Dan Levy had an emotional moment while discussing his memories of working with his late Schitt’s Creek co-star Catherine O’Hara.

As part of his interview on CBS’s Sunday Morning, Dan returned to the Canadian town of Goodwood, Ontario – where most of Schitt’s Creek was filmed – for the first time since the smash series wrapped more than six years ago.

He began tearing up when asked about the prospect of a “Schitt’s Creek” revival or reboot.

“No, not now. You can’t,” he said, before acknowledging that he’d been thinking about reviving the show prior to Catherine’s death earlier this year at the age of 71.

“I didn’t think that I’d have quite an emotional reaction,” he admitted, as he choked back tears.

But when CBS’s Anthony Mason pointed out that Catherine’s legacy included “an incredible clip reel”, the actor appeared to compose himself once again.

“For someone who was not on the internet, she knew how to meme,” he quipped.

Dan – who starred in and co-created Schitt’s Creek with his father, fellow actor Eugene Levy – previously acknowledged Catherine’s death with a heartfelt tribute.

“What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O’Hara’s brilliance for all those years,” he wrote on Instagram in January.

“Having spent over 50 years collaborating with my dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It’s hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her.”

Dan returns to the small screen later this week in Netflix’s Big Mistakes, in which he portrays a gay New Jersey pastor, Nicky, who accidentally gets drawn into the world of organised crime alongside his sister, Morgan.

Four-time Emmy winner Laurie Metcalf plays the hapless siblings’ mother, Linda.

The Schitt’s Creek star, who co-created Big Mistakes” with Rachel Sennott, has described his new series as a “different book” from the “same shelf” as the hit Canadian sitcom which aired from 2015 to 2020.

In his Sunday Morning chat, Dan said he wasn’t concerned about critics and viewers who will inevitably compare his two shows.

“You really have to lock the door on that and almost accept the fact that if [Schitt’s Creek] is the big crown jewel, fabulous. How wonderful,” he explained. “Everything else has to be something that makes me feel good.”

Empathy can be one of our best qualities ― a force that deepens relationships, builds trust and helps us show up for others. But in some dynamics, that positive instinct can be turned against you.

“Weaponised empathy is a pattern of using empathy, compassion or guilt to influence another person’s behaviour, often at the expense of personal boundaries and preferences,” Caitlyn Oscarson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost.

You might have made important plans one night, but then your partner says something like, “I had a bad day and really need you tonight, I don’t know what I’ll do without you.” So you cancel out of fear of letting your partner down.

“Your empathy influences you to stay home and set aside other commitments, believing that your partner will be in distress without you,” Oscarson said. “It can feel like you don’t have a choice and that setting boundaries or prioritising your own needs will cause harm to your partner.”

Weaponised empathy is a common tactic among people with narcissistic personality disorder, particularly “covert narcissists” who show extreme sensitivity to criticism. If you try to talk about something they did that hurt your feelings, they quickly get distressed, say they’re “too overwhelmed” and shift the conversation such that you end up comforting them.

“The perpetrator chooses a victim who has demonstrated high empathy, as they plan to use that empathy as a way to get away with harming that person repeatedly,” said licensed marriage and family therapist Natalie Moore. “The narcissist over time establishes themselves as a victim of a painful past to garner sympathy. They then use that victim framing as a way to justify hurtful behaviour. They expect the person being targeted to ignore, understand, explain away, justify and make excuses for why they might be behaving that way.”

Although weaponised empathy can occur in romantic relationships, that’s not the only context.

“It is common in parent-child relationships (‘I get so lonely when you go out with your friends’), the workplace (‘We are all overwhelmed, I need you to step up and work late until this is done’) and friendships (‘You are the only person who really listens and understands ― I have no one else to talk to’),” Oscarson said.

She added that it also appears online with messages like “If you cared about this issue, you would speak out/donate immediately.”

It’s a potent manipulation strategy, but not always super obvious in the moment. Below, Moore and Oscarson break down common signs of weaponised empathy to watch for.

“An individual utilising weaponised empathy needs to know how far they can push you, and so they set up small tests to see what level of boundary-violation you’ll tolerate,” Moore said.

Probing for your limits can start with something that seems small or reasonable, but over time, it escalates.

“They’ll see if they can get you to do something you previously said ‘no’ to or if they can extract more time or attention from you than you have to give,” Moore explained. “This gives them data as to how much they can manipulate you.”

A nagging sense of guilt over things that don’t warrant it can be a red flag for weaponised empathy.

“You feel like you are doing something wrong even when your boundaries feel reasonable,” Oscarson said.

She recommended being clear and concise when you set boundaries ― for example, “I’m sorry, I’m not able to stay home tonight.” Avoid over-explaining or giving reasons, and try not to take responses too personally.

“Get comfortable tolerating some guilt,” Oscarson said. “It’s natural to feel compassion and wish you could do more. Guilt is not always a sign you are doing something wrong.”

“You notice a pattern of urgency around requests and increases in intensity when you push back,” Oscarson said.

This pressure to drop everything in the moment and respond immediately to non-urgent matters is a bad sign. That’s why it’s best to take a beat in these situations.

“Pause before agreeing to anything ― especially if you are used to having your boundaries pushed,” Oscarson advised.

If support only flows in one direction, that’s worth paying attention to.

“There’s a lack of reciprocity in the relationship,” Oscarson said. “You are always the one providing support.”

Over time, you may realise you’re always the one giving ― emotionally, logistically, etc. Meanwhile, your needs, stress or struggles rarely receive the same care or attention.

“Another sign is feeling responsible for another person’s emotional state or stress level,” Oscarson said. “You don’t set the boundaries you normally would because you are concerned about the other person’s reaction.”

She emphasised the importance of differentiating empathy from responsibility.

“You can be compassionate without being responsible for fixing the problem,” Oscarson said.

Weaponised empathy can make you doubt your own instincts.

Oscarson recommended paying attention if you find yourself “constantly second-guessing yourself and worrying that you are being selfish.”

That internal uncertainty is often a byproduct of subtle manipulation, not a reflection of your character.

“If someone is engaging in weaponised empathy, they will explicitly point out and praise your empathy and compassion,” Moore said. “They may say that you’re the only person who understands them or is ‘in their corner.’”

Be mindful of this kind of flattery, which can create pressure to live up to the role in unreasonable circumstances.

“You may enjoy the feeling as you would with a genuine compliment, but this will be used to their favour so that you look the other way when they hurt you,” Moore said.

Moore noted that some people who engage in this unhealthy behaviour may share deeply personal information early on in their relationship. It’s not necessarily a case of genuine vulnerability.

“When someone is using weaponised empathy as a manipulation tactic, it often begins with sharing a deeply personal story about past trauma that creates a narrative that they are a victim,” Moore said. “Their ‘I’m the victim’ framing sets them up to not have to take accountability for any future harm they cause you.”

Thus, they can establish themselves as someone who deserves extra leniency and understanding. Be mindful of people who dive in deep super quickly and “sweep you off your feet.”

“It’s much easier to lose yourself and your sense of clarity if you are overtaken by intense emotions, affection, gifts and time with that individual,” Moore said. “Allowing a relationship and trust to form slowly over time through shared experiences is a much healthier way to establish a relationship, while also maintaining your connection with yourself.”

“The person using weaponised empathy will continue to reinforce their role as the victim in their relationships, life and circumstances,” Moore said. “They will frame everything as ‘I’m so unlucky,’ ‘my boss doesn’t appreciate me’ or ‘no one understands how hard this is for me’ to try to extract more empathy from you.”

While everyone faces challenges, the pattern here is persistent and one-sided. This ongoing victim framing can be a way to manipulate your behavior while avoiding accountability.

Almost one-quarter (24%) of primary school-aged children have shared their real name or address online, according to new research, with eight and nine-year-olds most at risk of doing so.

Just over one in five (22%) have shared personal information such as health details with AI tools and over one-third (35%) of parents believe their child would share personal information in exchange for game tokens or rewards.

Yet the same survey of 1,000 parents, from the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), found a fifth of them have never spoken to their kids about online privacy and three in four fear their child can’t make safe online privacy choices.

To bridge this gap and kickstart conversations about protecting personal information online, the ICO has launched a Switched On To Privacy campaign for parents of children aged four to 11 years old.

The research found 46% of parents don’t feel confident protecting their children’s privacy online and 44% say they try to do so, but aren’t sure they’re doing enough.

ICO research shows online privacy is one of the least discussed online safety topics: 21% of parents have never spoken to their children about it, and 38% discuss it less than once a month.

By contrast, 90% of parents have discussed screen time in the past month.

Experts warn that if children’s sensitive information is shared online, it can put them at risk from grooming and radicalisation.

Emily Keaney, ICO deputy commissioner, said: “We wouldn’t expect our children to share their birthdays or address with a stranger in a shop, because we’d explain stranger danger to them from a very young age, but kids these days are growing up online.

“We know that where children’s details – like their name, interests and pictures – aren’t protected, the potential risks are serious: unwanted contact from strangers, grooming and radicalisation.”

While tech companies need to be held accountable for children’s safety, Keaney said parents also have a role to play, “but the problem is that many families have never been shown how to talk to their children about online privacy”.

“We want parents to feel empowered and children to feel digitally confident, because only then will they be able to start to trust in how their data is used and be part of the whole society solution that is needed for online safety,” she added.

Most parents (88%) think children should start learning about online privacy between ages four and 11 years.

ICO has shared a guide for parents of children to navigate this learning. Pointers include:

• Chat regularly with your child about online privacy. Ask them about what they like doing online and talk about what they are sharing and who with. Look at the privacy settings section together. What information is it tracking? What can you control from the settings?
• Help your child start thinking carefully about what they choose to share online. Review who can see posts, tag them or direct message them, and look at which apps or games are accessing location data. Be clear with your child what your family’s rules are about sharing personal information.
• Check the settings whenever your child uses a new device or app.

Rachel Huggins, CEO of Internet Matters, said: “Online privacy is a vital part of keeping children safe in a digital world, and so is empowering parents and carers with the tools, knowledge and resources they need to support their families.

“Open conversations build trust and give children the confidence and tools needed to navigate digital spaces safely. Alongside regular check-ins we also encourage parents to review their child’s privacy settings and make use of parental controls across the devices, apps and platforms their children use.”

The Artemis II crew honoured NASA commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll Wiseman, in an emotional tribute on Monday.

Wiseman, one of four astronauts on the Artemis II mission, lost Carroll, a 46-year-old paediatric nurse practitioner, to cancer in 2020.

Carroll was survived by Reid and their two daughters, Ellie and Katherine, according to an obituary in The Virginian-Pilot.

In remarks to mission control, the crew announced that they would like to name an unnamed crater on the moon for Carroll.

“There’s a feature in a really neat place on the moon, and it is on the near side, far side, boundary. In fact, it’s just on the near side of that boundary, and so at certain times of the moon’s transit around Earth, we will be able to see this from Earth,” CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen said, his voice breaking at times.

“We lost a loved one, her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie. And if you want to find this one, you look at Glushko, and it’s just to the northwest of that at the same latitude as Ohm. And it’s a bright spot on the moon. And we would like to call it ‘Carroll.’”

Reid Wiseman could be seen on video wiping away tears as he put his hand on Hansen’s shoulder. The four crew members, which also includes astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, then embraced in a hug.

The crew also proposed naming another crater after their Orion spacecraft, Integrity.

Wiseman has said that Carroll insisted he continue pursuing his dreams as an astronaut even after she got sick, per the British outlet The Times.

He has also discussed what it’s like to be an only parent and how he prepared his daughters for the potential risks associated with a mission into space.

“I went on a walk with my kids, and I told them, ’Here’s where the will is, here’s where the trust documents are, and if anything happens to me, here’s what’s going to happen to you,” Wiseman said at a January NASA news conference, according to The Baltimore Banner. “That’s just a part of this life.”

In an Instagram post he shared shortly before liftoff last week, Wiseman boasted about his children.

“I love these two ladies, and I’m boarding that rocket a very proud father,” Wiseman wrote in a caption alongside a selfie with his daughters.

Organisers of the Wireless music festival have spoken out as the controversy over Ye’s upcoming headlining slot continues to grow.

Last week, it was announced that the Grammy-winning rapper – formerly known as Kanye West – would be headlining all three nights of Wireless at London’s Finsbury Park over the summer.

In January, Ye – who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016 – paid for a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal, in which he made a public apology “to those I’ve hurt” with his antisemitism, which he explained had come during a months-long manic episode where he said he had “lost touch with reality”.

Following the news of his upcoming Wireless shows, groups including the Jewish Leadership Council, the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism and Board Of Deputies Of British Jews all condemned Ye’s booking, with the president of the latter going as far as questioning whether the government should be “blocking” the Touch The Sky musician from “entering the country”.

London mayor Sadiq Khan also took issue with the booking, and in the days since, numerous major brands have pulled their sponsorship from Wireless, while UK prime minister Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.

On Monday evening, Melvin Benn, the managing director at Festival Republic, the promoters behind Wireless, said in a statement: “What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the prime minister and others that have commented and – taking him at his word – to Ye now also.

“Ye’s music is played on commercial radio stations in this country. It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country. He is intended to come in and perform.

“We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions.”

He continued: “Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.”

In his statement, Benn claimed that he has been a “deeply committed anti-fascist” his entire adult life, and “lived on a kibbutz for many months in the 1970’s that was attacked on 7 October”, describing himself as “pro-Jew and the Jewish state, while being equally committed to a Palestinian state”.

“Having had a person in my life for the last 15 years who suffers from mental illness, I have witnessed many episodes of despicable behaviour that I have had to forgive and move on from,” he added.

“If I wasn’t before, I have become a person of forgiveness and hope in all aspects of my life, including work.”

Two months after issuing his public apology, Ye released his 12th studio album Bully at the end of March.

Bully reached number three in the UK albums chart, and number two in his home country of the United States, with lead single Father also peaking at number 27.

Ye previously dismissed the suggestion that his apology was a “PR move” intended to help him “release music” and “operate [his] businesses” as he had before his various controversies in 2025.

Pointing out that people had continued to listen to his music in their droves at the height of the backlash he faced, he insisted to Vanity Fair: “This isn’t about reviving my commerciality. This is because these remorseful feelings were so heavy on my heart and weighing on my spirit.

“I owe a huge apology once again for everything that I said that hurt the Jewish and Black communities in particular. All of it went too far. I look at wreckage of my episode and realise that this isn’t who I am.

“As a public figure, so many people follow and listen to my every word. It’s important that they realise and understand what side of history that I want to stand on.”

When we talk about sex, often we’re really referring to intercourse. But there’s so much more to a satisfying sex life than just penetration. And when we broaden our definition of sex to be more inclusive, there’s a whole world of pleasure to be gained.

That’s where “outercourse” comes in.

“Outercourse is really an umbrella term for a wide variety of sexual activities that don’t involve any type of penetration,” clinical sexologist and sexuality educator Lawrence Siegel told HuffPost.

It’s “a way of increasing sexual passion and eroticism,” he continued. “Any rubbing, touching, kissing or caressing that doesn’t involve any part of one body entering any part of another. It can also involve mutual masturbation, scissoring and dry humping.” (That being said, what constitutes outercourse may vary person to person. For instance, some people believe fingering and oral sex are examples of outercourse, while others do not.)

What many people call foreplay would be considered outercourse. But when we refer to all of these sexual acts as just foreplay, it reinforces the idea that penetration is the main event. In reality, these pleasurable activities can be a satisfying sexual experience on their own, even when they don’t lead to intercourse, Siegel said.

According to sex educator and podcast host Chris Maxwell Rose, “Outercourse can include any way we touch, lick, stroke, stimulate and turn-on the biggest organ in our bodies: the skin,” she said. “So many of us experience touch hunger — and the remedy is full-body, affectionate touch.”

Erotic massage is another example of outercourse that can “provide deeply satisfying, highly erotic experiences with touch alone,” said Maxwell Rose, who is also the founder of PleasureMechanics.com.

Outercourse can even include cuddling and spooning, which “foster closeness and a sense of security,” said sex therapist and clinical psychologist Nazanin Moali. It can also include talking openly about your sexual fantasies, “which allows partners to connect on a deeply personal level,” Moali, host of the Sexology podcast, told HuffPost.

Once you get to a certain age or reach a certain stage in your relationship, having sex often means a bit of rushed foreplay as an appetiser before moving on to the intercourse entree. Outercourse can break up dull or repetitive patterns you may have fallen into in the bedroom, opening up new or forgotten pathways to sexual pleasure.

“Many of us remember the very beginnings of our sexual discoveries, even the very beginning of our relationships that started with making out and getting ‘felt up’ or ‘feeling up,’ and how exciting that was,” Siegel said. “Outercourse can really be what helps build a level of passion that creates powerful orgasms.”

Outercourse also pushes you to be more sexually creative and connect with your partners in more intentional ways, “helping people explore sexual pleasure and stimulation beyond the genitals,” said sexologist and sex educator Goody Howard.

Embracing outercourse can also be great for folks who have arousal issues, Moali said — some of whom might avoid sex entirely because of these problems. Same goes for people with certain health conditions or physical limitations that take penetrative sex off the table.

“Within many heterosexual relationships, sexual encounters often commence with an erection and culminate in ejaculation,” she said. “Consequently, erection difficulties can result in a complete withdrawal from sexual activities.”

Additionally, outercourse is a safer — but not entirely safe — alternative to penetrative vaginal, anal and oral sex in terms of both risk of pregnancy and STIs.

First, take some time to reflect on one of your best sexual experiences. Think about what you felt before, during and after. This will help you tap into what Moali calls your “core erotic emotions.”

“For many, consistent themes make sex memorable and exciting. For some, this could be the thrill of being desired, for others, a sense of shame, and for others still, it’s about power exchange,” she explained.

“Identifying your core desire is akin to discovering the genre of the novel you’re writing. As an author, you can enrich this experience by incorporating elements that heighten the specific emotions you wish to explore.”

This exercise will help you zero in on the sexual narratives and types of outercourse that might be most fulfilling to you.

Exploring outercourse can also be an opportunity to start a dialogue with your partner (or partners) about your fantasies, what you enjoy in bed, and any personal boundaries around things you’re not comfortable with, too, Siegel said.

“Talking about experiencing and understanding different types of touch can contribute greatly to experiencing better intercourse,” he said.

Treat this exploration as a way to expand your sexual horizons, Siegel said. Slow things down so you can focus on intimate acts like kissing, cuddling and touching each other’s bodies in different and intentional ways.

“Use massage and genital rubbing through the clothes; try slipping up from behind while they’re brushing their teeth or doing dishes, or other ‘safe’ times when they don’t expect it,” he said.

“Incorporate mutual masturbation into your sex play, both with and without sex toys. Even simulated intercourse, like sliding a penis between a partner’s thighs, breasts or butt. This can be a wonderful entree into experimenting with more ways to pleasure yourselves and each other.”

Try to get out of your head and put aside preconceived notions about what sex “should” be so you can discover what feels fun and pleasurable for you and your partner.

“It might be awkward at first to remain clothed when connecting to sexual pleasure, especially if you’re used to being naked and ‘going all the way,’” Howard said. “But don’t be afraid to try something new. My suggestion is to start fully clothed and remove clothing as desired, but not removing any bras or underwear.”

Outercourse can be utilised in a number of different ways for a number of different reasons tailored to your needs and desires as an individual or couple.

“Outercourse can be used as a tease, taunting your lover with an everything-but approach that plays with the charge of withholding penetration,” Maxwell Rose said. “Or it can be a strategy, a way of finding deeply satisfying sexual connection when penetration is off the menu. One of our most popular podcast episodes is about playing without penetration because so many people are looking to find new ways to satisfy one another beyond traditional intercourse.”

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.

If you asked dating app and content creator Terry Rhea what his sexual orientation is, he’d say he’s “heteroflexible”.

If you responded quizzically – what’s that? – he’d gladly go into detail about what the word means to him.

“To me, heteroflexible means that under the right circumstances – the right place, time, person and environment – I would potentially have fun with someone of the same sex,” Rhea told HuffPost.

“I view sex as something pleasurable, intimate and connecting. It’s supposed to be fun,” he said. “As long as everyone has been tested, boundaries are established, and all parties are consenting adults, I see no issue with that.”

The “mostly straight” messaging of “heteroflexible” works for him in a way that “bisexual” doesn’t.

“Bisexual, to me, means you are romantically attracted to and would date or marry either sex,” he said. “Heteroflexible means you are primarily attracted to the opposite sex, but under the right conditions, you’d be open to same-sex experiences – for me, it’s strictly for fun, nothing more.”

He’s not alone in embracing the label. In its recent annual data deep dive, Feeld – a dating app that brands itself “for open-minded individuals” – found that heteroflexible is the fastest-growing sexuality on the platform. The number of people choosing the label increased by 193% over the past year.

Rhea isn’t the least surprised.

“We have more nuanced terminology to describe the full spectrum of sexual identity these days,” he said. “People aren’t forcing themselves into boxes that don’t quite work anymore.”

But how does “heteroflexible” differ from all the other terms that are already out there: bi-curious, bisexual and pansexual? And is there something a little queerbaiting about hinting at queerness while aligning yourself with heterosexuality, as some critics have claimed? Below, we explore that and more.

“Heteroflexible” first gained traction in the early 2000s on U.S. college campuses and in online forums. (For those too young to know, this was the “I kissed a girl, and I liked it” era.) People also started using the term “homoflexible”. Its inverse: someone who is mostly gay but open to opposite-sex experiences under the right circumstances.

Is it full-blown orientation? Depends on who you ask.

For some people, heteroflexible feels like that, but for others, it’s more of a descriptive label for behaviour or even just curiosity, explained Jesse Kahn, the director and a sex therapist at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York.

“Experiences like this have always existed, and the language continues to evolve as people look for words that feel accurate and affirming,” he said. “The word reflects a broader shift toward understanding sexuality as fluid, contextual, and not always fixed or binary.”

Bisexuality and pansexuality are more fixed, said Alexandra Askenazi Marcus, a therapist and clinical supervisor at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center.

“Bisexuality and pansexuality are more established sexual orientations that involve consistent attraction to more than one gender, with pansexuality emphasising attraction regardless of gender,” she said.

“Heteroflexibility differs in that it often maintains heterosexuality as the primary identity while allowing for exceptions,” she said. “It’s less about identity.”

“Queer” meanwhile works as an umbrella term that gives people room to define their sexuality outside rigid or traditional categories.

Jaunté Marquel Reynolds-Villarreal, another therapist and clinical supervisor at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center, isn’t surprised the label is catching on. The discourse on love and sexuality is changing, he said, and younger people these days are down with the Kinsey Scale.

“Younger generations have been more open to viewing sexuality and sexual orientation as a spectrum,” he said. “In the past, we tended to use labels as very restrictive constructs, binding people into specific interests or attractions that just don’t really hold true here in 2026.”

Mary Hellstrom, a therapist and clinical supervisor at The Expansive Group in Honolulu, Hawaii, thinks that for some heteroflexible people, the label may function similarly to the popular ’90s term “bi-curious”.

As Hellstrom poetically put it, “[It’s] like a beautiful stepping stone along the path, or a set of water wings as one begins wading into the deep waters of queer sexuality for the first time”.

If the sexual orientations of bisexual, pansexual or queer function like houses of self, with permanent walls and art and glass windows, Hellstrom suggested that heteroflexibility functions more like a pop-up camper.

“It’s available for use when needed and easily packed away in storage when it isn’t,” she said. “Pop-up campers are wonderful inventions, perfect for those spontaneous, off-road weekend adventures, but they differ from a house and require much less effort to create and sustain.”

For critics of heteroflexibility – especially queer critics – what feels a little questionable about the label is how closely it sits to heterosexuality. Out of all the labels available, it’s a choice to describe your queer identity using the word hetero.

Given the hostile political climate LGBTQ people are currently facing, there’s safety in being straight adjacent, sex therapists we spoke to said.

“The most obvious difference between pansexual, queer or bisexual and heteroflexible is that those other identities are all subject to marginalisation and a lack of safety within our patriarchal systems,” Hellstrom said.

And as single women joke about frequently on TikTok, most people using the word heteroflexible on Feeld tend to be cis-men. “‘No homo,’ but I do occasionally have sex with men.”

Heteroflexible straight men get to experience the safety and privileges that come with the identity, without fully buying in and having their queerness threaten their masculinity. A full-bodied label, like, queer or gay, comes with a whole lot more stigma.

Rhea, the self-identifying heteroflexible man, agrees that such fears may come into play for some men who pick the label on Feeld.

“Because of how patriarchy functions, straight men who also experience any inkling of a homosexual thought or feeling often experience this as deeply threatening to their sense of self and masculinity,” he said. “The system is designed to evoke this feeling.”

Rhea understands the criticism, but he views the terms as genuinely distinct. (And for the most part, people have reacted positively when he shares that he’s heteroflexible.)

“To me, bisexual is the umbrella term. Heteroflexible and homoflexible are subsets within it,” he said. “Heteroflexible means you primarily date and partner with the opposite sex but are occasionally open to same-sex play. Bisexual, in my view, sits in the middle: open to dating, partnering with, or marrying either sex. These aren’t the same thing, and the distinctions matter.”

Calling himself “heteroflexible” is an ethical, honest choice, he thinks: As he dates around, he doesn’t want a man to get the wrong impression about his openness to a relationship.

“I’m glad that Feeld offers heteroflexible as an option,” he said. “We’ve been placed into a worn-out box of compulsory heterosexuality. It’s refreshing to see that people are experimenting with little pushes against its walls.”

Donald Trump is “bewildered” that the war in Iran is still going on, according to a BBC reporter covering the conflict.

Daniel De Simone, who is a correspondent based in Jerusalem, said the American and Israeli governments seemed to have “under-estimated” the Tehran regime.

The two countries began their bombardment of Iran at the end of February, sparking a wider Middle East conflict amid fears of a global economic meltdown as oil prices soar.

In his latest gambit aimed at ending the war, Trump has threatened to destroy Iran entirely unless it re-opens the Strait of Hormuz by later today.

On Radio 4′s Today programme, De Simone said this was not now the US president had thought the war would go.

He said: “There are still missiles being fired towards Israel and that’s happening every day.

“That shows that the Iranian government, the military, is still able to pose a threat, that’s heading to the sixth week of this war.

“I think there’s a sense that there was a real under-estimation by the Israeli leadership [and] by the American leadership about how this war could go on, and certainly some of Donald Trump’s comments show that.

“He seems a bit bewildered that this is still happening and that the Iranian military is still fighting.”

He added: “I think that as long as Iran is able to fire missiles, it’d hard to see how they can claim that their objectives have been met.”

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There are so many things happening in children’s lives that are outside of parents’ control, so it’s understandable that parents can go a little bonkers over issues they can control, like food.

Some mums and dads worry so much about “proper” nutrition that they can suck the fun right out of one of life’s greatest pleasures – eating what we love.

Paediatric emergency room physician Dr. Dina Kulik said sugar, carbohydrates and processed foods, for example, trigger far more fear than they deserve. “In realistic amounts, and within an overall balanced diet, they’re not the villains they’re often made out to be,” she said. “The stress and restriction around these foods can be more harmful than the foods themselves.”

Many paediatricians are parents themselves, and they often have a more relaxed attitude about what their kids eat than you might expect. Here are some of the surprising things that show up at their dinner tables:

“We stop for fast food occasionally,” said Dr. Debra Langlois, a paediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. “I’m a working parent; so when I get out of work late, and my children have an activity I need to get them to, they still have to eat. It’s important for all of us parents to remember that we’re doing the best we can. We need to give ourselves some grace as we strive to give children a healthy lifestyle that includes nutrition and physical activity.”

In a busy household, “some nights everyone just needs something quick and easy,” said Dr. Alicia Tucker, attending paediatrician at Children’s National’s obesity program called Improving Diet, Energy and Activity for Life (IDEAL).

“For us, chicken tenders fit the bill because they’re affordable, cook quickly and will always be eaten. I aim to balance this with easy, healthy sides that add some fibre and other nutrients, like putting them on top of a salad or serving them with apple slices or corn.”

“I do oven frying to use less oil, and I do use sweet potatoes sometimes,” said Dr. Tokunbo Akande, an integrative paediatrician. It’s a choice he feels just fine about: “A single food doesn’t determine a child’s health, so when the foundation is whole-food, plant-forward eating, occasional ‘fast foods’ don’t derail gut health, because the gut is more resilient.”

For Dr. Sara Hagan, a paediatrician at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health, frozen french fries are a welcome choice “on busy nights when we need something quick that our toddler will eat.” She went on to say that some parents worry unnecessarily about packaged foods and snacks. “While fresh foods are ideal, many packaged options contain added vitamins and nutrients that can support toddlers and picky eaters, and they can complement whole foods for a balanced diet.” Just remember that what your child eats isn’t a referendum on you, she said. “A child’s picky eating, preference for ‘treat’ foods or adventurous palate don’t reflect on a parent’s ability. The most important thing is raising a happy, healthy child.”

“My kids get barbecue or vinegar-and-salt chips as an occasional snack,” said Dr. Anisha Abraham, chief of adolescent medicine at Children’s National Hospital.

“As a teen health specialist taking care of adolescents with eating disorders, I know that strictly controlling what kids eat may increase anxiety around eating, lead to sneaking food, or contribute to disordered eating patterns later in life. Kids benefit from structure, including regular meals and snacks, but they also need independence and trust so they can develop healthy patterns as they become young adults.”

The crunchy treat also gets a nod from Dr. Adolfo Flores, a paediatrician at Children’s Health Dallas. “I have a 19-month-old, and she’ll occasionally enjoy some potato chips,” he said. “Although the amount of sodium and carbohydrates may give pause, it’s important that my daughter understands that a healthy diet looks like a diverse selection of foods, and that includes things like chips on occasion.”

Registered dietitian Katherine Shary leads paediatric obesity prevention efforts at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “I let my kids have dessert with dinner a couple times per week,” she said. “That includes ice cream, cake, brownies, cookies or popsicles.” She offered a smart approach to offering sweets. “If your child asks for brownies, you might say, ‘Sure, we can have brownies with dinner,’ and then serve one brownie to each person. If they ask for more, you can respond with: ‘That’s all the brownies we have for this meal, but if you’re still hungry, there’s plenty of other food on the table.’ This sets a clear boundary without shame or making dessert feel off-limits.”

“Peanut butter chocolate ice cream is my son’s favourite sweet treat,” said Dr. Paulina Tran, a paediatrician and associate program director in the allergy and immunology department of paediatrics at Los Angeles Medical Center. “As an allergist, I’m very aware that peanut is a top allergen. We know from strong evidence that early and regular exposure to allergens like peanuts can help prevent food allergies in many children. Since I know my child can safely eat peanuts, I’m supportive of him enjoying chocolate peanut butter ice cream as part of maintaining that regular exposure.”

“I do allow my kids, who are school-aged, to drink soda when we’re on vacation or celebrating birthdays,” said Dr. Rebecca Carter, a paediatrician at the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “As parents, we feel that treating soda as a once-in-a-while treat is a fair compromise, so that foods don’t feel fully off-limits or forbidden.”

Tucker noted, “Research consistently shows that parental modelling of healthy eating behaviours has a huge impact on a child’s developing relationship with food. When kids see their parents eating a variety of foods, they’re more likely to do so as well.”

She had some practical tips for being a good food role model: “Put cucumber sticks or other crunchy veggies on the table for a pre-dinner snack while you’re cooking, and over time your kids are likely to pick up on the habit, too. And if you’re craving a cookie after dinner, remember to avoid comments about weight or body image or only getting to eat it because you exercised. Just let everyone take a cookie together and enjoy the evening.”

The biggest takeaway from the paediatricians we spoke with is that you set the tone around food, and it should be one of pleasure, enjoyment and nourishment.

“Most parents restrict treats because they care deeply about their kids’ growth and development – and that comes from a loving place,” Shary said. “If you’ve been using dessert only as a reward or bribe, you haven’t failed – you were doing what you thought was best. You can always try something new, like offering a small dessert with a meal or snack without strings attached. When dessert is treated as simply another food, kids build a healthier, more positive relationship with eating that can benefit them for life.”

Finally, remember the vibe at the dinner table can be so much more important than what’s being served. “Creating a positive mealtime environment where kids feel safe, heard and included often matters just as much as what’s on their plate,” Abraham said.

“Gut health is as much emotional as it is nutritional,” Akande reminded parents. “When we remove shame and pressure from eating, we support the nervous system and kids digest better. The most ‘integrative’ thing we can offer is a relaxed, joyful relationship with food.