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This 10/10 Netflix Sitcom Quietly Changed the Face of a 58-Year-Old Conflict

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Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.

There’s a scene in the very first episode of Derry Girls where Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), sixteen years old and melodramatically self-involved, is furious. Not about the British Army checkpoint that rerouted her bus. Not about the bomb scare that made her late for her first day back at her all-girls Catholic school. She’s furious because her cousin has read her diary…and now she’s cracking it open in class for her upcoming book report.

That joke – one of modern Europe’s longest-running civil conflicts as an inconvenience, the diary as a full-blown crisis – is creator Lisa McGee’s Netflix comedy in a nutshell. For people like her, who lived through the Troubles, war was the backdrop, not the whole story. That was everything else: the teenage humiliations, obsessions, and laughable mishaps that an absolutely unhinged group of friends living in a small town with nothing to do too often got into. Prestige TV, up until this point, never really got that, but Derry Girls – which ran for three seasons between 2018 and 2022 – definitely did. It is, by a considerable margin, the funniest show about an active ethno-nationalist conflict ever made. Actually, no. This is simply one of the funniest shows ever made, full stop.

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‘Derry Girls’ Makes the Troubles Funny (Without Ever Making Light of Them)

Set in Derry in the early 1990s, Derry Girls follows Erin (Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), their friends Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell), and Michelle’s English cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn), who attends their Catholic girls’ school because, as is repeatedly explained, it just isn’t safe for him to go to the boys’ school. He is, in the show’s most reliable running gag, treated as one of the girls by everyone around him. (It’s the hair…and maybe the cheekbones, too.)

The five of them stumble through adolescence with a specific but timeless incompetence: they scheme, fail, embarrass themselves publicly, rinse and repeat. The Troubles exist at the edges of every episode via newscasts, blown bridges, terrorists stowed away in the trunk of the family car, and errant suitcases that spark bomb squad calls. They are part of the setup, but never the punchline of the joke. The teenagers are. Or, more specifically, how deeply, cosmically unequipped they are for the adulthood they so desperately crave.

Caoilfhionn Dunne as Dara in How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.


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That’s a choice that could have gone badly. Comedy about a real, ongoing, traumatic war is a minefield (metaphorically, and in this case, literally), but what keeps Derry Girls from tipping into bad taste is the specificity. McGee grew up in Derry. Her characters are people she knew, her settings are places she visited daily. If the show is irreverent or dismissive about grander political problems, it’s because it’s earned the right to be. In an interview with The New Yorker, McGee admitted she never wanted to write about the Troubles because every story she saw was entirely too bleak. “There were never any jokes,” she said. “I don’t know any Northern Irish person that isn’t funny. They’re so joyful.” Maybe that’s why Derry Girls always seemed to understand the difference between laughing at and laughing with, because it channeled joy instead of judgment.

Take That, Escaped Zoo Bears, and the Radical Normality of ‘Derry Girls’

Several characters from Derry Girls standing with jean jackets and backpacks.
Several characters from Derry Girls standing with jean jackets and backpacks.
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To really appreciate what Derry Girls got right about the era, it helps to think about what came before it. The Troubles have generated some serious drama, on-screen that is. Works of genuine craft and moral meaning that want you to understand the politics, the violence, the historical reckoning of it all. Those films and shows and documentaries matter, but they have a tendency to flatten every experience into tragedy. War becomes the thing, and everyone exists in relation to it. But for anyone who’s actually lived that experience, that just doesn’t ring true. Life doesn’t work like that, and it shouldn’t be portrayed like that, at least not all the time.

In 1993 Derry, teenagers were still obsessed with Take That – enough so that those like Erin and her friends would absolutely concoct a ruse to escape to the city while the adults fretted over the polar bear who had just escaped the local zoo. And parents? They were still mortifying, confusing pop culture references to Macaulay Culkin with Protestant rebels met at a summer camp. Checkpoints and ceasefires and peace negotiations were happening, yes, but so was homework and heartbreak and the specific social catastrophe of being accidentally outed in the latest edition of your school’s newspaper. Derry Girls holds all of this at once, that’s what makes it so authentic and undeniably funny.

Why ‘Derry Girls’ on Netflix Is Still Essential Viewing

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Derry Girls ended at three seasons, which was the right call – even if we did all lose our shite at the time. The story it wanted to tell had a shape, outlining childhood in the shadow of conflict, ending with the arrival of peace, and McGee told it expertly. Its legacy, though, is a bit harder to pin down. It’s proof that comedy can carry historical weight without being crushed by it. It’s a view of a place that has been defined for decades almost entirely by violence, one that insists on the fullness of life there.

There’s absurdity, warmth, and a deeply Irish chaos to it all despite, or maybe because of, what its characters are living through. And it’s all available on Netflix, which means, if you haven’t checked it out yet, you should. The first episode is just 24 minutes long, but you’ll know if it’s your thing within the first four. Spoiler: It will almost certainly be your thing.


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Derry Girls

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Release Date

January 4, 2018

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BBC

Showrunner

Lisa McGee

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Directors

Lisa McGee

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How A Raunchy, R-Rated Sci-Fi Comedy Warned Us About Everything We’re Currently Living Through

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How A Raunchy, R-Rated Sci-Fi Comedy Warned Us About Everything We're Currently Living Through

By Jennifer Asencio
| Updated

Mike Judge brought us the animated sitcoms Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, which were full of sharp social commentary interwoven with cutting humor. He also wrote and directed feature films like the meme-laden Office Space and the sci-fi comedy Idiocracy. The latter predicted a future that seems like it’s already here.

Luke Wilson plays Joe, a fiercely average enlistee in the US Army who was hoping that he could pass his tenure in a lonely library, away from other people. However, the Army has other plans: they enlist him as a test subject for a top-secret project meant to freeze soldiers in time, to be awakened when needed. Also enlisted is Rita, a prostitute played by Maya Rudolph who has drawn the eye of the project director. The project is forgotten while they are asleep.

Idiocracy 2006

The project works extremely well, and Joe wakes up in 2505. The world has drastically changed and is facing a series of catastrophic challenges like famine and drought. Everything is automated and everyone seems to be pretty dumb. Joe finds out that he’s the smartest man in the world when run-ins with the law force him through an intelligence test.

He gets recruited by the President, Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Comacho (played to extremes by Terry Crews), to solve the famine or else he will wind up in jail in this terrible place forever. With the aid of Rita and contemporary local Frito Pendejo (a dumbed-down Dax Shepard), Joe strives to save the world so he can stay out of jail long enough to return himself and Rita to the 21st century.

Brought To You By The Creators Of Ass, And Ow, My Balls!

Idiocracy 2006

In Idiocracy, intelligence is seen as a disability, much like learning disabilities are viewed today. The number one TV show is called Ow, My Balls, and its single gag is that its lead repeatedly receives blows to the groin. The number one movie is called Ass, and it is a feature film that is entirely a farting butt. Justice, both the courtroom and the “House of Representin’,” is televised and sensationalized. Everyone’s clothes, no matter how simple, are covered in logos.

The world is controlled by the corporation Brawndo, whose main product is an electrolyte beverage that has replaced water. Everything is so automated that there is no way to reach a human, and nobody is smart enough to do anything about it.

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Idiocracy 2006
Plants crave electrolytes.

If all of this sounds oddly prescient, well, it is. Anyone who has had to deal with automated customer service these days knows about the frustrating string of endless automated replies that never address the problem and are full of vague platitudes. This has largely occurred as our corporations increasingly turn to AI to cut costs, creating an amazing amount of enshittification, or the decay of a product over time as it draws more customers.

Over time, customers come to actually expect less quality, which is why some of us can remember when McDonald’s tasted good and a party there was the coolest thing in the world, while now it’s not even food anymore. And if you’ve ever had to troubleshoot or submit a ticket on X, you know a human has likely never seen it.

A Future We’re Already Living

Idiocracy 2006

Entertainment is growing more and more mindless these days as companies attempt to check inclusivity boxes rather than tell stories. Although the FCC is not owned by a corporation like Brawndo, the fact is that entertainment has narrowed to reflect only a certain point of view, and this emphasis has reduced the quality of the stories we are being told in all our media, from books to video games to TV and movies.

Lots of people are allowing themselves to be satisfied with Ass on their streaming services, TV screens, and especially our phones. With the equivalent Ass and Ow, My Balls readily available no matter where we are (as long as there’s a WiFi or cell signal), the ethernet has been inundated with meaningless content that just plays on automatic all the time. It becomes not only what we get used to consuming, but also background noise that never ends with autoplay.

He Warned Us, But We Didn’t Listen

To top it off, many popular franchises are being turned into almost two hours of nothing but a farting butt, for all what has been produced of them has been worth. This is just more enshittification, but applied to entertainment, which is just another product.

Idiocracy 2006

In Idiocracy, judgment and justice are meted out mostly through the court of public opinion rather than facts and legal proceedings. This starts out in the local courthouse, presided over by famous Mike Judge collaborator Stephen Root, and escalates all the way to President Machado’s speeches, filled with wrestling shouts, automatic gunfire, and cheering fans.

The world Mike Judge posits in Idiocracy is full of very stupid people who were selected by nature as they bred faster than smart people. Frito and his peers are so dumb that they’re easily distracted, drawn to sensationalism like moths to flame, and unable to solve even basic problems. Intellect is something pitied in this world, something that seems true today as colleges become degree mills and merit has been replaced by having the “correct” opinions. This has served to have the same effect as Judge’s centuries of natural selection, as people have been mesmerized by commentary from people more interested in remaining relevant than telling the truth.

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Idiocracy 2006

Idiocracy is absurdist, almost a cartoon, running its premise to its most ridiculous conclusions, but that’s the point. It’s not meant to be an image of today but a warning of what might come. It was made in 2006, before a lot of the conventions it lampoons became culture and everyday life, so Mike Judge did not yet have to deal with endless phone menus and the degree to which almost every product in our daily lives has decayed. But it’s clear he knew it was coming, as this piercing comedy film shows through biting satire and fantastic attention to the world it created.

Idiocracy is streaming on Hulu. Watch it instead of yet more Ass.


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William Shatner had to have surgery after wild horse accident sent him flying: 'I'm not a young stuntman anymore'

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The “Star Trek” legend, who turns 95 later this month, fell off his horse late last year.

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Age of Attraction Couples Status Check: Who Is Together?

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Age of Attraction

Age of Attraction sparked several romantic connections — but which couples are still dating and who has broken up?

The new dating show, which premiered in March 2026, is hosted by real-life couple Nick Viall and Natalie Joy, who have their own 18-year age gap. According to the official synopsis, “Age is thrown out the window when singles search for their soulmates, but will the years come between them?”

Divided into three parts, the first batch of episodes showed the initial connections that were formed before individual couples made promises to each other. After a visit to the Promise Room, each couple were finally able to discuss their age gap — and decide if they wanted to keep exploring their chemistry.

Age of Attraction zeroed in on six couples who moved into the same apartment building after making a commitment. They then had to weather new challenges as their new normal set in, which led to one shocking split.

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Later in the season, family members will visit each couple to give their opinions on each match. They will then make a decision about whether they want to pursue a future together or if their age differences create too much of an issue.

Scroll down to find out whether your favorite Age of Attraction couple is still together:

John and Theresa

Age of Attraction
Netflix

The first couple to form a connection on the show — who have a 27-year age gap — are still together halfway through the season.

Vanessa and Logan

Age of Attraction
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Despite facing challenges in their 20-year age gap after moving in together on the show, Vanessa and Logan are still together.

Chris and Leah

Age of Attraction
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The pair, who are 15 years apart, have continued to fight for their romance when the first part of season 1 came to an end.

Age of Attraction


Related: ‘Age of Attraction’ Cast Revealed: Meet the Singles in Age-Gap Romances

Nick Viall and Natalie Joy‘s Netflix dating show, Age of Attraction, follows singles looking for love in age-gap romances — and the cast has finally been revealed. Netflix released the official trailer on Wednesday, March 4, with the hopefuls explaining why they were trying the new approach to finding The One. “I have dated guys […]

Derrick and Pfeifer

Age of Attraction
Netflix

Pfeifer, who was 23 when filming, and Derrick, who was 43, are still discussing their future together on the show.

Libby and Andrew

Age of Attraction
Netflix

After finding out about their 16-year age gap, Libby and Andrew decided to give their connection a chance — and they are still an item by the end of part 1.

Vanelle and Jorge

Age of Attraction
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The duo, who have a 33-year age gap, faced many issues including Jorge revealing he has kids, their different thoughts on Vanelle’s celibacy and an offscreen fight that turned into a breakup in episode 5.

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Katherine Heigl Responds To Critics Over Mar-a-Lago Event

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Katherine Heigl is all smiling while out and about in New York City

Katherine Heigl is speaking out after facing backlash for attending a charity event at Mar-a-Lago.

The actress says the criticism misses the real purpose of the evening, which raised millions for an animal rescue organization.

As online debate intensified, Heigl did not stay silent, offering a passionate defense of her actions and her long-standing advocacy for animals.

Katherine Heigl Explains Why She Attended The Event

Heigl addressed the controversy directly after her appearance at the Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser held at Mar a Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

The actress explained that the event was centered on helping animals, a cause she has supported for years through her charitable work.

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“Animals don’t vote,” Heigl said in a statement to JustJared. “The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter. They are completely at the mercy of us, and they have no voice of their own.”

She emphasized that the focus of the event had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with advocacy.

“This event was about animal advocacy — something that has always been deeply personal to me,” Heigl continued. “Anyone who knows me knows that protecting animals is one of my greatest passions. My mother, Nancy, and I have spent years advocating for animals through the Jason Heigl Foundation. As a society, we should all come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent. This should not be a polarizing issue.”

Fundraiser Raises Millions For Animal Rescue

Pregnant Katherine Heigl seen out with her family in Los Angeles
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While the online debate gained attention, organizers highlighted the success of the three-day charity gathering.

According to the event’s hosts, the fundraiser generated $5.5 million in support of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest no-kill dog rescue organization in the United States.

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Founder Lauree Simmons praised the turnout and the impact of the event.

“This year was a record-breaking success and boosted awareness for Big Dog Ranch Rescue,” Simmons said. “It was a heartwarming display of community spirit, uniting style enthusiasts and animal advocates for a truly monumental cause.”

The gathering also marked Katherine Heigl’s first red carpet appearance in two years, drawing attention from both supporters and critics online.

Katherine Heigl Fires Back At Social Media Criticism

Katherine Heigl smiling
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Not everyone responded positively to Heigl’s attendance. Some social media users questioned her decision to appear at the event’s location.

Following Heigl’s use of the phrase “animals don’t vote,” one Instagram user pushed back.

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“No, but if they did they would have better judgement than you!” the commenter wrote.

Heigl responded with a lengthy reply challenging the focus of the criticism.

She asked the commenter, “Just curious…what do you do that really matters…do you think comments on an instagram post matter to animals who have had humans pour gasoline on them and set them on fire? Who have had humans vote conservative or liberal but have been left to starve and suffer? Seriously…I’m very curious what you truly think matters to the voiceless and innocent…actions or just instagram posturing?”

Her response quickly circulated online, fueling further discussion around the event.

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Katherine Heigl Challenges Critics To Take Action

Katherine Heigl is spotted at LAX
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Another commenter suggested that the actress should support animal rescues that do not hold events at the same venue.

“There are so many amazing rescues to align yourself with that aren’t hosting events there — and so many ways to get involved that aren’t putting on a dress and drinking cocktails masquerading as helping,” the user wrote.

Heigl again pushed back, questioning whether critics had contributed to similar causes themselves.

“How are you so sure about that…have you been to any?” Heigl replied. “Have you donated a significant part of your income to anything? Anything you claim to care so much about? Have you done anything more than comment on what someone else is doing or not doing to your standard? Just curious…”

Actress Urges People To Focus On Helping Animals

NBC Universal 2018 Upfront Presentation
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Despite the criticism, Katherine Heigl also received supportive messages from some followers who defended her decision to attend the fundraiser.

One commenter wrote alongside several clapping emojis, “She made a choice.”

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Heigl responded in similar fashion to the supportive remark.

“Yes I did,” she replied.

The actress concluded by urging people to focus less on online debates and more on taking meaningful action to help causes they care about.

When a commenter asked who Heigl was, she responded by writing, “Do you care about animals? If so donate! Time! Money! Attention! Your voice! It doesn’t matter who I am only what I do. The same goes for you! Animals might not be your thing but I bet you care deeply about something that matters! Do your part! Don’t waste your time scrolling and making comments!”

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Several more negative comments followed, but Heigl took the time to respond to each one.

For her, the message was simple. Regardless of the location or controversy, the true goal was helping animals who cannot advocate for themselves.

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Kurt Russell kicked Elvis in the shin as a child in his very first movie: 'Everybody was a little bit worried'

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The actor was 11 when he starred alongside the King of Rock ’n’ Roll in the 1963 musical “It Happened at the World’s Fair.”

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13 Boutique-Worthy Floral Blouses to Elevate Your Spring Style

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A gorgeous floral blouse can pull an entire outfit together in seconds, but finding one that doesn’t look cheap or overly trendy gets harder every spring. Too many options lean juvenile or feel paper thin the moment you touch them. It’s why we went on the hunt for some great alternatives.

The good news is you don’t need to spend boutique-level prices to get that luxe look. We found 13 fashionable floral spring blouses that look and feel expensive, despite starting at just $15. Our favorites are designed with rich prints, quality fabrics and flattering cuts that are ideal for women over 40 . . . without the markup. Rest assured, these are the kinds of tops that get compliments at brunch, church and more.

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13 Boutique-Worthy Floral Blouses to Elevate Spring Wardrobes

1. Our Favorite: The eyelet cutouts and crochet lace embroidery give this long-sleeve blouse real texture and dimension. It looks like something you’d find at your local boutique.

2. Bold Pattern: Love the Lilly Pulitzer look but not the price? This cap-sleeve blouse captures that same colorful floral energy with the addition of ruffle sleeves and a boho feel.

3. Office-Ready: Tired of choosing between boring office blouses and florals tops you actually want to wear? This flowy tunic blouse with three-quarter sleeves is elegant enough for meetings.

4. Pop of Color: Lantern long sleeves and a button-up design give this colorful chiffon blouse a boho-meets-dressy feel. The bold floral print is a real mood lifter.

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5. Pastel Perfection: Slip on this pink puff-sleeve top for Easter brunch or a spring baby shower. The smocked detail cinches just right, and the loose babydoll fit keeps you comfortable all day.

Pink, Green and Blue colorful blouses from Amazon


Related: 13 Lilly Pulitzer-Style Spring Blouses Hiding on Amazon, From $10

Lilly Pulitzer prints are gorgeous, but spending over $150 on a single blouse stings. The good news? Amazon is packed with bright, colorful tops that capture that same Palm Beach energy for a fraction of the cost. These 13 Lilly Pulitzer-looking spring blouses on Amazon look and feel expensive without the designer price tag. Think bold […]

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6. Very Versatile: Need one top that works for the office and dinner plans? This green floral V-neck transitions easily between work and weekend plans due to the chiffon-like fabric, flutter sleeves and more.

7. Boho Beauty: Layer this boho floral blouse with your favorite denim jacket on a cool spring morning. The drawstring detail and flowy fit make it a go-to weekend top.

8. Luxe Lace: Boring basics won’t cut it for spring events. This sheer lace blouse has a scalloped V-neckline and relaxed fit, adding instant polish to any outfit — dressy or casual.

9. Ravishing Ruffles: Flutter sleeves, romantic florals and lightweight chiffon fabric make this short-sleeve blouse feel special. It’s dressy enough for events, but casual enough for a Saturday out.

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10. Everyday Staple: This long-sleeve button-up shirt comes in a floral print that works for both the office and weekends. At $15, it’s an easy buy to keep in regular rotation.

11. Pretty Puff-Sleeve: Puff sleeves add shape to your shoulders, while the mock neck keeps things polished. This vibrant pink floral blouse bridges the work to weekend gap without needing a full outfit change.

12. Easy Elegance: Getting dressed shouldn’t require a strategy session. This mock-neck floral blouse with ruffle detail looks pulled together the second you put it on.

13. Waist-Slimming: Peplum tops are one of the best-kept secrets for creating waist definition. This black floral blouse uses a drawstring waist to give you a custom-looking fit.

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Green dress, blue top, yellow tote and pink loafers from Amazon


Related: Found: Spring Finds From Amazon’s New Pastel Fashion Edit, From $10

Spring has a way of making your entire closet feel stale. You open the doors, stare at the same dark knits and neutral layers, and realize nothing matches the lighter mood outside. Good news: Amazon’s new pastel fashion edit is filled with trending spring styles that look cute without trying too hard, and prices start […]

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Jack Osbourne Welcomes New Daughter With Nod To Late Father

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Jack Osbourne

Jack Osbourne welcomed a new baby with his wife, Aree Gearhart, sharing the exciting news on social media. The proud father revealed that his daughter’s name is a heartfelt tribute to his late father, Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of the English rock band Black Sabbath, who passed away in 2025.

Jack Osbourne Introduced His New Daughter To The World

On March 11, Jack posted a black-and-white video of his new daughter on Instagram, introducing his followers to the newest addition to his family.

In the short clip, the baby is sleeping on a floral sheet accompanied by a bat plushie. A birth identification card is also displayed, listing the baby’s name as Ozzy Matilda Osbourne. Baby Ozzy was born on March 5 at 8:49 a.m., weighing 7 pounds and 12 ounces.

Jack’s touching tribute to his late father was acknowledged by his followers. One wrote, “May she be as creative and kind as her grandfather.” Another commented, “Yay, we have another Ozzy Osbourne! The world is right again.”

The rock icon was born John Michael Osbourne and got the nickname Ozzy in primary school. “Ozzy” was a shortened version of his surname that other students used to tease him, but instead of getting annoyed, he owned it.

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Aree Gearheart’s Pregnancy Gave The Osbourne Family Hope In Their Grief

In December 2025, Jack shared the news that his wife was 28 weeks pregnant. In an interview with The Sun, he said that the pregnancy was much-needed after they had a tough year as a family. Ozzy passed away in July 2025, and the family is still grieving his loss.

“I think it’s been partly a healthy distraction, partly healing – partly in that kind of ‘full circle’ category, in a weird way,” Jack told the outlet, adding that part of the grief was turned into hope.

A few weeks after Ozzy’s death, Jack posted a video montage tribute to his father on social media, writing, “My heart has hurt too much.” Jack added that he felt blessed to have called Ozzy his father. “My heart is full os fo much sadness and sorrow, but also so much love and gratitude. I got 14,501 days with that man and I know that is such a blessing.”

Baby Ozzy Is Jack Osbourne’s Fifth Daughter

Jack Osbourne
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With the addition of Ozzy, Jack is now a father of five. The TV personality has three kids with his ex-wife, Lisa Stelly. Pearl Clementine was born in 2012, followed by Andy Rose in 2015. Their third daughter, Minnie Theodora, was born in 2018.

Jack and Stelly’s divorce was finalized in 2019. He started dating Gearheart that same year and got engaged two years later. They welcomed their first child together, Maple Artemis, in 2022, and in the following year, the couple got married. Ozzy Matilda’s birth makes Jack a father of five girls.

As noted by Jack, he and Gearheart had planned to have another child, but it happened a bit earlier than expected. “It’s definitely something that we were wanting to pursue and somehow it happened, miraculously,” he shared.

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Ozzy Osbourne Had A Fight With Jack That Changed His Perspective

Ozzy Osbourne on stage
Martin Harris/Capital Pictures / MEGA

In an interview with Variety in 2021, Ozzy admitted that he wasn’t a present father to his children. The iconic rock star struggled with alcoholism and addiction but had been sober since 2013 or 2014. In the same interview, Jack talked about his own battle, which led to a stint in rehab. He has been sober since 2003.

Looking back, Ozzy said that he came to a realization after having a fight with Jack. “I had a row with Jack. I had to talk business. And I said, ‘What have you ever f-cking wanted? I’ll give you whatever you want.’ He says, ‘What about a father’?”

According to Ozzy, that moment made him realize that it didn’t matter whether he gave his children material things if their father wasn’t around.

Ozzy Osbourne Loved Being A Grandfather

In an interview with Fox News in 2023, Jack revealed that Ozzy loved babysitting his grandchildren. However, he said his father had boundaries. When it comes to changing diapers, it was a firm no for the rock star.

Ozzy also refused to cuddle in bed with Jack’s daughters and watch TV. “He’s like, ‘I dont want them going to school being like, ‘I was in bed with my grandpa.’ He’s like, ‘No, not dealing with it.’,” Jack shared.

Despite the boundaries, Ozzy doted on his grandchildren. As he told The Guardian shortly before his death, “It’s time for me to spend some time with my grandkids, I don’t want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family.”

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Kelly Clarkson Says ‘American Idol’ Prize Was Not What It Seemed

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Kelly Clarkson Performs On The Today Show

More than two decades after becoming the very first winner of “American Idol,” Kelly Clarkson is revealing a surprising behind-the-scenes detail about the show that launched her career. 

While chatting with guests on her daytime program, Clarkson shared that one of the biggest prizes associated with winning the competition was not what she had expected at the time. 

The unexpected admission left her guests stunned and quickly sparked laughter and disbelief from the studio audience.

Kelly Clarkson Says‘American Idol’ Prize Wasn’t What It Seemed

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Kelly Clarkson’s revelation happened during a recent episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” where she welcomed actor Daniel Radcliffe and reality television personality Rob Rausch as guests. 

The conversation turned toward reality competition winnings after Clarkson asked Rausch about the money he earned from his victory on “The Traitors.”

When Rausch revealed he was still waiting to receive his $220,800 prize money, Clarkson immediately jumped in with an unexpected confession. 

The singer explained that she understood the situation more than people might think because of her own experience after winning “American Idol” back in 2002.

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“You know what, I relate to this!” Clarkson said, prompting curiosity from her guests. She went on to explain that the grand prize viewers heard about during the show did not quite work the way she had expected at the time she won.

Clarkson Says The ‘Million Dollar’ Prize Wasn’t Exactly Cash

Kelly Clarkson Performs On The Today Show
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As Kelly Clarkson continued the story, she explained that the famous million-dollar prize often mentioned during the show wasn’t delivered in the simple way many fans imagined.

“And they were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars,’ or whatever. No, you didn’t. They lied,” Clarkson explained while recalling the moment she realized how the prize was structured.

According to the 43-year-old, the amount was essentially tied to investment in her career rather than a direct payment to the winner. 

“It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you,” she told the audience.

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The explanation caught Radcliffe completely off guard. The “Harry Potter” star immediately interrupted the story to confirm what he had just heard, asking in disbelief, “Wait, what?”

Clarkson quickly reassured him the claim was accurate, responding simply, “Yes!” as the audience reacted with surprise.

Kelly Clarkson Reveals The Car She Expected Never Arrived

Kelly Clarkson Performs On The Today Show
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Clarkson didn’t stop at the million-dollar discussion. The “Because of You” singer also remembered another part of the prize package that she says never materialized.

At the time she won the competition, Clarkson had been told she would receive a car as part of the reward. 

She explained that the vehicle would have been particularly helpful because her own car had been damaged and she couldn’t afford the insurance deductible needed to repair it.

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“And then they said you get a car,” she recalled during the conversation. However, the songstress revealed the promised vehicle never actually came her way.

“And then – no! I did not get a car.” The revelation prompted audible reactions from the crowd, as many audience members appeared shocked by the story.

Clarkson Was Stunned When Clay Aiken Got A Car Instead

Kelly Clarkson attends the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards
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The situation became even more surprising when Kelly Clarkson shared what she learned shortly afterward about another “American Idol” contestant.

According to the Grammy Award winner, Clay Aiken, who finished as runner-up during the show’s second season, ended up receiving a car along with his mother.

“And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom!” Clarkson told the audience, drawing shocked reactions from the crowd.

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Rausch reacted immediately by shaking his head and saying, “Unbelievable,” while Clarkson admitted she was equally stunned when she first heard about it.

“I was like, ‘What the f-ck!’” she said as she remembered the moment. The star even joked that she had confronted Aiken about the situation back then, telling the audience she had teased him after hearing the story.

Kelly Clarkson Reflects On How ‘American Idol’ Changed Her Life

Kelly Clarkson at Billboard Music Awards 2019
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Despite the surprising revelations about the prize package, Clarkson has never hidden how much winning “American Idol” transformed her life and career.

After taking the title in 2002, she quickly became one of the show’s most successful alumni. 

Clarkson went on to release hit songs like “A Moment Like This,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” and “Because of You,” helping establish her as one of pop music’s biggest voices.

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In 2025, she reflected on the anniversary of her win by thanking fans who supported her during the competition. 

“Winning American Idol changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years,” she wrote per the Daily Mail.

Clarkson’s success has been evident, but her life hasn’t been without challenges. 

Earlier this year, she revealed she would step away from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” after seven seasons to focus more on her family, especially her kids, following the death of their father in August 2025.

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Speaking about the decision during an appearance on “Today,” Clarkson said balancing everything had become overwhelming. 

“There’s just too much on the plate,” Clarkson admitted, while making it clear she still planned to remain active in her career moving forward.

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Sonja Norwood Slams Kim & Kris’ Intimate Tape Comments

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Ray J's Mom Sonja Norwood Speaks After Kim Kardashian & Kris Jenner Reportedly Deny Planning Intimate Tape Release Under Oath

Sonja Norwood is standing by her son, Ray J, amid his ongoing court case with the Kardashian-Jenner family. On Thursday (March 12), Norwood took to social media to respond to Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner‘s recent testimony about Ray and Kim’s viral intimate tape. The singer has previously argued that the tape was a calculated move. However, under oath, Kardashian and her mom have claimed otherwise.

RELATED: Ray J’s Mom Sonja Norwood Speaks Out And Sets The Record Straight On His Health (WATCH)

Court Docs Recap Kardashian-Jenner’s Intimate Tape Comments

In October, Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner sued Ray J for defamation related to his years-long claim of orchestrating the tape release and 2025 allegation of having a RICO case against the women. He clapped back in a countersuit in November, accusing them of violating a $6 million settlement. That settlement, reached in 2023, bans all parties from speaking on the tape. In addition to having their defamation lawsuit dismissed, Ray is seeking $1 million in damages and other relief, per PEOPLE.  Most recently, according to TMZ, the momager and billionaire businesswoman called his statements a lie while under oath.

“[Ray J’s] claim that I had a plan with my mother and others to release a sex tape, defraud the public, and file a ‘fake’ lawsuit against the porn company that released it to ‘create buzz’ is a lie,” Kim K reportedly said per court documents.

Meanwhile, Kris Jenner reportedly responded to Ray J’s accusations of her committing “commercial exploitation.” She said claim is “absolutely false.” Also, adding that it’s untrue, she made Kim film an intimate tape or decide when and how to release it—a claim Ray J made in a cross-complaint filing.

In recent declarations, Kris Jenner has reportedly accused Ray J of “publicly terrorizing” her daughter for two decades. For context, the tape was released in 2007 and depicts consensual intercourse between the former couple during a vacation to Cabo San Lucas. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian has reportedly expressed fear that Ray J’s claims could jeopardize her lawyer aspirations.

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Sonja Norwood Says Ray J’s Version Of Events Is The “Truth”

After news of Kim and Kris slamming Ray J’s claims surfaced, Sonja Norwood made her stance known. Taking to Instagram early Thursday, she shared a photo that reads, “Denying the truth doesn’t make it disappear.” But it was her caption that stood ten toes down for her boy and “his journey to bring the truth forward.” She claimed that Kris and Kim know “the truth” about the tape, and even posed a question directly at the momager. And just so there’s no confusion about who wrote what, Sonja Norwood signed her name to the caption!

“Who did? After reading the declarations from Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian, and reading their recent statements circulating, including reports published across multiple media outlets regarding the tape, I am no longer going to sit back and watch my son be “dogged” on social media over this matter when @rayj and I, Kris and Kim, and many others know the truth. And Kris, momager, you say you did not orchestrate the commercial release of the tape. Then who did? I support @rayj and his journey to bring the truth forward. I have witnessed this journey for many years, and however long it takes, whether it becomes a long journey or a difficult battle, we will stay on that path until the voices that have distorted the truth are publicly revealed. And if that truth journey must continue all the way to the doorstep of God’s judgment, then so be it,” Norwood wrote.

 

 

RELATED: Amy Luciani Reacts After Dwight Howard Files For Divorce, Royce Reed Seemingly Weighs In

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Why Katherine Heigl Vanished From Hollywood Spotlight

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Katherine Heigl Sighting in New York City

For years, Katherine Heigl seemed unstoppable in Hollywood. After breaking out on the hit drama “Grey’s Anatomy” and becoming a rom-com favorite, the actress quickly rose to A-list status. 

However, the momentum didn’t last. A mix of controversies, industry rumors, and headline-making comments gradually changed how she was perceived in Hollywood. 

Today, Heigl lives far from the spotlight, prompting fans to wonder whether her career slowdown was truly her choice or the result of a reputation she struggled to shake.

Katherine Heigl Went From Hollywood Darling To Industry Controversy

Katherine Heigl Sighting in New York City
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Katherine Heigl’s rise in Hollywood happened quickly after she landed the role of Dr. Izzie Stevens in “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2005. 

The role earned her widespread recognition and eventually an Emmy Award in 2007, placing her among television’s most talked-about stars.

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Around the same time, she became a major box office presence with romantic comedies like “Knocked Up,” directed by Judd Apatow. 

For a period, Heigl appeared poised to dominate both television and film.

However, the actress’s image began shifting after several public comments created friction in Hollywood circles. 

“She started her career early and was the darling and the next big thing, but how she dealt with her co-stars at Grey’s and [2007 movie] Knocked Up was well documented,” an insider told the Daily Mail.

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Critics started describing her as “difficult,” a label that would follow her for years.

According to the source, the narrative surrounding her behavior became difficult to escape. 

“Katherine, as we all know, was forced out of Hollywood for being difficult,” the insider claimed, suggesting the reputation stuck long after the initial controversies.

Heigl’s ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Comments Sparked Industry Backlash

Katherine Heigl at Teen Choice Awards
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One of the earliest controversies came during the height of Katherine Heigl’s success on “Grey’s Anatomy.” 

In 2008, the actress withdrew herself from Emmy consideration despite previously winning the award for the role.

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She explained that she had not been given the material that season to warrant an Emmy nomination. 

Many interpreted the statement as a criticism of the show’s creative team, including creator Shonda Rhimes. 

The moment quickly became one of the most talked-about controversies surrounding the actress. Heigl later admitted the situation could have been handled differently and said she apologized privately. 

Still, tensions continued to build when she later appeared on a late night show, where she described the show’s long filming schedule as cruel and mean.

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Looking back, Heigl acknowledged she regretted how the comment sounded, admitting she felt embarrassed by how “whiny [she] sounded.”

Katherine Heigl’s Film Comments Also Stirred Tension With Co-Stars

Katherine Heigl at apos Jimmy Kimmel Live apos
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Television wasn’t the only place where controversy followed Heigl. Her comments about “Knocked Up,” the comedy that helped expand her movie career, also drew criticism.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the 47-year-old described the film as “a little sexist,” explaining that it portrayed women as “shrews, humorless and uptight.” 

The remarks created tension with her co-star Seth Rogen, who later addressed the issue during a conversation with Howard Stern.

Rogen said he felt his “trust” had been “betrayed” by the comments, which surprised many fans because the film had been one of the biggest hits of Heigl’s career.

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At the same time, reports surfaced suggesting the actress had failed to appear on set to film episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” during its sixth season.

Heigl rejected those claims, explaining that she had been on family leave after adopting her daughter and was waiting for the production team to call her back to work.

Eventually, she and Rhimes reached an agreement that allowed her to leave the show early, bringing her time on the series to an end in 2010.

Heigl Later Fought Back Against Her ‘Difficult’ Reputation

NBC Universal 2018 Upfront Presentation
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As the narrative around her career grew, Katherine Heigl began publicly addressing the label that had followed her for years.

In a 2021 interview with The Washington Post, she spoke openly about how her comments had been interpreted and how the criticism escalated over time.

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“I may have said a couple of things you didn’t like, but then that escalated to ‘she’s ungrateful,’ then that escalated to ‘she’s difficult,’ and that escalated to ‘she’s unprofessional,’” she said.

Heigl also questioned what people truly meant when they described someone as difficult. “What is your definition of difficult? Somebody with an opinion that you don’t like? Now, I’m 42, and that sh-t pisses me off.”

Despite the ongoing reputation challenges, the actress continued working in television, including roles in “Suits” and the Netflix series “Firefly Lane.”

Katherine Heigl’s Life In Utah And Political Rumors Spark New Debate

Katherine Heigl is spotted at LAX
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In recent years, Heigl has stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight and built a quieter life with her husband, musician Josh Kelley, and their three children on a large ranch in Utah.

Heigl has also focused heavily on animal welfare. She launched the dog food brand Badlands Ranch in 2022 and turned part of her property into an animal sanctuary.

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Recently, her appearance at a charity event held at Mar-a-Lago sparked speculation about her political views, something she has largely avoided discussing publicly.

According to a source, the actress is cautious about entering political debates because it could affect how she is perceived in Hollywood.

“The reason Katherine avoids political talk is because she is already blacklisted with so many in Hollywood. If she brought politics into the situation, she would inevitably alienate herself further,” the source said.

They also emphasized that her attendance at the event was connected to a personal cause rather than politics. “Having been seen at Mar-a-Lago, people will talk, but the event was a fundraiser close to her heart. She didn’t go because of any political leanings,” the source shared.

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Even so, the insider suggested rebuilding her standing in Hollywood could be difficult. 

They said, “Katherine can’t seem to shake the attitude she brought to Hollywood when she was on top of the world. It’s an uphill battle right now. If she gets another chance, she will gladly play accordingly to have a comeback, but it isn’t going to happen soon since so many people don’t like her.”

The source also suggested that Heigl will likely continue avoiding political discussions in the future.

They shared,  “Though she is outspoken when she has to be, she will continue avoiding politics and will not bash anyone whether they deserve it or not.”

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