Country music star Zac Brown defended his decision to perform at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.

“Man, I’m there for the troops, man. I’m there to honor America,” Brown, 47, insisted on the Wednesday, June 10, edition of The Pat McAfee Show. “This is patriotism, not politics for me.”

The “Thank You for Loving Her” singer is slated to perform the national anthem for the first time at a UFC event since September 2001.

The seven-match card will be held in a specially-constructed fight arena on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14 as part of President Donald Trump and his administration’s 250th anniversary celebrations for the U.S.

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Trump, 79, is expected to attend UFC Freedom 250, which will be headlined by a lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.

UFC Freedom 250 has been tremendously controversial, with Trump’s opponents criticizing the appropriateness of staging an MMA fight at the White House.

For his part, Brown — who is also expected to headline a fan fest during Freedom 250 weekend — insisted that his sole focus is honoring the “8,000 active service members” expected to attend.

“I mean, f*** all the division. I don’t believe in that,” Brown told host Pat McAfee. “I love this country. I love all the people that have sacrificed so that I can live my American dream and that everyone that lives here gets a chance to do that if they work hard and make the right decisions. So it doesn’t have a place in politics for me.”

Brown said that he’s excited for the event on a personal level too as he’s a “massive UFC fan” who has watched “every single UFC [event] probably multiple times.”

“It’s my favorite sport,” he added. “I’m honored that [UFC CEO Dana White] is giving me the chance to do this … Getting to do the anthem for this, with the Marine Band, is going to be sick. We’ve been working up some arrangements with them. It’s an honor, man.”

The musician concluded, “I’m so excited for this weekend. And it’s history, man, getting to be part of American history, man. Having the first sporting event that’s on the lawn of the White House. I mean, it’s an honor.”

Ahead of the event, Trump has hinted that an MMA arena on the South Lawn of the White House could become a permanent fixture.

“Many don’t know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower — 1889 it was built — was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World’s Fair,” Trump said in a TikTok video on June 2. “And then they said, ‘You know, we sort of like it, let’s leave it up a little bit longer.’”

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He then teased, “We’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people. It’s going to have a big UFC fight on June 14, and I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never ever take it down.”

The UFC event is one element of the Trump administration’s plans to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. A series of concerts were due to be held under the “Freedom 250” banner before headliners Martina McBride, Bret Michaels and more all backed out over questions about whether the shows were truly nonpartisan.

Trump later suggested cancelling the concerts outright, instead scheduling a MAGA rally in Washington, D.C on June 24, featuring music from Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 14 seconds ago

They don’t make movies like they used to. The complete lack of romantic comedies in movie theaters is proof that the genre has fallen from the heights it reached in the late 90’s and 2000’s. That didn’t stop George Clooney and Julia Roberts, two of the most popular stars in history, from doing their damndest to bring it back by sheer force of will. 2022’s Ticket to Paradise did the impossible by earning over $150 million at the box office, and now it’s available on Netflix for everyone who misses a lost era of cinema. 

An Excuse For Clooney And Roberts To Go On Vacation

Clooney and Roberts play David and Georgia, a divorced couple, forced back into each other’s lives when their daughter Lily (The Last of Us star Kaitlyn Dever) has a whirlwind romance in Bali with Gede (French model Maxime Bouttier), resulting in a sudden destination wedding. David and Georgia both agree that this marriage is a mistake and work to sabotage it while pretending to be supportive of their daughter. If you think you know every single plot beat from that two-sentence description, congratulations, you’ve seen a romantic comedy before, because you’re right. 

Ticket to Paradise throws a few complications at the family, including Georgia’s pilot boyfriend, Paul (Emily in Paris star Lucas Bravo), deciding he should come along for the ride, and Lily’s best friend, Wren (Billy Lourd) is sticking around for the wedding. The plot is a loose excuse to show the gorgeous Bali countryside, even if it’s actually Hamilton Island, Australia, and to give Clooney and Roberts an excuse to work together on-screen again. 

This is the type of film where the reviews don’t matter. Ticket to Paradise isn’t a great film. This is the cinematic equivalent of popping bubble wrap: a brief moment of fun where all the terrors and responsibility of the world melt away, combined with the nostalgia of being young again. You don’t need a review score to tell you how, in 2026, you’ll feel about a George Clooney and Julia Roberts romantic comedy. You already know. 

Ticket To Paradise Is The Best Rom-Com Of The Decade

Ticket to Paradise was never intended to be a box office success, though it was, easily clearing its budget of $60 million. The movie was destined to be a streaming hit. As part of Universal’s new partnership with Netflix, the film has left Peacock behind to find a new audience on a streaming platform people actually use. Since debuting on Netflix, it’s been in the top five, proving that George Clooney and Julia Roberts can still bring in an audience like no one else. 

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell tried to bring back the rom-com a year later with Anyone But You, and again, it was a hit, bringing in over $220 million in theaters. If established Hollywood megastars and the young, up-and-coming stars of tomorrow can both find success with romantic comedies, why aren’t more coming to theaters? Where’s the constant stream of light-hearted, low-stakes storytelling that defined so much of the 90s and 2000s? 

Instead of kicking off a rom-com revival, Ticket to Paradise is an anomaly. It’s a film with no villain, the lowest stakes imaginable, and coasts entirely on the raw chemistry of its two leads. It’s also one of the best rom-coms of the decade and the perfect watch when you’re with and need something that everyone will love or at least, tolerate.

Ticket to Paradise is now on Netflix.

For the most part, the last six years have been a great time for cinema. From genre-defining masterpieces like Dune: Part Two to Oscar-winning indie darlings like Everything Everywhere All At Once, the 2020s as a whole have offered some exceptional cinematic achievements. From 2021 until the present, however, there have also been some truly awful movies; shameful disasters that give the art form a bad name and prove that not just anyone deserves to be given the budget to make a motion picture. There are many reasons why a film could be awful, from clunky artistic direction to a poorly-written script, and the worst of the worst of the last six years checks all of those boxes and many more.

Some awful movies are even worse than others, however. As such, every year of the last six years has had an awful film that stands out above all the others as the bottom of the barrel of that year. From so-bad-they’re-good cult classics like War of the Worlds to embarrassing streaming originals like Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, these films show just how unexciting, unappealing, unfunny, and uninteresting movies can be when done without any true semblance of passion or artistic competence.

6

2021: ‘2025: The World Enslaved by a Virus’

Image via Wesely Bros

Not many people have watched the English-language German film 2025: The World Enslaved by a Virus. Good. It really should stay that way. There are plenty of Christian films that are legitimately strong movies made by a team of creatives who clearly knew what they were doing, but this? It’s far and away one of the worst movies of the last 25 years, a beyond-incompetent disaster made by people who probably had never seen a single movie before in their lives. It’s a Christian persecution fantasy with zero artistic value, barely any semblance of a plot, and politics so confused that they’re almost dizzying.

All of this could perhaps be forgiven if 2025: The World Enslaved by a Virus were at least funny, but this is one of those instances of a movie being so bad that there isn’t even any ironic humor to find in it at all. Stupidly written, visually appalling, and complete with some of the worst acting that cinema has seen at any point during the 21st century, it’s entirely incompetent dystopian fiction that has nothing to offer beyond conspiracy theories that can be taken down with so much as a puff of wind.

5

2022: ‘Morbius’

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Morbius is one of the saddest instances of a box office disappointment of the 2020s as a whole. Released by Sony in April, the film was a financial whimper that nevertheless became the target of countless memes mocking it on social media. Sony took this as a sign that they had a so-bad-it’s-good classic on their hands and decided to re-release the film in theaters in June, only for it to bomb a second time. This failure was entirely deserved, too: This complete mockery of the cinematic medium doesn’t even have the decency to be terrible enough to become a cult classic.

Instead, Morbius‘ biggest sin is that it’s boring. Complete with terrible performances, ugly visuals, one of the worst post-credits scenes of any movie, and a poorly-plotted story that’s nothing short of nonsensical, it’s everything that a comic book film should aim not to be in this post-Infinity Saga era of the genre. There’s no life, no heart, and no humor in this irredeemable slog, only CGI noise that doesn’t lead anywhere interesting or even remotely entertaining.

4

2023: ‘Spy Kids: Armageddon’

Image via Netflix

Though some may call it divisive, Robert Rodriguez‘ Spy Kids franchise at least offered three iconic installments that many cinephiles hold as fond cinematic memories of their childhood. The franchise was never the same again, reaching its most abysmal point to date with the fifth main installment in the series, Spy Kids: Armageddon. Though a little more than half of critics on Rotten Tomatoes liked it well enough, earning it a 55% score on the Tomatometer, its 4.3/10 rating on IMDb and 1.7/5 rating on Letterboxd make it one of the lowest-rated movies of the decade on both platforms.

It’s no wonder this family spy romp was as much of a flop with general audiences as it was. The smallest members of the family are bount to find at least a few redeeming qualities to have some fun with it, but anyone over the age of 10 is going to inevitably have a difficult time with this trite, poorly-written cheesefest. Bad performances, terrible visuals, poorly-shot action, and no semblance of a sense of excitement whatsoever all make this the worst possible thing to play on the family TV on a Saturday night.

3

2024: ‘Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate’

Back when it originally came out in 2010, Megamind didn’t receive much fanfare, even though it performed well financially. It was in the years following its release that it slowly started to grow more and more of a cult following, becoming one of the most beloved standalone DreamWorks movies ever. With this gradual cult resurgence, Peacock saw dollar signs. As a pilot to their series Megamind Rules!, the streaming platform ordered DreamWorks Animation Television to produce Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate, which is now the lowest-rated film of the decade thus far on Letterboxd.

By no means is this level of hate an exaggeration, but rather a fully-deserved reception for what’s essentially a visually atrocious, poorly written, shoddily directed cashgrab. Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate is both an insult to fans of the original (who had been begging for a proper sequel for years) and an affront to the animated medium itself, a complete misfire without a single aspect worthy of even the slightest of praise. The animation? Awful. The humor? Awful. The voice acting? Awful. The story? Awful. There’s virtually nothing here for anyone who enjoys movies that actually have something of value to offer.

2

2025: ‘War of the Worlds’

Image via Universal Pictures

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Typically, it takes some time for a terrible movie to start garnering a cult following with an ironic appreciation of it, eventually cementing itself as a so-bad-it’s-good disasterpiece. Such wasn’t the case with War of the Worlds. From the very moment it came out, this screenlife contemporary adaptation of H. G. Wells‘ 1898 literary sci-fi classic (if one can even call it an adaptation) immediately grew a reputation as one of the most hilariously awful movies of the decade.

Not only does War of the Worlds live up to the hype: It’s even worse than anyone who hasn’t actually seen it could possibly imagine, the sort of cinematic catastrophe that must be seen to be believed. It’s easily one of the worst movies of the last 40 years, with some of the most shameless production placement, awful acting, and dull writing that the modern cinematic landscape has ever seen. When done right, screenlife thrillers can be irresistibly entertaining, but there was virtually nothing in War of the Worlds that was actually done right.

1

2026: ‘Mercy’

Image via Amazon MGM Studios

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So far, 2026 has been a relatively good year for thrillers, but by no means does that imply that there haven’t been some duds. Case in point: Mercy, which came out at what’s probably the worst-ever time to release a sci-fi thriller that’s overtly and shamelessly in favor of Artificial Intelligence. Placing Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson in a position where they have zero chance to deliver anything of value or leverage any of their skill, it’s a film that (somewhat admirably) manages to mix bad politics, horrible aesthetics, and poor writing in equal measure.

There’s nothing original here, nothing fresh or exciting, nothing that delivers any kind of impact that will last beyond the credits. Mercy is more of a cheap knock-off of the infinitely better sci-fi thriller that was Minority Report, without any of the creativity, stakes, or heart. It’s emotionally shallow, narratively nonsensical, and way too ambitious for its own good. This year has offered some pretty awful movies, but so far, none have sunk as low as Mercy.

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Mercy

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Release Date

January 19, 2026

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Runtime

100 minutes

Director

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Timur Bekmambetov

Writers

Marco van Belle

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Great mystery TV shows keep viewers guessing with each episode. Sometimes, this can look like the slow answering of overarching questions in a twisty mystery box series. Other times, these series present viewers with a new mystery each episode. From suspenseful thrillers to cozy dramedies, the best mystery series keep viewers entertained by the plot while getting them attached to the characters and their journeys.

It’s easy for mystery shows to start off with a solid premise, then lose their momentum later on – particularly when it comes time to answer the series’ biggest questions. Only a select handful of mystery series are truly fantastic all the way through. These series start off with a unique premise, engage viewers with compelling mysteries, and stick the landing with their reveals. These are mystery shows that are simply amazing from start to finish.

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)

Image via HBO

Mare of Easttown is a thriller miniseries that follows Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a detective sergeant in the small town of Easttown, PA. The combination of a personal tragedy and an unsolved missing person’s case have left Mare struggling to prove herself again in her job. When a local teenage girl named Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny) is found murdered, Mare takes the case on with determination, accompanied by her new partner, Colin Zabel (Evan Peters).

Mare of Easttown is intense, heartbreaking, and very clever in its storytelling. While the story centers around the question of who murdered Erin, the mystery is primarily used to expose a horrifying undercurrent of gendered violence in Easttown. The series is a powerful and emotional watch that manages to surprise with its ultimate killer reveal, in a way that both feels earned, and that touches on a bigger message.

‘Only Murders in the Building’ (2021–Present)

Image via Hulu

Only Murders in the Building hasn’t yet reached its conclusion, but in its five seasons so far, the series has been excellent throughout. The cozy murder mystery follows three lonely people who all live in the same iconic New York City building called the Arconia: Charles-Haden Savage (Steven Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez). Charles, Oliver, and Mabel are all obsessed with the same true-crime podcast, and they come together after an Arconia resident named Tim Kono (Julian Cihi) is murdered.

Because the police believe that Tim’s death was a suicide, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel decide to take the investigation into their own hands. They start their own podcast, and against all odds, they find themselves making progress on the investigation and gaining success along the way. Only Murders in the Building has a compelling murder mystery each season, but it’s also very funny and cozy, perfectly blending its comedic and dramatic elements.

‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2014–2020)

Image via ABC

How to Get Away With Murder is a twisty thriller series that follows a brilliant and tough criminal defense lawyer named Annalise Keating (Viola Davis). Annalise teaches at a prestigious Philadelphia law school, and she also runs her own firm, where she picks a group of first-year students to intern each semester. At the start of the series, Annalise chooses five of her students to intern for her, right at the same time that the body of a female student is found.

Throughout the first season of How to Get Away With Murder, the main timeline is interspersed with flash-forwards to the murder of Annalise’s husband, Sam (Tom Verica). For a long time, little to nothing is revealed about Sam’s murder, except for scenes that show Annalise’s interns trying to bury the body and cover it up. Each season of How to Get Away with Murder has a central murder mystery that builds up to a reveal halfway through, and the payoff is always shocking.

‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)

Pushing Daisies is another cozy murder mystery series that’s a true delight from start to finish. The series takes place in a whimsical, fairytale-esque version of our world, where a pie maker named Ned (Lee Pace) is keeping a massive secret. Ned has the power to bring the dead back to life with a single touch, although there are a few rules that come with it. Along with running a pie shop, Ned assists Private Investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) in solving murder cases – by temporarily waking the victims and asking them who killed them.

Each episode of Pushing Daisies centers on a hilariously absurd and over-the-top murder, with cases that see people being drowned in a vat of taffy and killed by an explosive pop-up book. At the center of the series, though, is the love story between Ned and his childhood sweetheart, Chuck (Anna Friel). Ned and Chuck lost touch as children, but they reconnect after her death, when he brings her back to life and risks everything to keep her around.

‘Severance’ (2022–Present)

Image via Apple TV

Severance is a clever and suspenseful mystery box series that takes place in the dystopian near-future, where nearly everything is controlled by a company called Lumon Industries. Grieving widower Mark Scout (Adam Scott) previously underwent the “severance” procedure, separating his brain into a work self and an outside self. While Mark has no idea what he does for work, his “innie” has never known a life outside of it.

With just two seasons so far, Severance has already paid off so many of its central mysteries in brilliant and horrifying ways, all while making room for future storylines. The corruption of Lumon Industries goes deep, and the depths of the company’s plans are slowly revealed over the course of the series. Severance blends complex science fiction with intense thriller elements for a suspenseful and mind-bending viewing experience, and it doesn’t have a single bad episode.

‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

Image via Netflix

Midnight Mass is a horror mystery series that follows Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), a man who returns to Crockett Island, the tiny island where he grew up, after spending four years in prison for killing someone by driving drunk. Riley just wants to keep his head down, focus on his sobriety, and maybe reconnect with his first love, Erin Greene (Kate Siegel). At the same time, though, a mysterious new priest named Father Paul (Hamish Linklater) comes to Crockett Island and starts performing impossible miracles.

The mystery of Father Paul lingers over Midnight Mass, all building up to a shocking and disturbing reveal. Midnight Mass is full of terrifying and mind-blowing twists and turns, but it is also a beautiful and introspective series that tackles a number of powerful themes. Midnight Mass is deeply emotional, scary, and brilliant, and it doesn’t waste a single second of its viewers’ time.

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers makes the most of its three short seasons, telling a complete story that all builds up to one of the most beautiful series finales of all time. Each season of the post-apocalyptic drama series feels completely different, taking its characters on a complex journey in the years following a mysterious event that led 2% of the world’s population to suddenly disappear without a trace. The Leftovers is full of mysteries related to what they all call the Sudden Departure, but it’s also a series that isn’t afraid to leave some questions unanswered.

At the start of The Leftovers, Police Chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) struggles to keep the peace in his small town of Mapleton, New York, on the three-year anniversary of the Departure. His biggest concern is The Guilty Remnant, a cult whose sole goal is to keep people from ever moving on from the Departure. Each season dives deeper into the potential speculative elements at play, forcing both Kevin and viewers to consider something bigger at play, all while hovering on the brink between reality and the impossible.

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The Leftovers

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2014 – 2017-00-00

Showrunner

Damon Lindelof

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Writers

Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta

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Katie Holmes has a talent for making simple wardrobe staples look far more expensive than they actually are. The actress consistently gravitates toward elevated basics that strike the perfect balance between comfortable and polished, and her latest outfit featured a chic knit top we’d happily wear all summer long.

On June 5, the actress stepped out in New York City wearing a cream short-sleeve knit top tucked into black-wash jeans, accessorizing with a croc-embossed belt, a structured white bucket bag and sleek black pumps. The outfit felt equal parts effortless and sophisticated, but it was the elevated knit top that immediately caught our eye.

Get the Anrabess Short Sleeve Sweater Top for just $23 (Was $27) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication, June 11, 2026, but are subject to change.

Want to recreate the vibe without the celebrity price tag? We found the Anrabess Short Sleeve Sweater Top on Amazon for just $23, and it delivers a remarkably similar look. With its soft knit fabrication, classic crew neckline and easy silhouette, it’s the kind of piece that works with everything already hanging in your closet.

Related: Get Shailene Woodley’s Loose, Slimming White Jeans Look for $32

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Shailene Woodley just made a strong case for swapping skinny jeans for a looser silhouette this summer. While many shoppers assume baggy white denim adds bulk, the actress proved the opposite: when styled correctly, relaxed white jeans can actually create a longer, leaner-looking frame. On June 3 in New York City, Woodley stepped out wearing […]

Like Holmes’ version, the top feels elevated without trying too hard. The sweater-knit texture gives it a dressier feel than a basic T-shirt, while the short sleeves make it practical for warm-weather wear. The cream colorway captures the same rich-looking aesthetic, but it’s also available in pink, khaki and several other shades. Sizes range from XS to XXL.

Versatility is another reason we’re eyeing this find. Wear it tucked into dark jeans and loafers for a Katie-inspired weekend look, pair it with tailored trousers for the office or style it with a flowy midi skirt for summer dinners. It’s one of those rare basics that can easily shift between casual and dressier occasions.

Shoppers have been equally impressed. The top has earned hundreds of five-star ratings, with one reviewer calling it “easy to style” and saying it “looks great on its own or layered under a blazer or cardigan.” Another wrote that the quality “looks and feels” like a “high-end, expensive piece.”

If you’re looking for a versatile summer staple that channels Holmes’ effortless style, this $23 knit top is an easy place to start. It’s a simple way to bring her elevated jeans-and-knit formula into your own wardrobe.

Looking for a different take on Holmes’ knit-top trend? Keep scrolling!

Shop more cream short-sleeve knit tops that we love:

Not your style? Explore more short-sleeve knit tops here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: Nina Dobrev Just Paired Rich-Looking Loafers With a Mini Skirt

Nina Dobrev has a knack for making classic basics feel fresh, and her latest outfit is proof. The actress stepped out in a coordinated denim look that felt equal parts polished and effortless, but it was her choice of footwear that really caught our attention. Instead of sneakers or sandals, Dobrev reached for rich-looking loafers […]

YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley ignited a controversy by revealing their decision to terminate her pregnancy.

They announced in a June 2026 Instagram post that Ashley underwent an abortion because their unborn child received a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis. (Down syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21.)

“This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21,” Jesse wrote via his Instagram Stories on June 3, 2026. “The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we receive from fans with no matter what we decided.”

A huge outcry followed, with the Ridgways allegedly receiving death threats and other abuse via social media. The backlash grew so intense that Jesse revealed that he and Ashley started sleeping with a gun near their bed for safety.

Keep scrolling for a full timeline of the Ridgways’ relationship and their controversial decision to have an abortion:

Jesse Ridgway and Ashley Started Dating in 2019

In October 2019, Jesse Ridgway — who is known as McJuggerNuggets on social media — went public with his new girlfriend, Ashley May, after four days of dating.

“[She’s] the girl of my dreams,” Jesse beamed in a vlog at the time. “Guys, I wanted to do a separate sitdown video to address the elephant in the room, which is: we’re dating! It’s official!”

The two originally met on Tinder.

Jesse Ridgway Proposed to Ashley in October 2024

The couple revealed in an October 2024 vlog that Jesse popped the question after dating Ashley for five years.

“Ashley and I are getting married … which is actually pretty wild to say,” Jesse admitted. “Five years of dating guys … I kinda manifested everything. I called her the ‘girl of my dreams,’ and it was this cool, romantic video.”

Ashley revealed, “[He] even said a week into dating, pretty much, that we were going to get married and we were gonna have kids. A week into dating!”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Got Married in October 2025

Jesse tied the knot with Ashley on October 06, 2025, in a sunset beach ceremony in Ocean City, New Jersey.

“We’re officially married,” Jesse announced in a subsequent vlog, with Ashley excitedly interjecting. “Holy crap!”

Jesse admitted that the newlyweds opted for a “run and gun” wedding where only a few loved ones knew ahead of time.

“This was super private,” he told viewers. “My whole life is public.”

Ashley added, “We just wanted something intimate.”

The Ridgways Confirmed They Were Expecting a Baby in March 2026

Ashley and Jesse shared via Instagram in March 2026 that they were expecting their first child. They couple posted a carousel of images of a sonogram, along with the caption, “BABY RIDGWAY – COMING FALL 2026.”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Shared Their Unborn Child’s Down’s Syndrome Diagnosis in a Vlog

In April 2026, Ashley and Jesse released a video where they learned on camera that their child had received a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis.

“We were so excited to celebrate the gender reveal in a Psycho video with you guys, but in true ‘art imitates life’ — fashion…there had to be a dark twist,” Jesse wrote via Instagram in April. “The same genetic testing that told us our baby would be a boy revealed to us that he had a 95 percent chance to be born with Down Syndrome.”

He went on, “Syndrome carries a very HIGH risk of miscarriage and usually comes with heart defects, structural abnormalities, developmental issues, shorter lifespan, etc.”

“As excited as we are to become parents, this was a gut-punch … We want the best for our first kid … and even putting Ashley at risk … so many questions and concerns,” he continued.

At the time, Jesse said that he believed that the “down syndrome percentage is a fluke and our baby boy will be born with zero health problems.”

“We will be getting an amniocentesis in around a month to give us a definitive answer on the baby’s health, until then we’ll just be keeping the faith that everything will work out OK,” he confirmed. “Thanks for being with us on this ride. Whatever happens, happens.”

The Ridgways Announced Their Decision to Terminate Ashley’s Pregnancy

A June 2026 post confirming that Ashley underwent an abortion was flooded with abusive comments and threats, including some accusing the Ridgways of “murder.”

“I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated,” Jesse acknowledged in the June 3, 2026, Instagram post. “This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.”

He shared that “everything went smoothly” with Ashley’s abortion procedure, though they both felt “drained.”

“When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work,” Jesse wrote. “I signed on to be a parent, come what may. I just didn’t fully understand what Down syndrome entailed.”

Jesse and Ashley’s views on carrying the child to term changed when they learned about the health complications that can come with Down’s syndrome.

“I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family,” the influencer wrote in his statement. “We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90 percent of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. … You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change.”

Jesse continued, “As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome.”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Took Safety Precautions Amid Death Threats

Appearing on TMZ Live on June 5, 2026, Jesse and Ashley confirmed that they were taking death threats seriously.

“With the death threats and everything, it has been shocking,” Jesse said. “Close people to us are very judgmental. Religious-based [people] saying we’re going to burn in hell. ‘We deserve to die.’”

He went on, “We had a [security] gate installed. I have a gun next to my nightstand because it’s been getting so ridiculous and [threats] have been coming to emails, DMs, you name it. We’ve seen the darkest side of humanity through this process.”

Despite the backlash, Ashley insisted that she did not regret her decision to have an abortion.

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Addressed Numerous Conspiracy Theories

Jesse engaged directly with detractors throughout the controversy, even attempting to debunk conspiracy theories that sprung up on social media.

“Ya’all can’t even keep your stories straight, it’s crazy,” he wrote on June 7. “Was she 6-months pregnant or 3-months pregnant? 18 weeks or 21 weeks? Was it a definitive Down Syndrome diagnosis or just suspected? All the info has already been provided by us, but everyone just picks, chooses or makes s*** up to fit their own narrative.”

“As we creep further into the brainrot era of social media, people will forget how to even properly think for themselves. The conspiracy rabbit holes deepen as people start to question if it was all real or fake…?” he added. “Zooming in on ultrasound pics and my wife’s belly? Internet detectives putting in overtime only to discover their own tail. And we’re the ones with a problem… 🙄”

Jesse and Ashley Ridgway Revealed How Their Families Reacted to Abortion

In a June 8 Facebook video, Jesse and Ashley shared footage the night after her termination procedure.

“Was this your parents? That’s really sweet,” Ashley told her husband in the video. “It says, ‘Life is tough but so are you. This bracelet stands for the waves of life you’ve been through. … You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to ride them.’”

Related: Celebrities Share Their Abortion Stories: Lily Allen and More

Plenty of celebrities — both those with and without children — have opened up about having abortions over the years. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, tons of stars took to social media to express their outrage over the decision. Cheryl Burke revealed that she had one when she […]

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However, the couple revealed that Ashley’s parents were “nowhere to be found” in the wake of the controversy.

“Some [in her family] even going as far as joining in on the bandwagon hate PUBLICLY, kicking her while she’s down at her lowest point,” Jesse claimed. “She has received text messages from her family accusing me of abuse and that I’m brainwashing her…issuing ultimatums that she needs to LEAVE ME IMMEDIATELY. Audacious s*** that will have your head-spinning because of the delusion and lack of consideration.”

Jesse Ridgway Said the Hate He and Ashley Received Was Unprecedented

Jesse released a new statement to People on June 10 where he tried to offer more insight on why he and Ashley chose to abort her pregnancy.

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“We were confronting the scenario of having the baby, and playing out every possible scenario about what it would look like and how we would make it work, what happens if they have these health problems, and need these surgeries,” Jesse insisted. “It was so real to us. I wish people could empathize with us, and know this wasn’t some black and white decision.”

The YouTuber admitted he and Ashley were totally unprepared for the avalanche of social media abuse they’d received.

“I’​​ve been making content for 20 years, so we’ve seen hate before. But not to this degree,” Jesse said. “Every second is a new death threat towards me and my wife. The amount of private support we’ve received is also overwhelming.”

Latto is in full mommy mode and loving every single minute of it. Ever since welcoming her baby girl, Big Mama has been sharing sweet moments on social media, and her latest post has fans obsessed with her journey as a first-time mom.

RELATED: Big Mama Bad! Latto Has The Timeline Going Crazy Over Her Post-Baby Snapback (PHOTOS) 

Latto Shares Another Glimpse Of Motherhood & Fans Can’t Get Enough

Recently, Latto dropped a video on her Instagram Stories telling fans she already sees similarities between her and her baby girl. The clip doesn’t show her daughter, but fans hear her snoring in the background while she gets some good sleep. Latto recorded the adorable sounds around 2:20am as lil’ mama snoozes. The rapper even joked with fans, saying her daughter is really her twin, suggesting that they both snore while catching some much needed z’s. Peep the video below.

Social Media Is Living For Latto’s Mommy Era

Once The Shade Room reposted the sweet footage of Big Mama’s daughter, the comment section lit up with heart eyes and a few laughing emojis. Some folks said they just know Latto’s daughter’s cuteness is on another level, while others joked that babies snore like they work full-time shifts.

Instagram user @mrs_so_fine wrote, “Love witnessing women become mamas for the 1st time ❤️ Best feeling in the world.” 

Instagram user @hollywoodnayy wrote, “I just know she looks like a doll 😍😍 Latto so pretty.” 

While Instagram user @badgalstarferious wrote, “Babies be snoring like they worked a full shift 😂” 

Then Instagram user @harmonimom06 wrote, “The baby snoring like her mama y’all chill 😂” 

Another Instagram user @niaababyyy5 wrote, “I know she loving every bit of it 😂😂 I know people tired of me posting my baby but hey I’m a first time mom I love his little self 😂😂”

Instagram user @seaux_louisiana wrote, “That’s the baby snoring 😂😂 like she’s already been working a 9-5😂😂” 

While another Instagram user @gemsforthev wrote, “I know that baby looks like a doll.” 

Finally, Instagram user @destahkneej wrote, “Baby sleeping good.” 

Big Mama & Lil’ Mama Previously Took Over The Timeline With Sweet Photos

This isn’t the first time Latto shared an adorable moment with her baby girl. In May, just hours after her ‘Big Mama’ dropped, she took over timelines after posting the cutest photos with her lil’ mama. The images show her cuddling with her mini-me while posing in a backyard next to a pink carriage. Other photos show Latto pushing her daughter in the carriage, while a few more give a closer look at her outfit and Louboutin heels.

RELATED: Mother Of 21 Savage’s Two Sons Seemingly Shows Love To Latto After She Shares First Photo Of Her Baby Girl 

General Hospital sees Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) cooking up this plot to take down Willow Tait (Katelyn MacMullen). But it might actually blow up in her own face and her husband Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) might dump her and turn to Willow when all the dust settles. This is going to get messy very soon.

And with Brook Lynn scheming with Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) to make Willow look like the mystery other driver in Jordan Ashford’s (Tanisha Harper) crash, I don’t think this is going to go well for her.

General Hospital: Brook Lynn’s Guilt and the Hit-and-Run Plot

At this point, it seems apparent that Brook Lynn is indeed the other driver in the crash. At one point there was some deniability about it since Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) was also on the road that night and so was Danny Morgan (Asher Jared Antonyzyn) who was driving Charlotte Cassadine’s (Bluesy Burke) car which of course ended up crashed. And then when Isaiah told Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) that he scraped his SUV in the garage and needed his paint fixed, that kind of increased the doubt about Isaiah’s innocence. Like maybe he lied and faked it so that he could get his car repaired.

And you know, Lucas could mention that he mentioned it, you know, plus him refusing to allow DA Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) to take a paint sample from his car made him look shady. However, I will say letting the cops search your car or house or stuff or do things without a warrant or probable cause is never a good idea for anybody. But Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) assumed that was another sign of guilt. And also the DA is best friends with Jordan, which is double the reason for Isaiah to shut that stuff down.

GH Spoilers: BLQ’s Big Secret

So, now we’ve got Brook Lynn taking advantage of this situation because she knows she was drinking with Lucy before she got in the car. Just one glass, but still. And I don’t think Brook Lynn knowingly left the scene of that accident.

So, at the time, she wasn’t really guilty of anything and she did want to come clean. But Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) said no. And that’s bad enough that Brook Lynn didn’t push back and go immediately to the PCPD and just say, “Hey, FYI.” She likely wouldn’t have been in any trouble, especially if she told the truth and said Jordan veered into her lane and almost killed her.

General Hospital: Jordan at Fault

Because that’s the truth of it. Curtis and Jordan were 100% at fault. And now Isaiah may never be a surgeon again. Because Brook Lynn didn’t tell the truth. And now she’s behaving like a true Quartermaine with this despicable plot to blame what she did on Willow. Not that I feel sorry for Nina’s daughter. Let’s be real. Willow’s awful. She deserved to be in prison for shooting Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison). And Willow deserves prison for keeping Drew drugged and trying to drug Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). But Willow should go down for crimes she did, not fake ones she didn’t do, at least in my mind.

And Brook Lynn knows she’s doing a bad thing. But she’s so desperate to keep Willow away from Chase that it feels like she’s broken her moral compass and she’s behaving like her granny Tracy. And in fact, this scheme she’s cooking up is really close to a plot that Brook Lynn’s grandma pulled off in the past.

General Hospital: History Repeats With a Familiar Scheme

Do you guys remember? And it was for a very similar reason. I mean, if Brook Lynn told Tracy what she was planning, she would probably applaud Brook Lynn and Tracy would likely help. So, if you remember, this was like six years ago when Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) was boozing. She and Ned Quartermaine (Wally Kurth) had a one night stand where they were both drunk and he suspected Olivia had been involved with Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers). So, Tracy was angry. Because Alexis was going to confess the one night stand to Olivia Falconeri (Lisa LoCicero) and Tracy knew it would ruin Olivia and Ned’s marriage.

So, Tracy found Alexis drinking at the Metro Court bar and offered to drive her home. And then when Alexis passed out in the car, Tracy put her over in the driver’s seat and then she lied to Detective Chase and said that she had brought Alexis home and was trying to sober her up. But then Tracy said that she took off driving drunk.

So, Alexis was arrested. But the charges ended up dropped when the truth came out. and Tracy went on the run for a while trying to avoid consequences. So, looks like Brook Lynn may have been inspired by her granny Tracy’s antics. Because she’s now doing something very similar.

General Hospital: Chase’s Discovery and Marriage on the Line

As for Willow and Chase, the actress who plays Willow said that right now her character isn’t romantically interested in Chase. But it might change. And what might change it is Brook Lynn setting Willow up. So, this Friday, Chase makes a high-profile arrest. And we had been wondering if it might be Willow or Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) who was arrested.

But since Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) arrested Sidwell and then Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) took him but let him escape, it’s probably not Sidwell. He’s on the run right now and I doubt he’s going to be found that fast. The best option would be if it was Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) who’s in cuffs by the end of the week. But we’ll see.

And because of the phrase high-profile, that sounds like somebody who’s a big deal being arrested. Somebody important. Now, admittedly, when Lucy and Brook Lynn talked, they discussed finding out if Willow had an alibi for that night. So, during the day of Jordan’s crash, Willow was actually over at the Quartermaine Mansion.

That was when she showed up to help Brook Lynn and Chase get approval to be baby Phoebe’s foster parents. So, she was doing them a favor. And then later that day, if Willow was home alone or was just catatonic with Drew, she might not have an alibi. and Lucy said that they won’t have evidence against Willow. But she and Brook Lynn could leak the allegation to ruin Willow’s reputation.

General Hospital: ChaLynn Marriage Explodes

So, while it sounds kind of like Chase won’t be arresting Willow, clearly trouble is coming. Because eventually Chase is going to find out that Brook Lynn tried to frame Willow for being a hit-and-run driver. And even worse is actually Brook Lynn who drove away from the accident. And of course, as I said, she didn’t do anything wrong. Jordan’s 100% at blame. But, you know, keeping it secret, that’s the big problem.

Plus, Lucy knows that Brook Lynn was drinking that evening. And if she’s questioned, Lucy would probably tell the truth on General Hospital. When Chase finds out his wife set up Willow, I think her marriage is going to explode. Because Chase is so grateful to Willow for her help fostering and adopting baby Phoebe. And of course, Chase is totally blinded about Willow. He’s got no idea she’s a she-villain. Because he just hasn’t seen evidence that she’s bad.

General Hospital: Chase Turns on BLQ?

But if Chase sees undeniable evidence that Brook Lynn did this bad thing trying to frame Willow, I don’t know if Chase would forgive his wife. Even if Brook Lynn says she was worried about Chase cheating with Willow, that’s not going to help her. Because Chase is actually ticked off that Tracy accused him of being unfaithful. I’m trying to think back and I don’t think Chase has ever actually cheated on somebody. I’m trying to remember.

He and Sasha Gilmore (Sofia Mattsson) fake cheated back in the day and they did that to push Michael Corinthos (then Chad Duell) and Willow together to help with Michael’s custody case. But Chase didn’t really sleep with Sasha and he is a very law and order kind of guy.

So, Brook Lynn trying to tarnish Willow this way, especially using an incident where Brook Lynn was involved and you know, you could say that she was partly to blame for lying. Woo! You know, Chase going to be ticked off about it and he might walk away and take baby Phoebe with him. Because in custody court, a good cop versus a jealous wife who tried to set up an innocent woman. That could be an open and shut case. So, we’ll see how it goes. But I feel like Brook Lynn is about to blow her own marriage completely apart. Simply because in the end, she’s a Quartermaine.