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Prince Harry is reportedly reflecting on the choices that led him away from royal life, with experts suggesting he has “regrets,” even though a return to official duties is seen as unlikely.
As he and his wife, Meghan Markle, approach their eighth wedding anniversary, attention has shifted to their life in California and what the future holds for them.
The upcoming 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham is also being seen as a possible moment for Prince Harry and Meghan to reconcile with the royal family despite the growing strain.

Royal commentators claim Harry now carries significant regrets about leaving the royal family, even as the possibility of an official royal return remains highly unlikely.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex near their eighth wedding anniversary on May 19, their journey since stepping away from royal life continues to draw attention.
After marrying in a globally watched ceremony at Windsor Castle in 2018, Harry and Meghan traded palace traditions for a new life in California, building a more independent and commercial path away from the monarchy.
But the transition from royal life to Montecito was far from seamless. Royal analyst Richard Fitzwilliams described the move as “destructive,” suggesting the separation from Britain may not have unfolded the way Harry originally imagined.
Fitzwilliams believes the duke still wants stronger ties to the UK, especially with King Charles and his longtime friends.
He suggested Harry may be hoping to reconnect, particularly “depending on the security decision which we still await, closer ties with Britain and certainly with his father and with his friends.”

Attention has now turned toward the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, where Harry is expected to play a major role. Some royal commentators believe the event could also serve as an opportunity for the Duke of Sussex to slowly repair damaged ties with the royal family.
Commentator Hilary Fitzpatrick suggested that Harry’s continued involvement with major UK events may signal a desire to reconnect with his former life.
“I mean, if he didn’t (regret his decisions), we wouldn’t have Birmingham coming up next year,” Fitzpatrick claimed, per GB News. “We wouldn’t have the plan so obvious to try and in one way or another to persuade King Charles to open (the door to a return).”
The relationship between Harry and the monarchy has remained deeply strained since his royal exit. Reports suggest contact between Harry and his father has been minimal in recent years, fueling continued speculation over whether reconciliation is realistic.

According to insiders, Harry has not seen Charles since last September, following an earlier stretch of nearly two years without meeting.
There have also been claims that the duke floated the idea of appearing alongside Charles during the Birmingham games as a symbolic gesture toward healing family divisions.
Royal commentator Rafe Heydel-Mankoo believes Harry is still searching for the sense of purpose he once had within royal life.
He pointed to the prince’s recent appearances overseas, including visits to Australia and Ukraine, as signs that Harry is attempting to maintain a public image closely tied to his former royal role.
“I think it’s quite clear that Prince Harry has many regrets about the life choices that have ended up with him being estranged from his homeland and from his family and from the role he most enjoyed: being a royal prince,” Heydel-Mankoo said.
He added that Harry’s recent international appearances resemble unofficial royal tours, suggesting the duke may still be trying to demonstrate that he can operate in a royal-style capacity despite stepping away from official duties.

Heydel-Mankoo also argued that both Harry and Meghan likely understand how closely their “prominence, their status, depends on their proximity to the royal family.”
He argued that as the pair have moved further away from “the royal world,” public interest in them has gradually declined, not just in their roles, but in them as individuals.
The commentator claimed the couple has, in various ways, continued to “style themselves and carry on activities as if they were still working members of the royal family.”
Heydel-Mankoo’s remarks come after the royal couple’s Australia trip, where they engaged in various activities associated with a typical royal tour, including visiting a hospital.

Royal commentator Heydel-Mankoo further argued that Harry’s recent international appearances may be an attempt to demonstrate that he remains capable of performing public-facing duties at a royal level, should an opportunity for reconciliation ever arise.
However, he firmly dismissed the idea of any formal return to royal life due to how much had happened since he and his wife turned their backs on their roles as working royals.
“There’s a world of difference,” he said, “between what Harry hopes will happen and what has any chance of happening.”
He added that it was “inconceivable” that either Charles or Prince William would reopen the door for Harry to rejoin the royal fold.
Pete Davidson‘s split from model Elsie Hewitt seems to be quickly taking a left turn after she claimed she is the only one raising their baby.
Rumors of the couple’s split were recently confirmed after sources close to the pair revealed that they had broken up amicably as their relationship faced different “stressors.”
Now, insiders claim Elsie Hewitt’s latest remarks in a candid video about raising a child on her own have left Pete Davidson in shock.

Hewitt has left Davidson scratching his head over her comments about being her daughter’s only parent following her split from the comedian.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, the model addressed critics who picked apart her somewhat disheveled appearance during a recent outing, stating that looks are no longer her priority.
“That’s not what I’m thinking about right now, because I have a baby to take care of, and I also have to work and make money, and I’m doing it on my own, which is hard,” Hewitt said.
While her remarks weren’t directly aimed at Davidson, sources revealed they have left the comedian stunned because he is “very present” in their baby’s life.
Speaking to Us Weekly, an insider said, “He wants nothing but the best for Elsie, and he shoulders all of the financial costs, including the costs for Elsie, her rent, and her health insurance. Elsie’s posts caught everyone around them off guard because they are simply not true.”
Besides claiming she was raising her daughter on her own, Hewitt also said in her video that she was “exhausted,” hence why she didn’t look “nicer” in the viral photos of her with her daughter, Scottie.
Her remarks led to a flood of comments from concerned fans, with many unsurprisingly calling out Davidson.
One person noted, “I loved Pete and respected his craft. But if that man really left you doing things on your own, that’s so low of him. Unacceptable!”
Another said, “That man was a walking red flag,” while a third noted that he should “pay up.”
A particular commenter asked Hewitt to clarify her claims in a bid to know if the model meant she was solely financially responsible for her daughter, to which she responded, “I am :),” per reports.

According to Us Weekly, a source revealed that Davidson and Hewitt are still “sorting things out as it pertains to their split.”
They also hinted at the reason behind the couple’s breakup, noting that their becoming parents despite their relationship still being fresh played a major role.
“They tried to make it work, but there were different stressors, including having a baby together as two people who didn’t yet know each other that well,” the source said.
Davidson and Hewitt are, however, “both trying to make it work and have made accommodations in their schedules for the baby.”
Regarding a possible reconciliation, the source noted that it is “very unlikely” for the duo ever to reunite “romantically.”

While neither Davidson nor Hewitt has officially addressed claims of their split, sources revealed it was ultimately the comedian who ended things.
Hewitt reportedly did all she could to make the relationship work, but Davidson “decided he was done” and ready to move on from their romance.
A source speaking to journalist Rob Shuter’s “Naught But Nice” Substack noted that the former couple’s relationship cracked under the pressure of becoming first-time parents.
This is said to have exposed how little the couple knew of each other before having a child together.
“They confused intense chemistry with long-term compatibility,” the insider said. “They thought having a baby would be exciting and bring them closer together. The reality was the complete opposite.”

Barely a month after welcoming their daughter, Hewitt and Davidson hinted at the possibility of having more children together.
During an appearance for a campaign promo, the comedian shared how excited he was about being a father, noting that he would love for baby Scottie to have a sibling.
“We want her to have a friend, for sure,” Davidson told Us Weekly in early January 2026. “We love the idea of her being a big sister.
Hewitt, for her part, said that the thought of having another child fresh off a pregnancy was “insane,” but admitted that the “process” of giving birth was both “incredible” and “empowering.”
“The idea of making another one and making a sibling is something I’ve already been like, ‘I want to do it again,’” she added. “They’re so tiny when they come out, and they grow so fast. It’s crazy.”
Director Jon Favreau is hoping that audiences show their love for Baby Yoda when “The Mandalorian and Grogu” hits theaters later this week. The film follows three seasons of “The Mandalorian,” which first debuted on Disney+ in 2019. Ironically, that same year was the last time that a “Star Wars” film – 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker” – was shown in theaters. Although the last installment in the Skywalker Saga was divisive, to say the least, Lucasfilm is hoping that “The Mandalorian and Grogu” will appeal to audiences, especially due to the inclusion of Baby Yoda.

According to Favreau, there’s a difference between “Disney cute” and “Star Wars cute,” and he has no problem admitting that even cute things in a galaxy far, far away can look a little “weird.”
“The cute stuff in ‘Star Wars’ tends to be a little weird-looking,” Favreau told CBS News while promoting his new film. “It’s not like ‘Disney cute,’ it’s ‘Star Wars cute.’ And so, he’s got weird little hairs and sharp little teeth in there and wrinkly skin, and claws!”
The detailed construction of the puppets was intentional. “There’s an analog, handmade feel to a lot of the characters and a lot of the costumes and a lot of the puppets from ‘Star Wars,’” he explained.

Although Grogu was created to appeal to a younger audience, Favreau admitted that he didn’t realize how big the character was until he saw the giant balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“We didn’t realize quite what a phenomenon it would be. And then when we saw the balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, that’s when it kind of – as a New Yorker – it really hit me,” Favreau explained. “Like, ‘Wow! This has really hit another level.’ The whole thing’s surreal.”
Favreau grew up in Queens with his father, but he never thought that becoming an actor was a possibility for him. Still, with the encouragement of his father, he dropped out of college and started taking improv classes in Chicago.

Even though the Mandalorian and Grogu are not biological father and son, there are a lot of father-son relationship themes explored in a galaxy far, far away. The theme of found family is also one that is touched upon a lot in the franchise.
“Father-son relationships have always been a big part of ‘Star Wars,’” Favreau explained. “This is one of the most positive father-son relationships in ‘Star Wars,’ and, ironically, they’re not related in any way. But it is a family of choice, and ‘Star Wars’ has always been about families coming together.”

For Favreau, “Star Wars” has always been a family affair. At the premiere of “The Mandalorian and Grogu” on May 14, Favreau said, “Back 49 years ago, I got to see Star Wars when I was 10 years old, and that movie changed my life from that first shot.”
“My dad took me to see it, I sat by his side, he pointed things out and explained to me how cool it was that the X-wings had oil stains,” he recalled, as per PEOPLE magazine. “He later taught me about [Akira] Kurosawa and all of George Lucas’ influences, and he opened the door for me to love not just Star Wars but cinema.”
In an emotional full circle moment, Favreau shared, “I sat on my dad’s side 49 years ago watching Star Wars for the first time, [and] tonight I’m getting to sit next to my dad and watch this.”

“Game of Thrones” star Pedro Pascal is returning to his role as the titular Mandalorian, but many fans are excited to see “Alien” star Sigourney Weaver join a galaxy far, far away. “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White has also lent his voice to Rotta the Hutt, who fans might remember from the original “Clone Wars” movie.
The plot synopsis reads: “The evil Empire has fallen, but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they enlist the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.”
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” will be available only in theaters on May 22. The first three seasons of “The Mandalorian” are available to stream on Disney+.
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Kelly Rutherford doesn’t just attend the Cannes Film Festival — she arrives with a statement bag that sets the tone for her entire look. The actress is known for her polished, quietly luxurious style, and her recent outfit featured a structured cream top-handle moment that instantly read ‘rich mom on vacation.’ Even better? You can channel that same elevated vibe with this $49 lookalike hiding on Amazon.
On May 13, the Gossip Girl alum stepped out in a matching navy blue set that felt timeless and totally chic. The short-sleeve top and flowing midi skirt struck the perfect balance between tailored and relaxed, while her magenta suede loafers and oversized sunglasses added personality. The cream Hermès Birkin bag tied everything together with that signature, effortless polish.
Get the Nymera Classic Top Shoulder Handbag for $49 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, May 18, 2026, but are subject to change.
The Nymera Classic Top Shoulder Handbag has that structured shape that instantly makes any look feel more put together — and comes in at a fraction of the designer price. It features a top handle for a classic carry, plus an adjustable strap for hands-free wear. The cream color mirrors Rutherford’s choice perfectly, though it also comes in black, beige, red and more.
The classy piece even includes a matching compact wallet, which feels like a surprisingly elevated detail at this price point. Inside, there’s enough space for everyday essentials along with extra pockets to keep things organized. It’s practical, polished and easy to work into your daily rotation.
Shoppers are genuinely impressed. One reviewer said the bag’s “incredible quality” made their “jaw drop” when it arrived, while another highlighted its “roomy” interior with “extra inside pockets for your phone and sunglasses.” The consensus? It looks far more expensive than it actually is.
A structured cream bag like this isn’t trend-driven; it’s the kind of timeless piece Rutherford builds her outfits around. The purse style works across seasons, instantly adding that polished, put-together feel she’s known for. At $49, it’s an easy way to tap into her signature elegance without the five-figure commitment.
If Rutherford’s cream top-handle bag caught your eye, wait until you see the rest of these Amazon finds!
Shop more white top-handle bags that we love:
Not your style? Explore more white handbags here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
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Family-friendly options to give little ones a taste of cinema.
Here’s a rundown of Us Weekly‘s top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on May 18, 2026. Here are key takeaways:
• Coparenting dynamic: Pete Davidson was caught “off guard” by ex Elsie Hewitt‘s claims that she is raising their daughter Scottie “on my own” following their split. A source close to the couple exclusively told Us Weekly that he is fully financially supporting Hewitt and the baby, including her rent and health insurance.
• Marriage revelation: Country singer Carly Pearce said she “blew up” her life to get out of her marriage to Michael Ray, telling the “Person Who Believed In Me” podcast that she knew the union was over on her wedding night in 2019. Pearce filed for divorce in June 2020 after eight months of marriage, and it was finalized that September.
• Carving out her own path: Angelina Jolie‘s daughter Zahara dropped dad Brad Pitt‘s last name at her Spelman College graduation, where she was announced as “Zahara Marley Jolie.” It marked the second time Zahara has publicly omitted Pitt’s surname, after first doing so when joining the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority three years ago.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Like many aging nerds, I am constantly revisiting my favorite childhood movies. This is mostly driven by nostalgia, but I also enjoy looking at old films through fresh eyes. Most of the time, I discover a few things about these beloved movies that I never noticed before. On a really good day, studying these films helps me learn a thing or two about how they helped shape my childhood. Those insights can be more than a bit sobering at times, which is what happened when I recently revisited 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, considered by many to be the best (or, at the very least, the silliest) ‘80s comedy of them all.
The movie is about the titular duo traveling back and forth through time, gathering famous figures so they can pass their history class. Should they fail, the future would fall apart because these two would-be rockers are inexplicably the key to transforming our dystopian world into a Star Trek-like utopia. The film never really explains how this is supposed to happen, which is part of the quirky charm I enjoyed so much as a child. As an adult, I realized that all of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure’s hilarity is based on the comforting lie that parents have spent decades telling children: you can be anything you want when you grow up.

In case you’ve never seen it (bogus!), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure focuses on two high school seniors in danger of failing a history class. The consequences of this (like Ted’s dad sending him to military school) would completely destroy their dreams of becoming a famous pair of rock’n’roll stars. Fortunately, they are given a time machine by a mentor from the future, allowing them to gather historical figures and deliver a history presentation good enough to save their grade. As for the time-traveling visitor, he is invested in Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) because their music has somehow transformed the future into a utopia where everyone is excellent to each other.
As a music-loving little kid, I loved the sheer simplicity of this premise: that the world is just one awesome song away from achieving global unity. War, famine, disease. What if all of it could be eliminated with a sweet tune and a few good vibes? Growing older, I realized the audacity of the premise, but I still enjoyed it as part of the film’s tongue-in-cheek humor. Once I became a parent, though, I realized that the narrative of the film rests firmly on a lie told to children by generations of parents. Namely, that kids can be anything they want to be when they grow up.

The parents telling children “you can be anything you want to be” are, of course, doing their best to avoid limiting their kids’ horizons. Youth is a time for curiosity and optimism, and this parental encouragement is an easy way to demonstrate both. Unfortunately, after watching movies like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, many of these children end up on a collision course for failure. That’s because their parents and favorite films are preaching that their greatness is assured. Like Bill and Ted, these kiddos must have an awesome destiny that is nothing less than preordained. And like Bill and Ted, they don’t need to worry about how to make their happy future happen.
In case you think I’m just being a cranky old fart, research backs me up on this. For example, a 2017 study from Digital Third Coast and C+R Research found that even though most people end up in some kind of administrative or office job, 0 percent of teenagers surveyed said this was the kind of job they wanted to do. The sad disparity here is obvious: if nobody wants to do the most common job when they grow up, we can tell that many (if not most) teens are going to be disappointed by their future career, and they’ll most likely blame themselves.

As psychologist Juli Fraga wrote in 2025, telling kids they can accomplish anything they put their minds to actually does them a disservice. First, they are likely to initially blame themselves when things don’t work out, internalizing that it is somehow their fault (obviously, they should have wanted it more and didn’t apply themselves enough!). Second, they are likely to grow cynical over time when they realize that working hard does not always lead to success or happiness. Fraga concluded that children would be much better off if their parents were simply honest and realistic about children’s goals, how achievable they are, and how to prepare today for a more successful tomorrow.

That’s not exactly what happens in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. While the biological parents are pretty terrible in this movie, Rufus (George Carlin) serves as the titular boys’ joint father figure, and he’s the one who convinces them they are destined for greatness. In a very literal way, these boys are supposed to save the world with their awesome music! But the film ends by showing us that Bill and Ted are still awful at playing, though Rufus comedically reassures the viewers that “they do get better.”
We don’t see that, of course. In fact, in the sequel, the two only get better off-screen, using time-travel to finally master their craft before traveling back to the big concert. Even the final film in the trilogy never explains, mechanically, how playing a song (even a really great one) will magically make the world a better place. That’s because this has never been the point of the franchise. The point is that these two can achieve greatness by simply wanting it badly enough, which never really works out. But hey, it makes for a comforting message for those of us secretly streaming the first movie from our office job!

Whether you’re at work, at home, or maybe even getting ready to play with your own band, you can now stream Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure for free on Tubi. It might be powered by the biggest lie of your childhood, but the movie is still filled with awesome performances, hilarious jokes, and absolutely immaculate ‘80s vibes. Throw in the fact that it was the breakout role for John Wick star Keanu Reeves, and you’ve got a movie that might (just might) fill the empty void left by your unfulfilled childhood dreams.
By Brian Myers
| Published

Between his stints as TV’s Batman in the 1960s and his recurring role as Mayor West on Family Guy, Adam West became a B-movie staple in low-budget action and horror films that are mostly unremarkable. However, one particular film from 1982 has grown in prominence among horror fans over the years, as it was one of the early vehicles that launched actress Meg Tilly’s career.
One Dark Night is now available for free streaming on multiple platforms. It’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to experience a different take on movie zombies.

One Dark Night begins with police and emergency responders in the apartment of an occultist named Karl Raymarseivich Raymar, recently reported as deceased. Police discover that Raymar had an apartment full of young, dead women in various states of decay.
Adding to the eerie scene are bolts of electricity that seem to shoot from Raymar’s fingers as he’s lifted onto a stretcher, punching a hole in the ceiling.

The elderly Raymar was telekinetic. He took his ability to move objects psychically to a new level when he began kidnapping young women as a source of fuel. One Dark Night introduces audiences to Raymar’s form of psychic vampirism, where he feeds off an innocent person’s energy.
Raymar tortured these women as they would feed him more energy based on how much agony they were experiencing. Farmer’s daughter Oliva (Melissa Newman) and her boyfriend Allan (Adam West) are approached by another occultist, who reveals Raymar’s plan to gain power and become immortal. Though Allan is dismissive, the estranged killer’s daughter seems to think it’s all plausible.

One Dark Night also follows Julie (Meg Tilly), a high school girl who’s undergoing an initiation ceremony into a club called “The Sisters.” To gain entry and the other girls’ respect, Julie must spend the night (where else) in the mausoleum where Raymar has recently been interred.
Armed with only her sleeping bag and her wits, Julie settles in for the evening after being dropped off and tries to sleep.

Julie is unaware of two things. First, her classmates plan to dress up in costumes and sneak in to scare her. The second and more key development that required her attention is that Raymar’s body is beginning to use its dormant powers to bring the serial murderer back from the grave. Electricity begins to shoot from his fingers as the walls begin to shake and the coffins of his dead mausoleum mates begin to rise.
One Dark Night opens strongly and conveys the horror experienced by Raymar’s victims through the corpses’ facial expressions. However, the film is overall a slow burn, taking its time to set up the prank pulled on Julie by the club and to take far too long to establish a reason for Raymar’s daughter to come to terms with her father’s unholy work.

With a budget of only $800,000, One Dark Night produced some pretty realistic special effects, and the makeup on the corpses and zombies was perfect. Many of the scenes were shot in an actual mausoleum, adding to the sense of realism.
One Dark Night also gets some points for taking a different approach to zombies. Rather than resurrected bodies with working brains that move in accordance with their animal instincts, the zombies in this film are all controlled by Raymar as inanimate objects, moved by a master puppeteer.


The acting is about as bad as you can imagine, with really only Meg Tilly deserving any mention of praise. While there are certainly better zombie films out there, One Dark Night deserves a watch.

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Kristen Stewart says her role in the Quentin Dupieux-directed film required her to “eat all day long.”
Alex Murdaugh’s name became synonymous with one of the most stunning legal sagas in recent memory — a once-untouchable South Carolina attorney whose family dynasty crumbled under the weight of two life sentences, dozens of fraud charges and a murder trial that gripped the country. Now, with his murder convictions overturned and a new trial on the horizon, Us Weekly is breaking down exactly what Alex did, what he admitted to and where his sprawling legal mess stands today.
While the murder case remains in flux, one thing has not changed: Alex openly admitted to a years-long scheme of stealing millions of dollars from his clients and his own law firm. Those financial crimes are entirely separate from the murder charges — and they are the reason he is still behind bars even after the South Carolina Supreme Court tossed his murder convictions on May 13, 2026.
Not only was Alex accused of killing his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son Paul Murdaugh, but he also drowned in legal trouble related to financial and drug crimes. The former civil litigation lawyer was hit with a staggering 102 grand jury criminal charges and 19 indictments tied to fraud and drug offenses.
The charges painted a portrait of a years-long scheme involving embezzlement, wire fraud and money laundering. Alex ultimately pleaded guilty to 22 federal charges — including wire fraud and money laundering — and was hit with 40 years in federal prison for those crimes alone. On top of that, he received a 27-year state-level sentence for separate financial crimes, bringing his total non-murder punishment to a jaw-dropping 67 years behind bars.
As part of the fallout, Alex was disbarred and had his assets seized. The money he stole was funneled away from clients and his former law firm — a betrayal that shocked the South Carolina legal community and dismantled the Murdaugh family’s decades-long influence in the region.
When Alex took the stand during his six-week murder trial in early 2023, he did something most legal experts called a high-stakes gamble: he openly conceded to the financial wrongdoing while maintaining his innocence in the killings.
Alex admitted that he had stolen millions of dollars from his clients and his own law firm. He also acknowledged that he lied to investigators about his whereabouts on the night Maggie, 52, and Paul, 22, were killed near the dog kennels on the family’s South Carolina property in June 2021.
The former attorney later apologized to jurors for that lie, telling them he hadn’t been “thinking clearly” and didn’t believe he had been “capable of reason” at the time. Still, he insisted he “didn’t shoot” Maggie or Paul “anytime, ever.”
His attorney, Dick Harpootlian, has continued to draw a sharp line between the two sets of crimes. “I think Alex understands he did a bad thing in stealing all that money,” Harpootlian told the Daily Mail in January 2026. “He is adamant he didn’t kill Paul and Maggie. He always has been … and when we get a fair trial, I think the jury will determine he didn’t do it.”
The financial admissions did little to soften the jury, which found Alex guilty on March 2, 2023, of murdering Maggie and Paul. The judge handed down two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole — one for each victim — meaning Alex was expected to die in prison even before factoring in his fraud sentences.
In total, Alex was serving two consecutive life sentences plus 67 additional years for the financial offenses. Since August 2023, he had been working as a wardkeeper’s assistant inside the South Carolina Department of Corrections, a job that reportedly involves helping run day-to-day operations at a correctional facility, per the New York Post.
When he wasn’t working his prison job, Alex was deeply involved in his own appeal. “You can talk to him, unlike normal clients who have no concept of the appellate process or how all this works,” Harpootlian said in the January 2026 interview. “He is interested because he is a lawyer, so we talk about where we’re at and what we think the grave issues are with the case and what our weaknesses are.”
On May 13, 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court delivered a bombshell ruling, unanimously overturning Alex’s murder convictions in a 5-0 vote and ordering a new trial. The justices ruled that the original proceedings had been tainted by “improper external influences” from former county clerk Becky Hill.
“Although we are aware of the time, money and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial due to Hill’s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial,” the justices wrote, according to CNN.
The appeal centered on allegations that Hill had improperly influenced jurors — including by telling them to “watch his body language” — and implied Alex was guilty. A handful of jurors confirmed Hill’s comments in affidavits and testimony, though most said they did not hear the remarks.
In January 2024, retired South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toal initially denied Alex’s request for a new trial, concluding that Hill’s comments had not influenced the verdict. Toal did, however, find the comments improper and said she believed Hill had been “attracted by the siren call of celebrity” because of the high-profile nature of the case.
Hill herself faced consequences for her conduct. She was charged with perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in May 2025, per WLOS. After pleading guilty in December 2025, she was sentenced to three years of probation.
Just four days after his murder convictions were overturned, Alex sued Hill in federal court, claiming she rigged the trial so she could profit from a book about the case.
According to the lawsuit obtained by TMZ and filed on May 17, 2026, Alex argued that Hill secretly worked jurors during his 2023 double-murder trial and pushed them to convict. Hill has been accused of telling jurors not to be “fooled,” “confused” or “convinced” by Alex’s defense team.
In the filing, Alex claimed Hill repeatedly pulled the jury’s leader aside for private conversations and pushed jurors to wrap up deliberations quickly, allegedly telling them it “shouldn’t take us long” and implying they could become famous following the verdict. He alleged her actions cost him at least $600,000 in legal fees and destroyed his right to a fair trial.
Hill and Neil R. Gordon released their book, Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders, in August 2023.
Hill’s attorney, Will Lewis, did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the lawsuit.
Even with the murder convictions tossed, Alex is not walking free. He remains incarcerated, serving the 27-year state sentence and 40-year federal sentence for his financial crimes — punishment that adds up to 67 years and is entirely separate from the murder case. A new murder trial will be scheduled, giving prosecutors another chance to make their case and giving Alex another shot at proving he did not kill Maggie or Paul.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
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Time to lock yourself up and binge these classic crime movies.
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Google reimburses Register sources who were victims of API fraud
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The 81 MPs (so far) who have demanded tick-like Starmer out
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