“Wizards of Waverly Place” star Jake T. Austin is slamming Disney for allegedly failing to include him in the rebooted series, “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.” Over the last few days, the 31-year-old has voiced his frustration with the new show and, in a new post, claimed that he wasn’t even invited to the show’s 2024 premiere.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Austin played Max Russo in the original series, which aired on Disney from 2007 to 2012. The rebooted series, which stars his fictional brother, Justin Russo, played by David Henrie, premiered on the network in 2024.

While none of the OG cast members were main characters in the reboot except for Henrie, every character from the main family, including Selena Gomez, David DeLuise, and Maria Canals-Barrera, made an appearance in the first season. Austin, however, didn’t.

He voiced his frustration about the situation two days ago, according to The Blast, saying he was “disappointed” he was left out of the show. “Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates and wish them continued success. Thank you to all the fans who watched over the years. The show wouldn’t be what it is without your endless support,” he added.

Henrie Denies Austin’s Claims, Says His Former Co-Star Was Asked Several Times To Join The ‘Wizards’ Reboot

Henrie denied Austin’s claims in a series of different Instagram Stories posts yesterday, August 7.

In one, Henrie said that not only would he have loved to have seen Austin’s character return, Disney executives allegedly “called him, texted, and went through his agents” to get him back.

One of the rebooted series’ showrunners confirmed Henrie’s statement, adding on X, “David Henrie is correct. Jake was asked multiple times by many people. Really wanted him back. No response.”

Austin Says He Was Left Out Of The ‘Wizards’ Reboot From Day One, Says He Wasn’t Invited To The Premiere

A day later, Austin returned to his Instagram Stories with a lengthy post, revealing how everything allegedly went down.

“I first met with Disney in 2020 to discuss returning as Max for what I was told was essentially going to be a continuation of the original series,” he wrote. Continuing, Austin said conversations stalled, and then he learned that the reboot had been greenlit to series with the rest of the world in October 2024.

“I was the only Russo family member who wasn’t invited to make a cameo appearance or visit the set by the end of season 1,” he added. “I was also not invited to the premiere.”

Austin Says He Was Asked To Return Only After The First Season Wrapped

Austin, who also appeared in “The Suite Life on Deck,” claimed that he was “kept in the dark” by Disney about the show until after the first season wrapped. After that, Austin said he received DMs from Henrie, asking if he would be interested in reprising his role in the second season.

However, by that point, Austin wasn’t “interested” in returning because he felt “dismissed” by Disney for not being invited during the first season.

Adding to the drama, Austin said he wasn’t a “fan” of where the show was heading, adding that “the whole thing felt off.”

“I feel like more of the OG Wizards cast should have been involved from the beginning, not just randomly appear for an episode or two, so I passed,” he finished.

Austin’s Fate In The Series Was Revealed

Although Austin was the only Russo to not appear in the rebooted series, Henrie and Gomez addressed his fate during the season premiere in 2024. While speaking with one of the other characters, Henrie reveals his brother had taken over their father’s chain of sub shops and become a wealthy man.

“So, you’re the guy who owns all the sandwich shops? Like, the billionaire,” the character asked Henrie’s character, Justin. “Uh, no, that would be Max,” he replied. “I’m a middle school vice principal, which some would say is much cooler than being a billionaire.”

“I would never say that,” Gomez’s character clapped back. “Nobody says that.”

Jessie Cave says her unconventional OF account has generated more money than all of her acting work combined. The 39-year-old actress, best known for playing Lavender Brown in the final three “Harry Potter” movies, joined the subscription platform with a highly specific concept: sensual content centered entirely on her long hair. What Jessie Cave initially viewed as a brief way to make extra money has since become a life-changing source of income for her family.

Cave revealed that she earned £15,000 in a single day, the equivalent of more than $20,000. “I’ve earned more, easily, than my entire acting career within one year,” she told The Times. The actress charges subscribers $6 per month but reportedly earns additional money through “paid-for messages” and customized requests.

When Cave opened the account, she had considerably lower expectations and did not anticipate remaining on the platform long-term. “I thought I’d make five grand, be on it for a few months and it would buy me time to work out what we’re going to do,” she explained. “But it’s now been over a year and a half and it’s genuinely saved our lives.”

Cave said she had reached “a point of complete desperation” because acting auditions had become scarce. She and her longtime partner, Alfie Brown, share four children and needed another way to support their household. Cave explained that traditional employment did not necessarily work for her family’s circumstances, making the flexibility and earning potential of OF especially appealing.

The Actress Keeps Her Content Focused On Her Hair

Although OF is commonly associated with explicit adult content, Cave has established firm boundaries around what she offers. “My rule is the hair is the main character,” she said. “That’s how I justify it. It’s literally about hair: the texture of hair. The fetish. It’s very, very niche.”

Cave’s unusually long light-brown hair has become the defining feature of her page. The actress revealed that it is currently “down to [her] v-gina,” adding, “I could trim it, but the truth is, the weirder the better.”

Her content focuses on activities such as brushing, swishing, and styling her hair, with the sounds and visual texture designed to appeal to subscribers interested in that specific fetish. Cave has repeatedly emphasized that she does not post explicit sexual material.

Jessie Cave Calls OF A ‘Strange New Journey’

When Cave initially announced her account, she described the decision as a “strange new journey.” In a humorous Instagram video, she brushed her hair while explaining to an off-camera voice, believed to be Brown, that her OF videos would primarily feature “stuff like this.”

When Brown apparently questioned whether hair-brushing content was an established phenomenon, Cave responded, “No.” She explained that subscribers “want to hear the sounds” of her brushing and “swishing” her hair.

“Well, don’t give it away for free!” the off-camera voice told her as she demonstrated the type of material she intended to create. “I need to tell people what I’m offering,” Cave replied.

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She then attempted to describe the unusual aesthetic she envisioned for the account. “It is a fetish. I think. I hope! Slutty Mormon. I’m going for a very pure aesthetic,” she said.

When asked what she hoped to offer subscribers, Cave answered, “Just very sensual stuff with my hair.”

She also joked that the venture “could make the big bucks,” a prediction that ultimately proved accurate.

The ‘Harry Potter’ Alum Set Clear Boundaries

Cave made it clear from the beginning that certain types of content would remain off-limits. “There will be no ‘feet’ or ‘bums’ involved,” she said.

Her OF biography reinforces the narrow focus of the page while playfully referencing her “Harry Potter” history. “Former ‘Harry Potter’ actress, writer, doodler and now OF Long Hair Specialist. I do NICHE HAIR CONTENT which you may well quite like. How magical! Owl drop near daily,” the bio reads.

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The promise of an “Owl drop near daily” adds a Wizarding World-inspired twist to the subscription page without making the content itself directly connected to the franchise. “If you have a hair thing, this is the place for you,” Cave told prospective subscribers.

She also encouraged them to contact her with specific hair-related requests.

OF Helped Jessie Cave Feel Visible Again

Beyond the financial impact, Cave said the account changed how she viewed herself after becoming a mother of four. “For so long I’ve just been this quirky figure,” she told The Times. “After having four kids and feeling invisible for so long that was really appealing to me.”

Her OF work has allowed her to embrace sensuality while maintaining control over what she shows, how she presents herself and which requests she accepts. The niche approach also separates Cave’s page from more traditional celebrity OF accounts. Rather than treating her acting fame as the product, she built the subscription around a distinctive physical feature and a narrowly defined audience.

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Perez Hilton’s family is sharing a new update on his status amid his hospitalization, confirming the celebrity blogger will require “surgery” for the injuries he sustained during a disturbing livestream.

“Perez’s condition remains serious but stable,” his family shared via his website on Saturday, August 8. “He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday.”

The statement added, “As our family remains focused on Perez’s treatment and recovery, we also need the space and privacy to care for everyone affected by this situation.”

The blogger alarmed TikTok followers on Tuesday, August 4, when he appeared to perform dangerous acts of self-harm during a live stream. (TikTok later banned Hilton’s account for violating its terms of service, though the platform did acknowledge that human error allowed the stream to continue for over 10 minutes.)

Related: Perez Hilton’s Rep Breaks Silence After Blogger’s Hospitalization

Perez Hilton’s team is speaking out after the blogger was transported to a hospital following a disturbing livestream. “At this time, we do not have any additional confirmed information to share regarding Perez Hilton’s condition,” Hilton’s agent Dante Rusciolelli tells Us in a statement. “Our focus remains on Perez’s health, recovery, and the privacy of […]

A Miami-Dade police spokesperson confirmed to Us that law enforcement officials received calls “regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media” and were then sent to Hilton’s Florida home for what they suspected was a “possible suicide” attempt.

In Saturday’s statement, Hilton’s family confirmed that the blogger “remains hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act,” which allows for people to be held for medical observation for up to 72 hours for emergency mental health evaluation without their consent.

“His communication has been extremely limited and confined to immediate family, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care. He has not communicated with the media or issued any public statements,” their statement stressed.

His family also asked the public to stay away from Hilton’s home in Miami out of respect for his children.

“There is absolutely no reason for members of the media or the public to remain outside the family’s home,” they said. “We again respectfully ask members of the media to leave the home and surrounding area, stop following family members, and cease photographing Perez’s children. We also ask photo agencies not to purchase, publish, or distribute any photographs of the children that may have been taken.”

His loved ones clarified in a previous statement that “Perez’s [three] children, niece, and sister were inside the home” moments before his livestream started, though they quickly “fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma.”

“Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced,” his family said on Thursday. “An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy.”

Hilton’s podcast cohost, Chris Booker, announced on Wednesday, August 5, that their weekly entertainment news show, “The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker,” will be on hiatus for the foreseeable future and until the blogger fully recovers.

“[Perez] is very loved. I can only hope he feels it. Heal up friend,” Booker, 55, wrote via Instagram.

Prior to Tuesday’s disturbing livestream, Hilton opened up to his YouTube followers in June over the stress of moving his family from Las Vegas to Miami. (Hilton is a father to children Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8.)

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Related: 911 Audio Released After Perez Hilton’s Apparent ‘Suicide Attempt’: Report

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New details regarding Perez Hilton’s hospitalization have come to light. In 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, first responders were called to Hilton’s Miami home following an apparent “suicide attempt.” Multiple units arrived on the scene late on Tuesday, August 4, and were reportedly present for hours. Police had been notified after Hilton, 48, […]

“I fell off the wagon in every sense, but I’m back. I went to the gym this morning for the first time in weeks,” Hilton said in the June 28 video. “I also went to church today for the first time in weeks. I also read my bible today for the first time in weeks.”

He added, ”I was in a bit of a spiral because I was overwhelmed with our move to Miami, and I didn’t do these things that I know are good for me.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams scored a major legal victory in her divorce from estranged husband Simon Guobadia.

In court documents signed by a judge on Friday, August 7, and obtained by Us, a settlement agreement between the two parties has been certified. As part of this agreement, Guobadia.62, agreed to give up “any and all right, title, interest, estate, claim, lien, or demand whatsoever” in the couple’s Fulton County, Georgia, home to Williams, 45.

As part of the settlement, Guobadia agreed that Williams is owed $1,568,181.63 from the property’s equity, in addition to handing over the title to a 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost. (TMZ was first to report the news.)

Williams retains the right to refinance or sell the Fulton County property without seeking Guobadia’s approval.

Related: Porsha Williams Celebrates Victory in Ex Simon Guobadia Divorce Appeal

Porsha Williams is celebrating her victory after ex Simon Guobadia lost his appeal in their divorce battle, Us Weekly can exclusively report. Williams, 44, posted on social media, “It’s over” without any details on Tuesday, September 9. The reality star also shared a video of her boarding a private jet captioned, “Free.” Us can confirm […]

The Bravo star filed for divorce from Guobadia after 15 months of marriage in February 2024 and finalized the process in June 2025. During their extended divorce proceedings, Guobadia was deported to Nigeria over alleged immigration violations. (Williams was previously married to former NFL star Kordell Stewart from 2011 to 2013. She shares 7-year-old daughter, Pilar Jhena McKinley, with ex Dennis McKinley.)

This week’s court ruling severed one of Williams and Guobadia’s few remaining legal ties. Speaking to People in 2025, Williams opened up about the emotional toll of going through a lengthy divorce battle.

“You go through different stages,” she said. “You have that anger. You have the moment where you have to fight for your life in a court situation. And then, toward the end, you have the clarity where you realize you are still blessed. Your family is by our side, your child is protected; there’s a whole new life that you can start.”

At the time, Williams described herself as “a true hopeless romantic” and expressed her desire to one day fall in love again.

“Once I decide to be with you, I dedicate everything to you,” she said. “And Simon matched my energy. He’s very warm. He loved spending time with me. We were freakin’ extra. If we wanted to fly out of the country every weekend or post on Instagram together about how much we loved each other, he was down.”

Porsha has since introduced her “lady friend” Patrice “Sway” McKinney on The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 17.

“People had a lot to say about me being with women in the past. It’s like, literally the worst kept secret,” she joked in a confessional interview.

Related: RHOA’s Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia’s Split: What We Know

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The aftermath of Porsha Williams and Simon Guobadia’s split hasn’t been breezy. News broke on February 23 that the Real Housewives of Atlanta star filed for divorce from Guobadia after 15 months of marriage. Williams’ social media showed no signs of trouble in paradise and she still had her married name in her bio at […]

Her costar and longtime pal Phaedra Parks exclusively told Us in April that she is fully supportive of Williams and McKinney’s relationship.

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“I think Sway is so sweet. She is just such a gentle woman,” Phaedra, 52, said. “I just love it and you know, she just adores Porsha and I think Porsha needs this type of love, someone that just loves her unconditionally.”

The iconic RHOA star joked that she was the last to know about the romance because she tries to “mind [her] business.”

“You notice things, but at the end of the day I just want her to be happy. A lot of people aren’t courageous enough to walk in their truth. A lot of people have desires that they are afraid to act upon because of cultural norms, whatever the case may be, and so I’m just happy that she’s showing her truth,” Phaedra told Us. “She’s walking in her truth and unapologetically allowing someone to love her.”

Perez Hilton is facing a longer road to recovery than initially understood after his team revealed new details about the injuries that have kept him hospitalized.

Days after the celebrity blogger reportedly told his mother, “I need help,” his family has confirmed that his condition remains serious but stable, that he suffered significant blood loss, and that surgery will be required as doctors continue treating him.

The sobering update adds to a difficult year already marked by a life-threatening health crisis, a major relocation, and Hilton’s own admission that he had recently been feeling overwhelmed.

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Hilton’s team shared the latest update directly through his official website, stressing that he remains hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act while warning that some reports surrounding his condition have been inaccurate.

“There are many false and inaccurate reports circulating in the media regarding Perez and the circumstances surrounding this situation,” the statement began.

His team confirmed that communication with Hilton has remained “extremely limited” and largely restricted to immediate family members, medical professionals, and people directly involved with his care.

More significantly, the family disclosed the extent of the physical toll.

“Perez’s condition remains serious but stable,” the update explained. “He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days.”

The statement added that his “treatment and recovery will be a long process,” though the family expressed gratitude that Hilton had recently been able to spend time with his mother and sister.

Perez Hilton Previously Made Heartbreaking Plea From Hospital

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The new surgery update comes after The Blast reported that Hilton’s first meaningful words to his mother reportedly reflected an awareness that he needed assistance.

According to a longtime family friend, the 48-year-old told his mother, “I need help,” while recovering in the hospital.

The source described Hilton as being in considerable emotional pain and said he was still trying to process what had happened.

Earlier family updates had offered a small sign of hope, confirming that Hilton was able to communicate while remaining under medical supervision. PEOPLE also reported that emergency responders transported him to a hospital after concerned viewers alerted authorities to a troubling TikTok livestream from his Miami home.

The latest statement, however, makes clear that communication is still extremely limited and that the physical recovery itself will not be quick.

Earlier Health Crisis Had Already Taken A Major Toll

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Perez Hilton’s current hospitalization follows an extraordinarily difficult stretch for his health.

In March, the longtime entertainment personality revealed that he had spent 21 days hospitalized with severe sepsis after developing an ulcer that perforated. He said the medical emergency also caused complications affecting his heart and required multiple procedures.

His recovery was then complicated by a deep vein thrombosis in his leg, which Hilton later said doctors treated before the clot could travel to his heart, lungs, or brain.

By April, Hilton was celebrating milestones as basic as walking without assistance, dressing himself, and being pain-free.

“To be alive,” he wrote at the time, was something that still brought him to tears.

The ordeal also became a major turning point in his personal life, with Hilton repeatedly discussing renewed religious faith after what he described as nearly dying.

Perez Hilton Admitted Feeling ‘Overwhelmed’ Weeks Before Crisis

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Another piece of context has taken on new significance since his hospitalization.

Roughly five weeks before the August crisis, Hilton openly discussed struggling with his family’s move from Las Vegas back to his native Miami.

In a June video, he described himself as being “overwhelmed” and “in a bit of a spiral” as he adjusted to the move and tried to rebuild routines that had helped him feel grounded.

Hilton had relocated with his three children after saying his near-death experience earlier in the year changed his priorities and convinced him that being closer to extended family in Florida was important.

At the time, however, he acknowledged that the transition had been harder emotionally than expected. Reports following his hospitalization have since revisited those remarks, though neither Hilton’s family nor doctors have publicly identified a single cause for the crisis.

That distinction remains important. The earlier health problems and relocation pressures provide context, but no official statement has established that either directly caused what happened this week.

TikTok Faces Questions As Hilton’s Family Protects His Children

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Hilton’s hospitalization has also created scrutiny beyond his immediate recovery.

Per Deadline, TikTok acknowledged that its automated system flagged the livestream within minutes, but the company said a “moderator error” delayed its removal. The platform alerted law enforcement, removed subsequent livestream attempts more quickly, and ultimately banned Hilton’s account.

Meanwhile, Perez Hilton’s family is becoming increasingly protective of his three children.

As The Blast previously reported, relatives said the children were removed from the home as the crisis unfolded in an effort to shield them from further trauma.

The family’s newest statement went even further, asking photographers and media organizations to stop following relatives and photographing the children.

“Perez’s children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family,” his team confirmed.

For now, the focus remains firmly on Hilton’s medical treatment.

His team has offered no timetable for discharge and no details about the specific surgery he will undergo, only making clear that the situation remains serious and that recovery is expected to take time.

Rita Faez has learned that it doesn’t take much to send her followers searching for clues.

The social media star’s cryptic “Oh well” caption accompanying a dreamy boat ride quickly became an unexpected travel mystery, with fans trying to pinpoint exactly where she was.

Now, Faez is telling The Blast that she didn’t expect the post to inspire quite so much detective work, but she isn’t rushing to explain everything either.

Faez gave her followers remarkably little to work with when she shared her July 28 Instagram Reel.

The clip begins with a close-up of the model slipping on sunglasses before pulling back to reveal her relaxing in a wooden rowboat surrounded by a dramatic mountain landscape.

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Her caption offered just two words: “Oh well.”

Rather than dwelling on what Faez might have meant, however, fans became fixated on another mystery.

“Looks like Switzerland,” one follower guessed, while others floated the Italian Dolomites and specifically “Braies” as possibilities.

Those guesses weren’t far off. Six days earlier, Faez had shared another Instagram post tagged “Dolomites, Italy,” showing herself in a red lace two-piece while posing on a balcony overlooking a lake.

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The scenery offered followers a pretty substantial clue about where her next adventure had taken her.

Rita Faez Reacts To Fans Turning Into Travel Detectives

Faez admitted to The Blast that she never anticipated such a simple post would inspire an online investigation.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect two words and a boat photo to turn into a full investigation,” she said. “But I love it — watching everyone piece it together in the comments, dropping guesses like they’re on a case.”

She added, “Half the fun of posting is seeing how fast people figure things out. Sometimes I make it easy for them, sometimes I don’t.”

Faez was equally unwilling to clear up the other mystery surrounding the post — what exactly “Oh well” was supposed to mean.

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“‘Oh well’ can mean a lot of things depending on the day,” she explained. “I’ll let everyone keep guessing what I meant by it — that’s kind of the point. I don’t think every caption needs an explanation.”

Leaving a little unexplained appears to be working for the creator. Influencer analytics platform HypeAuditor listed Faez at more than 1.4 million Instagram followers in July, with her account recording 9.19 percent follower growth over the previous 30 days.

Fans Had A Major Clue Hidden In Rita Faez’s Boat Ride

The distinctive scenery helped explain why some followers identified Faez’s destination so quickly.

Lago di Braies, also known as Pragser Wildsee, sits in South Tyrol in the Italian Dolomites and has become famous for its emerald waters, towering mountain backdrop and instantly recognizable wooden boats.

Italy’s official tourism website describes the lake as sitting about 1,490 meters above sea level beneath the 2,810-meter Croda del Becco.

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South Tyrol’s tourism authority even describes renting a rowboat from the lake’s wooden stilt boathouse as perhaps its most “iconic” experience.

In other words, Faez’s followers had one very recognizable clue floating right beneath her.

She also isn’t the first familiar face to discover the photogenic destination as “Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke previously vacationed there and shared the trip on Instagram.

Faez’s European Getaway Has Been Keeping Fans Busy

Italy wasn’t Rita Faez’s only picturesque destination in July.

Earlier in the month, she checked in from France wearing a blue-and-white striped bikini outside an old stone property.

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Five days before that, Greece provided another backdrop as Faez posed in a plunging red dress during a sunset dinner overlooking the sea.

The run of posts fits neatly into the lifestyle content that has helped build her increasingly large online audience, mixing fashion with locations that leave followers almost as interested in the surroundings as Faez herself.

Sometimes, however, followers aren’t merely questioning where she is.

Faez Has Even Left The Internet Questioning If She’s Real

The fascination surrounding Rita Faez took a bizarre turn in June when her appearance sparked a Reddit debate over whether she might actually be AI-generated.

A Reddit thread questioned whether images of the model were artificial, with users scrutinizing details including reflections and background text for potential signs of AI manipulation.

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Instead, commenters largely concluded that Faez was indeed a real person, with several pointing to realistic reflections and other details in the photographs as evidence.

For a creator who seems perfectly comfortable letting followers fill in the blanks, the unusual debate only adds to the mystery surrounding her online presence.

And judging by what Faez told The Blast, fans hoping every cryptic caption will eventually come with an explanation probably shouldn’t hold their breath. Sometimes, she would rather they simply “keep guessing.”

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Perez Hilton’s friends reportedly fear that his life-threatening battle with sepsis may be part of the larger picture surrounding his recent mental health crisis. The 48-year-old gossip blogger was hospitalized Tuesday after authorities responded to multiple reports that he was livestreaming acts of self-harm from inside his Miami home. Although Hilton’s close circle reportedly suspects he may be experiencing psychological complications associated with surviving sepsis, an expert cautioned that no direct connection can be established without a proper medical evaluation.

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Hilton spent three weeks in the hospital in March after developing an ulcer, a perforation and sepsis. His friends now reportedly fear that the traumatic medical ordeal may have affected his mental health in the months that followed.

“His health struggles this year have been extreme. The sepsis honestly almost killed him,” a source told Page Six. “I don’t know if people realize just how traumatic and horrific that was for him, both physically, but also emotionally.”

Post-sepsis syndrome affects up to 50% of survivors and can involve “new or worsened physical, cognitive, and psychological problems for months to years after hospital discharge,” according to the Sepsis Alliance.

Possible psychological effects include depression, mood swings, post-traumatic stress symptoms, panic attacks, and difficulty concentrating. However, those complications vary significantly among survivors and cannot be assumed in any individual case.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Andrew Mendonsa explained that people who survive sepsis or other life-threatening conditions can “have psychological and cognitive difficulties that continue well after the immediate medical crisis is over.”

“That can include depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, sleep problems, fatigue, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, and sometimes changes in mood or behavior,” he said.

Psychologist Warns Against Blaming Sepsis For The Incident

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Mendonsa stressed that many people recover from sepsis without developing serious psychological complications. “Many people recover without significant psychological problems. It just means there is a meaningful group of survivors who do struggle afterward,” he said.

The psychologist also made clear that he could not determine whether Hilton’s illness contributed to the reported self-harm. “I have never evaluated him, I have not reviewed his records, and I don’t know everything that was happening in his life at the time. So I can’t say that his sepsis caused or contributed to the reported self-harm,” Mendonsa said.

“Self-harm and suicidal behavior are usually much more complicated than a single event or explanation,” he continued. “There can be medical, psychological, social, environmental, and situational factors interacting with one another.”

While Mendonsa believes it is reasonable to ask whether Hilton’s medical trauma and recovery were “part of the larger picture,” he warned against presenting that possibility as an established explanation. “What we can’t responsibly do from the outside is conclude that the sepsis caused the incident,” he said. “That would require an actual evaluation and much more information than we have publicly.”

Perez Hilton Said Sepsis Nearly Cost Him His Life

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Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., previously explained that his health crisis began after he took flu medication without eating. He said he “developed an ulcer and then a perforation and then sepsis.”

Sepsis occurs when the body responds improperly to an infection, potentially causing organs to function poorly. It can progress to septic shock, involving a severe drop in blood pressure capable of damaging multiple organs and causing death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“My stupidity landed me in the hospital for 21 days. It was the worst and best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Hilton said in a YouTube video following his hospitalization.

One month later, he returned to the hospital for emergency surgery involving a “massive” blood clot. “His health struggles this year have been extreme. The sepsis honestly almost killed him,” a source said. “I don’t know if people realize just how traumatic and horrific that was for him, both physically, but also emotionally.”

Authorities Responded To Hilton’s Miami Home

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Hilton was hospitalized again on Tuesday after viewers contacted authorities about his TikTok livestream. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office said it received “multiple calls” reporting “an individual livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media.”

Hilton was “safely recovered and transported” to a local hospital for medical attention. “The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals are also on scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family,” authorities said.

Dispatch audio reportedly described the emergency as a “suicide attempt,” while surveillance footage captured several police vehicles outside Hilton’s home. “Mario, it’s the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, please step out of the house,” an officer could be heard repeatedly saying.

Authorities were initially told that Hilton was alone inside the home. However, Hilton’s family later revealed that his three children, niece, and sister had been at the residence shortly before the livestream began.

“Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home,” the family said in a statement. “When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma.”

Perez Hilton Reportedly Said ‘I Need Help’

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Hilton’s family confirmed that he was able to communicate after receiving medical treatment. A source claimed that his first words after being hospitalized were, “I need help.”

“He’s a man in a lot of pain,” the insider said. “I think right now he’s focused on the physical, but it’s all tied together. No one deserves the torment he’s going through.”

TikTok permanently banned Hilton’s account after the livestream, which reportedly remained active for approximately 15 minutes because of a moderation error.

Over the years, we have seen the releases of some amazing, critically acclaimed, and popularly celebrated thriller novels, many of which have gone on to become notable pop culture landmarks. In all that time, the genre has grown alongside the social and technological evolution of humanity, transforming the very idea of how stories are told and introducing new tropes and subgenres. And in the process, the thriller genre has also produced some true masterpieces that rank among the greatest books of all time, outstripping all others in the genre with their powerful, effective storytelling and unmatched sense of suspense.

From beloved classics to cutting-edge contemporary novels, these books have all successfully captured the hearts and minds of readers everywhere, creating memorable characters and shocking readers while delivering compelling stories of the human condition. Whether you prefer cerebral mysteries, gripping psychological explorations, or inventive storytelling, this list has something for every shade of thriller fan. With that in mind, read on to discover our handpicked selection of thriller books that are undeniable 10/10 masterpieces.

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‘The Killer Question’ (2025)

Image via Atria Books, Simon & Schuster

A modern epistolary mystery novel, The Killer Question was written by British journalist, screenwriter, and author Janice Hallett. Presented through text messages, emails, quiz transcripts, and local reports, the book takes readers through a pitch for a Netflix true-crime documentary based on the mysterious past of a once-loved country pub, The Case is Altered, and its equally mysterious owners, Mal and Sue Eastwood. The narrative moves back and forth in time, unraveling the history of the pub and its popular trivia nights, which take a dark turn after a suspicious team joins the game.

If you thought epistolary novels couldn’t be very thrilling, think again. The Killer Question is a wicked, clever, and deliciously meta work of mystery fiction that packs dead bodies, questionable characters, and a whole lot of pub quizzing in its unputdownable narrative. Swapping traditional prose for a fun and fast-paced, mixed-media story, the novel has been highly acclaimed by critics and readers, earning praise for its storytelling, pacing, and shocking twists. It’s easily one of the most inventive and ambitious books of recent years, and a must-read for all fans of thrillers and mysteries.

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‘Bullet Train / Maria Beetle’ (2010)

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Written by Japanese author Kōtarō Isaka, Maria Beetle (published in English as Bullet Train) is a dark comedy crime thriller novel set aboard a high-speed Shinkansen bullet train. The book brings a number of colorful and dangerous characters together over the kidnapped son of a mob boss and a suitcase full of ransom money. The book is the second novel in Isaka’s Hitman trilogy, preceded by Three Assassins (also known as Grasshopper) and followed by The Mantis (aka AX).

A high-octane thriller that effortlessly shifts between dark satire, slapstick comedy, existential philosophy, and sheer dread, Bullet Train is easily one of the most engaging books of the 2010s. Both the original Japanese edition and the English translation have earned high acclaim for their high-energy narrative, wicked humor, and clever twists. It’s also packed with unforgettable characters, like the eternally unlucky Ladybug and the hauntingly evil teenage mastermind Prince. Bullet Train has also been adapted as a 2022 film by David Leitch and as a Japanese stage play in 2018.

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‘Big Little Lies’ (2014)

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A hugely popular suburban thriller, Big Little Lies is a darkly comedic and highly suspenseful novel written by Australian author Liane Moriarty. The book explores the lives of three mothers living in an affluent Australian coastal community, each facing their own challenges. A mysterious death at a school trivia night upends their lives, with personal secrets, domestic violence, and schoolyard drama coming together to spoil their seemingly perfect existence.

A sharply satirical exploration of rich suburban life and dark domestic drama, Big Little Lies is a gripping page-turner that leaves the reader in both shock and awe of its characters. Balancing its secrets and dangers with a well-crafted story of female friendships, the novel debuted at the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list when it was published in 2014, making Moriarty the first Australian author ever to debut at number one in the United States. The novel also went on to be adapted as the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy-winning HBO series starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoë Kravitz. A sequel novel, Big Little Truths, is currently scheduled to be published on August 25, 2026.

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‘Three Assassins / Grasshopper’ (2004)

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The first novel in Kōtarō Isaka’s Hitman series, Grasshopper, later translated into English as Three Assassins, is a black-comedy thriller centered on a recently widowed schoolteacher who joins a criminal organization to seek revenge for his wife’s murder. But when his target is murdered by someone else, he finds himself pulled in unexpected directions by the actions of three eccentric killers. The novel moves between the POVs of the schoolteacher (aka the Grasshopper), a quiet veteran hitman (the Whale), and a talkative young assassin (the Cicada).

First published in 2004, Three Assassins was quite highly acclaimed, both in the original Japanese and the later English translation. The novel takes readers on an almost-surreal journey through Tokyo’s criminal underworld, balancing action and intrigue with a touching exploration of grief and regret. The book was adapted as a Japanese film in 2015 and spawned a successful franchise that includes two loose sequels, a short story collection, and two manga series.

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‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (2005)

Image via Norstedts Förlag

Written by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a psychological mystery thriller novel that follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist and gifted but troubled hacker Lisbeth Salander. When Blomkvist is hired by a wealthy industrialist to look into a 40-year-old disappearance, it brings the two characters together on an investigation that uncovers dark secrets and a long legacy of corruption. Originally released in Sweden with the title Män som hatar kvinnor (Men Who Hate Women), the book was the first in the Millennium trilogy, which has since been expanded into an ongoing series.

First published in 2005, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an iconic modern psychological thriller featuring an unconventional female protagonist, a powerful sense of atmosphere, and a complex, gripping plot. The novel was a major international success, and its popularity was further elevated by its Swedish film adaptation and the Hollywood remake, both of which easily rank among the most critically acclaimed thrillers of the 21st century. The Millennium series as a whole has played a significant role in sparking greater worldwide interest in Nordic crime fiction, leading to the “Nordic Noir” trend of recent decades.

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‘Gone Girl’ (2012)

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The third and most successful novel by American author Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl revolves around husband and wife Nick and Amy Dunne, whose lives take an unexpected turn when Amy mysteriously vanishes on their fifth anniversary. The subsequent investigation uncovers evidence of a possible murder, including a diary that points to Nick as the prime suspect, but it soon becomes clear that neither Nick nor Amy is telling the whole truth. The book unveils the story in three parts, revealing new angles and perspectives in each.

A thoroughly engrossing psychological thriller about a turbulent, complicated marriage and toxic codependency, Gone Girl is a dark and twisted book full of dark and twisted people. Masterfully using the unreliable narrator trope to create a truly unpredictable experience, the novel has been highly acclaimed by readers and reviewers alike, raising the bar for modern thrillers. Gone Girl was later adapted as a successful and award-winning film by David Fincher, with Flynn writing the screenplay herself.

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‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (1934)

One of the most iconic mystery books of all time, Murder on the Orient Express was written by legendary English writer Agatha Christie and follows her famous creation, Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, on a baffling case somewhere in Yugoslavia. Set aboard the titular luxury train, the novel reveals how Poirot’s trip home to London from the Middle East is interrupted by a case of murder, one with contradictory pieces of evidence and no clear killer in sight. As he investigates his diverse fellow passengers, a conspiracy begins to take shape that forces Poirot to question both his abilities and his moral fiber.

Murder on the Orient Express may seem a far cry from the high-energy train thrillers that we see today, but the book is still quite a suspenseful and entertaining experience, even if the thrills arise primarily from the “little grey cells,” as Poirot would put it. The novel’s central mystery is one of the most iconic in the genre, and the story has been an inspiration for generations of subsequent authors and their works. The book has also been adapted to other media multiple times, including four TV adaptations and three films.