Entertainment
The Iconic Family Movie That Turned Childhood Grief Into A Business Model
By Joshua Tyler & Chris Snellgrove | Published

No decade has been more thoroughly mined for nostalgia than the 1980s. You might think it’s just because the decade’s movies are so good they’re unforgettable. Or maybe it’s just because Hollywood is out of ideas.
That’s not it at all. It happened because the most popular kids’ movie of 1986 trapped an entire generation in a doom loop by killing off the person they loved most and replacing him with some plastic crap.
This is the story of how Transformers: The Movie screenwashed an entire generation into becoming slop eaters.
A Slop Eater is a person who mindlessly consumes without discrimination, driven by availability rather than quality. Transformers was ground zero for the explosion of nostalgia that has dominated every Millennial’s life for the last two decades. Endlessly mining the past for nostalgia is flat-out slop.

Transformers: The Movie effectively screenwashed men into learning the worst possible lesson: that we should never put away our toys, and that we’re just one more throwback purchase away from reclaiming the happiness of our childhood. By the time you’ve finished reading this, you’ll understand how they did it, so that maybe, just maybe, together we can break the spell.
When 1986’s Transformers: The Movie came out, it did the very last thing its young fans expected by killing off Optimus Prime early in the movie. This tough-but-tender truck man was more than the leader of the Autobots: he’d been established as a pseudo-father to the kids who’d been watching him on television and were now in the audience.
The filmmakers killed Prime off as a blunt way to demonstrate that this movie was playing for keeps, especially compared to the cartoon. Or at least that was their excuse.
The truth is that there was an ulterior motive at play here. The filmmakers were so focused on achieving that ulterior motive that they didn’t stop to consider the long-term consequences of their actions. What they were doing was creating a generation of man-child slop eaters.

Transformers: The Movie has a pretty relentless pace. After a bit of world-building (including the introduction of the Galactus-like Big Bad, Unicron), we see the Decepticons take over an Autobot ship, horrifically killing everyone on board.
They use this to launch a daring raid on Autobot City, and it soon looks like the bad guys are going to win the day. That changes when Optimus Prime launches a one-man counter-assault that ends with a duel against Megatron, the ruthless Decepticon leader. Prime wins the battle with one final blow, but he has sustained too much damage and later succumbs to his injuries.
In some ways, that makes things worse. Optimus Prime doesn’t get a quick death like other ‘bots, including Starscream. Instead, we watch him slowly and excruciatingly die in the Autobot equivalent of a hospital room. He flatlines, and all hope is lost. We literally see the light leave his eyes.
As if that’s not bad enough, his entire body turns gray, emphasizing the horrific transformation we just watched. This is no longer the strong, vibrant hero of a mighty army. He’s now just a collection of spare parts.

Looking back, older Transformers fans consider this the moment their childhood died, which is ironic. After all, this franchise is why their childhood never ended.
With Optimus dead, the film simply moves on and gives us a replacement, in a cynical attempt to sell toys based on new characters, intentionally teaching its child audience the worst possible lesson: when an old toy dies, just replace it with a new one.
Is Optimus Prime dead? No problem, Ultra Magnus has the Matrix of Leadership now.
Wait, they just pulled Magnus apart? No worries, Hot Rod is about to get an upgrade. Be sure to buy both figures!
This is Replacement Nostalgia. Replacement Nostalgia is a media pattern in which childhood attachment is preserved not by memory or growth, but by continually replacing old versions of beloved icons with new ones, keeping the audience emotionally dependent on the franchise.

Transformers: The Movie conditioned an entire generation of kids into making Replacement Nostalgia a way of life through a four-step persuasion process.
Step 1: Childhood attachment is made disposable.
Optimus is not just a character; he is a moral father figure. Killing him says even sacred childhood icons can be swapped out.
Step 2: Grief is redirected, not resolved.
The kid is not asked to emotionally process Optimus being gone. The movie hands them Rodimus Prime and says, essentially, this is where your feelings go now.
Step 3: Replacement becomes continuity.
The franchise keeps going, so the child learns that emotional continuity does not come from maturation or memory. It comes from consuming the next installment.
Step 4: Nostalgia becomes renewable inventory.
Once the kid grows up, the same structure can be repeated: Optimus dies, returns, gets redesigned, rebooted, reissued, recollected, re-skinned. The adult is not asked to leave childhood behind. He is invited to keep buying upgraded access to it.
You’re not watching a story with a beginning, middle, and an end. You’re trapped in a narrative subscription model that keeps renewing over and over and over again. By the time the original Transformers generation grew older, there was never a thought about putting away childish things because constant consumption of nostalgia slop became their corporate-friendly way of life.
Speaking of which, companies constantly fill store shelves with toys that those now very grown kids still scoop up, hoping that they’ll eventually have enough plastic crap to fill that void deep inside us. A void left by Optimus Prime. These tchotchkes are a way of microdosing nostalgia; an attempt to recapture the joy felt at getting a new Transformer growing up.
Millennials are stuck between two very different eras. Not fully online, yet unable to put the digital cat back in the bag, the best they can do is swim towards the receding shore of the past, one rerun at a time.

By killing off Optimus Prime and many other characters, the film could introduce new characters whose toys the young audience would implore their parents to buy after the credits rolled. And no one stopped to think about how that might affect those kids as they grew up.
While Transformers has successfully reinvented itself for later generations (just take a look at the toy aisle if you don’t believe me), the original cartoon and movie were squarely aimed at a very young, Millennial audience. As this audience grew up, nostalgia became a core part of their identity. And as a result, Millennials never really learned to put the toys away.
Hollywood is well aware of this collective nostalgia fixation and constantly floods the big screen with endless prequels, sequels, and reboots. After all, why try something new when most of your core audience is longing for something old? This is how we inexplicably got a third trilogy of Star Wars movies focused on Skywalker family drama. Even when Hollywood produces a nominally new IP like Stranger Things, it has to be soaked in enough ‘80s nostalgia to tickle the same part of our brains that still likes playing with vintage toys.
Sadly, endlessly making the Autobots and Decepticons fight each other won’t teach a man-child to transform into an adult. And watching them now can’t transform him back to who he was in the past. All that’s left is to look at fragments, hoping to catch a reflection of yourself from the last time you were truly happy. But fragments of happiness are better than no happiness at all, so Millennial men continue pursuing inner peace, one slop remake at a time.
When you run out of remakes, you can relive the trauma by rewatching the original, coincidentally streaming on Amazon. While you’re there, be sure to order a new toy. Don’t worry; I’m sure this will be the one that finally makes everything better!

Entertainment
The 25 best stop-motion movies in cinematic history
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It’s a remarkably versatile medium.
Entertainment
This Award-Winning Series Is Still the Greatest American TV Show Ever Made
Ask someone what their favorite TV show is, and you’ll get a variety of answers. Maybe The Sopranos is your all-time fave. Perhaps it’s The Simpsons, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, or countless others. However, to be the greatest TV show ever made requires more than just personal taste. To be considered for such elite status, a series must not only be high quality, but it must also transcend limitations and influence pop culture and entertainment that comes after. You won’t find a better TV show that fits these criteria than Seinfeld. It was the epitome of 90s culture, and nearly 30 years after its end, it’s still as important as ever.
‘Seinfeld’ Tore Down Sitcoms Tropes and Inspired Shows That Came After
When Seinfeld debuted on NBC in 1989, audiences had expectations for sitcoms. The genre, half as long as a drama, was meant to be quick, breezy entertainment. Audiences didn’t watch sitcoms to get overly invested like they would with a drama. A comedy series is what you watched at the end of a long day as a way to relax before bed, laughing with characters who felt almost like family. They weren’t too complicated, and at the end of the half hour, the leads made up, the in-studio audience applauded, and next week it was more of the same.
Seinfeld was different. Co-created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, they famously didn’t want their show to be about hugs and lessons learned. It was a show about nothing. On the surface, its premise is familiar. Seinfeld plays a fictionalized version of himself, a single stand-up comedian living in New York City. Across the hall lives his zany neighbor, Kramer (Michael Richards). There’s also Jerry’s best friend since childhood, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), a highly anxious man who blames everyone else for his failures. Last, and certainly not least, as the only woman in the group, is Jerry’s ex-girlfriend, Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who must navigate through the men in her life.
Despite this, Seinfeld wasn’t a will-they-won’t-they between Jerry and Elaine. Very early in its run, they did tease putting them back together, but that’s never what the show was about. These two are definitely not meant to be together romantically. Instead, Seinfeld was about these off-the-wall characters doing whatever they had to to get what they wanted. The humor was found in how far these selfish characters would go and in seeing them get their comeuppance. Rather than ending an episode with a hug, someone got their just desserts.
Seinfeld broke out of the cutesy, family-centric sitcom mold and thrived on unpredictability. Its edginess lived on long after the show came to an end after nine seasons in 1998. There’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, of course, but also the likes of Everybody Loves Raymond, Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Rock, and Veep, which succeeded in finding comedy with the unlikable. No matter how great they are, though, none did it first or better than Seinfeld.
‘Seinfeld’ Won Several Emmys, but Its Best Character Was Shut Out
Unless you were alive and watching during the 90s, it’s impossible to describe just how pervasive Seinfeld was in society. While most shows began to lose their audience over the years, Seinfeld somehow continued to grow season by season, quickly becoming the most-watched show in America. And it wasn’t just that we were watching. It’s what we talked about. Seinfeld was the water cooler show on Friday mornings. Every episode seemed to birth a new quote that millions were soon saying themselves, whether it was “Yada, yada, yada,” “No soup for you!” or “Serenity now!” What other sitcom can say that?
Seinfeld was 1990s America, even more than The Simpsons, Michael Jordan, or Bill Clinton. It was the message of an era where the economy was booming, everyone felt safe, and selfish desires were at the forefront, while we also stayed connected. These characters aren’t lost in their smartphones, and they have no clue that 9/11 is coming. Seinfeld is incredibly smart while also being incredibly simple. Its intelligence is found not only in the wild plots but in the supporting cast as well. Jerry Stiller and Estelle Harris became iconic as George’s parents. And someone like Patrick Warburton could find forever-fame as Elaine’s dunce boyfriend David Puddy, even though he was only in 11 episodes. Oftentimes, the supporting characters were stranger and more incomprehensible than the leads, giving them a reason for their bad behavior.
Seinfeld was nominated for multiple Emmys every year, yet it was still a show taken for granted, and perhaps even a bit before its time with voters, who often gifted trophies to more traditional sitcoms like Frasier. Seinfeld did get its share of award show recognition, but Jerry Seinfeld never took home a single acting trophy, and neither did Jason Alexander, even while doing his best Larry David imitation. The show itself won for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1993. Michael Richards’ over-the-top physicality won him three trophies, and the brilliance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus got her one. Over nine seasons, Seinfeld was nominated for 68 Emmys and won 10.
Today, Seinfeld is still popular, whether it be TV syndication or dominating the Netflix charts. In these strange and uncertain times, where TV is about dark dramas and sitcoms no longer have a huge impact, it’s clear audiences still want to laugh, and there’s no better show to turn to than the greatest of all time.
Entertainment
Lil Wayne a no-show for concert that was supposed to kick off his tour
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The performance in Bangor, Maine, was set to be the first of his 20 Years of Carter Classics shows.
Entertainment
Billie Eilish Slammed For Calling Parents ‘Lazy’ Over School
Billie Eilish has drawn severe backlash over her past comments about parents who choose to send their kids to school instead of homeschooling.
In a viral clip, the singer, who was homeschooled, talked about her experience learning directly from her parents, claiming that it’s a better method than “lazy” parents who opt to send their kids to school to learn.
Billie Eilish is no stranger to being dragged online, as she recently came under fire for her remarks about meat eaters, which she has since doubled down on.

Eilish is facing fresh backlash over comments she made in a 2019 interview for Pitchfork’s “Over/Under” series, which has recently gone viral on social media.
In the clip, the singer spoke candidly about her unconventional upbringing, admitting that she has “never been to school” and instead “grew up homeschooled.”
She noted that unlike traditional schooling, where kids get “sat down” and made to study, she naturally learned how to do things by watching her parents.
“I learned how to do math by cooking with my mom and seeing how many halves are gonna make this amount. … and then like I learned how to build sh-t from my dad,” the singer said before going on to slam parents who don’t homeschool.
Eilish said, “I mean, there’s a lot of ways to do it. I think some people do it the wrong way, which is just like, makes your life horrible and miserable and boring.”
“And that’s mainly because parents are lazy as f-ck,” she added. “That’s why they send their kids to school in the first place. ‘I don’t want to teach you, b-tch.’”
Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’Connell, have previously explained that their home education prioritized creative freedom, giving them the flexibility to chase their passion for music rather than following a rigid school curriculum.
On social media, Eilish has come under heavy scrutiny for the old comments, with many especially calling her out for branding working parents as “lazy.”
“Rich kid who never went to real school calling working parents lazy for using the system that actually exists. Tone deaf and immature as hell,” one X user said.
Another wrote, “Sooo if parents are supposed to teach their homeschooled kids everything, when do they have time to go to work and provide for the household? This only works if you’re highly privileged already.”
“Apparently, from the number of stupid things she has said and continues to say, there was definitely something missing in that education,” a third individual commented.
One more person noted, “Billie, some people are chemists or actuaries; it needs to go beyond cooking, so sorry.”
Billie Eilish’s Brother And Mom Praised Homeschooling For Its Flexibility

In the same resurfaced interview, Eilish’s brother, Finneas, had nothing but praise for the unconventional schooling method, claiming that it is all about “self-discovery.”
“It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed and thrived under. I’m not at a high school where I have to base my self-worth off what other people think of me,” he noted, per the Daily Mail.
“I have to think, ‘What would I like to be doing? How would I like to be as a person?’ I think that’s an enormously positive thing,” he said.
Eilish and Finneas’ mother, Maggie Baird, shared similar sentiments in the same interview, saying, “Everybody’s always out doing things, traveling, going places, meeting for classes, and organizing field trips. It’s like going to college.”
“You take what you want, where you want it, and you find what you need… Homeschooling allows us to let them do the things that they really love to do and not have a giant academic schedule on top of it,” she added.

More recently, Eilish found herself at the center of a fiery internet debate over vegan lifestyle and comments about meat eaters.
The singer sparked widespread backlash after sharing an uncompromising take on animal rights during a sit-down interview with Elle.
When asked to name one hill she would die on, Eilish prefaced her response by warning viewers they wouldn’t like her answer before declaring that eating meat is inherently wrong.
“Eating meat is inherently wrong. And then the other thing is two things cannot coincide: ‘I love all animals so much’ and ‘I eat meat.’ You just can’t do both. Sorry!” the singer said boldly. “You could eat meat. Go for it. You could love animals. But you can’t do both.”
Unsurprisingly, the comment went viral online, leading to a wave of harsh remarks blasting Eilish and the vegan lifestyle.
The “Bad Guy” singer has been a dedicated vegan since the age of 12 after being raised as a vegetarian, and she has long used her platform to expose the harsh ethical realities of the commercial meat and dairy industries.

Despite facing backlash for her comments about meat eaters, Eilish doubled down online, telling her critics to “watch a documentary” and to look at footage of how the animals they “claim to love” are treated all for the production of meat and dairy.
The singer also urged them to learn what it “does to the planet [they] pretend to love as well,” adding, “If that footage was hard for u to watch, I encourage u to pls take a look at urself.”
Earlier this year, at the Grammy Awards, Eilish also came under heavy scrutiny for saying that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
It led to a nationwide outcry, with critics charging the singer to give up her luxury homes to Native American tribes or migrant families.
Entertainment
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Wedding Sparks Conspiracy Theories
Taylor Swift‘s fans are swearing by her crafty ways!
The pop star’s fans have swarmed the internet with multiple theories about the likelihood of her union with Travis Kelce in a more discreet venue rather than Madison Square Garden, which is on everyone’s lips.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s journey towards the aisle began in 2023 when they began dating, and in 2025, the duo shared news of their engagement with their teeming fans last August, which involved an antique cushion-cut diamond ring.

Fans are reacting to a post about preparations at the arena featuring moving trucks, increased security, and a reporter set up outside the venue. The claims made in the comment were a mix of surprise, excitement, and also a degree of denial, in true Swift fashion.
According to one of these Instagram users in the comments, it is “the best distraction ever” because Swift is getting married “somewhere else and all the paparazzi will be in NYC,” as another commenter hoped that it will be the “greatest fake out ever.”
“I believe there will be a guest wedding there and there will be a production of the wedding there. Her and Trav and their closest family and friends will be at the actual wedding elsewhere,” this user added.
Another person on Instagram theorized that Swift and Kelce may have even given the public a wrong date, as another fan expressed their certainty that the pop star and Kelce are having a good laugh about their little trick on the media.
“I bet she’s already married or getting married in a different location. She is the master of puzzles and fake-outs,” this commenter, probably too familiar with Swift’s ways, noted. Looks like all the years of the singer and her easter eggs have trained her admirers for this day!
A Collection Of Hints And Facts About The Highly Anticipated Wedding

Forbes shared that the wedding will reportedly be celebrated over the course of two days and will involve tons of décor, some closed streets, and a strict dress code. Hints about the ceremony and the venue first dropped with the city granting permits and street closures towards the big day.
According to the city permit, there will be provisions made for an event in the Garden’s Infosys Theater for about 100 people on Thursday, reported to be a rehearsal dinner, and a larger, black-tie event in the arena Friday for between 500 and 999 attendees.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani even appeared to joke about the rumored celebration during a public service announcement on Wednesday, July 1, addressing the region’s ongoing heatwave. In a lighthearted remark, he referenced someone “renting out MSG to get married, hypothetically.”
Further fueling the rumors is the sighting of celebrity wedding planner Mark Seed, who planned Jennifer Lawrence’s wedding and the nuptials of Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley on Tuesday, June 30.
Trucks associated with her company were reportedly spotted unloading elaborate décor at the venue, including boxes labeled “trees” and large shrink-wrapped packages roughly the size of cars.
Additional boxes also marked “Garden Party 1 (scenic)” reportedly entered into the arena, reinforcing theories from several high-profile wedding planners that the venue could be transformed into an unrecognizable, flower-filled setting for the celebration.
Taylor Swift Reportedly Preferred A Lowkey Private Ceremony

Last September, US Weekly stated that the musician was having fun researching venues and locations for her wedding, and it felt like second nature to her because she is so creative. From wedding gowns to venues to décor, the singer was reportedly impressed but quite overwhelmed, and had yet to make any decision.
On their ideal setting for their big day, sources then shared that the couple preferred a very private ceremony with family and friends, not a wedding filled with celebrities or random people. The insider continued that the event was vowed to be meaningful as they will be surrounded by their loved ones.
“Despite their celebrity, they are down-to-earth and normal. They aren’t the flashy people who want a $20 million fantasy wedding. She doesn’t want the pomp and circumstance. It will be more intimate,” the insider revealed at the time.
Swift and Kelce’s decision to stick with MSG, if actualized, will definitely exceed every expectation in their close circle, as her simple nature has been a strong point of her persona the past few years.
The Grammy Winner And Super Bowl Champion Had One Clever Security Feature

Swift and her beau have gone to great lengths to keep their wedding plans private by revealing as little information as possible. On June 29, The Blast noted that insiders familiar with the preparation claimed that the invitation was allegedly customized with a hidden watermark.
This watermark design reportedly featured the recipient’s name repeated throughout the design, and this feature was intended to identify the source if an invitation was photographed and shared online.
According to the insider, this strategy has proven effective so far because no whiff of the wedding invitation has surfaced despite widespread interest in the event.
The couple reportedly began mailing invitations in early spring, with many guests receiving theirs as early as April. Contents in the invites reportedly confirmed a July 3 wedding date and listed New York City as the destination. However, they deliberately left out the exact venue, ensuring their secret stays hidden.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Reportedly Have Two Legendary Music Acts Secured For Their Big Day

The wedding could also have two icons from Swift’s past taking the stage to dish out memorable and nostalgic tunes to the guests. Tim McGraw and Stevie Nicks, who both share a long-standing bond with the bride, will be doing the honors.
McGraw is no stranger to Swift’s world, as she named her 2006 breakout single after him; a feat that landed the single on Billboard and cemented her as one of the greatest songwriters around.
As for Nicks, from Swift making a reference to her on her single “Clara Bow” to paying homage to her by wearing a shirt inscribed with “Stevie Knicks” to Game 4 of the NBA finals, it is no doubt that Swift adores her to great lengths.
Rumors have also claimed there will be a surprise appearance by former “The Beatles” member Paul McCartney. Swift and McCartney previously performed together during the 40th anniversary celebration of “Saturday Night Live.”
Where will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s ceremony truly be held?
Entertainment
Influencer Joel Yukich Died ‘Suddenly’ After ‘Medical Event’
Cooking influencer Joel Yukich has died at age 35.
“My name is Keegan, and I’ve known Joel since we were kids,” read a message that was posted via Yukich’s Facebook on Tuesday, June 30. “We spent much of our teen years together, and in 2017, I moved in with Joel, where we lived together for almost a year. It was around this time that Joel started floating the idea of starting a page to showcase his hunting, fishing, diving and cooking skills.”
He continued, “Not long after I moved out, Joel rang me and asked if I could help him set up the page we’ve all come to love, Blokes Can Cook Too. Joel was the face, and I helped in the background with the tech side of things, and as a sounding board for content ideas, business ideas and any other advice I could give him.”
Keegan wrote that he received “the tragic news” on Monday, June 29, that Yukich had “suddenly passed away as a result of a medical event.”
“The inbox has been overwhelmed with messages of love,” Keegan wrote. “Joel was the loudest and brightest light in every room he went into. This page gave him an outlet to connect with other like-minded fans and creators, allowing him to forge lifelong friendships through his love of wild kai. To everyone who has messaged, thank you.”
The message continued, “Joel’s Family has set up a Give A Little page. This money will be used to support Joel’s family through this tough time. If you want to show your support, please feel free to follow the link below and donate.”
Keegan noted that Yukich’s social media pages “will remain open for now” until there’s “a clear picture from his family of what they wish to do.”
“‘Kua hinga te tōtara i te wao nui a Tāne.’ A great tōtara tree has fallen in the forest of Tāne,” Keegan concluded. “Rest in Love Joel.”
Yukich rose to fame online by sharing cooking content with his more than 116,000 followers on Facebook and more than 14,000 followers on Instagram. Yukich’s partner, Alanna Hussey, also paid tribute to the influencer after his death.
“I honestly don’t know how to write this, and I never imagined I would have to,” Hussey wrote via Facebook on Monday. “Last night, my world changed forever. My beautiful partner, Joel, passed away suddenly.”
Hussey continued, “I am completely heartbroken and still trying to process that this is real. Joel was everything to us. He was an amazing dad to his four boys, an incredible partner, and someone who would do anything for the people he loved. He had such a passion for hunting and cooking, and so many of you knew him through blokescancooktoo. He loved sharing his adventures, his recipes, and bringing people together over good food and good stories. Nothing could have prepared us for this. The silence he has left behind is unbearable, and our hearts are broken.”
Hussey asked for Yukich’s “boys, our family, and everyone who loved him” to be kept in her followers’ thoughts.
“We appreciate all the love and support, but please understand that we are trying to navigate the hardest time of our lives,” Hussey wrote. “Joel, I love you more than words will ever be able to say. Thank you for every memory, every laugh, every hug, and every moment we shared. I would give anything to have one more day with you.”
Hussey continued, “Until we meet again, my love. You’ll always be in my heart, and I’ll make sure your boys always know how deeply they were loved by their dad. Forever and always. .”
Entertainment
Will Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Wedding Affect Local Businesses
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are set to tie the knot soon, but not everyone is happy about their highly publicized union.
The couple has big plans for Madison Square Garden, which is reportedly being transformed into the ideal wedding venue. However, these preparations are affecting local businesses.
Those whose livelihoods are situated close to Madison Square Garden are allegedly unhappy because of the restrictions caused by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.

According to new reports, local business owners are reportedly displeased by Swift and Kelce’s upcoming union because it will affect their livelihoods. A business owner on West 31st Street claimed it was unfair and unacceptable for the streets near MSG to be closed for the event.
The business owner argued that the closure would affect their business because they would normally pull in traffic on a busy weekend like the Fourth of July celebrations. Now, the profits they would make have become losses due to the “Opalite” hitmaker’s wedding.
The owner told TMZ that bar and restaurant establishments would make tons of money during the World Cup games and America’s 250th birthday, which was why they couldn’t contain their anger. On that note, the individual was desperate to get in touch with anyone connected to Swift and Kelce to air their grievances.
Other Business Owners Are Hoping To Ride The Wedding’s Coattails

While the business owner on West 31st street was livid about the upcoming wedding affecting their business, another entrepreneur hoped to profit from the highly publicized event. The business owner situated on West 33rd Street confirmed the street would be closed but the sidewalk open.
He confirmed the closure could cost his business tens of thousands of dollars; however, his establishment was closer to 8th Avenue. The business owner explained that 8th Avenue was embracing the wedding spirit, telling the outlet, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”
Another business owner on West 31st street echoed similar sentiments about riding the event’s coattails. Since nothing could be done about the street closure, they planned on opening their doors on Friday, July 3, and hoping for the best.
Corporate Employees Hit With Restrictions Over The Wedding

The businesses who shared their thoughts on the upcoming event also confirmed that they had heard nothing from Swift and Kelce’s camps about compensation. The only communications they allegedly received were from the NYPD and city planning about the street closures.
These local businesses weren’t the only ones hit with restrictions for their proximity to Madison Square Garden, as The Blast reported that corporate employees were in a similar situation. “MSG is off limits to all corporate employees this week,” a source shared, noting they “were not given a reason why it’s a no-go zone.”
The restrictions were expected to continue until July 5. As for those working to bring the couple’s union to life, employees were reportedly subjected to strict security protocols. Staff members were prohibited from carrying phones while working inside MSG and were issued wristbands.
Crews Are Keeping Quiet About The Event’s Preparations

CNN covered the ongoing preparations happening in Madison Square Garden, revealing that crews were spotted moving items needed for the couple’s wedding ceremony. Two sources confirmed a celebration would happen at the area but did not delve into the details.
“My lips are sealed,” one source said. As for the street closures that were allegedly affecting local businesses, a law enforcement official claimed organizers planned on building a tent to block a portion of West 31st Street near Seventh Avenue.
The tent would be used to obstruct the public’s view of the area, allowing guests to exit their vehicles in privacy. NYPD officers were also being deployed to the area alongside heavy weapons teams that include long guns, canine units, emergency services units, and more.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Guests Reportedly Have A Dress Code

More details about Swift and Kelce’s upcoming union recently surfaced, with sources telling PEOPLE the couple had set a dress code for their guests. Attendees were allegedly told to dress to impress following a black-tie formula.
While guests could be glammed up to their heart’s desire, taking pictures or videos was not allowed. Attendees were reportedly told to leave their phones behind and given no room to smuggle one inside. “Guests have been told there will be a phone check upon arrival,” the insider claimed.
About 500 to 999 people are expected to attend the highly anticipated event following the unveiled city permits. The guest list included stars such as George Kittle, Andy Reid, Graham Norton, and Suki Waterhouse. Fellow singers Ed Sheeran and Stevie Nicks are also expected to attend.
Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce respond to the displeased business owners?
Entertainment
Raunchy, Extremely R-Rated 90s Action Thriller Is Every Male Fantasy Rolled Into One
By Robert Scucci
| Published

I try to space out my consumption of media like 1993’s Enemy Gold because, at the end of the day, I am a family man. But sometimes I can’t help myself because Enemy Gold, and every other film in Andy Sidaris’ Triple B film series, is the cinematic equivalent of what Andy Sidaris, or in this case his son Drew Sidaris, thinks is the ultimate male fantasy: bullets, bombs, and babes, of which there’s never any shortage.
Enemy Gold is the ultimate male fantasy because it’s two secret agents broing out and busting up drug rings with their sexy female cohort who’s just as dangerous as she is attractive. They get suspended for following nobody’s rules but their own, but their super hot and equally dangerous boss is always in their corner. Oh yeah, and there’s a treasure hunt involving a hidden cache of gold left behind by a bunch of Confederate soldiers, and everybody drinks white wine spritzers in the hot tub after a hard day’s work.

It’s the kind of movie you sneak when you’re a kid and your parents aren’t home, and it feels like the perfect, epically inappropriate adventure where you can channel your inner giga-chad and belt out one-liners while looking over your shoulder to make sure your brother and sister won’t rat you out for watching a violent sexploitation film on the family TV.
As an adult, Enemy Gold is just pure schlock and awe, and it’s the forced humor and dialogue that really make it such a treat. Every terrible double entendre you’ve ever heard lives in this movie, and they’ll continue to live in your head rent free after you watch it.
What Kind Of Chest Are We Looking For?

The heat’s already on when Enemy Gold kicks off and we’re introduced to federal agents Chris Cannon (Bruce Penhall) and Mark Austin (Mark Barriere). They’re informed by their perpetually fit and scantily clad boss, Ava Noble (Tanquil Lisa Collins), that fellow agent Becky Midnight (Suzi Simpson) will be joining them on their upcoming mission: locating a cache of drugs being trafficked by crime lord Santiago (Rodrigo Obergon).
They find mountains of illicit substances hidden in crates of watermelons and seize the assets, but not without causing a significant amount of collateral damage, prompting Chief Dickson (Alan Abelew) to suspend them until a proper investigation is conducted. We learn that Dickson is actually working in cahoots with Santiago, along with his sexy, dangerous mistress, Jewel Panther (Julie Strain), who’s a lethal weapon in her own right.

While puttering around on a camping trip and waiting for their names to be cleared, Chris, Mark, and Becky continue reporting to Ava, who’s trying to get them reinstated. What they don’t know is that Dickson and Santiago have tapped their communications and learn that the gang has stumbled upon a map leading to a hidden shipment of gold stolen from the Union Army by a group of Confederate soldiers in 1864. At that point, it’s made abundantly clear an epic final showdown is inevitable.
That All Sounds Really Important, But Don’t Forget To Shower
I stopped counting how many times our heroes jump into a shower or hot tub in Enemy Gold because it’s embarrassing to think about. Everybody’s glistening, airbrushed, jacked, and an expert marksman in Enemy Gold. Babes fight babes, and we’re told on more than one occasion that the explosive crossbow arrows have tips that “explode three seconds after penetration.” Because, you know, sex joke.

Enemy Gold is the kind of movie that plays like it was written by an artificially intelligent blob of Mountain Dew trained exclusively on old copies of Maxim magazine and gas station boner pills. You have to go into your viewing experience with that exact expectation or it’s not going to do anything for you. The dialogue aspires to soap opera quality, everybody changes outfits in slow motion, stuff blows up, and most of the puns land at about a third-grade reading level.
Still, it’s a movie about having seemingly unlimited resources, shooting down bad guys, and tearing through the woods on all-terrain vehicles while pursuing the spoils of a century-old Civil War-era heist. If you can turn your brain off for 92 minutes and appreciate Enemy Gold for what it is, you’ll have a blast. If not, then you’re just better than me because I enjoyed the hell out of this.


As of this writing, you can stream Enemy Gold for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Days of our Lives Early Spoilers July 6-10: Gabi Enraged, Holly Spirals & Shocking Break-In!
Days of Our Lives early spoilers for July 06-10, 2026 see Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) mad about family matters. Plus, Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) is doing much worse, and there’s a sneaky break-in tied to the latest DiMera drug drama.
And if you have not noticed, July Sweeps is picking up speed in Salem.
And as we always do on Early Edition Day, we’re going to talk about the rest of this week and what’s happening and then get into the spoilers for the week of July 6th through the 10th.
Days of Our Lives: Family Secrets and Medical Crisis – July 1st Through 3rd
So, let’s do this. On Wednesday, July 1st, we’ve got Gabi taken off guard by Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow). She may want to talk to Gabi about the money that she had offered Titan that of course Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) initially turned down and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) circled back around to say yes please about. And I can see Kate telling Gabi that they need it. But it won’t make up for her betraying Kate’s precious golden boy, Philip.
I’m also expecting to see Gabi shocked when she heads into Brady Pub and finds out Roman Brady (Josh Taylor) gave Arianna Hernandez (Vico Escorcia) a soft place to land now that she packed her stuff and left the Hernandez house over Gabi’s little payoff stunt with Liam Selejko (Hank Northrop).
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Roman & Kate Showdown
This week we also have Roman and Kate facing off at the pub. When she talks to Gabi, she’s got suitcases in her hand. So, we’ll see if Kate is moving out since she and Roman are already sleeping in separate bedrooms or maybe coming back. He just told Arianna that he understands about being lied to by somebody you love.
Speaking of that, Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford) keeps something from Abe Carver (James Reynolds). Obviously, it’s about her growing neurological symptoms. Lexie is clearly degenerating. And Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) told EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) that he’s not sure if Lexie will even make it a month given how bad off that she is. When Wilhelm gave her the last dose of the serum, it didn’t even help at all. The one before it did some good. This last one didn’t make a dent on Days of our Lives.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Lexie Has to Come Clean
And soon Lexie has to tell Abe and Theo what’s going on. She can’t avoid it much longer. EJ is frantic and seems to have too many balls in the air with the Coriseal mess, Holly’s illness, and now his sister Lexie is dying again. And Rolf’s got nothing in his bag of tricks to save her this time.
Javi Hernandez (Jacob Martinez) questions his boyfriend Gus (Michael Ocampo). And it may be about why he took Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) to the hospital and whether he was polite to Gus. He was. But Leo did not like seeing them kissing while he was trying to sneak out of the hospital when Sarah didn’t return because she was dealing with Holly’s crisis. So, I do wonder if they’re going somewhere with the Leo concussion mention.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Gwen Steps Up for Leo
Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) ends up helping her bestie Leo after he slipped on Charlotte DiMera’s (Autumn Gendron) slime at the pub. Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) said that Leo cannot leave the hospital without someone to care for him because it is his second concussion. Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) might help. But he’s busy getting the kids ready for their visit to Boston. So, Gwen is going to step up.
Meanwhile, Philip and Xander are totally shocked and they may learn more about the AR Capital holding company that bought their loan from the bank recently. And I’m still wondering if Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) is behind it. But we’ll see.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Thursday, July 2nd
EJ finds out about a bad thing going on Smith Island. So, I wonder if it was Rita who sent somebody out there to monitor the situation at the Horton cabin because some silver-haired guy was in the bushes spying on Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) while he was taking the water sample at the Horton cabin. Sarah said the results would take 3 to 5 days. Seriously, this is a medical emergency.
Plus, Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) tries to distract Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson). She might be trying to keep him away from Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) and all to herself. So Joy and Alex are over at Brady Pub and she’s got him looking at Kelsey in her stroller. And Joy is also in a very tight, very low-cut top that has her belly hanging out and her cleavage. So, Alex might get distracted.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Stephanie Goes Off
And then Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans) is listening to Stephanie ranting. I think she’s worried about her marriage. Rightly so, because Alex is off spending time with Joy and Kelsey, and Stephanie can’t be around. Because you know, she tried to shoot Joy. I wouldn’t put it past Joy to hide Alex’s phone or turn it to airplane mode or silent, trying to keep him focused on her and their baby and away from Stephanie.
Sarah opens up to Brady some more this week. Sarah is really worried about Holly and that her time might be running out. EJ could literally save Holly’s life if he just told Sarah that he knows she’s been exposed to arsenic. Now hopefully EJ is going to get that info into the right hands. But right now he’s also in cover-up mode. Tate Black (Leo Howard) and Holly are reminiscing as she is feeling sicker and sicker, so time is indeed running out.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Friday, July 3rd — Fourth of July in Salem
The Fourth of July hits Salem. Get ready for fireworks on the 250th anniversary of the U.S. It is also Trey’s first birthday. I’m interested to see if EJ scores an invite to his grandson’s big day since Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) begrudgingly has let EJ back into their lives, which honestly wasn’t a great idea considering what he does next with Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) because EJ really needs Johnny’s help.
So EJ is pulling Johnny into this Coriseal mess as DiMera CEO and very soon EJ convinces Johnny to sneak into Sarah’s office at the hospital. So, maybe EJ is keeping an eye on Sarah while Johnny does this dirty job. He is rifling her desk and maybe looking for info.
Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) and Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) are all in their feelings this week. They head out to a nice dinner at the bistro and that’s where they run into Belle Black (Martha Madison) and Chad who are also out for a nice dinner now that he put his kids in the car with Jack for that long drive back to Boston. Shawn and Jada make love as fireworks go off outside and Belle and Chad share a romantic moment during the fireworks display and another kiss.
And we also have Abe and Lexie cuddling. They’re watching fireworks and Abe stresses out Lexie when he says he’s looking forward to many more July 4ths with her because Lexie knows that’s not likely to happen. Also, Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) is worried and opens up to Belle maybe about the chess set mystery.

Days of Our Lives: Consequences and Revelations – July 6th Through 10th
The week of July 6th through the 10th, we may get more Fourth of July action if it carries over from cliffhanger Friday.
Test results for Horton cabin water should show elevated arsenic. So far though, nobody knows why that’s happening. The info itself would be enough to treat Holly. But so far only the DiMeras know that they buried the tainted Coriseal pills out there. So, seems like EJ needs Rita to send somebody out there to dig those pills up before anybody else finds them. But of course, that is a dangerous job.
Also, EJ is going to be firing Sarah soon, and it’s going to be all during the Holly sickness storyline. EJ and Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) may make some fireworks of their own on the fourth. But EJ has a lot on his mind, and so does Cat.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Lexi Has to Come Clean
Holly’s going to find out soon that she has arsenic poisoning, and of course, she still has to face Amy Choi (Shi Ne Nielson) lawsuit. EJ may come check on Holly about the suit and obviously is feeling guiltier about her health crisis which was caused by DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals.
Lexie has to tell Abe and Theo the truth soon about her limited expected lifespan. Lexie and Theo hug each other and cry when she tells him. And Lexie is soon back in the hospital as Kayla tries to save her. And Abe rages at EJ over all of this.
Belle and Chad discussed the chess set clues. There are more hints soon as the mystery continues to unfold and we know that somebody is watching Belle and Chad on some kind of surveillance camera and they’re dropping more tidbits based on Stefano DiMera’s (Joe Mascolo) orders from beyond the grave.
Kristen and Xander’s relationship deepens as they continue to try and take down EJ. But Kristen is going to be kidnapped in July Sweeps, it looks like. And Chanel gets creative when she has some sexy time with Johnny soon.
Entertainment
Why RHOC’s Gina Is Inviting Ex-Husband to Travis Mullen Wedding
Despite their ups and downs, The Real Housewives of Orange County star Gina Kirschenheiter’s ex-husband, Matt Kirschenheiter, will definitely score an invite to her upcoming wedding to Travis Mullen.
“When we get married, Matt and Britt will 100 percent be at our wedding because they are family, that is truly why,” Gina, 42, exclusively told Us Weekly at the RHOC season 20 premiere party on Tuesday, June 30, in Los Angeles, referring to her former spouse and his new partner. “They’re so excited for us.”
Gina, who was married to Matt from 2010 to 2019, announced in January that Mullen proposed on New Year’s Eve after six years together. (Gina and Mullen each have children from their previous marriages.)
“Obviously, [Matt and Britt are] going to be at our wedding,” Gina stated to Us. “I know it kind of sounds weird and icky, but to me Matt is like my brother-in-law, and Britt kind of feels like my sister-in-law.”
She continued, “We’re just truly family, and my children would want all of their parents at such a big event and a big moment for the family, so they will 100 percent be there.”
Much like the Bravo cameras, however, Matt and his girlfriend weren’t present when Mullen got down on bended knee.

“It really was amazing. We were in Big Bear, California. We were on this little ski trip that I took with the kids, and he took me [to dinner],” Gina gushed to Us of Mullen’s proposal. “We do fancy dinner night, that’s our New Year’s Eve tradition. We get dressed up, we cook this big meal, and we always have to take a family photo. He’s like, ‘You know, I think we should take the family photo on the back deck, because there’s these cute little string lights. Can you please come check it out and make sure that we’re going to be able to get this photo done?’”
Gina, noticing the dark night sky amid a rainstorm, initially thought the weather wouldn’t hold up for the photo session.
“I go out there, and I actually started to laugh at him because I was like, ‘It’s so dark … there’s no way we’re getting this photo done,’” she recalled. “And then, the next thing you know, he’s down on his knee, and I just kind of blacked out. I was in such shock that this was actually happening, and he just said a whole bunch of beautiful things to me, and then he just asked me to marry him.”
She added, “I really love that he kept that moment private, probably a little ballsy too, right? It was, like, a month before we started filming. Like, that was ballsy, but that’s my man, my ballsy man.”
While Gina was glad her engagement wasn’t captured by RHOC cameras, the jury is still out for their big day.
“It’s so early. I don’t think a wedding on TV is my vibe,” she acknowledged on Tuesday. “It’s a weird territory, [and] it’s tricky because I’ve shared so much of my life. I didn’t think that me going to jail was going to be something I wanted to put on TV, or those bad tracks, but you’ve seen all that, you’ve come this far. At least [our wedding is] a happy moment, but I just don’t see us as that kind of couple.”

Gina Kirschenheiter attends the ‘RHOC’ season 20 premiere party on Tuesday, June 30. Todd Williamson/Bravo
Fans will still see Gina offering more glimpses of her life on RHOC’s upcoming season 20.
“I am proud of myself in general,” she told Us of her reality TV experience. “Overall, I think that life really got me in my 30s, and the past decade I have spent kind of rebuilding my entire life, and I did it all on national television, which is either brave or psychotic. Maybe both, so I am proud of myself. I’m proud of where I was and where I am now. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m looking forward to where I’m still going. The sky’s the limit, and I love that for me.”
Real Housewives of Orange County season 20 premieres on Bravo Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Peacock.
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