Entertainment
‘Obsession’ Is A Horror Movie About The Dangers of “Nice Guys”
Modern dating horror has become increasingly fascinated with blurred boundaries, emotional entitlement, and the terrifying realization that intimacy can transform into control quite viciously. Curry Barker’s box office success Obsession weaponizes those fears better than most recent thrillers by understanding something deeply uncomfortable from the beginning: forced love is horrifying before bloodshed ever begins.
The premise sounds simple. Bear (Michael Johnston) uses the supernatural One Willow Wish — he should have just bought the necklace that looked like sunshine — to make his longtime crush Nikki (Inde Navarrette) fall in love with him. What initially feels like an awkward wish-fulfillment fantasy quickly mutates into something uglier, sadder, and genuinely disturbing as Nikki’s affection spirals into emotional instability and dangerous obsession. Barker executes his vision with restraint, grounding the story in emotional realism and building a tightly constructed psychological thriller around infatuation, consent, and the horrifying selfishness required to force someone into loving you.
‘Obsession’ Uses Horror to Explore Emotional Entitlement
Obsession’s smartest decision is refusing to frame Bear as a harmless romantic who simply made a mistake. The movie understands that forcibly manufacturing someone’s love is inherently horrifying regardless of intention. Bear may justify the wish through loneliness and desperation, but the movie never allows the audience to forget the violation at the center of his decision. That emotional foundation gives the horror real weight because the movie never separates its supernatural premise from recognizable human behavior. What makes Obsession especially effective is that Nikki’s obsession does not emerge in a vacuum. Bear is obsessed with Nikki long before the wish happens, and the movie repeatedly emphasizes that his entitlement creates the nightmare consuming both of them. Even as Nikki’s behavior becomes increasingly horrifying, Bear remains obsessed with preserving the fantasy he has created. The horror becomes increasingly uncomfortable because Bear never truly stops believing he deserves the fantasy he forced into existence.
Nikki’s transformation becomes deeply unsettling because she never feels reduced to a simple horror archetype. Even during her most volatile moments, there is a horrifying sense that something human remains trapped underneath the obsession consuming her. The movie repeatedly emphasizes the disconnect between Nikki’s real self and the emotionally fractured version created by Bear’s wish, turning the central relationship into something profoundly uncomfortable to watch. Several scenes become almost unbearable because the audience understands that the feelings Nikki is acting out on are not her own. That loss of autonomy hangs over every interaction and gives even the quieter moments an underlying sense of dread.
Barker’s visual direction amplifies that discomfort through excellent blocking and visual storytelling. Obsession repeatedly pushes Nikki into the shadows during her worst emotional spirals, visually swallowing as the obsession swallows her from within, creating the sense that she is slowly disappearing beneath the surface of the longing that’s controlling her. The pacing deserves enormous credit here as well. Many modern thrillers confuse slowness with tension, stretching ideas beyond their natural lifespan in the name of atmosphere. Obsession never falls into that trap. The movie consistently moves with confidence while still allowing dread to build naturally underneath every interaction, and not a single scene in Obsession is overstays its welcome, proving that Barker perfectly understands exactly how long to let tension simmer before letting it boil over into something uglier.
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Inde Navarrette Delivers One of the Year’s Best Horror Performances
As strong as Barker’s direction is, Obsession ultimately lives or dies on Nikki, and Navarrette delivers a genuinely phenomenal performance. The role requires an incredibly difficult balance. Nikki needs to feel vulnerable, manipulative, frightening, emotionally believable, unstable, tragic, and deeply human all at once. A lesser performance could have easily collapsed into exaggerated “crazy” acting once the supernatural elements intensified, but Navarrette grounds every emotional shift in something painfully and recognizably human, even when the supernatural has creeped in.
What makes her work especially impressive is the specificity of it. Navarrette clearly understands the emotional reality of the character she is playing. Every breakdown feels distinct: there is a noticeable difference between Nikki’s panic, devastation, desperation, performative vulnerability, and complete emotional collapse. Even the crying changes from scene to scene depending on Nikki’s emotional state, and that differentiation makes her feel unnervingly real even at her most volatile. The manic mood swings are equally effective because they never feel artificial. Nikki can shift from warmth to emotional instability in a flash, yet Navarrette makes every transition feel organic. That unpredictability becomes terrifying precisely because the performance feels emotionally authentic instead of theatrical. Without Navarrette’s performance, Obsession still functions as a sharp psychological thriller. With her performance, the movie becomes emotionally devastating.
Sound Design And Tension Turn ‘Obsession’ Into An Uncomfortable Experience
The movie’s technical craftsmanship is just as impressive as the performances and writing. Barker demonstrates an excellent understanding of tension throughout the movie, particularly through pacing and sound design. The sound design is vital to Obsession, and integrated technically flawlessly. The atmosphere of the movie feels unstable from beginning to end, as though emotional violence could erupt at any moment. The horror never comes from cheap jumpscares because the movie does not need them. Barker understands that anticipation is often far more uncomfortable than sudden shock.
That emotional volatility eventually erupts during Sarah’s (Megan Lawless) death scene, which easily stands as the movie’s most brutal sequence. I rarely have genuine physical reactions to horror movies, but I couldn’t help but gasp when Nikki shattered the car window and began slamming Sarah’s head against a brick held to the steering wheel. The scene is vicious, chaotic, and shockingly ugly, capturing violence with a level of brutality that is deeply upsetting. What makes the sequence even more effective is where Barker placed it within the story — the scene is initially one of the first moments of genuine intimacy and emotional safety in the entire movie, briefly lulling both the audience and the characters into lowering their guard before Nikki violently crashes through it. Because the movie spends so much time building discomfort and instability beforehand, that temporary feeling of relief becomes disorienting, which makes the brutality land even harder. It also works in the sequence’s favor that Obsession shows immense restraint leading up to it and is not dripping with blood and gore from beginning to end. When Barker unleashes that level of violence, it lands with force because he’s waited until the audience both feels comfortable and thinks they understand what the movie has to offer. Like the window, that understanding is shattered.
And because horror and comedy rely on so many similar elements in pacing and delivery, the movie also deserves credit for its humor. There are several moments that earned uncomfortable laughs from my theater because Barker clearly understands how absurd emotional desperation can become when pushed to horrifying extremes. The comedy never undercuts the tension or turns Obsession into a parody, however. Instead, the humor makes the discomfort sharper. Many of the funniest moments are met with the kind of nervous laughter where audiences immediately realize they probably should not be laughing at all.
That emotional discomfort never really disappears, even once the movie ends, because Barker weaponizes the end credits themselves. Instead of allowing the audience emotional distance once the story concludes, the credits roll with the real Nikki (now cured of the wish) scream-crying and sobbing underneath them, forcing the audience to sit with the emotional devastation Obsession has created. It is an incredibly uncomfortable choice that perfectly fits a movie built around obsession refusing to let go.
‘Obsession’ Hints At Something Much Darker Beneath the Surface
The movie’s world-building is also surprisingly effective given how little time Barker spends explicitly explaining it. The One Wish Willow itself carries an immediately unsettling set of rules, particularly the revelation that each person only gets one wish permanently, even if they acquire another One Wish Willow later. There is no cheap undo button present in Obsession. Once the damage is done, the consequences become inescapable, except for in death. Barker smartly avoids over explaining the mythology, which makes details like the mysterious customer service representative (voiced by Barker himself) on the hotline even creepier. The moment where he asks Bear, “Do you want to talk to her?” before forcing him to listen to the real Nikki screaming on the other end of the line is one of the movie’s most genuinely chilling scenes. Obsession never explains who or what that voice actually belongs to, but the ambiguity makes the interaction even more disturbing. Whatever he is meant to be, the movie leaves behind the uncomfortable feeling that something much bigger and uglier exists in the shadows of the story we’re watching.
That lingering sense of something larger and more inescapable lurking underneath the story gives Obsession its final layer of dread. The movie never presents the One Wish Willow as a simple cursed object with clean rules and convenient solutions. Every choice carries permanent consequences, and Barker builds the entirety of Obsession around the horrifying reality that emotional damage cannot be undone once it has been inflicted. Barker transforms that idea into a tightly constructed psychological thriller supported by phenomenal performances, disciplined storytelling, excellent sound design, and an atmosphere of constant emotional suffocation. Obsession never lets audiences forget that Nikki’s obsession may be supernatural, but Bear’s entitlement is painfully human.
- Release Date
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May 15, 2026
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Curry Barker
- Writers
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Curry Barker
- Producers
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Christian Mercuri, James Harris, Roman Viaris, Haley Nicole Johnson
Pros & Cons
- Excellent pacing and moody sound design create a sense of dread.
- Careful restraint leads to an explosive culmination.
- The film hinges on Inde Navarette’s performance, and she doesn’t disappoint.
- The supporting characters are underdeveloped.
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For horror fans, 2026 continues to grow from strength to strength. The first half of the year featured genre gems, including YouTuber Markiplier‘s Iron Lung, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, director Sam Raimi’s return to horror in Send Help, and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Then the genre exploded into box office domination this past month, courtesy of two other former YouTube creators. Focus Features’ Obsession, the most viral hit of 2026 so far, has turned a sub-$1 million budget into over $300 million to date, breaking several records along the way.
The other big horror hit this summer comes, unsurprisingly, from the clever minds at A24, as a viral online horror story has been morphed into another low-budget feature film success. Of course, we’re talking about Backrooms, made by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, which quickly broke a major record as the director became the youngest person ever to top the North American box office. However, among all the positives to emerge from the horror genre’s dominance this year, a notable negative is that several gems that might’ve stood out in previous years have fallen far under the radar.
One such gem, perhaps the year’s most criminally underrated horror film, has officially bounced back on streaming. At the time of writing, Johannes Roberts‘ latest horror project, Primate, is the most-watched movie on Paramount+ across the world. This is made all the more impressive considering the tough streaming competition it currently faces, including the likes of the cinema-saving Top Gun: Maverick, the $500 million-plus zombie favorite World War Z, both Scary Movie and its sequel, and the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King‘s The Running Man.
What Did Critics Say About ‘Primate’?
Starring the likes of Academy Award-nominee Troy Kotsur and Johnny Sequoyah, and featuring the directorial prowess of Roberts, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Primate is a triumph. The film has scored a “certified fresh” 78% from critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, particularly impressing Collider’s Jeff Ewing, who wrote in his review of the movie that “Primate is aimed at a singular cinematic experience, and that’s to weave a gory tale of youngsters besieged by an unhinged chimp. That level of focus proves wildly successful, because Primate rocks.”
Primate is the most-streamed movie on Paramount+ in the world. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.
- Release Date
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January 1, 2026
- Runtime
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89 minutes
- Director
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Johannes Roberts
- Writers
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Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
- Producers
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Vicki Dee Rock, Walter Hamada, John Hodges
We’ve long been waiting for news of Quentin Tarantino‘s next — and final — feature film. The proposed The Movie Critic fell apart, despite Tarantino having a script prepared for it, which was supposedly turned into The Adventures of Cliff Booth, the pseudo-sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood that will star Brad Pitt under the direction of David Fincher. But now, Tarantino is in the UK shooting the most surprising feature of his career.
The filmmaker has been spotted in Wales working on a new feature from director Jamie Adams, and he is not alone. Tarantino is set to star alongside pop icon Kylie Minogue in Adams’ latest movie, Tangled Up in Blue. The film is currently shooting in Wales and also stars Allison Williams, RZA, Jason Isaacs, and Sofia Boutella.
Tarantino previously appeared in Adams’ last film, Only What We Carry, making Tangled Up in Blue a quick reunion for the pair. His involvement is especially interesting as he continues preparing his first West End play, The Popinjay Cavalier, which is expected to launch in early 2027.
What is ‘The Popinjay Cavalier’?
Tarantino has been working in the UK as he gets ready to bring The Popinjay Cavalier to the stage. The production, backed by Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment, has been described as a “swashbuckling comedy” set in 1830s Europe.
The official synopsis reads: “Set in 1830s Europe, The Popinjay Cavalier is a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen. A sweeping celebration of theatre and its heightened romance, told with Tarantino’s signature style and unmistakable wit.”
Last summer, Tarantino confirmed that the play would be his next major creative project, explaining that it was already written and would likely take up a significant amount of his time. Translation for fans there is that we shouldn’t expect him to be directing his next movie any time soon. In fact, somewhat like George R. R. Martin and the perennially unfinished The Winds of Winter, it might be the case that Tarantino is quite content doing side quests and putting off finishing his long-storied career. Perhaps the build up will always be more exciting than the pay off.
No release date for Tangled Up in Blue has been announced.
- Release Date
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July 26, 2019
- Runtime
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162 minutes
Dakota Mortensen penned a candid tribute to his toddler son, Ever, whom he shares with ex Taylor Frankie Paul, that addressed the difficulty of recent times.
“These past months have brought some of the hardest moments of my life, but they’ve also brought some of the most meaningful,” the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 33, wrote via Instagram as he acknowledged Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21.
The lengthy tribute to Ever, 2, which included a carousel of photos and videos that captured dad-and-son time with one another, comes amid Mortensen’s ongoing custody battle with Paul, 32, following alleged domestic violence incidents and allegations. Paul did not feature in any of Mortensen’s carousel uploads.
Speaking directly to Ever, Mortensen discussed his adoration for him. “Thank you for making me a dad. Nothing in my life has ever meant more to me than being your father. From the moment you came into this world you gave my life a purpose I never knew I could even have. You’ve taught me more than I could ever teach you,” the reality TV star wrote. “You’ve shown me patience, unconditional love, and what truly matters in life. Every day I wake up wanting to be a better man because of you.”
Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen’s 2-year-old son, Ever, was heard hysterically crying after his father called 911 in February over an alleged domestic dispute. In audio obtained from the Draper Police Department by Us Weekly, Ever cried in the background while Paul, 31, and Mortensen, 33, argued until a dispatcher answered the call. “Please, […]
He also expanded on how his son has gotten him through the events of recent months, which saw Mortensen granted temporary physical custody of Ever and a restraining order against Paul while the former Bachelorette was granted a protective order against Mortensen. “Through it all one thing has never changed — my love for you,” he wrote. “Being your dad is the greatest blessing I could ever ask for and I will never stop showing up for you, supporting you, and loving you with everything I have.”
Mortensen added that he will be “cheering” his son on throughout his life. “Everything I do is with you in mind. My focus is on being the father you deserve and building the future you deserve. I pray that one day you’ll fully understand how deeply you are loved,” he wrote.
Taylor Frankie Paul Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Earlier this month, Paul told fans via her Instagram Stories that the emotional fallout of the pair’s relationship breakdown has taken a toll on her wellbeing. “Tbh I’ve gone emotionally numb,” Paul wrote on June 13. “I don’t know what to say anymore other than I’m right there with a lot of you. Wish I could be more helpful. Not sure when the nervous system switched… I can’t even cry lately which is very unlike me.”
Amid Paul and Mortensen’s claims against each other, Mortensen alleged that Paul had been physically violent with him earlier this year. A police investigation had temporarily shut down season 5 filming on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives on the back of an alleged incident that occurred in late February.
In April, Us Weekly confirmed via a statement from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office that Paul would not be charged as a result of reviewed “reports and evidence.”
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have tried to coparent son Ever since their fall 2024 split. Paul and Mortensen welcomed their first baby together, the MomTok content creator’s third, in March 2024, months before they called it quits. As Paul and Mortensen navigated jointly raising their son, […]
Three years earlier, Paul was arrested following a separate altercation with Mortensen. She pleaded guilty to aggravated assault at the time, while additional charges of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief were dismissed.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
The future of Liam Payne’s fortune has finally been decided, nearly two years after the former One Direction star’s tragic death shocked fans around the world.
Newly released court documents have revealed exactly who will inherit the singer’s multimillion-pound estate and how the money can be used moving forward.
The legal update also sheds fresh light on the value of Liam’s assets, the status of potential claims against his estate, and the difficult final chapter of the star’s life before his fatal fall in Argentina.
New probate documents have confirmed that Liam Payne’s only child, eight-year-old Bear Grey Payne, will inherit the singer’s entire fortune.
The 31-year-old passed away without leaving a will when he fell from a third-floor balcony at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16, 2024.
Considering Liam was not married or in a civil partnership at the time of his death, UK intestacy laws meant that his son was always expected to inherit everything.
Bear, whose mother is singer Cheryl Tweedy, remains the sole beneficiary of the estate. The newly released High Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail also reveal that Liam’s fortune has been revalued.
While earlier filings placed the net value of his estate at more than £24 million ($31.7 million), the latest figures show it is now worth just over £21 million ($27.7 million).
The revised valuation places Liam’s estate at £26,471,777 ($35 million) before liabilities, with a final net value of £21,898,779 ($28.9 million).
The reduction could be linked to changing asset values, estate costs, or other financial adjustments made since the original probate filing.
Liam’s Estate Can Now Be Used For Bear’s Benefit
The latest court ruling marks a major shift in how Liam Payne’s estate can be managed.
Last year, Cheryl and music industry lawyer Richard Bray were appointed administrators under a limited probate grant that only allowed them to collect and preserve Liam’s assets.
Now, the High Court has issued Letters of Administration, giving administrators broader authority over the estate.
The updated legal status means money from the “Kiss You” singer’s fortune can now be used to directly benefit Bear before he turns 18.
Rather than waiting until adulthood to access the inheritance, portions of the estate may now be spent on the child’s education, welfare, and upbringing, while the remaining funds will be placed into trust until he reaches legal age.
Liam Payne’s Girlfriend Reportedly Won’t Seek A Share
One question surrounding Liam’s estate involved whether his longtime girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, would pursue a legal claim.
At the time of his death, the songwriter had been living with the influencer in a rented home in Florida. Under certain circumstances, cohabiting partners may be able to pursue financial claims against an intestate estate.
However, sources close to Cassidy previously indicated that she had no intention of seeking any portion of Liam’s fortune.
Under probate rules, potential claims against the estate can generally be made within six months of the granting of Letters of Administration.
Although speculation has persisted, there has been no indication that Cassidy plans to challenge the inheritance arrangement.
Liam’s UK assets include his sprawling Buckinghamshire property, which he purchased for £3.25 million ($4.2 million) in 2021 to be closer to Bear following his split from Cheryl.
The five-bedroom estate features a saltwater pool, waterfalls, gym, spa, and tennis courts. While the property was listed for sale following Liam’s death, it was later removed from the market.
Liam’s Final Days Ended In Tragedy
The legal developments come against the backdrop of Liam Payne’s heartbreaking final months.
He had successfully completed treatment at a rehabilitation clinic in 2023 and achieved sobriety. However, by the night of his death, he had relapsed and consumed both alcohol and drugs.
Witnesses reported seeing him in the hotel lobby behaving erratically, smashing his laptop and interacting with fans shortly before the fatal incident.
Medical officials later confirmed his cause of death as “polytrauma,” a term used to describe multiple traumatic injuries sustained throughout the body.
Just days earlier, Liam had traveled to Argentina alongside Cassidy and businessman Rogelio “Roger” Nores to attend a concert by former One Direction bandmate Niall Horan.
However, Cassidy returned to Florida two days before Liam’s death.
Liam Payne’s Death Triggered Legal Battles In Argentina
The aftermath of Liam’s death led to a series of criminal investigations and legal disputes. Friend Rogelio Nores, hotel operator Gilda Martin, and receptionist Esteban Grassi were initially charged with manslaughter. However, those charges were later dropped.
Two other men, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz, continue to face charges related to allegedly supplying cocaine to the singer.
The investigation also sparked tensions between Nores and Liam’s family. The deceased’s father Geoff Payne reportedly told prosecutors that he believed Nores had “abandoned” his son and failed in his duty of care.
An early indictment echoed those concerns, accusing Nores of “failing in his duty of care, assistance and help” toward Liam.
After the manslaughter charges were dismissed, Nores briefly launched a defamation lawsuit against Geoff before later withdrawing the case.
The Weeknd stunned fans globally when he announced during his show in Copenhagen that he’ll be going on a break “for a while.”
The “Blinding Lights” hitmaker has been on his record-breaking “After Hours Til Dawn” stadium tour since 2022 and has since surpassed $1 billion in global gross.
The Weeknd also recently closed a first-of-its-kind catalog partnership with Lyric Capital, believed to be in the $1 billion range, while maintaining majority equity and complete creative control.
The Weeknd kicked off the European leg of his historic “After Hours Til Dawn” stadium tour with two sold-out nights in Copenhagen over the weekend.
In social media clips from the show, the “Can’t Feel My Face” singer paused the performance midway to announce to fans that a lengthy break from touring is imminent.
“I can’t promise I’ll be back too soon, because you know, I want to cook something special for you in these next couple years,” he said to a mix of jeers and applause from the crowd.
The singer added, “So before I leave for a while, I wanted to come back to Copenhagen and give you guys one last crazy show tonight, man.”
Fans Fear The Singer May Step Away From Music
Some online don’t seem to be taking the news well, with many spiraling over whether he meant touring or music altogether.
“So does it mean no album within a couple of years?” a puzzled fan wrote on X, while another added, “Hoping he meant from touring and not music.”
“My guess is a video game. He’s been meeting with every big Japanese video game auteur in the last few weeks,” a Reddit user wrote.
Many others who believe he’s planning to try his hand at acting again were less enthusiastic about the remark.
One user wrote, “Why does this feel like a threat? I understand spreading your wings, but his non-musical artistic endeavours have been genuinely awful. Stick to what you’re good at.”
“If it’s something to do with acting, then this sounds more of a threat than a promise,” another user added.
“Please no more acting weekend.. try to make music which isn’t the same as your last 20 forgettable albums,” another penned.
The Numbers Behind The Weeknd’s Billion-Dollar Run
The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, has spent much of the past four years on the road since launching his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour in July 2022.
During the Copenhagen shows, he unveiled a 40-foot-tall sculpture by legendary Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama while treating fans to performances of hits including “Blinding Lights,” “Starboy,” and “Can’t Feel My Face.”
The tour set new records by becoming the highest-grossing ever by a male solo artist after surpassing the $1 billion mark in global revenue and selling more than 7.5 million tickets across 153 shows.
In 2026 alone, the tour has sold more than 3 million tickets and generated over $440 million in revenue.
His next stops include multi-stadium runs in cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Milan, London, Barcelona, and Lisbon before concluding with a final Asia leg later this year.
Tour Raises Funds For Education And Relief
As part of the tour, The Weeknd is partnering with Global Citizen to raise funds that provide children with access to education through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
He’s also working with the United Nations World Food Programme to support efforts to end the global hunger crisis.
According to Variety, €1 from every ticket sold across Europe and £1 from every ticket sold in the UK will be donated to the two organizations. Fans can also win a pair of free tickets by taking action to help end extreme poverty through Global Citizen.
The Weeknd’s $1 Billion Catalog Deal Explained
The touring update comes months after The Weeknd reached a landmark catalog agreement with Lyric Capital Group, reportedly valued at around $1 billion.
Unlike traditional catalog sales, in which artists surrender ownership rights to their songs, the agreement allows the artist and his team to retain majority equity as well as complete creative control.
A representative for the artist said that it was always clear The Weeknd “would not sell his catalog,” adding that he wanted to be “more innovative and creative in the way we established a partnership.”
“To that end, through this venture, we constructed and launched a new business model with Abel and his iconic catalog whereby Abel and his team have the freedom to execute their creative vision with the entirety of his rights, both publishing and masters,” the representative added. “This unique catalog deal sets a new standard for artist equity and control.”
The agreement applies only to his music assets and publishing through 2025 and does not include any future projects.
Love Island USA introduced a new code word when “French fries” was used to describe a sex act between Kenzie Annis and Corbin Mims.
The Sunday, June 21, episode briefly showed Kenzie and Corbin hooking up in bed. The next morning, Trinity Tatum said she heard someone performing “French fries,” which sounded “too wet” to just be a kiss. In a confessional, Kenzie confirmed she shared a heated exchange with Corbin.
“I was definitely getting some French fries. Feeling good,” she gushed. “We were probably doing a bit much honestly but I feel a strong connection with Corbin. We probably got a little bit carried away.”
Based on the footage, French fries sex means manual sex acts such as a hand job. Some viewers, however, have pointed out that the reference to the side dish could also mean finger food, which would lead back to another sexual act.
Love Island USA originally premiered in the U.K. in 2002 before it expanded worldwide with various spinoffs, including Love Island USA on Peacock. The series follows a different group of singles every season who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa.
The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and stand a chance at receiving the$100,000 prize.
While finding a connection that you want to explore more intimately isn’t out of the question, season 7 of Love Island USA seemed to set some sort of record with the amount of times Islanders were caught hooking up — until season 8.
From Hannah Fields and Pepe Garcia to Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown, the reality stars found ways around having to address their sexual encounters for all of America to hear.
“We had a code name for intimacy,” Hannah exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2025. “We would say, ‘How was your journey? What was this journey like?’ Huda [started it when she] said something like, ‘Oh, I had a journey. My journey went all the way.’”
Season 8 escalated the sex that took place in the villa with multiple couples going all the way while sharing a bedroom in the villa. The potential has only escalated with Casa Amor being introduced halfway into Sunday’s episode.
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Just because the Love Island USA cast is bound to have sex doesn’t mean they don’t find ways — like secret code words — to get around discussing it on screen.
The dating show originally premiered in the U.K. in 2002 before it expanded worldwide with various spinoffs, including Love Island USA on Peacock. The series follows a different group of singles every season who have to pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa.
The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa and are under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and stand a chance at receiving the$100,000 prize.
While finding a connection that you want to explore more intimately isn’t out of the question, season 7 of Love Island USA seemed to set some sort of record with the amount of times Islanders were caught hooking up.
From Hannah Fields and Pepe Garcia to Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown, the reality stars have found ways around having to address their sexual encounters for all of America to hear.
“We had a code name for intimacy,” Hannah exclusively told Us Weekly in June. “We would say, ‘How was your journey? What was this journey like?’ Huda [started it when she] said something like, ‘Oh, I had a journey. My journey went all the way.’”
Keep scrolling for a guide of how often the season 7 cast of Love Island USA actually stuck to that code word:
Huda and Jeremiah
After covertly taking the next step in their relationship, Huda wasn’t good at playing coy the next morning.
“I wish I could tell you what I want to tell you,” Huda teased during a conversation with the girls, who immediately guessed that she had sex. “I won’t give details on when or how but all I will say is it did happen.”
Jeremiah, for his part, declined to “kiss and tell” while on “The Viall Files” podcast in June 2025 — despite viewers already knowing exactly what happened.
Hannah and Pepe
The couple’s intimate moment went viral even though they never acknowledged it on the show. After being dumped from the island, Hannah explained how her own “journey” with Pepe played out.
“We had not slept in, like, 24 hours. It had been three hours after we went to bed,” she told Us of the clip. “You kind of forget that you’re on camera. I literally always forgot that I was being recorded and it would dawn on me because I’d just see a camera and I’d be like, ‘Oh s*** I’m being recorded.’ I really didn’t think I remembered until the next day. I was like, ‘Just don’t talk about it. Nobody’s gonna know. Nobody’s gonna know what happened.’ I sit in the bathroom, like, ‘Do you think they caught that? … No.’ So when I watched the episode, I’m like, ‘Oh, I couldn’t have been less discreet.’”
They got a text — and found love in the Love Island USA villa. The beloved British dating show made its way across the pond in 2019, following a crop of American bombshells searching for The One in a luxury tropical villa. In season 1, eventual winners Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli had a connection […]
Nic and Cierra
If anyone went through a “journey,” it was Nic and Cierra. From 25 seconds to 30 seconds to 40 seconds, Nic wasn’t proud of how his work in the bedroom was captured on screen.
“I wasn’t expecting it that quickly. From weeks of held up tension, it started flowing,” he admitted to Ace. “It was one of the best 25 seconds of my life. It was so fast. I had to apologize because it was so fast. It was so good but so short.”
Nic later upped the final amount, telling Cierra, “Besides the fact that it was just 30 seconds long, the way that it happened was just natural and beautiful. Usually, I take a lot more time with somebody I like.”
After recoupling later in the season, Nic and Cierra continued to intimately explore their bond as they prepared to close off their connection.
“Did you hear me taking my journey?” Cierra asked Iris who was paired up with TJ Palma. “Well the journey was much longer this time than the first time.”
Cierra elaborated on her encounter with Nic, adding, “And we stopped for food on the way. Hotdogs and hamburgers were ordered. We both had a full course meal. Once we finished eating we ended at a waterfall. It was beautiful.”
Nic gave Ace and Taylor an update about the “best 40 seconds ever” but he admitted it “was still subpar” based on past experiences.
Huda and Chris
During a July episode, Bryan and Ace hid a condom under Huda’s pillow. She noticed it before going to bed with Chris, saying, “Which one of you all is being freaky? You are trying to set me up!” Later in the episode, Chris revealed to Bryan that he “folded” and secretly had sex with Huda that night.
Bryan and Amaya
“It felt like I lost my virginity,” Bryan told the guys in a July episode about spending time with Amaya in the Hideaway. “The journey was beautiful.”
Bryan elaborated on how having sex made his connection with Amaya even stronger, adding, “I had a great night at the Hideaway with Amaya. I definitely feel closer to her. We took a step in our connection and it has been smiles ever since.”
Meanwhile on the other side of the villa, Amaya revealed she went on “two” journeys with Bryan that were “back to back.”
“We definitely really went on our journey and it was a great one,” she gushed about the “majestic and beautiful” experience.
Ace and Chelley
After visiting the hideaway, Ace revealed he didn’t have sex with Chelley, saying, “I didn’t fold. Obviously hands going everywhere.” Chris used the same phrase while discussing his time with Huda.
Kenzie and Corbin
LOVE ISLAND USA — “Week 2 ” Episode TBD — Pictured: (l-r) Mackenzie “Kenzie” Brooke Annis, Gabriel Vianna Vasconcelos — (Photo by: Ben Symons/Peacock) NBC
A season 8 episode briefly showed Kenzie and Corbin hooking up in bed. The next morning, Trinity Tatum said she heard someone performing “French fries,” which sounded “too wet” to just be a kiss. In a confessional, Kenzie confirmed she shared a heated exchange with Corbin.
“I was definitely getting some French fries. Feeling good,” she gushed. “We were probably doing a bit much honestly but I feel a strong connection with Corbin. We probably got a little bit carried away.”
Based on the footage, French fries sex means manual sex acts such as a hand job.
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Pimple patches have officially gone from skincare secret to full-blown fashion accessory — and even Anne Hathaway is on board with the trend. The Devil Wears Prada 2 actress wore star-shaped acne patches in an Instagram post, proving that treating a breakout no longer means hiding under layers of concealer or suffering through harsh spot treatments. Instead, these playful little stickers somehow make dealing with a zit feel kind of cute.
The best part is that shoppers say the viral pimple patches actually work. The hydrocolloid stars are designed to calm angry blemishes while protecting them from picking (because we’re all guilty of it). Between the celeb stamp of approval and the rave reviews, it’s safe to say these tiny stars are becoming a permanent fixture in skincare routines everywhere.
Get Starface Hydro-Star Party Pack Pimple Patches for $27 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The colorful star-shaped patches come in four bright shades (aqua, lime, azalea and violet), turning annoying zits into more of a fashion statement than a skincare emergency. Instead of desperately trying to conceal a blemish, you can slap on a star and go about your day.
Made with 100% hydrocolloid, the patches are designed to absorb fluid, reduce redness and visibly shrink spots in as little as six hours — and shoppers say they see “a noticeable difference after just one use.” Starface’s updated formula is even stickier and more absorbent than before, helping pull out all the unwanted gunk while staying securely in place overnight. They’re also dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin.
“Love! These get rid of my pimples overnight. Really works and super stylish,” one reviewer wrote.
“These are super cute and really help out in shrinking and calming down small zits! I used to get bullied for my acne which led to me always covering any pimples up with makeup, which while that did fix the bullying problem, it was never a good solution for my skin,” another shopper shared. “I might even wear these out in public.”
Starface Pimple Patches also help stop the urge to pick at your skin. The stars act as a protective barrier between your fingers and the blemish, which helps minimize irritation and prevent the picking that makes breakouts look so much worse.
Whether you’re wearing one while working from home, running errands or sleeping, they’re a surprisingly effective reminder to leave your skin alone and let it heal.
Get Starface Hydro-Star Party Pack Pimple Patches for $27 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Starface here and more skincare treatments here! Don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Love Island USA‘s Zach Georgiou made a surprise sex confession about his history with blond girls.
During the Sunday, June 21, episode of the Peacock show, Zach spoke with Jen Terry about what he looked for in a possible partner, saying, “I do like blond girls. I can [like them]!”
Zach clarified he has a “track record.”
“I have never slept with a blond girl,” he added amid a hiccup in his relationship with Kayda Bosse. The duo were on different pages about whether they would keep exploring other options — despite being coupled up — ahead of the show’s Casa Amor twist.
While Zach maintained an interest in blond girls, viewers know he uncoupled with Kenzie Annis because she wasn’t his usual type.
Love Island USA follows a group of singles who have to pair off in order to stay in a luxury villa in Fiji. The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation under constant video surveillance.
Hosted by Vanderpump Rules alum Ariana Madix, Love Island USA requires the group to be coupled up in order to have a chance at receiving the $100,000 prize. While the Islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes — and even get to cast votes that affect couples and the fate of the contestants who are facing temptation as sexy new singles make their debut.
The popular dating show returned in June with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Kenzie, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum and Zach.
Love Island USA is all about coupling up — so which Islanders are currently together and which have already called it quits in the villa? Peacock’s popular dating show returned in June 2026 with contestants Aniya Harvey, Beatriz Hatz, Bryce Alakai Dettloff, KC Chandler, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Annis, Melanie Moreno, Sincere Rhea, Sean Reifel, Trinity Tatum […]
As each couple faced obstacles in Sunday’s episode, production sprung the Casa Amor reveal on the villa.
Casa Amor will divide the couples into two different villas — one for the men and one for the women. During their separation, the Islanders are encouraged to test the stability and longevity of their connections with the arrival of a group of brand new bombshells.
The villa test will end with everyone deciding whether they want to recouple with a bombshell or remain in their existing couple.
New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.
Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!
Kanye West’s latest music video has generated major reactions, particularly due to reports that his wife, Bianca Censori, directed it.
Beyond being Kanye’s partner, Censori is known for her work as an architectural designer. Her move into directing surprised many fans, with several commenting on her creative input.
The music video, titled “King,” is the opening track from the rapper’s 12th studio album, “Bully,” which debuted in March.
Kanye West recently released the visuals for his song “King,” and fans are now praising his decision to have his wife, Bianca Censori, direct the project.
Many cited the video as evidence that Censori is “creative” in ways that go beyond public perception, especially given the attention her bold fashion choices have received in recent years.
“Bianca might just be that girl. This is creative af,” one person said, while another remarked, “I love the world Censori has created with this album.”
Another commenter admitted they had previously judged Censori harshly because of her public image, but said the music videos changed their opinion of her talent.
“Wow, even the video’s got a royalty upgrade, guess ‘King’ just hired a queen for the director’s chair,” another wrote.
Kanye West Teased The Video On Instagram
The release of the video was preceded by a post from Kanye on his Instagram page, where he also confirmed the arrival of “Bully (Deluxe),” the expanded edition of his 12th studio album, “Bully.”
“BULLY DELUXE + KING VIDEO OUT NOW,” Kanye wrote, adding a clip from the music video.
In the clip, the rapper is seen dressed in a white suit while driving a vintage open-top car. Sitting beside him is a similarly dressed man who begins to shake vigorously as a police car chases their vehicle.
In the back seat, another man is seen reading a newspaper, while Censori appears beside him dressed in a nurse’s outfit.
Kanye Added New Songs To ‘Bully Deluxe’
For the deluxe album, Kanye chose a cover featuring a child with grills. He shared the artwork ahead of the release, writing in the caption, “New Cover.”
The updated edition includes revised mixes of songs from the original 18-track album released in March.
It also features new singles, including “OK” featuring Don Toliver and “Mission Control.” Kanye previously performed with Toliver in April during his Los Angeles show, where they delivered a rendition of “E85.”
Adding to the tracklist, Kanye also included a new version of “I Can’t Wait,” which features singer Lauryn Hill.
Kanye West Set For U.S. And Overseas Shows
Fans of Kanye will see him take the stage later this month for two shows at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The rapper last performed in the U.S. in April, when he held a series of shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
July will also begin with a major performance for the artist, as he has scheduled a show at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
From there, Kanye’s tour will take him overseas to countries including Albania, Spain, and Portugal, with dates set for July and August.
He will later return for a homecoming show in Chicago, scheduled for September 3 and September 4 at Soldier Field.
North West Also Preparing For Her First Tour
In August, Kanye’s daughter North, who recently turned 13, will also embark on her first concert tour since becoming a singer.
She will be joined by rapper and singer Molly Santana, with whom she was recently seen on stage at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash in Chicago.
Tickets for the tour went on sale Friday, with an average price of around $78.46. North will perform exclusively in major U.S. cities, including Dallas, where the tour kicks off, and Los Angeles, which will host the final show.
The tour follows North’s debut EP, “N0rth4evr,” which she released early last month.
The EP features six tracks, all self-produced and written by North, including “H0w Sh0uld ! F33l,” “Th!s t!m3,” “Aishite,” and “#N0rth4evr.”
North’s EP release was met with enthusiastic support from her family, with many of them posting videos of themselves streaming and listening to the project.
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