Long before Eiza González became a household name in Hollywood, she was a child actor on Mexico’s version of Sesame Street.
“I was on Sesame Street for a blink of an eye because I got kicked out,” González, 35, said on the Tuesday, March 11, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. “It was my first ‘getting fired’ moment.”
While speaking with guest host Brooke Shields, González revealed the probable reason that she was dismissed from Plaza Sésamo.
“I was a hyperactive child and I also liked to rile up people. Like, I was a complete menace,” González quipped. “I made sure to rile up the entire kid team of children. I convinced them to break into the office and they had a mock-up of the entire set, and we were jumping on it and we broke it.”
She continued, “It was me and I got completely fired from my first job because I was a complete menace. My mom said, ‘You can’t do this for a living. You are just so naughty.’”
As González grew up, she “somehow” found her way back to acting.
Eiza González and Brooke Shields on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show.’Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal
“I wiggled my way in,” she joked.
Later on in her career, González’s looks would often impact her chances at booking roles.
“I remember being [told for] so many projects, ‘She’s too pretty for the role. She’s too hot for the role,’” she told InStyle in March 2024. “Then I’d just be like, ‘What is Margot Robbie? She’s the hottest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life!’ … I was like, ‘Do I shave my head? Do I make myself less attractive? Do I make myself more attractive? Do I not dress super-hot or do I dress super-hot or do I cover myself all the time?’”
González further noted that she faced “a lot of” similar struggles growing up.
“I went through a lot of trouble with my body, with my curves, with my look,” González admitted at the time. “It was really tough.”
González has since been able to overcome the naysayers, recently landing the role of astronaut Ria in the upcoming horror movieAsh.
“It’s a psychological thriller [and] it’s a really fun movie,” she said on Tuesday. “I’m in it with Aaron Paul, who’s incredible and so talented in this movie. I’m so honored to be sharing this movie with him. It’s an independent film, guys. It means a lot if people can go support it. It’s a little movie that we did in a back lot in a warehouse in New Zealand from no money with a lot of love and a lot of passion.”
Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell insisted his “conscience is clear” over his bandleader Tom Petty‘s 2017 death from an accidental drug overdose.
“I don’t torture myself [over Petty’s death],” Campbell, 75, told Guitar Player in an interview published on Tuesday, March 11.
Petty’s death at age 66 sent shockwaves through the rock community, especially after a coroner’s report determined that a mix of opioids — including fentanyl and oxycodone — in his system contributed to a fatal “mixed drug toxicity.” The rock legend had gone through periods of drug use throughout his life, but famously got clean in 1999 when his future wife, Dana York, convinced him to go to rehab.
Campbell explained in his new interview that while he recognized Petty was no longer sober near the end of his life, he felt it was impossible to get through to his longtime bandmate.
“With Tom it was like, ‘Your private life is yours, and mine is mine. I can see what you’re doing, but out of respect for you, I’ll trust you’ll do the right thing. If you need me, call me,'” he recalled. “I could have gone to him and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to cut this s— out,’ which I kind of did once to the manager. But the thing with Tom was, you could say that and he would just look at you like, ‘But I’m Tom Petty. I’m going to do whatever I f—ing want. Get out of my face.’”
Campbell suggested that “the sides of [Petty’s] personality” always made it challenging to get close to the musician he worked with for more than 40 years.
Harmony Gerber/Getty Images
“He was intimidating, but there was love there. I think one reason we stayed together is because we kept our private lives separate. We didn’t socialize that much off tour,” he insisted.
The last time the pair worked together was only a week before Petty’s death, when they concluded their 40th Anniversary Tour at the Hollywood Bowl in September 2017.
When Campbell was pressed on why he didn’t “get in [Petty’s] face” about his noticeable decline, the musician replied: “I don’t torture myself. My conscious is clear because Tom knew that I knew, and Tom knew that I wasn’t forcing him and getting in his face about it.”
The guitarist added that there was “an invisible understanding” between himself and Petty about their personal lives.
“I didn’t have to confront him, for him to know how I felt about it,” Campbell said. “Like I said, there was no second thoughts or reservations about going out on tour. In fact, the last conversation I had with Tom about it, I said, ‘Are you sure you want to do this? Are you up to it?’ He said, ‘I’m not staying home. I’m going out. I want to do it. If I have to be in a wheelchair, I’m going to do it.’ I said, ‘OK, then what?’ He said, ‘Well, when the tour’s over, I’m going to go get my [hip] surgery. We’ll write some more songs, make another record.’ That was the plan.”
Campbell continued: “It was kind of business as usual. I know that Tony [Dimitriades], our manager, spoke to him and gave him options like, ‘We can postpone this. You can get your surgery now.’ Tom said, ‘I need to be out there. I want to play with the band, and we’re going to do it. I’ll be OK.’ So I have no second thoughts about it. I don’t beat myself up like that. I miss them — same with [Howie Epstein, the Heartbreakers’ bassist, who died at 47 in 2003] — but I did all I could.”
Since Petty’s death in 2017, Campbell and Crowded House’s Neil Finn have joined Fleetwood Mac as replacements for Lindsey Buckingham following the latter guitarist’s acrimonious departure from the group. Campbell has written a memoir about his career with Petty called Heartbreaker, out on Tuesday, March 18.
Jamie Foxx’s daughters, Corinne and AneliseFoxx, were his rock at his Netflix special.
“Shout-out to my daughter Corinne Marie Foxx, who took care of me and made sure I was protected,” Jamie, 57, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 12, at the premiere of Apple TV+’s Number One on the Call Sheet. “She wouldn’t let anybody see me, and then shout-out to my youngest daughter who was courageous in front of that crowd.”
Jamie’s Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was, dropped in December 2024 and pulled back the curtain on his health scare from the year prior. In the show, Jamie welcomed Anelise onto the stage for a performance. (Jamie shares Corinne, 31, with ex Connie Kline and Anelise, 16, with ex Kristin Grannis.)
“You got to understand, we didn’t get a chance to practice that show. We just went up. Really, those people were in there for the first time. It was the first time I said anything to them,” he told Us at TCL Chinese Theatre. “For my daughter to walk out and play that guitar, the way she played, it was so amazing.”
Jamie explained that Anelise asked him for an Instagram account to help with her music, but he told her that they could see “what happens” when the special was released — and she got her flowers after her performance.
“I’m probably being not the most-liked dad by saying you can’t have Instagram, [but] a lady runs up on her with tears in her eyes and said, ‘Man, what you did!’ I said, ‘Your art is what’s going to be your social media, your art,’” he recalled. “She did a fantastic job. And to everybody that prayed and to everybody that made sure I was here, thank you.”
Jamie shared that he will be shooting another special in July at Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, adding, “We going to turn up.”
“I just don’t want to get canceled. But we got some jokes that I held back on purpose because I didn’t want to bend and get us away from the story,” he said. “But yeah, this summer we going to get fly. So make sure you check it out back on my funny ish and come check me out.”
Months before releasing the special, Jamie celebrated Corinne’s nuptials with husband Joe Hooten. (Corinne shared her engagement news in December 2023.)
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images
As for how it felt walking Corinne down the aisle, Jamie gushed to Us, “Come on, man. Amazing!”
Luann de Lesseps was rooting for her former The Real Housewives of New York City costar Dorinda Medley on The Traitors — and wanted to cheer her on in person.
“I loved D on Traitors. We spoke while she was there,” de Lesseps, 59, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, March 11, at the grand opening of Planet Hollywood in New York City. “You know why [I called her]? Because I was with Tilda Swinton on a train going to Scotland.”
Medley, 60, chimed in, telling Us, “She wanted me to come visit. I’m like, ‘It’s not that sort of situation.’”
Medley participated in season 3 of the Peacock competition show, which was filmed at a Scottish castle and aired earlier this month. (Four Faithfuls — Gabby Windey, Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania and Ivar Mountbatten — ultimately won and split the cash prize.)
De Lesseps’ hopeful plans, however, were thwarted.
“Well, you didn’t even answer because your phone was confiscated,” de Lesseps recalled. “So Tilda Swinton goes, ‘How’s Dorinda, darling? I heard she’s doing Traitors.’ We tried to call you from the train.”
De Lesseps met Swinton, 64, after one of her Marry, F, Kill cabaret shows across the pond when the acclaimed actress invited her to spend the night at her residence in Scotland.
“She came to my show at the Coco Club. It’s a pretty swanky club in London,” de Lesseps previously told Us in October 2024. “She came to me and she said, ‘Oh, my darling, you spread so much joy, I love to watch you perform, but you must be exhausted after six shows in a row. And you know, I would love for you to come and have a visit. I’d like to take care of you and cook for you and welcome you to my humble abode.’”
The Bravo alum, of course, accepted the invitation and set off to spend a night at Swinton’s property.
“She’s the most eccentric person I’ve met,” de Lesseps said at the time. “[I have] a lot of eccentric people in my life, you know, living in Europe for so long, but [she’s] the most eccentric woman I’ve ever met. The family actually dates back to 800. And the humble abode is a castle on 300 acres.”
“Traitors was fast and furious for me. I made my impact,” Medley quipped on Tuesday. “[I was] heartbroken because, first of all, I had the most iconic outfits that I planned for months. You know, I love my outfits, and I had studied every strategy known to man. I just was excited. You have to get prepared mentally to do it. So, you block out that time and you go in there not knowing what to expect but hoping [to make it far].”
Since de Lesseps returned stateside, she was finally able to catch up with Medley after all sorts of global travels and cabaret concerts. Together, the two RHONY alums hit up the grand opening of Planet Hollywood’s new location in Times Square.
“This is going to be fun,” de Lesseps gushed to Us of the party.
When Megan Moroney was in fifth grade, she broke up with her “sweet boyfriend” to date the bad boy eighth grader. Now 27 years old, Moroney says not much has changed.
The country star opened up to Rolling Stone about her love life — or lack thereof — in a story published Wednesday, March 12, where she derided her own taste in men.
“I feel like I’ve always had bad taste in men,” she said. “I don’t know if this song will make my next album, but an opening line is, ‘I know how to pick them. Copy, paste.’”
It’s not just the eight grade bad boy. Moroney previously took to TikTok to reveal a statement an ex once made that caused her to want to send him “to the moon.”
“Once upon a time I dated a guy that said he didn’t need to know my songs [because] I didn’t know that much about his finance job,” she said.
Moroney told Rolling Stone that she has been single since breaking up with her last boyfriend early last year. He was “a regular finance dude,” though it’s unknown if it’s the same guy she was talking about on TikTok.
Regardless, Moroney is thankful to be single now. She released her second album, Am I Okay?, in July 2024, where there is notably a song called “Man on the Moon.” She’s now working on her next album.
“I could not imagine going through the past year if I was upset and crying over a dude,” she said, adding, “I really don’t have time for it right now. I tried dating for a second and then I quickly realized that now is not the time. I think in the album you get that vibe. The love songs were very short-lived!”
She continued, “Unfortunately a lot of my personal life revolves around my work life, so that’s why dating right now is just not something that’s in the front of my mind. I don’t really worry about it too much.”
Moroney was briefly linked to fellow country singer Riley Green after both were spotted vacationing in St. Barts at the same time. She insists it was merely a coincidence.
“It’s one of those things where if you know someone on a small island, you’re like, ‘Oh, s—, you’re here too.’ So it was fun,” she said. “Are you dating? Just because we’re hanging out doesn’t mean we’re romantically dating. You know what I mean?”
She was also linked to Morgan Wallen, though she said that while they saw each other briefly, they were never exclusive.
Kristen Kish may be a pro chef, but she’s now feeling like a pro host heading into Top Chef season 22.
“I probably just internally [was] more confident and sure of myself,” Kish, 41, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 12, about her sophomore season as host of the Bravo cooking competition series. “I think going from the first time to the second time, there’s going to be a jump in confidence and I certainly felt that.”
Kish noted that she’s excited to once again dive into “the heart and the soul” of the show, which is the chefs and their “storytelling” through food. “It also really kind of takes me aback every single time I do it, from the first time to our last finale,” she told Us. “We just kind of sit back and you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, we just got to experience that.’”
Before taking on her hosting role, Kish famously competed on season 10 of Top Chef in 2012, becoming the second female winner in the show’s history. One month after longtime host Padma Lakshmiannounced her exit from the series after 17 years, Kish was announced as her replacement in July 2023. Kish officially made her Top Chef hosting debut when season 21 premiered last March.
The show’s latest season — which premieres on Thursday, March 13 — will see Kish and fellow judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons travel to Canada to watch 15 chefs compete in a high-stakes culinary battle.
“Everything’s new. The landscape is different. The challenges are different. The food that they’re cooking is different,” Kish teased of what’s to come. “And I think that is the beauty of Top Chef is that they have been to many locations, introduced so many chefs around the world, and every single plate of food is different and every location and challenge is tailor-made for that location. It’s really amazing.”
Kristen KishDavid Moir/Bravo
Having been on the show since its 2006 premiere, Colicchio, 62, told Us he “giggled” at the realization of the show’s nearly 20-year-long run. “It’s just been a great run,” he added.
Fellow OG judge Simmons, 48, said she was “really excited” to bring the show to her home country. “I just think it feels different than any season we’ve ever done before,” she added. “Our kitchen — and I’m trying not to be biased — but the Top Chef kitchen was so beautiful this season.”
Despite starring on a cooking show, the Top Chef judges told Us that their TV series of choice are not other shows in the genre. “The only cooking competition show I watch is the Great British Bake Off because it’s sweet and they’re home bakers,” Kish said, while Simmons noted she prefers to watch “travel vlogs” in her free time.
Colicchio, for his part, stated, “I’ve been cooking for over 40 years and I’ve been doing Top Chef for almost 20 years. And the last thing I want to do when I’m not doing either one of those is watch food TV. Anything but food TV. “
Top Chef judges Kristen Kish, Gail Simmons and Tom ColicchioUS Weekly
Top Chef season 22 premieres on Bravo Thursday, March 13, at 9 p.m. ET.
Kylie Kelce is still all-in on her quest to add a pet cat to her and husband Jason Kelce’s family.
“I am in a great debate with my husband about getting a cat,” Kylie, 32, told guest Kat Dennings on the Thursday, March 13, episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. “Our oldest daughter, just the other day, told Dad, ‘We’re going to buy a cat.’ He was like, ‘Kylie, did you tell her we’re going to buy a cat?’ I was like, ‘I swear, I did not. It wasn’t me.’”
Kylie then joked that she subsequently asked 5-year-old Wyatt if she “wanted to go to the ASPCA” to rescue a kitten. (In addition to Wyatt, Kylie and Jason, 37, share daughters Ellie, 3, and Bennett, 2, and are currently expecting another little girl.)
“That’s where we always got our cats from [growing up],” Kylie said. “My husband has told our daughters that cats are poisonous. He is desperate to not have a cat, which is hilarious … [because] he grew up with a cat, Flash, who he was forever impressed by [when] she would catch birds mid-air in the backyard and it blew his mind.”
Kylie has been vocal about her desire to adopt a cat — she and Jason already share a dog named Baloo — since 2023. At the time, she asked her brother-in-law, Travis Kelce, on the sibling’s “New Heights” podcast for help since he “might like cats now.” (Travis, 35, is dating Taylor Swift, who is famously a cat lover and has three pet felines of her own.)
Dennings, who has her own squad of pet cats, further offered Kylie some advice to get the retired NFL center to change his mind.
“Everyone wants a kitten; they’re so cute,” Dennings, 38, said. “They’re only kittens for a very short time and then they’re cats. So, you might be better off with your husband [if] you take him in to maybe meet a cat who’s a little older, who’s already feisty and he might toss a couple things, watch that cat fly for it and he’ll fall in love.”
Dennings’ advice was “very helpful” to Kylie, who also has a backup plan in mind.
“One day I’m just going to take our kids to the local rescue and I’m going to pick out a cat and then I’m going to bring the cat home,” the pregnant podcaster teased. “I’m gonna full-commit [and adopt], then I’m going to make sure it’s a day or two where he’s not home, traveling.”
Kylie added, “At that point, the girls will be like, ‘This is the best thing ever, [and] they’ll get to bond with the cat, they’ll get to experience all the love and all of it — or just watch the cat if the cat is not a cuddly cat. By the time he returns, you can’t be the worst person ever and send the cat back.”
According to Kylie, if Jason tries to return the pet, he’ll “have four little girls looking at him like, ‘Dad, it’s our cat.’”
“I feel like this makes a lot of sense,” Kylie concluded. “[Kat,] I really appreciate your support through this.”
A judge has ruled whether to grant Blake Livelya stronger protective order amid her lawsuit against It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni.
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, March 13, Judge Lewis Liman approved Lively’s protective order in part, rejecting some of Wayfarer’s requests.
“Today, the Court rejected the Wayfarer Parties’ objections and entered the protections needed to ensure the free flow of discovery material without any risk of witness intimidation or harm to any individual’s security,” a spokesperson for Lively told Us in a statement. “With this order in place, Ms. Lively will move forward in the discovery process to obtain even more of the evidence that will prove her claims in Court.”
The court chose to “enter a protective order with a modified Attorneys’ Eyes Only provision,” meaning that certain documents would only be allowed to go between the clients’ attorneys and not be seen my said client unless ruled upon by a judge.
Baldoni’s attorneys also responded to the latest ruling. “We are fully in agreement with the Court’s decision to provide a narrow scope of protections to categories such as private mental health records and personal security measures that have never been of interest to us,” lawyer Bryan Freedman told Us in a statement on Thursday. “As opposed to Ms. Lively’s exceedingly over broad demand for documents for a 2 [and a half] year period of time which the court rightly quashed.”
That statement continued: “We remain focused on the necessary communications that will directly contradict Ms. Lively’s unfounded accusations. We will oppose any efforts by Ms. Lively and her team to hamper our clients’ ability to defend against her attacks by incorrectly categorizing important information as ‘trade secrets,’ especially considering there were no issues in providing these communications willingly to The New York Times.”
News broke last month that Lively, 37, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, sought a stronger protective order than the standard one they were initially granted when she and Baldoni, 41, each first filed their respective lawsuits.
“As detailed in Ms. Lively’s Amended Complaint, Ms. Lively, her family, other members of the cast, various fact witnesses, and individuals that have spoken out publicly in support of Ms. Lively have received violent, profane, sexist, and threatening communications,” a February letter from Lively and Reynolds, 48, read, noting Lively was seeking “additional protections.”
Lively had named Baldoni in a December 2024 lawsuit, alleging that he sexually harassed her and fostered a “hostile work environment” on the set of that year’s It Ends With Us. Lively amended her complaint in February, detailing the alleged “emotional impact” she faced including the multiple, violent social media messages she received.
JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
Baldoni vehemently and frequently denied Lively’s claims, also filing a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds. The married couple, meanwhile, denounced his accusations.
Lively and Baldoni’s legal teams both met with the judge on March 6 to discuss the proposed protective order.
We want to stop the public publication of this information, in the case, during discovery. The rules try and prevent the burden to be on the third parties,” the actress’ lawyer said during Thursday’s hearing. “We should not make the dozens of third parties run to the court for protection. We are supposed to reduce the burden on third parties. He should drop the third-party subpoena against the security firm that protects Lively and Reynolds.”
The lawyer further made a case for protecting Lively’s private correspondence with other “high-profile individuals.”
“There is a significant chance of irreparable harm if marginal conversations with high-profile individuals with no relevance to the case were to fall into the wrong hands,” Lively’s attorney claimed.
Freedman, a lawyer for Baldoni, denied the allegations in his own statement before the judge.
“These are matters of ‘for attorney’s eyes only’ restrictions,” he said on March 6. “This is a case where no one has any intention of harming Ms. Lively in any way. She detailed the sexual harassment claims and put that out there. My clients have been adjudicated as guilty right when this was filed. My client has a right to fight back and to defend himself. We want to agree to the protective order and place the burden on the party, who wants greater protection, to go to court and be transparent.”
I won’t lie: I reach for leggings nine times out of ten throughout the week. I can’t help that they’re comfier than 90% of my wardrobe! As a shopping writer and self-proclaimed leggings expert, I know a good pair when I see one. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on leggings, but I just grabbed this $15 pair in every color from Walmart!
The Avia SoftSculpt High Rise Capri Leggings come in four colors: black, blue, pink and a gray-ish green hue. The star feature is the thick, soft fabric that isn’t see-through. The pants are crafted with a blend of nylon and spandex, giving them a sof feel with midsection-smoothing compression. I really enjoy the high-rise fit paired with the comfortable elastic waistband that covers my belly when I want to conceal bloat.
Several washes later, I can happily report the leggings still look brand new and have zero pilling. Talk about a win-win! But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what other shoppers say about the leggings.
“My wife loved it. The fabric is super soft and comfortable,” one Walmart shopper shares. “The color is beautiful.”
What are you waiting for? Head to Walmart now and grab a pair (or two, or three) while they’re still in stock!
Justin Bieber is getting real about how he thinks of himself while living in the public eye.
“People told me my whole life, ‘Wow Justin, u deserve that’ and I personally have always felt unworthy,” Bieber, 31, wrote via his Instagram Story on Thursday, March 13. “Like I was a fraud.”
The Grammy winner continued, “Like when people told me I deserve something, it made me feel sneaky, like, damn if they only knew my thoughts. How judgmental I am, how selfish I really am. They wouldn’t be saying this.”
As Gold Tiger’s “Sneaky Sneaky” played in the background of the post, Bieber reminded his followers that if they aren’t feeling their absolute best, they are not alone.
“I say all this to say if you feel sneaky, welcome to the club,” he concluded. “I definitely feel unequipped and unqualified most days.”
Bieber’s candid social media post comes as the “Baby” singer continues to face public scrutiny for his behavior.
In February, Bieber’s rep told TMZ that rumors about Bieber using hard drugs were “absolutely not true,” calling the speculation “exhausting and pitiful.” Per the rep, the chatter about Bieber’s mental health “shows that despite the obvious truth, people are committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narratives alive.”
Courtesy of Justin Bieber/Instagram
Bieber’s rep added that the past year has been “very transformative” for the singer, who “ended several close friendships and business relationships that no longer served him.”
One person who appears to be in Justin’s corner is his wife, Hailey Bieber. As the couple continues to raise their 6-month-old son, Jack, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that the Rhode founder, 28, remains a positive force in Justin’s life.
“Hailey is trying to be as supportive as possible,” the insider explained to Us. “It can be hard for Hailey, but she’s always there for him and is understanding.”
Through it all, Justin continues to give fans hope that he will return to music sooner rather than later. Earlier in the week, he shared a photo of himself playing the piano in a makeshift studio. In a separate post, he posed next to a guitar as he seemingly worked on new tracks.
“Justin is a happy camper right now,” a source told Us in February, adding that “he’s happier than he’s been in a long time.”
The insider added that “there’s no breakdown” and Bieber “just really doesn’t care what people think.”
Billy Flynn is saying goodbye to Days of Our Lives, but he’s not leaving the world of soaps just yet.
“I love acting, and I love stories, and I never imagined I would just tell one story for the rest of my life,” Flynn, 39, said of his time on Days in a Thursday, March 13, interview with Variety. “The fact that I’ve been here 10 years and it’s gone by in the blink of an eye is amazing to me. I wasn’t a baby when I started here; I was 30. I didn’t start acting until I was 26. So it’s gone by really fast.”
After playing Chad DiMera for the past decade, Flynn has decided to say goodbye and take on a new role on a different soap opera: The Young the Restless.
“I think with this character, I’ve done everything I can with it,” he reflected of his role as DiMera. “I’m looking forward to doing something new. I’m about to start a new journey and tell another story. It really is just that simple.”
In addition to a new change of scenery, Flynn is looking forward to a new workflow structure that differs from the one he was accustomed to.
“We do the best work we can despite the obstacles that we’ve faced as a show. Part of that move I’m excited about is [that] they move slower and there’s more time to do stuff. But I was trained like a warrior here,” he told the outlet. “There’s a different pace [here], but it’s made me the actor and the person I am today.”
While Flynn is excited about the new opportunity, he confessed it is “bittersweet” to say goodbye to Days of Our Lives and its loyal fans.
“The outpouring of well wishes and love since this came out has been humbling,” he shared. “It’s been incredibly moving to me, and I’m gonna take that with me. I hope [fans] continue to watch Days and support Days and support whoever might come in and play Chad, if there ever is that case. I hope they do that and give somebody the same love they gave me. And I hope that they come with me on this journey that I’m on and support me doing that too.”
Due to the Days of Our Lives filming schedule, Flynn will remain on the soap opera until 2026 while working on The Young and the Restless simultaneously.
Details of Flynn’s Young and the Restless character remain under wraps. Young and the Restless head writer Josh Griffith, who previously worked alongside Flynn on Days of Our Lives, shared a statement to Variety welcoming Flynn to the cast.
“On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we look forward to welcoming Billy to the show,” the statement read. “He will be a wonderful addition to Y&R’s stellar cast.”
Flynn made his Days of Our Lives debut in 2014. While on the series, he received three Daytime Emmy nominations.
The high school track star at the center of a viral baton attack has formally been charged.
Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, faces a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery stemming from the March 4 incident, according to ABC News.
Video showed Everett allegedly taking her baton and hitting another runner, Kaelen Tucker, over the head with it. Tucker, a junior at Brookville High School in Lynchburg, reportedly suffered a concussion and was treated for a potential skull fracture.
The incident invoked the name of former figure skater Tonya Harding, who trended on social media after video of the attack spread. Harding’s name is infamously linked to the 1994 attack of Nancy Kerrigan, during which the beloved figure skater was was struck in the knee with a baton by a hitman hired by Harding’s then-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and Harding’s then-bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt.
In the aftermath of the recent baton attack, Everett, the alleged instigator, attempted to explain it was all a big misunderstanding.
“I would never do that on purpose,” Everett said Tuesday, March 11 on Good Morning America. “That’s not in my character.”
GMA/ABC News
Everett placed some of the blame for the incident on Tucker, claiming she was running so close that her arm was impeding Everett’s motion.
“Her arm was literally hitting the baton, until she got a little ahead, and my arm got stuck like this,” she said while holding a baton to emphasize her point.
Everett said she and her family have received death threats since the incident occurred.
Tucker, who was allegedly hit by Everett, also spoke to Good Morning America to give her perspective of the reported attack.
“I just felt a bang on my head and then I fell off the track immediately,” Tucker recalled.
The Everett family has also been served court papers and must appear before a judge, which Everett’s father, Genoa, criticized during an interview with WAVY TV 10 (an ABC affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia) on Sunday, March 9.
“It doesn’t seem right that this would happen and now we have to go to a city three hours away that everyone hates our guts already,” he said.
The Virginia High School League told ABC News that it is reviewing the incident. A statement read, “The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.”
Jennifer Garnerand boyfriend John Miller’s relationship is “solid,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly.
“He doesn’t get jealous and understands Jennifer prioritizing her kids,” the insider tells Us of Garner’s focus on her three children with ex-husband Ben Affleck. “[John] sleeps over at her home often. The way he talks about her is the same. There are no whispers of a status change in their relationship.”
Garner, 52, and Miller, 47, started dating in 2018, shortly after the actress finalized her divorce from Affleck, 52. While Garner and Miller briefly split two years later, they ultimately reconciled in May 2021.
Garner and Affleck, meanwhile, have remained committed to coparenting children Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13.
“Jennifer has a soft spot for Ben because he is the father of her kids,” a second source tells Us. “She will always be there for him, but there is nothing romantic going on.”
Speculation swirled in February that Affleck was keen to reunite with Garner after they were spotted bonding on multiple occasions in the subsequent months after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez. (Affleck and Lopez, 55, settled their divorce in January after two years of marriage.)
A third source previously told Us earlier in March that the speculation was “ridiculous,” and Affleck’s priorities remain on his family and his career.
After Affleck previously split from Garner in 2015, they’ve remained cordial coparents to their three kids.
“I didn’t marry the big, fat movie star. I married him and I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him and I would again. You can’t have three babies and so much of what we had,” the Alias alum told Vanity Fair in 2016. “He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow. … It’s not Ben’s job to make me happy. The main thing is these kids — and we’re completely inline with what we hope for them.”
Even though being a pet parent is one of the greatest jobs in the world, it can be a massive undertaking. As many of us are heading back to offices, most cats and dogs unfortunately have to stay behind at home. But there are some products and services that make the lives of busy pet parents easier. Food, toy and litter subscriptions, indoor cameras, pet telehealth and more from Amazon, Chewy and other pet sites can really come in handy — here are our top recs.
Pet Food Subscriptions
Paying for a food subscription is not only less expensive than buying bags as you need them. It also ensures your fur baby never runs out of food. Once you figure out how quickly your pet goes through a bag of food, schedule a new one to come a few days ahead of time. That way, you won’t find they’re out of food right before you have to go to work.
1. Amazon Subscribe & Save: It isn’t only high-end pet food that’s available for subscription. You can purchase almost any brand from Amazon for almost any pet imaginable, and take advantage of auto-ship on your schedule. For Purina Pro Plan Adult Dog Food, for example, auto-ship gets you $5 off per bag, so that will definitely save you money in the long run. It also combines with all of your other Subscribe & Save items, adding another 5% discount when you have five subscriptions.
2. Chewy: Meow Mix, Meow Mix, please deliver! Chewy offers auto-ship for almost any type of pet food out there, including fresh, and you can save up to $10 per bag when you opt in. Meow Mix Original Choice is one of many varieties Chewy offers, that comes with balanced nutrition and high quality protein. Your cat will thank you.
3. Pet Supermarket: Pet Supermarket offers a wide range of cat and dog food options that can be purchased via auto-ship. Not only can you set how often you’d like a new shipment — you also save 35% on each bag of food. Plus, Stella and Chewy’s Raw Coated Small Breed Dog Food‘s raw ingredients are super healthy, so you’ll save time and money on vet appointments, in the long run.
4. PetCareRx: PetCareRx offers a wide range of pet food that’s also available via subscription, such as Hill’s Prescription Diet Joint Care Dry Dog Food. Although the site doesn’t seem to cut pet parents a deal, it’ll prevent you from having to buy something last-minute (and possibly lower quality!) at the grocery store.
Pet Supplement and Medication Subscriptions
Similar to a food subscriptions, there are many brands that offer pet medication subscriptions. They send you a steady shipment of any necessary supplements or meds, so you’ll never forget to re-up Heartgard, hip and joint supplements, or anti-anxiety medication.
1. Chewy: In addition to pet food, Chewy offers auto-ship for medications, including prescriptions. Whether you’re getting your dog’s monthly flea and tick protection, or supplements, you can get them on a steady schedule (and a pretty steep discount of 5% per bag, too!). Heartgard is just one essential medication every dog needs to prevent heartworm and other diseases, so this is a great place to get it.
2. Amazon: Amazon Subscribe & Save includes non-prescription pet pharmaceuticals, such as flea and tick prevention. Frontline Plus For Cats is one of many options for your fur baby, and not only does auto-ship save up to 15% on each order, but you can also opt for more doses per pack, which saves money, too.
3. Ultimate Pet Nutrition:Ultimate Pet Nutrition offers its own brand of foods and supplements for cats and dogs that you can buy in bulk and save on, like Nutra Thrive, a cat supplement that combines collagen, MSM, probiotics and more for all-around health. First time buyers get a $ off coupon, and the free VIP account lets you manage subscriptions.
4. Pet Wellness Direct: Pet Wellness Direct brings “vet science to your door” and makes six different highly rated products, including a probiotic, flea and tick shampoo, joint supplement, shampoo, oral bad breath spray and more for both cats and dogs. VetSmartFormulas Critical Immune Defense Powder contains compounds from mushrooms and turmeric. It helps immune function, promotes healthy cell development and protects your pup from illnesses. A subscribe and save feature saves you 15%.
Cleaning up after your pet is a must, and everyone hates running out of litter or bags. Many of our favorite pet sites offer subscriptions for things like poop bags, to promise you’ll never run out. That means you won’t be scrambling to pick up after your pup without a bag, ever again.
1. Amazon: Eco-friendly poop bags are a total must for pet owners, since your pets go through sometimes up to three a day. Earth Rated Poop Bags come in a box of 18 rolls, are leak proof and made from 65% recycled plastic, reducing your environmental impact. Amazon offers so many types of poop bags and pet waste solutions for auto-ship, and if you subscribe and save, you’ll get up to 10% off.
2. Chewy: Cats can go through so much litter per week, which is why a subscription for something like Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented Litter is so convenient. Chewy offers waste solutions for all kinds of pets, and the auto-ship feature will save you up to 35% on your first order.
3. Petflow: For puppies still working on potty training—and older dogs—a regular shipment of pee pads is essential. Four Paws Wee-Wee Pads are ultra absorbent and are treated to attract puppies when they need to go. Petflow offers all kinds of waste solutions, from wee-wee pads to dog bags, and opting for auto-ship will save long-term.
Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes
Cleaning the litter box is just one more stressor for pet parents. So consider paying a little extra for a self-cleaning option. Your living space will smell much better, and your cleaning duties will become much easier — trust us.
1. Litter-Robot 4: See what the social media hype is all about with the Litter-Robot 4. This well-respected brand not only self-cleans, but it also works quietly to replace the litter itself. It comes in several colors and either a one- or three-year warranty. It will save you time on cleaning your cat’s box, and frustration with the stench that comes with out it.
2. MeoWant Self Cleaning Litter Box: The MeoWant Self Cleaning Litter Box not only features a large entrance, but it also offers safety alerts, to ensure your kitty won’t get stuck in the chamber. It connects to your smart phone, so you can monitor your cat’s habits and control it from wherever you are.
3. PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box: Chewy offers a wide range of self-cleaning litter boxes, including the PetSafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box. Its SmartSpin technology detects your cats presence, and then quietly shuttles the waste into a sealed scent-proof drawer. It also gives insights on your cat’s bathroom habits, so you know how they’re doing, health-wise.
Automatic Feeders and Water Fountains
Busy pet parents might be working in an office, or simply running errands during the day. But you don’t want to worry about your cat or dog’s food and water levels when you aren’t there. That’s why automatic feeders and water fountains are so useful. They only need to be refilled every once in a while, and they promise your pet is satiated when you’re out of the house.
1. GAMMA2 NANO Automated Pet Feeder: Rest assured your cat or dog always has food whenever they need it, with the GAMMA2 NANO Automated Pet Feeder from Petmate. It has programmable features to control how much food they get at once, feeding times and speed. It notifies you when it has a low supply, and has a backup battery in case of power outages.
2. Fresh Flow Water Fountain: Your cat or dog shouldn’t run out of water when you’re out of the house, and because the Fresh Flow Water Fountain from Petmate holds 110 ounces (3.2 liters), it can last for days for smaller pets. It even recirculates water to keep it filtered and cool. It runs quietly and you can choose between white or grey, to match your aesthetic.
3. AutomaticCat Feeder, Water Fountain and Camera: Combining forces is Leicko’s 4.9-star rated, three-in-one Automatic Cat Feeder, Water Fountain and Camera. It your cat a steady amount of food and water while keeping an eye on them when you aren’t home. It’s made specifically for cats, since it’s on the smaller side, but it’s Wi-Fi and app enabled and has a backup battery for peace of mind.
Invisible Fences, Tracking and Cameras
Keeping track of your pets whether they’re playing outside or relaxing inside is crucial for safety. Invisible fence help your pet gets outside, without having to go on walks several times per day. Meanwhile, GPS devices reduce cause for concern so you can keep track of where they are, even if you’re walking with them. And even if they’re inside while you’re out of the house, surveillance cameras make sure they’re doing OK indoors, when you aren’t home.
1. Halo Collar 4: Make wireless fences and track your pup with Halo Collar 4. It allows you to create custom virtual fences to ensure they stay within the perimeter of your property. It prevents you from having to install any wires or physical fencing, because the boundaries are created virtually. And if you’re on a leash-free walk, you can rest assured you have their GPS location. Choose between four adorable colors.
2. eXtreme Underground Electric Fence System: If you’d prefer a foolproof fence with a physically wired system, Amazon’s eXtreme’s Underground Electric Fence System is easy to setup and was made to last. Each pro grade kit comes with 1,500 feet of pro grade underground wire , stakes, a transmitter, collar and more, and you upgrade if you have a bigger property. You can also add more collars if you have more than one dog, or want a backup.
3. Apple AirTag: While most think of using an Apple AirTag to keep track of your phone, keys, purse or backpack, it’s also a very popular and easy way to keep track of your cat or dog using GPS. Airtags connect to the Find My app, which you likely already have if you’re an iPhone user. There are hundreds of options for AirTag compatible collars and removeable holders .
4. Furbo Mini Pet Camera: When life started to resume post-COVID, almost every pet parent wanted a pet camera — and the Furbo Mini Pet Camera is one of the best. It can be connected to your phone, so you can check on your pet — and the rest of your home — at any time. And the speaker even allows you to talk to them… cute!
Pet Telehealth
Taking your pet to the vet for serious illnesses and injuries, vaccinations and tests is unavoidable. But sometimes — like humans — they have an ailment that can be addressed with a video call. Pet telehealth is on the rise, and there’s no question why. This is a great tool for pet parents to ensure their fur babies are happy and healthy.
1. Dutch Online Vet Care: Dutch Online Vet Care is a telehealth company that’s available 24 hours per day. It can prescribe and deliver any necessary treatments to your door. You’ll pick a plan and pay for a membership. Then you’ll schedule a call with a licensed vet, and receive unlimited care and follow-ups. It gives pet parents a little relief, knowing medical care is at their fingertips.
2. Chewy Connect With a Vet: In addition to offering a variety of pet essentials, food and medical subscriptions, Chewy’s Connect With a Vet feature allows you to video chat or instant message a vet in a matter of minutes. Live chat is free, while video calls cost $20 per 15-minute call. They can offer food and nutrition advice; skin treatments; answers to questions regarding behaviors; and new pet advice.
3. Vetster: Offering on-demand vet care, Vetster lets you book an appointment for your pet at any time. Practitioners can recommend OTC products, prescribe medications and give dietary recommendations. First, you’ll register your pet, list your concerns, and pick a time that works for you. Medical appointments start at $50, but appointment prices vary if you choose to communicate via text, video or phone call.
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Rob Lowe says the Brat Pack may be ready to reunite yet again with a sequel to St. Elmo’s Fire.
“The script has to come in and we all have to like it but everybody wants to do it,” Lowe, 60, confirmed on the Wednesday, March 12, episode of his “Literally with Rob Lowe” podcast. “Everybody’s on board.”
The original movie, released in 1985, centered on a group of recent Georgetown graduates navigating adulthood in their early 20s. The name comes from the fictional St. Elmo’s Bar, their normal college hangout.
The topic of a sequel arose when Lowe was telling guest Adam Scott about how he was on the set of Back to the Future at the same time he was shooting St. Elmo’s Fire.
“We were shooting St. Elmo’s, which by the way, we’re doing a sequel to,” he said.
ST. ELMO’S FIRE, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Mare Winningham, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, 1985.Cover Images
“Are you really? Did Brats help?” an excited Scott replied, referring to the 2024 Andrew McCarthy documentary about the group of young actors dubbed the Brat Pack.
McCarthy, 62, was a member himself and appeared in St. Elmo’s Fire alongside Lowe and fellow Brat Packers Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy.
“Brats helped it and it was just, like, yes we are doing it,” Lowe continued. ‘The script is being written.”
Though Scott was barely a teenager at the height of the Brat Pack, Lowe suggested his Parks and Recreation costar could make a cameo in the sequel.
“I would do anything. I could be a waiter at the restaurant,” Scott suggested.
“You should be the waiter who’s really just milking it. Like, you should have moved on but you kind of like hanging out,” Lowe replied.
This wasn’t the first time Lowe has talked about a St. Elmo’s Fire sequel. The project was first announced in June 2024, but he confirmed during a February appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that it was in development.
“We’re putting together St. Elmo’s Fire 2. So we’re back working together…We’re gonna see what those people are doing at our ages now. This is a real thing,” Lowe said at the time. “I know. It’s great. It sounds like it could be a bit, but [you’d] also go, ‘Wait a minute, I’d see that.’ When we did the original, we were on the cover of Rolling Stone. Now we’ll be on the cover of AARP, but it’s still gonna be great.”
We’re a little more than a week away from the official start of spring, and we know we’re not the only ones excited about the change of season. So many of our favorite retailers are marking down fashion essentials ahead of the equinox — including Saks Fifth Avenue, which is offering deals on tons of designer jeans.
From now until March 16, the luxury retailer is giving shoppers an additional 20% off denim, both online and in-store. That means you can save big on brands like Joe’s Jeans and 7 for All Mankind, giving your closet that much-needed update. You’ll also be able to earn even more discounts by using the code SPRINGCSF at checkout.
It’s time to get your wardrobe ready for all of the fun this spring is guaranteed to bring. Check out these impressive deals now!
Our Absolute Favorite: What’s spring style without a little fun? The Hudson Rosie High-Rise Jeans come in a railroad stripe style that will add a playful pop to your look — was $198, now just $98!
Our Absolute Favorite: Stretchy denim gives us that comfy, snug fit we crave, and Joe’s Jeans’ Mia Cropped Flare Jeans check all the boxes. Best of all? They look so polished and classy you’ll want to wear them all spring long — was $198, now just $99!
Our Absolute Favorite: Are you expecting a bundle of joy and need stretchy denim to accommodate your blossoming bump? Joe’s Jeans Lara Cropped Jeans are an all-around winner. Not only do they have stretchy side panels, but they’re made with stretchy denim that fits comfortably as you grow — was $198, now just $79!
While recording her Thursday, March 13, podcast, “Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce,” the host had to briefly pause her show because of her fourth baby girl.
Kylie Kelce is currently nine-months pregnant with her fourth child and is due to give birth any day now.
And just before her “Not Gonna Lie” segment, Kelce, 32, exchanged some words with her unborn child on camera.
Kelce and her fanbase are currently in the process of deciding what her fanbase’s name should be.
During the March 6 episode of her podcast, while talking with actress Kate Hudson, Kylie said she was inspired by one of Hudson’s most iconic characters.
“I got to start with a ‘Not Gonna Lie,’ ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ is one of my favorite movies of all time, but absolutely my favorite rom-com,” Kylie told Hudson.
“We’ve even considered Andie as a name for our fourth girl. Our first is Wyatt, our second is Elliotte, our third is Bennett and we were like, ‘Andie would fit in there and it would be so cool,’” Kylie continued.
Before Ariana Madix even heard late last year that Vanderpump Rules season 12 would feature a rebooted cast, she was ready to walk away from the franchise.
“I don’t think I was ever going to go back to Vanderpump Rules. That’s the first time I’ve ever said that publicly, but I was never going to,” Ariana, 39, told People in an interview published on Thursday, March 13. “It just didn’t feel right. Not in any sort of rude way, not in a professional, ‘We don’t need this,’ not in a ‘I’m too good for this’ [way,] but it just didn’t feel right.”
She continued, “If I did go back, I wouldn’t have been able to do the job that would make a good show. And so it just wasn’t going to make sense, the story didn’t make sense.”
Ariana further cited her mental health as one of the reasons she decided to walk away after season 11, which aired in 2024.
“I was never really made for reality TV. I don’t think I’ve ever been what makes ‘a good reality star,’” she told the outlet. “I think in some ways that’s what has made me a good reality star. But that being said, I think that a lot of times I got in my head.”
James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Katie Maloney, and Ariana Madix.Griffen Nagel/Bravo
Ariana added, “I’ve also learned that maybe that’s not the best setting for me, and it’s not a setting that really allows me to be myself. And when you’re not being yourself, you get yourself into situations where you’re saying or doing things that you don’t really back or believe in.”
News broke in November 2024 that the next season of VPR would feature an all-new class of “close-knit SUR-vers” at Lisa Vanderpump’s Hollywood eatery. Per a press release from Bravo, the cast is “as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors.”
In addition to Ariana, last season’s cast included Lala Kent, James Kennedy, Scheana Shay, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval. (Ariana and Sandoval, 42, split during season 10 after he infamously had an affair with show alum Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.)
While Bravo has not revealed a premiere date or the casting lineup, Vanderpump, 64, is certain that the newbies will deliver plenty of drama.
Katie Maloney, Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Lisa Vanderpump, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, Tom Schwartz, and Scheana Shay.Gizelle Hernandez/Bravo
“When you have a restaurant, especially in Hollywood, with a revolving door of beautiful people who are all kind of normally rather large personalities because they come to Hollywood for a reason, it’s always complicated,” Vanderpump exclusively told Us Weeklylast month. “I am sure it’s gonna be very different with these young little minxes when they get to work, but we shall see.”
She added, “I got some very interesting characters for sure, but SUR has been around a long time, and as I say, it’s a show we could have shot 12 months of the year.”
The Bachelorette producers were allegedly deciding on the next lead before the show’s break, according to former Bachelor star Nick Viall.
“I know one of the people they were seriously looking at [and] it would have been awesome,” Viall, 44, claimed on the Thursday, March 13, episode of his “The Viall Files” podcast. “We’re not going to tell you … but it would have been awesome. It would have been amazing.”
According to Viall, the potential lead was “from an older season” of The Bachelor.
“When I found out, I was really disappointed they decided not to move forward with it,” he said.
Even if The Bachelorette would continue later in 2025, a leading lady has not been formally revealed. That hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from speculating about a potential decision.
“I was shocked because I heard they picked the lead,” former Bachelorette Rachel Recchia alleged on the “Almost Famous” podcast in February. “I heard the lead was decided and it made sense to me who they picked. Again, rumors. I saw this on Instagram. Normally, I feel like we hear stuff on the inside. I didn’t hear anything [about the pause].”
According to the 29-year-old Bachelor Nation alum, the show picked a lead “two months ago.”
“They knew who it was going to be. … I heard a name,” Recchia added. “I heard from someone who usually knows, normally it’s a good source, but I don’t know.”
Speculation has also swirled that Maria Georgas, a fan-favorite from Joey Graziadei’s season 28, had been tapped to take over the mantle. Viall, meanwhile, denied on Thursday that the woman in consideration was Georgas, 30.
Georgas previously claimed that she turned down the role of Bachelorette before Jenn Tran headlined the latest season.
“I was offered the role. It was mine until I said it wasn’t,” Georgas claimed on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in May 2024. “It became very overwhelming to the point where I had to decline. It was set in stone. I was in it. When everyone around me was so supportive of me being in this position and everyone wanted this for me, I took a second. I’m like, ‘Why am I not happy? Why am I not excited about this?’”
She has not publicly addressed the speculation about joining the franchise again.
Julia Stiles revealed she felt “slimy” about one memorable scene in her and Freddie Prinze Jr‘s romantic-comedy Down to You.
“Harvey Weinstein got his hands on [the movie] and decided to capitalize on [a] trend and it just became dumb,” Stiles, 43, revealed during the Tuesday, March 11, episode of the “Films To Be Buried With” podcast.
Stiles and Prinze, 49, starred in the 2000 blockbuster as a young couple falling in love while attending college in New York City. Down to You‘s production was notoriously contentious as now-disgraced producer Weinstein took control away from writer-director Kris Isacsson during post-production.
Weinstein allegedly ordered significant reshoots to make Down to You more like Prinze’s 1999 hit comedy She’s All That, including inserting a scene where Stiles’ character, Imogen, dances on a pool table to Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together” to woo Prinze’s uptight wallflower, Al.
In her podcast interview, Stiles told host Brett Goldstein that Weinstein started “pouring money” into the post-production of Down to You in “stupid ways.”
“We went and did reshoots, and I’m told that he decided that because of … the success of 10 Things I Hate About You with me dancing on the pool table, [so] he, like, needed to have me dancing in [Down to You],” she remembered. “I would make a whole movie dancing. I love to dance, but it was dumb. It was like, ‘OK, let’s get her on a pool table’ … It wasn’t even imaginative and I felt so slimy doing it the whole time.”
Julia Stiles in ‘Down To You’Miramax Films/YouTube
Stiles felt that the gratuitous dance sequence was “so cheap” especially because it wasn’t “adding to the story” in any meaningful way.
“It’s not a creative [decision], it’s not a creative reason. There’s no creativity behind it,” she complained.
Weinstein’s meddling didn’t end up helping Down to You as the film was widely panned by critics and underperformed at the box office at a time when Stiles and Prinze were both reliable money-makers for Hollywood.
Podcaster Chris O’Falt, who worked on Down to You, wrote in a 2017 IndieWire feature that the film’s original script was an “an edgy, unorthodox look at a group of friends struggling with post-college life” before Weinstein gutted the plot.
“[There were] a series of test screenings, re-edits, and expensive last minute reshoots, to say nothing of [Weinstein’s] demeaning verbal assaults on a promising young filmmaker,” O’Falt recalled. “Heaven and earth were moved, and souls were crushed, because Weinstein knew how to react, not steer. As the film’s financier, it was Weinstein’s prerogative to Frankenstein Down to You as he saw fit. However, the result was a slightly-schizophrenic, over-budget film.”
Julia Stiles attends SNL50Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Down to You did provide an early platform for several young stars, including Selma Blair playing a college dropout-turned-amateur porn star, Ashton Kutcher as a wannabe psychedelic rocker and Rosario Dawson as Stiles’ on-screen best friend.
Stiles has spoken often about the perils of achieving fame at such a young age. In December 2024, the Save the Last Dance actress exclusively told Us Weekly about how she navigates her celebrity status these days.
“[Fame] can be a little scary, don’t get me wrong, but I try to focus on the positive aspects of it,” she acknowledged.
Stiles made her feature directorial debut earlier this year with Wish You Were Here, which was adapted from author Renée Carlino‘s 2017 bestselling novel of the same name. The romantic drama is a love story between a terminally ill man (Mena Massoud) and a young woman (Isabelle Fuhrman) he meets on a whim.
