Lisa Kudrow is looking back on “Friends” with a different perspective following the death of her co-star Matthew Perry.

Reflecting on the sitcom that made her a global star, the actress said the show now feels more meaningful than ever. She also revealed how revisiting the sitcom has become difficult in the wake of Perry’s death, as it reminds her she’ll never again experience Perry’s presence and talent off-screen.

More than two decades after “Friends” first aired, the sitcom remains a cultural staple, still pulling in new generations of fans.

Kudrow was at the center of that success, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Perry.

Now, Kudrow says her view of the show has shifted, especially after revisiting it following Perry’s death.

“After Matthew died, I watched the show again,” she told The Times. “Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better. But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was. I felt I did OK, but Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew, he was just beyond us all.”

Kudrow Says Matthew Perry’s Death Made ‘Friends’ Hard To Rewatch

While their characters often clashed on “Friends,” Kudrow and Perry shared a much closer bond off-screen.

The actress later honored that friendship by writing the foreword to her co-star’s 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” where she admitted she hadn’t fully grasped the depth of his struggles with addiction.

Now, that realization has made revisiting “Friends” more emotional than ever.

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“Because there was a genius at work,” Kudrow said of Perry’s performance as Chandler. “And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”

Lisa Kudrow Once Gave Herself A Deadline To Make It In Hollywood

After “Friends” wrapped in May 2004, the cast branched out in different directions, with varying levels of success.

For Kudrow, the transition led to a steady run in comedy, with roles in films like “Happy Endings,” “Hotel for Dogs,” “Easy A,” and “Neighbors.” She also moved behind the scenes, producing projects including “Web Therapy” and the TLC/NBC series “Who Do You Think You Are?”

However, Kudrow says her career wasn’t always something she took for granted. Early on, she gave herself a limited window to make acting work, with a backup plan already in mind.

“I said to myself, ‘You’re young… Have fun and try it.’ But always in the knowledge that life gets harder. You take on family and responsibilities,” she told The Times.

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The Actress Hesitates On AI Bringing Back ‘Friends’

As AI continues to make inroads in Hollywood, Kudrow isn’t convinced it should be used to revive “Friends.”

When asked whether she’d sign off on a deal allowing her likeness to be used in AI-generated episodes of the hit sitcom, Kudrow made it clear the choice wouldn’t be hers alone.

“Well, it wouldn’t be my decision,” she said. “All the cast would have to agree. Bright, Kauffman, Crane [the show’s creators and producers] would have to agree too.”

Even then, she suggested the idea may not get far. Kudrow noted that not everyone involved would necessarily be interested, regardless of how lucrative the offer might be.

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Lisa Kudrow Reflected On Being Married Before ‘Friends’ success

Away from Hollywood, Kudrow built a stable personal life long before “Friends” turned her into a household name. She has been married for decades to French-born advertising executive Michel Stern, per PEOPLE.

That timing, she says, helped her sidestep the level of public scrutiny that followed co-stars like Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox at the height of the show’s fame.

Reflecting on it now, Kudrow acknowledged the role that decision played, while also stressing the importance of keeping her career separate from her home life.

“For sure, and all because I married early and outside the business,” she said. “No one was interested. There was no story. And very early on, I was pretty clear: actors on a big show are well paid and really looked after. But you cannot take that attitude home with you. At home, it’s family, life, kids.”

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The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jessi Draper is giving her fans a “life update,” speaking candidly about her healing journey and experience dating after divorce.

“I know that you guys see a lot of headlines and videos and photos about my life, and something that I have learned from being on reality TV is that everyone has an opinion,” Jessi, 33, said in a “get ready with me” video shared via Instagram on Saturday, April 25. “But healing after divorce is so interesting because everyone’s process is different.”

Jessi and her estranged husband Jordan Ngatikaura — who share kids Jager, 5, and Jovi, 3 — called it quits after making their reality TV debut on the hit Hulu show in September 2024. Their marriage issues were documented on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, including Jessi’s emotional affair with Marciano Brunette.

Following the news of their split, Jessi broke her silence on their divorce during a March episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, claiming she experienced “emotional abuse” from Jordan.

On Friday, April 24, Jordan clapped back, telling a fan that his “wife’s acting like a complete psycho [and] manic person.”

“So for me, I did a lot of mourning in my relationship,” Jessi continued on Saturday. “I don’t know if anyone can relate to that. I know a lot of people don’t understand that I’m dating and hanging out and just having fun and when you’re in a relationship where you don’t feel valued and you don’t feel like you were treated well, it feels so nice to just talk to people who make you feel valued and treat you well.”

She added, “And I think one of the biggest comments I see is, ‘Go heal and focus on your children.’ And what I want to say to that is: two things can be true. I have my kids 50 percent of the time now, so I am focusing on healing and spending time with them but when I don’t have them I’m also focusing on myself and reprioritizing being happy, honestly. And it’s been really fun to just be happy and to be giddy and to just let loose and kind of see that men don’t have to be what I have experienced for so long.”

Jessi went on to say that while she does believe that “being alone,” going to therapy and “journaling” are all “ a big part of healing,” she also believes that “another part of healing is dating.”

“Because I am definitely jaded when it comes to relationships now and I am really scared,” she explained. “So it’s been kind of nice just to, like, be happy again and experience other things. I do plan on being single for a long time and just hanging out with different people and having fun and finding connections while also focusing on myself.”

Jessi — who admitted she hasn’t been “single since I was 19 or 20 years old” — also addressed comments she has made about her previous relationship, saying that she doesn’t want to “talk badly” about her failed marriage.

“I already said my piece on that,” she added, claiming that she lived in “fight or flight” mode for years. “But there is an element of, like, when you do get divorced you kind of unwind what you’ve been through.”

The reality TV star acknowledged that there are “going to be plenty of judgments” about the decisions she makes moving forward, but despite the online hate and criticism she is “so happy just to be in this new phase in life.”

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“Divorce is so freaking scary and so hard and so heartbreaking,” she continued. “I am so excited to film again and show that process for me.”

Filming on season 5 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was briefly paused after star Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen were engaged in an alleged domestic dispute. After local authorities decided not to pursue charges against Taylor, production on the season resumed and producers welcomed Taylor to return.

The former Bachelorette is said to be focused on her mental health after her split and legal issues with Dakota, and will reportedly “not be involved” in the show moving forward.

Megan Thee Stallion’s whirlwind romance with Klay Thompson has come to an abrupt and messy end, leaving fans stunned by how quickly things unraveled. 

What started as a highly publicized, affectionate relationship filled with gifts, trips, and red carpet moments has now turned into a breakup fueled by serious accusations. 

With Megan speaking out directly and hinting at deeper issues, the split is already sparking intense reactions online as fans try to piece together what really went wrong.

Megan Thee Stallion didn’t hold back when confirming the breakup, making it clear that her decision was rooted in values she refuses to compromise. 

In a statement to PEOPLE on April 25, the rapper shared, “I’ve made the decision to end my relationship with Klay.” 

Megan then shared a hint about the possible cause of the breakup, revealing, “Trust, fidelity and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship, and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward.”

In her final words, the Grammy Award winner shared that she would be stepping away and focusing on herself. 

According to her, “I’m taking this time to prioritize myself and move ahead with peace and clarity.”

Fans Erupt With Mixed Reactions Amid Megan’s Announcement 

In no time, Megan Thee Stallion’s statement spread across social media, sparking a wave of reactions from fans. 

On X, some users showed the 31-year-old some support, noting that it was Thompson’s loss.

“Trust and fidelity are the bare minimum, no matter who the man is. Seeing her stand on her values so publicly is incredibly empowering,” one person wrote.

Another commented, “She settled for less and the less still cheated on her and made her do wifey duties with no ring. This Arab boy fumbled a hottie damn.”

A third fan also noted, “The fact she led with values instead of vibes is the real story. Most people stay silent or spiral. She set a standard and moved, that’s grown woman behavior.”

On the other hand, some users revealed that Megan deserved what she got, considering her complicated history with Tory Lanez. 

“What goes around comes around. Karma is what again?” a fan wrote over a screenshot of a tweet Lanez made about God fighting his enemies.

Another fan also shared the same screenshot and added, “god is working for Tory Lanez,” alongside a laughing emoji.

Megan Thee Stallion Sparks Cheating Claims In Emotional Post

Before the official confirmation, Megan Thee Stallion had already set social media on fire with a raw and emotional Instagram Stories post that appeared to call out her partner. 

Although she didn’t mention the NBA star by name, the context made the situation clear.

“Cheating, had me around your whole family playing house… got ‘cold feet,’” she wrote. 

Megan also claimed she held Thompson down during all “your HORRIBLE mood swings and treatment towards me during your basketball season.”

According to her, she did all these only for Thompson to reveal he wasn’t sure he could be “monogamous.” “B*tch I need a REAL break after this one .. bye yall,” she continued. 

As expected, the post wasted no time going viral and fans had a lot to say.

Fans React To Megan’s Instagram Outburst

On X, many users revealed it was disappointing to see Thompson choosing infidelity, considering how much effort Megan Thee Stallion put into the relationship. 

One fan wrote, “Klay Thompson really fumbled on this one, I really don’t know the basis of this whole issue but he supposed to learn from then curry and do better next time. No offense.”

Another user commented, “Klay really had Meghan Thee Stallion holding him down through the whole season just to fumble her like that. Some dudes don’t deserve a real one.”

A third fan added, “Megan said she’d done playing games and walked. Queens don’t stay for mood swings and side pieces. Klay just lost the best thing he ever deserved.”

Megan Thee Stallion And Klay Thompson’s Romance Once Seemed Strong

The breakup has shocked many because the relationship once appeared solid and full of excitement. Megan and  Thompson had shared several moments that painted a picture of happiness and stability, especially after going public.

In February, Thompson surprised Megan with a powder-blue Bentley for her birthday, and the two celebrated with a tropical getaway. 

She later reflected on the trip, writing, “Aw man I was not ready for this birthday trip to be over. A time was definitely had. THANK YOU BABY.” 

In late March, she posted a mirror selfie of her and her Thompson together, with the latter standing behind her and holding her waist, further fueling fan excitement about their bond.

Their relationship had first sparked headlines last summer before becoming official at her Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in New York City. 

At the time, Megan openly praised him, calling him the “nicest person I’ve ever met in my life,” which made the sudden breakup even more surprising.

“Fear Factor: House of Fear” host Johnny Knoxville is opening up about one of his favorite parts of filming the reality competition show: keeping up with behind-the-scenes gossip about contestants. He recalled reading daily updates during production, turning it into a morning routine while having breakfast.

Season 1 aired its final episode in March, and Knoxville will be returning for a second season after the show was renewed, giving him more gossip fodder with a new set of players.

At the Deadline Contenders TV panel on April 25, “Fear Factor: House of Fear” host Johnny Knoxville and Executive Producer Michael Heyerman discussed the series, a reboot of the dare game show that originally aired from 2001 to 2006 and was hosted by Joe Rogan.

Unlike the original “Fear Factor,” the reboot requires contestants to live together in a creepy house where they can strategize and form alliances, adding an extra layer of drama to the already stressful challenges they face.

As Knoxville revealed, he gained a new hobby while filming the 10-episode series. “One of my favorite things is the first thing in the morning when we were shooting was they would send out the gossip report — the ‘hot gos report’ of all the things that are happening in the house. And my wife and I sat over breakfast every morning loving it,” he said during the panel, per Deadline.

The Host Was Invested In The Relationships

The original “Fear Factor” was a self-contained competition where a new set of three men and three women competed against each other in each episode. The reboot added a social-strategy element and had a player eliminated each episode until one was crowned the winner at the end of the season. This allowed Knoxville to get to know the players better and form bonds with them.

“I’ve never had a host be so invested in the hot sheet that comes out the morning of,” Heyerman said of Knoxville’s keen interest in the players. “I was really invested in it. Who’s trying to form a friendship, who’s backstabbing someone, is that a real romance or a showmance, did they kiss or barely kiss? I love it,” explained Knoxville.

Knoxville formed a kinship with some contestants, admitting that he became emotional when some were eliminated. “I turned into that person, but you can’t help it. You form relationships with these people.”

Johnny Knoxville Dishes On His Fear

Knoxville doesn’t seem like someone who scares easily, especially given his history of facing dangerous and often frightening situations throughout “Jackass,” where he regularly pushed himself through stunts that would intimidate most people. However, he revealed one thing about the show that scared him.

In the first season, the challengers were made to face their biggest fears, including getting shocked, being buried alive, and being stuck with dangerous animals and critters, among other things. “Snakes, fine. Spiders, fine. I don’t care about heights. But the communal bathrooms in the house, it gives me anxiety. I don’t want to live with 14 people and have to share a bathroom. I’ll go out in the woods before I’ll do that. That gives me fear,” Knoxville shared.

The Stunt Performer Felt Like A ‘Perverted Life Coach’

In an episode of the podcast “Books That Changed My Life” released in January, Knoxville spoke about his experience on “Fear Factor: House of Fear,” saying that his initial thought upon taking the project was to make the contestants’ experiences “worse” for them. However, as they started filming, his perspective changed, and he ended up encouraging the players to conquer their fears.

Knoxville said he told them not to quit, and to “at least try it.” “I became like a really perverted life coach,” he said, as he alternated between scaring them in one moment and motivating them in the next. The actor said he ended up liking the contestants and had more fun hosting than he expected.

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Johnny Knoxville Returns For ‘Fear Factor’ Season 2

A two-part follow-up special titled “Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear” will premiere on May 14, where six contestants endure challenges for 48 hours without sleep. Fox also announced that “Fear Factor: House of Fear” has been renewed for a second season.

As reported by Variety, the first episode of Season 1 drew in 16.5 million viewers from various platforms. “Johnny Knoxville’s fearless, unpredictable energy makes him the perfect ringmaster,” Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn said. According to him, the team behind the show is now “plotting new ways to raise the shock-and-awe quotient for Season Two.”

“Fear Factor: House of Fear” Season 1 is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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Filming for Season 4 of the Emmy-winning show “The White Lotus” is well underway in France, and producer David Bernad is sharing some tidbits about the upcoming season without revealing the plot. As he recently revealed, he and showrunner Mike White had an encounter with Cannes waitstaff that convinced them France was the perfect backdrop for the black comedy anthology series’ fourth season.

At the Cannes International Series Festival, “The White Lotus” producer David Bernad dished on how France was chosen as the location for the show’s upcoming season. Showrunner Mike White initially had a list of countries in mind, but an encounter several years ago convinced him that France was the most fitting environment for the idea he had brewing.

As Bernad noted, the interaction happened in 2021 in Cannes while they were attending the Canneseries Festival, per Variety. “We went to dinner and we had a really specific experience with a waiter and a maître d’, and it was the stereotype,” the producer said, without adding further details about what happened, only saying that it was “a funny moment.”

“And I think that it suddenly unlocked what the show is and the dynamics of the show,” he continued. At that point, he and White eliminated all the other locations they were considering and decided then and there that they were shooting Season 4 in France.

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David Bernad And Mike White Share The Focus Of Season 4

Before choosing France, White already had a general idea of what Season 4 would be about, with Bernad saying it would focus on “the arts and what it is to be an artist.” Careful not to reveal anything further, the producer said the series will show “how fame can be corrosive and can dictate your choices in life,” adding that Season 4 is the “funniest season” yet.

In an interview with W Magazine in February, White, who writes and directs the series, confirmed that Season 4 will be about fame. “Who has the world’s attention, who is the plus-one, and how that can organize a relationship. Some people are satisfied with the love of just an intimate partner, and some people need the love of strangers and a bigger kind of attention,” he explained.

How ‘Survivor’ Helped Mike White’s Storytelling For ‘The White Lotus’

White was a castaway on “Survivor” twice, the second time on Season 50, which is currently airing. The director took time off before starting work on “The White Lotus” Season 4 to join the reality series’ milestone season that includes past players. According to White, one of the reasons he loves the show is seeing how the players react to and handle situations.

“It’s like a king’s court of intrigue and showing people under stress in these high stakes situations and how they act… it’s getting some insight into the human mind and motivations, it’s really valuable as a storyteller,” White told The Hollywood Reporter.

White revealed that he developed the characters and concept of “The White Lotus” Season 4 while he was on “Survivor 50,” adding that one of his early thoughts was which character to kill in the new season.

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Helena Bonham Carter Leaves ‘The White Lotus’

Helena Bonham Carter has departed ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4 just days into production, Deadline reports.

HBO says her character didn’t work once filming began and will be rewritten and recast. pic.twitter.com/SGbUmBVRMk

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 25, 2026

In January, Helena Bonham Carter was announced as part of “The White Lotus” Season 4 cast. Filming began on April 15 on the French Riviera, but more than a week later, it was reported that the English actress would no longer be part of the series.

As The Blast previously reported, Carter’s character did not translate on set, and some rewrites will be done. “The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks,” the statement read. The news was met with disappointment from fans who were looking forward to seeing Carter in the highly anticipated season.

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What Do We Know About ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4?

New cast members for ‘The White Lotus’ Season 4:

• Max Greenfield
• Kumail Nanjiani
• Chloe Bennet
• Charlie Hall
• Jarrad Paul pic.twitter.com/I2eh1WYuoC

— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 17, 2026

“The White Lotus” Season 4 is already in production, with filming taking place across the French Riviera, including Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Paris. The story is set during the Cannes Film Festival, unfolding at luxury hotels such as the Airelles Château de la Messardière and Hôtel Martinez.

Season 4’s ensemble cast includes Heather Graham, Vincent Cassell, Kumail Nanjiani, Max Greenfield, Sandra Bernhard, Steve Coogan, Marissa Long, Frida Gustavsson, Rosie Perez, Ben Schnetzer, Chris Messina, AJ Michalka, Steve Coogan, and Alexander Ludwig.

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An official date has not been announced, but “The White Lotus” Season 4 is expected to premiere sometime in 2027.

The war in Westeros was always going to get uglier before it got quieter, and House of the Dragon looks more than ready to lean into that. Season 2 ended with the Targaryen civil war on the edge of something far more catastrophic, so the big question heading into Season 3 was never whether the fighting would escalate. It was how much destruction HBO was willing to throw on screen once the real bloodshed began. At CCXP Mexico, fans got their answer. The new trailer for Season 3 makes it very clear that the Dance of the Dragons is now in full, vicious motion.

Presented by Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Fabien Frankel, the new trailer promises what the cast described as a “bigger, bolder, bloodier, more brutal, more dangerous” season, and the footage absolutely seems to back that up. The trailer puts a heavy spotlight on two major conflicts, including the Battle of the Gullet and a large-scale field battle, while scattering glimpses of chaos from across the season. One of the standout additions is James Norton as Ormund Hightower, delivering a fiery speech about Rhaenyra’s illegitimacy. Elsewhere, Tom Glynn-Carney’s battered Aegon vows revenge against Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond, who now appears to be settled as King and is even seen occupying the Iron Throne himself.

What Can We Expect From ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3?

Showrunner Ryan Condal, who appeared via video link at the event, teased that there would be a lot more of what the fans have been demanding — dragons.

​​​​​​​

“I’m very sad to not be joining you all there, but I’m back here in the U.K., putting the finishing touches on post-production in season three. This is a huge season. It’s the biggest we’ve made by any margin and by a wide measure. It is dark. It’s funny. It’s action-packed. It’s emotional. And, of course, it has lots and lots of dragons. This season demanded the very best of everybody that collaborated to make it together, and I can’t wait for the world to experience it.”

Smith also teased that, unlike the more dialogue-heavy episodes of Season 2, this outing would contain “a lot of battles.” He added: “This season, we’re trying to make it bigger, bolder, bloodier, more brutal, more dangerous — just get back to the nuts and bolts of what we are as a show.”

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres in June.

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Release Date

August 21, 2022

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HBO

Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

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Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

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Writers

Gabe Fonseca

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• 
• 

  Fabien Frankel

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  Ser Criston Cole

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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are both safe following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington D.C..

The president, the first lady, pregnant White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and other officials were rushed out of the ballroom at the Washington Hilton hotel in Washington D.C. when gunfire erupted on Saturday, April 25.

A Secret Service agent was shot during the crossfire and transported to a local hospital for treatment. Washington D.C. law enforcement officials confirmed that a 31-year-old California resident was in custody and facing multiple charges after rushing a security checkpoint.

During a White House press conference, Donald said he owed a “debt of gratitude to the courage of law enforcement” at the Washington Hilton for their quick response.

Related: Erika Kirk Seen Crying Amid Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Erika Kirk was in attendance as shots broke out at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. CNN reported that Kirk, 37, was seen crying as the chaos unfolded at the Washington Hilton in Washington D.C. on Saturday, April 25. CNN’s Sara Sidner said on air that she personally witnessed Kirk leaving the main ballroom, telling aides, […]

“That was very unexpected but incredibly acted upon by the Secret Service and law enforcement and this was an event dedicated to freedom of speech that was supposed to and in a certain way it did … because the fact that they just unified us — a room that was totally unified,” Trump told reporters.

The Washington Hilton is the same venue where President Ronald Reagan and three law enforcement officials were shot on March 31, 1981, by John Hinckley Jr. (Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was kept in a mental health facility for three decades.)

Keep scrolling for more information about what occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

What Happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?

While the investigation is ongoing, as of publication, the Secret Service has confirmed that gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and agents near the “main magnetometer” at the Washington Hilton.

The president, first lady and other administration officials — including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance — were all evacuated by the Secret Service.

The White House posted footage purportedly showing the suspect rushing right past Secret Service agents at the hotel. The clip concluded with the shirtless suspect in handcuffs, with his face pressed against the ground, after being apprehended.

“A man charged a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of Secret Service,” the president confirmed.

Who Is the Suspected Shooter?

Washington D.C. law enforcement officials confirmed that a 31-year-old California native was taken into custody following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The suspect’s motive and condition are unknown, as of publication.

The suspect has been charged with two counts of using a firearm and one count of assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.

Related: Karoline Leavitt Promised There Would Be ‘Shots Fired’ Before WHCD Shooting

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt promised there would be “shots fired” in President Donald Trump’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner speech minutes before real gunfire erupted at the gala. “[Trump] is ready to rumble,” Leavitt, 28, told Fox News on the red carpet at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25. “I will tell you, […]

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Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said during a press conference on April 25 that more charges will likely be filed as the investigation takes shape.

In his own White House press briefing, Donald referred to the suspect as “a very sick person.”

Was Anyone Injured in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner?

The president confirmed that a Secret Service agent was shot during the altercation. Per the Secret Service, the bullet struck the agent’s bulletproof vest and he was transported to the hospital for treatment.

“[He was] saved by the fact that he was wearing, obviously, a very good bulletproof vest. The vest did the job,” Donald told reporters. “I just spoke to the officer and he was doing great, he’s in great shape, in very high spirits and I told him we love him and respect him and he’s a very proud guy, he’s very proud of what he does, the Secret Service agent.”

Did the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Continue After the Shooting?

The president initially broke his silence in a statement via Truth Social, where he expressed his desire for the dinner to continue.

“Quite an evening in D.C. Secret Service and Law Enforcement did a fantastic job. They acted quickly and bravely,” Donald wrote. “The shooter has been apprehended, and I have recommended that we ‘LET THE SHOW GO ON’ but, will entirely be guided by Law Enforcement. They will make a decision shortly. Regardless of that decision, the evening will be much different than planned, and we’ll just, plain, have to do it again.”

White House Correspondents’ President Weijia Jiang spoke inside the ballroom a short time later to confirm that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days at Donald’s behest.

“Law enforcement has requested that we leave the premises. … [The president] wanted to emphasize that nobody was hurt. The cabinet and the first lady, everybody’s safe,” she explained. “I said earlier tonight that journalism is a public service because when there is an emergency we run toward the crisis, not away from it.”

Jiang went on, “I saw all of you reporting and that’s what we do. Thank God everybody is safe and thank you for coming together tonight.”

What Did Donald Trump Say About the WHCD Shooting?

Donald spoke to reporters late Saturday at the White House, where he said he was “honored” to be a target after multiple attempts on his life in recent years. (The president survived being shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. A separate suspected shooter was arrested at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.)

“When you look at our great presidents, [this] doesn’t happen to people who don’t do anything,” he told the media.

Donald also shared how his wife Melania responded to the sudden outbreak of violence at a star-studded Washington D.C. gala.

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“I want to thank the first lady, that was a rather traumatic experience for her,” he said.

Later in his briefing, Donald elaborated, “The fact, we were sitting right next to each other, first lady on my right, and I heard a noise … I thought it was a tray going down and it was a pretty loud noise and it was from quite far away. [The suspect] hadn’t reached the area at all. They really got him … but it was a gun.”

“Some people really understood that very quickly, other people didn’t … I was watching what happened,” the president went on. “Melania was very cognizant of what happened. I think she knew immediately what happened. She was saying, ‘That’s a bad noise.’ And we were whisked away. It was very quick … it was a matter of seconds that we were out the door.”

It’s hard to find a show that is made up entirely of perfect episodes. Even as a series is still running on TV or streaming, sometimes still in its second season, we are bound to be disappointed by an episode or two that doesn’t meet expectations. Some would say that there is no such thing as a perfect TV series, unless, of course, we’re talking about really short, initially low-profile gems such as Adolescence or Station Eleven — artsy projects that are allowed to explore their characters and worldbuilding far beyond what we normally see on television. However, all it takes is one look at Apple TV+’s catalog to find a show that, at least so far, has lived up to every expectation, delivering one amazing episode after another with no hiccups. This science fiction extraordinaire goes, of course, by the name of Severance, and it’s not unfair to claim that it has quickly become one of the most iconic series out there.

With just two seasons released between 2022 and 2025, one with nine episodes and the other with ten, Severance does have a serious advantage over other big shows of its genre. Doctor Who has been basically running since 1963, with its little bumps on the road, so it is bound to have its “Love and Monsters” or “The Interstellar Song Context.” Likewise, The X-Files would eventually deliver something as reviled as “Schizogeny” with nine seasons and a revival. It’s hard to build a perfect show when you have a lot of episodes to make, sometimes with stories that don’t necessarily add something to the overarching plot. Severance isn’t necessarily a better series than Doctor Who or The X-Files, but among the iconic sci-fi shows of our time, it is definitely the most consistent.

‘Severance’ Has Quickly Become Apple TV+’s Most Iconic Series

Is it fair to call Severance an iconic series? Ever since its first season dropped, our way of looking at our jobs has certainly changed because of it. Lines like “The work is mysterious and important” and “Praise Kier!” have become commonplace among fans of the genre, and the show’s visuals are striking and easy to recognize, as well as to apply to the small horrors of our everyday life. If that isn’t enough to convince you of the series’ status, numbers might do the trick: earlier this year, Severance surpassed Ted Lasso and became the most-watched series on Apple TV+, also claiming the fourth spot on Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals chart for the week of January 13, according to Deadline. That’s the beginning of Season 2 that we’re talking about. Over the course of the show’s second run, viewership numbers would naturally grow.

Severance also garners recognition in the form of critical acclaim and awards. With a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, the series created by Dan Erickson has also won ten Emmys so far. In 2025, protagonist Britt Lower, who plays the defiant Helly R. (or the super conformist Helena Eagan, depending on your perspective), and main antagonist Tramell Tillman, known in-universe as Mr. Milchick, the current face of Lumon when it comes to the Macrodata Refinement employees, have been lauded for their performances in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series categories, respectively.

When we take into consideration the fact that Apple TV+ has become the home of cerebral sci-fi ever since its launch in 2019, things get even more impressive. Amidst shows like Foundation, Silo, and For All Mankind, Severance shines the brightest. If Apple TV+ were a band, Severance would definitely be the frontman. Therefore, it is no stretch to claim that, if Severance isn’t yet an iconic science fiction series—or just an iconic TV series, period—it is certainly on the path to becoming a true staple of the genre. Unless, of course, something horrible happens in the upcoming seasons or, even worse, in the series finale.

‘Severance’s Episodes Are Cohesive and to the Point

And it is not hard to understand how Severance became such a tour de force. All it takes is a look at some of its most beloved episodes, like “The We We Are” or “Cold Harbor,” the finales of the first two seasons. Just pick any episode of Severance at random, and you will quickly realize why this is such a great show. You might be a little confused, but you will also be intrigued and, more than anything, disturbed by the unnerving pacing and the aseptic visuals. The cohesiveness of these episodes is mostly owed to the fact that they are almost all directed by the same person. Ben Stiller is the name behind 11 of the show’s 19 episodes, and he has more than proven himself as a director throughout his work on the show. However, the other four names working on the show have such a synergy with him that the show feels entirely cohesive, like the work of a unique mind.

Severance‘s episodes are all to the point. There is a story being told there, the story of a group of employees trying to escape the prison that is their all-encompassing job, as well as the story of a man trying to rescue his wife from the grasp of a psychopathic company. Severance never wastes any time in telling this story. All episodes add something to the overarching plot, even if initially one might get a little lost while trying to understand the significance of the baby goats. In the end, it all makes sense. This certainly helps to make the episodes all the more satisfying, for there is never the feeling that something has been forgotten or added just for shock value.

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This One Small Line From ‘Severance’ Has Us Rethinking Everything About Gemma’s Fate

It’s possible that Lumon is even more sinister than it first seemed. 

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But it is perhaps important to point out that there is an episode of Severance that fans tend to get a little sour on. Said episode is Season 2’s “Sweet Vitriol,” the lowest-rated on IMDb. A trip to the hometown of big bad Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette), the episode is often seen as pointless and distracting from a much more important main storyline. This assessment is simply wrong. “Sweet Vitriol” is a deep exploration of how capitalist interests might get in the way of communities and even families, as well as being essential to setting Cobel on her path to turn against Lumon. Ultimately, “Sweet Vitriol” adds the same to Severance as, say, “Chikhai Bardo.” Every episode of Severance is just as mysterious and important as the next. As Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) would put it, they should all be enjoyed equally.

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Release Date

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February 17, 2022

Network

Apple TV

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Showrunner

Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman

Writers

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Anna Ouyang Moench, Wei-Ning Yu

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