fans have watched their favorite couples break hearts with some devastating splits. Riverdale, which premiered in 2017, originally introduced Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) as a grieving sister trying to deal with the death of her twin brother Jason (Trevor Stines). After striking […]

“I would love [to see them back together],” she gushed. “I love Marissa and I think that they’re lovely together.”

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According to Wahlberg, there is a plan to “stretch” out the journey for Danny and Maria.

BOSTON BLUE
John Medland/CBS ©2026 CBS

“I grew up watching General Hospital and All My Children and [I remember when] Laura disappeared,” he recalled “Laura disappeared and Luke was heartbroken and everyone’s like, ‘Oh man. Laura quit the show.’ Guess what? She came back and he ran and he hugged her. Then she left again. But that’s OK, it’s TV!”

Elsewhere in the episode, Sarah’s (Maggie Lawson) personal life was much more successful with Seth (Mike Vogel) popping the question moments before Danny and Maria’s split.

“One of the things I love most about our show is that’s life,” Lawson, 45, noted. “That’s human and that’s real. Sometimes when these beautiful celebrations happen, it’s a reminder of other painful things that people are going through and it can be a catalyst for something not so easy.”

She continued: “I love that we showed that in the way that we did but it’s also really heartbreaking. So I would say, I’m sorry that we were the ones to bring on that really brutal conversation.”

Lawson told Us she was “always hopeful for love” when it came to Danny and Maria. Her costar Gloria Reuben, however, was “a little more jaded,” telling Us, “I always hope for a couple of days then I’m like no.”

Boston Blue airs on CBS Fridays at 10 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Paramount+.

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This Old Navy Collab Is So Bright and Ready for Spring — From $25

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Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!

Old Navy is a staple for year-round fashion, but if you ask Us, the retailer truly shines during the warm-weather months with breezy, vibrant pieces that demand attention. And if you want the latest and greatest in bold styles, Old Navy just collaborated with award-winning designer Christopher John Rogers to create a line filled with bright spring clothes that need to be in your cart.

Between the eye-catching colors, fun-loving patterns and body-flattering styles, we can’t choose just one piece to buy. It’s a good thing these tops, jeans, dresses and accessories are so affordable, starting at just $25. We know, it’s kind of hard to wrap our heads around that low price, too, since everything in the line looks so expensive. The only caveat? Pieces are already selling out as we type, so don’t wait long to shop these spring-ready finds.

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Just-Dropped Old Navy x Christopher John Rogers Collab Styles

1. Our Favorite: This one-shoulder number is going to be your new top for shopping adventures, dinner dates and beyond. We love the cool asymmetrical design with a twist detail that simply won’t roll up. And the bright red hue? Let’s just say compliments will find you constantly.

2. Going Viral: You may have noticed that drop-waist dresses are everywhere for spring 2026, and this poplin dress lets you lean into the trend. Similar to options on the runway, this pick has a flattering, elongating appearance that makes you look model-tall. Plus, the breezy appearance and fresh-looking hue beg to be worn on a European vacation.

3. Sporty-Chic: All the cool girls are replacing jeans with drawstring pull-on pants, and this high-waisted pair will make you want to do the same. They combine two trends in one — the pull-on design and the barrel leg that gives you a voluminous look in the best way.

4. Under-$30: Give your basics a major upgrade with this high-neck tank top that still lets you wear a bra — we love to see it. The top has a fitted appearance, which hugs your curves and looks great with baggy pant styles, like the pair above.

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5. Everyday Essential: If your denim collection needs a little help, you can’t go wrong with baggy wide-leg jeans. Unlike your classic pair, this one has a subtle two-toned denim stripe detail on the side. It’s a small accent that levels up the ‘chicness.’

J.Crew sale


Related: J.Crew‘s Outlet Is Having a Huge Sale on Spring Blouses, Tops and More

Giving your shirt and blouse collection a spring refresh feels that much sweeter when you get all your breezy, elevated tops on sale. And while Us bargain hunters love a good deal, we expect pieces with high-quality fabrics, comfortable silhouettes and rich mom-looking style — which is why we’re shopping J.Crew’s massive outlet sale. The […]

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6. Pop of Color: Neutral shades have no place in our spring wardrobes, not when we can don pieces in this olive-yellow hue, which dominates designer spring collections, per Vogue. This halter maxi dress is all about that attention-grabbing color, a flattering halter neckline and the slimming basque waist.

7. Pack It Up: You can practically stuff your entire life in this large canvas tote that has room enough to house your summer read, water bottle, headphones, sunnies and more. We love the chic color-block trim that gives it rich mom vibes. Plus, you can wear it as is, or cleverly push in the ‘wings’ for a more compact style. Read: It’s two bags in one.

8. Petite-Friendly: Women under 5’3″ know the struggle of finding a cute maxi dress that doesn’t drag on the floor. This halter drop-waist style is the solution. It cuts off near the shin for a midi dress style that fits just right. We also appreciate the V-neck bodice that shows the girls off.

9. Trending Find: Remember your peplum top from college? Well, this Old Navy pick is definitely not that. It’s classy and elevated, while still giving you the tummy-slimming look you love from the peplum hem.

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10. Mix and Match: You’re not having déjà vu. The above top mixes and matches well with this drop-waist midi skirt. They’re both cut from the same cloth — literally — giving you the option to wear them as stand-alone pieces or as a matching set.

11. Same But Different: Get our favorite top in dress form when you select this date night-ready maxi. It has the same one-shoulder neckline and fitted bodice, but extends beyond the waist to give you a beautiful dress that will make you boo do a double-take. It’s available in solid red and striped styles.

12. Get It Fast: This multi-striped sweater is on the cusp of selling out, but we still had to include it. We love the bright hues and keyhole detail in the back. Not into stripes? It’s also available in a chic golden olive hue, which is fully in stock.

13. Year-Round Staple: While we love a denim jacket, sometimes it’s a little too warm on an 85-degree Fahrenheit day. Your next best bet is a button-down denim shirt that still gives you that street style vibe without the extra weight.

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DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - JULY 24: Ira Meindl is seen wearing a rose, pink and white printed long Zimmermann dress with a beige belt, a black leather handbag from Hermes, black Saint Laurent sunglasses and beige Catwalk slipper on July 24, 2022 in Dusseldorf, Germany. (Photo by Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)


Related: I Visited West Palm Beach, Here‘s What All the Rich Moms Are Wearing

As a Florida native, you can say I thrive when wearing colorful clothing, breathable pieces and cute yet conservative finds. And that aesthetic rings true for all the rich moms living in West Palm Beach. My family recently moved from Miami to the coastal city, and upon visiting, I couldn’t help but notice the prevalent […]

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