Entertainment
War Between Knights Becomes A Battle Over Whether Women Should Be Attractive
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published

Two RPGs set in the medieval era were recently announced. However, the games couldn’t be more different from each other: one is a classic story about knights, and the other is about a lesbian “knight.” Fans and even the social media teams of both games have been debating whether and why women in video games should be attractive, a debate that began over a decade ago with the Gamergate incident.
A Knight’s Path is advertised as the classic story of a young man’s quest to become a knight. The game is set to focus on combat styles, with emphasis on weapons and armor. However, it is also an RPG, which means establishing different types of relationships with various in-world characters. Along the way, the playable character can meet romanceable NPCs, one of whom is Amelie, a conventionally attractive young woman.
When the X account for A Knight’s Path posted a screenshot of Amelie, a user expressed a “hope” about “LGBQT representation” within the game’s 16th-century chivalric setting. The Knight’s Path account answered, “We care about gaming and fun, not modern agendas.”
Representing the modern agenda is 1348: Ex Voto. Their game is about a lesbian knight, Aeta, with a monk’s bowl-shaped haircut, on a quest to rescue her “closest one,” a girlfriend named Bianca. Other than fairly average graphics, all that’s really been talked about with relation to this game is the lesbian romance at the heart of its 14th-century-inspired setting. In response to A Knight’s Path, the social media account for Ex Voto asked that players put the release date for the game on their “modern agendas.”
Fans of modern agendas immediately went into an uproar, falsely accusing A Knight’s Path of using AI and being homophobic. Two camps emerged from detractors of A Knight’s Path.
It’s A Visual Medium, The Battle Over Attractive Characters
One camp has been spending a lot of time retconning history to justify the gratuitous inclusion of presentist characters. This includes all the usual lines we’ve been hearing since Gamergate about inclusion in video games and how people want to see themselves “represented” among their characters. These protests borrow the Gamergate tactic of dismissing all defense of the game as mere bigotry to be ignored.

The other is wondering about the motives of people who want to see attractive characters in video games. The prevailing logic with this group is that gamers only want to see attractive characters so they can be sexually aroused. This is also a direct result of Gamergate, which slammed gamers who wanted attractive characters as incels and misogynists, ignoring the fact that female gamers like to look at pretty things, too.
The idea that sex is a motivator for video game players also ignores decades of strong female characters like Tifa, Lara Croft, Jill Valentine, Commander Shepard, and Samus. The same people crying “misogyny” about A Knight’s Path are projecting the qualities of these strong females onto Ex Voto, but somehow think that Aeta’s deliberate ugliness makes her better because she’s not there to be a sex symbol.
Neither were the others. What made them alluring was their capabilities. That they were fun to look at was also important, though, because video games are a visual medium. It’s right there in the name.
Gamers Run Away From Ugly Inclusivity
Ever since Gamergate, there has been an activist push to make video games “more inclusive.” What this has actually meant is that any time an American video game is released that dares to tell a traditional story, it gets decried as bigoted: homophobic, transphobic, misogynistic, colonialist, or white supremacist. Games with artificial inclusion, like 1348: Ex Voto get uplifted as kinder and “more realistic.”

But even Aeta’s ugliness is not within the realm of realism, medieval lesbianism aside. Her appearance bears more resemblance to a monk of the early Italian Renaissance, not a knight or squire. This detail points to yet another deliberate attempt to subvert beauty standards that have existed for thousands of years because some people are offended that beauty exists.
Gamers seem to agree. In just a few short weeks since the games were released on Steam, A Knight’s Path has overwhelmed Ex Voto for interest and activity, with three times as many followers.
The game’s social media account even asked its followers what types of female characters they liked to look at. Would you believe that “bombshell” only garnered 14 percent of the votes? Most voters (in an admittedly small pool of 540) chose attractive or average characters. People don’t want porn stars in their video games, but they don’t want deliberately ugly characters, either. To reiterate: it’s a visual medium. Even ugly characters must be nice to look at to sell a game.
There’s Room For Everyone, But Activists Won’t Allow It
There’s nothing wrong with inclusion in games. Ex Voto could wind up being really great gameplay. It is obviously appealing to some portion of the gaming audience. Fans of unattractive lesbians in a fantasy medieval setting should be able to have games for them. There’s nothing wrong with that.
However, what the artificial inclusion endorsed by activist gamers means is that games like A Knight’s Path shouldn’t exist. Their protests include accusations of -isms and -phobias that associate people who prefer games like A Knight’s Path with hate speech and sexual violence. This goes beyond merely panning a game because you don’t like its characters; it’s an attack on the core fanbase of video gaming, which is still predominantly young white males. This audience deserves video games, too, even if the demographic isn’t particularly popular among the activist class.
In a world that was truly inclusive, A Knight’s Path and Ex Voto could exist side by side, and everyone’s inclusivity needs would be satisfied. However, fans of each game live in two different worlds: one that recognizes its core audience and creates games for it, and one that panders to activism and thinks the core audience is literally evil. The gaming market favors the core audience, though, so if Ex Voto doesn’t live up to the hype, prepare for more bashing of gamers as hateful people who caused its failure rather than acknowledgement that the game was made by and for a niche audience.
Both games are available for preorder on Steam and can be added to whatever agenda you prefer.
Entertainment
Days of our Lives 2-Week Spoilers April 6-17: Maggie’s Explosive Rant – Johnny Completely Loses Control!
Days of Our Lives 2-week spoilers for April 06 – 17, 2026 anticipate Maggie Horton Kiriakis (Suzanne Rogers) ranting and Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman) completely losing it.
Days of Our Lives Spoilers Monday, April 6th: Johnny Stunned By Theo
Monday, April 6, we’ve got Johnny stunned by Theo Carver (Cameron Johnson). Looks like he’s going to step down as CEO because of Lexie Carver (Nikki Crawford), but Johnny won’t know that’s the reason. EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) issues Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) an invitation.
And I wonder if he’s going to take her to see Lexie since she’s waking up soon, and EJ very unwisely trusts Cat. Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd) and Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) are plotting revenge on their enemies. Of course, Sophia wants Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and Tate Black (Leo Howard) crushed.
And she wouldn’t mind Johnny and Chanel Dupree DiMera (Raven Bowens) being crushed as well. Meanwhile, Kristen wants payback on EJ and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), whom she’s blaming for the Rachel situation. So, this week, Kristen is out at Bayview hugging a very upset Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote), and that may spur her to start cooking up these revenge plans.
DOOL Spoilers: Steve Wants Brady on Board at Black Patch
Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) is between jobs since he is out at Titan, so Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) asks Brady to join him and put the black back in Black Patch. Looks like he’s going to say yes.
Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) and Dimitri von Leuschner DiMera (Peter Porte) are up at the hospital and they run into Cat. And later after listening to them, Dimitri tells Leo he’s pretty sure Cat is an ISA analyst. Dimitri says he spoke to one. Sounds just like that. And they may start figuring that out.
Meanwhile, Leo checks out of the hospital and he and Dimitri are going to head over to the Salem Inn. And Leo and Dimitri admit their feelings. And by Monday, he should explain to Leo exactly how he is a free man after the Vivian Alamain stuff in Alamania.
Days of Our Lives Spoilers Tuesday, April 7th: Maggie Blasts Xander
Tuesday, April 7th, we’re going to have Maggie blasting Xander Kiriakis Cook (Paul Telfer) about the book scheme. So Xander’s telling Maggie she needs to understand or she should understand why they want to block publication of Bonnie Kiriakis‘s (Judi Evans) book. But Maggie knows thanks to Johnny, it was all a big fat scheme.
Roman Brady (Josh Taylor) is quite unhappy with Cat and she’s going to scramble to smooth it over. So, it looks like Johnny may reveal to Roman what she did to him. And that may all come out in a scene at the pub because this week Marlena is asking Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) to run Basic Black with her.
And it seems like she says yes because Marlena and Kate are toasting. But Marlena may rescind the offer because Johnny’s upset and Marlena has questions on Tuesday. So, he may blow up at Kate at the pub. I think she’s going to play dumb. She might blame Xander on Days of our Lives.
Days Spoilers: Sexy Time for Gabi & Philip
Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) get romantic. They have some sexy alone time, and I think that’s going to be at the Kiriakis mansion after they both move in. Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) is feeling off-put by her husband, Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson).
So, looks like Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) is going to have a shot to get closer to shell shocked Stephanie when she feels the ick about being close to Alex. This week, Stephanie tells Alex she wants a gun, and I’m betting he’s going to say, “Heck no.”
Wednesday, April 8th on Days: Tate Follows Sophia
Then on Wednesday, April 8th, we’ve got Kristen and Brady arguing about Rachel and the whole Bayview situation. Since Sophia’s the pill culprit, Kristen may want to go back to court. She’s going to be blaming Marlena and EJ, pretty much anybody but herself.
Elsewhere, Marlena encourages Stephanie to just tell Alex about her anxiety in the wake of this ordeal. The PTSD is an expected outcome, but Stephanie may turn to Jeremy instead. Plus, Tate’s determined to take down Sophia, and he pulls a fast one.
Tate’s following Sophia and when she throws away a soda bottle, Tate carefully removes it from the trash to keep his prints and DNA off of it. So, this may be going to the police or it may be going to a certain private investigator. Plus, Holly tries to patch things up with Ari and we’re going to meet Vico Escorcia when she debuts as Arianna “Ari” Grace Horton on Wednesday.
Thursday, April 9th: Lexie Wakes Up on Days of Our Lives!
Then on Thursday, April 9th, we’ve got EJ and Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien). Super excited. They are definitely going ka-ching ka-ching. They are ready for a big payout because Dr. Rolf‘s (Richard Wharton) mad science project with the Versix to resurrect Lexie is a big win.
She is on the cusp of waking up. Johnny is pleasantly stunned by Chanel’s new attitude. Looks like she’s ready to let EJ into their lives and their kids’ lives at least somewhat provisionally. Let him in on a probationary basis.
Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) and Abe Carver (James Reynolds) are bickering. This may be about Theo quitting DiMera. This was what Abe wanted and was conspiring with EJ to get. So, I don’t think Abe’s going to listen to too much from Paulina because Abe was in on this plot. He was cooking it up. He never wanted Theo there.
Lexie is going to wake up to Theo’s voice on Thursday. He’s sitting at his mom’s bedside talking about how she was always there for him. And Lexie’s first glimpse from her resurrected eyes are going to be her precious boy.
And she says Theo’s name. Meanwhile, Leo shocks Dimitri. Looks like he’s ready to make love. But the question is, is Leo still loopy from that traumatic brain injury because it’s almost like he’s happy and drunk.
DOOL Spoilers Friday, April 10th: Javi Returns to Salem
Friday, April 10th, we’ve got Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon) surprising his cousin Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering). So, Al Calderon is back on the scene. And I wonder if Javi’s going to bring his new boyfriend to Salem. Meanwhile, Leo taps the brakes with Dimitri and shuts things down before they get intimate. So, maybe his brain fog clears.
EJ gets an earful from Kristen. I’m sure she’s blaming EJ for Rachel being back in Bayview. Kristen is just unhinged right now. Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) and Brady are going to heat up and take things to the bedroom. So maybe Xander prodding Sarah about intimacy when he’s been shagging Gwen may prompt Sarah to hit the gas on things with Brady.
Plus, Gwen is celebrating with Xander. He doesn’t know it, but she’s counting Versix’s cure dollars and she doesn’t know it, but he’s counting dollars from some illegal sort of something. Is he back to shenanigans because he was moving money around maybe to make that loan payment?

Week of April 13th-17th on DOOL
The week of April 13th through the 17th, we’ve got Cat making final arrangements for Stefano DiMera‘s (Joseph Mascolo) will reading and she reports back to EJ on her progress. Marlena is of course feeling bad about Rachel, but she still thinks the kid needs help. But Kristen is coming for Marlena, or more specifically looks like she may send Sophia for her. And the bad thing is Marlena is not going to see Sophia as any kind of potential personal threat.
Tate asked Brady for more help from Black Patch to take Sophia down and, you know, send her to jail or back to Bayview. Of course, her being a Bayview while Rachel’s there is not a good idea. Plus, she’s not crazy. She’s just crazy like a fox. I think she needs to be in Statesville. And if Kristen doesn’t get her antics under control, she may be her cellmate.
Days of our Lives Spoilers: Abe Gets the Shock of His Life
Abe learns that Lexie is alive and everything changes for him and a lot of people in Salem. Lani Price (Sal Stowers) and Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) are on their way back to Salem and they may press the gas on that once they find out Lexie is alive.
Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins) is on her way back to Salem with a bundle of joy. Michael Roark has a few weeks left as Jeremy. And I do wonder if we’re going to get a recast and he’s going to, you know, stick around for Stephanie. The way they’re building the story, it feels like it’s too soon for him to leave.
JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) continues to struggle mentally. Shawn-Douglas Brady (Brandon Beemer) is struggling physically, but Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) is there for him and Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) is there for JJ.
And EJ may be blindsided at the will reading. Plus, recast Chad DiMera, played by Connor Floyd, is just a few weeks away from his debut. And Johnny may find out by then that Cat has played him for a fool.
Entertainment
Christine Quinn’s Estranged Husband Building A New family
Christine Quinn‘s romantic past is already someone else’s present and possible future!
The TV star’s estranged husband, Christian Dumontet, stepped back into the dating pool shortly after their split. Showing he has moved on with his love life behind the scenes, he highlights his recent life updates on social media.
Christine Quinn and her estranged husband tied the knot in 2019, and after nearly five years of nuptial bliss, they began the divorce process. The “Selling Sunset” star also filed a restraining order against her former lover, along with charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
Family Now Looks Different For Christine Quinn’s Estranged Husband

Dumontet clearly did not put his life on hold while waiting for his divorce to be finalized. The tech boss has revealed that he has started a new family already amid his ongoing divorce from Quinn. The photos of his new family, shared on Instagram, featured his girlfriend and their one-year-old son seemingly on trips at different locations.
He uploaded the posts showing their little family unit in Monaco last year. Dumontet smiled widely at the camera with his girlfriend, who had their son in a baby carrier as they posed for the picture. Another post was a more recent photo of the trio, captioned “Family outing, France, recently.”
The string of picture updates ended with a selfie of the tech CEO and his partner, whom he has not publicly named, wearing gleeful smiles. “Elsewhere in Europe, recently,” he wrote as the simple caption. Comments are turned off on those posts and many others on his account where his girlfriend is featured. From the documentation on his Instagram account, it appears his young son was born in March 2025.
What Happened Between Dumontet and His Estranged Partner?

The scruffle between the former lovers spiraled in March 2024, when Dumontet was arrested and booked for assault with a deadly weapon. Following the incident, both parties filed for restraining orders against each other; however, only Quinn’s was granted. The court ordered that he stay away from the author under the guidelines of the temporary restraining order.
The tech boss violated the restraining order when he returned to their home and was taken into custody for the second time. US Weekly reports that he filed for divorce from Quinn, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their breakup and requested for full custody of their now four-year-old son, Christian. Court documents showed that the author filed a detailed request for sole legal and physical custody of Christian.
She stated that her estranged husband’s “actions and behavior have put [their] son’s health and well-being at risk.” Since their messy split, Dumontet has kept a low profile but has been traveling the world with his new partner since 2024 and documenting the moments on his socials. His former partner, on the other hand, moved to Texas with their son to start anew.
Christine Quinn Opened Up About The Tumultuous Divorce Process

Quinn previously shared the effect of the weight of her divorce from her estranged lover with insights into their failed marriage. She disclosed the emotional toll it took on her, which added to the legal struggles and the domestic violence incident. The pain of the situation forced her to leave their home in Los Angeles for Texas, where she had a phase of staying in hotels and “couch-surfing” with friends before she got settled in the new town.
The author told news outlets that the experience was “dehumanizing” as she felt she lost her entire life overnight. In addition to everything she was going through, Quinn reportedly felt this wave of overwhelming emotion without a support system to lean on.
As shared by The Blast, the “Selling Sunset” star revealed that the decision to end her marriage to Dumontet did not stem from just one incident but rather a plethora of troubling experiences. She disclosed that there were difficult times when he attempted to control her life and movement. The mom of one also recalled times where he would lie under her car to prevent her from going to work and other instances where he would shut the gates, not allowing her to leave the house.
The Reality TV Star’s Greatest Concern Was For Her Son

Quinn summoned the courage to walk away from the unhealthy union ignited by her realization that Dumontet’s behavior was negatively affecting her son. She disclosed that although her heart was initially bent on staying true to her wedding vows, she had to make the decision to end things and prioritize Christian’s safety.
The TV star also shared that her estranged partner’s parents had set very high expectations, and this added to the internal struggle to walk away from her marriage. Relocating was the cherry on the difficulty sundae for Quinn, but she has come to love her new life.
The “Selling Sunset” alum previously disclosed that on the bright side, the new environment was different from the chaotic life in Los Angeles. Having a home near Dallas is also a blessing for her because she is closer to family, noting that her sister is close by and her son has a cousin to play with. Ultimately, she is grateful for the life changes she had to go through to ensure a peaceful, safer life for Christian.
Christine Quinn’s Legal Representative Took His Hands Off The Case

The reality TV star’s lawyer wanted out of the case and sought permission to withdraw from his role as her lawyer last March. Hossein Berenji filed for an emergency hearing in court, claiming that he could no longer represent Quinn due to a significant breakdown in the attorney- client relationship.
The Blast covered the details in a previous release, sharing that Berenji was scheduled to present his case in court on April 15, 2025. After representing her for almost a year, the lawyer said he could not go on as her divorce counsel because their relationship had become “completely and irreconcilably broken.”
This marked a major setback for Quinn as the case has lingered on since then. The former lovers have disagreed on several terms during the process, from custody of their child to the request for spousal support. Their Los Angeles home was also a bone of contention as the TV star was granted exclusive access to the property. Dumontet later accused her of neglecting the property and causing it to suffer significant damage due to poor management.
Entertainment
Steven Spielberg joins Kylie Jenner in being a fan of 'the “Dunes”'
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The ‘Disclosure Day’ director revealed what sci-fi film is among his all-time favorites — syncing up with Jenner’s cinematic tastes.
Entertainment
Zendaya’s Controversial 57% RT Netflix Movie Is Officially Better 5 Years Later
2026 is the year of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Along with their roles in two major blockbusters with deep ensembles, Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three, the pair kick off the year in the dual-starring vehicle, The Drama, Kristoffer Borgli‘s dark comedy-romantic drama, which sees them as a couple amid a grave turning point.
Zendaya, who also has Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Season 3 of Euphoria on the docket, is a tried and true star and cultural icon. Thanks to the cachet she’s built off Spider-Man and Dune, she can elevate the status of less commercially viable films like Malcolm & Marie, which saw her opposite John David Washington in this divisive Netflix drama released in 2021. This relationship drama with 57% on Rotten Tomatoes inspired controversy among audiences and its writer-director, Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson, but the film is worth another look five years later.
‘Malcolm & Marie’ Faced Criticism and Controversy Upon Release in 2021
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with everyone trapped inside, Netflix provided its subscribers with a timely original movie merely consisting of two people talking inside their home. Sam Levinson’s film follow-up to Assassination Nation and appetizer for Euphoria Season 2’s release in 2022, Malcolm & Marie is a chamber drama about a director, Malcolm (Washington), and his girlfriend, Marie (Zendaya), undergoing a turbulent night following the latter’s movie premiere. During their tense fight, culminating in years of pent-up frustrations, the future of their relationship is put in jeopardy. This was the first Hollywood feature to be written, financed, and produced during lockdowns in 2020, making the film a raw — albeit unsettling — time capsule.
Movies released on Netflix can struggle to find stickiness within the zeitgeist, but Malcolm & Marie sparked intrigue among audiences — for better or worse. While many critics were fond of Zendaya and Washington’s performances, the passion behind the film’s naysayers were pointedly aggressive. Being centered around a filmmaker, the self-serving nature of Levinson’s film is blatantly obvious from the get-go. Between Malcolm’s long-winded monologues about cinema and creative expression, Marie, despite sharing half ownership of the film’s title, is egregiously marginalized in the story, something that Levinson himself acknowledged. The movie faced a slew of other controversies, including the 12-year age gap between Washington and Zendaya and Levinson railing against film criticism, which the writer-director positioned as a discussion about a Black artist’s relationship to his work.
Netflix’s ‘Malcolm & Marie’ Is an Acting Showcase for Zendaya
It’s hard not to see John David Washington’s defensive and combative filmmaker character as an avatar of sorts for Levinson, a director and showrunner who has been the brunt of much criticism in response to the transgressive nature of Euphoria and his short-lived showbiz drama, The Idol. The film’s blunt dialogue becomes even more heavy-handed when interpreted as Levinson’s own rebuke of his critics, especially when factoring in controversies regarding the toxic set he harbored while filming Euphoria. The theatrical, capital “A” acting by its two stars and the black-and-white photography presented themselves laughably pretentious by its critics, as all these traits were already pushed to the maximum by Levinson in Euphoria. Malcolm’s constant lecturing about cinema to Marie, which borders on “mansplaining,” can feel gross, but in the end, you’re not supposed to come out of this extended fight between the couple emotionally unscathed.
With its two-person cast, one-location setting, and frantic psychological edge, Malcolm & Marie is the quintessential COVID-era film without being explicitly about the pandemic. The cooped-up frustration stemming from being with the same people and stuck in cyclical conversations of this period is reflected in Malcolm and Marie’s hostile interactions. This prolonged discussion, filled with unbridled rage and highfalutin dialogue indicative of people living in a Gilded Cage, seemingly has no resolution in sight unless one of the partners takes a drastic stand in the relationship.
While the film is ultimately a little too glossy for its own good, Malcolm & Marie, at its best, echoes the spirit of John Cassavetes‘ raw indie dramas about emotionally unstable people and marriages on the rocks. Luckily, what Sam Levinson might lack in documentary-like naturalism is made up for by Zendaya and John David Washington, whose performances appear as though they’re pulled from their own personal woes with close relatives. Despite being one of pop culture’s most premier figures, Zendaya boldly portrays herself in an unflattering light, and her sheer vigor elevates this experimental COVID production into a buzzworthy event film. Revisiting such a dire moment in recent history is a challenge, but you’ll be surprised by just how well Malcolm & Marie holds up in 2026.
Entertainment
Blake Lively Reportedly Advised By Close Circle To Settle Lawsuit
Blake Lively has reportedly lost the support of her close circle amid her ongoing lawsuit with her “It Ends With Us” co-star, Justin Baldoni.
The actress and director have been embroiled in a legal battle since the project, with the case set to go to trial in May.
However, those close to Blake Lively are said to believe she may not win and are privately urging her to settle with Justin Baldoni, though she remains determined to see the case through to the end.
The Actress’s Close Circle Is ‘Begging’ Her To Settle

With only weeks to go before Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni heads to trial, her close circle is reportedly reconsidering whether she should proceed with the case.
The actress sued her “It Ends With Us” co-star for sexual harassment and other claims stemming from their time on set and beyond, and has continued to stand firm amid the ongoing legal back-and-forth with Baldoni’s attorneys since filing the suit.
Now, sources who spoke with Rob Shuter’s “Naughty But Nice” Substack say Lively’s friends and loved ones aren’t confident she will emerge victorious and have advised her to settle in order to avoid potential embarrassment if she loses.
“People around Blake are begging her to settle,” an insider told the journalist. “They think enough damage has already been done.”
“This is not the win she thinks it is,” the source added about the actress. “The case is weaker now, not stronger.”
Blake Lively Wants To See The Case Through Despite Dismissal Of Most Claims

According to the source, concerns among Lively’s friends about her losing the case intensified after a judge dismissed several of the claims she brought against Baldoni in 2024.
Judge Lewis Liman allowed only three of the 13 legal claims filed by Lively to proceed, dismissing others, including her sexual harassment and defamation allegations, in his 152-page ruling on April 2.
Despite this significant setback just weeks before the trial, Lively is said to be determined to see her day in court and is not backing down.
“She’s framing this as something bigger,” the insider continued about the actress who previously failed to settle with Baldoni during a court-mandated meeting that lasted several hours.
“A fight about ‘digital violence’ and speaking out,” they further hinted at Lively’s reason for wanting to see the case through.
Blake Lively’s Husband Is No Longer Confident In The Case, Source Claims

Some of Lively’s close friends reportedly feel that the longer the case drags on, the more the actress is likely to suffer reputational and professional damage.
They also believe that the impact isn’t limited to Lively alone; her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who has been her biggest supporter since she took legal action against Baldoni, could also face similar losses.
“Ryan has been by her side, but even he’s starting to wobble,” added the insider. “This is affecting everything — their image, their careers, their relationships,” the source explains. “It’s not contained anymore.”
For now, Lively still has the opportunity to step back, but if she forges ahead, many believe she could face an even greater risk of loss in the coming weeks.
“She can keep going, but she may lose a lot more before this is over,” the source concluded.
Blake Lively Looks Forward To ‘Testifying’

Baldoni also faced a setback with Liman’s ruling, as his push for a summary judgment was only partly granted.
Despite this, he also remains committed to seeing the case through like Lively, as noted in statements following the April ruling, per People Magazine.
Lively’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, stated that the “Another Simple Favor” star is looking forward to “testifying at trial and continuing to shine a light on this vicious form of online retaliation so that it becomes easier to detect and fight.”
Justin Baldoni Pleased As He Is Now Left With A ‘Significantly Narrowed Case’

Baldoni, on his own part, noted he was pleased with the ruling and cited how the case was now “significantly narrowed.”
“These were very serious allegations, and we are grateful to the Court for its careful review of the facts, law, and voluminous evidence that was provided,” read a statement from his lawyers, Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach of Shapiro Arato Bach.
“What’s left is a significantly narrowed case, and we look forward to presenting our defense to the remaining claims in court,” they added.
Entertainment
What happened to the “Gossip Girl ”cast? See Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and more stars, then and now
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See where the “Gossip Girl” cast ended up after leaving the Upper East Side.
Entertainment
Beyond the Gates Spoilers April 6-10: Samantha’s Furious Explosion – Leslie Ruins Everything in Chaos!
Beyond the Gates spoilers for April 06-10, 2026 reveal Samantha Richardson (Najah Jackson) exploding and Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann) ruining everything.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Monday, April 6th: Jacob and Naomi’s Anniversary
On Monday, April 6, it’s season 2, episode 64 of BTG, and we’ve got Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) helping Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges). I do wonder if he’s going to lay into Izaiah for pressuring Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) along with their mom, Darlene Hawthorne (Monique Mosse).
You know, trying to get Naomi to hand over her burner phone. I also wonder if Jacob might be getting Izaiah to deliver a present or something to Naomi on their anniversary because they made love, then they had to say goodbye, which means Naomi is spending her anniversary away from Jacob. But we’re going to see some engineered flashbacks of their love story.
The start of their relationship all the way until they said I do. Plus, Naomi is scared for Jacob, but she can’t tell her family the truth. She’s got Ashley Morgan, (Jen Jacob), Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), and Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) supporting her, but they all think Naomi is simply upset that Jacob is away for work when it’s actual life and death fear that she’s got going.
This week, on Beyond the Gates, Naomi tells somebody she’s terrified Jacob won’t come home. She’s at Uptown having lunch with somebody. Maybe her mother-in-law Darlene, maybe her father-in-law Police Chief Elon Hawthorne (Malachi Malik).
BTG Spoilers Tuesday, April 7th: Smitty Goes Against The Plan
On Tuesday, April 7th, it’s season 2, episode 65 of Beyond the Gates, and Jacob is begging Bradley “Smitty” Smith (Mike Manning) to calm down and please don’t go against their plan. And Jacob tries to explain that he’s casting a wide net with this investigation because he wants to catch a whale.
He wants to get somebody who’s at the top of the food chain of this red market thing. And Smitty says, “Maybe you’ll catch an impaler.” I guess that’s just because it’s a blood thing. I don’t know if I’m missing something like a Vlad the Impaler, Dracula, blood, whatever.
Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie) is there to advise Dani as she sorts through some insecurity issues. And this may be about her big splash back into modeling at a more mature age. And Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) keeps reassuring her as well. But sometimes the girl just needs her mom.
Anita Blasts Vernon & Dani on Beyond the Gates
However, something may be up because Anita tells Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis), “Stop right there,” gives him his full name and then tells him and Dani that they must think she’s Boo Boo the Fool. So, I don’t know what they’re trying to pull over, but it’s not going to work.
June (Jasmine Burke) upsets Samantha, who is disappointed with her birth mother, and things take a turn for the much worse when Eva Thomas Richardson (Ambyr Michelle) and Izaiah have lunch with his mom, Darlene, and Leslie decides to crash. Everything that woman touches turns to crap. She is so terrible.
We know that Darlene already thinks that Leslie is trash and she has a low opinion of Eva because of her mom. And I’m sure Leslie is going to be her usual not so charming self. Fortunately, Izaiah is smitten with Eva, but he may face pressure from his mom, Darlene, to dump her after Leslie acts up acting like herself. And you know, Eva is going to be furious with her mother.
Wednesday, April 8th BTG Spoilers: Tomas Resigns
Wednesday, April 8th on Beyond the Gates is season 2, episode 66. And Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) has decided he is not going to be pushed around by Bill. He’s basically bullying him because of Hayley Lawson‘s (Marquita Goings) BS. So, he makes a big move.
I think it’s 100% with Kat Richardson‘s (Colby Nixon) support. So, Tomas marches in and hands Bill his letter of resignation. Bill wants to know if it’s because of Hayley. And Tomas says, “Yeah, yeah.” And it is. I wonder if Bill is going to try and get him to stay. If he’s smart, he will.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Ted & Nicole Hash Things Out
Dr. Ted Richardson (KeithD. Robinson) and Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix) talk about their love life and they are brutally honest. And I think Ted may advocate for Carlton Fitzgerald (Robert Christopher Riley) over Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). We also know that Nicole likes Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson).
So, there’s going to be no pressure from her because anybody’s better than looney Leslie. Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) needs advice from Dani and I’m sure it’s about Joey Armstrong (Jon Lindstrom) and the double date from hell with Carlton and Nicole. We already saw Dani hearing from Nicole that she’s worried Vanessa dating Joey is going to impact their friendship.
And Lynette Wise (Dominique Madison) ups her blackmail game with Hayley just as Bill’s pressing Hayley to cut Lynette off financially. The big Fenmore deal is a topic of strife between Chelsea Hamilton (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Kat as they argue about it. Chelsea is so excited to get their purses on the shelves of Fenmores, but maybe Kat has a different take on this.
Thursday, April 9th: Samantha Snaps at June on BTG
Thursday, April 9th is season 2, episode 67 of Beyond the Gates. And we’ve got Jacob pushing Grayson Perez (Jordi Vilasuso) for more info on the higher-ups. And when he doesn’t give it up, Jacob is frustrated. We know that Grayson is lying right in his face because Leah is right up there at the top of the food chain of the red market ring.
But of course, Grayson’s terrified and he can’t afford to lose the money he needs to support his sick mom. Darlene comforts Naomi. So, this may be when she talks about her being terrified he won’t come back. So, I do also wonder if Jacob sent a message back with Izaiah that Darlene needs to stop making things harder on his wife.
Smitty engages in some criminality this week. So, looks like he’s going to go rogue just as Jacob feared, and it could put his family at risk. Donnell McBride (Alex Cheeks) tells Samantha and his parents that some dude has been following him. Smitty and Donnell are peeking out the window, and Smitty freaks out because he knows what he’s into. And he calls the cops.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: Izaiah & Eva Hit a Rough Patch
Eva and Izaiah’s relationship hits a stumbling block. I’m sure it’s about Leslie. And Lord knows Izaiah has been so patient where Leslie is concerned. But after she tangled with his mom, Darlene, we could have Izaiah questioning whether he could live like this forever because Leslie’s going to be there as long as Eva is in his life.
Elon wants Marcel Malone (Daryll W. Handy) to check in with an old friend. This may be the mysterious Sheila we’ve never seen that Marcel is talking about this week. Marcel tells Leslie that Sheila is the only woman that doesn’t drive him nuts. And Leslie says, “Present company excluded.” And then Marcel is smirking and says that Leslie drives him crazy.
Samantha snaps at June and stuns Donnell with the way she’s talking to their mom. Samantha rants and is telling June to stop thinking about herself and to just be there for her kids. Donnell’s jaw drops as Samantha tells June, “Is that too much to ask?” So, cannot wait to see what Samantha is all bunched up about.

Friday, April 10th: Madison Gets Sued on BTG
Friday, April 10th on Beyond the Gates, it’s season 2, episode 68, and we’ve got Bill working with Naomi when Chelsea’s fiancé Dr. Madison Montgomery (Kenjah) is sued and the doctor is freaking out. So, I wonder if this is something to do with her clinical trial or a past patient, something like that. Doctors get sued all the time.
Vanessa and Nicole get into it. Things get heated because Vanessa’s not going to give up on Joey and he’s not going to stop being Joey, you know, and Nicole doesn’t like the veiled threats about her family. I do kind of get where Joey’s coming from in a way. He’s not good enough for Vanessa, according to them.
Beyond the Gates Spoilers: The Duprees Have Skeletons in the Closet
And Carlton was smacking him when the Duprees have leaned on Joey more than once to clean up their messes. What he was saying to Nicole is true. He knows where the bodies are buried because Joey buried them for them. And he’s not the trash guy.
He’s a human. Now, he’s a criminal, but you know. Randy Parker (Maurice P. Kerry) is grilled by Joey. He knows that Randy’s in deep into something with Lynette and Hayley. And if Bill is pressuring Joey, he may turn it around on Randy. But then Joey finds himself grilled when Deanna McBride (Angela Fairley) is pushing on him.
I think she wants to know when exactly he and her mom, Vanessa, started seeing each other, because Deanna’s pretty sure it started before her dad died. Jacob is thrilled with a new lead in the red market plasma case by the end of the week.
Entertainment
Husband of Missing American Woman Says She Fell Off Boat
A search for a missing American woman is underway in the Bahamas, where her husband reported she fell off a small boat and was swept away by “strong currents,” police said.
The man, who is also from the United States, said that his wife disappeared after they took an 8-foot, “hard-bottom” dinghy from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands the evening of Saturday, April 4, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
“During the journey, his wife reportedly fell overboard with the boat keys, causing the vessel’s engine to shut off,” police said in a news release shared on Sunday, April 5.
The man told police that currents swept his wife away until he could no longer see her, according to authorities.
At that point, he reported that he started paddling the dinghy to shore and eventually made it to the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard, located on Great Abaco Island, around 4 a.m. on April 5, police said. That is when he was said to have reported his wife as missing.
Abaco police officers, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and Hope Town Fire & Rescue are searching for the missing woman, according to police.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force did not release the names of the woman or her husband.
The agency is asking the public to come forward with any information relevant to the investigation into the American woman’s April 4 disappearance.
“Police are appealing to members of the public who may have information that may assist with this investigation. If you have relevant details, please contact 911, 919, your nearest police station, or the Criminal Investigation Department. Anonymous tips are also welcomed through Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS (8477),” authorities said in the news release.
Nearly two years ago, another American woman, Taylor Casey, went missing while attending a yoga retreat in the Bahamas, CBS News reported.
Casey, 42, of Chicago, disappeared on June 19, 2024, and remains missing, according to a CBS news report published one year after her disappearance.
Her phone was found about 56 feet underwater a few days after she vanished, on June 22, 2024, according to local law enforcement, the outlet reported.
The U.S. State Department advises using caution when traveling to the Bahamas because of incidents of local crime.
The agency has issued a level 2 travel advisory for the country.
The State Department has four travel advisory levels, including level 1, “exercise normal precautions,” level 2, “exercise increased caution,” level 3, “reconsider travel,” and level 4, “do not travel.”
Entertainment
Hulk Hogan’s Final Interview Shown in Netflix Trailer
The final interview of Hulk Hogan’s life is shown in the dramatic trailer for a documentary series about his very public highs and lows.
The trailer for Hulk Hogan: Real American, which premieres on Netflix Wednesday, April 22, opens with the late pro wrestling legend walking with the use of a cane.
“In wrestling, you should be remembered from all the wars you’ve been in and everything you’ve done,” says Hogan, who died in July 2025 at the age of 71.
He continues, “Some people hate me. But after I’m gone, I think people don’t know the truth. Who was this guy, really?”
Hogan (real name Terry Bollea) is shown exercising through obvious pain in the trailer, wincing as he rises to his feet after using a weight machine.
“That’s the hardest part, standing up,” he says.
Hogan died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Clearwater, Florida, on July 24, 2025.
The trailer shows home movies from Hulk’s days as a young parent. He and his ex-wife Linda Hogan share daughter Brooke, 37, and son Nick, 35.
“Life was so clear. Where did that life go?” Hulk asks. “The mistakes shown through.”
Hulk seems to acknowledge his role in the family dysfunction, admitting, “I was running pretty hard partying. Maybe I was drunk, maybe I was high. I don’t know what to tell you.”
The WWE Hall of Famer hints that candidness won’t be an issue during the series.
“You really want me to tell the truth? I know where all the bodies are buried,” he says.
Hulk peels back the curtain on his wrestling career, drawing a clear line between the man outside the ring and the larger-than-life persona inside of it.
“Terry Bollea was just a human being,” he says. “But when I went in that ring, brother, I was Hulk Hogan.”
Hulk continues, “The character helps people, that’s all I know. I can’t predict what the final act of the story’s gonna be. But the legend of Hulk Hogan will live forever.”
Linda, 66, also appears in the trailer and argues the lines between Terry and Hulk got blurred along the way.
“The character was so strong,” she says. “Terry got lost along the trip.”
Linda filed for divorce from Hulk in 2007 after 23 years of marriage. The couple’s divorce was finalized in 2009.
At the time of his death, Hulk was married to his third wife, Sky Daily, with whom he tied the knot in 2023. Hulk was married to his second wife, Jennifer McDaniel, from 2010 to 2021.
All episodes of Hulk Hogan: Real American premiere on Netflix Wednesday, April 22.
Entertainment
Kelly Ripa’s Family ‘Heartbroken’ After Mark Consuelos’ Loss
Mark Consuelos is mourning the loss of his father, Saul Consuelos. The “Live with Kelly and Mark” co-host revealed the heartbreaking news during the Monday, April 6 episode of the talk show, sharing that his father “passed away peacefully” on March 23 following a long illness.
Kelly Ripa Says Family Is ‘Heartbroken’ As Kids Experience First Major Loss

Standing beside him, wife and co-host Kelly Ripa became visibly emotional as she honored her father-in-law. “I can honestly say I will miss him every day for the rest of my life,” she said. “He really is so symbolic of everything you are.”
Ripa also opened up about how deeply the loss has impacted the couple’s three children, Michael Consuelos, Lola Consuelos, and Joaquin Consuelos, noting this marks their first experience with such grief. “This is the first loss they’ve ever experienced in their lives,” she said, reflecting on how meaningful it was that they had the chance to grow up with their grandfather.
“You got to have deep, meaningful conversations [with them],” she added, emphasizing the special bond they shared.
Mark Consuelos Reflects On Lessons Learned From His Father

As he remembered his dad, Consuelos shared how Saul’s hands-on parenting style shaped him into the man he is today. “If you asked him what time it was, he would tell you how to build a watch,” he joked.
“There were a lot of lectures… and I learned so much,” Consuelos continued, explaining how his father would make him watch and participate in fixing things around the house.
“I learned the most by just watching him,” he said, adding that those lessons still serve him today.
Saul Consuelos’ Inspiring Journey From Mexico To U.S. Military Service

Consuelos also reflected on his father’s remarkable life story, from immigrating to the United States as a teenager to serving his country for decades. “He came here from Mexico in his early teens,” he said. “He served his country for 30 years… ended up at Special Operations Command in Tampa.”
Saul went on to pursue higher education while raising his family, earning his master’s degree, and continuing to learn throughout his life. “If you’re going to put a face to an immigrant, he would be the prime example of what this country promises people,” Consuelos added.
Kelly Ripa Honors Father-In-Law As Family’s ‘Living Legacy’

Ripa also shared just how involved Saul was in their family life, often stepping in to help raise their children while Consuelos worked. “He was very involved,” she said, recalling how he frequently attended school events and even traveled with the family to support them.
At times, his presence was so constant that people assumed he was her husband. “They were like, ‘Is this your new husband?’” She joked. “And I was like, ‘No, that was my father-in-law.’”
She went on to call Consuelos and his siblings their father’s “living legacy.”
Mark Consuelos Says Broadway Role Helped Him Through Grief

The “Riverdale” alum revealed he was able to say goodbye to his father while rehearsing for his Broadway play Fallen Angels, describing the experience as a “welcomed distraction.”
“I knew I had to keep on going,” he said. “And I know he’s there watching.”
Kelly Ripa Shares Emotional Final Message

Closing out the tribute, Ripa delivered a heartfelt message to both her husband and his late father.
“You’re the strongest person I know. You continually inspire me every day,” she told Consuelos. “All of the good things that I love about you, I loved those same things about your dad. So I just want to say thank you… for everything you gave to us.”
As the Mark Consuelos family navigates life after Saul’s passing, their focus has now shifted to supporting his mother, Camilla Consuelos. “We gotta take care of mom,” Mark shared, revealing they’re hoping to convince her to relocate closer to them in New York. “We’re trying to convince my mom to move to New York… she’s such a character, she’s stubborn.”
Never missing a chance to lighten the mood, Kelly Ripa joked about putting Camilla in front of the camera. “Yeah! Cooking with Camilla! Put her to work!” Ripa teased. “Enough of this life of leisure!”
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