Lucy Hale is mourning the sudden loss of her father, Preston Hale, while finding comfort in the “beautiful” final moments they shared. The “Pretty Little Liars” alum announced on Monday that her father died unexpectedly on July 17 at age 68. Although Lucy Hale did not disclose his cause of death, she reflected on their evolving relationship, his unconditional love, and the final phone call she now considers a meaningful gift.

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Hale shared the devastating news on Instagram alongside a collection of family photographs and videos.

“I can’t believe I’m writing this, but my sweet daddy suddenly passed away on Friday,” the 37-year-old actress wrote. “My dad was mind-numbingly funny, sensitive, and deeply kind,” she continued. “He adored his family, all his grandbabies, his dogs (and mine), his lifelong friends, and my stepmom, Stacy, the love of his life.”

Preston spent much of his life working in farming and the cotton industry, something his daughter said made him immensely proud. “He was so proud of his career in farming and of his hometown of Milan, Tennessee,” Hale wrote. “A true Southern man with a genuine soul and a love for fishing, hunting, golfing, and farming. I will miss buying him Bass Pro Shop gift cards.”

The Actress Treasures Their Final Conversation

Hale acknowledged that her relationship with her father changed over the years, but said the connection between them remained strong. “And he unconditionally loved me and my sister,” she wrote. “He never judged. Our relationship took on many forms over the years, but through it all was a deep soul bond. Our last conversation was beautiful. The last time I saw him was beautiful. Our last phone call was perfect.”

The actress did not disclose what they discussed during that final conversation. However, her words suggest she has found some comfort in knowing their last interactions were filled with love rather than unresolved conflict.

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Hale’s older sister, Maggie Clarke Lewis, happened to be visiting her in Los Angeles when they received the news of their father’s death. “My sister happened to be in town visiting me in Los Angeles, which is rare, when we got the call,” she explained. “She was sitting no more than three feet away from me. That’s something only God and my dad could have orchestrated.”

“I can’t imagine receiving that call alone or walking through those first surreal days by myself,” Hale continued. “I got to be with my sister. He knew I needed her. Thank you, Daddy, for that parting gift.”

Lucy Hale Finds Comfort In Her Spirituality

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Hale said her spiritual beliefs have helped her process the sudden loss. “My spirituality and my beliefs are bringing me so much comfort right now,” she wrote. “I know my dad isn’t gone, he’s simply taken a different form. I’ll look for him everywhere, and I know without a doubt that he’ll stay with us. He’ll keep surprising us, sending little signs, and somehow still making us belly laugh.”

The actress concluded her tribute by thanking Preston for the influence he had on her life. “You are a legend, Daddy. Thank you for the lessons, the memories, the unconditional love, and for being the exact father I needed in this life. I’ll love you in this lifetime and all the others,” she said.

“Watch over us. Rest easy,” Hale added before asking followers to pray for her stepmother “as she navigates this incredibly difficult time.”

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Preston Hale Leaves Behind A Farming Legacy

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According to Preston’s official obituary, he was born in Milan, Tennessee, on May 5, 1958, and was raised by his grandparents, O.P. and Doris Hale. His family said farming was “in his blood.” Preston worked on his family’s farm before attending Memphis Cotton School, which led to a 20-year career in corporate cotton management with Dunavant Cotton.

He later returned to Milan and spent another 17 years working with Shoaf Farms. Altogether, his career in cotton management and farming spanned approximately 37 years.

Outside work, Preston enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, dancing, and listening to music. He belonged to the Milan Country Club and served on its board. “In 2008, he married the love of his life, Stacy,” the obituary stated. The couple celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary just two days before his death.

Preston is survived by Stacy, daughters Lucy and Maggie, stepdaughters Lindsay, Rachel, and Meredith, and nine grandchildren. His funeral was scheduled to take place in his hometown of Milan, Tennessee. “To know Preston was to know someone who made people feel welcome,” his obituary read. “He never met a stranger and had a gift for making others laugh and feel at ease.”

Hollywood Rallies Around The ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Star

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Hale’s tribute received an outpouring of support from friends, former co-stars, and other members of the entertainment industry. “Pretty Little Liars” creator I. Marlene King offered her condolences, as did Hale’s former castmates Ashley Benson, Janel Parrish, and Nicholas Gonzalez.

The loss comes only months after Hale discussed how her father’s demanding career inspired her humanitarian work. While speaking about becoming a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Program, Hale described the effort required to produce a successful crop.

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“My dad is a farmer, my mom is a nurse, and I feel really passionate about women and children,” she previously told PEOPLE. “I’ve been an actress for going on two decades, and I love what I do, but I’ve always had a dream of helping in a bigger way.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt goes bold and bright for the “9-1-1” incoming season!

The actress proves that looking good is good business as she gears up for the 10th season of her role as Maddie Han on FOX and ABC’s hit show.

Jennifer Love Hewitt joined the show on its second season in 2018, acting as a former ER nurse fleeing an abusive relationship and later encouraged by her brother to become an emergency dispatcher while rebuilding her life.

The media personality flaunted her fresh look from the salon in her latest post about the 10th season of “9-1-1,” updating her fans and viewers that she is beyond ready to keep people on the edge of their seats again.

Love Hewitt has spent nearly a decade on the set of the hit series building bonds with her co-stars and the network, whom she tagged accordingly.

Love Hewitt rocked a layered middle part look with soft bangs framing her makeup-free face. She rounded up the short clip by making a love symbol with her hands as over 3k commenters showered her with compliments under the post.

Nikkilee, one of her co-stars on the show, commented, “Love you,” as Tommy Didario excitedly announced, “We are so back.” Another excited fan raved about her iconic performance on “Ghost Whisperer” and “Client List,” noting that her beauty remains in a class of its own.

“Oh gurl I love a blonde. And this is eating,” this admirer emphasized that the new season would showcase Love Hewitt’s ability to simultaneously solve cases while leaving a few broken hearts in her trail.

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The TV Star Weighed In On A.I. And The Movie World After A Chilling ‘9-1-1’ Episode

In January, the actress got candid with PEOPLE about how her character handled an A.I. threat in an episode of the movie. Love Hewitt discussed that the latest episode of the series addressed the growing real-world fears about A.I. replacing human workers.

In the episode, Love Hewitt’s character, Maddie, was blindsided by the arrival of an A.I. assistant named Sara who exhibited similar mannerisms to hers, including using her voice. The actress admitted that witnessing the technology use her voice made the whole experience more eerie, and it felt like the scary scenes in “M3GAN.”

While holding a deep admiration for the role of A.I. in technology, she did express her reservations about its looming effect on future generations and their creativity. The storyline also carries emotional weight for Maddie, whose call center has long been a place of comfort and security. 

Love Hewitt explained that any threat to that environment hits the character especially hard because it provided a haven for her during one of her lowest days. 

Jennifer Love Hewitt Swears By A No-Pressure Approach At Keeping Fit

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When she is not killing it on set, the screen goddess is focusing on a healthy lifestyle with nutritious meal plans and daily fitness routines. Balance has become a watchword in her approach to achieving her fitness goals, which means that she does not deny herself the good stuff, but with a limit.

As noted by The Blast, sources close to the actress revealed that she enjoyed a mix of yoga, Pilates, and other forms of strength training to keep fit. “Rather than push herself to extreme measures, she takes it all in her stride and feels much happier and confident that way,” the insider noted.

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On her preferred style of working out, the insider revealed that she loved exercise that targets muscles and core strength to help her stay fit for her kids and everyday life. Basically, Love Hewitt is all about eating food rich in nutrients without caving in to unrealistic beauty standards often put on actresses in Hollywood, which prompts less confidence in one’s skin and natural body.

The Actress Reflected On Navigating Sexualization Culture As A Teen In Hollywood

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The 47-year-old, during a chat with Mayim Bialik on her podcast, explained how it felt existing as an overly sexualized teenager in Hollywood, especially in an atmosphere where it was normalized at the time.

Looking back, the actress described that attention as unhealthy and unsettling because it permitted grown men to talk about her private parts even while she was a teenager. Love Hewitt could recall people talking about it and laughing with a tone of acceptance, which looks even more repulsive in hindsight.

While all that was going on, the actress confessed that a voice in her head kept telling her being labeled as a sex symbol was not the best, also partly because she had not understood the word sexy at the time. In her words: “People would openly walk up and be like, ‘I took your magazine with me on a trip last week. I didn’t really know what that meant. It’s kind of gross.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt Uncovered Unique Coping Mechanism For The Environment

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When it became unbearable to handle the fixation on her body, unwarranted scrutiny, and lewd comments, Love Hewitt found a way to move on by making jokes about her body. 

Recalling a pivotal appearance she made on “The Tonight Show” in 1996, the actress recalled trying to convince the audience that she is not the sex symbol everyone assumed she is.

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Describing her efforts at the time as very unnecessary, Love Hewitt noted that the attention only grew as time passed by, and a certain publication of her on vacation made the situation worse.

The actress admitted that the comments that trailed the release of the publication left her insecure, and she remained unsure she ever recovered from it. She then turned her attention to little girls who may find themselves in a similar situation, encouraging them to pay no mind to artificial standards and remain confident in their bodies.

Jennifer Love Hewitt is about to give “9-1-1” fans a performance of their lifetime!

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By TeeJay Small
| Published 46 seconds ago

Time loop movies are all the rage, with incredible high-concept ideas taking the premise plotted out by 1993’s Groundhog Day and expanding upon it in a new and creative fashion. One such film is 2016’s ARQ, a film that takes the time loop concept and pairs it with action thriller set-pieces.

ARQ‘s a wild ride from start to finish. Though the film failed to make a massive splash when it was first released on Netflix nearly a decade ago, it stands as an excellent outing, shocking many fans who find their way to the film today.

Reliving A Violent Kidnapping

ARQ‘s plot centers on a couple named Renton and Hannah, who wake up one morning as three violent men break into their bedroom. Despite their attempts to fight back and escape, the situation restarts each time they achieve any level of success. After the armed men successfully capture the couple and tie them to chairs, the leader, known only as ‘Father,’ explains that they are part of a rebel group called the Bloc.

Father commands Renton to give him money allegedly stolen from the massive Torus Corporation, where Renton is employed. Once the Bloc men are distracted, Renton cuts himself and Hannah loose and explains that he built and stole a perpetual motion machine, which he calls the ARQ, while working for the company.

ARQ Saved By Netflix

ARQ is written and directed by Orphan Black writer Tony Elliott. The idea for the film dates all the way back to 2008 when a Canadian film studio approached Elliott to option the script. The project fell into nearly a decade of development hell afterward.

Luckily, Netflix eventually bought the rights to produce and distribute the project in 2016 for a total budget of less than $2 million, resulting in the streamer being the exclusive home for the film worldwide.

ARQ stars Rachael Taylor, Shaun Benson, Gray Powell, Jacob Neayem, and Adam Butcher, with Stephen Amell’s brother, Robbie Amell, in the leading role. The film received a world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, where audiences were wowed by the high-concept application of a time loop film with so many moving parts.

What Sets ARQ Apart From Other Time Loop Movies

Unlike other time loop films, ARQ contains multiple time loops within other time loops, creating a veritable Fibonacci sequence of infinite loops that would drive the average person to madness. The film’s writing is spectacular, revealing intense sci-fi concepts, which explains why it may have been so difficult to make the film in the first place. Regardless, the film has finally found its home, even if it failed to leave a massive mark on the cinema landscape upon its release.

ARQ is now available to view on Netflix. Just be sure to catch it on a day when you’re not experiencing any deja vu.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 18 seconds ago

These days, ritualistic human sacrifices for harvest have all but been written off for the exact reasons you’d expect, but 1987’s The Believers suggests that such rituals are still actively carried out in the most unassuming of modern places if the conditions are just right. In this case, a psychologist’s son becomes the primary target of malevolent forces ahead of the summer solstice, and then there’s a lot of supernatural junk science that kind of gives you an idea of what sort of dark magic is being used, but in the most scatterbrained way you could imagine.

While an ambitious film that’s billed as horror but plays more like a procedural crime thriller with a supernatural bent, The Believers is a bit of a mess. But if you’re a genre fan, there are some genuinely great moments to take in, whether you find the film’s buildup, blowout, and resolution satisfying or not. At least for my money, spiders crawling out of a woman’s face rank pretty high on my ick list.

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

The Believers has one of those openings that will live rent-free in your mind for the rest of your life. First, we get a sizzle reel of tribal civilizations engaging in supernatural rituals to let us know this will come into play later, because otherwise, why start the movie that way? But that’s not what we’re here for. Instead, we’re introduced to psychologist Cal Jamison (Martin Sheen), his son Chris (Harley Cross), and his soon-to-be-dead wife, Lisa (Janet-Laine Green).

Everything’s fine for about a minute until a freak accident involving spilled milk and an overflowing coffee pot electrocutes Lisa to death, leading Cal and Chris to move from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to New York City, where the recently widowed father takes a job as a police psychologist. They move into a new apartment, where housekeeper and nanny Carmen (Carla Pinza) keeps a watchful eye on Chris, allowing Cal to eventually move on and start dating his silver medal, Jessica (Helen Shaver).

It’s around this time that everything starts going off the rails for Cal and his family. His first significant patient comes in the form of Tom Lopez (Jimmy Smits), who rants and raves about a Hispanic cult he knows about and how their version of brujeria is being carried out by a mysterious leader. Meanwhile, bodies are found all over the city, each seemingly murdered with a similar M.O. involving some sort of malevolent dark magic.

Tom’s revelations and, shortly afterward, his brutal, untimely death make Cal rightfully paranoid, clouding his judgment. Carmen, for example, gets caught performing a protection ritual on Chris, leading Cal to believe she’s part of the cult that’s abducting citizens and brutalizing them before dumping them around makeshift altars where they’re later found by authorities. Working with Tom’s friend, Oscar (Raul Davila), Cal surmises that Chris may be abducted and sacrificed in just a few days when the summer solstice arrives, forcing him to rely on his intuition to find the culprits behind this madness and save his son before it’s too late.

Great Overall Story, But Such A Trainwreck

The Believers is one of those movies where the whole is less than the sum of its parts. At least to me, it feels like writer Mark Frost and director John Schlesinger reached into a hat filled with various occult rituals they wanted to try out and simply ran with whatever they pulled. None of this mysticism or dark magic is ever fully explained, which normally works in a film’s favor. In this case, however, I felt like, in order to sell this grab bag of chants and incantations, there needed to be one central mythology we could latch onto instead of watching the film throw everything at the wall to see what sticks.

Martin Sheen and Harley Cross make a convincing father-and-son duo, and their best moments come from simply living through their grief. There’s a great sequence in the middle of the film involving Cal and Chris getting into it over where Jessica fits into their lives now that Lisa has passed away, and moments like this ground the film in ways that totally pay off by the time you get to the third act, when this whole thing goes completely batsh*t and a bunch of spiders explode out of Jessica’s face as the evil, unknown forces reach their most volatile.

If you’re a genre fan, The Believers is one of those movies you should at least be aware of. There are a lot of genuinely unnerving scenes here, but you also have to work through some not-so-great moments before everybody starts firing on all cylinders. When they do, you’ll wish you were in good company while watching the scenes that land, because the visuals can be genuinely upsetting in the best kind of way.

As of this writing, The Believers is streaming for free on Tubi.

Characters in television shows usually become popular because fans fall in love with them and their stories. But sometimes, characters also become popular because the audience loves to hate them. The unlikability of such TV characters is often predetermined by their creators, which is why they become the popular villains. However, there are several other characters who were meant to be neutral at worst, but still ended up being disliked by fans, and unfairly so.

Many such characters are either designed as character foils, whose existence and actions are meant to contrast with those of the heroes, or they are simply meant to be neutral. But unfortunately, fans often misinterpret their design or objective and develop an antipathy, unexpectedly turning them into hated characters. These characters often face intense backlash from fans, but if analyzed well, they actually serve as crucial, realistic anchors against their more chaotic counterparts. With that in mind, here’s our ranked selection of some of the most unfairly hated TV characters of all time.

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Skyler White

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Image via AMC

A Guinness World Record-holding crime drama created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad revolves around a terminally ill chemistry teacher who resorts to making and selling crystal meth with his former student to safeguard his family’s future. Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman are undoubtedly the two most-loved antiheroes of 21st-century TV, even if they were designed as character studies of total moral decay. Contrastingly, Walter’s wife, Skyler, played by Anna Gunn, is quite strongly disliked.

Skyler White is designed like any normal, rational, law-abiding woman who fears the worst consequences of her husband’s dangerous actions. Unfortunately, to fans, her character goes against the thrill and excitement of White and Pinkman’s dangerous and unpredictable world. While the writers clearly intended for the audience to sympathize with a wife reasoning with her husband’s moral ambiguity, Skyler never got her fair share of respect or love from fans.

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Debra Barone

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ (1996–2005)

Image via CBS

Created by Philip Rosenthal, Everybody Loves Raymond is a sitcom that centers on the titular character, a successful sportswriter who navigates his dysfunctional family and work life with his particular brand of humor. The show’s real comedy comes from how Raymond resigns to his meddling, overbearing parents and how his wife, Debra, deals with the chaotic family dynamic. While fans love Ray Romano’s iconic Raymond Barone, despite his lack of boundaries and inability to fight his own battles, Debra gets the exact opposite reaction.

Played by Patricia Heaton, Debra Barone is often unfairly labeled as a nagging wife and woman who is always controlling and loud. In fact, her character is but a victim of a classic sitcom trope, where she is designed as the voice of reason so her husband and others can be goofy, childish, or obnoxious to balance the narrative. Her apparent “annoyed wife” persona is often seen as an obstruction to Raymond’s fun nature, especially because Raymond depicts her as such when narrating the story from his perspective.

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Beth Dutton

‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2024)

Image via Paramount Network

Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s epic neo-Western saga Yellowstone follows the powerful Dutton family and their struggles to maintain the legacy of the titular Montana ranch amid cultural, social, and political clashes. The show focuses on the complicated family dynamic between John Dutton III, the current patriarch, and his children, Beth, Lee, Kayce, and Jamie. Of all the main characters, Bethany “Beth” Dutton assumes a very prominent and influential role in the story and is widely considered the show’s star character, yet is often hated by fans.

Played by Kelly Reilly in what became her breakout role, Beth Dutton is a complicated, controversial character with deep-seated personal issues that are often misunderstood. For many, she is a powerful feminist icon, while for others, she comes across as selfish and abrasive. While her personality is largely a survival mechanism stemming from her childhood trauma, Beth Dutton was intentionally designed to be the aggressive anti-heroine who is hard to like, so her characterization, while polarizing, is ultimately appropriate.

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Ross Geller

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

Image via NBC

David Crane and Marta Kauffman’s landmark sitcom that reinvented the genre and redefined ’90s television, Friends began as a funny, quirky, slice-of-life comedy about six friends navigating life, love, and friendship in ’90s New York City. While many of the six lead characters (and several recurring/side characters) have been loved and adored, becoming fan-favorite sitcom legends, Ross Geller is an exception. A paleontologist by profession and a divorced father, forever in love with his high school crush, Ross Geller is often seen as a deeply flawed man with childish temper tantrums.

While David Schwimmer earned several awards and widespread acclaim for his portrayal of the character, Ross’s likability curve has plunged from a lovable, awkward romantic to the most annoying, obnoxious one in his gang. What were once popular sitcom tropes have turned into seemingly problematic character designs in the contemporary lens. By pegging his characteristics against real-world standards, fans often end up hating Ross unfairly, not realizing that his increasing neuroses were only meant to provide comedic fuel to the show.

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Zoey Pierson

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005 –2014)

Image via CBS

Following in the footsteps of Friends, Carter Bays and Craig Thomas created How I Met Your Mother, a sitcom that evolved from a cult classic to a pop culture icon with its heartfelt and hilarious showcase of romance, friendship, and 21st-century life in New York City. Seen from the perspective of Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), How I Met Your Mother explores his friendships, career, and the trials and tribulations of his love life. While Ted and his romantic escapades are often hated by fans, and for obvious reasons, several of his romantic partners are often misjudged, like Zoey Pierson.

Played by Jennifer Morrison, Zoey is the ex-wife of a billionaire boat enthusiast and an activist who strongly believes in her causes. She campaigns to save a heritage building from being torn down, which ends up becoming a professional bottleneck for Ted. Fans often hate Zoey because she became a roadblock for Ted’s dream project and manipulated him. However, if seen more objectively, Zoey Pierson is one of the few women who genuinely challenged Ted and brought a substantial obstacle to Ted’s otherwise stagnant life, pushing him towards his ultimate dream.

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Elena Gilbert

‘The Vampire Diaries’ (2009–2017)

Image via CBS Television Studios

One of the most popular young adult fantasy series of the 21st century, The Vampire Diaries was developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec and adapted from the novel series. The show follows Elena, an orphaned teenager who falls in love with a 162-year-old vampire named Stefan (Paul Wesley). Her life is further complicated by Stefan’s unpredictable brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), and Katherine Pierce, Elena’s doppelgänger. While most of the characters of The Vampire Diaries have a massive fan-following, Elena Gilbert is an exception.

Played by Nina Dobrev, Elena is one of those rare main characters who are hated more than they are loved by their own fans. While many criticize her for constantly making the wrong choices (and her damsel-in-distress attitude), they often overlook her self-sacrificing nature and compassion. Viewed from the creator’s perspective, Elena Gilbert is just an emotionally overwhelmed teenager living with the trauma of the loss of her loved ones and navigating life among supernatural beings.

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Karen Fillippeli

‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

Image via NBC

The iconic American adaptation of the British mockumentary sitcom, Greg Daniels’s The Office is one of the quirkiest workplace sitcoms ever made. The show follows the daily occurrences at a small paper company office, centered on a misfit group of employees and their wild antics, providing endless laughter and stealing hearts. While most of the characters of The Office are loved and hated for all the right reasons, there are a few, like Karen Filippelli (Rashida Jones), who are rather unfairly disliked by fans.

Throughout its nine seasons, The Office became a fan favorite for its perfect balance of cringe, meta humor, and endearing moments, even from the most disliked characters. And that is why the general dislike towards Karen is unjustified and often stems from perceiving her as the main obstacle in Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) relationship. Karen Filippelli is ultimately just an ambitious, career-driven woman who does not fit into the goofy environment of the Scranton office and gets caught in the middle of a messy office romance through no real fault of her own.

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Howard Hamlin

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

A spin-off of Breaking Bad created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, Better Call Saul is centered on Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), charting his transformation from a small-time lawyer and con-man to a much more complex and morally compromised criminal lawyer. The neo-noir legal crime drama chronicles how Jimmy’s identity, persona, and moral compass change due to people, circumstances, and choices over the course of his life. Among all those Jimmy considers enemies, Howard Hamlin, managing partner at Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, is his closest personal nemesis that even fans hate.

Played by Patrick Fabian, Howard is often seen (particularly by Jimmy) as the reason why Jimmy never got a chance to practice at the prestigious firm and become a respectable lawyer, which triggered his moral decline. While the character was initially intended to be Jimmy’s main antagonist and roadblock to success, Howard evolved over the seasons to be a sympathetic and fundamentally well-meaning person who is simply a scapegoat in the feud between Jimmy and his brother, Chuck McGill (Michael McKean). Unfortunately, across the six seasons of Better Call Saul, Howard remained hated by fans, even though his initial intentions and actions were more than justified by the end.

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Release Date

2015 – 2022-00-00

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Network

AMC

Showrunner

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Peter Gould

Directors

Vince Gilligan, Thomas Schnauz, Peter Gould, Michael Morris, Adam Bernstein, Colin Bucksey, John Shiban, Michelle MacLaren, Daniel Sackheim, Jim McKay, Minkie Spiro, Terry McDonough, Larysa Kondracki, Melissa Bernstein, Gordon Smith, Andrew Stanton, Bronwen Hughes, Giancarlo Esposito, Keith Gordon, Michael Slovis, Nicole Kassell, Norberto Barba, Rhea Seehorn, Scott Winant

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Writers

Ann Cherkis, Marion Dayre, Ariel Levine, Jonathan Glatzer

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MrBeast has officially entered a new chapter of his life after quietly marrying longtime girlfriend Thea Booysen during an intimate weeklong celebration on Richard Branson’s private Necker Island.

While the YouTube superstar has built his career around massive productions watched by millions, he chose a strikingly different approach for one of his biggest personal milestones, keeping the ceremony focused on family, close friends, and privacy.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, married fellow content creator and author Thea Booysen during an intimate ceremony attended by about 70 guests on Richard Branson’s 74-acre Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

The weeklong celebration began on July 14, combining the couple’s wedding with several days of activities for family and friends.

Before exchanging vows, guests spent time snorkeling, kitesurfing, and exploring the island’s wildlife, including its famous lemurs and flamingos. The ceremony itself was officiated by an ordained minister who is also a longtime family friend.

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According to PEOPLE, Booysen wore a custom Nicole + Felicia Couture wedding gown while Donaldson opted for a Ralph Lauren tuxedo. Celebrity planner Marcy Blum oversaw the week’s festivities, with styling by Jeremy Noig and entertainment provided by On the Move Entertainment.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds shared their first dance to Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ hit “Die With a Smile” before celebrating late into the evening.

Rather than ending with an extravagant celebrity afterparty, Booysen joked that many guests wrapped up the night playing card games and board games, calling the gathering delightfully “nerdy.” Guests also enjoyed an extensive menu featuring sushi, Wagyu beef, seafood, and a carrot cake selected because it is Booysen’s favorite.

MrBeast And Thea Booysen’s Romance Began In South Africa

Although millions know MrBeast through his YouTube empire, his relationship with Booysen started far from the cameras.

The pair first met in South Africa in 2022 after a mutual friend invited Booysen to dinner while Donaldson was visiting the country.

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Booysen admitted she initially expected the world’s biggest YouTuber to be very different.

She told PEOPLE, “When I met him, I was quite surprised how down-to-earth he was, and also how intelligent he was. I thought YouTubers were just sort of a persona, but when I met him, I was quite surprised to see that he’s actually a nice guy. He wasn’t sitting there with an ego.”

Donaldson recalled that they “vibed instantly” because of their shared curiosity and love of learning. After returning to the United States, he sent Booysen a direct message on X, beginning a long-distance relationship that eventually led to frequent international visits.

The couple made their first public appearance together at the Kids’ Choice Awards in April 2022 before Donaldson proposed on Christmas Day in 2024.

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Looking back on the proposal, MrBeast explained, “I intentionally dropped a large box to make noise before presenting the real gift — with the ring inside — to her. And then I went down on a knee and proposed.”

MrBeast Chose Privacy Over A Viral Wedding

For someone whose videos routinely attract hundreds of millions of views, Donaldson deliberately avoided turning his wedding into online content.

Speaking before the ceremony, he revealed he wanted the day to remain almost entirely private, with only a professional wedding photographer documenting the celebration.

He previously told PEOPLE, “This will definitely be more family and friends — definitely more private. It will be the ultimate way to take some time away and enjoy things.”

That decision reflects a consistent boundary Donaldson has maintained between his personal relationships and his online career. While his philanthropy challenges, competitions, and business ventures regularly dominate YouTube, Booysen has largely remained outside the spotlight except for occasional appearances alongside him.

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The choice of Necker Island also reinforced that desire for privacy. Owned by Richard Branson, the exclusive Caribbean retreat has long attracted high-profile guests seeking secluded celebrations and can accommodate private weddings of up to 200 guests while remaining closed off from the public.

Why Necker Island Has Become A Celebrity Wedding Destination

MrBeast and Booysen’s ceremony adds another notable chapter to the history of Necker Island, one of the world’s best-known private luxury resorts.

Branson purchased the island decades ago before transforming it into an exclusive destination known for hosting celebrities, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.

The island offers everything from private beaches and luxury villas to wildlife experiences and water sports, making it a sought-after location for destination weddings and milestone celebrations.

Its wedding program allows couples to customize nearly every aspect of the celebration, from intimate beach ceremonies to larger events, while keeping the experience highly private.

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For Donaldson, whose career has largely unfolded in front of cameras, the secluded island provided a rare opportunity to celebrate one of life’s biggest moments away from the constant attention that accompanies being the world’s most-subscribed individual YouTuber.

The Newlyweds Are Already Looking Ahead

Despite finally becoming husband and wife, Booysen suggested their relationship will feel much the same once the celebrations end.

She shared, “It sounds silly, but this is really just a formality. Ever since we started dating we’ve been doing it with the goal of marriage. The difference is now the world knows we’re married, but we’ll still come home to our house and dogs and cats, and then we’re off to our next adventure!”

She also described the week as unforgettable, noting, “This is cliché, but it was heaven.”

Reflecting on having loved ones together in one place, Booysen said, “We were so happy, and there was so much love. We work a lot and don’t get to be around all our friends and family, so to have everyone in one place was really special.”

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She added that the couple now hopes to create a new tradition by gathering family and friends for a similar weeklong reunion every year.

For Booysen, one memory stood above everything else.

She revealed, “Jimmy really went out of his way to make all the guests super comfortable and feel included, and got to know my extended family, and it was all so incredibly special. It just made me love him all the more.”

With the wedding now behind them, the newlyweds are turning their attention to the next adventure they have long envisioned together.

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Netflix’s hit reality show “The Ultimatum” is heading toward its highly anticipated finale, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the four couples who participated. After weeks of emotional trial marriages, difficult conversations, and unexpected connections, the remaining couples must decide whether to get engaged to their original partners, leave with someone new, or walk away single. 

Ahead of the finale and reunion airing on Netflix beginning on Wednesday, July 22, The Blast has compiled some must-know details, which couples are reportedly still together, and behind-the-scenes information on filming the reality show in Las Vegas.

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Netflix’s newest season of “The Ultimatum: Marry Or Move On” premiered on July 15, giving fans just enough time to binge the series once (or twice) before the finale and reunion on July 22.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch it all and want some tea, we’ve got it for you! Let’s start at the beginning. The show began with six couples, but before moving into their new homes and starting their trial marriages, they were down to four. One couple decided before the trial marriages with a new partner began, that they would get engaged, and another couple was asked to leave by hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey.

Jessica Grace and Edris got engaged during The Choice before the trial marriages even began. Edris asked and Jessica Grace said yes! That ended their time on the series.

More About Who Left ‘The Ultimatum’ Early

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The other couple to end their time on the series before the trial marriages were Jebin and Alex. But their story ends very differently than Jessica Grace and Edris’ did.

They became the first couple in the history of the show to be asked to leave because Jebin wrote Alex a note that included some harsh words and the truth about where he stands on marrying her.

The letter in question according to PEOPLE: “I’m really not sure what you came here to do. You already had two dates with Killian. Then you look me dead in the face and say you’re falling for someone. You say that you should go talk to him. You say his name over and over to me and point at him when he walks by.”

It continued with Jebin writing that he now feels “less confident” in Alex and that she must have “something else on” her mind.

“I am not the focus for you. I don’t want you to make me look dumber than you already have. You ruined it. You ruined everything. You f-cked us over. I want to say things can get better, but this time, you did it,” the letter continued. “I honestly hope to God you guys weren’t touching on camera. I’m not f-cking doing this. Who knows what else you’ve done. You’re into him. I don’t even know. There is no way we are getting married.” 

And Then There Were Four Couples…

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As the trial marriages with their new partners began, there were only four couples left. Each of the couple’s moved into an apartment in Ariva Serviced Residences in Southwest Las Vegas to begin their journeys.

Hayley arrived with Blake and then partnered with Killian for a trial marriage, while Blake partnered with Killian’s girlfriend, Ashley. Luke and Monica swapped partners with Casey and David.

Ahead of the finale and reunion, it’s been reported by Us Magazine that all four couples are still together. We won’t know until the finale who actually got engaged, so that’s a missing piece to this puzzle that will soon be revealed.

One ‘Ultimatum’ Participant Was Arrested

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TMZ reported that Blake Robertson, Hayley’s boyfriend, was arrested in October 2025, after filming had wrapped, being accused of assaulting Hayley.

Blake’s attorney told TMZ, “Blake’s case was rightfully dismissed by the prosecutor almost immediately, and all records were expunged.”

Hayley declined to press charges and told TMZ she had conversations with Blake about the incident. She also shared that she feels accountability is important.

Where Was Season 4 Of ‘The Ultimatum’ Filmed?

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Season 4 of hit Netflix series was filmed in Las Vegas. The four couples lived at Ariva Serviced Residences in Southwest Las Vegas and was often filmed frequenting nearby restaurants, attractions, and other areas of Sin City.

Jessie Boskamp, Duty Manager of Ariva Luxury Residences and Ariva Serviced Residences, previously spoke to The Blast to share some information about how the complex was chosen to be the backdrop of the series.

“The production team first reached out to us around January 2025 while they were scouting locations in Las Vegas. After several site tours, they quickly saw that Ariva offered exactly what they were looking for,” Boskamp, told The Blast exclusively. “They toured our furnished residences and amenity spaces, met with our team to discuss logistics, and ultimately presented Ariva to their production team as the ideal location.”

From mid-March to mid-May of 2025, the cast and production team made Ariva “their home throughout the filming process.”

In most episodes of the series, Ariva’s apartments and amenities are highlighted. The couples worked out in the gym and yoga studio, spent time by the swings and firepits, and enjoyed the view at the Sky Lounge.

The season finale and reunion both premiere on Netflix on Wednesday, July 22.

Liam Gallagher has joined the growing list of football figures and fans unhappy with the introduction of a World Cup halftime show.

The Oasis frontman shared his disappointment in a series of posts on X, although he appeared to spare Justin Bieber’s performance from his criticism.

The halftime show represented one of the biggest changes introduced at the 2026 World Cup, alongside the debut of Super Bowl-style championship rings for the winners and water breaks during each half.

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Taking to X, Gallagher voiced his displeasure over the World Cup halftime show, which featured a host of high-profile artists.

In an initial post, he likened the spectacle to a “bad trip,” although he did not elaborate on what he meant.

He later responded to a fan who suggested Oasis would have been perfect for such a stage.

“It’s not about us, well it is, but still it’s absolutely insane behavior it’s cuckoo with a capital K,” the singer wrote.

Gallagher also admitted the show nearly pushed him over the edge.

“It’s a good job I’ve got my spiritual socks on, or that halftime entertainment could have tipped me over the edge,” he added.

Justin Bieber Was The One Bright Spot For Gallagher

Despite criticizing the show as a whole, Gallagher appeared to be impressed by Justin Bieber’s performance. The “Baby” singer was a late addition to the World Cup halftime lineup, which also featured global stars including Shakira and BTS.

In a separate post acknowledging Bieber’s appearance, Gallagher simply wrote, “Justin Rules.” He later praised Bieber’s acoustic rendition of “Everything Hallelujah” in the comments of a fan’s post.

The fan wrote, “Who thought Justin Bieber playing some acoustic Hallelujah song was going to slap??”

Gallagher replied, “ME,” making it clear that Bieber’s performance was one of the few parts of the show he genuinely enjoyed.

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Netizens Shared Liam Gallagher’s Frustration

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Gallagher’s opinion resonated with many fans, who flooded the replies to his posts with similar reactions.

“America certainly knows how to kill a football match. Utter shocker of a half-time,” one fan wrote.

“This is genuinely nonsense. It doesn’t belong in the World Cup. They can have their halftime shows during the Super Bowl,” another user added, referencing the tradition’s American roots.

A third commented, “As an American, I’m sorry. We were all equally embarrassed for halftime.”

One more person wrote, “Nailed it. It’s giving ‘I took the wrong turn and now reality’s glitching’ vibes.”

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The Biggest Changes At The 2026 World Cup

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Beyond the introduction of a halftime show, the 2026 World Cup featured several significant changes.

The biggest was the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, marking the first World Cup with that format after seven editions featuring 32 nations dating back to 1998.

FIFA also introduced water breaks, a controversial addition that effectively split each match into four periods rather than the traditional two uninterrupted halves.

For the first time in World Cup history, the champions also received bespoke championship rings. Each ring was individually numbered and custom-fitted, featuring the FIFA World Cup trophy on one side and personalized details reflecting the winning nation on the other.

Will The Halftime Show Return In 2030?

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FIFA has yet to confirm whether the World Cup halftime show will return for the 2030 tournament. It also remains unclear whether the bespoke championship rings introduced in 2026 will become a permanent feature.

What is already confirmed is that the 2030 World Cup will be primarily hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.

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As part of FIFA’s centenary celebrations, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each stage one commemorative opening match honoring the inaugural 1930 World Cup, which was held in Uruguay. All six host nations will qualify automatically for the tournament, while the remaining places will be decided through the usual qualification process.

Speaking ahead of the 2026 final, however, Trump presented a different proposal. “I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,” Trump told Jenny Taft of Fox Sports.