Judge Greg Mathis is entering a new kind of “dad era.” He recently celebrated his 66th birthday and his wife, Linda Reese, and their family dropped a special surprise on him. He shared the update about a week after reports revealed that Linda had withdrawn her divorce petition.

RELATED: Still The Mrs.! Judge Mathis’ Wife Linda Reese Reportedly Files Request To Dismiss Divorce (UPDATE)

Judge Mathis Is On A New Dad Journey

Mathis is a dad of four, including sons Amir, Greg Jr., and daughters Jade and Camara. But with his kids all being adults, his family gave him a new lil’ one to love as a 66th birthday present. He turned 66 earlier this month on April 5. On Monday (April 20), he shared on Threads and other platforms that his family had gotten him a golden doodle puppy to celebrate. He posted two selfies that showed him, his wife, and their new family member posing against what looks like a tropical background.

“Look at what my family got me for my birthday. Meet Scoie – my newest best friend,” Judge Mathis wrote in the caption.

While Scoie is his new dog bestie, the pup isn’t the first dog Mathis has owned. He has another one named Gigi, whom he’s previously described as family. In 2015, he shared a selfie on Facebook at the dog park with at least three dogs.

What’s Going On With The Judge & His Wife?

As previously reported, Linda Reese is keeping her Mrs. title! This month, she dropped her court request to end her marriage. She filed back in August 2024, putting 39 years of marriage on the line for “irreconcilable differences.” That same month, Greg publicly vowed to fight for his wife and warned other men to never neglect their wife or have too much fun at her expense. “I’m trying to get my wife,” he told TMZ at the time. Last October, the couple appeared on Tamron Hall’s talk show, assuring fans that he had kept his promise to fight for his marriage. A day after his birthday earlier this month, Linda filed to dismiss the divorce process.

Then, days after his birthday, Judge Mathis shared a photo dump featuring Linda Reese, revealing that they had taken their granddaughters boating. “These moments are PRICELESS,” he wrote in the caption.

Social Media Reacts To New Puppy

Under his Instagram comment section, Judge Greg Mathis’ fans flooded him with compliments about his new puppy, birthday and even his rejuvenated marriage!

@mzfranni wrote, “Golden doodles are theeee best!!! He so cute 😍 dogs are truly our bestieee happy birthday Judge🥳🥳.”

“❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ happy birthday unk hey there my auntie you looking so beautiful much love to you both,” @soul.forreal added.

“Judge Im so happy for yall 😍 me going thru a divorce you give me hope that a man will do everything possible to save his marriage to the woman he loves,” @monique.7 commented.

“Looks like your Wife is his favorite person😍😍😂,” @violettabron joked.

“awww may yall have some beautiful memories together ❤️❤️,” @miablessedtodd added.

“Happiness looks great on y’all! Stay blessed,” @mightylioness47 commented.

@lady_tee813 wrote, “Aww pretty pic. Love the dog. Stay together. Remember those vows. Beautiful family too.”

Meanwhile, PETA stopped by with a reminder about animal-based gifting. “Hi there! Reminder that animals are not gifts to be given on a whim, but rather individuals with personalities and complex needs that require lots of attention and care! Also, please remember when bringing an animal into your life adopt, don’t shop. So many animals in shelters are waiting for their forever homes,” the animal rights organization said. Mathis did not reply in the comment section.

RELATED: Rihanna Or A$AP Rocky’s Twin? Baby Rocki’s First Magazine Cover With Mom Hypes Fans (PHOTO)

Ari Fletcher officially launched her “Remedy” cosmetics line in 2022. Inspired by her signature glam, the brand became known for quality lip liners, glosses, eyeshadows, and more. From creative campaigns to fast-selling releases, Ari was proud of the rapid growth and success of her business. Things paused after Ari shared alarming news about issues with her former manager. Now, she’s updating supporters on what’s next for the future of Remedy.

RELATED: Come Thru, Then! Ari Fletcher Shows Off Her NEW LOOK After Doing The Big Chop! (PHOTOS + VIDEOS)

Ari Fletcher Accuses Former Manager Of Revoking Her Access To Her Business  

Back in March, Ari Fletcher took to social media, telling supporters not to purchase from her “Remedy” business until she regained access to her account. She explained why, saying, “My old manager will not give me access to any of my stuff that has my passwords, my money, all my sh**.”

Hoping customers would still receive shipped orders, she asked supporters not to continue to interact with the website for the time being. For years, Ari’s manager was known to be her longtime friend Brit, which led many to speculate about a possible fallout between the two.

Ari Says Goodbye To The “Remedy” Name And Hello To A New Chapter

On April 22, Ari took to social media with an update on her cosmetics line and what she’s planning next. The entrepreneur shared a heartfelt message with supporters about stepping away from the “Remedy” name.  After not regaining access to the site, she says she made the decision to move forward with a rebrand.

“To my beautiful supporters,This isn’t easy for me to say, but I’ve always promised to be real with you. As many of you know, I built something very special with Remedy. It wasn’t just a brand, it was a reflection of healing, confidence, and the love I poured into every product. But behind the scenes, I was in a business situation that no longer aligns with my values or the trust I stand on. Because of that, I’ve made the difficult decision to let go of the name Remedy. And while that’s emotional for me, I want you to know this:

THIS IS NOT AN ENDING. 

I’m not letting go of what we built together. The products you love, the quality, the intention, the energy, that’s all still here. If anything, it’s stronger now. I’m taking everything that made Remedy special and bringing it into something new… something that truly represents me, my vision, and what you deserve.

THIS ISN’T A REPLACEMENT

.THIS IS AN EVOLUTION.

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A new name, a new chapter but the same heart behind it all.Thank you for trusting me, growing with me, and supporting me through every step.I promise you, what’s coming next is even better.

With love, Ariana.”

Ari made it clear that this is not the end of her brand. She reassured supporters that the products, quality, and vision will continue under a new name. In her caption, she added, “I’m not losing my brand, I’m protecting it.”

Lastly, she paired the message with ‘Let It All Work Out’ by Lil Wayne.

Social Media Reacts 

Many gathered under The Shade Room’s comment sections as they reacted to Ari’s announcement. Many fans and peers expressed support, encouraging her to keep pushing forward. Others shared their reactions while speculating about what may have happened between Ari and her former manager.

Instagram user @aaliyahmeshell_ wrote, “You can take the name but not the heart behind the products, you got this boo!!”

Instagram user @badbitchestherapy added, “And all she gonna do is elevate from this never do shit with people and give them full control no matter how close they always gonna take it and think about themselves”

While Instagram user @exclusive_elations wrote, “Kyle’s kisses” 💋 new name …evil willnever prevail 🌹 🕊️ “

Instagram user @lorrnatee wrote, “They would’ve just now been getting me off of Brit!”

Instagram user @keasiakae added, “Brit deadddd wrong for that, I was just about to buy my glosses”

While Instagram user @sweetladylondoyn5286 wrote, “Oh. We not broke today??”

Instagram user @_soshadykd, wrote, “I would’ve sued the manager”

Instagram user @la_reina_11 added, ““How does a manager have that type of power to block you out of your OWN brand 🤔 🤔 🤔 🤔 Unless the manager have some type of play in the name?”

While Instagram user @dejthestylist_ wrote, “Ari matured so much because the old her would’ve did a lot even though that’s very much needed in this case but she handling It very grown”

RELATED: Ari Fletcher Goes OFF While Addressing Claims She Helped Orchestrate Fight Between Aspen Kartier And Summyah Marie (VIDEO)

Actress and writer Lena Dunham is reflecting on the release of her new memoir, “Famesick.” The tell-all book was released on April 14 and is a bit different from her first book, “Not That Kind of Girl,” which was a collection of essays about growing up. “Famesick” provides a more chronological look at her rapid rise to fame, focusing on her struggles with endometriosis while filming “Girls,” as well as her high-profile relationships with her “Girls” co-star Adam Driver, “Girls” showrunner Jenni Konner, and long-term boyfriend Jack Antonoff.

On April 21, Dunham took to Instagram to share a long carousel of photos featuring her wearing headphones at different points in her life. She reflected on the lengthy press tour she went on to promote her new book, and thanked her fans for their support amid some of her more personal confessions.

“The last week was a whirlwind- marched through it all with as much purpose as I could, vowing hourly to be both boundaried [sic] and present, self-protective and open to connection- an impossible dance, really, the feminine dance!” she wrote. “But I wanted to do everything I couldn’t almost ten years ago when I last poked my head out to this degree. The good thing was I knew why I was doing it, and I didn’t leave very much room to really experience the reality of putting the (my) last two decades in print.”

“That’s a sort of goodbye, isn’t it? The real reason to lay down our definitive telling is so that we can move on,” she added.

Dunham Talks About Heading Back To Her ‘Adopted Homeland’

After leaving the U.S. for London, Dunham recalled her long trip back home while listening to Grace Ives’ song “Stupid B-tches.” She talked about how she got in the car in Boston at 1:30 AM on a Friday, “to barrel toward the plane that would take me away from my first homeland and back to my adopted one.”

“So on a new highway I put my headphones on, cranked up my current favorite woman with feelings anthem (Stupid B-tches by Grace Ives) and had one of those unstuck in time, ‘Did I just do acid by accident?’ moments: I was every Lena who has ever worn headphones!” she recalled, listing, “Lena at 23 in LA, taking Fountain to my first meeting with HBO. Lena at 8, my first Walkman blowing my mind. Lena at 25, 29, 33, watching a new city pass. Lena at 35 falling in love, Lena at 38 missing her parents.”

“I was the Lena who wrote the book and the Lena who was scared to write the book,” she continued. “And then, finally, I was the Lena who has finished the book.”

Lena Dunham Explains Why She Was ‘Sobbing’

That realization seems to have caused an emotional moment for her. As she wrote, “Suddenly and surprisingly I was sobbing (rarer than you’d think!) It was this big feeling that the story I’d been carrying around was not the story I was living. The stuff in those pages was over. The only thing I could compare it to was when something feels interminable- and then… it passes.”

She then went on to thank her fans for their support, adding, “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone who has welcomed the book with such gentleness and care. Thank you to everyone who has come and laughed with us on the tour.”

“Thank you to everyone who has made this great passing through possible. I am full of a very dense gratitude, a gratitude that has shifted something previously quite unshiftable,” she continued. She wrapped up her lengthy Instagram post, writing, “It’s a feeling I wish for everyone I love, have loved, will love, don’t know. I love meeting you here, on the other side.”

Dunham Wrote The Book One Month After Leaving Rehab

In another Instagram post from September 2025, Dunham recalled how she started writing the book thirty days after leaving rehab. “I was in the cloud of delirium that comes with new sobriety — the world was suddenly so LOUD, and I thought that meant I knew what I was hearing,” she wrote.  

“If you’d told me then that the writing process would take me through the next seven years, I probably would have ripped up my contract and chucked my laptop in the tub,” she continued. “Throughout my twenties, writing was all pure immediacy. I’d have an experience, put some version of it through the filter of fantasy, and it would be playing on television six months later.”

Lena Dunham Said She Wrote To ‘Process’ What Happened To Her

After explaining how writing was her version of processing what happened to her at the time, she admitted that she “hadn’t lived enough life to deal with it in retrospect.”

“I didn’t understand the value of time — to heal us, to make sense of where we’ve been, to actually change the patterns we keep replaying in our work and our art,” she continued. “The gift this book has given me over the last seven years was that it was always there. No matter what changed — my location, my body, my mind — there was a constant: this place I could go to try and make sense of the story.”

“When we finally set a publication date for Famesick, I felt something like grief,” she wrote. “One of my steadiest companions was leaving. But it’s time.”

She went on to state that although “Famesick” would mostly focus on the years between 2010 and 2020, “a decade in which my life changed profoundly and permanently,” she admitted, “Whenever I write about me, I hope, deeply, that it’s also about you.”

It never stops being some combination of funny and sad how the Fast & Furious series has gone beyond growing over the years, and is instead gradually growing out of control. It was originally a spin on Point Break, but with more car racing (as in that’s what the first movie was). Then, it became more about heists than racing, and a little after that, the stakes were raised further, and the ragtag group of heroes were basically spies, and maybe even superheroes, at a point. Two characters notoriously went to space for real, after jokes about that being where Fast & Furious was headed. It’s that kind of series, and Fast X (2023) really emphasizes the bloat. It is the messiest and most overstuffed of all the movies in the series, which means that parts of it are great, and parts are frustrating. The usual suspects, like Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Jordana Brewster, all show up, alongside newcomers to the series like Brie Larson, Jason Momoa, and Alan Ritchson.

And that’s really only scratching the surface, when it comes to cast members here. There are so many more people, but basically, the film is about Momoa’s character wanting revenge for the death of his father, which happened back in Fast Five, and he targets Vin Diesel’s Dom and Dom’s whole massive (and infamous) family. Also infamous: the cliffhanger Fast X ends on. Now, it’s been three years, and news about an 11th movie, titled Fast Forever, has been out for a while, so that would imply a continuation of Fast X (especially because Fast Forever is purportedly being made as a grand finale to the whole series). But still, if you want to go into what might come next, and the role Alan Ritchson (best known for playing the titular character in Reacher) plays in Fast X, talking about the ending to the 10th film is necessary. So…

The following article will contain spoilers for Fast X.

What ‘Fast X’ Is About

Image via Universal Pictures

Fast X is about too much. Yes, there’s Momoa as Dante Reyes, son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), trying to get revenge for his father’s death at the end of Fast Five, which also involves targeting Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), but not until a mid-credits scene. Oh, and right before the end credits, it turns out Gisele (Gal Gadot) is still alive, after having seemingly died in Fast & Furious 6. And she reveals herself to Letty (Rodriguez) and Cipher (Charlize Theron), the latter being a villain who’s stuck around beyond her introduction. Also, Letty was dead, at one point in the series, but came back. And in F9, Han (Sung Kang) was revealed as not being dead, so he has to reconnect with Gisele in Fast Forever, one would assume, since they were a thing. And he does stuff in Fast X, interacting with Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who was the one who almost killed Han.

This isn’t even everything. There is too much in Fast X, and so many famous people just keep on showing up that it’s no wonder the budget blew up and out of control, estimated to be one of the most expensive movies of all time. Fast X’s commitment to not forgetting about past characters is admirable, but sort of unwieldy, especially with all the unneeded resurrections. It means that the supposed deaths at the end of Fast X feel unlikely to stick… well, John Cena’s Jakob, maybe? But not Roman, Tej, Ramsey, and Han, who were on a plane that got shot down, right near the end, by Alan Ritchson’s character. Ritchson is good at playing intimidating characters, owing to his physique and overall on-screen energy, but usually of the antihero variety (see Reacher)… so that makes his turn at the end of Fast X more than a little surprising.

The Role Alan Ritchson Plays in ‘Fast X’

Fast X ending with a cliffhanger felt less painful when there was a general sense of its follow-up being only a couple of years away. But then Fast Forever got Beyond the Spider-Verse’d (and, what do you know, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse also came out in 2023 and had an agonizing cliffhanger ending). At the end of Fast X, Giselle is alive somehow, Dom and his son (Leo Abelo Perry) are in the path of water from a dam that’s set to explode, most of Dom’s team are on board a plane that’s just been shot down, and Ritchson’s Aimes is the one who’s done that shooting, having revealed himself as being aligned with Dante Reyes the whole time, in secret.

Aimes had been a little suspicious the whole movie, but still, plenty of characters in these movies are kind of snarky, and Dante did come across as someone able to do a lot while working alone (Momoa’s character is hammy enough that you believe as much). The idea of him having an accomplice is something, though, and it would be good for Alan Ritchson to be given a bit more to do in Fast Forever. As frustrating as the cliffhanger is, the visual of him shooting down the plane is memorable (even if the likelihood that any of the four main characters on it are actually dead remains unlikely).

What ‘Fast X’ Could Do (or Not Do) With Ritchson’s Character in the Next Movie

Image via Universal Pictures

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Okay, so, Fast Forever is still up in the air, at the time of writing, in terms of what will happen. No one knows beyond (one would hope) the people making it, but even then, it was in March 2026 that Michael Lesslie was reported as replacing Zach Dean, so maybe it really is a case of “no one knows (yet).” Giving Momoa and Ritchson more to do seems like a no-brainer, because the former was the highlight of Fast X, and the latter could be well-utilized post-plot-twist. If nothing else, Ritchson getting into a brawl with someone similarly physically imposing, like Dwayne Johnson, could be good to see for sheer spectacle.

Hopefully it’s good, whatever happens. The past few-hundred words have been a bit dismissive of some parts of this whole series, and especially certain parts of Fast X, but there is also something wonderful and endearing about this action-heavy soap opera-esque saga that’s spanned more than a quarter of a century, at this point. Expecting Fast Forever to be a highlight of the series is a big ask, and maybe even irrational, though if it’s just a fitting send-off, you’d assume most fans of the family will be happy. All will be clear about two years from now… uh, barring any further delays. You never know. No one knows.

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Fast X

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Release Date

May 19, 2023

Runtime

142 minutes

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Director

Louis Leterrier

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 16 seconds ago

If you want to be humbled by decades worth of unhinged creativity that somehow slipped past your radar, I strongly advise firing up Tubi at least once a week. This is not a paid ad, but if you can get me in contact with the head of programming over there, I’d love to send them an Edible Arrangement for never failing to entertain me with hidden gems like 2010’s Beyond the Black Rainbow, and unhinged sci-fi horror comedy neo-noir mystery thrillers like 1986’s Eat and Run. If that sounds like a mouthful, wait until you hear what this punisher is about.

This movie only showcases a handful of recurring gags, and they’re all run into the ground. The primary antagonist is a 400-pound humanoid alien who only eats Italian people. Our hero is a hapless detective who narrates his life out loud in hard-boiled private dick fashion. His boss is always snacking and yelling, and he’s dating a judge with a habit of releasing dangerous criminals from prison, noticing the uptick in murders, and failing to connect the dots. It all plays out like a second-rate Police Squad, but it’s still charming despite its shortcomings.

This Guy’s A Fool For Gabagool!

Eat and Run keeps things simple, and it’s best not to think about it too much while watching. When morbidly obese Murray Creature (R.L. Ryan) inexplicably arrives on Earth, he immediately takes to hitchhiking. He gets picked up by an Italian merchant, who he then eats. We never actually see Murray eating, though. He smiles, reveals his pointy teeth, the camera zooms in on his face, then on his victim’s, and it cuts to him spitting out what’s left, usually shirt buttons.

Meanwhile, Detective Mickey McSorely (Ron Silver), who compulsively narrates his life in real time, is getting chewed out by his Captain (John J. Fleming). The Captain, no matter the time of day, is always pigging out at his desk, and this gag escalates throughout the film. First he’s digging into ice cream cake, and by the end he’s berating a delivery boy for bringing a six-layer cake when he clearly asked for a seven layer cake.

When dozens of Italian men from competing crime families go missing, Mickey takes the case, eventually leading him to Murray, though he can never catch him in the act. He sets up elaborate sting operations in between romantic rendezvous with Judge Cheryl Cohen (Sharon Schlarth), whose record on the bench is questionable at best, and who constantly excuses herself after sex so she can take matters of self gratification into her own hands. Mickey, the great detective that he is, remains completely oblivious to his shortcomings on this front.

When our Italian-eating antagonist is finally caught and cross-examined, his lawyer has him dress like a Boy Scout to appear innocent. This only complicates things further when he’s granted bail and his buffet-style rampage continues, and becomes smitten with Cheryl.

This Shouldn’t Be A Movie

The above scenarios are stretched to absurdity in Eat and Run, repeating the same bits over and over, escalating just enough each time until the film reaches its climax. It reminds me of most SNL-based movies that do the exact same thing. Think 1994’s It’s Pat, but instead of endless jokes about androgyny, it’s about a fat guy eating mobsters.

While it sounds like I hated Eat and Run, I actually had a good time with it. At 85 minutes, it feels like writer-director Christopher Hart was padding the runtime to reach feature length by overworking the gags, but I can’t help but wonder how much better it would be if trimmed down to sitcom-episode length, or even a series of recurring skits.

I’ve always been a sucker for neo-noir narration, so every time Mickey narrates, only for the camera to pull back and reveal he’s been talking out loud in a room full of people, I let out a hearty chuckle. It’s stupid, but relatable. The number of times I think I’m thinking to myself while puttering around the house, only for my family to ask what the hell I’m talking about, is high enough that I felt seen.

Eat and Run is totally stupid, built on a razor-thin premise, and runs its gags into the ground before the first act is over. It’s also really funny, not because those things make it funny on their own, but because the humor somehow loops back around and works anyway.

As of this writing, Eat and Run is streaming for free on Tubi.

Red is our forever color crush — and fan-favorite stars including Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Nicole Kidman and more all seem to agree.

Thank You!

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Jenner was a vision at the 3rd annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on December 3, gracing the event’s red carpet in a figure-flattering Fendi gown. The crimson design featured a turtleneck and a corset bodice — adorned with a ribbon at the waist — that fell into a billowing skirt. The lively hue perfectly complemented Jenner’s rosy glam and brunette locks. Bassett also attended the event, wowing Us in a cherry-colored Schiaparelli gown that was completed with a caped hood. 

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt also turned up the heat in bold shades of red while posing on the Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour in April 2026.

Keep scrolling to see the best-dressed stars in red to date:

Chloe Bailey had time to check a social media user who claimed she was forcing “baddie energy” when she’s really just a good girl. The singer wasn’t here for the shade at all, clapping back quick and letting them know that balance exists.

RELATED: And, What About It? Chloe Bailey Claps Back At Troll Who Commented On Her Weight During Livestream (WATCH)

Chloe Bailey Shuts Down Troll & Stands On Business

Recently, Chloe Bailey hopped on X (formerly Twitter) responding to a post asking, “what is life teaching you right now?” Bailey said, “that she’s a bad b*tch.” A X user ended up peeping her post and didn’t hesitate to chime with their thoughts, writing, “No you’re not. You’re actually a cute lil lovely girl. Stop forcing it.” Chloe then came right back at them letting them know two things can be true, but don’t try to box her in. “yes. i am a cute lil lovely girl and a bad b*. don’t put me in a box just bc you’re boring & have no fun”

Social Media Weighs In After Chloe Claps Back

Once The Shade Room posted Chloe Bailey’s response, the comment section was flooded with reactions. Some folks clocked the energy and agreed with Chloe, while others said they don’t get how people can think they know celebrities when they don’t.

Instagram user @evaheartless wrote, “She said what she said!!” 

Instagram user @jadorekiss_monae wrote, “How she gonna tell Chloé what CHLOÉ is??🤔” 

While Instagram user @geishalee wrote, “Chloe is like the pastor’s daughter ❤️❤️ started sweet and then GOT SPICY 😍😍😍” 

Then Instagram user @_chauniethesinger wrote, “I fear the fan was right.” 

Another Instagram user @lavish.v_ wrote, “Social media got people thinking they know you more than yourself 😂 how you gonna tell me who I am?” 

Instagram user @teiannaa wrote, “why tf they always coming for Chloe???” 

While another Instagram user @k_flye2 wrote, “Chloe is definitely bad, I agree🔥🔥🔥🔥” 

Then another Instagram user @hola_naya wrote, “What’s wrong with a lil sweet heat 🤷🏾‍♀️🥰” 

Instagram user @kiddtyblix wrote, “Ugh I hate that y’all feel like y’all know celebrities based off of what yall see lmao. Y’all literally don’t know these ppl irl.” 

Finally, Instagram user @slymbeauty wrote, “A woman can be whatever she wants!” 

Chloe Keeps It Real While Shutting Down Body-Shaming Comment

Chloe is never afraid to make it known that she’s not the one or the two. This isn’t the first time she put a troll in check. Earlier this year, she popped off on a viewer who jumped on her livestream and said she was gaining weight. In a clip LiveBitez shared, Chloe told the social media user “And even if I was getting big.. And what about it?” Fans who watched her stream told her to ignore them, because they were clearly trying to gaslight her. She said she wasn’t falling for it at all, because she knows she’s tea. “Yeah, they trying to rage bait me, because I know my body TEA!” Chloe continued, “And I don’t even say that often, but the stress got my waist snatched.”

RELATED: Okay, Sis! Chloe Bailey Turns Heads At St. Lucia’s Carnival With Fire Fits & Killer Curves (PHOTOS + VIDEOS) 

By TeeJay Small
| Published 16 seconds ago

Every now and again I sit down with a few friends and revisit my all-time favorite medical drama, House. If you haven’t seen the show, you’ve definitely heard of it from memes, internet references, or Family Guy cutaway gags. The show is as chaotic and off-the-wall as it gets, highlighting a different medical mystery each week as the titular Dr. House dishes out his trademark blend of wit, wisdom, and medical malpractice. Though the show is infinitely watchable for its narrative and character work, there’s one episode that can only be understood through the lens of behind-the-scenes events.

The episode in question is season five’s “Simple Explanation.” In this episode, the character Dr. Lawrence Kutner, played by Kal Penn, is found dead in his apartment of an apparent suicide. House and his staff at the hospital’s diagnostics department are perplexed by this, since Kutner never showed any signs of depression or suicidal ideation before. The gang then investigates Kutner’s apartment, leaving them with very few answers.

As the episode unfolds, it becomes clear that Kutner really did choose to end his own life, proving that there are some mysteries that cannot be solved, even by the world’s greatest detectives. While House and the others eventually move on from the mystery, the real-life truth is a bit more complicated. In fact, some could even say that Lawrence Kutner was murdered by none other than President Barack Obama.

How Barack Obama Killed Lawrence Kutner

Let’s rewind just a little bit. Barack Obama took office as the 44th president back in January of 2009, and quickly began staffing his administration with a variety of hip, young faces. As part of a larger push to appeal to Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, Obama created the role of Associate Director of Public Engagement. His team then reached out to several prominent Asian-American citizens, including screen actor Kal Penn.

Penn took the role at the White House, and subsequently had to be written out of House with more haste than the average departure. He officially joined the staff in April of 2009, right around the same time that “Simple Explanation” aired. While in office, Penn served as a mouthpiece for Asian-American communities and helped perform outreach for the administration’s Affordable Care Act. He is also said to have assisted with the DREAM Act, as well as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Fans Have Not Forgiven

Kutner was a fan-favorite character in House, and a frequent source of optimism in a sea of sardonic, nihilistic characters. As you can imagine, some fans took his loss pretty hard. To this day, there are running gags online that Obama killed Kutner, prompting a plethora of sarcastic “Thanks, Obama” replies in the comments section. Kal Penn continued his acting career in bit parts while working at the White House, and even returned to the show via flashbacks and hallucinations for the series finale. Ironically, he even portrayed a White House staffer on the series Designated Survivor in 2016, as Obama’s tenure was coming to a close.

So, if you’re ever watching House with your grandchildren in the year 2077, long after the memory of this behind-the-scenes factoid has faded from public memory, you can be sure to let them in on this bizarre turn of events. As it turns out, Kutner didn’t show suicidal tendencies because he was never depressed. He was just a young, happy doctor, killed in the prime of his life, so that an actor could serve his country in a more hands-on capacity than getting high and going to White Castle.