Lisa Rinna agrees with the internet that Love Island USA winner Bryce Alakai looks a lot like her husband, Harry Hamlin.

“Don’t want to come across as a stalker, but I do think that you look so much like my husband that you could be the son that we never had 😬,” Lisa, 63, wrote via TikTok On Tuesday, July 28. “Hi and nice to meet you and congratulations on winning Love Island 💋.”

Lisa and Harry, 74, have been married since 1997 and share daughters Delilah Belle, 28, and Amelia Gray, 25.

“I know my girls will cringe that I did this but whatever 🤗,” Lisa added in her open, honest and totally innocent comment.

Related: ‘Love Island USA’ Alums React to Trinity and Bryce Winning Season 8

Love Island USA has crowned new winners — and created a new relationship worth celebrating. In case you missed the romantic moment, Trinity Tatum and Bryce Alakai Dettloff came out on top during the season 8 finale on Sunday, July 12. America cast their votes and determined the pair were worthy of a $100,000 cash prize. […]

Bryce, 29 — who was simply sharing a shirtless video of himself after a fresh haircut — seemed flattered by the gesture when he “liked” the comment.

Other followers couldn’t help but sound off on the physical similarities between Harry and Bryce.

“I know I had to look it up to see and was lowkey surprised how much they actually did 😭😭,” one user wrote in the comments section. Another fan added, “Wait ok i forgive her bc they do look alike.”

It’s been an unforgettable summer for Bryce after he fell in love with Trinity Tatum on the Peacock reality show. The pair came out on top during the season 8 finale on July 12, and America determined the pair were worthy of a $100,000 cash prize.

“The whole thing has just been so surreal, from the way it started out so shaky to it ending with me literally saying I love her. It’s crazy,” he told People after the show. “I feel really lucky. I’ll get 100 positive comments before one negative one, which is crazy for something like this. We’ll literally sit in bed crying, re-watching the edits of us holding each other. I’ll be in tears the whole night.”

As the couple navigate their relationship away from the cameras, there is one more task they must complete as part of their Love Island USA experience.

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In August, the duo will reunite with their castmates for a special reunion show.

“Hey Besties! We’re looking for Los Angeles-based superfans to apply for a chance to get an invite to the live taping of the #LoveIslandUSA reunion on Monday 8/10,” the show wrote via X on Tuesday. “Apply here.”

The Love Island USA reunion special — hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen — premieres on Peacock Monday, August 31, at 9 p.m. ET.

Bold and the Beautiful spoilers for August 3-7, 2026 stun as Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) is graveling and pleading on her hands and knees, but it won’t do her any good. Plus, Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) sees trouble ahead and issues a dire warning that may go unheeded.

Also, the week of August 3rd through the 7th, we’re going to see Miss Dylan (Sydney Bullock) versus Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) over Will Spencer (Crew Morrow). And as always on early edition day, we go over what’s happening the rest of this week. Then we get into what is coming next week. So, let’s jump right in.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Dylan Spills to Jessica

On Wednesday, July 29th, we’re going to pick back up from scenes on Tuesday with more of Dylan’s friend from Bikini Bar, Jessica (Sissy Sheridan), who’s up at the office. They were talking about Will standing in the design office and this is going to continue. So, I do wonder if Electra walks in or lurks outside and overhears Dylan gushing about Will or Jessica gushing about Will and Dylan.

We are going to have Electra trying to force Dylan to choose between Will and their friendship. We already know Dylan is going to choose Will because she told Jessica she’s not going to let anyone stand in the way of her happiness, not her job at Forrester and definitely not her friendship with Electra.

B&B Spoilers: Sheila Pleads with Steffy

Also, Sheila tries to convince Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) to let her into the family. This is also carrying over from Tuesday when Sheila ran into Steffy who was waiting in Finn Finnegan’s (Tanner Novlan) office and we saw Sheila saying that she was there looking for Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda). Steffy didn’t believe it, but Sheila is going to get the chance to plead her case to Steffy face to face.

We have an unconfirmed spoiler that I want to share. It’s not verified official, but the source is usually spot-on. And they said Sheila’s desperate and literally gets on her knees to beg Steffy to let her into their lives. And what Sheila does stuns Steffy, but does not change her mind.

We also have Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz) in some new scenes. I’m curious if he’s worried about what’s next for him now that Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) is firmly entrenched over at Logan and won’t be coming back to Forrester, which means no more Hope for the Future. And the designs that Zende and Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) made are sitting on that shelf.

Bold and Beautiful: Sheila’s Desperate Plea and Dylan’s Confession

Thursday, July 30th, at the Malibu House, Taylor and Finn have a deep conversation. During this talk, Taylor notices Finn seems to be changing his stance on Sheila. He’s much more open to her. So Taylor may warn Steffy that Finn is conflicted and we may also see Steffy telling Taylor about her run-in with Sheila.

It also appears that Dylan does a little oversharing with Electra or at least come clean because something that Dylan confesses sets Electra off. So she might have overheard Dylan talking to Jessica about her night with Will and confronts her and demands the truth.

I don’t think Dylan would lie. So, in the Forrester design office, we’ve got Electra furious and raging at Dylan. And Electra is demanding that Dylan tell her that you didn’t. As in, I suspect, tell me you didn’t spend the night with him. So, Dylan and Electra’s friendship is probably over this week. And I bet Electra is probably going to also fire Dylan over this very soon.

And you know, the Forresters will agree because they all hate Will. Then on Friday, July 31st, we’ve got new scenes with Li Finnegan, who’s lending an ear to Sheila. Maybe we’ll get to see them in a roommate situation. Sounds like Li might be team Sheila on this. And like Finn agrees that Sheila really has changed.

B&B Spoilers: Will Keeps Trying to Make Amends with Electra

Will tries to make amends with Electra. I think it’s pathetic how whiny that Will is about Electra. She’s not nice to him, doesn’t listen, chose Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) exaggerations and lies over his truth, and made out with R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) behind Will’s back and lied to his face about it.

So, I don’t think Will owes Electra any amends. He kept company information private. Keeping trade secrets is not a betrayal. I expect R.J., Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye), or Eric Forrester (John McCook) to find out Will’s talking to Electra and are going to rage at Will again. I also expect Electra is going to blast Will for letting Dylan spend the night at his house.

And I don’t think she’ll believe they didn’t have sex. We’re going to see Steffy evaluating the risks of letting Sheila into her family’s lives. And this comes after Finn’s talk with Taylor. I don’t see Steffy relenting at this point because of some of the sneak peek scenes I’ve seen of Sheila and Steffy in Monte Carlo. And that action is coming soon.

Bold and the Beautiful: Monaco Drama and Life-Changing Events

Then the week of August 3rd through the 7th, we’re going to get those Monaco scenes very soon. Ridge and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) are heading to Monte Carlo for business. Steffy is going along for business reasons also and she brings Finn. Maybe Steffy couldn’t find a babysitter that won’t keep Sheila away.

Speaking of Steffy’s mother-in-law, Sheila is fixated and desperate. So, she’s going to follow Steffy and Finn to Monaco looking for a way to get in Steffy’s good graces. They filmed at a beach and there’s scenes of her spotting Sheila and then Steffy goes absolutely insane. She is shrieking at Sheila and confronting her.

Brad Bell said the Monte Carlo scenes will also involve something they taped in a church. And he called this whole trip and the events there life-changing. Maybe we’ll get a vow renewal for Steffy and Finn or for Ridge and Brooke. But it looks like Sheila finds a way to impress Steffy. So maybe Sheila is going to save their lives or something like that.

Bold and Beautiful Spoilers: Katie Distraught

Back in LA, we’re going to see Katie Logan (Heather Tom) still reeling from Brooke disowning her and Eric and Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) keeping the lie alive that Katie tricked Eric and stole his designs. I think that Donna and Eric were both cowards for not telling the truth. I think they’re so scared of Ridge and Brooke’s reaction to finding out the truth of the matter. So, they let them attack Katie instead. It’s shameful.

Hope feels bad about Brooke being upset, but she’s team Katie. And Hope is more determined than ever to make Logan a success, especially after Steffy showed up talking smack about her and Logan and Katie. And to make it worse, Steffy committed a stunning fashion foul by wearing that dress that looks like it’s made from hospital ER drapes. You know, sheer at the top and opaque for the rest of the length.

Whoever is picking out Jacqui Wood’s outfits needs to be fired at this point. We’ll get a few episodes of Ridge, Brooke, Steffy, Sheila, and Finn in Monaco before they’re back home in LA. And when they get home, things may be completely different after this life-altering event that Brad Bell has promised us. So, Sheila may get her dream at last, at least on a probationary basis.

B&B Spoilers: Electra Overhears the Truth

We also are probably going to see Will upset with Dylan for confessing to Electra about their night together. However, I suspect that Electra found out by listening in. I don’t think Dylan just walked up and said it to Electra to be mean or hurtful.

I’m also hoping Dylan makes it clear to Will that he deserves better than Electra. We’ll see if Dylan needs a new job soon. If Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) mentions her skills to Bill and Katie, I bet they’ll have lots of questions.

And they might offer Dylan a job to keep her close to Will to keep his mind off Electra. I do think Will’s better off not dating Electra on Bold and the Beautiful. And I think Dylan’s better off without Electra in her life because their friendship is way out of balance and basically she bullies and bosses Dylan around and she has from the jump.

Electra’s got a really selfish entitled streak and I don’t think she’s ever been a particularly good friend to Dylan. I also expect R.J. to go all out with his campaign to win Electra’s heart and make sure she never goes back to Will, especially once he finds out about Dylan staying the night over at Will’s place.

I’m sure Electra will say that Will said they didn’t do anything.  R.J.’s going to say, “Of course he did. He’s a Spencer.” And I’m sure all the Foresters are going to find out about this and it’s one more thing for them to make snarky anti-Spencer comments about.

Our Times is a Spanish sci-fi rom-com starring Lucero and Benny Ibarra as a married pair of scientists, Dr. Nora Cervantes and Dr. Héctor Esquivel. In 1966, Nora is a genius, but the only way to publicize her findings is through her husband. She’s the one who successfully figured out how to time-travel, and both of them jump to the present when their experiment goes awry.

Nora loves living in 2025, as she is finally accepted by her peers and recognized for her brilliance. Héctor isn’t as thrilled about it, and he finds himself feeling increasingly jealous and bitter when his wife gets all of the adoration. When it comes time to go back to where they came from, Héctor’s ready to leave, and Nora doesn’t want to go.

Our Times is streaming on Netflix.

Kai Cenat is heating up timelines and making fans flood social media with heart-eye and fire emojis after showing off his fresh NEW look. Kai switched things up, and now the ladies are saying his energy is a whole mood!

RELATED: Too Loud On The Creek? Kai Cenat Speaks Out After Saucy Santana Sneaks Onto Streamer University Campus (VIDEOS) 

Kai Cenat Switched Things Up & The TL Is Loving Every Minute

Y’all! Kai Ceneat popped out with on some “new hair, who dis?” energy! The 24-year-old streamer showed off his fresh braids after rocking a low fro ever since he returned to streaming. Kai let his sharp lineup and clean cornrows do all of the talking while Ashanti’s ‘Foolish’ played in the background. As soon as Kai debuted his new look, fans flooded the internet with comments saying he was getting his swag back. Meanwhile, others couldn’t help but ask when he ever lost it in the first place.

Heart Eyes Everywhere! Fans Can’t Get Enough Of Kai’s New Look

Reactions kept popping off in The Shade Room Teens comment section as TeaMates showed Kai plenty of love. Some said he was already fine, but the fresh braids turned him into a whole snack, while others joked that they act just like him when every time they get their hair done. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @itsyagurlslimmmm__ wrote, “Y’all can say what y’all want, Kai is a beautiful 🍫 man 😂😍😍😍” 

Instagram user @lorixasiaa wrote, “okk braidss 😂😂😂 I ain’t even know he could braid that lol.” 

While Instagram user @monithedon wrote, “this how i be feeling when my hair freshly done 😂😂😂 i understand Kai!” 

Then Instagram user @keanaa.aa wrote, “Wheww 😍” 

Another Instagram user @its.n1yyah wrote, “you loook good Kai 😍 but @kevinhart4real is that you 😂😂” 

Instagram user @_ngilaaa wrote, “easy dark chocolate 😍” 

Then another instagram user @mslady_tmack wrote, “How he got more hair than Tylil already 😂” 

While another Instagram user @_therealliyahb wrote, “Okay Kai 😍😍” 

Finally, Instagram user @jaysignaturee_ wrote, “He getting his swag back love to see it 🔥🔥”

Kai Cenat Had Social Media Hitting Replay After His Viral Link-Up With Tyla

At this point, Kai keeps the internet locked in every time he makes a move. He previously had fans going OFF when he linked up with Tyla for a stream as they kicked it at Disney World and played a fun game of Truth or Dare. Things got spicy during the game when Tyla asked Kai about his relationship status. When she questioned if he was really single, Kai quickly responded, “YES!” Tyla then tried to sneak in a follow-up by asking, “What happened?” but Kai laughed it and told her that counted as two questions. Later, when Tyla asked if he had ever cheated, Kai quickly shut it down with “Never, ever!” He continued, “I’m serious. I don’t like that. Cheating is bad.”

RELATED: Plot Twist! Kai Cenat’s Traffic Stop Takes An Unexpected Turn After Police Officer Recognizes Him (VIDEOS) 

Cole LaBrant made one small but crucial change to his family’s new home to help protect his and wife Savannah LaBrant’s children.

“Our favorite thing about our new house, hands down, is our pool. We spent literally all summer inside of it. The problem is that it didn’t have a gate around it,” Cole, 29, said in an Instagram video shared on Tuesday, July 28. “So the very first thing we did on day one of moving in was find a gate.”

Cole and Savannah, 33, share five children: daughters Everleigh, 13, Posie, 7, Sunday, 4, and sons Zealand, 6, and Beckham, 2. (Savannah welcomed Everleigh with her late ex Tommy Smith.)

“We love how pretty and open our backyard is, so we looked and looked for a gate that wouldn’t take away from the beauty of the backyard but hopefully add to it,” Cole continued, adding that he found a company that specializes in making glass fences for pools. “The gates turned out so beautiful that you almost can’t even see it on the video.”

Related: LaBrant Family Relists Home After Denying Child Labor Laws Caused Move

UPDATE 6/24/26 at 11:30 a.m. ET — The LaBrant family has relisted their home in Tennessee for $100,000 less after denying the reason for their move was due to child labor laws. The house was initially listed for $5.4 million before being delisted and returning with the price of $5.3 million, according to Realtor.com. Savannah […]

While Cole and Savannah are happy with how it looks, the relief knowing that their children can stay safe comes first.

“It’s the first thing our friends and family compliment when they come over, but far more important than how pretty the gate looks is the peace of mind we now have knowing our kids are safe,” he said.

Several fans of the LaBrant family applauded the influencers for taking the step to get a pool gate especially after fellow content creator Emilie Kiser’s 3-year-old son Trigg accidentally drowned in a pool last year.

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Related: Emilie Kiser Reflects on Son’s ‘Preventable’ Death on 10-Month Anniversary

Emilie Kiser is opening up about her grief on the 10-month anniversary of her son Trigg’s death. “Today is officially 10 months since we lost our son Trigg to a preventable drowning accident,” the 27-year-old influencer wrote via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, March 18. “I continue to feel like I have no words in […]

“LETS NORMALIZE POOL GATES, and protecting our children!!!!!!! Way to go Labrant fam!!!” one user wrote in the comments section while another replied, “Thank you for using your platform to bring awareness to pool safety! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.”

Cole and Savannah moved to their new home recently. Earlier this year, the couple made headlines after listing their Nashville home for sale. Internet users theorized the pair were moving because of a child labor law passed in Tennessee at the time. The law requires content creators to put earnings from videos that feature minors who are 14 to 18 years old in a trust account preserved for the child. Children under 14 are prohibited from profiting off their work with the new law. However, Cole immediately shut down the speculation.

“I personally feel like our kids and their bank accounts are none of your guys’ business, but if you must know, all of our kids all have bank accounts,” Cole said in an April TikTok video. “We have been paying them since day one of making videos, and I can promise you that our kids and their bank accounts are doing just fine.”

Brock Purdy’s cheering squad has always been loud — even when he was dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant” after being drafted last in the 2022 NFL draft.

“They’ve believed in me even though I was the last draft pick,” Purdy told CBS News Bay Area in December 2022 after his first start as the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. “They’ve always been telling me, ‘You’re good enough, and we know that you can do it.’ And so, to see them after that performance meant a lot to me and [I’m] so very blessed to have them as my family.”

Purdy’s inner squad, including parents Shawn and Carrie Purdy and siblings Whittney and Chubba, have since become fixtures at his games. The quarterback’s wife, Jenna Brandt, is also frequently seen at the California stadium.

When his family can’t make a game, they take a group photo with Brock on the big screen in the background to show him love.

Related: San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy and Wife Jenna’s Timeline

Brock Purdy has never been “Mr. Irrelevant” to Jenna Brandt. Purdy was given the not-so-flattering nickname — a moniker dubbed every year — when he was selected by the San Francisco 49ers as the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft. Less than one year later, however, the football player would be the starting quarterback for […]

“Happy New Year Family & Friends!❤️ We Love You BP & Niners! Cheers to A New Year! Bang Bang!🎉❤️🏈,” Carrie wrote via Instagram in December 2023 while watching her son celebrate another win on TV.

Scroll down to meet Brock’s family:

Shawn and Carrie Purdy

Brock’s dad, Shawn, grew up in Florida and played minor league baseball in the late ‘80s. He started 70 games, according to The Athletic and played for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics and the then-California Angels.

Shawn’s wife, Carrie, was raised in California. After tying the knot, the couple settled in Arizona and started their family. The pair welcomed their three children, Brock, Whittney, and Chubba, in 1999, 1997 and 2001, respectively. Carrie and Shawn own their own pool business called Fantastic Spa Outlet.

Whittney Purdy

Whittney is the second eldest Purdy child and the only girl. She was born in November 1997, nearly two years after Brock was born in December 1999. Whittney played softball at Southeastern University in Florida and after graduation returned to Arizona.

She’s been dating Jared Austin Schmidt since November 2022.

Preston ‘Chubba’ Purdy

Chubba is the youngest of the Purdy family born in July 2001. He is also a football player, having started his college career at Florida State University. He transferred to University of Nebraska in January 2022 before moving to University of Nevada in January 2024. Chubba is a quarterback like big brother Brock.

Jenna Brandt

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Brandt seemingly met her now-husband, Brock, while attending Iowa State University. They were both freshmen in 2018. While Brock played football in college, Brandt was a volleyball player. She transferred to University of Northern Iowa in December 2020.

Brandt confirmed her relationship with Brock via Instagram in November 2022. “My roots and my boy🤍,” she captioned a series of snaps in her home state of Iowa. The NFL player proposed to Brandt in July 2023. The pair tied the knot in March 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The couple became parents in July 2025 when they welcomed a daughter named Millie Joleen. One year later, Brock and Brandt announced they are expecting baby No. 2.

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright‘s divorce drama is far from over.

What began as a public split has continued to unravel through accusations, denials, and disputes over what is really delaying the end of their marriage. 

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright first met in 2015 before marrying in a lavish Kentucky ceremony in 2019. The pair welcomed their son, Cruz, in 2021, but Cartwright announced their separation in early 2024 before filing for divorce later that year 

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Taylor is forcefully rejecting claims that he has been dragging out his divorce from Cartwright, insisting he has been trying to bring the legal battle to an end for months. Through his attorney, the reality star denied being responsible for the latest setback and argued that he wants the case resolved as quickly as possible.

His lawyer also claimed Cartwright’s side arrived at the latest court conference unprepared. According to attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, Taylor participated in an all-day settlement conference only to learn that the necessary financial records had not been prepared, preventing meaningful negotiations from taking place.

Kaplan maintained that Taylor wants to move forward, stating, “The idea that he is the reason holding up the divorce is completely false,” while adding that resolving the case would ultimately be in everyone’s best interest, especially the former couple’s son.

Court Talks Grind To A Halt After Settlement Conference Fell Apart

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What was expected to be a major step toward ending the couple’s divorce instead became another setback after the settlement conference reportedly failed to produce any progress.

Rather than bringing the legal battle closer to an end, the conference concluded with both sides still far apart, leaving the former couple no closer to finalizing their divorce despite spending the day in negotiations.

According to Us Weekly, Kaplan insisted a resolution is still possible but stressed that both sides must come prepared before meaningful progress can be made, saying it is impossible to settle the case when only one party appears ready to move forward.

Jax Taylor And Brittany Cartwright Have Been Here Before

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The fallout from Taylor’s latest romance has also revived memories of another relationship that once put the former couple’s personal lives under the same microscope.

Long before Lori Krebs entered the picture, Cartwright faced similar scrutiny over her own dating choices following their separation. At the time, the reality star sparked headlines after becoming romantically linked to Taylor’s friend, Julian Sensley.

Cartwright later explained that the relationship was never meant to hurt her estranged husband, insisting there had never been an agreement preventing either of them from dating within their wider circle of friends.

The relationship ultimately proved short-lived after Cartwright allegedly discovered Sensley had not been truthful about his living situation and relationship status.

The Blast reported that she later admitted lingering resentment toward Taylor influenced some of her decisions during that period, bringing an unexpected layer of irony to the current controversy.

Past Allegations Continued To Shadow The Reality Star

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The recent buzz about Taylor’s alleged love affair also reignited speculation about his previous love affairs. The reality star had been the subject of allegations of behavior off-camera prior to the Mexico trip.

A number of people who formerly worked at Taylor’s bar in Los Angeles have claimed in the past that he pursued relationships with female staff members that were inappropriate, and that he used his job to induce a lack of professional boundaries.

Other women reported that they thought they were the sole workers affected when they later learned that there were others. The Blast reported that multiple former staffers accused Taylor of using the same approach with different women.

At the same time, one employee alleged she later discovered she was not the only coworker he had been involved with. Taylor has not publicly addressed those specific allegations.

Jax Taylor Focused On Recovery Amid Personal Turmoil

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While his personal life continues to generate headlines, Taylor has repeatedly said his priority is maintaining his sobriety and improving his mental health.

Earlier this year, the reality star celebrated reaching 18 months sober, describing the milestone as one of the most meaningful achievements of his life after returning to the treatment program he previously attended.

Taylor has also been candid about his struggles with addiction, admitting that he used drugs and alcohol for years to cope with deeper mental health issues rather than confronting them directly. He has credited treatment and ongoing recovery with helping him build a healthier path forward despite the challenges surrounding his divorce.

Taylor marked the milestone by participating in a recovery-focused 5K during Mental Health Awareness Month, calling his sobriety journey difficult but worthwhile while expressing gratitude for reaching one and a half years sober.

Will Jax Taylor’s focus on recovery help him finally move past the drama surrounding his personal life?

Usher has seemingly responded to the viral controversy surrounding a fan who appeared uncomfortable during one of his sensual onstage routines. Three days after abruptly ending his interaction with concertgoer Gabrielle Cheyenne, the R&B superstar issued a blunt warning before inviting another woman to join him during a Birmingham, Alabama, tour stop. Although Usher did not mention Cheyenne by name, his comments about reluctant participants and “pretty privilege” appeared to reference the highly publicized encounter.

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Before performing “Can U Handle It?” at Protective Stadium on Tuesday night, Usher paused to establish some new ground rules. “Now before we get started, don’t bring your a-s up here if you don’t want to be here,” the eight-time Grammy winner told the audience. “God don’t like ugly. But he most certainly don’t feel too good about pretty privilege either.”

Chris Brown, who is co-headlining the “R&B Tour” with Usher, was reportedly seen laughing after the Jumbotron turned toward him. Usher then selected a woman from the audience to join him. Unlike the previous interaction, the new participant enthusiastically embraced the performance and helped put on a show for the crowd.

The warning came after Cheyenne referenced “pretty privilege” while defending herself against the backlash she received following the Nashville incident.

Usher Removed Gabrielle Cheyenne From The Stage

During the tour’s Saturday stop in Nashville, Usher invited Cheyenne to participate in his steamy “Can U Handle It?” routine. The shirtless singer attempted to move closer to her while performing beside a bed prop. However, Cheyenne remained stiff and appeared to pull her body away from him.

After noticing her reaction, Usher stopped the interaction and turned toward the audience. “I don’t think she wants to be on the stage, huh?” he asked.

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The “OMG” singer then walked away, waved his hands, and motioned for members of the production team to remove Cheyenne from the stage.

Video of the awkward encounter quickly circulated online, with viewers debating whether Cheyenne had deliberately rejected Usher or had simply been uncomfortable with the nature of the performance.

Gabrielle Cheyenne Defends Her ‘Pretty Privilege’

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Cheyenne later responded to her critics in a fiery Facebook message explaining how she and her mother ended up near the stage. “My mom and I had FLOOR SEATS. Their team approached us and moved us to VIP before the show even started !! PRETTY PRIVILEGES something you hoes will never know about!!” she wrote.

During a separate interview with Brown’s backup dancer Lance Savali, Cheyenne insisted that she did not hold a grudge against Usher. According to Yahoo, she said she had “no bad blood” toward the singer before adding, “I don’t feel a way toward him. It’s just, I got onstage.”

Cheyenne also explained that she did not attend the concert primarily to see Usher. Instead, she described herself as a bigger fan of his tourmate. “It’s nothing against Usher or anything like that, but I’m more of a Chris Brown fan than I am of Usher,” she told TMZ, adding that there would not have been any “stiffness” if Brown had been the performer interacting with her.

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Fan Says Her Reaction Would Have Been Different With Chris Brown

Cheyenne continued clarifying her allegiance to Brown while discussing the viral moment. “Me, solely, I went to the concert for Chris Brown; it’s nothing against Usher,” she explained. “So, of course, it would have been a different reaction with Chris Brown. It wouldn’t have been the stiffness or whatever the internet is portraying.”

She also addressed the combative Facebook post, explaining that it was aimed specifically at people in her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to Cheyenne, many of the critics who went “ballistic” over her behavior were from the city. She characterized those detractors as “crabs in a bucket.”

Despite the online drama, Cheyenne maintained that she did not intend to disrespect Usher and had no personal issue with him.

Usher Defends Touring With Chris Brown And Makes The Case For R&B

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Ahead of the tour, Usher stressed that the R&B Tour represents something larger than two established stars sharing a stage. Speaking with The Associated Press, he said the controversies and legal issues surrounding Brown never made him reconsider working with the singer. “Absolutely not,” Usher said. “He’s my brother, and he’s amazing as a performer. That’s who I see. He works hard for his fans, and his fans support him.”

Brown pleaded not guilty in London last year to charges connected to an alleged 2023 nightclub assault. He was previously released on bail to continue touring. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to felony assault after attacking his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

However, Usher said the tour is ultimately intended to celebrate the genre and its audience. “It’s not about me and my brother coming together,” he explained. “We come together in support of our fans of R&B.”

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There’s no denying the fact that action movies are immensely popular, arguably more so than any other genre of cinema. But there is a common misconception that action cinema, with its rollercoaster-like narratives and focus on effects and visuals, is somehow less of an artistic achievement than more “serious” genres. That simply isn’t true, at least not with the greatest films of the genre, many of which arose from the minds of cinema’s most legendary filmmakers.

A lot can go wrong with an action movie, and a great director can make or break the production, which is why the most acclaimed films ever made in the genre have usually had some truly visionary filmmakers behind them. Their artistry and technical skill have played a great part in making these movies so very popular among both critics and audiences. So, without further ado, here’s our ranked selection of some of the most perfectly directed action movies of all time.

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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The long-delayed fourth entry in George Miller’s Mad Max film series, Mad Max: Fury Road is an epic post-apocalyptic action movie co-written, co-produced, and directed by Miller. Set in a wasteland dystopia where water and fuel are precious commodities, the film stars Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky, who allies himself with Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) against the warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). Nicholas Hoult, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton, and more star in supporting roles.

The most acclaimed and commercially successful film of the Mad Max franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road is easily one of the greatest action films of the 21st century so far, with great worldbuilding, compelling performances, and incredible effects. The movie is also arguably the best directorial work George Miller has done in the genre, which is saying a lot considering the auteur’s extensive filmography. Fury Road earned several accolades, including Best Picture and Best Director nominations at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

7

‘Speed’ (1994)

Image via 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved

A ’90s cult classic directed by Jan de Bont in his feature directorial debut, Speed revolves around a fairly simple premise: a criminal mastermind rigs a bomb on a city bus that’s set to detonate if its speed drops below 50 miles per hour. Keanu Reeves stars as LAPD officer Jack Tavern, who rushes to prevent a possible disaster, and Sandra Bullock stars as Annie, a passenger who becomes unexpectedly involved in the rescue mission. The movie also features Dennis Hopper, Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, and Alan Ruck in key roles.

Largely inspired by 1985’s Runaway Train and the Japanese action classic The Bullet Train, Speed lives up to its name and theme by delivering a tense, high-octane film propelled by outstanding acting. Unlike most action thrillers, the film uses its very simple premise as the basis for a gripping high-stakes chase, delivering relentless tension throughout its runtime. A film with complete focus on action and suspense, Speed is a virtual thrill ride that seamlessly flows from one action sequence to another, and a testament to Jan de Bont’s directorial abilities.

6

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

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Written and directed by The Wachowskis, The Matrix is an iconic sci-fi action movie starring Keanu Reeves as hacker Thomas Anderson, aka Neo. After meeting the mysterious Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), Neo learns that his world is a simulation created by artificial intelligence and joins the human rebellion, discovering his own unique destiny in the process. The film also stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, and more in significant roles.

One of the most influential cyberpunk action movies of all time, The Matrix is widely regarded as a classic ‘90s sci-fi movie with some of the best action sequences ever attempted on screen. The film is an action masterpiece, with impeccable choreography by the legendary Hong Kong action director Yuen Woo-ping, which combines beautifully orchestrated gun fights with high-octane martial arts. In the decades since its premiere, The Matrix has gone on to inspire a successful multimedia franchise that includes multiple sequels, but the first film is still the best in terms of direction and action.

5

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

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Co-written and directed by James Cameron, Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the movie that transformed the Terminator franchise into the sci-fi action landmark it is today. A sequel to 1984’s The Terminator, the film sees Arnold Schwarzenegger reprise his role as the cyborg T-800, now reprogrammed to protect the young John Connor (Edward Furlong) and stop a newer, more advanced killing machine, the T-1000. Linda Hamilton reprises her role as Sarah Connor as well, and the movie features Robert Patrick, Earl Boen, and Joe Morton in supporting roles.

When it first hit theaters, Terminator 2: Judgment Day was hailed as a revolutionary action movie that raised the bar for the genre with its technical advancements and unmatched direction. And though filmmaking technology may have come a long way since then, the film’s stunning action sequences, make-up tech, and CGI still hold up to this day. It’s easily one of the greatest, most impeccably crafted crowd-pleasers of all time, and a true landmark of action cinema.

4

‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)

Image via Universal Pictures 

Inspired by the 1980s TV show, The Fall Guy is an action comedy movie directed by David Leitch and written by Drew Pearce. Ryan Gosling stars as an out-of-work stuntman who is hired to work on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut, but his already-awkward situation turns into something far worse when he learns that the movie’s star has disappeared. Besides Gosling, the film also stars Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke in key roles.

The Fall Guy hit theaters in 2024 to critical acclaim, but it didn’t perform very well at the box office, which is ridiculous considering it’s easily one of the most entertaining movies of the 2020s so far. A genre-bending love letter to practical effects and stuntwork, it’s a fun and sincere movie with mind-blowing stunts on par with (and sometimes even better than) big, famous IPs like the Mission: Impossible franchise. But even as we marvel at the explosions and car-flips, the story stays rooted in the lives and dynamics of its relatable characters, which elevates the whole experience.

3

‘Inglourious Basterds’ (2009)

Image via The Weinstein Company

Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds is a World War II black comedy thriller that follows two parallel plots converging in a plan to assassinate the Nazi leadership. At a Paris theater, its French-Jewish proprietor Shosanna Dreyfus seeks revenge for the murder of her family, while simultaneously, a black ops unit of Jewish American soldiers, aka “the Basterds,” led by U.S. Army lieutenant Aldo Raine, attempt to assist a confidential British operation. The film boasts an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, and Mélanie Laurent in main roles.

Violent, action-packed, and darkly funny, Inglourious Basterds is a wild thrill ride, with Tarantino gleefully playing with WWII history to deliver a high-stakes, revisionist revenge thriller. In this deconstructed take on the war thriller genre, the director forgoes traditional war movie tropes and replaces them with enduring suspense and explosive outcomes. With its character-driven plot, hard-hitting dialogues, and well-choreographed action pieces, Inglourious Basterds is easily one of the best films of the 21st century so far, and it may just be Tarantino’s masterpiece.

2

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

Image via Paramount Pictures

A classic action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark is the movie that introduced the world to Harrison Ford’s iconic character, Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., and launched the beloved Indiana Jones franchise. The movie follows Indy, a globetrotting archaeologist, as he races against the Nazis to find the lost Ark of the Covenant with the help of his former lover, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). The film also features Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, and Denholm Elliott in supporting roles.

A swashbuckling treasure hunt, Raiders of the Lost Ark is unarguably one of the best action films ever made. Anchored by Harrison Ford’s performance as the iconic character, the movie takes viewers on a thrilling adventure that is masterfully directed by Steven Spielberg. With cutting-edge (for its time) practical effects, a brilliant story, and well-choreographed action sequences, Raiders of the Lost Ark elevates the genre with its artistry and marks a breakthrough in action-adventure storytelling.

1

‘Seven Samurai’ (1954)

Image via Toho

Often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, Seven Samurai is a 1954 samurai movie co-written, directed, and edited by Akira Kurosawa. Set in 1586, during Japan’s tumultuous Sengoku period, the film revolves around a group of samurai who are hired by desperate villagers to protect them from bandits. Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Daisuke Katō, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Isao Kimura, and Toshirō Mifune star as the titular warriors.

Akira Kurosawa’s contributions to action cinema are undeniable, and Seven Samurai is arguably the filmmaker’s greatest masterpiece within the genre. In its day, the film was the most expensive ever made in Japan, and its success was equally impressive, as it became a globally celebrated icon. In the decades since, the action epic has been remade, referenced, reworked, parodied, and even outright ripped off by numerous filmmakers, all aspiring to capture the brilliant direction, well-crafted production, and engaging narrative of Kurosawa’s original.

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Release Date

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April 26, 1954

Runtime

207 Minutes

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Director

Akira Kurosawa

Writers

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Akira Kurosawa

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