Matthew McConaughey is opening up like never before. During a recent interview, the Oscar-winning actor reflected on fame, solitude, fatherhood, and the emotional work it takes to truly know yourself outside of public perception. Rather than focusing on his Hollywood career, McConaughey spent much of the conversation discussing the periods in his life when he intentionally stepped away from success in search of something deeper.

After skyrocketing to fame, McConaughey admitted he began to feel he could no longer move through life anonymously. “No strangers do I meet anymore… the world is a mirror,” he said during a revealing appearance on the inaugural episode of Blake Mycoskie’s “No Magic Pill” podcast, explaining that the realization eventually pushed him to leave for Peru for 22 days in hopes of reconnecting with himself away from celebrity life.

During that trip, the actor sought spaces where he could simply exist as “Mateo” instead of the Hollywood version of himself the public had come to know. “The first 12 days were wonky… and then the last 10 days were great. I was at the place long enough to go, I could live this,” he shared.

‘The Demons On Our Back’ Begin To Surface In Solitude

McConaughey explained that being alone for extended periods forced him to confront difficult emotions and uncomfortable truths about himself. “There’s an initiation period when we go away with ourselves. Yes. Where the demons on our back man are, are dancing and having a good time at our expense, where the guilt can get really heavy,” he said during the interview.

The actor admitted that solitude is not always easy for him at first. “I do not enjoy my own company… at first,” McConaughey confessed. However, he said the discomfort eventually gives way to clarity if you stay in it long enough. “For me, it’s around day 12… that’s when the breakthrough comes,” he added.

Matthew McConaughey Shares Lessons He’s Passing Down To His Children

Now a father of three, McConaughey revealed that those experiences continue to shape the way he raises his children, especially in a world increasingly dominated by screens, technology, and artificial intelligence. He encouraged the importance of spending time alone, even when it feels uncomfortable. “If you have trouble spending time alone… that’s the first sign you need to,” he shared.

The actor also discussed the growing influence of AI and how younger generations now have instant access to information. “Everyone now knows they don’t know the answer, but they know where to find it,” McConaughey said.

Despite the rapid evolution of technology, he believes emotional awareness, discipline, and critical thinking will remain some of the most important skills people can develop.

McConaughey Reflects On Legacy, Curiosity, And Life Beyond Fame

At the end of the episode, McConaughey left listeners with a final reminder centered around curiosity and self-discovery. “There’s nobody more important to be curious about than yourself,” he said. “Stay curious.”

Over the years, the Texas native has cemented himself as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars, earning critical acclaim for projects like “Dallas Buyers Club,” which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, as well as fan-favorite roles in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Interstellar,” and “True Detective.”

Matthew McConaughey Continues Expanding His Career Beyond Hollywood

Beyond the screen, McConaughey has also stepped into the business world alongside his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey. The couple co-founded Pantalones Organic Tequila, an organic tequila brand that has quickly gained attention for both its playful marketing and premium spirits.

“Tequila has gotten snooty,” he previously said while discussing the brand. The actor explained that he personally judges a good tequila experience by five things: “Does it taste good? What kind of time did I have? How did I sleep? How did I dream? And how did I feel the next day?”

“People talk about tequila like it’s a fine wine, and I have no problem with that, but I’m making tequila to have fun,” McConaughey added, before diving into what the process behind creating the brand was like, revealing they spent years perfecting the tequila before launching it publicly.

With Camila Alves McConaughey involved every step of the way, Matthew McConaughey said they were determined to create something they would genuinely choose to drink themselves. “[We said] what are we going to make that’s going to be our first choice next to anything else? That sounded fun to do, and it sounded challenging,” McConaughey explained. “After a couple of years and 40-something taste tests, we got that, and that’s what’s in the bottle.”

Joe McCann, the fiancé of Ashlee Jenae, also known as Ashly Robinson, has broken his silence and released a statement as she is laid to rest.

RELATED: UPDATE: Tanzanian Officials Are Reportedly Questioning Ashlee Jenae’s Fiancé Following Her Death In Zanzibar Hotel

Ashlee Jenae’s Fiancé Joe McCann Breaks His Silence & Releases Statement As She Is Laid To Rest

On Tuesday, May 5, Joe McCann took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a lengthy statement, breaking his silence on the death of Ashlee Jenae, also known as Ashly Robinson. Furthermore, McCann explained that “there are no adequate words to describe the total devastation, emptiness, and shock” he feels losing his “best friend, confidante, and fiancé.”

“As a father myself, I am also heartbroken for Ashly’s parents, Yolanda Endres and Harry Robinson. Ashly’s death is an incomprehensible tragedy,” he continued. “…Ashly cared deeply for the people closest to her, which to my eternal gratitude included me. She fattened me up with her amazing cooking and had a great relationship with my kids. Each day, we shared both quiet moments of reflection and the many joys of being in love with each other… What Ashly desired most was to become a mother and to raise a family together. There is no question that she would have been an amazing mom.”

Before concluding his lengthy statement, he referred to Jenae as an “angel who shined her light on everyone fortunate enough to be in her presence.”

“There is no way to fill the unfillable void left by Ashly’s passing and no way to make sense of this unfathomable loss. All we can do is carry on Ashly’s legacy of helping other people and strive to live up to her virtues every single day. Ashly, I love you forever,” he concluded.

To note, McCann reportedly shared his statement amid Ashlee Jenae’s being laid to rest at her funeral without his attendance on Tuesday, May 5. Per TMZ, her family did not invite him to the service.

Social Media Reacts To Joe McCann’s Statement

Social media users entered TSR’s comment section with strong reactions to Joe McCann’s statement about Ashlee Jenae’s death.

More On Ashlee Jenae Being Laid To Rest

As The Shade Room previously reported, Ashlee Jenae, also known as Ashly Robinson, passed away on April 9 after being found unconscious in her hotel room in Zanzibar. Jenae had traveled there with McCann for her 31st birthday, and they had become engaged during the trip. Ultimately, it was reported that the discovery of her body was made after the hotel received reports about her and McCann having strong disputes, which sparked them being moved into separate rooms. To the public’s skepticism, it was reported that Jenae died by suicide.

In the weeks that followed, it was reported that Tanzanian officials were questioning Joe McCann as a “witness.”

Most recently, it was reported that Ashlee Jenae’s body was returned to her family without her belongings or engagement ring. KGW reports that Jenae’s “immediate cause of death” has been listed as “cerebral hypoxia due to strangulation and suffocation.” This, as her family awaits the results of their own independent autopsy.

Those interested in donating to the GoFundMe created in remembrance of Ashlee Jenae can do so by clicking here.

RELATED: Ashlee Jenae’s Father Says Family Is Planning A Funeral After Her Body Was Returned From Tanzania Without Her Belongings (UPDATE)

By Robert Scucci
| Published 4 seconds ago

My favorite heist movies always involve bumbling protagonists who are really smart and good at the one thing they’re good at, but terrible at everything else. Which is why I was beyond thrilled to learn that Christopher Lambert and Christopher Lloyd shared the screen in 1990’s Why Me?, a comedy of errors involving two burglars who accidentally steal a priceless artifact that sends the whole world into a tizzy. What’s most impressive, though, is that both Lloyd and Lambert have done very well for themselves as supporting characters throughout their careers, but they both thrive sharing the lead in Why Me?

They share enough screen time to have their own individual shining moments, but the magic really happens when they’re riffing off each other as two of the dumbest criminals known to man while somehow staying one step ahead of their adversaries, despite remaining totally clueless most of the time.

Two Goofy Dudes Getting Chased By Goons

Why Me? kicks off with a seemingly simple robbery that sets the full conflict in motion. This first robbery involves The Byzantine Fire, an extremely valuable ruby making its rounds through the museum circuit in the United States for the first time ever. As it turns out, a group of religious extremists steal the rock, evade the authorities, and hide it in their safe-deposit box.

Completely unaware of this high-level thievery, low-level jewel thief Gus Cardinale (Christopher Lambert) just so happens to unwittingly break into that same safe-deposit box looking for a big score. In the process, he steals The Byzantine Fire, but he’s mostly interested in the box of diamonds valued at a million dollars. For context, The Byzantine Fire is a priceless, sacred, highly sought-after ruby that can’t even be reasonably appraised because of its rarity.

Knowing that he’s on the lam for stealing the diamonds, Gus doesn’t even think to mention The Byzantine Fire, which he assumes is probably a fancy knockoff that happened to be in the safe-deposit box, when he gets together with his partner Bruno (Christopher Lloyd) to figure out how they can get away with fencing the diamonds in their possession. Sitting there the whole time with a look of equal parts affection and disappointment is Gus’ girlfriend, June (Kim Greist), who wants him to stop working as a thief and find legitimate work.

Luck is not on either Gus or Bruno’s side in Why Me?, resulting in the duo being chased not only by the LAPD, but also Police Chief Francis Mahoney (J.T. Walsh), the Turkish government, and an extremely pissed-off Armenian terrorist named Gatou Vardebedian (Wendel Meldrum). It’s a full-on comedy of errors about two guys who are way in over their heads over an object they don’t even realize they have in their possession for a good two-thirds of the movie.

The Two Chris’ Commit

One blind spot I had before sitting down with Why Me? was Christopher Lambert’s willingness to do slapstick comedy. While he’s no Jim Carrey on the physical comedy front, he commits to the bit, and his facial expressions do a lot of the comedic heavy lifting. His ability to play somebody so clueless is half the fun because, on paper, he’s the last person you’d want in your corner if you had to make a serious judgment call, despite his good intentions.

One of his best scenes involves helping a little girl unlock her bike without hesitation, only for the real owner to show up seconds later wondering where the hell his Huffy went. Blissfully unaware that he’s now an accessory to theft, Gus just smiles and keeps walking as if the satisfaction of committing a good deed immediately blinds him to what’s actually happening around him.

Christopher Lloyd plays the straight man, if you could call it that, in the sense that Bruno is just as idiotic as Gus, but at the very least seems to think scenarios through before impulsively acting on them. This odd-couple dynamic drives Why Me? exactly where it needs to go by the third act, when every antagonist closes in and they have to figure out how to return the ruby, secure the diamonds they originally intended to steal but lost, and walk away from the entire ordeal without ending up in jail.

Why Me? is pure, goofy fun with two leads who clearly understood the assignment and ran with the premise. Is it the funniest movie ever made? Not by a longshot, but if you want to see both Chrises in their element, sharing the spotlight without ever overstaying their welcome, you can stream the film for free on Tubi as of this writing.

Footage shows Stefon Diggs shedding tears after being found not guilty in his assault and strangulation case involving his former private chef, Jamila Adams.

RELATED: UPDATE: Chef Who Alleges She Was Assaulted By Stefon Diggs Shares Statement As He Enters Not Guilty Plea (VIDEO)

Footage Shows Stefon Diggs Shedding Tears After Being Found Not Guilty In Assault & Strangulation Case

According to ESPN, day two of Stefon Diggs’ trial commenced on Tuesday, May 5.  During day two, Jamila Adams returned to the stand and alleged Diggs offered her $100,000 to recant her assault claims.

Per the outlet, Adams’ alleged demands for $19,000 and later $5.5 million throughout her relationship with Diggs were also discussed by lawyers. Additionally, testimony was reportedly shared “from friends and employees who said she did not appear injured in the days after” Diggs allegedly strangled and assaulted her. Per AP News, the defense argued that Adams’ claims were sparked by a “disagreement over a planned trip to Miami.”

Ultimately, the defense rested its case on the prosecution’s failure to present “a single shred of credible evidence” to prove the act of assault. Diggs was found not guilty.

Social Media Weighs In On Clip Of Him Shedding Tears After Being Found Not Guilty

Social media users reacted to Stefon Diggs being found not guilty and shedding tears in the courtroom in TSR’s comment section.

More On The Assault & Strangulation Case Involving Stefon Diggs & Jamila Adams

As The Shade Room previously reported, in December 2025, Stefon Diggs was charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault. Furthermore, it was alleged that earlier that month, Jamila Adams approached him to discuss her alleged unpaid wages. Additionally, on December 2, he allegedly entered her bedroom, slapped her, and tried to choke her.

In response, Stefon Diggs’ lawyer denied the allegations.

“The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction,” his attorney reportedly alleged at the time.

In January, Diggs said he was going through a “very emotional time,” then, in early February, Jamila Adams broke her silence on the alleged incident.

Then, on May 4, Jamila Adams took the stand for day one of the trial. Furthermore, she revealed that her relationship with Diggs had been sexual. And she believed she would be paid $2,000 a week to be his live-in chef. Ultimately, their relationship and live-in agreement reportedly hit a snag over another woman. And this resulted in Adams allegedly being excluded from a trip to Miami.

“We have taken these allegations seriously from day one, and that’s exactly why we were eager for the facts to come to light through the legal process… Professional athletes have a target on their back. When someone sees a uniform and a contract, they see leverage; they see a settlement. And they’re counting on that pressure in the court of public opinion to drive a default decision to settle regardless of the facts of the matter,” Diggs’ attorneys reportedly asserted after the verdict. “The evidence has shown what we’ve maintained from day one: Mr. Diggs was wrongly accused, and this case represents exactly the kind of opportunistic targeting that players can face the moment they step off the field.”

RELATED: UPDATE: Stefon Diggs Accuser Speaks On Their Alleged Past Relationship As His Legal Team Continues To Deny Her Assault Claims (VIDEO)

When Michael first hit Rotten Tomatoes with a brutal 27 percent critics score, it looked like another high profile biopic was about to crash under the weight of expectations. Then audiences showed up. And everything changed.

The film has now surged to a staggering 96 percent audience score, instantly flipping the narrative and putting Michael in rare territory as one of the highest rated musical biopics ever from a fan perspective.

So what happened?

Critics vs Audience A Familiar Divide

Early critic reactions focused on pacing, tone, and the film’s approach to controversial moments in Michael Jackson’s life. Some reviews called it uneven, others said it played things too safe. But audiences saw something completely different.

Fans praised the performance, the music, and most importantly, the emotional connection. Social reactions have been flooded with comments about how the film captures the energy, pressure, and genius of Jackson in a way that feels authentic and powerful. For many viewers, it is not about perfection. It is about feeling. And Michael delivers that in a big way.

The Power of Music and Nostalgia

Musical biopics live and die by one thing more than anything else. Connection.

From the moment the first iconic track hits, audiences are pulled into a shared experience. With a catalog as legendary as Michael Jackson’s, Michael had a built in advantage that critics may have underestimated.

The film leans heavily into that legacy. The performances, choreography, and stage recreations are being called some of the best ever put on screen in this genre. That alone is driving repeat viewings and word of mouth momentum.

Jafaar Jackson, Michael [credit: Lionsgate]

Audience Scores Are Becoming the Real Indicator

We have seen this trend before. Critics analyze. Audiences react.

And in the era of social media and instant feedback, audience scores are increasingly shaping a film’s reputation in real time. A 96 percent score is not just good. It signals strong emotional resonance and mass appeal.

That kind of response can extend box office legs, boost streaming performance, and even reshape award season conversations.

One of the Biggest Turnarounds in Recent Memory

Going from 27 percent to 96 percent is not just a rebound. It is a complete narrative reversal.

For Michael, it means the film is no longer defined by its early reviews. It is being defined by the people actually watching it. And right now, they love it.

The Bottom Line

Michael may not be a critic darling, but it is becoming a fan phenomenon.

And in today’s landscape, that might matter more than ever.

Sister Wives star Tony Padron offered up his observations on how Robyn Brown goes with the flow when it comes to Kody Brown. Tony is known to bypass that filter that lets you think about the words before blurting them out.

His mother-in-law, Christine Brown Woolley, explained Tony’s tendency for this in a recent season of the show. So, that could help explain why what Tony said about Robyn isn’t seen as flattering by some fans.

And that goes for Kody too. When it comes to his son-in-law’s description of the way the Sister Wives’ patriarch approached his role as a father, it didn’t sound too good.

Sister Wives: Tony Padron Adds His Two Cents…

Tony Padron is usually alongside his wife, Myklelti Brown Padron, when she embarks on an interview. The couple also posts videos of their own chats online.

Sister Wives fans frequently learn something new about the inner workings of the Brown family from Mykelti and Tony during these ventures.

Tony is also known for adding his opinion to the topic, and it usually reinforces what his wife is saying. This is especially true when she talks about Kody Brown and the four women he married. Fans love when Kody’s son-in-law spices up the show with his opinions flowing filter-free.

In a recent podcast, Mykelti answered a fan’s question—”How long will Robyn Brown stay with Kody?” Despite Kody’s other three wives jumping ship, the Sister Wives‘ daughter doesn’t see Robyn following her ex-sister wives.

Mykelti Brown Padron sees the Sister Wives star Robyn Brown never leaving Kody Brown. She describes Robyn as having commitment to her marriage. But there’s more to it than that. She explained that Robyn won’t be going anywhere, as she is “happy and comfortable.” She also suggested that Robyn is enjoying her “cush life” with Kody.

But Tony’s opinion seemed based on the evidence he’s seen so far. And while the Sister Wives viewers have also seen this, this son-in-law’s words didn’t come off as very flattering for Kody and Robyn. Especially Robyn, who seems like a very protective mom of her own kids.

Sister Wives: Tony Points Out Some Awful Stuff

Tony Padron chimed in as Mykelti gave her reasons for Robyn never leaving Kody. Tony suggested that if Robyn had any intentions of leaving her marriage, she would have already done that by now.

Then the unfiltered reasons from Tony spurt forward. He thinks Robyn stuck around as Kody did some awful stuff. So, Tony asks if she was going to leave, “Wouldn’t it have already happened?”

He added, “They got through three divorces—and she stayed with him. He wasn’t the best, said some mean things, and did some not-so-great stuff.” Despite all that, she stayed, suggests Tony.

But he went even further as Tony ended his observation—he said that she stayed “even though he hurt his kids emotionally.” So as far as Tony is concerned, “What’s going to topple that, right? I think they’re just committed to the end now.”

It seems Tony sized up Robyn by describing her as a woman who stayed while Kody hurt his kids emotionally. And to the Sister Wives fans, it sounds like Tony believes if Robyn could do that, she’d stay through almost anything Kody dishes out.

Head back to Soap Dirt for the latest buzz on Sister Wives.

As temperatures rise, I always start craving lighter, prettier pieces that feel more exciting than the same basics I’ve been rotating for months. That’s exactly why I scrolled through Amazon’s May new arrivals searching for stylish wardrobe upgrades that wouldn’t completely derail my budget. This month’s fashion finds feel especially good.

From easy sundresses for outdoor parties to breezy pants that make vacation packing simpler, Amazon’s newest arrivals are full of wearable spring and summer staples. I spotted polished styles for office days, relaxed pieces for weekend outings and versatile basics that work for everything in between. Starting at just $15, these pieces make seasonal dressing feel significantly easier.

13 Best Finds From Amazon’s New May Fashion Arrivals

1. Our Favorite: I hate when summer dresses cling in the heat, but this loose maxi dress skims right over everything. The flowy black and white print hides what I want hidden.

2. Supportive Sandals: Just $20 will get me these EVA comfort sandals with double buckles for a custom fit and real medium arch support. The khaki colorway will go with nearly everything in my closet.

3. Polished Pants: Stiff trousers in summer heat are a no for me, so the breezy fabric blend on these striped palazzo pants is a relief. The wide leg and breezy fabric actually feel cool on hot days.

4. Hamptons-Looking: For just $34, this striped midi shirt dress gives you a real button-down collar, side pockets and a brown and white stripe that looks coastal-expensive.

5. Expensive-Looking: I’d pack this V-neck mini sundress for a vineyard weekend and wear it twice because it photographs like something three times the price. Adding a pair of white sandals is all it needs.

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Related: 17 Breezy Spring Blouses That Are Everywhere in the Hamptons Right Now

There’s a reason breezy blouses are suddenly everywhere in the Hamptons this spring. As the forecast shifts between crisp mornings, sunny afternoons and breezy coastal evenings, lightweight tops that feel elegant, versatile and comfortable quickly become wardrobe essentials. Stylish women are leaning into polished pieces that look sophisticated without sacrificing ease. Think crisp cotton, relaxed […]

6. Boutique-Worthy: At just $20, the flutter sleeves and pleated skirt on this V-neck sundress look pulled from a small-town boutique. Plus, the pockets are a quiet bonus.

7. Stylish Skirt: Low-rise skirts dig into me all day, so the high waistband on this tiered maxi skirt is the reason it’s in my cart. It sits where it should and doesn’t roll down.

8. Pretty Puff Sleeve: Plain tees feel boring with my nicer pants, but this floral V-neck top elevates jeans without trying too hard. The puff sleeves cover the upper arm comfortably.

9. Must-Have Jeans: Heavy denim in spring is miserable, so the soft hand on these ecru wide-leg jeans makes them wearable when it’s warm. They don’t bag out at the knee either.

10. Sleek Sandals: I’d wear these ankle-strap flat sandals with a sundress for date nights and with linen pants for daytime errands. The gold hardware reads dressy without trying.

11. Classy Cardigan: I’d throw this pastel yellow cardigan over a white tee and jeans for a chic spring look. I’d also keep it in my bag for over-air-conditioned movie theaters.

12. Top Trend: I’d roll up these cuffed boyfriend jeans with white sneakers for weekend errands and swap in heeled sandals for dinner. The wash looks broken-in from day one — and they’re a top trend for spring.

13. Romantic Ruffles: Stiff formal dresses feel wrong for outdoor weddings, so the soft tiered shape on this ruffle maxi dress handles grass and breeze without losing its line.

Some action movies explain themselves. Others grab you by the collar, throw you into a car, and let the engine do most of the talking. This new revenge thriller looks very much like the second kind. Set in 1970s Detroit and built around brutal action, striking imagery, and a thunderous rock score, the film is being pitched less as a chatty crime drama and more as a full-body cinematic hit. Which, honestly, feels about right when your lead is Alan Ritchson (Reacher, Fast X) and the brief is apparently “say less, hit harder.”

The first teaser trailer for Motor City is out now, giving audiences their first look at Ritchson’s new action thriller. Directed by Potsy Ponciroli (Old Henry) from a script by Chad St. John, Motor City stars Ritchson as a man wronged by a group of criminals who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. After losing the love of his life, he goes on a blood-soaked warpath for revenge. The twist? The film contains only five spoken lines of dialogue. Subtle? Absolutely not. Potentially very satisfying? Big yes.

The cast also includes Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies, The Fault in Our Stars), Pablo Schreiber (Halo, 13 Hours), Ben Foster (Hell or High Water, 3:10 to Yuma), and Ben McKenzie (Gotham, The O.C.). The other major piece is the music. Motor City features a score by Jack White, which feels almost too perfect for a Detroit-set revenge movie with operatic scale and a rock-and-roll pulse.

What Else Can We Expect From ‘Motor City’?

Last year, while speaking with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff at the Toronto International Film Festival, Foster shared some intriguing insights into working with Ritchson. “He’s very tall and very muscular and he’s very handsome,” Foster joked, before getting serious about Ritchson’s acting ambitions. “He’s terrific as a mover. I think he wants to do some deeper work or rather different kinds of work than he’s been doing, and that’s a joy.”

As for the film itself, Foster teased the experimental nature of the movie and namedropped a musical icon who had helped put it all together. “The film itself, Motor City — we just wrapped — is virtually a silent film. There are five lines of dialogue. Jack White is helping with the music, so it’s like a rock disco revenge film. It’s like a graphic novel, so it’ll be interesting to see how that shakes out.”

Independent Film Company will release Motor City in theaters on July 24. Stay tuned at Collider for more.

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Release Date

July 24, 2026

Runtime

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103 Minutes

Director

Potsy Ponciroli

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Writers

Chad St. John

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Producers

Greg Silverman, Jon Berg, Chad St. John, Cliff Roberts

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 second ago

If there’s one thing Star Trek has always been weird about, it’s sex. Sure, The Original Series liked to titillate audiences, but broadcast restrictions kept them from getting too spicy. The Next Generation was comparatively celibate, to the point that Patrick Stewart would beg new writers to get Captain Picard laid. Eventually, the pendulum swung the other way: Discovery gave us an explicit sex scene that traumatized an unwilling participant while traumatizing the audience with the sight of naked Klingon breasts.

Obviously, it’s hard for this franchise to get sex scenes just right. When they aren’t offensive, they’re just downright goofy, like the time Dr. Crusher boned down with the Scottish bad boy that lived in her mother’s sex toy candle. Understandably, Star Trek: The Next Generation showrunner Michael Piller was worried about how audiences would react to a sex scene with Deanna Troi in “The Price” because fans kept writing in complaints before the episode even aired. But he didn’t get a single complaint after the episode, proving that audiences secretly loved seeing everyone’s favorite Betazed getting shagged!

In “The Price,” the Enterprise is hosting a number of intergalactic dignitaries who are negotiating for the rights to a major prize: access to a seemingly stable wormhole from the Alpha Quadrant to the Gamma Quadrant. One of the negotiators is secretly empathic, so it’s no surprise when he hits it off with empathic Counselor Deanna Troi. The two form a hot and heavy sexual relationship, one that only comes to an end when Troi must reluctantly reveal how her new lover has been secretly using his own Betazed abilities to manipulate negotiations from the beginning.

When previews for “The Price” first aired, the fandom collectively decided they were going to hate the scene where Troi takes Ral (her new bad-boy boyfriend) to bed. There are many possible reasons for this. Some fans hated to see Troi hook up with anyone but Riker, her fellow officer and one true Imzadi. Meanwhile, some fans hated to see Troi hook up with anyone but themselves. Whatever their motivation, more than a few fans decided to write to the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew to complain about the impending onscreen erotica. 

“I’m Sensing Great Thickness, Captain”

This information comes to us courtesy of Michael Piller. As written in Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, the TNG showrunner later lamented that “It was never meant to be outrageous television.” Despite this, “We got quite a few letters from outraged people before it aired.” Obviously, these fans thought Star Trek was about to get downright salacious. However, this story has an unexpected punchline: Piller noted that “nobody wrote after it aired.” The implication here is that nobody, even the fans who thought they would despise it, actually hated this sci-fi sex scene.

By today’s standards, the sex scene is relatively mild. There isn’t any nudity or simulated sex onscreen, and the whole thing was more sensual than anything else. Ral gives her a hot oil foot massage, she ends up straddling him, and the two spend plenty of time baring their souls while staring into each other’s eyes. Sure, it’s not as explicit as something you might find over on GornHub (what are you doing, step-reptile?!?), but by the standards of early ‘90s TV, this scene was downright smoking.

Judging from the complete and utter lack of complaints, it seems like the fandom really enjoyed this sensual scene. The franchise might have had trouble getting things just right over the years, but it seems like the TNG writers and producers finally found the right recipe for a successful Star Trek sex scene. Just take half a cup of foot stuff, eight ounces of diaphonous clothing, and three cloves of Marina Sirtis on top. Throw in a spandex-clad exercise scene as an appetizer and baby, you’ve got yourself one hell of a meal!

Taylor Frankie Paul is getting candid about her physical health amid the recent cancellation of The Bachelorette and her custody drama with ex Dakota Mortensen.

In a Tuesday, May 5 Instagram post, the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star shared what appears to be an AI-generated image of herself staring into a mirror covered in band-aids and an Icy Hot patch and attached to an IV drip. In the image, Taylor, 31, is depicted with her hair in a bun and wearing a stained gray T-shirt, while in her reflection, the reality star appears more glamorous and red carpet ready.

“It’s mental health awareness month. I’ve had to be humbled to learn some experiences need to be lived through to understand,” Taylor captioned the image. “Which category should we start with?”

In a series of Instagram Stories, Taylor elaborated that she has been dealing with various ailments recently.

“I know my Icy Hot patch is comical and, yes, maybe it’s funny I added it,” she wrote over an image of an assortment of medicine and medical products. “However, I use them every day along with heat sacks and other relievers due to the amount of pain my body is in.”

While Taylor didn’t go into detail about what is causing her physical pain, in another Instagram Story, she shared that she uses the Icy Hot “patches for pain,” “heat relaxes the tension” and that the “IV [drip] helps hydrate and supplement when lacking nutrients due to no appetite.”

“Band-aids were deliberate — pain you cannot see,” she added.

In a subsequent slide, Taylor shared a screenshot of an Instagram DM in which a follower asked, “Why are you in so much physical pain, Taylor?”

“I’ll be sharing how you get to this point, just not today,” Taylor cryptically wrote over the screenshot.

The Mormon Wives star has faced personal and professional challenges over the last few months. In March, TMZ published footage of a 2023 domestic incident involving Taylor and ex Dakota in which she appeared to throw a bar stool at Dakota during a heated exchange. That same day, ABC pulled the new season of The Bachelorette starring Taylor from its schedule.

After the footage went public, Dakota, 33, was granted a temporary protective order against Taylor and temporary custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever, in March. Taylor was granted her own protective order against Dakota in April. During an April 30 hearing, a judge approved protective orders for both Taylor and Dakota for a period of three years. No changes were made to the couple’s custody arrangements for Ever at the time. (Taylor is currently allowed up to eight hours of supervised visitation with her son.)

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“This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” Utah Commissioner Russell Minas told the pair during the April 30 hearing. “What I’ve seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents.”

Related: How Long Were Mormon Wives’ Taylor and Dakota Together Between Breakups?

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s relationship timeline with Dakota Mortensen isn’t easy to pin down after numerous breakups — but how long were they actually together in between their public splits? Taylor and Dakota started dating before the show premiered on Hulu in September 2024. Dakota was Taylor’s first public […]

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“I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict,” the judge added. “You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict. I’m going to leave the current order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it.”

In April, Salt Lake City prosecutors declined to press charges against Taylor in connection with two more alleged domestic violence incidents involving her and Dakota that were reported to police as taking place in Utah in 2024 and February this year, respectively.