The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, bringing beloved IP from Marvel Comics to the big screen and television. But there is perhaps no more hyped character to enter the MCU later this year than Robert Downey Jr.‘s iteration of Doctor Doom. After shocking the world that he would be returning to the MCU following his run as Iron Man, Doom will be a central player in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. So, is there anyone in the MCU or beyond with enough strength to defeat him?

We are going to discuss 10 individual heroes, allies, or teams strong enough to stop Doom. We will examine mystical, intellectual, and brute strength, as strength comes in various forms. This list is not entirely a predictor of what might come in Avengers: Doomsday. In fact, not all of these characters will be featured in the film. We are looking at precedents from previous films, comics, and series, as well as their potential given their resumes and powers. If anything does come true, well, then it just means we were right all along!

1

Captain Marvel

Image via Marvel Studios

For a long time, the MCU lacked female-forward solo projects. That is, until Carol Danvers arrived, introducing the world to Captain Marvel on the big screen. A former United States Air Force pilot, she gained superhuman abilities after absorbing the Tesseract’s energy from a destroyed light-speed engine. As a Human-Kree hybrid, she protects the cosmos, having already been a key player in the defeat of Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the threat of Doom looming, her previous resume is likely to be a reason why the villain might fear her.

The best way to describe her powers is as a living battery. When she absorbs an immense, overwhelming amount of energy, she enters her Binary state, which allows her to manipulate stellar and cosmic energies. With flight at the speed of light on her ability card, Captain Marvel is a formidable opponent. Because she possesses vastly superior speed, flight capabilities, durability, and raw energy projection, she might have the upper hand in a no-prep battle. If he has time to prepare, she might have to defeat Doombots before she gets to final boss mode. He has a history of neutralizing heavy-hitting heroes through magical preparations, but Captain Marvel could swoop in with a blitz without warning. Though Brie Larson’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday is unconfirmed for now, the epic team-up would be in great hands if she’s on the roster.

2

Doctor Strange

Image via Marvel Studios

Let’s face it, we’d kill to see a Doctor versus Doctor showdown. But who would prevail? A former world-renowned neurosurgeon, Stephen Strange became the Sorcerer Supreme and Earth’s primary protector against mystical threats. A major player in the multiverse, which made some fans mad, Doctor Strange ultimately unlocked new magical abilities, such as dream-walking, and developed a third eye while protecting America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from the corrupted Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now with Doctor Doom as the next immediate threat, Doctor Strange emerges as an even more powerful player. Despite not appearing in the epic cast rollout, Benedict Cumberbatch will be returning for Avengers: Doomsday.

With genius intellect and a strong ability to master the mystic arts, Strange’s encyclopedic knowledge and disciplined combat style give him the decisive edge in a direct, magic-focused confrontation. And let’s face it, with Strange as the leader of the roster, magic is very likely on the table. Strange has a history of success, which will work well to his advantage. Especially in duels of sorcery. Strange may have his studies on his side, but Doom has a penchant for hacking magic, which could throw Strange off kilter. Doom’s ego and determination are legendary. The intrigue of a Doom and Strange showdown is a potential draw from the comic source material, the Time Runs Out and Secret Wars comicstorylines. If those come to fruition, the biggest shock will be that in those storylines, Strange becomes one of Doctor Doom’s most trusted allies. It’s the MCU, so anything is possible!

3

Fantastic Four

Image via Marvel Studios

OK, this might be a bit of a cheat since Doctor Doom is the most notorious primary villain of The Fantastic Four. Plus, we’ve seen them defeat him in both film iterations before they entered into MCU. So, the answer is an obvious yes, but let’s dissect the MCU quartet of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) on their strength against Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. No matter the iteration, The Fantastic Four is one of the strongest super teams in Marvel. Their unmatched teamwork, unparalleled intellect, and deep, unbreakable family bond make them unstoppable. They each bring a specific, highly tactical power — stretch and reform a body, invisibility, engulf a body in flame, and superhuman strength — that make them become a unified force.

As seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed’s unmatched intellect is stronger than ever. Leading the team, with a now-not-pregnant Sue, they are as formidable as ever. They now have to take Doom down by exploiting his massive hubris and obsession with proving his superiority. The only massive cog in the plan is the now-famous mid-credit scene in which Doom interacts with Franklin. We’re all waiting with bated breath to know how that will affect the future. Perhaps it’ll be baby Franklin who will take down Doom one day in the MCU. Doom might need him to save a dying universe. Nevertheless, in a show of force, The Fantastic Four have the ultimate advantage as a team. Reed might defeat him in a battle of the brains, but the quartet as a whole would need to unite for victory.

4

Hulk

Image via Marvel Studios

There is literally no one on the MCU roster who is stronger than Bruce Banner, better known as the Hulk. One of the more intriguing characters in the MCU, given his cinematic history beginning with Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk, only for Mark Ruffalo to save the day as the character, despite never receiving another solo film. Regardless, whereas the Hulk is extraordinarily strong, Banner is extraordinarily brilliant. Following an accidental exposure to high levels of gamma radiation, Banner is a physicist with the ability to transform into a massive, green-skinned rage monster. His journey in the MCU has showcased Banner’s ability to control his rage, but as seen in the trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, something or someone is tampering with that control. Unfortunately, Ruffalo has confirmed that the Hulk will not be back in Avengers: Doomsday, so we’re left to speculate how he might fare against Doctor Doom.

The Hulk remains one of the most unique heroes in Marvel. The adrenaline and psychological stress caused by anger act as a trigger, and Doom is quite a triggering individual. But without a top-out, the Hulk’s potential can be limitless. At maximum fury, his physical blows generate shockwaves that retain his status as the strongest one there is. Even in advanced armor, Doctor Doom is touchable against the mean, green fighting machine. Doom is a mortal human who is penetrable. Even with extraordinary prep, nothing will wear down the Hulk in a drawn-out physical battle of attrition. In the comics, there have been times in which Doom is victorious in battle, including Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 in 2011. But once Hulk gets his hands on Doom’s technology and smashes it, it’s all over. Though, wouldn’t it be a coup if it’s Doom controlling Hulk in the Spider-Man movie to set up the December flick?

5

Iron Man

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Maybe the Doctor vs. Doctor isn’t the battle we want; it’s Downey Jr. vs Downey Jr. Rather, Iron Man vs. Doctor Doom. The MCU wouldn’t be what it is today had it not been for the first Iron Man film. Beginning as a billionaire playboy, Tony Stark’s near-death experience led him to become the armored superhero. He wasn’t just a solo entity — he was a leader and mentor, shaping the future of the Avengers forever. At this point, it’s no longer a spoiler; Stark wielded the Infinity Stones to erase Thanos and his invading army, an action that successfully saved the universe but resulted in his own death from severe gamma radiation. So, unless we get something super twisty, we won’t see a Downey Jr. double-trouble moment.

Now, to the hypothetical. Iron Man was always a force to be reckoned with, but in the MCU, he grew even stronger. At the heart of the suit is a miniature, self-sustaining nuclear fusion reactor that directly powers the suit’s life support, weapons, and mobility. His supersuits have enhanced over time, evolving to defeat the enemy of the moment. So, as Iron Man leverages his raw engineering capabilities, technology will overpower mystic powers. His suits have also served as perfect vessels for greater flight maneuverability and stealth capabilities, so agility is an advantage for Iron Man compared to Doom’s bulky suit. Doom is adaptable, but Iron Man is famous for anticipating threats. Had it not been for a personal sacrifice, Stark would be the man who could never be killed. And he would be strong enough to take down Doom.

6

Jean Grey

Image via 20th Century Studios

There are many beloved characters in the X-Men, but constantly at the top of that list is Jean Grey. Why? Her story is simply incredible, often serving as a central storyline in comics, TV series, and films. While the entire X-Men team could defeat Doom together, Jean Grey likely could do it on her own. Jean Grey tapped into her mutant powers as a teen before being brought to Professor Xavier (James McAvoy/Patrick Stewart). He honed her skills until she went all Dark Phoenix, exposing just how vast and powerful her abilities were. Her powers include telepathy, telekinesis, and cosmic pyrokinesis. She is an Omega-level mutant and serves as the primary host for the god-like cosmic entity. Her innate psionic mastery allows her to harness cosmic energy effortlessly, making her the quintessential and most formidable host for the Phoenix Force. Jean Grey was first portrayed on the big screen by Famke Janssen in the original X-Men films, before Sophie Turner portrayed the role in the prequel films.

The truth is, there are very few individuals that Jean Grey cannot take down. Just with her simple skills, she can bypass Doom’s armor and anything he might throw her way. Tapping into Phoenix, he’d be completely dismantled. When you can control life, death, and cosmic energy, there’s no denying her unstoppable force. There will be quite a few X-Men arriving in the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday, including Cyclops (James Marsden), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming). Jean Grey is not on that roster. Janssen has stated Marvel “made a mistake” not bringing her back for the film, but as disappointing as it is, she might just be too strong for a plausible story.

7

Loki

Image via Marvel Studios

Once upon a time, Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) brother was known as the God of Mischief. After the second season of Loki, he’s ascended to the role of God of Stories. Needless to say, Loki’s arc within the MCU was utterly fascinating. From villain to anti-hero to savior of the timelines, Loki has run the full gamut. He is highly trained in illusion casting, projection, duplication, and telekinesis. He can shapeshift. His combat prowess is stronger than his stature. Whether in his villain era or during his multiverse adventures, Loki’s skill set has been on full display. His hybrid physiology is one of the lesser-reported assets, but it’s why he is the way he is. His magical toolkit is icing on the cake.

A Loki versus Doctor Doom battle would be a top-tier fight night. Loki possesses god-level magical reality-warping and time manipulation that would give Doom a headache. By mastering time-slipping, Loki can jump across time and space to navigate the multiverse at will, giving him traversal capabilities that even powerful beings can’t pursue without technology. The truth is, no one is more deceptive than Loki. He can fight Doom in the shadows, taking on any shape he wishes, driving Doom into a vulnerable position. After a triumphant finale, it appeared that Tom Hiddleston’s tenure was finite. That’s not the case, as his Loki will be back and likely play a crucial multiversal role against Doom. Though his screen time may be minimal, that doesn’t mean it can’t be monumental.

8

Scarlet Witch

Image via Marvel Studios

Fans loved Wanda Maximoff during the Infinity Saga. They adore her post-WandaVision, even when her dark side emerged as Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. With one of the most fascinating journeys of any MCU character, the character now known as Scarlet Witch remains one of the strongest individuals across any timeline. Originally a HYDRA test subject from Sokovia, her latent witchcraft was amplified by the Mind Stone, leading her to become a grieving Avenger who reshaped reality and eventually succumbed to the corrupting influence of the Darkhold. Scarlet Witch is a Nexus Being capable of spontaneous alterations to reality. From chaos magic to reality warping, with energy manipulation in between, her powers are deeply tied to her mental state. Whether grief, trauma, or desperation, once those emotions are activated, she’s unmovable. Doom is destined to tap into one of those.

Now that Scarlet Witch’s powers are fully unlocked, her limitless, unstructured power can overwhelm even Doom’s greatest defenses. Her primary advantage is the ability to manipulate reality instantaneously. At her peak, she doesn’t just fight; she breaks and rewrites the fundamental rules of the universe. Since they’re both magic users, she may have a match with Doom, but Chaos Magic is something difficult to defend. The only locale in which Doom would have an upper hand, with the employment of magical wards, an army of Doombots, and planetary-scale weaponry, is his home nation of Latveria. As much as we’re eager to see who would be victorious in this showdown, whether Elizabeth Olsen will appear in Avengers: Doomsday is still uncertain. There had been rumors that if Scarlet Witch does appear, she’d be on Doom’s side, but given her history, she always finds her way back to the light.

9

The Defenders

Image via Marvel Studios

Once upon a time, the quartet of Netflix Marvel shows lived in their own world. Now that they’re canonically part of the MCU, why not speculate on how The Defenders could handle Doctor Doom? Like other superteams, they’re each strong on their own, but together, they’re simply unstoppable. Comprised of Matt Murdock/Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter), and Danny Rand/Iron Fist (Finn Jones), this quartet tends to battle it out from a more street-level perspective. That’s not to say that mystics and magic haven’t opposed them; by strength alone, they each could likely toss anyone across a room. Murdock is the master tactician, Cage is the invulnerable tank, Jones is the brute force, and Rand is the heavy hitter. Initially working as solo vigilantes, their four heroes were brought together by necessity; a gritty “non-team” united to protect New York City from the ancient ninja cult, The Hand. The quartet is much rawer than The Avengers, and thus, that grit is why they might make Doom shake in his mask.

By leveraging a combination of raw, unstoppable physical power, unpredictable mystical arts, and street-level stealth, The Defenders can be victorious. How? Exploiting his fatal flaw of overconfidence. Daredevil’s radar sense would allow him to see through illusions, detect Doombots, and read Doom’s heartbeat to anticipate his physical and magical attacks. Cage’s titanium-like, unbreakable skin can absorb massive concussive blasts from Doom’s gauntlets, keeping the villain occupied in close-quarters combat. Iron Fist’s Chi-infused punch is capable of shattering mystical barriers and high-tech armor alike, directly damaging Doom where he is most vulnerable. Jones’s deductive detective skills would allow her to uncover Doom’s tactical vulnerabilities while navigating past his ego. Though we only had one full season of The Defenders, they have been popping up now that Daredevil: Born Again is a massive success on Disney+. As of now, the quartet is not going to be on the roster for Avengers: Doomsday. There’s a better chance to see them in 2027 in Avengers: Secret Wars. ​​​​​​​

10

Thor

Though his movies may have given us a range of emotions, the God of Thunder remains one of the strongest heroes in the MCU. Thor evolved from an arrogant, war-hungry prince into a compassionate king, defending both Asgard and Earth. Thor may still be a prominent figure, but, as seen in Thor: Love and Thunder, he has since adopted a child, Gorr the God Butcher’s (Christian Bale) orphaned daughter, Love. With divine biology, Thor’s skin and bones are significantly more durable than a human’s. With enchanted weaponry, Mjolnir and Stormbreaker, in hand, Thor has proven that his strength is unmatched. Beyond raw muscle, Thor has over a thousand years of combat and battlefield experience against some of the universe’s most formidable threats. Now a “Dad God,” pulling him out of that role and back into action might be Doom himself.

Thor possesses superior raw physical strength, divine invulnerability, and cosmic magical abilities that bypass Doom’s technological defenses. That said, Thor’s full capacity might depend on the cosmic storyline. Where Doom might overperform Thor is knowing how volatile the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) can be. We’ve seen Emo Thor. He’s not a warrior by any means. Doctor Doom is cunning, which Thor is not. Doom frequently invents devices to siphon Thor’s divine energy, turning the Asgardian’s own strength into a liability. On some occasions, it’s true, it’s a toss-up, but history has proven Thor tends to come out on top. With Hemsworth back for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s been teased that the softer, vulnerable Dad God will be preparing for strength to defeat one final enemy. With that tease as well as Avengers: Secret Wars to come, Thor might be the one to make the ultimate sacrifice. What a way to go, to watch Hemsworth beat Downey Jr., the last Avenger to make a massive sacrifice!

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Avengers: Doomsday

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Release Date

December 18, 2026

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Writers

Stephen McFeely, Michael Waldron, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee

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General Hospital has Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) back to Port Charles this week. Unfortunately, her mental health is not as restored as everybody thinks, and that is because Peter August (Wes Ramsey) is living rent-free in her head. So, Anna is essentially hallucinating his ghost and Faison’s worst son has a diabolical agenda that could cause Anna to do something deadly.

We’re going to talk about Peter pushing Anna to kill somebody according to official spoilers.

General Hospital: Anna’s Dangerous Delusions

So, this week, Anna’s family welcomes her home. Mac Scorpio (John J. York) and Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) are thrilled she’s back and Emma Scorpio Drake (Brayden Bruner) and Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) are ready to welcome her home. So things seem great for Anna except for one big thing.

She’s hallucinating Peter and lying about it. So, right away Anna gets back into the hustle and flow of her old life. She’s back in her apartment with Emma. And soon Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) is more than happy to give Anna back her job as police commissioner. Dante is going to be thrilled to be back as a detective without all the pressure of being the boss at the PCPD.

And official General Hospital spoilers say Anna comes home with deadly intentions. And at first, I wondered if she was going to come back and kill Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) for gaslighting her, but no, he’s already pushing up daisies thanks to WSB agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). So, the deadly intentions are clearly aimed at somebody else entirely. And I’m thinking that Peter wants Anna to kill somebody that he hates, that he’s got a grudge against.

So, Peter may advise Anna to settle a score that’s more about him, somebody who he thinks wronged him. But of course, this Peter thing ties back to the spoiler about Anna getting counsel from a less than reliable source. So, let’s talk about who Peter wants dead, or at least this twisted version of him that’s living inside Anna’s head.

Peter’s Potential Targets on GH

First and foremost, I’m thinking that it could be Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) that Peter wants dead. And of course, Anna knows that Peter hates Valentin because when Peter was a defenseless little kid, a baby, Valentin gave Peter to Cesar Faison (Anders Hove). And by all accounts, his childhood was terrible. Want to hear something odd? I don’t recall Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) ever mentioning Peter yet.

They were both raised by Faison, and their childhoods should have overlapped. There’s a roughly five-to-ten-year age gap between them. Madeline Reeves (Donna Mills) handed Cassius to Faison and Valentin handed over Peter and Faison raised them both. Yet that never came up. We know Peter had a miserable childhood.

Some of it spent in boarding school and Cassius talked a little about his childhood, but we have to assume it was also awful. So Peter may want revenge on Valentin for him being raised by awful Faison. And Valentin already felt guilty about this. So, that’s why he watched over Peter and tried to help and protect him as best he could whenever he could.

And this week, spoilers say Anna and Valentin reconnect. And I think after that, we’re going to get to hear Peter’s thoughts on Valentin after he and Anna have that reunion. So, we’ll see if Peter says right away that he wants her to kill Valentin.

General Hospital: Peter May Target Felicia

Another obvious option as a revenge target for Peter is Felicia, who is Anna’s best friend. No doubt, Ghost Peter should hate Felicia for killing him. She whacked Peter in the head with a tire iron to save her daughter Maxie Jones, (Kirsten Storms) and then he fell down an embankment.

There was time to save him, but Anna didn’t call an ambulance. And instead, while everybody else walked away from Peter and left him bleeding out, she stayed. Anna sat there and she held Peter’s hand all the way till he drew his last breath so he didn’t die alone. So, this could be some manifestation of Anna’s guilt over his death, you know, because she sat there and let Peter die.

Another option for revenge could be one or both of the Quartermaine brothers, Drew Cain Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison) and Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), primarily because Peter targeted them before. If you remember, he tried to kill Jason and Drew separately on multiple occasions. They didn’t start stuff with Peter. It was him coming after them. And if you remember, he had Jason locked in that Russian clinic for years under the name Patient Six. And Peter did a memory transfer between Jason and Drew for Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers). Plus, Peter faked Drew’s death in that plane crash. So, Jason’s back soon, and Drew is about to recover from being locked in, so could be one of them.

Anna’s Connection to Jason on GH

And don’t forget, Anna had gotten really close to Jason. They even shared a kiss when they thought they were going to die in Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) camp in Africa. So, Anna might have Jason on her mind, and the Peter that lives in her head might be bothered by it. I tend to think that Drew would be less of a target, though.

Next, we could see Peter having Anna target Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) or Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). We know Anna gets in touch with both of these women from Faison’s life soon. Peter hates that Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) had a good life and that people loved him, including Britt and Liesl.

So, Peter might want Anna to punish them. Summer spoilers say that Britt faces tough questions from Anna. And those questions could be about her brother, Cassius, you know, he’s also Faison’s kid and related to Peter. So, Peter might want to find out more about how Cassius infiltrated General Hospital and pretended to be Nathan.

And don’t forget, Liesl kidnapped and tortured Peter before. And then Liesl actually tried to burn him alive in revenge for his role in her precious Nathan’s death. So, Peter might have some sort of attachment to Cassius that we’ve not heard of because they grew up together. And maybe he wants to punish Britt and Liesl for Cassius’ assumed death, we know he’s not dead. And since Cullum is dead and can’t be punished for killing him, maybe he’s going to go after one of them.

General Hospital: Liz Targeted for Payback

One last option that might be interesting as a target for Peter is nurse Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst). If you remember, Dr. Hamilton Finn (Michael Easton) thought he killed Peter when they had a confrontation in the stairwell of General Hospital and then Peter went tumbling down all those flights of stairs to his apparent death.

That was insane because Finn checked his pulse. A doctor said he was dead. Liz checked it, too. A nurse also confirmed Peter’s death. And then Liz helped Finn cover up Peter’s presumed death by shoving him in a freezer in the basement of General Hospital. But Liz and Finn can’t check a pulse properly, I guess, because Peter was alive and escaped. And with Finn gone, I could see Peter wanting to punish Liz for both of them.

General Hospital: Peter Drama Amps Up This Week

And you know, Peter might be mad that she helped cover up his death and made him into a human popsicle. However, I think Peter targeting Liz is a really long shot. I tend to lean towards it being somebody whom Peter and Anna both had much more involvement with, somebody like Valentin or Felicia. But we’ll find out more once we see Anna back in her apartment and having sketchy private conversations with ghost Peter. And then we’ll also hear what he says to Anna after her reunions with Felicia and Valentin and others that are close to Anna.

I will say this, I did not have Wes Ramsey returning to General Hospital as Peter August on my bingo card for summer and I see a lot of fans on soap social media saying no one asked for this. So, I’ll tell you this. Wes was back on Days of Our Lives. He was playing this villain that he had played gosh almost like twenty years ago and he was a kidnapping creep back then and he came back as a kidnapping creep again and I thought he did an okay job. A little more subtle than he had been on General Hospital. So, I’m going to give it a chance. I’m going to wait and see.

That’s your General Hospital analysis on Peter’s deadly agenda.

Ariana Grande has been spending time with ex Ricky Alvarez.

“They’ve always shared a close bond,” an insider exclusively tells Us Weekly of Grande, 33, and Alvarez, 34, after they were seen leaving a Whole Foods in Boca Raton, Florida, on Saturday, July 4. “There was a period in time where they weren’t close — while she was with Ethan [Slater] — so she is happy to reconnect with him again.”

The source concludes, “Ariana is grateful to have him in her life right now, and he’s been a huge source of support.”

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Related: Inside Ariana Grande’s Split From Ethan Slater: What Went Wrong

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s private split was far from dramatic. “After their press tour [for Wicked: For Good] died down, they had been spending more time apart than usual,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly of what led to the demise of the pair’s relationship. “They both agreed they wanted different things and […]

Us reached out to reps for Grande and Alvarez for comment.

Grande met Alvarez when he joined her team as a backup dancer on her Honeymoon Tour in February 2015. The pair began dating that April and later called it quits in July 2016.

Grande famously name-dropped Alvarez in her 2018 hit “Thank U, Next,” singing, “Wrote some songs about Ricky, now I listen and laugh.” The track also featured nods to other exes, including Big Sean, Pete Davidson and the late Mac Miller, who died in 2018 of an accidental overdose at age 26.

Grande shared Alvarez’s reaction to being featured in the song while discussing her Thank U, Next album in 2019.

“Ricky loved it. He was proud. But Ricky was like, ‘Why did I get the worst line?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Everyone else’s line is so nice, and mine is like, ‘Man, f*** him, he’s trash.’ I was like I could have said that,” Grande recalled during her appearance on the Zach Sang Show at the time. “I could’ve said, ‘Wrote some songs about Ricky, never mind he’s trash.’ … But I didn’t. I said, ‘Now I listen and laugh.’”

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Related: Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s Relationship Timeline

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance isn’t defying gravity, but it has turned heads from the start. Us Weekly confirmed in July 2023 that Wicked costars Grande and Slater were in a “fairly new” relationship following their respective breakups. News broke that same month that Grande and Dalton Gomez called it quits after two years […]

Grande recently hinted at her rekindled connection with Alvarez by changing the lyric during her Eternal Sunshine Tour stop in Austin, Texas, on June 26.

“Wrote some songs about Ricky, I know he still got my back,” she sang.

After her romance with Alvarez ended, Grande dated Miller from 2016 to 2018. She was also briefly engaged to Pete Davidson in 2018 and married to ex-husband Dalton Gomez from 2020 to 2024. Grande moved on with Wicked costar Slater, 34, following her separation from Gomez in 2023.

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A source confirmed Grande and Slater’s split to Us in June.

“It’s amicable. They gave lots of time and careful consideration and decided to go their separate ways,” the insider shared. “They are still friends and very supportive of one another. They have been quietly broken up for several months.”

Alvarez’s dating history beyond Grande is not publicly known.

Bold and the Beautiful saw Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) throwing a whiny little tantrum and throwing her necklace right in Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) face. But if you ask me and a pile of B&B fans, Electra did Will a favor by walking out on him with R.J. Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti). And Will honestly shouldn’t fight to get Electra back.

We’re going to talk about five reasons why Will should never ever reunite with Electra despite Will doing that weird Streetcar Named Desire scream of Electra’s name at the end of the most recent episode. Now, unfortunately, I think it’s pretty easy to predict that Will is going to go grovel at Electra’s feet and beg her to move back in with him. But come on, that is the absolute worst thing for Will.

And most fans seem to hope that he never ever gives Electra a second look. But it’s probably what Brad Bell has written, the groveling. But let’s talk about why Will should never give Electra a second look and he should just date Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) instead. I mean, heck, date anybody else. Even drag Luna Nozawa (Lisa Yamada) out of the grave to date her. That would be preferable to Electra at this point. So, let’s talk about why Will needs to run the other way and never look back.

Bold and the Beautiful: Five Reasons Will Should Move on From Electra

First of all, it seemed pretty clear to me that if Will had told Electra about Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) being at Logan, about the Blue Diamond, about the jewelry line, that Electra probably would have blabbed their plans to the Forresters. She told Will that the Forresters must think she’s an idiot because he didn’t tip her off. But Electra made it sound like she would have warned the Forresters.

So, it sounds to me like she was upset at Will that she didn’t get the chance to betray the Spencer family and Will and the Logan Corporation. Basically, Electra wanted Will to betray his family so she could betray them to the Forresters. Electra’s wrong. So, to me, it’s very clear that Will was right not to tell her a thing.

And Electra used the phrase “trade secrets” or whatever. Like, it was dismissive. It’s not whatever. It’s important. And her pitching a fit to Will because Forrester Creations can’t handle a tiny bit of competition is outright insane. He just needs to forget Electra.

Electra Still Keeping a Secret from Will on B&B

Another reason that Will needs to pack her stuff and ship it to the Forrester mansion and never look back is because Electra betrayed him and she lied to his face. Remember when they were broken up and Will kissed Dylan? Technically, she kissed him.

When Electra asked if anything happened, Will was honest with her. And at the same exact time, Electra had been kissing R.J. And in fact, Electra was kissing R.J. behind Will’s back while Electra and Will were actively discussing reuniting. But was Electra honest with Will? No. She basically lied to his face while demanding absolute truth from him.

Electra sits on a throne of lies and sticks out her lips and pouts when things don’t go her way. She said Will should cherish her, but Electra doesn’t cherish or respect Will. Why would she make such a huge deal about Will kissing Dylan when she did the same thing? It’s hypocrisy.

Bold and Beautiful: Electra Choose RJ over Will

Another big issue is that Electra sided with R.J. over Will. This is why he should never reunite with her. Electra never said one thing to R.J. about all the times he tried to get Will fired and then when he finally succeeded. She didn’t call him out at all. And I’m betting that Will would still be at Forrester if not for R.J.

But Electra never criticizes R.J. for anything, but she’s always got her manipulative little hand on Will’s neck. This is extremely problematic. Electra continues to side with R.J. at every turn. And I think that’s partly because all he does is kiss Electra’s backside and sing her praises.

And R.J. basically treats Electra like she’s the perpetual victim that he needs to protect. And R.J. acting like that feeds into Electra’s spoiled princess vibe. R.J. is a creep. And he keeps inserting himself in Electra and Will’s relationship. And Electra not only lets him do it, but she seems to encourage it.

It was one thing when Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) was in town and manipulating things, but she’s long gone and Electra is still letting R.J. come between her and Will. Honestly, Electra keeps choosing R.J. over Will. So he should just let R.J. have her on Bold and the Beautiful.

I think Will could do a lot better than her. As for R.J., he walked right into Will’s house, didn’t knock, started nonsense, acting like Electra is a damsel in distress, and at the end of the day, R.J. and Electra are both too entitled for words.

Electra is Never Going to Change on Bold

So, another reason Will should think about not getting back with her is the fact it has to be exhausting to date Electra. She is always with the whiny pouty drama. She will always be a spoiled brat, always think that if everything doesn’t go 100% her way, then she gets to pitch a fit at Will or whoever else she feels has wronged her.

Electra’s default mode is “poor me,” like when she wanted Will to toss Dylan out to live in her car. Electra was acting like she was a victim because Will was nice to her friend. And if he talks Electra into coming back to him, I think it’ll just restart the same cycle and he will spend the rest of his life groveling.

The Family Factor on B&B

All right, the last thing I think Will being with Electra is going to be a big problem for Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Katie Logan (Heather Tom). Will’s mom is at his place this week and he’s going to tell Katie what happened with Electra and how upset she was, you know, that she was ranting at Will for not telling her all of Logan’s secret plans.

And I’m sure Katie is going to say that Will did the right thing. Electra is not entitled to know what Logan is planning, girlfriend or not. As Will told Electra, they work for rival companies. Is she going to tell Will everything the Forresters are planning? I seriously doubt it.

And Bill’s going to find out about Electra’s issues. And I’m guessing that his parents are going to tell Will that if he’s with Electra, then they may not be able to let him know what is going on with Logan, what their future private plans are. It’s one thing for Bill and Katie to trust their son, Will, with company secrets. It’s another to trust this Forrester girl that he’s dating with their secrets.

Bold and the Beautiful: Electra is a Problem for Bill & Katie

I think Bill is going to apply some pressure to Will about this because if he reunites with Electra, then Katie and Bill will always have to have their guard up. And with good reason. Bill and Katie will always be wondering if Electra is trying to manipulate company secrets out of Will so she can feed them to Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) because that seemed to be what Electra would have done if she had known about the launch plans.

Bottom line, I think Will should cut his losses with Electra and so do a ton of fans on soap social media. Honestly, Will would be better off dating Dylan. I bet she would be loyal to Will. I mean, heck, Dylan might even leave Forrester and go over and take a job working with the Spencers at Logan to be with Will. I think she would be so loyal.

Also, if you haven’t seen it, Crew Morrow, who plays Will, recently posted a photo on his social media of him and Sydney Bullock, who plays Dylan. They look super cute together. And Crew asked if fans are ready for more Will and Dylan. And I think the answer is yes. And Electra can go whine to R.J. about all of her little issues.

Travis Kelce may have started a feud with retired NFL player Will Compton over his wedding to Taylor Swift.

The drama began after the former athlete noticed he was the only one out of Travis’s Tight End University group who didn’t score an invite to the biggest union of the year.

Naturally, the exclusion did not sit right with Will Compton, who recently doubled down on calling Travis Kelce out for subbing him. However, some fans believe his past actions are to blame.

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Compton might be listening to Swift’s “Bad Blood” on repeat, as he dropped a not-so-subtle, shady remark at Kelce following viral media coverage of his absence from the wedding. He referenced an article detailing his reaction to the snub alongside the words:

“Don’t think I’ve ever seen Dean Blandino at Tight End University.”

Compton dropped the post on X, sarcastically adding “so funny” when a fan joked that it was wild his reaction to the wedding snub made the news.

Another fan hopped on the fun, claiming they would happily watch the retired NFL star fight it out in a cage match with Kelce and Blandino.

Fans Have Mixed Reactions To The Former Athlete’s Shady Post

The comments were filled with mixed reactions, with many supporting Compton while others poked fun at the situation. An X user echoed support for a fight between the group, noting they would love to watch their feud on WWE’s SummerSlam.

The teasing comments continued with someone laughing at the headline about Compton’s reaction, while another fan made a meme about the retired athlete’s reaction to the snub. On the other hand, the majority took Compton’s side, stunned by Kelce’s actions.

Someone wondered why sports analysts like Baldoni, who works for Fox Sports, scored an invite to the wedding when Compton had a closer relationship with Kelce. A fellow supporter dropped proof of the retired athlete’s close relationship with the newlyweds, sharing a throwback picture.

“Never saw Dean Brandino get Taylor Swift to do the Will Compton pose…,” the fan captioned the image. In the snap, the “Opalite” singer had flexed her muscles, posing next to Kelce, Compton, and his “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast co-host, Taylor Lewan.

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Did Will Compton’s Past Play A Role In The Wedding Invite Snub?

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The mixed reactions continued, with some fans blaming Compton’s past comments about Swift for the wedding snub. “Maybe don’t sh-t talk his fiancé,” a critic wrote, with another adding, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

These comments referenced one of Compton’s most controversial moments, where Swifties blew a fuse over his remark about the singer. The drama occurred in September 2025 on an episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” as shared by The Times Of India.

On the show, the former NFL star seemingly implied Kelce’s engagement to Swift was a distraction from the game. He immediately sparked outrage for his words, with fans dragging him on social media platforms like X for allegedly targeting the Grammy winner.

How Will Compton Initially Reacted To The Wedding Snub

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Before his recent comments about Kelce’s wedding snub, The Blast reported that Compton had shared his initial reaction to the situation during a surprise interview. Dave Portnoy had called him on the Monday, July 6 episode of his “Wake Up Barstool” podcast to ask for his thoughts.

Portnoy had been surprised that the majority of Kelce’s Tight End University group had attended the wedding without Compton. Bobby Joseph Hebert III, better known as T-Bob Hebert, noted the former athlete probably didn’t get an invite because he was in Italy.

However, the media personality explained that he never even got the chance to decline the event because he never received an invitation. Compton confessed that he initially didn’t think much about the snub until he started seeing pictures from all the guests and was “kind of flabbergasted” by his exclusion.

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Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift’s Wedding Guests Allegedly Forced To Stand

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Compton may have dodged a bullet by not getting an invite following claims of a “sh-t show.” The Blast shared that sources claimed Kelce and Swift were not prepared for the sheer number of guests at their wedding, with the reception turning somewhat chaotic.

The ceremony reportedly did not feature a traditional seated dinner, with guests moving between a variety of buffet stations to grab a meal before struggling to find a place to eat. One source claimed the venue became crowded as guests attempted to navigate the food stations and limited seating arrangements.

The queue allegedly left many standing in long lines for food. However, the wait appeared to be worth it, with insiders claiming guests were impressed by the menu. They were treated to a variety of delicacies, including sushi, pasta, salads, chicken, filet mignon, and a range of American, Italian, and Asian-inspired dishes.

Will Travis Kelce respond to Will Compton’s wedding snub claims?

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By Robert Scucci
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When was the last time you watched 1993’s Demolition Man? It’s one of those movies that feels like a sci-fi classic because it is. Whenever I talk about it with people who haven’t seen it in a while, or even revisited it as an adult, I always get the same answer, something along the lines of, “That movie is so dumb.” It’s the same treatment Starship Troopers gets when people only experience it at face value. In actuality, it’s a perfect satire about future life that reminds me more of Idiocracy than anything else, just in a more sophisticated, less overtly slapstick kind of way.

That is all to say, if it’s been a minute since you’ve watched Demolition Man and you’re of the mind that it’s not a very smart movie, you might want to give it another shot. If you picked up on the satire the first time around, I’d still suggest another watch because it’s such a fun movie.

But if you’re asking, and I’m being real here, I still don’t know what the three seashells are used for in the bathroom.

Swearing Is Illegal, But Taco Bell Is A Black Tie Experience

I’m not going to spend too much time talking about the plot to Demolition Man because it’s pretty barebones. What really sells the movie is the world it inhabits, and how the worldbuilding is drip-fed to us instead of ever being explicitly explained. It’s the same thing Officer John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) experiences when he wakes up in the year 2032 and suffers the worst kind of culture shock.

John’s problems started in 1996 while facing off against the most charismatic psychopath ever committed to film in the form of Wesley Snipes‘ Simon Phoenix. When a hostage situation goes horribly wrong, resulting in piles of dead hostages thanks to John’s miscalculation, both John and Simon are convicted and sentenced to lengthy terms at the California Cryo-Penitentiary.

During a parole hearing in 2032, a thawed Simon escapes and embarks on a crime spree that’s inadvertently facilitated by the “subliminal rehabilitation techniques” used during his incarceration, allowing him to adapt to his new surroundings with an alarming amount of precision. Given John Spartan’s history with Simon Phoenix, Officer Zachary Lamb (Bill Cobbs) advises Lieutenant Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) that the best course of action is to thaw John out and let him loose after his arch nemesis.

Woozy from cryosleep and in a complete state of shock over how different life is in 2032, John has his work cut out for him. He’s familiar with Simon’s modus operandi, but everything else is foreign. Why is he now living in the city of San Angeles? Why is eating at Taco Bell a formal affair? And WHAT THE HELL ARE THE THREE SEASHELLS FOR?!

Somebody, please, answer me.

World Building Through Serious Scene Chewing 

One thing that Demolition Man doesn’t get enough credit for is its unwillingness to explicitly lay out how society works in 2032. The advantage this offers is twofold. We’re just as confused as John Spartan when he receives written citations for swearing and engaging in other carnal pleasures now deemed immoral. John is a smart guy who relies on instinct when he’s in his element, but the world he came from no longer matches the one he now lives in. Most of the humor comes from him asking questions that anybody in 2032 would take for granted, resulting in bemused stares and stifled laughter despite the fact he’s serious as a heart attack.

On the other side of the coin is Wesley Snipes, whose scene-chewing charisma steals every single scene. He’s mentally enhanced thanks to the “rehabilitation” program, and basically all that means is that he’s one step ahead of everybody because he possesses talents he never had before. The dude is running around hacking computers, stealing weapons, and cackling every step of the way. Snipes in Demolition Man has the same energy he brings to White Men Can’t Jump (1992), but instead of conning Woody Harrelson as a means of survival, he’s dead set on unleashing absolute chaos and antagonizing the very officer who locked him up decades earlier.

Rounding out the cast is Sandra Bullock with her portrayal of Lenina Huxley. While Stallone and Snipes dish out cynicism in healthy doses, Bullock brings a child-like sense of naivety with her fascination for late 20th century culture, something she’s only learned about through history lessons. This naturally evolves into a romantic entanglement between Lenina and her new de facto partner, John, who’s from the very time and culture she’s obsessed with. It’s an odd-couple dynamic given how apprehensive they are toward each other at the beginning of the film, but it leaves them both with plenty of room to grow by the time the credits roll.

Demolition Man earns its keep as a satire because it shows instead of tells. The city of San Angeles in 2032 is as perplexing as it is amusing, and we’re learning about it alongside John when we’re dropped into this world. The logic is established early on, but the incidental things we take for granted, like going to the bathroom (again with the shells), are left open to interpretation. The film merely alludes to the franchise wars before dropping you into the ridiculousness of a formal Taco Bell dinner. Before long, you’re used to the profanity-policing drones, and you’re completely immersed in the world. 

If you’re willing to give Demolition Man a second chance, overdue for a rewatch, or simply never saw it, you can stream it on Tubi for free as of this writing.

Young and the Restless unveils that Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters) is never seen at the GCPD after her arrest. That’s all happening off-screen after she’s accused of stabbing Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman).

And it’s all because Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) said Diane did it. And Detective Burrow (Matt Cohen) took Patty’s word based on zero evidence. It’s kind of wild that this woman’s plan to frame Diane for attacking her and stabbing Jack seems to be working.

And I mean, it is ludicrous. So, I’m seeing right now nothing but fan outrage on soap social media over this ridiculousness. We’ve got crazy Patty successfully framing Diane for trying to kill both her and Jack. It’s insane.

Young and the Restless: The Flaws in Diane’s Arrest

Viewers know that Patty stabbed Jack in the gut and then slashed her own arms to set up Diane. And right off the bat, everybody in Genoa City except for the detective and the DA know that Patty is literally certifiably insane. Until very recently, Patty was getting treated by Dr. Markham (Jere Burns) in a mental institution. The very fact that Patty has been locked away for years and has a history of mental illness and violence makes her a witness with zero credibility.

Diane’s only past crime was the fraud of faking her own death. So, you put Patty and Diane on a scale of who can be trusted and who’s likely to be violent and not, and you can see Patty shouldn’t have gotten the time of day from a GCPD detective. Granted, he’s new in town, but come on, there’s a criminal record that he could look up for her.

Patty’s Violent History on Y&R

Patty shot Jack before trying to kill him. Nearly did it. Patty also shot Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). He needed a heart transplant after that. Patty’s the reason that Traci Abbott’s (Beth Maitland) daughter, Colleen, is dead. And Dr. Markham, who was holding Diane in his home, was also allowed to be a witness.

Jack’s whole family knows that Patty kidnapped and molested Jack just a few weeks ago. And Traci and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) know Patty was blackmailing Jack and forced him to evict all of them from the mansion so that Patty could live there alone with Jack. That is ongoing insane behavior.

Plus, both Diane and Kyle have the same exact story that Markham was holding Diane captive at his house and Kyle had to break in to help Diane get out. She even admitted to drugging Markham because he was holding her captive and Kyle was there to witness this happening.

Not one single Abbott has spoken out against Diane. That’s another thing. Not one of them had any doubts about who attacked Jack. Every Abbott says immediately Patty did this. Yet Diane was arrested because Detective Burrow took Patty’s word.

Young and Restless: Poorly Executed Writing

In addition to it being badly written, it’s also poorly executed. I mean, honestly, this feels like a low point on Young and the Restless. Diane was processed off-screen, unless I missed it. Didn’t get to see her mugshot. Didn’t see any evidence gathered because there’s not any, you know, it’s just what we saw, which was not much. And that’s just lazy on top of being so improbable that you can’t even justify it by saying, “Okay, sometimes soaps do wild things.” This is outside of that scope.

Also, Kyle and Diane arrived at the mansion together. Kyle is her alibi, and despite him being her son, he’s credible. He’s got no history of criminality or being institutionalized. And Markham did confirm that Diane drugged him to get out of his house. So, how do the cops think that she got from Markham’s place to the Abbotts if not with Kyle? As has been stated, she’s got no phone to call an Uber.

Her car is not in her possession. And the Abbotts have security cameras. That has been mentioned in years past on Y&R and other storylines. And I guess that’s another thing the now-terminated headwriter forgot. Those cameras would show Kyle and Diane arriving home together in the same vehicle, getting out of the car, and going inside. That would reinforce her alibi. It’s just wild how badly this is being done on Young and the Restless.

Young and the Restless: Good Riddance to Josh Griffith

Josh Griffith has honestly written the dumbest storyline ever that was already screwed up by the Beyond the Gates crossover mistakes. If you remember on Y&R, they already had Diane missing for quite a while. Kyle was worried and he was telling Jack that Diane was MIA from work, hadn’t been sleeping in her bed at the Genoa City Athletic Club.

Then all of a sudden during the crossover, Diane was at a political fundraiser with Kyle and Jack. Happy as can be. Their marriage was blissful. They weren’t estranged. And then after the crossover on the next Y&R episode, we’re back to Diane suddenly missing. This plot has been disastrous the whole time and it’s getting worse by the day.

We’ve got DA Christine Williams (Lauralee Bell) ready to charge Diane with two counts of attempted murder over Patty and Jack. Come on. Christine was Patty’s sister-in-law. She knows how crazy that she is. Christine knows Patty’s horrifying history of criminal insanity and her arrest and her crimes and convictions. Christine is being written as the world’s dumbest district attorney on top of Detective Burrow as the world’s dumbest cop.

Y&R Fans See Through the Sloppy, Lazy Writing

Translation: Josh Griffith is the world’s sloppiest, laziest, and most inept soap writer in the history of Young and the Restless. He’s writing as if nobody knows Patty’s history. I mean, clearly he doesn’t, but soap fans don’t have amnesia like these characters. Nobody in Genoa City would realistically take Patty’s word for anything, especially when everybody knows that Diane went missing a while ago and that Patty kidnapped Jack quite recently.

And then to top it off, Diane had a cell phone in her hand that could have dialed 911 at any time. Locked cell phones can dial 911. In fact, even if the cell service has been cancelled and the phone has no coverage, it will still dial 911. Did you know that? I don’t know if Josh Griffith is dumb or he thinks fans are dumb. It’s kind of hard to say at this point.

This Y&R Storyline is Happening Off-Screen

And speaking of off-screen antics, Diane was arrested and out on bail in one episode, most of it off-screen. To get bail in a murder or attempted murder case, that requires a hearing in front of a judge and that takes several days to happen with a violent crime like that because they need to process evidence, all that stuff. But no, off-screen and instantaneous. So, a whole bunch of Young and the Restless, honestly, is pretty much happening off-screen. And on screen, we get Noah Newman (Lucas Adams) in his shiny disco shirt trying to act macho.

At any rate, we’re also going to see Patty telling Dr. Markham this week that Jack has to die so that he can’t wake up and tell the truth. So, it seems like there should be a cop guarding his room. And with Diane charged with his attempted murder, seems like that cop should not allow Jack’s supposedly murderous wife in to sit at his bedside. That’s where she’s at right now, though. I literally think a toddler could write a better storyline.

Young and the Restless: Fan Outrage Over Bad Writing

Here are just a few comments from outraged fans on social media. One said, “The writers must think we’re really stupid.” Another said, “The writers have zero respect for the audience.” Somebody else said, “Patty went full circle psycho by accusing Diane. How much more stupid can this show be?” Another said, “We soap fans will forgive a lot of unbelievable story lines, but Patty framing Diane for stabbing Jack. The writers are completely insulting our intelligence.”

Another person said, “Arresting Diane is lazy writing at its finest.” Somebody else said, “Diane has blood on her hands from trying to help Jack and they arrest her. Make it make sense.” Last one that I’m going to share, and there were literally hundreds, maybe even thousands of comments like this. This last one: “The fact that they let Patty accuse Diane on the spot and haul her off while Jack is bleeding out is peak bad soap writing.” I agree.

Jason Blum‘s name is synonymous with modern horror. So when Blumhouse Television set its sights on unscripted, real-life horror with Netflix docuseries Worst Roommate Ever, the bar was high for thrills. Four years later, a five-episode anthology has evolved into a full-on Worst Ever franchise with two spin-off series, Worst Ex Ever and Worst Neighbor Ever, and Blum is consistently delivering the most bingeworthy and easy-to-watch true crime on a platform where the genre is in no short supply.

The Worst Ever franchise borrows some of the best dramatic elements from classic true crime anthologies of the late ’80s and ’90s, like first-person interviews and highly stylized reenactments, to tell the harrowing stories of people whose closest relationships have gone horribly awry. Blum taps into our deepest fears about what our roommates, exes, and neighbors are capable of, then uses hard evidence like body camera footage and 911 audio to reinforce that each worst-case scenario recounted isn’t dramatized fiction but cold, hard fact. The shocking yet highly relatable subject matter is an easy hook for new viewers, and the easily digestible short-order format makes it easy for loyal audiences to binge each season in full the very first night it’s released.

‘Worst Roommate Ever’ Evolves From Roommates to Romance in ‘Worst Ex Ever’

Image via Netflix

Born out of a viral 2018 New York Magazine article detailing the exploits of serial squatter and Craigslist sadist Jamison Bachman, Worst Roommate Ever shines a spotlight on a set of con artists, squatters, and generally bad people who don’t live among us, but with us. Premiering with a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the show devotes two episodes to the Bachman story and how he terrorized at least a dozen roommates before his past finally caught up to him. In the seven other episodes spanning its two seasons, Worst Roommate Ever covered everything from a boarding house owner who murdered her elderly tenants for their Social Security checks to a woman who, after moving in, became so obsessed with her best friend’s child she routinely poisoned her in an attempt to gain custody of her son.

The depravity depicted in the animated reenactments and first-hand accounts from witnesses and law enforcement was so stunning, it took our collective breath away. The show became a smash hit, and a spin-off was commissioned to build on the format that the original series had brought to life so well. What could be worse than finding out your roommate isn’t the person you thought they were? Discovering your significant other is actually something straight out of your nightmares, according to Worst Ex Ever.

‘Worst Ex Ever’ Leads to Company We Don’t Choose in ‘Worst Neighbor Ever’

Image via Netflix

Partners you wouldn’t wish on your sworn enemy are at the heart of Worst Ex Ever, which presented a new look for the franchise by including two high-profile cases as subject matter for its second season. The first detailed the crimes of the so-called “Deadpool Killer,” Wade Wilson, who’s currently on death row awaiting execution for the brutal murders of two women, but has recently garnered a massive cult-like following. The second dove deep into the machinations of Geoffrey Paschal, a master manipulator and serial abuser who managed to con his way into a starring role on TLC’s reality juggernaut 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days before details of his violent past forced his ousting from the franchise permanently.

After raising the stakes with an epic first spin-off, the second needed a differentiating hook to deliver the same level of drama. In Worst Neighbor Ever, the malevolent individuals aren’t people invited to share our homes, but those who become pivotal to our existence solely based on their proximity to us. Much like in HBO’s cult hit docuseries Neighbors, none of the individuals start out being at war – in fact, they’re often friends or at least acquaintances – but in each of the four cases through its debut season, tensions begin to form on one side of a shared fence and, whether real or imagined, those tensions inevitably build to devastating consequences. What makes the show the most powerful entry in the Worst Ever franchise yet is how the background stories are so ordinary they could be happening to you or anyone you know at any moment, and how things escalate with only the slightest provocation serves as a brilliant, terrible reminder of the seed of truth every one of our deepest fears is predicated on.

While Netflix hasn’t given a concrete rundown of when and how the Worst Ever franchise will continue to expand, if the previous seasons are anything to go by, they’ll crop up unexpectedly and be devoured immediately. Jason Blum is the undisputed king of horror for good reason – he reinvented the genre’s formula, changing the system and enabling him to churn out hits. Based on the 21 episodes of Worst Roommate Ever, Worst Ex Ever, and Worst Neighbor Ever, it’s safe to say he’s quietly been building a new formula for true crime, too.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Netflix

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Directors

Cynthia Childs

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Bachelorette’s Rachel Recchia is a summer lover.

Recchia, 30, showed off her bikini body while working on her tan in one of her new Instagram photos shared on Monday, July 6.

In the bikini-clad pic, the former Bachelorette rocked a teal triangle top featuring gold stitching and halter straps. She styled the look with matching low-rise bottoms and rolled-down denim shorts.

Recchia donned soft glam including mascara, manicured brows and a touch of blush. She slicked her blonde hair back into a sleek bun with her ends poking out.

Related: Bachelorette’s Rachel Recchia Breaks Down Over ‘Really Bad’ Hate Comments

Bachelor Nation’s Rachel Recchia got emotional while responding to her haters. “Normally I really am OK with a lot of the things people say about me online, but recently I feel like things have just gotten really, really bad,” Recchia, 30, said in a video uploaded via TikTok on Tuesday, March 31. “Whenever I post, […]

“Bitches luv a summa,” she captioned the post.

Recchia previously opened up about her figure in April while clapping back at comments on her appearance.

“Whenever I post, the majority of the comments are, ‘I don’t look like myself,’ and ‘I don’t look good,’ and ‘I look sick,’ and ‘I was so much more beautiful back then,’” she said via TikTok, referring to when she filmed Clayton Echard’s season 26 of The Bachelor in 2022.

“I’ve been very open and transparent with the filler and Botox that I have,” she added. “I would do anything to be 25 and look that way again.” Recchia continued, “Another thing I really wanted to touch on [is] the weight fluctuation that I’ve had throughout the years.”

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The TV personality shared that before filming season 3 of Perfect Match in 2025, she got sick and needed a peripherally inserted central catheter line (PICC) in her arm, which caused her to lose weight.

“Right after I got that PICC line out of my arm, I went to film the show. I lost even more weight,” Recchia explained. “You go and you’re on a show and the main thing is people telling me how big I was when I was the Bachelorette, and then you see yourself at a different weight, it’s really hard to let yourself gain weight after that.”

Recchia noted she had been “working on” her self-image ever since, and encouraged her fans to “put a little more kindness into the world and on the internet.”