Millie Bobby Brown turned heads in a daring sheer look while stepping out with husband Jake Bongiovi.

The actress, 22, embraced the naked dress trend in a lingerie-inspired ensemble from Mirror Palais, while attending an Enola Holmes 3 after-party in New York City on Thursday, June 25.

Brown wore a plunging nude illusion top with sheer long sleeves, pairing it with a coordinating lace-trimmed slip skirt that showed off a hint of her midriff.

She completed the look with strappy nude heels and softly tousled waves, accessorizing with a printed headscarf for an effortlessly chic finish.

In photos shared via X, Brown was snapped holding hands with her husband, Bongiovi, on the night. Brown was also joined by Enola Holmes 3 costar Louis Partridge and Stranger Things costar Noah Schnapp at the event.

Earlier in the evening, Brown donned a Cinderella-style gown for the premiere itself and posed by her husband’s side on the red carpet.

The dress was a stunning custom pale blue silk Galia Lahav gown with a sweetheart bodice and a long pleated skirt. The look also carried special meaning for Brown, who wore the same designer when she walked down the aisle to marry Bongiovi in 2024.

“After creating her custom wedding gown, it was an honor to create for another unforgettable moment. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey,” Galia Lahav wrote via Instagram on Thursday about the dress. “A vision from every angle.”

After getting married in Italy, Brown and Bongiovi went on to welcome their first child via adoption last year.

“This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption,” Brown and Bongiovi wrote in a joint Instagram statement in August 2025. “We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. And then there were 3. Love, Millie and Jake Bongiovi.”

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Related: Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi’s Relationship Timeline

Millie Bobby Brown and husband Jake Bongiovi have become one of Hollywood’s cutest couples with their sweet social media exchanges to red carpet moments. Three years after Brown called it quits with singer Jacob Sartorius, Bongiovi sparked dating speculation by sharing a snap of himself and the Stranger Things actress in June 2021. “Bff <3,” […]

In the past, Brown has been open about why she saw marriage and children on the cards with Bongiovi.

““We were modeled wonderful, loving relationships,” she explained to Glamour in October 2023. “So, it’s something that we both had that mutual drive for.”

She added, “My dream was to have a baby. I wanted to be the woman that my mom is to me and I wanted to be the woman that my grandmother was to me. So that was never my, like, intention, to be a wife. But after meeting Jake and seeing, ‘Oh, I don’t have to be this stereotypical wife for him. He doesn’t want me to be that either. He wants me to go and do my thing and live my life, and he will hold my hand in the process of that.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I do want this.’ … It’s like, why wait? Let’s go for it.”

Joshua Jackson has been spotted hanging out with model Olivia Burgess — almost three weeks after they were snapped holding hands on a different outing.

Posting via its Instagram account on Friday, June 26, Deux Moi shared photos of the pair spending time together in New York City.

Jackson, 48, and Burgess, 37, opted for casual attire for the outing. The Doctor Odyssey star rocked jeans teamed with a white t-shirt and a navy blue button-down top while Burgess opted for a denim skirt and chocolate brown tank top combo. She accessorized with a belt in a matching brown hue.

The sighting comes after Jackson and Burgess were spotted holding hands while out and about in the Big Apple on June 7, according to photos obtained by TMZ at the time.

Related: Joshua Jackson Holds Hands With Model Olivia Burgess in NYC Outing

Joshua Jackson enjoyed a lovely day in New York City with model Olivia Burgess. According to photos obtained by TMZ, Jackson, 47, was spotted out and about with Burgess on Sunday, June 7. The pair were all smiles as they held hands while on a stroll in the Big Apple. Jackson and Burgess kept it […]

For their previous outing, the duo once again kept it casual. The Affair alum rocked a linen button-up shirt and matching pants paired with sneakers and sunglasses. The model, who has walked the runway for the fashion brand Jean Paul Gaultier, went for a black tank top, gray Bermuda shorts and mules and opted for a messy updo.

Just two days after being spotted with Burgess, Jackson made headlines when he publicly praised longtime friend and former Dawson’s Creek costar Katie Holmes.

The actor shared an “appreciation post” for Holmes, 47, via his Instagram on June 9 after they worked together on the movie, Happy Hours.

“It takes many hands to make a movie. And I am thankful to every hand that touched this one. But … this is a Katie appreciation post,” Jackson wrote. “It is because of her light that all those hands were brought together. Because of [the] generosity of her spirit that she wanted to bring this wonderful, loving, hopeful story into the world.”

He continued, “Because of her tenacity that she shepherded it from the blank page through the editing room and onto that screen last Saturday night. Because she is such an incredible friend that she made the space for us to be able to play together again after all these years.”

The film marked the first time Jackson and Holmes have acted together since Dawson’s Creek ended in 2003. Jackson and Holmes played Pacey and Joey, respectively, in the show and briefly dated offscreen for about a year following the show’s debut in 1998.

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At the Tribeca Film Festival Jackson reflected on his working relationship with Holmes and their Dawson’s Creek stint with fondness.

“The time that we spent together when we were young is very precious to both of us,” Jackson told a reporter at the event, while standing beside Holmes and holding her hand in a clip shared on June 7. “And [it] is like one of the core personal and professional relationships in my life.”

Jackson was previously married to Jodie Turner-Smith, with whom he shares daughter Juno, 6. The former couple announced their split in 2023 before finalizing their divorce in May 2025.

Lukas Gage is coming into his own. In a new interview, the “White Lotus” alum reflects on embracing his sexuality as a gay man after years of hiding it.

In a previous exclusive interview with The Blast, the actor discussed writing his memoir, “I Wrote This For Attention,” in which he shares deeply personal stories about his struggles with people-pleasing, mental health, family trauma, and addiction.

Speaking with E! News, Gage, 31, said that he’s now finally able to embrace his identity as a gay man following years of hiding his sexuality. While he was open with the people closest to him, Gage said he used to be “fearful” of telling those who didn’t know him well.

“It was the people that didn’t know me that I was the most fearful about,” he said before revealing that something finally shifted in him, giving him the courage to live life on his terms.

“I don’t know what happened, maybe it’s growing older or maybe it’s just life experience,” he said, adding, “If people don’t want to work with me because of how I identify or who I have sex with, they’re probably people I don’t want to work with anyway.”

Growing Up Had An Impact On How Lukas Gage Viewed Himself

Gage, who appeared in the 2025 series “Overcompensating,” said that growing up gave him the confidence to truly embrace who he was.

“When you’re younger, it feels more intense than it actually is, or more important,” he said, adding, “but ultimately, the right people are going to find you.”

Gage explained that after making peace with himself, he realized he could “take a deep breath” and live a little. “At first, having a secret can be fun and it can feel like you’re mysterious. Then it starts to eat away at you and you just can’t keep up with it anymore,” he said.

How Being ‘Upfront’ About His Identity Helped Lukas Gage ‘Be More Free’

Gage, whose 2026 credits include “People We Meet on Vacation,” “Rosebush Pruning,” “Love Language,” and “Voicemails for Isabelle,” said coming out of the closet allowed him to “be free.”

“Just being upfront was the thing that allowed me to be more free,” he said before revealing that it also impacted how he showed up to work.

“… [Coming out] allowed my work to be better and allowed me actually to work with the right people. It aligned me in the right way,” he said.

What Gage Hoped To Get Across In His Memoir, ‘I Wrote This For Attention’

In a past interview with The Blast, Gage opened up about his memoir, “I Wrote This For Attention,” and spoke about why he believed it was important to share his personal story.

“The message that I share throughout the book is that the little boy who was desperate for attention and love and validation became a man who was also a little bit desperate for love and validation and attention,” he said. “I try to share how that manifested. And I try to put a different spin on our innate human need for attention, our desire to be seen, and show how you can do that in a positive way instead of only being seen for negative attention.”

The 320-page memoir touches on Gage’s “broken family, struggles with addiction, sex, borderline personality disorder,” and much more.

Gage Gets Real About The Importance Of PrEP And Sexual Health

Elsewhere in his conversation with The Blast, the “American Vandal” actor opened up about the importance of sexual health and why PrEP—a once-daily medication that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV through sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed—is so important for those at risk.

“I think that the way that we become knowledgeable is to have an open conversation about these things and to not live in fear and uncertainty,” he said. “The way that we just bring awareness is that we step away from the taboo and from the stigma that we have wrapped around these topics.”

Regarding PrEP, Gage said being “safe” is a vital part of his “self-care” routine, calling it “just as important as working out and eating well.”

“[Getting on PrEP] might feel like a scary step, but you just have to take the leap. And if you are uncomfortable talking to your primary care doctor, you might consider telehealth options where you can talk to someone from the comfort of your home. Regardless, there is nothing to be ashamed of. The more we talk about sex and how to have safe sex the less taboo it becomes,” Gage said.

If there’s one thing I remember from my recent trip to London, it’s polka dots, and Blake Lively just brought the rich mom look to New York City. Not only that, but she also nailed the elevated lounge pants trend. I found her comfy-chic style for just $23!

Heading out to dinner, Lively was spotted with husband Ryan Reynolds wearing a simple tank, a leather-like blazer and polka-dot pants that make you question every pair of tight trousers you own. Loose, breezy and incredibly sophisticated, these pants channel ‘summer in Kensington’ vibes without even trying.

Get the Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants for $23 (was $30) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

These Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants mirror Lively’s in every way, with the same relaxed shape, smocked waistband and tapered ankles. The black-and-white polka dot print is also similar, reading polished from across the street and playful up close.

Better yet, these upgraded lounge pants are as comfortable as, well, lounge pants. They have a stretchy high waist and a billowy cut that drapes in all the right places. I’m especially obsessed with the tapered ankles that work just as well with sneakers as they do with heels. Oh, and did I mention pockets?

One happy fan highlighted the flattering fit and wrote, “These lay so nicely on the body, hiding lumps and bumps. So soft and perfect for the hot summer yet you can wear them well into fall. The wide ruched waistband smooths your tummy and in a not tight way.”

These flowy wonders are labeled lounge pants, but don’t let that fool you. Classy and luxe, these pants dress up any outfit. No matter how you style them, you’ll look like a London rich mom and a New York City celeb simultaneously. Score!

Get the Wiholl Polka-Dot Lounge Pants for $23 (was $30) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Related: Jennifer Garner‘s Classic Summer Sandal Is on Major Sale for Prime Day

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Jennifer Garner and Julianne Moore are the ultimate celebrity rich moms, so when they agree on shoes, we take notes. Both have been spotted wearing Birkenstock slide sandals, which usually have a $150+ price tag, but we found them on major sale for Amazon Prime Day! There’s a reason Birkenstock sandals show up on the […]

Love Island USA host Ariana Madix had to step in when a brutal recoupling turned into a verbal argument.

The Friday, June 26, episode got heated at multiple moments as the guys and girls reunited. While a majority of the girls chose not to couple up with a new guy in favor of their existing partner — the same couldn’t be said for the group coming from Casa.

KC Chandler got the most backlash when he brought Tierra Davis back with him. He stood by his decision despite how much it affected his former match Aniya Harvey, who chose to remain single so she could recouple with him.

After KC defended his actions, Tierra stepped in. This didn’t sit well with Trinity Tatum who confronted KC but ended up in a verbal argument with Tierra instead. As everyone shouted over each other, Ariana, 41, broke up the fight.

“It’s a lot of emotions. It’s a really hard night tonight,” she told the group. “It’s hard for the girls to come from Casa. It’s obviously gonna be really hard for you guys as well.”

She continued: “So if we could squash it now, that way we can get to everybody and we can find out how everyone’s feeling.”

This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in. Earlier this month, Ariana addressed claims that voting was rigged in the villa. The host

replied to an Instagram comment after Caleb McDaniel and Sol Dean were not announced as a top couple during the Thursday, June 18, episode of the show — despite an online campaign for the season 8 bombshells.

“Unfortunately, they were not in the top 4,” Ariana wrote in response to a message that read, “They @loveislandusa messing up the show.” Ariana also “liked” a comment which stated that “legally” production “can’t tamper with results” despite the speculation on social media.

Fans were left frustrated when Sol and Gabriel Vasconcelos ended up dumped from the villa following a group vote. This came after America chose their favorite couples — and the bottom three were left at risk of elimination, leaving the remaining girls to decide which guy went home and vice versa.

This isn’t the first time Ariana has had to step in to debunk rumors. In June 2025, Ariana slammed the insinuation that the show was “rigged,” telling The Wrap, “You can have whatever opinions you want to have about the show itself, but I will tell you: Don’t you start making up conspiracies.”

She continued: “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, so I’m the debunker.”

At the time, Ariana also denied that any Islanders were coming into the villa with a plan on how to win.

“As much as someone might try to gamify the show for themselves while they’re in there as an Islander, you cannot for 24 hours a day,” she added. “It’s nearly impossible to really be able to fully keep that mask on at all times.”

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Ariana encouraged viewers to show their enthusiasm by voting, saying, “If America does feel a certain way about certain Islanders, they do get their say. So if someone is trying to super gamify everything, and if they find out that they’re in the bottom, they’ll be like, ‘Wait, oh.’”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!

Saturday Night Live‘s 50th anniversary show was a big success as cast members from the beginning until now showed up for the celebration. If you were watching the broadcast on NBC (which is now available to stream on Peacock), you might have noticed that one former cast member was moving quite gingerly. Chris Kattan, one of SNL‘s most popular names in the late ’90s and early 2000s, looked like he was in pain as he moved around the stage. So what’s that about? The truth is much more shocking. In 2001, Kattan broke his neck live on TV during a Saturday Night Live sketch. He has been dealing with the physical and mental consequences ever since.

Chris Kattan Was Known for His Wild Physicality on ‘SNL’

In the mid-1990s, Saturday Night Live was going through a time of big change, as major names like Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, and Chris Rock started to leave the show. Going into the latter half of the decade, SNL nearly started from scratch, hiring new future featured players such as Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Darrell Hammond, Cheri Oteri, and Ana Gasteyer. Another impactful name brought in was Kattan. Kattan was seemingly born for comedy, as his father, Kip King, was a cartoon voice actor and one of the founders of the sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings. Kattan ended up being part of The Groundlings, too, leading to Lorne Michaels hiring him for Saturday Night Live in 2001.

Kattan became one of the biggest names in the cast thanks to his willingness to do anything. He could do celebrity impressions, but what he became most known for was three original characters. One was the flamboyant exotic danger named Mango, and another was Mr. Peepers, with Kattan stripping down, putting on bigger ears, and jumping around like a monkey while he devoured apples, with bits of fruit flying everywhere. His physicality became so well known that there’s a scene in Jordan Peele‘s Nope where Jupe (Steven Yeun) is talking about the terrifying chimp scene from the film being portrayed in a fictional SNL sketch. And who should play the chimpanzee? Kattan.

Kattan was also known for his recurring sketch as one of the Butabi brothers alongside Will Ferrell, two eccentric men who like to bob their heads to “What Is Love” by Haddaway. They think they are cool even as every woman rejects them. The sketches were so popular that they even led to a feature film, 1998’s A Night at the Roxbury. Everything was going right for Kattan, until it really wasn’t.

Chris Kattan Broke His Neck During an ‘SNL’ Sketch

In 2019, Kattan wrote a memoir titled Baby, Don’t Hurt Me: Stories and Scars from Saturday Night Live. In it, he details the highs and lows of being a famous cast member on one of America’s most well-known shows, but the lowest of lows for Kattan came during the May 12, 2001, episode. He was involved in a sketch parodying The Golden Girls, when Kattan’s character began to shake wildly, as he often did. Kattan flailed about so much that he fell back in his chair, tipping it over as intended, but when he did, he landed on the back of his head.

Kattan went on with the rest of the show as normal despite being in a lot of pain. He continued with Saturday Night Live until 2003, and no one knew what had happened, or why he largely disappeared from acting in the years right after. Finally, in 2017, when he was cast on Dancing With the Stars, Kattan sort of came clean, wanting to explain why his dancing was so rigid and stiff. He said that he had broken his neck in the past without going into detail. Kattan ended up being the first contestant eliminated.

In Baby Don’t Hurt Me, Kattan revealed the whole story about how he injured himself. He hoped that the pain would just eventually go away, but nearly a year later, with the pain worse, his chiropractor got him to finally see a doctor, where it was discovered he had broken his neck. In total, Kattan has had five surgeries, but Saturday Night Live wasn’t there to support him for all of it. In his book, Kattan wrote:

“NBC had stopped paying my medical costs after the second surgery. The ‘SNL’ family I was part of had stopped taking care of me, and soon I wasn’t able to pay for everything myself.”

Kattan admits that he didn’t handle things the right way. He tried to hide his injury, pretending that everything was fine, because he didn’t want to sue anyone. However, in an interview with Variety, he said he wishes now that he’d stuck up for himself, because he waited so long that he could no longer get workers’ compensation. “It’s a different day and age where people, if they get any injury or harassment or anything, it’s a good time to say anything about it. This is not too long ago, but it was more of a faux pas to say anything, especially if it has to do with your showbiz family.”

Chris Kattan’s Career Has Suffered Because of His Injury

Image via Touchstone Pictures

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In another interview with Variety, Kattan said that he’s 95% okay now, thanks to physical therapy, but he does have limitations due to permanent nerve damage, including not being able to fully open and close his hands. Still, he admits, “There is a lot of pain involved.” The pain for Kattan hasn’t just been physical, either. As has sadly happened with too many people who have had a serious injury, Kattan then found himself addicted to painkillers. That led to an arrest and the end of his marriage. After marrying model Sunshine Deia Tutt in 2008, the pair divorced just months later. In his memoir, he wrote, “The impact that my injury and subsequent surgeries had on my career was immense, but more importantly, the fallout proved to be devastating to some of the closest relationships in my life.”

Five months after his SNL accident, Kattan was the lead in the feature film Corky Romano. It was a critical bust, with a lowly 7% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it made a respectable $24 million domestically at the box office. Later in the 2000s, he was still acting, but here and there, in small, forgotten movies, or doing guest spots on TV shows and voice work. That’s still not a bad career, but it’s a big fall off for someone who was once just as big as Will Ferrell.

Thankfully, he has turned his life around. He told Variety, “Comedy is what brought me out of it. I was born to be funny and to perform comedy.” Kattan, who said he was once ashamed of going outside because he didn’t want to be judged for his appearance, is now doing stand-up comedy regularly. He also found love again, getting engaged in 2023 to his girlfriend, Maria Libri. Thankfully, he was at Saturday Night Live‘s big 50th celebration, standing on the stage where he belonged.

Saturday Night Live is now available to stream on Peacock.

Amal Clooney admits she had to adjust to a different lifestyle after tying the knot with George Clooney.

While speaking at a Cartier Dialogues event in Bangkok earlier this month, the international human rights lawyer, 48, detailed how things had shifted.

“I used to have my work life and my personal life, and they could look quite different, and I was able to not have them mix and then I got married and that changed quite a lot,” Amal said, per a People article published on Friday, June 26. “And at first I was kind of conscious of that one-dimensional view where I felt like, well, I can’t be seen wearing this dress or doing this because I’m in front of a judge on Monday.”

Amal continued, “But you know it just doesn’t matter as much as living your life, and ultimately if you’re good at what you do, that is going to shine through or not. I wouldn’t allow that factor to stop me from doing things that were important for my family or for my relationship. It was easier when I could decide what kind of exposure I got. It was something new to navigate.”

After Amal was introduced to the Ocean’s Eleven actor, 65, at his Lake Como house by a mutual friend, the pair fell in love and tied the knot in 2014. The couple welcomed twins, Alexander and Ella, in 2017.

Both Amal and George have gushed over one another over the years, praising their harmonious relationship.

In an interview with Glamour in July 2025, Amal shared how grateful she was to have found a “supportive” partner like George.

“I have a partner in life who is so supportive of what I do. So I don’t feel like I have to apologize for it or rein it in,” she told the outlet. “And I remember when I became a mom, which was obviously a new frontier, he was the first one to say, ‘I know you’ve got this speech at the Security Council. You have to go. I’ve got the kids, don’t worry about it.’”

The Oscar winner has been equally effusive about his wife, telling The New York Times in February 2025 that he was “proud” to be her husband. He added that he felt as though “everything made sense” after they fell in love.

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“There’s a thing about finding the person that you needed to find, particularly at a certain age, and everything from then on is easy,” he said.

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Related: George Clooney ‘Still’ Thinks Wife Amal Clooney Is Out of His League

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images George and Amal Clooney are couple goals, but he has no shame in admitting that they aren’t quite on the same level. George, 62, confessed to “punching above” with his marriage during a recent interview with Page Six, teasing that he “still” thinks Amal, 45, is out of his league nearly a […]

The actor added that he’s less likely to sweat the small stuff in relationships as he ages, sharing a personal anecdote to make his point.

“We renovated our house,” George said. “Amal would go, ‘I want to paint this wall yellow.’ Well, if I was 27 years old and doing construction work, I would’ve been like, ‘Well, that’s a stupid color.’ But the truth of the matter is that at 60, you just go, ‘OK.’ There are so many things that would have caused friction that don’t.”

Love Island USA gives viewers the chance to cast their votes throughout the season — but how does the process work?

The hit Peacock series follows a group of singles who must pair off in order to stay in the show’s luxury villa. The contestants — referred to as Islanders — live in isolation in a villa under constant video surveillance. They must be coupled up to remain on the show and earn a shot at the $100,000 prize.

While the islanders are filming nonstop for weeks, viewers are watching daily episodes and casting votes via the app that affect the couples and the fate of the contestants.

Voting for season 8 originally opened on Monday, June 9, but users were met with glitches and a message that read “network error” after opening the Love Island application on their phones.

“Vote tonight to choose which Islanders the new Bombshells — Sol, Jen and Caleb — should couple up with!” read the initial post from the show’s official Instagram account. “Voting opens at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT and closes at 1 a.m. E.T./10 p.m. PT. Voting is open in the U.S. only. Link in our bio.”

After voting closed, Love Island USA posted an update on Instagram addressed the issue, which read, “For those of you experiencing issues registering to vote, we apologize for the inconvenience. Our team is actively working on it. Stay tuned for updates.”

There was another clarification after the app crashed.

“Your overwhelming enthusiasm for America’s first vote caused the app to crash. But don’t worry, we are extending the voting window until 3 pm ET / 12pm PT on Wednesday, June 10!” read the new post.

Before viewers tuned into season 8, Peacock also issued a message to remind the audience to be kind.

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“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected,” read their statement. “This is a space for fun, not negativity – so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”

New episodes of Love Island USA are released six days a week — except for Wednesdays — on Peacock.

Join Us Weekly and Bracketology.tv in our first-ever Love Island USA fantasy league! This is your chance to predict who you think will win Season 8 and rank the Islanders weekly based on how confident you are that they will survive the next elimination. You will be playing against our editors, get access to exclusive content and have the chance to win fun prizes. Sign up for free today!

By TeeJay Small
| Published 26 seconds ago

If you’ve spent any time at all browsing social media in recent years, you’ve definitely encountered the claim that older TV shows, movies, and games simply “couldn’t be made” today. The argument is that modern audiences are just too sensitive to handle the rough-and-tumble jokes that the Nixon or Reagan era handled with so much grace. Rainn Wilson is the latest voice to join in this insufferable chorus, having recently sat down with Fox News. Per X, Wilson expressed “I do feel like you couldn’t make The Office today. I think that would be too hard to be as politically incorrect as the show was.”

Nobody Is Clutching Pearls Over The Office

Personally, I’ve always found this line of reasoning to be idiotic. Sure, on occasion I’ll sit down to watch an old film without my nostalgia glasses on, and find myself gasping at the rampant homophobia, misogyny, or racism on display from characters we’re meant to like and agree with. Even still, most of the jokes from older projects hold up just fine by modern standards, and offensive humor is very much still alive and well. In fact, I’d argue that the average episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia or South Park is significantly more politically incorrect than anything from The Office, and those shows seem to be doing just fine.

The fact that Rainn Wilson is referring to The Office in his recent comments is perhaps the most baffling part of this entire discourse. In fairness, it has been a few years since I’ve sat down to binge the show, but I really don’t recall anything offensive or boundary-pushing occurring within the Dunder Mifflin bullpen. Michael Scott offers a few awkwardly-placed racial jokes at the expense of Kelly, Oscar, and Darryl, but it’s nothing more jaw-dropping than the stuff you’d hear in a traditional work environment.

This bizarre take seems to stem from the idea that young people today, primarily those who lean left of center, are put off by patently bigoted material. Sometimes, these audiences can amplify their positions to the point of absurdity, and call something bigoted when it was really just a good-natured joke with a bit of edge. But, the idea that this is new is baffling to me. Decades ago, it was the conservative christian crowd chomping at the bit to cancel anything and everything. Television shows, films, and rap artists were picketed for foul language, suggestive nudity, or the mere suggestion that conservative Christian values could be questioned in any capacity.

From the 1930s through the 1960s, movies and TV shows were strictly governed by the Hays Code, which prohibited a wide array of so-called “offensive” materials. Landmark TV moments that broke the mold include Captain Kirk smooching Lieutenant Uhura, (a black woman) on Star Trek: The Original Series and a married couple from The Flintstones sleeping in the same bed. For contrast, Always Sunny characters now frequently drop the C word on FXX, while South Park shows off photorealistic deepfake sequences of the sitting president’s teeny tiny wang.

Art Is Getting Away With It

Every time I hear someone espouse this notion that they can’t make jokes because of cancel culture, my first response is to ask for some examples. So far, I’ve yet to hear a single joke that would be deemed “too edgy” for modern audiences. Sometimes people will respond with bits from Blazing Saddles, or show me the blackface scene from Trading Places. But those movies continue to air on television today, exactly as they were produced. In fact, you can pull up regular daytime cable and watch films that blatantly violate the Hays Code of yesteryear, in between car insurance ads and children’s programming.

Modern politics have become extremely divisive, leaving audiences significantly more polarized than they were back when The Office was in its heyday. Still, I just can’t see liberals foaming at the mouth over Michael Scott misusing urban slang, or MAGA voters writing in to the network because they had to bear witness to a desegregated workplace. I think every joke told in The Office, and in fact, in all popular movies and shows of decades past, would survive just fine on today’s radar. Plus, there’s a new Office spin-off series or foreign remake being produced just about every year, and those rarely receive negative press.