Another ‘Love Island USA’ contestant has left the villa after online controversy erupted. Alannah Keyser‘s time on the hit reality dating series came to an abrupt end after a resurfaced video allegedly showed her using the N-word while singing along to a song.

Related: ‘Love Island USA’ Bombshell Alannah Keyser’s Dad Comes To Her Defense Amid Resurfaced Posts Allegedly Showing Her Using The N-Word

Alannah Keyser Leaves ‘Love Island USA’ Following Resurfaced Video

According to TMZ, Peacock confirmed that Keyser would no longer appear on the reality dating series following Thursday night’s episode. Her exit comes after a resurfaced video allegedly showed her using the N-word while singing along to Roddy Ricch’s hit song, ‘The Box.’ Another alleged post showed screenshots of her using the word in an Instagram comment.

@stephwithdadeets

“ALANNAH HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM CASA” Coming Soon… #loveislandusa #casaamor #alannah #video #greenscreen

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Production sources told TMZ that the video and related social media posts were not circulating publicly until after Keyser had already joined the show. As The Shade Room previously reported, Keyser’s father defended his daughter in a statement to TMZ earlier this week. He said he does not believe she is racist and noted that she has always had friends from diverse backgrounds. He also called the online backlash against her “ridiculous.”

Social Media Reacts

Instagram user @d3vintd.03 wrote, “Now we wait for the video of her saying how she loves black people so much and would never do this again 😂😂”

Another Instagram user @_naturalafrolatina wrote, “I still see her on love island what episode she gonna be gone 😂”

While Instagram user @_foreverkee wrote, “Just waiting for her long post and apology. At least she got good taste in music”

Instagram user @prettytice_ wrote, “I knew it ws coming..”

Another Instagram user @vonjaee wrote, “Should’ve just kept it to herself. Free speech but that doesn’t mean u won’t face consequences”

While Instagram user @j.myaaaa wrote, “lmfao boy they don’t f*** around 😭”

Instagram user @selfmaderuss_ wrote, “They do a horrible job at doing background checks 😭.. glad she gone though”

Another Instagram user @__1Kgorgeous wrote, “One thing love island don’t play about! 👏🏾”

While Instagram user @theycallinmeemani wrote, “Welp Zach going back empty handed and Kayda finna be posted up with a big dawg 😂😂😂😂😂😂”

This Isn’t The First Time ‘Love Island USA’ Has Faced A Similar Controversy

Keyser entered the villa as one of Casa Amor’s bombshells and is now the second contestant to leave this season, following the resurfacing of past social media content.

Earlier this season, cast member Vasana Montgomery was removed from the show shortly after Peacock announced the Season 8 cast. Her departure came after resurfaced videos allegedly showed her using the N-word.

Following her exit, Montgomery addressed the controversy in a statement shared to her Instagram Story. She apologized for using the racial slur in videos from her teenage years and acknowledged the harm caused by her past actions.

Keyser’s removal also follows similar incidents during Season 7, when contestants Yulissa Escobar and Cierra Ortega were both removed from ‘Love Island USA’ after their past use of racial slurs resurfaced online.

Related: Girl’s Girl! Megan Thee Stallion Shows Love To ‘Love Island USA’ Contestant Trinity After Emotional Casa Amor Moment (WATCH)

Y’all! Tia Mowry has the timeline doing a double-take after fans clocked her recent glow and started wondering what’s really behind it. The actress recently opened up about her love life and says this whole relationship isn’t just luck—she insists, “I deserve it all!”

RELATED: Heart Eyes Everywhere! Tia Mowry Shares Glimpse Of Baecation With Her Boo & Fans Are Loving The Vibes (PHOTOS)

Tia Mowry Opens Up About New Boo

While appearing on SiriusXM’s ‘Today Show Radio,’ Tia revealed she is dating a man named Javon’e, a teacher with a master’s degree who has also studied in France. She couldn’t stop gushing about him, describing him as “an artist” and “an avid reader,” and sharing how their relationship is rooted in calm, intentional habits. The couple keeps things calm and intentional, spending Wednesdays at a Buddhist temple together to meditate and reset. Tia shared that her man even reads to her at night before bed, adding that they’re currently going through books focused on co-parenting since they both have children around the same ages. She didn’t hold back on the praise either, calling him a “wonderful human being” as she continued to gush over their connection.

Our Girl Really Pulled A Ciara With This One

Tia went even deeper into what makes him stand out, praising his emotional intelligence and how he shows up for her. “Some of the things that he just says, like ‘How can I support you?’ His emotional intelligence is amazing,” she shared. She also reflected on her journey to finding love after her 2022 split from ex-husband, Cory Hardrict, saying she had to sit in solitude and truly learn herself first. “I really needed to sit in…solitude and…learn who I am first,” she explained.

Now in her manifestation era, Tia says she intentionally called this relationship in. She revealed she once made a list of qualities she wanted in a partner, paired with meditation and visualization. “I would meditate about the feeling that I would want to feel—and the feeling was my nervous system being safe,” she said, adding that she believes that sense of peace is exactly what she’s experiencing now.

The Internet Said “We See You, Tia”

As soon as this popped up on their timeline, fans wasted no time running straight to TSR’s comment section to weigh in. Some joke that Tia Mowry is literally just a girl living her soft life out loud. While others argue that her boyfriend receives praise for doing the bare minimum. However, plenty of commenters feel inspired, writing down everything she says in hopes of manifesting their own perfect man, too.

One Instagram user @drmarshaevans said, “I honestly love this for her 🥹🫶🏾”

This Instagram user @jezarriches added, “So wait you said…✅notebook ✅music✅candles  ✅dream about my nervous system being safe Okay I’ll be right back🏃🏽‍♀️”

And, Instagram user @nicolethekey wrote, “She’s giddy, he’s cute! Love this for her 🥰 Life is to be lived“

However, Instagram user @gohard721 claimed, “Women be so gassed in the beginning 😂 He ask me if i want butter on my toast he’s so considerate“

Meanwhile, Instagram user @quitaa_ shared, “Cuz why am I cheesing so hard listening to this 🥹”

While Instagram user @just_brandzz commented, “She lost me at Buddhist lol but happy for her 👏 👏😂”

RELATED: Mystery Solved? Apparent Details Emerge On Tia Mowry’s Alleged New Boo After Viral Kissing Photo

Jenni “JWoww” Farley pulled off the ultimate surprise for her closest family and friends by disguising her wedding as a movie premiere. The “Jersey Shore” star and longtime fiancé Zack Carpinello secretly tied the knot on June 24 after inviting 50 guests to what they believed was a special screening of Farley’s upcoming film, “Nanny Cam.” Instead, attendees arrived to discover they were about to witness the couple exchange vows. The elaborate plan remained under wraps for months as the couple carefully orchestrated every detail of the surprise celebration.

Farley and Carpinello transformed Madison Modern Social in Old Bridge, New Jersey, into what appeared to be a film premiere. From movie-themed invitations and signage to a red carpet entrance, every detail was designed to convince guests they were celebrating Farley’s latest project rather than attending a wedding.

“We envisioned a small, meaningful celebration focused on the people who matter most to us,” Farley told PEOPLE. “We weren’t interested in throwing the biggest wedding possible. We wanted an unforgettable moment shared with our closest family and friends. The goal was creating memories, not creating a production.”

She added, “More than anything, we wanted the day to feel authentic to us. The surprise element, the family focus, and the intimate guest list all allowed us to create something personal and meaningful.”

The Couple Couldn’t Wait To See Everyone’s Reactions

According to the newlyweds, keeping the wedding secret for months made the big reveal even more rewarding.

“We’ve spent months keeping this secret, creating invitations, planning the movie-themed details, and building the surprise,” the couple shared ahead of the ceremony. “Seeing our family and friends go from thinking they’re attending a special screening for ‘Nanny Cam’ to realizing they’re actually at our wedding will be a moment we’ll never forget.”

When guests arrived, they were greeted by the local mayor, who also served as the wedding officiant before revealing the true reason everyone had gathered.

A ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Wedding With A Dark Romance Twist

Rather than opting for a traditional ballroom wedding, Farley and Carpinello chose the contemporary restaurant because it allowed them to create a more intimate atmosphere centered around family instead of an extravagant production. The décor featured deep ruby reds, candlelight, romantic florals, and rose-gold accents inspired by what Farley described as “a modern “Beauty and the Beast” fairy tale with a dark romance twist.”

“Ruby became the thread that tied everything together,” she explained. “From my ruby ring and Zack’s new rose gold wedding band featuring rubies, to our color palette and the gifts we incorporated for our children, the ruby represented love, family, and the next chapter of our story.”

The bride also included a heartfelt tribute to her longtime best friend and former “Jersey Shore” castmate Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi by walking into the ceremony to Lana Del Rey‘s “Young and Beautiful,” the same song Polizzi used for her first dance. “It’s a tribute to my best friend,” Farley said.

JWoww Made Sure Her Children Were Part Of The Celebration

Farley and Carpinello emphasized that the wedding wasn’t just about the two of them but about the family they’ve built together over the past seven years. Farley shares daughter Meilani, 11, and son Greyson, 10, with ex-husband Roger Mathews.

During the ceremony, Carpinello presented Meilani with a ruby birthstone ring while Greyson received a soccer-themed gift. “This wedding is about our family, not just the two of us,” the couple shared. “We wanted the day to celebrate not only our love story but also the family we’ve built together over the last seven years.”

Their Love Story Began Years Before The Proposal

Although Farley and Carpinello grew up in neighboring New Jersey towns, they didn’t begin dating until years later. Carpinello proposed during Farley’s 36th birthday celebration atop the Empire State Building in 2021, creating what she described as a deeply meaningful memory after experiencing several difficult birthdays following the loss of family members. “It was incredibly thoughtful and made an already special day even more meaningful,” Farley recalled.

After saying “I do,” the newlyweds revealed they’ll celebrate the next chapter of their lives with a honeymoon through Italy and Switzerland before returning home to continue building memories with their children, family, and friends.

Whitney Houston‘s longtime bodyguard remains her sworn defender even after her death.

Ray Watson recently protected the late singer from false claims, sharing his perspective on what happened during her 2009 appearance on Oprah Winfrey‘s show.

The incident began trending after Oprah Winfrey claimed Whitney Houston had fallen off the stage because she had relapsed. However, Ray Watson begged to differ.

Watson recently addressed Winfrey’s viral claims in a virtual interview shared on YouTube. He confirmed Houston took a tumble off the talk show stage in 2009, but it wasn’t because she was high, as the host claimed.

The bodyguard confessed that he couldn’t recall what Houston was doing at the time, whether it was a sound check or something else. But he remembered her walking towards the front of the stage and someone trying to warn her as she moved closer to the edge.

“When she got to the edge, I think somebody told her, ‘Watch, be careful, watch it.’ And then she went down,” Watson told TMZ’s Charlie Neff, adding that the area had been too dark for Houston to notice the end of the stage.

The Late Singer Laughed Off The Incident And Went Back To Business

Watson recalled everyone panicking and rushing to the “All the Man That I Need” hitmaker’s side, but she got back on her feet before they reached her. He noted Houston laughed off the incident, telling people that she didn’t see the edge before falling off.

While everyone, including her bodyguard, was worried she was hurt, the singer hopped back on the stage and finished what she was doing. When asked if Houston had been having trouble with addiction when the incident happened, Watson said:

“I will tell you the truth about it, and this is the honest truth. I never seen Wendy get high. Never seen. I speculated, but I never saw her. I never seen her do it.”

The Bodyguard Slammed Oprah Winfrey For Waiting Years To Drop Her Claims

Watson added that at the time of Houston’s fall, she never appeared to be high, nor did he notice any indication stating otherwise. When asked why Winfrey believed the cultural icon had relapsed, he stressed that he could not see through her eyes.

Despite noting that Winfrey was entitled to her own opinions, Watson couldn’t help but slam her for waiting until Houston’s passing to drop her claims. “Whitney’s not here to rebut. She’s not here…Now they say that she waited so many years before she said it. Well, why didn’t you say it then?” he wondered.

The bodyguard also called BS on the talk host’s claim of not sharing the story earlier to protect Houston’s career. He stressed that he did not believe Winfrey and reiterated that she waited 17 years to drop her allegations instead of facing Houston while she was alive.

The Talk Show Host Faces Backlash Following The New Narrative

Watson’s words sparked a wave of support for the late singer, with many fans echoing his words in the comment section. They slammed Winfrey for allegedly trying to stay relevant by spreading false information about Houston.

“Oprah is a menace,” someone declared, with another questioning the talk show host’s motive for sharing the 2009 incident. “F-K Oprah!!! You all haven’t learned that yet??? Oprah is shady as hell!!!” a third alleged, with more fans sharing the same view.

A YouTube user claimed Winfrey was infamous for never telling the truth, with another agreeing. A fellow critic believed the media personality was “jealous of any other famous Black person that outshines her, whether dead or alive.”

Watson wasn’t the only one defending Houston’s name, as her loved ones pushed back against Winfrey’s high claims. The late entertainer’s sister-in-law, Pat, addressed the incident through a lengthy statement on Instagram.

The Blast covered the story, reporting that she matched Watson’s narrative of the stage being too dark for the singer to see the edge. Pat admitted that the “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” hitmaker faced many personal battles, like everyone else.

However, she argued that it was unfair to attach these struggles to every little incident in Houston’s life. Pat urged people to remember the cultural icon for her achievements as an artist, stressing that she was owed “the dignity of telling the truth, not repeating myths.”

Jonathan Djob Nkondo has developed a following as a bit of an international rockstar artist for his work in animation and beyond. He’s perhaps best known for working in the animation department of HBO Max‘s short-lived, widely acclaimed, and visually stunning sci-fi series Scavengers Reign, directing both Episode 2, “The Cure,” and Episode 7, “The Storm,” of the Emmy winner. More recently, he lent his talents to the virtual band Gorillaz for their short film, The Mountain, The Moon Cave, and The Sad God, released back in February as an artistic promotion of their latest album. Now, he’s bringing his style to the page with a much-anticipated graphic novel titled Peaceful Remission, and Collider is excited to offer an exclusive preview courtesy of Magnetic Press and Oni Press of what lies within.

Peaceful Remission inhabits a similar realm to Scavengers Reign, taking place in a dreamlike sci-fi depiction of the future. At the center of it all is an elderly couple living a quiet life in a satellite asteroid home orbiting Earth, but beneath their peaceful existence lies a long-simmering frustration. Things finally boil over when, on one evening, they hear an ominous rumble in the night, spurring Marlène to finally express her annoyance with her husband Jerry’s passivity. The cracks in their relationship widen when Jerry spirals into obsession over a discovery, leaving his wife in charge of his health and well-being, and their ordinary everyday tasks, like driving and shopping, are pulled through a surreal new perspective. It’s a futuristic relationship drama, both written and illustrated by Nkondo, that grapples with the “emotional weight of routine,” the unspoken love between two people who have been together for so long, the fatigue they feel together, and the illusion of tranquility in the seeming isolation of space.

Our preview is a showcase of Nkondo’s style, using purposefully simple, clean artwork to illustrate the calm of space. It follows Jerry during a walk outside his and Marlène’s home, seemingly as he’s about to head back to his wife. He’s accompanied by lines of broken dialogue, only highlighting singular words out of a jumble of letters to create some ambiguity about the conversation being had. The only clear words come from Marlène, who is busy telling Jerry about an extreme frustration she has with something at the store, something that feels surreal given the setting. As he’s opening and shutting the door and floating through low-gravity, there’s a quiet exhaustion to Jerry that illustrates how this never-ending routine has worn on them both.

‘Peaceful Remission’ Captures Nkondo’s Personal, Deeply Human Style

While Scavengers Reign never got a second season at HBO Max or Netflix despite the love there was for the story being told, Nkondo clearly made an impression. Also counting Love, Death + Robots and League of Legends among the titles he’s worked on, the French-Congolese artist saw his graphic novel explode on its official Kickstarter hosted by Magnetic and Oni Press, with over 3,000 fans backing the sci-fi project. His work appears to be a perfect fit for Magnetic, which has played host to the works of dozens of other internationally recognized talents and earned 37 Eisner Award nominations. The company’s Director of Publishing, Mike Kennedy, hailed Nkondo’s new story as a perfect encapsulation of the type of deeply personal and human work that has garnered him such a loyal following.

“Jonathan Djob Nkondo’s work as an animator, storyboard artist, and director has earned him a broad community of fans and respect around the world, and these personal graphic novels highlight his keen eye for world-building and pacing. Peaceful Remission is a heartfelt and haunting look at what the future might have in store and the timeless joys and struggles of relationships.”

Peaceful Remission will span 260 pages and will be available in book stores and comic shops starting on September 16. Check out our exclusive preview in the gallery above.

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Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

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Max

Showrunner

Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner

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Directors

Charles Huettner, Christine Jie-Eun Shin, Diego Porral, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Joseph Bennett, Rachel Reid, Vincent Tsui

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Writers

Sean Buckelew, Charles Huettner, James Merrill, Joseph Bennett, Jenny Deiker Restivo, Jillian Goldfluss

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Bailey Zimmerman is opening up about the hotel incident that briefly put his skyrocketing country music career in jeopardy, and now, an insider is shedding new light on what allegedly led up to the emotional episode. Just days after the 26-year-old singer publicly accepted responsibility for damaging a hotel room at New Mexico’s Sandia Resort & Casino, a source claims the incident followed a deeply personal period marked by heartbreak, emotional exhaustion, and the pressures of overnight fame. The revelations come after prosecutors dropped the criminal case against Zimmerman once he paid full restitution to the hotel.

According to a source who spoke to the Daily Mail, Zimmerman had been struggling privately in the days leading up to the incident. “He didn’t eat and had a ton of tequila and was going through heartbreak,” the insider claimed.

Although Zimmerman is not currently in a relationship, the source said he had recently gone through a breakup that left him emotionally vulnerable.

The insider insisted the singer does not have an ongoing drinking problem, adding, “He didn’t have a drinking problem and doesn’t have a problem when drinking.” Instead, they described the incident as the result of multiple stressors colliding at once.

“He was going through a mental breakdown,” the source claimed. “A sh-tty situation happened and he didn’t handle it the way he should have, but he’s a human being.”

Fame Allegedly Took A Toll On The Rising Country Star

The insider also suggested Zimmerman’s rapid rise to country music stardom left little time to adjust to the industry’s demands. “Bailey got thrown into this whole thing and is still learning,” the source said. “Where most guys have years in bars and paying dues and messing up privately, his first big tour was opening for Morgan Wallen.”

Zimmerman first exploded on TikTok before quickly becoming one of country music’s fastest-rising stars with hits including “Fall in Love,” “Rock and a Hard Place,” and “Religiously.” His meteoric success led to major tours alongside some of the genre’s biggest names, including Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen.

Zimmerman Publicly Accepted Responsibility

Following news of the incident, Zimmerman released a lengthy public apology to fans and the Pueblo of Sandia. “I want to address the events surrounding my canceled show in New Mexico in May and the reports that have followed,” he wrote. “First things first, I want to apologize to the Pueblo of Sandia and to everyone at Sandia Resort & Casino. I never meant for any of this to come across as disrespectful. I am deeply sorry for my actions that transpired.”

The singer went on to say he took “full accountability” for what happened and apologized to concertgoers whose show was canceled. “To my fans who bought tickets and showed up expecting a performance, I am so sorry; you deserved better from me,” Zimmerman said. “I understand that being a musician comes with big responsibilities, both on and off stage, and I know that I fell short that day.”

He concluded by promising to learn from the experience: “I am committed to doing the work necessary to learn and grow.”

Criminal Charges Were Later Dropped

Zimmerman initially faced one felony count of criminal damage to property over $1,000 and one misdemeanor count of falsely obtaining services after authorities alleged he caused approximately $16,000 in damage to his hotel room and left behind more than $400 in unpaid alcohol charges. However, prosecutors later dismissed both charges after Zimmerman paid full restitution to the hotel.

His attorney said the singer “immediately took responsibility for his mistake,” helping resolve the case without further legal proceedings.

The Incident Wasn’t Zimmerman’s First Public Apology

The New Mexico incident marked the second time Zimmerman has publicly apologized for alcohol-related behavior while performing. In January 2025, the singer addressed widespread criticism after appearing intoxicated during a performance at the Crash My Playa festival in Cancún, Mexico.

Videos from the concert showed Zimmerman singing off-key and struggling through portions of the set before knocking over a microphone stand. Afterward, he posted an emotional video acknowledging the disappointing performance. “I got up on stage, and I was too drunk to play. And I sang awful, I played awful. Nobody got the show that they wanted or paid for. And I’m disappointed in myself,” he said.

“I’d like to talk about something that’s been eating me alive,” he continued. “Last weekend, down in Cancún, Mexico, I’m sure everybody’s seen the videos of me playing absolutely awful and singing absolutely awful and I feel like you guys deserve an explanation from me because you’ve had my back through the highs and lows and through every mistake.”

Months later, Zimmerman reflected on the experience, saying it had permanently changed his perspective. “I’ve kind of grown up a lot since then and a lot more focused, and all the things that something like that will do to somebody,” he said. “So yeah, life has been really good.”

Now, with his legal troubles behind him, the rising country star says he hopes to continue growing both personally and professionally.

Bunnie XO isn’t letting heartbreak stop her from cracking jokes. Just weeks after Jelly Roll filed for divorce, the podcast host turned an unexpected prison-themed message from a fan into one of the funniest moments on her show. 

While reading through the flood of direct messages she’s received since news of the split broke, Bunnie compared the end of her nearly decade-long marriage to serving time behind bars, leaving her co-hosts and likely listeners in stitches.

During the latest episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie XO revealed that her inbox has been overflowing since her split from Jelly Roll became public.

Although she said she had only responded to two messages, she couldn’t resist reading some of the more outrageous ones aloud for her co-hosts.

One message came from a man who revealed he was nearing the end of a lengthy prison sentence and hoped to take her out once he was released.

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After hearing the message, Bunnie admitted she wasn’t bothered by the sender’s incarceration, joking, “So listen. I don’t mind that the dude’s in prison.”

However, one particular line caught her attention. “What I don’t like is he said, ‘let me go out and have a time with you,’” she said, explaining that it sounded as though he expected far more than a first date.

Her co-host, Hailee Clark, agreed, while Bunnie joked that the wording immediately changed her opinion of the invitation.

Bunnie Compares Her Marriage To A ‘10-Year Bid’

The conversation quickly became even more playful after co-host Meme Shahan pointed out that someone leaving prison after a decade might be eager to make up for lost time.

Bunnie XO immediately fired back with the line that sent the studio into laughter. “I mean, same. I just got out of a 10-year bid too bitches, what are we talking about?” she said.

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As the room erupted, Clark responded, “How the turn tables,” while Bunnie laughed that she was probably going to receive a phone call after making the joke. She quickly clarified she wasn’t being serious, telling listeners she was “just cutting the rug buddy.”

Bunnie XO And Jelly Roll’s Divorce Surprised Fans

The joke comes only weeks after Jelly Roll officially filed for divorce in Williamson County, Tennessee. 

Court documents list May 9 as the couple’s date of separation, while the filing on May 18 cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending the marriage.

The news caught many fans off guard, particularly because the pair had continued publicly celebrating one another throughout recent months.

According to a source who spoke with PEOPLE, the country star still deeply cares for Bunnie despite deciding to move forward.

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The insider said Jelly Roll will “always love her,” but added that loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean remaining married.

The source also explained that the singer is in a dramatically different place than when the couple first met, saying he felt healthier, more focused, and more in control of his future than ever before.

Bunnie And Jelly Roll Continue To Speak Highly Of Each Other

Despite ending their marriage, those close to the former couple say there is still tremendous respect between them.

Friends noted that Bunnie XO stood beside Jelly Roll during some of the hardest years of his life, long before chart-topping albums and award nominations changed his career. 

She believed in him when few others did and helped him navigate difficult personal struggles as he worked toward success. At the same time, insiders emphasized that the support wasn’t one-sided.

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“Jelly has also been there for Bunnie through a lot,” another insider said of the singer. “He’s supported her over and over again throughout the years, through ups and downs,” a source explained. 

Bunnie XO’s Ex Says Jealousy And Heartbreak Tore Their Marriage Apart

Amid her divorce from Jelly Roll, fresh drama erupted around Bunnie XO as details about her past marriage resurfaced.

As The Blast reported, Francisco “Frankie” Lombardo, Bunnie’s second ex-husband, claimed their relationship was passionate but ultimately unraveled under the weight of jealousy, financial struggles, and family turmoil. 

He alleged that the media personality’s relationships with “sugar daddies” created tension throughout their marriage until they split in 2014, although he insisted she never met them in person. 

“I was super jealous. I wanted her all to myself. There was definitely some arguing and stuff that took place,” he admitted. 

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Lombardo also shared that, besides jealousy, his family’s legal and financial troubles ultimately “totally destroyed our relationship,” as they had a “very big influence” on how their marriage unraveled. 

Despite describing the breakup as something that “destroyed” him, he revealed the pair remain in regular contact and still share a friendship.

After a relatively light past three years, including roles in Jurassic World Rebirth, Leave the World Behind, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali has a lot to look forward to in 2026. On October 23, he’ll be heard as part of the star-studded voice cast of Laika’s long-gestating new stop-motion fantasy epic, Wildwood. He’s also gearing up for a trip to Pennsylvania as one of the big new additions for Season 2 of Task at HBO Max. Before either of those, though, the walls will close in on the Moonlight star in a new genre-bending actioner bowing in theaters this fall.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother casts Ali as Latif, a deeply religious hitman trying to maintain a balance between his work, his faith, and fatherhood. That life suddenly becomes much more difficult and morally ambiguous when his wife dies. To protect his children, he sets out on a frantic journey across Houston that will test both his devotion and his skills with enemy forces zeroing in on him. As his external war threatens to undo him, his beliefs start to unravel from within, completely shaking who he is at his core. Under Orion Pictures, it’s aiming to be a proper awards contender when it arrives this fall, and Amazon MGM Studios has just shared the first trailer to tease exactly why.

Not only will Your Mother be blending genres, leaning into action thrills with character-focused drama with Latif, but it’ll also juggle a variety of different themes. For Ali, the hitman represents a character unlike any he’s ever embodied, whose profession directly runs up against his faith and jeopardizes those he loves. Like Latif, there will be a balancing act to show how such a person can still find ways to be a good father and look out for his kids in a life built on death. Ali called him “the most honest and complicated character I’ve read in a script” when teasing the film at CinemaCon earlier this year, adding that the project is “exactly the kind of movie I’ve been wanting to make.”

‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Is a Marvel Reunion for Ali

Joining Ali is a stacked supporting cast headlined by John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, and Severance breakout star Tramell Tillman, fresh off his upcoming MCU debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Also on board are Abubakr Ali, Laith Nakli, Tiffany Boone, and Adia. Arguably the most intriguing part of the project, however, is who’s behind the camera — Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq. Originally, Tariq and Ali were meant to work together on Marvel’s Blade movie, but the project has been stuck in the mud for years now and the filmmaker ultimately departed back in 2022. Your Mother will finally give the duo their chance to shine together outside the MCU, complete with Lucan Toh and Babak Anvari as producers alongside Tariq.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will get a limited release in New York and Los Angeles on September 25, followed by nationwide expansions on October 2 and 9. Check out the trailer in the player above.

Around this time last year, I made the declaration that The Bear should have ended with Season 4. I felt that the finale, which saw Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quitting and handing over The Bear to Syd (Ayo Edibiri) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), was the perfect bow on top of the series, and that the show didn’t need any more seasons. Well, I’m willing to admit that I was wrong.

The Bear Season 5 brings the show back to the beginning, with eight streamlined, high-energy episodes that embody everything fans love. Once again, a chaotic night of service is at the center of it. This time, the series channels The Pitt and 24 by setting the entire season, except the finale, over the course of one day. Without unnecessary frills and over-the-top cameos, showrunner Christopher Storer strips The Bear Season 5 down to the basics and proves that the series has never needed much more than that.

‘The Bear’ Season 5 Was Made To Be Binged

While the intensity of this show, especially during Season 2, has meant that you might need to take a break between episodes, The Bear Season 5 feels designed to be watched all in one night. The frenetic pacing of the episodes flows easily into one another, making the season feel like one big movie. As the kitchen deals with flooding, storm traffic, overbooked tables, and a lack of food, the tempo never lets up, and the crew is forced to keep moving forward, as if stopping will bring all of this to an end.

The audience is given a break from the unending barrage of conflict with small, quiet scenes between characters. It’s a tried-and-true method, one that feels unique to The Bear. Whether it’s Richie talking some sense into Carmy during a smoke break or Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) crafting an artistic dish made out of brussels sprouts in her home kitchen, these little interludes allow the viewer to take a breather before being plunged back into chaos. The pace of the episodes only reaches a true hiccup when we follow Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), The Computer (Brian Koppelman), and The Computer’s protégée, Cheese (Elsie Fisher).

Jimmy’s storyline this season mainly consists of him scrambling to get back all the money he’s lost after some bad investments and funding the largest money sink known to man: restaurants. It’s not that Platt isn’t good in these scenes; he and Koppelman have witty banter, and Fisher’s Cheese is a wonderful addition as a vaping Zoomer and the upgraded version of her uncle. It’s just that Jimmy’s conflict never feels as pressing as what’s happening at The Bear. Sure, he’s the guy who is financing all this, but it doesn’t feel like there’s any true threat because we know Ebra’s (Edwin Lee Gibson) plan for franchising is always in the distance, ready to swoop in and save the day. In the kitchen, not only are tensions constantly high, but even if Jimmy pulls through with the money, something can always go disastrously wrong, and that’s where the stakes lie.

‘The Bear’ Season 5 Proves Once Again That the Cast Anchors the Show

I’ve praised Ayo Edebiri in the past for her performance on The Bear, and Season 5 proves her immense talent through and through as she takes Syd from her final steps as an uncertain, burgeoning chef into someone who can not only manage a full team but does it far better than Carmy ever could. Edebiri, who is deft at navigating both comedic scenes and drama, is easily the standout of the entire series, and by the end, it almost makes us wish there was more of The Bear coming with Syd fully at the helm.

Alongside Edebiri is Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who has also been one of the show’s best and most reliable performers. Following the emotional standalone episode “Gary”, written by both Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, Richie has finally reached his final form. Much like Syd, whose journey was also peppered with insecurity and uncertainty, the season finally confirms that Richie is standing on his own two feet — not only surviving working at The Bear, but thriving. If Carmy’s decision to give the restaurant to Syd and Richie felt sudden at the end of Season 4, Season 5 proves that he knew what he was doing.

Speaking of Carmy, White shines in Season 5 in a way he hasn’t since the beginning. After three grueling seasons of seeing him struggle with his anxiety, his grief, and his trauma, The Bear finally lets viewers see the result of Carmy’s slow growth. White is fantastic as a newly evolved Carmy who not only realizes he’s made the right decision but also acknowledges that his attitude and temper have caused their downfall. For the first time in a long time, it doesn’t feel like White is being overshadowed by his co-stars, and his performance reminds us why we’ve been rooting for Carmy this whole time.

Season 5 also allows the rest of the cast to grow and wraps up each story nicely as they fully embrace their roles with a newfound confidence. Colón-Zayas’s Tina has been a brilliant character since day one, but seeing her finally reach her height reminds us of how far everyone’s come. Lionel Boyce‘s Marcus, who has had a similar trajectory, deals with his fragile relationship with his father in the season while bouncing off of Will Poulter‘s Luca, who is still staging at The Bear. Boyce, who has always had a quietly powerful presence, takes more of the center stage, which only makes us wish we’d gotten more of him in previous seasons.

Poulter is just one example of this show’s ability to turn guest stars into pillars of the series. While there are far fewer cameos to stuff into Season 5 — except for one big party scene at the very end — that doesn’t mean the show lacks in star power. Once again, Jamie Lee Curtis comes sweeping in to stun in every scene she’s in. Though she spends a lot of the season babysitting for Natalie (Abby Elliott), Donna’s arrival at The Bear finally delivers a gut-punch moment that ties everything together for the Berzattos. With so much talent on screen, it’s hard to pick out any weak performances; the cast works perfectly together like a well-oiled machine.

‘The Bear’s Final Season Is Nothing Short of Perfect

The best thing that The Bear has ever done is return to its roots in this final season. No trips to Copenhagen, no Carmy running an errand for a whole episode, no staging at other restaurants. The action centers purely on The Bear. Sometimes, the tension in the show is a little too familiar, with Carmy trying to take control again, Syd still uncertain about her leadership role, and Richie flying off the handle. What used to feel so nerve-wracking feels more like a plot device to move the story forward.

Yet the fate of The Bear has never been as important as the people working there. Through its five seasons, The Bear has not only exposed the pretension of highbrow dining, but it’s also pointed out the abusive and degrading environments these restaurants often become. The series proves that that is not a requirement for greatness, and that clashing egos only cause chaos. When the team collaborates, allows for creativity, and supports one another, everyone is working at their best.

Season 5 also focuses on the passion that these characters have for The Bear. Each character realizes that this job isn’t just a nine-to-five for them; it’s something they love. The show’s main question then becomes: what happens when you love what you do? Does the job get easier, or is the pressure worse? Is happiness worth the sacrifice and pain? In a high-intensity kitchen, it’s easy to see how quickly people can burn out, but it’s the family at the heart of The Bear that keeps it all together. At the end of the day, no matter how bad a fight is, these people will apologize, reconcile, and go back to working with each other as family does.

While the penultimate episode of The Bear is the fireworks show, finishing off a seemingly apocalyptic service, the gentle series finale wraps everything up perfectly. Stripping the show of all the nail-biting anxiety and pretentious trimmings that previously held it back, the episode is saccharine but earned. It’s also hopeful and bright, with a conclusion in which everyone finally finds some sort of peace. I’ve been harsh on this show in the past, but Season 5 proves that I should have trusted the process, because Storer has created nothing less than a masterpiece with The Bear, one that will be sorely missed now that it’s over.

All seasons of The Bear are now available to stream on Hulu.

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Release Date

2022 – 2026-00-00

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Network

Hulu

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Showrunner

Christopher Storer

Directors

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Ramy Youssef

Writers

Catherine Schetina, Alex Russell, Karen Joseph Adcock, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Stacy Osei-Kuffour

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Pros & Cons

• Season 5’s pacing and format is superb, making it the perfect binge since it takes place over the course of one day.
• Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jeremy Allen White, and Jamie Lee Curtis all deliver stunning performances.
• The final season cuts away the extra fat of unncessary cameos and pretentious restaurant jargon and strips it down to the brass tacks.
• The series finale takes all the elements of past seasons to create a neat and hopeful ending that makes us wish the show wasn’t actually over for good.

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for Dutton Ranch Episode 8.

Yellowstone may have originally ended with its fifth and final season two years ago, but Taylor Sheridan‘s iconic neo-Western franchise has endured thanks to two spin-off series revolving around the next generation of Duttons. While Kayce (Luke Grimes) has put down roots to protect his home state of Montana on the CBS procedural Marshals, his older sister Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip (Cole Hauser) have moved to Texas for a fresh start on the aptly named Dutton Ranch.

Beginning again, miles away from the original Yellowstone, is easier said than done after a devastating illness sweeps through their new herd, forcing Beth and Rip to reach out for help from their most prominent rival, Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening). Yet these two families slowly become more and more connected in ways that go beyond unexpected employment. Beth and Rip’s adopted son, Carter (Finn Little), has fallen for Beulah’s granddaughter Oreana (Natalie Alyn Lind).

That complicated dynamic culminates in a publicly embarrassing display for Beth and Rip at the same party where Beulah officially confirms her bad-apple son, Rob-Will (Jai Courtney), as her heir after initially promising Joaquin (Juan Pablo Raba) that he would be rewarded. Even after Beulah’s heart attack, it’s clear that Joaquin may be preparing to cut ties with his own family, especially once he goes to Sheriff Handy Wade (Josh Stewart) with what he knows about the disappearance of the 10-Petal’s former ranch hand. Ahead of the premiere of Episode 8, “Whiskey Limits,” Collider spoke with Raba about Joaquin’s biggest personal betrayal, how that mysterious phone call sets up next week’s Season 1 finale, and why Beulah’s eldest son is now willing to fight dirty.

COLLIDER: When Joaquin buys himself a cowboy hat for the first time, it does feel like a symbolic moment for the character, but what does that scene really represent for him at this point in the season?

JUAN PABLO RABA: I love that you bring it up. So, here’s the deal. It became a whole thing on the show because, from the beginning, I was wondering, like, “Why don’t I have a hat?” And I was busting everyone’s chops about it. I was talking to the girls in wardrobe, “When are we getting a hat? Why doesn’t Joaquin have a hat?” Now, I understand why he didn’t have a hat. It’s because we had to make a moment out of it.

The day that we shot that scene, my God, the crew, and wardrobe, and everybody’s so fantastic, we made a Hat Day out of it. They made a piñata of Joaquin with a hat. It was very symbolic.

If you read it on paper, you’re like, “Oh, Joaquin goes and buys a hat.” There was so much more to it. It’s that moment where Joaquin says, “Okay, everything that I’ve done, everything that I’ve worked for, I have accomplished. I put Rob-Will out of the picture. My mother’s tired. This is it. This is my moment. I’m the prince — I’m going to get my crown, and I’m going to go to that party, and I’m going to get crowned in front of everybody else.” That hat moment became so important because it’s not only buying a hat; it’s the moment he realizes, “I’m going to get it. I did it. I won!”

‘Dutton Ranch’s Juan Pablo Raba Explains Joaquin’s Reaction to Beulah’s Betrayal

“Despite you hurting me in this way, I still love you, and I’m still here.”

Image via Paramount+

As the audience, we’re definitely made privy to a conversation that Joaquin isn’t: the exchange in Beulah’s office when Rob-Will pressures her to announce him as her official successor over Joaquin. For Joaquin, what do you think that moment does, especially on the heels of any current feelings that he’s having towards her that are probably a lot more conflicted now that she’s publicly said, “Rob-Will is the prince”?

RABA: That moment, he realizes, “I’m not going to get it. I did everything right, and I still didn’t get it. I still don’t belong. They still make me feel like I am not a Jackson.”

But yeah, he really loves her. I think there are only two people in Joaquin’s life that he actually loves because he has felt some kind of love from them, too, which is Beulah and [Oreana]. Those are the only two human beings that he feels some kind of real empathy towards. So, it just shows, “Despite you hurting me in this way, I still love you, and I’m still here. You made a fool out of me. You lied to me. You made me feel I’m not worthy, but I’m still here. I can’t help this feeling I have for you.” So, it becomes even more heartbreaking.

In terms of Joaquin’s dynamic with Oreana, you and Natalie don’t really have a chance to share the screen a lot this season, but there is that moment in the waiting room when the two of you just embrace. Did the two of you have any conversations about that relationship and his support of her, even though his feelings about her dad aren’t as kind?

RABA: Well, in my backstory, I always thought — and this is something I shared with Natalie and with the writers — that even if we don’t get to play it too much, these two really need to have a bonding connection. Especially because Rob-Will, being the kind of human he is and the absent father, I’m pretty sure there were plenty of times when Joaquin read Oreana her bedtime story, when he tucked her into bed, where he told her that everything was going to be all right. Of course, she’s at a time in her life where she wants to rebel against a bunch of stuff, but her tío is something very important to her because that’s probably her only fatherly figure.

I feel like in that embrace, there’s a lot that has been said. Then also, you have to think that it doesn’t matter how complicated Beulah is; she’s still the matriarch. She still holds the reins, and she holds them close. It doesn’t matter what other people feel about her. If she falls, everybody’s going to be there either to pick her up or to watch her fall, but there are a lot of people who are going to be there to watch what happens with her.

Despite showing up for Beulah after the incident, it seems like Joaquin’s pretty much done with the Jackson family. Is there any one moment that drives him to cut ties, or is it a steady progression of mounting disrespect that kind of all culminates in him deciding to break away?

RABA: I think there are two huge moments for Joaquin, and they’re both equally heartbreaking. The first one is realizing Beulah will not give him the throne while doing everything correctly. He’s spent all his life with only one objective, and he’s done everything that had to be done. So, that’s heartbreaking.

But the other one, and I think this one is even more heartbreaking, is the moment he makes the call, because he’s smart. He knows that by making that call, he’s going to change everyone’s life trajectory. He had the possibility to make that call for years, and he hasn’t done it. He knows that by doing this, everything’s going to change, and he’s going to try to get what he thinks he deserves, but now, he is willing to play dirty.

‘Dutton Ranch’s Juan Pablo Raba Discusses the Possibility of Joaquin Teaming Up With Beth and Rip

“Yes, he wants the power, but he doesn’t want the violence that comes with it.”

Image via Paramount+

I’m glad you brought up the phone call, because it’s setting up a huge finale. Beth and Rip have, almost surprisingly, had to get involved with the 10-Petal — not just as a way to keep an eye on their rivals, but also to stay afloat themselves. Do you think there’s a possibility of Joaquin now teaming up with them?

RABA: Carly, I would love to give you any kind of answer, but I have no clue. The season finale is such a cliffhanger, and things change so much from where they started that I think the possibilities are endless. I’m just going to say that I only had one strong scene, one with Beth and one with Rip, and the one with Rip really, really helped me understand how I wanted to play this character.

I’ve got to tell you, it’s scary to think that you’re going to get into a truck at night with a guy like Rip who is holding a gun right there. The moment this guy stops the truck, he’s terrified. Anything can happen right now, and I was not going to play this with macho and bravado. I was going to play this as human as possible, and just going to be scared to death of what’s going to happen. I was not going to play into the kind of Yellowstone masculinity of, “I’m a cowboy. I’m tough. You put a gun to my face, and I laugh at you.” No, I was going to be really scared because he doesn’t know how to deal with this. This is not what [Joaquin] wanted to do. He wanted to be a rancher. Yes, he wants the power, but he doesn’t want the violence that comes with it.

We do see Joaquin go to Sheriff Wade with what he knows about Wes’s murder and Rob-Will’s involvement in it. Has he just been holding onto the evidence in his back pocket with the possibility of using it, and why is he playing that card now?

RABA: He keeps it for a reason. That’s what he does. He plays chess. So, his master play was, “Oh, okay, Rob-Will did this. Perfect. That’s my perfect excuse, like, ‘Hey mom, we have to put him away because he’s a lot of trouble. I’m gonna have to clean up this mess. Oh, poor me. What am I going to do? You have to give me the throne, because this guy, he can’t do it right.’”

Then, when Rob-Will comes back, [Joaquin] still doesn’t threaten him. He still doesn’t say, “Hey, get out of here because I’m going to do this.” This is his power play. “Okay, I couldn’t do this the right way. Now I’m going to do it the wrong way. You made me do this. I’m gonna have to play dirty now. I tried to send you to a nice rehab facility. I’m gonna have to put you in jail, but I will do it because I am the right person for this job.” It’s just very confusing because now he feels like he’s being forced into basically a whole persona that he doesn’t want to become.

New episodes of Dutton Ranch premiere Fridays on Paramount+.