Taylor Swift’s music has vanished from another White House TikTok, extending the apparent tug-of-war between the pop superstar and President Donald Trump’s social media operation. Several Trump-affiliated posts have recently lost their Swift soundtracks, including videos featuring “August” and “Red.” However, neither Swift nor her representatives have publicly confirmed who initiated each removal. The latest incident involves “I Bet You Think About Me,” which reportedly disappeared from an official White House video within hours of its publication.

5

The White House posted a TikTok on Wednesday featuring a montage of Trump interacting with supporters, set to Swift’s 2021 song “I Bet You Think About Me.”

“We know you think about us,” the caption read, referencing the song’s lyrics. Within hours, the music was no longer audible, according to Rolling Stone. An on-screen notice now reportedly states, “This sound isn’t available.”

The track remains available elsewhere on TikTok, suggesting its disappearance was tied to that particular post rather than a platform-wide removal. The exact mechanism behind the change has not been publicly established.

“We know you’re obsessed with her,” one user commented on the video. Another wrote, “The silence is LOUD.” A third pointed out, “Not even 4 hours in and the sound was removed.”

Team Trump’s ‘August’ Post Also Lost Its Soundtrack

5

Days earlier, Team Trump posted another TikTok featuring Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watching fireworks. “Mood because it’s August and Donald Trump is your president,” text appearing on the video read.

Swift’s “August,” a song from her 2020 album “Folklore,” initially played over the footage. The account also directly acknowledged the singer while appearing to anticipate a reaction from her. “I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song!” the caption read alongside the hashtags #taylorswift, #maga and #august.

By Friday night, the soundtrack had disappeared. Viewers instead encountered a notice stating, “The copyright owner hasn’t made this sound available in your country.” Although some reports attributed the change directly to Swift, the message does not identify who requested the restriction or establish that the singer personally intervened.

Donald Trump’s Team Followed Up With A ‘Red’ Parody

5

Team Trump subsequently responded with another Swift-themed TikTok, this time using the title track from her 2012 album “Red.” The post included a mocked-up version of the album’s artwork that replaced Swift with Trump wearing his red “Make America Great Again” cap. It also presented a faux playlist titled “Red (Donald Trump’s Version).”

“Did you know Taylor Swift wrote a whole album about the color of the Republican Party,” the post read. By Saturday afternoon, the “Red” audio had reportedly disappeared from the account as well.

Taylor Swift And Donald Trump Have A Long History Of Tension

5

The apparent social media standoff arrives after years of public friction between Swift and Trump. Swift endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, prompting Trump to write, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!” on Truth Social.

He later revisited his criticism and claimed the singer was “no longer ‘HOT’” after his public attack. Swift had also condemned Trump during the 2020 election cycle, writing that he was “well aware we do not want him as our president.”

Taylor Swift Now Owns Her Entire Music Catalog

5

Taylor Swift announced in May 2025 that she had acquired the original master recordings of her first six albums, bringing a highly publicized, six-year ownership battle to an end.

“All the times I was this close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away,” she said. “But that’s all in the past now… I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs to me. All of my music videos. All the concert films.”

“The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work,” Swift added on her website. The deal gave Swift ownership of the master recordings alongside the publishing rights she already controlled as a songwriter, although ownership alone does not explain precisely how each TikTok restriction occurred.

Swift also thanked Shamrock Capital for recognizing the deeply personal significance of the transaction. “My memories and my sweat and my handwriting and my decades of dreams,” she wrote. “I am endlessly thankful. My first tattoo might just be a huge shamrock in the middle of my forehead.”

Scooter Braun, who previously acquired Swift’s former label and sold the masters to Shamrock, offered a short response to the purchase: “I am happy for her.”

The ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 cast reunited on the hot pink carpet ahead of the highly anticipated reunion, but the fashion conversation quickly moved beyond who wore what. After social media users criticized some of the islanders’ reunion looks, Casa Amor bombshell Tierra ‘Titi’ Davis spoke out. She asked fans to show more “grace and kindness” as she and her fellow islanders adjust to life in the spotlight.

RELATED: Carl & Aniya Share Their Relationship Status Following ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Finale (WATCH)

Season 8 Cast Steps Out For The ‘Love Island USA’ Reunion

On Sunday, Aug. 9, the islanders reunited in Los Angeles ahead of the Season 8 reunion, bringing plenty of glam to the hot pink carpet. From shimmering gowns to tailored suits, the cast came through with looks that quickly sparked conversation online.

The season’s “Core 4,” Aniya Harvey, Melanie Moreno, Trinity Tatum, and Kayda Bosse, stepped onto the carpet serving four different takes on reunion glam. Aniya was stunned in a soft blush, draped in a floor-length gown, while Melanie opted for a sleek silver satin dress. Trinity turned heads in a shimmering silver fringe gown, and Kayda went for a form-fitting bronze sequin gown.

Meanwhile, Tierra Davis and her boyfriend, KC Chandler, also made their reunion debut together. Titi wore a red embellished gown with a thigh-high slit and matching red heels, while KC kept things coordinated in a brown-toned suit.

Other notable looks also had social media talking. Corbin stepped out in a brown pinstriped three-piece suit paired with a burgundy tie, while Sol went bold in a fitted tiger-print dress. As photos from the carpet made their rounds online, fans quickly shared their picks for best dressed, while others weren’t shy about critiquing some of the cast’s fashion choices.

Titi Speaks Out Following Criticism Over Her Reunion Look

Following the online reaction, Titi took to social media to explain that the reunion carpet marked a major first for her and that she is still figuring out her personal style.

“Hi guys, I just want to say that I’m still figuring it all out,” Titi wrote. “This was my first ever carpet event, and I’m still learning my personal style, what makeup works best for me, and what hairstyles I feel most confident in. It’s all trial and error, and I’m okay with that.”

Titi acknowledged that public figures will inevitably face opinions about their appearance, but asked fans to remember that many of the islanders are experiencing this level of attention for the first time.

“I just wish there was a little more grace and kindness when it comes to me and my fellow Islanders,” she continued. “We literally just came out of the villa and are stepping into an industry that’s very new to a lot of us. We’re learning, growing, developing our styles, and figuring things out along the way.”

The reality star also made it clear that she understands not everyone will love her look — but said she believes there is a line between criticism and cruelty.

“You don’t have to love every look, and I completely understand that everyone has their own opinions,” Titi said. “But there’s a difference between having an opinion and being unkind.”

She closed her message by thanking the fans who have continued to support her since leaving the villa.

Social Media Reacts

Tierra Davis’ message sparked another round of conversation online, with fans split over whether the islanders should be given more grace or expected to arrive on a reunion carpet fully prepared for the spotlight.

Instagram user @tip_tippy wrote, “Literally!! I guess everyone forgot the saying, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’”

Another Instagram user @prettyash_la wrote, “Girl where was the kindness and grace with Aniya & that’s another blacka woman you ain’t tell your fans to pipe down about her 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️😂”

While Instagram user @0ne.keyy wrote, “Anyways… the core 4 look amazing 😍”

Instagram user @wavyymaliik wrote, “She still looked good. Makeup was a dark look but that’s okay Queen!”

Another Instagram user @kurlxss wrote, “You knew it was a carpet event you knew you were gonna be in front of a camera you saw yourself before you left out. We are seeing the same thing you’re seeing… my mother always told me don’t walk outside the house looking like who what when where and why? Always look ur best!”

While Instagram user @kaylazh wrote, “Agreed. Everybody want them to be Olandria straight out the villa. Give them time.”

Instagram user @aprettyvirgo__ wrote, “Why is evb hating on Tierra. I thought she looked cute for her first red carpet experience and so what if she expressing herself to the internet? Leave her TF alone it’s not y’all feelings damn 😂”

Another Instagram user @kiimeechi wrote, “I’m not a fan of her but I AGREE, y’all need to relax fr 🙄”

While Instagram user @lustfor.asiah_ wrote, “Okay but tbh everyone looks a mess in these photos 😭”

RELATED: Sol Dean Claps Back After ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 Finalists Say She Didn’t Make An Effort To Befriend Girls In The Villa

Alan Ritchson‘s hit series Reacher is back for season 4 — with major cast changes on screen.

Based on the Jack Reacher novel series by Lee Child, Reacher stars Ritchson as the main character, who is a self-proclaimed drifter and former U.S. Army military police officer with incredible strength, intellect and abilities. During his travels, Reacher crosses paths with dangerous criminals and battles them.

Season 4 pulls inspiration from the 2009 novel Gone Tomorrow, which follows Reacher as he witnesses a suicide on the subway in New York. According to the official synopsis, Reacher “soon discovers the woman who killed herself was Pentagon staffer Susan Mark, who was caught up in a larger deadly conspiracy involving a corrupt politician, Al Qaeda terrorists and countless murders.”

In addition to Ritchson, season 4 stars Sydelle Noel, Christopher Marquette, Agnez Mo, Anggun and Kevin Corrigan.

Related: Is ‘Reacher’ Getting a Season 4? What We Know So Far About the Cast and More

Reacher doesn’t chase trouble — it always finds him. After three adrenaline-soaked seasons, fans have been curious if the hit series is coming back for season 4. Whether it’s unfinished business, new enemies, or justice waiting to be served, lead star Alan Ritchson always delivers. Us Weekly breaks down what we know so far about […]

Keep scrolling to meet the season 4 newcomers:

Alan Ritchson

Ritchson is once again front and center as the show’s main character, Jack Reacher.

Sydelle Noel

Noel, who previously auditioned for the role of Maria Sten’s Frances Neagley, is Tamara Green in season 4 a.k.a a detective with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Agnez Mo

Mo is part of the fourth season as Lila Hoth.

Anggun

Anggun, meanwhile, is playing Amisha Hoth in season 4.

Christopher Marquette

Marquette brings Jake to life, who is described as a small-town police officer. Jay Baruchel was originally cast in the role before being recast but he is expected to play a new character in season 5.

Related: 4 Top New Movies and Shows to Watch This Week (August 10–14)

This week is packed with high-quality new TV shows and movies to watch on streamers like Netflix, Prime Video and Hulu. There’s so much new content to consume that Watch With Us has curated a list of only the best to watch throughout the week. Prime Video’s hit original series Reacher is back for season […]

Advertisement

Kevin Corrigan

Corrigan is Shaun Docherty a.k.a Tamara’s partner.

Kevin Weisman

In season 4, Weisman is Russell Plum, who is a freelance journalist in Washington DC.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

Marc Blucas

Blucas will be introduced as Congressman John Sampson in season 4.

Kathleen Robertson

Robertson, meanwhile, has been cast as Elsbeth Sampson, who is John’s wife.

Dean Armstrong

Armstrong will also be part of Reacher as a guest star playing Foster.

Roomies, it looks like Lil Scrappy had some things to get off his chest, and this time, the conversation is about co-parenting. The rapper recently appeared to address some ongoing tension involving his son’s mother, Shakira, and had plenty to say about what he claims has been happening behind the scenes.

RELATED: Whew! Lil Scrappy Clears The Air On Spinning The Block Rumors Following Family Vacation With Bambi & Their Kids (VIDEOS)

Lil Scrappy Seemingly Addresses Tension With Shakira

In a video obtained by Live Bitez, Lil Scrappy appeared to sit in a pool or hot tub shirtless while speaking directly to the camera. He said he hates having to bring the situation to social media. However, he claimed that his child’s mother, Shakira, has been keeping their son away from him while also making it seem online like he doesn’t want to be involved. He didn’t address her by name. Scrappy also addressed an alleged comment from Shakira, saying she questioned how he could “fly out to see a h*e” but not fly out to see his child. He responded that he was in Mexico filming to “get some money” and added, “That’s why you got your hand out.”

In another clip, Scrappy appeared to address what he sees as Shakira’s pettiness toward him. He said he doesn’t know why she is doing certain things and suggested she might think her actions will hurt him. However, he made it clear that he doesn’t plan to chase after anyone, saying he did that “a long time ago.”

Fans Aren’t Letting This One Slide

Folks ran to Live Bitez’s Instagram comment section and had plenty to say about the situation. Some felt Scrappy was doing the exact same thing on social media that he was upset with Shakira for doing. Others shared their own theories about why Shakira might be upset, while a few people were left wondering why Scrappy seems to be caught up in another round of drama.

One Instagram user @sheilasbgtae said, “He must’ve made her mad cuz she def was with the blended family vibe before what happened now?”

This Instagram user @jul2020anna claimed, “But Scrappy you knew what it was with her. 🧐🤦🏽‍♀️. 17 years bro”

And, Instagram user @jethanyy commented, “Wait did they fall out , her an bam 👀”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @itsjessybaby said, “He always got beef with one of his BMs”

While Instagram user @matt_feltblack wrote, “But here you are on instagram doing THE SAME THING 🤷🏾‍♂️💯🥱”

Lastly, Instagram user @ohyoutelisha added, “‘you don’t even know me fr fr’ yikes 😭😭😭”

The Last Time Shakira Spoke, Things Were All Love

The last time we heard from Shakira, the vibe was much lighter as she gave fans a glimpse into a sweet moment between her family and Lil Scrappy. At the time, she shared a video showing her daughter and Bambi helping keep an eye on toddler Kyrie while she was away in Miami for work. When Shakira returned after about 36 hours, she expected Kyrie to be excited to see his mom. Instead, the little one chilled with his dad, seemingly unbothered, while Scrappy happily celebrated his son wanting to hang out with him. Shakira joked about Kyrie’s reaction, saying she rushed home thinking he was having a hard time without her, only to find him looking “disappointed” to see her.

RELATED: Blended Fam! Lil Scrappy’s Co-Parent Shakira Shares Post About Bambi Babysitting Son Kyrie & Spending Time With Dad (VIDEOS)

Looking for a low-stakes way to instantly upgrade your wardrobe? Then turn your attention to sleek, pleated pants. The billowy style is kicking wide-leg denim and tight capris to the sidelines, calling on chic tailoring, polished details and streamlined silhouettes.

While the aesthetic is upscale and swanky, there’s no luxury-level price tag required. Retailers like Nordstrom, Free People and Macy’s are offering top-rated picks, starting at only $8 — yes, you read that right. Expect to find architectural silhouettes, fluid drapery and tailored versions that every rich mom is after.

13 Pleated Trousers That Are Taking Over This Season

1. Our Favorite: Meet the do-it-all pleated pants that deserve a spot in your wardrobe. These loose yet chic bottoms feature a flattering high waist, two-button closure and flared silhouette. Snag the cream color for endless styling possibilities.

2. Runner-Up: It doesn’t get more elegant than a pair of cream linen-blend pants. The graceful design elongates the frame, with a button closure, belt loops and slant pockets serving as the finishing touches.

3. Under $10: It’s rare to find a pair of elevated pants for $8, so snag these olive green trousers while they’re still on sale. Don’t like green? Then choose from the seven other colors.

4. Quiet Luxury-Approved: For a more streamlined fit, consider Abercrombie & Fitch’s Sloane Tailored Pants. The straight, billowy design effortlessly drapes, while minimal top pleating adds texture and dimension.

5. Autumn Ready: Tap into your effortless cool girl and bag the Norma Kamali pleated pants. The burnt orange hue and faux suede material perfectly transition into fall.

Related: Nail Chic East Coast Summer Style With These 17 New Amazon Arrivals

When you picture summer outfits, chances are you’re imagining some variation of East Coast summer style. The laid-back, slightly nautical-inspired vibe comes from some of the East Coast’s hottest summer spots, like the Hamptons, Nantucket or Cape Cod. It always comes across as effortlessly chic, relaxed and expensive-looking. As someone from the East Coast, I […]

Advertisement

6. Like Sweatpants But Better: What’s better than leggings? These G4free pleated bottoms that feel like sweatpants but look way more chic. They deliver a comfortable alternative to stuffy trousers.

7. On Sale: If a discount sounds like music to your ears, then don’t miss your chance to grab the Kenneth Cole wide-leg linen pants for up to 40% off. The bottoms feature a high-rise waist, fly-front closure and sleek pinstripes.

8. BRB, Snagging Now: Looking for a timeless basic? The Gap 365 High-Rise Trousers are the answer. You can get them in five moody shades.

9. From Work to Happy Hour: If you’re spending the day at the office (then zipping to cocktails), you’re going to want to secure the JLuxlabel Executive Trousers. The asymmetrical folded waistband makes all the difference, injecting a bit of edge into your outfit.

10. Extra Cozy: Halara has done it again, delivering cozy work pants made with a breathable waffle material. Even better? They’re wrinkle resistant.

11. Going Viral: Bring up the hemline and reach for these Boden culottes. The chocolate brown pants instantly prove you’re in the fashion know, including single pleats and a wide-leg silhouette.

12. Immediate ‘Yes’: The lululemon Daydrift pleated trousers are a force to be reckoned with. We love the sweat-wicking material, ultimate stretch and cooling, breathable fabric.

13. Rare Deal: Did someone say 50% off Mango pants? These pastel purple bottoms are the pants your closet has been missing.

UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping

Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>

Advertisement

Related: 13 Flattering Tops That Perfectly Hide the Midsection

When getting dressed starts to feel like a game of tug-of-war with clingy fabrics and awkward fits, the right top can make all the difference. The best styles skim in all the right places, create a flattering silhouette and make you feel polished the moment you slip them on—no more feeling like you’re adjusting your […]

Brad Pitt’s decision to drink again after seven years of sobriety is raising questions about whether his carefully controlled return to alcohol can remain that way. 

The actor says he has learned where his limits are, but people close to him are watching the situation closely. 

With a painful family estrangement, the death of his mother and years of personal upheaval behind him, the issue is less about one glass of wine than whether Pitt can keep control of something that once caused devastating consequences.

5

Brad Pitt’s relationship with alcohol has changed dramatically over the years. In 2017, the actor reflected on his drinking by saying he could “drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka,” a remark that now carries more weight given what had happened shortly before.

The statement came only a year after the disturbing account of his drunken rage aboard a private flight, an incident that ultimately contributed to the collapse of his marriage and family life. 

Pitt subsequently maintained seven years of sobriety, making his recent admission that he had started drinking again particularly striking. Speaking to Esquire, Pitt acknowledged the change without presenting it as a return to his previous habits. 

“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon,” he said, apparently laughing slightly as he discussed the decision. He insisted that he now drank “in a more restrained manner.”

Pitt explained that he had “got over-confident a couple times,” before recognizing that certain choices were not working for him. The “F1” actor noted that he could “have a few” glasses of wine but emphasized, “I have to be professional about it.”

Pitt’s Friends Are Watching His New Drinking Habits Closely

5

According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Brad Pitt’s return to alcohol has had some of his Alcoholics Anonymous friends expressing “concern about him drinking again.”

The insider described it as a “gradual process in recent years,” saying Pitt slowly worked out “how he felt comfortable and what he felt was appropriate for him.”

Friends have reportedly become more aware of his drinking, including when he spends time with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. 

The couple have been together since late 2022 and moved in together in Los Angeles before making their red-carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. Sources say de Ramon may be an important influence as Pitt navigates the change. 

“She’s never set boundaries with Brad, but until recently he’s managed to hold off alcohol,” an insider close to his production company Plan B Entertainment told the outlet, adding, “He’s made a pact with Ines that she won’t let his habit get out of control.”

The same source said de Ramon drinks socially, but remains aware of Pitt’s history and the pressures surrounding him.

Brad Pitt Faces Old Pressures While Trying To Move Forward

5

Pitt’s decision to drink again comes during an exceptionally difficult period. According to the source, he has endured what has felt like a never-ending divorce while also struggling to process the death of his mother. 

De Ramon is said to understand the pressure he has faced and remains close by as he navigates it. “Brad has had one of the most stressful years of his life,” the source revealed. 

“On top of dealing with what seemed like a never-ending divorce, he’s found it very difficult to get over his mother’s death,” they added.

Another source close to Pitt’s camp, however, insisted that his decision to drink was not caused by his estrangement from his children. 

According to them, “The extraordinarily painful isolation of his children has been difficult, but his decision to drink is independent of this. It was not [because of] the name changes.”

Angelina Jolie Was Reportedly ‘Not Surprised’ By Pitt’s Return To Drinking

5

Brad Pitt’s decision to resume drinking after seven years of sobriety has reportedly prompted a reaction from his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie.

As The Blast reported, a source revealed that Jolie was not shocked by Pitt’s latest revelation and had previously warned that returning to alcohol was a possibility. 

“Angelina is not surprised. She tried to warn people. She knew this was always a possibility,” the source claimed. The insider also alleged that Jolie did not believe Pitt had fundamentally changed.

“She believes Brad is who Brad is, and no amount of sobriety or reinvention changes that,” they added. The source characterized Jolie’s reported reaction as essentially an “I told you so” moment, while claiming that she had no intention of involving herself in Pitt’s current choices. 

Addiction Experts Question Brad Pitt’s Decision To Drink Again

5

Pitt’s return to alcohol after seven years of sobriety has prompted addiction experts to look beyond the actor’s own assessment of how well he can manage it. 

In a new Hollywood Reporter analysis, specialists examined the actor’s admission that he was drinking again in a “more restrained manner” and acknowledged that he had occasionally overestimated his ability to control his consumption. 

One clinical social worker offered a particularly blunt warning, saying, “Alcoholics are a horrible source of information about themselves.” 

Another expert described Pitt’s experience as relatively common among people who had struggled with drinking, while emphasizing that returning to alcohol after a period of sobriety could carry different risks for different people. 

The discussion also pushed back against the idea that drinking again automatically meant Pitt had completely abandoned his recovery. 

Instead, the experts emphasized that addiction and recovery were complicated, with outcomes depending on the individual and their history.

Zoe Saldaña is pushing back on the political questions she frequently faces at film events, saying women and people of color are often unfairly expected to address issues beyond their work.

The Oscar-winning actress has previously found herself in the middle of political and cultural debates, including criticism surrounding her 2024 film Emilia Pérez. Now, Saldana is questioning why marginalized actors are so often put on the spot to answer questions about representation and politics.

4

Zoe Saldaña has expressed frustration with the constant political questions she says are directed at marginalized groups.

In a recent conversation at the Locarno Film Festival, the 48-year-old actress explained that she always takes part in Q&A sessions because she wants to talk about her craft and everything that goes into her career.

However, she has found that journalists are often quick to field political questions, which she says are largely directed at women and people of color.

“One thing that’s incredibly limiting, and frustrating, is when I’m the only person of color or the only woman on stage, and that happens quite a lot for women and for people of color,” she said, per Variety.

Saldaña Cited An Example Of The ‘Political Question’ She Gets Asked

4

Saldaña went on to explain that she’s often eager to answer questions about her work, only to be asked something like, “What do you think we need to do to make films more inclusive?”

“I’m sorry, you don’t ask the only person that comes from the marginalized community,” Saldaña noted.

She added, “You ask the other 80 of them that are part of the gatekeepers, and you ask them if they know the answer because I think that we’re making people of color work double to be in a room.”

Zoe Saldaña Recalls Being Put On The Spot Over Emilia Pérez

Although the Colombiana star didn’t give an example of a specific panel or press tour where she was asked those political questions in comparison to her co-stars and crew, she has had to weigh in on her 2024 thriller Emilia Pérez allegedly offending Mexicans.

Saldaña won the 2025 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, but just minutes later, a journalist told her in the press room that the movie had been “really hurtful for us Mexicans.”

She responded, “First of all, I’m very, very sorry that many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love.”

The actress then pushed back, saying, “I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”

Zoe Saldaña Stands By Emilia Pérez Despite Mexican Criticism

4

The musical crime thriller follows Rita Moro Castro (Saldaña), an undervalued lawyer in Mexico City working for a firm that frequently defends corrupt clients.

Rita’s life changes dramatically when she receives a lucrative offer from Juan “Manitas” Del Monte (Karla Sofía Gascón), a terrifying Mexican cartel leader. Manitas wants to leave the violent drug trade behind, fake their own death, and undergo gender-affirming surgery to finally live authentically as a woman named Emilia Pérez.

The cast also includes Selena Gomez, who plays Manitas’ wife, Jessi, and Adriana Paz, who plays Epifanía, among others.

“These women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza,” she told the journalist. “And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the most authentic voices.”

“So I will stand by that, but I’m also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, with love and respect, [to have] a great conversation on how Emilia Pérez could have been done better. I welcome it,” she added.

Saldaña Says Trump’s 2016 Win Exposed America’s Racism

4

While Saldaña hasn’t shied away from explicitly stating how she votes, she did publicly endorse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for president and vice president in the 2020 election.

She also weighed in on Donald Trump’s 2016 election, noting that it was an indicator of the dominant role race and sex play in America.

“There was a realization that I just had in this last election is that America is racist,” she told Sway Calloway on a 2017 episode of SiriusXM’s Sway in the Morning.

“Of course, there’s racism everywhere,” she continued. “I’m not saying that there isn’t. But I think that sexism is much stronger and it’s much more aggressive. And turn on the TV, just read the newspaper.”

There is something almost impossibly fitting about the journey of Coyote vs. Acme. A movie centered around Wile E. Coyote, a character defined by getting flattened, blown up, dropped off cliffs and somehow coming back for another try, was itself nearly erased from existence before finding a way back.

Thankfully, it did.

Coyote vs. Acme isn’t just the curiosity many expected after years of headlines surrounding its shelving. It’s a genuinely funny, surprisingly heartfelt celebration of the Looney Tunes that understands exactly why these characters have survived for generations.

Directed by Dave Green, the film takes one of the simplest running jokes in animation history and asks a question that suddenly seems completely reasonable: After decades of defective rockets, exploding bird seed, malfunctioning traps and other catastrophically unreliable products, why hasn’t Wile E. Coyote sued ACME?

That’s exactly what he does.

Wile E. teams with struggling attorney Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, to take ACME Corporation to court over the company’s long history of products that have repeatedly exploded in his face. Standing on the other side is ACME’s powerful attorney Buddy Crane, played with exactly the kind of exaggerated confidence you’d expect from John Cena.

It’s a ridiculous premise, but the movie commits to it.

Rather than simply using the Looney Tunes characters as decoration around another live action story, Coyote vs. Acmemanages to bring their world into ours without stripping away what makes it special. Cartoon logic still applies. Explosions happen. Characters survive things no living creature possibly could. Elaborate contraptions go spectacularly wrong.

Most importantly, it actually feels like Looney Tunes.

That has been one of the biggest challenges for previous attempts to bring these characters into live action. Here, the filmmakers aren’t embarrassed by the absurdity. They embrace it.

Forte proves to be an ideal human counterpart for Wile E. Coyote. His comedic style has always worked best when playing characters who are slightly desperate, slightly defeated and somehow still convinced things might eventually work out. Pairing him with perhaps the most relentlessly unsuccessful character in animation history turns out to be a perfect match.

Cena is having even more fun. His ability to completely commit to absurd comedy has become one of his greatest strengths as an actor, and Coyote vs. Acme gives him plenty of opportunities to lean into it.

But Wile E. remains the star.

For a character who barely needs words, the movie finds an impressive amount of emotion underneath the slapstick. His endless pursuit of the Road Runner has always been funny because he refuses to quit. Here, that stubbornness becomes something unexpectedly meaningful.

The movie even manages to find a little heart inside all the falling anvils and exploding rockets.

That doesn’t mean everything lands perfectly. Some of the human material isn’t as entertaining as the animated chaos surrounding it, and there are stretches where the courtroom story slows down the manic Looney Tunes energy. Not every joke hits, either.

But the misses rarely linger because another gag is usually seconds away.

Early critical reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s easy to understand why. The Hollywood Reporter called the movie a “hilarious delight,” while praising it as one of the best combinations of live action and animation. Variety highlighted the movie’s ability to pack Road Runner style destruction, references and Looney Tunes Easter eggs into its courtroom comedy. Deadline went even further, comparing the film favorably to Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Those are lofty comparisons, and Coyote vs. Acme doesn’t quite reach the all time greatness of Roger Rabbit. But the fact that the comparison doesn’t feel completely ridiculous says plenty about how well this movie works.

John Cena, Coyote vs Acme [credit: Warner Bros. Pictures]

There’s also an unavoidable layer of irony surrounding the entire story.

Warner Bros. Discovery originally planned to shelve the completed film, turning it into one of Hollywood’s most controversial examples of finished projects being abandoned for financial reasons. After enormous backlash from filmmakers, actors and fans, the movie eventually escaped that fate and found a new home with Ketchup Entertainment.

That history makes the movie’s story about a powerless individual taking on an enormous corporation almost comically appropriate.

You couldn’t write a better marketing campaign.

More importantly, audiences now get the opportunity to decide whether the movie deserved to survive.

It did.

Coyote vs. Acme isn’t revolutionary, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s funny, charming, energetic and clearly made by people who genuinely love these characters. Instead of attempting to reinvent the Looney Tunes for modern audiences, it remembers that great characters don’t always need reinventing.

Sometimes you just need to give Wile E. Coyote another rocket, point him toward the Road Runner and get out of the way.

After everything Coyote vs. Acme went through just to reach a theater screen, perhaps there was never a more appropriate movie to prove that getting knocked down doesn’t mean you’re finished.

Since the very birth of cinema as a storytelling medium, the Western genre has been one of the most popular and prolific. After all, these are stories that pretty much anyone and everyone can find compelling if done right: exciting stories of crime, freedom, action, and righteous heroes making sure that outlaws are forced to face justice.

Whether it’s a genre-defining Hollywood classic like The Searchers, a modern neo-Western like the Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men, or even a non-American masterpiece like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the best Western movies in film history are all essential viewing for those interested in understanding the history of one of cinema’s most important and prominent genres.

10

‘Django Unchained’ (2012)

Though the 20th century was the one that produced the vast majority of history’s greatest Western films, having seen the peak of the genre’s popularity, there have been plenty of fantastic Westerns throughout the 21st century. And of course, who could be responsible for one of the best if not Quentin Tarantino, a filmmaker who has always been heavily inspired by the genre? It is, of course, Django Unchained.

The Western DNA has always been deeply baked into Tarantino’s style, but nowhere does he play with those influences more gleefully than in Django Unchained. One of the most perfect Westerns since 2000, it’s an impeccably-performed and perfectly-directed gem executed with fiery style. It’s inventive, it’s pulpy, it’s action-packed, and it’s incredibly entertaining from beginning to end.

9

‘Rio Bravo’ (1959)

Image via Warner Bros.

Advertisement

Howard Hawks was one of the greatest filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age, a director with such a consistent vision that he was essential to the birth of auteur theory. Rio Bravo was one of his last films, and it still remains one of his very best. It’s one of John Wayne‘s best Westerns, a film so great that Hawks later recycled the idea twice, with El Dorado and Rio Lobo.

A masterclass in how to craft an intensely character-driven Western, Rio Bravo is a classic that contains pretty much every single quintessential Western trope, and that’s precisely why it’s such a must-see. That may make it sound unoriginal, but the wonders that Hawks does with those traditional tropes over the course of an enthralling two-and-a-half hours makes it clear why Rio Bravo has aged as well as it has.

8

‘The Searchers’ (1956)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Advertisement

Many people’s favorite John Wayne classic is John Ford‘s The Searchers, a sort of proto-revisionist Western so self-analytical and meta that it’s shocking that it was produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age. Never did that period of film history see a Western so willing to not just analyze, but outright critique some of the negative elements of what the genre had come to represent up to that point.

Indeed, The Searchers is all about the moral grayness of frontier justice, the destructive nature of racism, and the tragedy of the traditional Western hero that is capable of saving civilization but not of living within it. Culminating in one of the most perfect final movie shots of the 20th century, it’s a masterpiece that even those who think they don’t like Westerns should check out at least once in their lives.

7

‘No Country for Old Men’ (2007)

Image via Miramax Films

Advertisement

Joel and Ethan Coen are another pair of modern filmmakers who have always worn their Western influences on their sleeves, and resulting in some of the best Western and Western-coded films of their time. One such film is No Country for Old Men, a movie so phenomenal that it made its way to an admirable four Academy Award victories, including Best Picture.

What makes No Country such a special neo-Western is the way it cleverly and subtly blends and juxtaposes neo-Western and neo-noir aesthetics, all in the favor of a story about aging and the dark side of progress. There wasn’t a much more perfect possible combination of genres to tell that sort of story, resulting in one of the most perfect thrillers released since 2000.

6

‘Unforgiven’ (1992)

Image via Warner Bros.

Advertisement

Since his debut in the Western genre all the way back in the mid-’60s, Clint Eastwood rapidly established himself as one of the genre’s poster boys. And in the early ’70s, Eastwood also established himself as one of Westerns’ most prominent directors. That journey culminated in the Best Picture Oscar-winning Unforgiven, far and away one of the most important revisionist Westerns ever made.

Featuring what’s arguably Eastwood’s best performance and best direction in any Western, Unforgiven exposes the moral nuances of the archetypal Western hero and explores the ugliness of the violence that has always been inherent to the genre. It’s one of the most perfect Western movies of all time, a dissection of the Wild West that’s still unlike anything else the genre has ever produced.

5

‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Another John Ford masterpiece, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was released right after the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age. But even though it looks, sounds, and often feels like a product of Classical Hollywood, it’s thematically and conceptually a euology for that very era. Bolstered by John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart at their very best, it’s one of those Western movies that are a masterclass in filmmaking.

Quite intentionally, Ford gives his movie the texture and aesthetics of a Western produced within the Hollywood studio system of the ’50s. However, underneath that visually stunning surface lies a brilliant deconstruction of the mythology of the American West. It’s at once a loving farewell to the Golden Age of Westerns and a subtle critique of the lies and myths that it constructed.

4

‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Yet another one of the most perfect and groundbreaking revisionist Westerns ever made, George Roy Hill‘s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the best blockbuster Western movies ever. Aside from being anchored by Paul Newman and Robert Redford, one of the most iconic duos in the history of Hollywood cinema, the movie also benefits from having a masterful screenplay penned by William Goldman, one of the best screenwriters to have ever done it.

As irresistibly entertaining and lighthearted as it is a poignant swan song to the Wild West, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the defining American masterpieces of the 1960s. From the hugely memorable and quotable dialogue, to the complex character work, to the riveting action scenes, to Newman and Redford’s unforgettable performances, it’s undoubtedly one of the best Westerns in film history.

3

‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ (1948)

Image via Warner Bros.

A pioneering Western noir masterpiece, John Huston‘s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of the best and most acclaimed dramas from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s one of the best classic movie masterpieces with great acting, starring a top-tier Humphrey Bogart in one of the most daring against-type performances that this period of Hollywood cinema ever saw.

One of the very first Hollywood productions ever to be shot on location outside of the United States, Treasure of the Sierra Madre has aged beautifully as one of the most visually striking, sharply humorous, and exquisitely creative Western dramas the big screen has ever seen. It’s a raw, unflinching character study far darker and more subversive than anything else the studio system produced at the time.

2

‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone was the father of the spaghetti Western, and many cinephiles would confidently call him the greatest Western filmmaker who ever lived. For proof of why, one needn’t look a lot further than Once Upon a Time in the West, one of the last movies that Leone ever made. It’s a massive swan song to the traditional Western genre as a whole, and what a swan song it is.

With a gripping three-hour-long narrative culminating in one of the best Western movie endings of all time, Once Upon a Time in the West is not only the perfect farewell to the classical form of the genre, but also a fantastic spaghetti Western in itself. Stylistically, structurally, and narratively revolutionary in every way imaginable, it’s a subversive, perfectly acted and directed, and downright operatic masterpiece that anyone and everyone interested in Westerns should check out.

1

‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’ (1966)

Image via Produzioni Europee Associati

As phenomenal as Once Upon a Time in the West is, there’s no film quite like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Far from just being the greatest Western movie in film history, many would go so far as to say it’s one of the greatest films of all time in general, regardless of genre. It’s Sergio Leone’s undisputed magnum opus, Clint Eastwood’s most iconic flim, and the most universally-beloved Western the big screen has ever seen.

Where can one even begin singing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly‘s praises? Incredible performances all across the board, some of the most engrossing action scenes in the genre’s history, a transcendental score by the legendary Ennio Morricone, and one of those movie endings that are true masterpieces—what more could anyone possibly want?

Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on August 11, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:

• Nick Reiner was indicted for the first-degree murders of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, nearly eight months after they were found fatally stabbed in their Brentwood home. He pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

• Perez Hilton‘s mother, Teresita Lavandeira, filed for temporary custody of his three children on Friday, August 7, and the blogger voluntarily consented while hospitalized. Hilton’s attorney, Natalie Guerra-Valdes, said the family’s main priority is protecting the children after the traumatic events of last week.

• Chris Watts, serving a life sentence for the 2018 killings of his pregnant wife Shanann and their two daughters, is in a relationship with Lizzie Henderson and planning to marry her. Henderson relocated from Ohio to Wisconsin to be closer to him and applied to legally change her name to Lizzie Watts in September 2025.

Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance