“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” a rep for the actress told Us Weekly in a statement. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Trachtenberg is survived by parents Michael and Lana, as well as her sister, Irene, and her boyfriend, talent agent Jay Cohen.
Trachtenberg had risen to fame in 1996’s Harriet the Spy, a decade before landing the role of Georgina Sparks on The CW’s Gossip Girl. (She also was known for her roles in Ice Princess, 17 Again and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)
“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg,” Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, wrote via Instagram shortly after her passing. “Sending prayers.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know so far about Trachtenberg’s death:
When Did Michelle Trachtenberg Die?
Us confirmed on February 26, 2025, that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment that morning by her mother.
Has a Cause of Death Been Revealed?
L. Cohen/WireImage for Intuition
An official cause of death has not been confirmed, with a police source telling Us that it’s “not yet apparent.”
Several hours after Lana discovered Trachtenberg’s body, another insider revealed that a medical examiner left the premises. Nothing was loaded into the vehicle, which drove off followed by a car belonging to two police officers.
“On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at approximately 0801 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an aided individual at 1 Columbus Place, within the confines of the Midtown North Precinct,'” local law enforcement officers told the Daily Mail in a statement. “Upon arrival, officers observed a 39-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the victim deceased. Criminality is not suspected. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.”
Multiple sources also confirmed to Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant ahead of her death. It is not known whether the organ transplant contributed to her passing.
What Were Michelle Trachtenberg’s Final Months Like?
Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
“Michelle always seemed happy, I never noticed anything off about her at all,” Rafael Williams, who lived above Trachtenberg, exclusively told Us. “I didn’t know her personally, but she always made a point to say ‘Hi’ in the elevator. It’s shocking to me because she didn’t seem to have a problem in the world. I just hope her family is OK.”
Neighbor Ariana Rodriguez also reflected on her own relationship with Trachtenberg.
“She wasn’t loud and smiled at everyone in the hallways,” Rodriguez recalled. “I saw her with her boyfriend a few times and they were always walking either hand-in-hand or with his arm around her. I’m so sad that I won’t be seeing her anymore in the building. She always said ‘Hi’ to me.”
“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!!” Thompson, 46, wrote via Instagram shortly after news of Trachtenberg’s death at age 39 broke Wednesday, February 26. “She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!! .”
Thompson’s post featured a clip of the pair from the 1999 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. Trachtenberg served as a commentator during a “mega mini golf” competition between Thompson and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. Thompson also shared a more recent snap of himself and the actress taken at an event.
Several celebrities offered their condolences in the post’s comments. “Ohhh nooooooo RIP to her my condolences to her family,” Thompson’s former Saturday Night Live castmate Jay Pharoah commented, while Vanessa Bayer left three heart emojis underneath the post.
Thompson and Trachtenberg both got their Hollywood starts on Nickelodeon. Thompson famously starred on the sketch comedy series All That from 1994 to 2002 before getting his own series, Kenan & Kel, with Kel Mitchell. He and Mitchell, 46, also starred in the 1997 Nickelodeon original movie Good Burger, which got a 2023 sequel on Paramount+.
Trachtenberg, for her part, appeared in shows such as Clarissa Explains It All and The Adventures of Pete & Pete before booking her breakout film role in the 1996 Nickelodeon movie Harriet the Spy. She also made an appearance on a 1998 episode of the Nickelodeon children’s series Blue’s Clues.
Michelle Trachtenberg in ‘Gossip Girl.’Cara Howe/HBO Max
Trachtenberg’s other Nickelodeon credits include a 1996 episode of the series Space Cases and appearing as herself on several episodes of the game show Figure It Out.
On Wednesday, police sources confirmed to Us Weekly that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment. Though her cause of death is “not yet apparent,” officials do not believe the circumstances surrounding her death to be suspicious. Sources also told Us that Trachtenberg had a liver transplant shortly before her death. She was reportedly found in her apartment by her mother, Lana.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” her rep said in a statement to Us on Wednesday. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Trachtenberg followed up her time on Nickelodeon with roles in many memorable projects, including Inspector Gadget, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Ice Princess, 17 Again, Mercy and Gossip Girl.
Thompson is one of several celebrities to pay tribute to Trachtenberg. Her Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell (who also hosted the 1999 Kids’ Choice Awards) called her death “heartbreaking” in a Wednesday statement to Us, adding, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick wrote that he was “so sad” about Trachtenberg’s death in a Wednesday Instagram Story post, while Kim Cattrallshared a photo of herself and Trachtenberg from the movie Ice Princessvia Instagram. “Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” she captioned the snap.
Drake has postponed his remaining Australia and New Zealand tour dates due to “a scheduling conflict.”
“We are actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows,” Drake’s rep said in a statement to Rolling Stone AU/NZ. “All tickets for the affected shows will remain valid for the new dates. Refunds will be available for those who prefer, but please note that as these shows are sold out, any refunded tickets will be released for sale.”
The statement continued, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Drake and the entire team have had an incredible time doing these shows and are excited to return soon. We look forward to sharing the rescheduled dates with you as soon as possible.”
Drake’s Anita Max Win Tour kicked off earlier this month in Perth, Australia, and was slated to have 16 shows across the country and in New Zealand. The concert was scheduled to have shows on Tuesday, March 4, in Brisbane and on Friday, March 7, in Sydney as well as on Saturday, March 15, and Sunday, March 16, at Auckland’s Spark Arena.
The tour collided with the release of Drake’s latest album, Some Sexy Songs 4 U, a collaboration with PartyNextDoor. The album, which was released on February 14, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
Drake, 38, has continued to make headlines for his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, which came to a head during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. In the performance, Lamar, 37, performed his diss track “Not Like Us” — which allegedly accused Drake of pedophilia in lines like, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young” and “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.” Drake denied the pedophilia accusations in “The Heart Part 6.”
Before the Super Bowl, reports suggested that Drake sent Lamar a cease-and-desist to stop him from performing “Not Like Us” on football’s biggest night. A rep for Drake, however, denied it, telling Us Weekly in October 2024, “The rumors are completely false.”
One month later, Drake filed a legal complaint claiming that Lamar (and his own) record label, Universal Music Group, conspired with Spotify to artificially inflate the popularity of “Not Like Us.” UMG and Spotify denied the accusations.
While Drake withdrew the complaint, he filed a federal lawsuit against UMG in January and accused the label of defamation and harassment. UMG continued to deny the allegations.
After the halftime show, Drake has seemingly moved on from his beef with Lamar. In the song “Brian Steel,” Drake joked that he’s “vegan now” after an earlier line asked for “all the beef on the side.”
“Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” Cattrall, 68, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, February 26, alongside a photo of her and Trachtenberg from their film Ice Princess.
Ice Princess was one of Trachtenberg’s most notable roles alongside Harriet the Spy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl and more. Trachtenberg starred in the 2005 figure skating movie alongside Cattrall, Hayden Panettiere and Joan Cusack.
Trachtenberg played science whiz Casey Carlyle who decides to combine her knowledge of physics and her childhood hobby of ice skating for a project that could earn her a scholarship for Harvard. As Casey improves her skating abilities, she captures the attention of Tina Harwood (Cattrall) who is a former skater turned coach.
On Wednesday, Us Weekly confirmed that Trachtenberg died. Police sources told Us that the actress was found unconscious inside her apartment in New York City. According to the authorities, Trachtenberg’s cause of death is “not yet apparent” and not believed to be suspicious. ABC News later reported that Trachtenberg’s mother discovered the actress’ body.
After Trachtenberg’s passing made headlines, her rep confirmed the news.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the rep told Us in a statement. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Michelle Trachtenberg and Kim Cattrall in “ICE PRINCESS.”Walt Disney/courtesy Everett Collection
While no details have been confirmed about Trachtenberg’s death, multiple sources told Us that she underwent a liver transplant.
Cattrall wasn’t the only one of Trachtenberg’s former costars and colleagues to honor her legacy. Rosie O’Donnell, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in her film debut, paid her respects to her late Harriet the Spy costar.
“Heartbreaking. I loved her very much,” O’Donnell said of Trachtenberg in a statement to Us. “She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
O’Donnell was seemingly referring to the fan speculation that Trachtenberg was not doing well last year. In January 2024, Trachtenberg shared a snap of her and friend Alexa PenaVega on social media. Some fans raised their concerns for Trachtenberg’s wellbeing in the comments section. One user claimed that Trachtenberg looked sick, which she clapped back at.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg responded in a January 2024 post. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
Trachtenberg later posted a selfie and further addressed the comments about how she looked.
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” she wrote at the time. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Gary was introduced to Bravo viewers when he joined the hit spinoff series in 2021. After leaving a lasting impression with his messy personal life, Gary was brought back for multiple seasons as he continued to make headlines.
The first officer found himself in hot water when he was accused in 2023 of alleged inappropriate behavior. Below Deck production member Samantha Suarez claimed Gary made unwanted advances while filming season 4, which Bravo allegedly helped cover up.
Samantha reported an incident in summer 2022 after Gary allegedly tried to force her to stay in his hotel room. She said she was surprised when Gary wasn’t fired by the network while speaking to Rolling Stone for a 2023 exposé that featured claims from former employees who asked to remain anonymous.
“It was insane. There were multiple incidents of sexual harassment in front of multiple producers after this person had been given verbal warnings multiple times,” one of the accusers alleged at the time. “I had to promote and make this guy who just assaulted someone look awesome. That was my job, to make this person look cool, capable and exciting.”
Bravo and Below Deck’s production company, 51 Minds Entertainment, both issued statements addressing the investigations that took place after Samantha’s complaint.
“Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows. We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns. The concerns Ms. Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time and action was taken based on the findings,” the statement from the network read.
Gary denied the claims, writing via Instagram in since-deleted comments, “It’s so weird, it’s also so far from the truth. She always wanted a platform and unfortunately I’m the unlucky target.”
Gary claimed Samantha was not being honest about their interactions behind the scenes, adding, “I’m not going to let some lying girl get to me… read that article fully, multiple times, and this happened to her on multiple seasons … seems odd.”
He continued: “Please tell me who I’ve harassed from bd … if I did I’m sure they would have said something and not some random person. Please can you tell me where I have sexually harassed multiple women … you’re watching the wrong show pal.”
The reality star returned to film one more season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht before he — and the network — were sued for the alleged incident. Keep scrolling for a breakdown of Gary’s most controversial moments:
The Original Love Triangle
Alli Dore, Gary King and Sydney Zaruba.Bravo (3)
After joining season 2, Gary was called out by Alli Dore and Sydney Zaruba for not admitting that he had a girlfriend while trying to hook up with both of them at various times throughout filming. Gary, however, clarified that he was in “a very complicated relationship” at the time.
“I hadn’t seen her for eight months prior to me coming on the show. Not seeing someone for eight months and growing apart in those months … do we put a label on that? No,” he explained during the reunion special, which aired in June 2021.
Season 3 was even more challenging when Gary’s flirty relationship with Ashley Marti took a turn. Viewers grew concerned when the stew briefly had sex with Gary while he was too drunk after a crew night out.
Gary thanked fans who were “looking out” for him, saying on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in June 2022, “I didn’t think much of it then, and right now, I don’t think much of it too. I just think that people on social media blew it up bigger than what it actually was.”
Gary said he didn’t consider the experience an “assault” because he showed interest in Ashley in the past. “Yeah I could see how they saw that, but in the first place, I did hook up with Ashley prior to that happening. I just wish I wasn’t that drunk,” he added. “I think it boils down to hooking up with Ashley was a mistake in the first place and it shouldn’t have happened from the get-go, really.”
He concluded: “No, I don’t [feel assaulted]. I don’t, and I appreciate everyone standing up for me, but I’ve got a voice of my own and I could use it if I felt I was assaulted.”
At Odds With Colin and Daisy After More Personal Drama
Gary King, Colin Macrae and Daisy Kelliher.Courtesy of Gary King/Instagram; Bravo (2)
Gary’s connection with Daisy Kelliher was called into question over the years as viewers wondered whether they would ever officially give their relationship a try. The situation got messier when Colin MacRae showed interest in Daisy when they were filming season 4.
As Daisy and Colin grew closer, Gary chose to reveal on screen that he and Daisy secretly hooked up in the past. Daisy and Colin’s romance ultimately fizzled out by the time they filmed the reunion, where Gary and Colin said they weren’t ruling out a reconciliation with each other but hinted that their respective relationships with Daisy were up in the air.
“Contrary to what many of you may believe, I am still friends with Colin and Daisy. Last season of #belowdecksailing was not my best, having watched some episodes I know that I have a lot of work and growing to do and will do everything to be a better person,” he wrote via Instagram in July 2023. “To all those people that constantly comment negatively and try bring me down, sticks and stones! You will not bring me down. For all the people who support me and message nice things, thank you appreciate it all #notmybest #stillfriends #itsarealityshow #lovetothefans #hatetothehaters #belowdeck #bravotv #itsatvshow.”
Three months after the season 4 reunion aired, a production assistant from the show accused Gary of making unwanted advances in a Rolling Stone exposé. According to Samantha, she was asked to look after Gary after he allegedly got drunk. Once filming wrapped, she remained with Gary in his hotel room before he tried to stop her from leaving him. Gary allegedly pressed himself against Samantha as she turned toward the door and refused to let her leave until she started to fight back.
Samantha went on to claim that she alerted producers about the incident, which resulted in Gary getting told to sleep on the boat on days when the crew wasn’t filming as a way to keep him out of the hotel.
Gary maintained his innocence after news broke about the claim. “I know [that I did nothing wrong], and I know the truth but it still hurts when people will tell lies to bring you down,” he replied to a fan via Instagram one month later.
The Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 5 Fallout
Courtesy of Gary King/Instagram
In the aftermath of the scandal, Gary didn’t appear at BravoCon in November 2023 despite initially being announced as a guest. The fifth season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht aired later than usual but still featured Gary, who filmed the show after the allegations were already made off screen. Gary didn’t address the drama during the season and was included in all of the promotional material for the show.
“Sad to see this has all been edited out of tonight’s episode. Scary how one person’s lies can ruin someone’s career and livelihood,” he wrote via Instagram in October 2023. “Oh well my head is held I’m high as I know the truth. Karma will get ya, anyways.”
Gary speculated that his scenes will continue to be removed, adding, “Seeing as most of me will probably be edited out of this season I will try post as much as possible to show you all what you’re missing out on .”
Sued for Sexual Misconduct
Samantha and camera operator Grey Duddleston filed a lawsuit in February 2025 with the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles for allegedly covering up Gary’s sexual misconduct. Their complaint listed 16 causes of action for which they were seeking damages, including sexual battery, assault, hostile work environment harassment and negligent hiring/retention/supervision.
Bravo and Gary did not release a new statement about the lawsuit.
Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her roles on Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at age 39. Police sources confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 26, that Trachtenberg was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment. A cause of death was not immediately apparent, but authorities believe the incident was not suspicious. A rep for Trachtenberg later confirmed her death in a statement to Us, noting that “there are no further details at this time” and requesting privacy on behalf of the actress’ family. Tributes began to pour in from fellow Hollywood stars shortly after news broke of Trachtenberg’s death, with Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick writing via social media that he was “sending prayers.” Rosie O’Donnell, who appeared alongside Trachtenberg in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy, called the news “heartbreaking” in a statement shared with Us, adding, “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.” For more breaking news and exclusive updates, read below:
The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger was officially sentenced to a year in jail after being found guilty in her 2024 DUI case.
In an exclusive cover story, Today’s Savannah Guthrie reflected on the show’s legacy, her experience as a mom and former coanchor Hoda Kotb’s next chapter.
Nearly three decades after her affair with Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky detailed the “painful” aftermath of the scandal in a new podcast interview.
Prince Harry exclusively opened up to Us about how he’s “evolved” in the 11 years since his first Invictus Games, saying, “I wouldn’t change any of it.”
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“I had the benefit of being able to watch Matthew my whole life before that movie started,” Efron recalled in a December 2023 interview with Variety. “It’s not like we hammered home how to do the jokes or the character. I had to make it true to myself and be able to make it happen. But there’s those things that Matthew Perry just invented. The way he kind of just brought humor to camera, they’re like ingrained in me. I think they’re a huge part of why I’m here, is comedic timing from Matthew Perry for years and years and years.”
He added, “I could kind of go through a scene in my mind and be like, ‘Oh, he’d definitely do this, oh, he’d definitely do that.’ That was really all it took — that, and putting yourself in your dad’s shoes, which was really crazy.”
In 17 Again, Mike O’Donnell (Perry) is on the precipice of divorce when he gets the chance to relive his high school glory days. After a magical occurrence, Mike is suddenly younger (played by Efron) as he goes back to high school — this time alongside his own children.
Before playing the teen version of Mike, Efron got his big break playing Troy Bolton in Disney Channel’s High School Musical trilogy. His acting credits also include Hairspray, Charlie St. Cloud, The Greatest Showman, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and The Iron Claw. Efron also appeared alongside his younger brother, Dylan, in their joint Netflix docuseries Down to Earth, which premiered in 2020.
Efron has had a star-studded dating history, starting with his HSM costar Vanessa Hudgens. He was later linked to Lily Collins, Michelle Rodriguez, Sami Miró, Sarah Bro, Halston Sage and Vanessa Valladares.
Perry, the adult version of Mike, started acting on shows like Growing Pains and Beverly Hills, 90210 before getting his big break on NBC’s Friends as the sarcastic Chandler Bing. In addition to 10 seasons on Friends, Perry landed roles in films and TV series including Fools Rush In, The Whole Nine Yards, Studio 60, The Odd Couple and more.
Perry was romantically linked to Tricia Fisher, Julia Roberts, Gabrielle Allan, Jamie Tarses, Lizzy Caplan and Lauren Graham. In 2020, he proposed to Molly Hurwitz after four years of dating, but they eventually split.
Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54 from the effects of ketamine, drowning and coronary artery disease.
Mann starred as Scarlet, Mike’s estranged wife. Her credits also include The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This Is 40, The Other Woman, Blockers and The Bubble.
Mann has been married to filmmaker Judd Apatow since 1997 after they met on the set of The Cable Guy. Together, they share daughters Maude and Iris, who are also actresses.
Trachtenberg played Maggie, the daughter of Scarlet and Mike. She previously made her film debut in 1996’s Harriet the Spy and later acted in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, EuroTrip and Ice Princess. Trachtenberg also notably played Georgina Sparks on all six seasons of Gossip Girl, reprising the role on HBO Max’s 2022 reboot.
Trachtenberg dated the likes of Shawn Ashmore and Scott Sanford before finding love with talent agent Jay Cohen. Us Weekly broke the news in October 2020 that the actress had been dating the Gersh Agency partner for more than a year.
Us confirmed in February 2025 that she died at the age of 39.
Scarlet and Mike’s son, Alex, was brought to life by Knight. He’s best known for his roles on the Disney Channel, including 2009’s Sonny With a Chance and its So Random! spinoff, as well as 2010’s Starstruck. He later appeared as Zander on Melissa & Joey and as Cameron on In the Rough.
Knight dated fellow actress Ayla Kell in 2014, getting engaged four years later. They split in 2019.
Lennon appeared as Ned Gold, Mike’s childhood best friend whom he confided in amid the incident. His notable acting credits include How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, A Guy Thing, Taxi, Night at the Museum, We’re the Millers, Dog Days, Reno 911! and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He also costarred with Perry on the 2015 sitcom The Odd Couple.
Lennon and wife Jenny Robertson, who tied the knot in 2002, share a son named Oliver.
Hardin appeared as Principal Jane Masterson, the love interest for Lennon’s Ned. She has been acting since childhood, scoring roles on Police Story, Little House on the Prairie, The Love Boat and Diff’rent Strokes. She’s also appeared in The Hot Chick, Hannah Montana: The Movie, 27 Dresses, Transparent and A Million Things. Hardin is best known for her roles in The Office, Monk and The Bold Type.
Hardin married Gildart Jackson in 1997 before they welcomed daughters Rory and Piper.
Parrish appeared as Stan, who dates Trachtenberg’s Maggie but bullies Knight’s Alex. Since 17 Again, Parrish continued acting in The Other Black Girl, Ratched, This Is Us, Good Girls Revolt, Still Alice and The Good Wife.
He married longtime love Kathryn Wahl in 2015.
Graham landed the role of Jamie, one of Maggie’s classmates. After a childhood gig in 1998’s Parent Trap remake, Graham appeared as a backup dancer for pop singers such as Missy Elliott, Jamie Foxx, Christina Milian and more. In 2007, she landed her breakout role as Bonnie Bennett on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries.
The Honey 2 star has since starred in several romantic comedies for Netflix: The Holiday Calendar, Operation Christmas Drop and Love in the Villa.
Graham married Bryant Wood in 2023.
Loren played Nicole, the subject of Alex’s affections. She previously played Kaylie Cruz on ABC’s Make It or Break It before nabbing roles in The Mentalist, Online Daters and Hit the Floor. She now works as an attorney.
Loren married NFL alum Matt Leinart in 2018 before they went on to welcome three children. (She is also stepmother to Leinart’s son, Cole, from a previous relationship.)
Gaffigan played the school basketball coach in both timelines. The Grammy-nominated comedian has also appeared in Bob’s Burgers, Unfrosted, Peter Pan & Wendy, Linoleum and his eponymous The Jim Gaffigan Show.
Jim and his wife, Jeannie Gaffigan, got married in 2003. They share five children.
Teddi Mellencamp offered an update on her health as she recovers from surgery to remove multiple brain tumors.
“I am grateful for the incredible surgeons, doctors and nurses who made my surgery a success and my recovery process more comfortable,” Mellencamp shared via Instagram on Wednesday, February 26. “In full transparency, more tumors were removed than expected: 4 in total. This fight is not over, but that round has been won.”
She thanked family, friends and followers for “the outpouring” of support. “They’re definitely helping me stay strong,” she said of the messages.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 43, shared via Instagram on February 12 that she had been suffering from “severe and debilitating headaches” for weeks, and one day earlier, “the pain was unbearable and required hospitalization.”
After getting a CT scan and an MRI, Mellencamp explained that “doctors found multiple tumors on my brain, which they believe have been growing for at least six months.”
Mellencamp revealed that two of the tumors would be “surgically removed” that day, while the “remaining smaller tumors will be dealt with via radiation at a later date.”
Despite her circumstances, Mellencamp noted that she was in good spirits thanks to support from her loved ones.
Teddi MellencampElla Hovsepian/Getty Images
“I am blessed to be surrounded by my children, family, friends, doctors, nurses and surgeons who are doing everything possible to get me back into better health,” she concluded. “Thank you to everybody who has reached out and to everyone who has supported me along this journey.”
One day after the operation, Mellencamp’s estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, shared a message with fans via his Instagram Story. (Mellencamp announced her split from Arroyave, 47, in November 2024. The estranged couple are parents of Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 4; she is also the stepmother of Arroyave’s eldest daughter, Isabella.)
“So many people asking for updates. All I will say right now is surgery went well,” he wrote on February 13. “That said, I’ve never seen [Mellencamp] in so much pain. She’s finally getting some needed rest. I know she is so grateful for the outpouring of love.”
Prior to her brain surgery, Mellencamp revealed her stage II melanoma cancer diagnosis in October 2022. The following year, she underwent removals for additional melanomas before having a “wide excision melanoma” procedure.
In December 2024, Mellencamp celebrated some good news regarding her skin cancer journey.
“I just got done having a little cry, but it’s a good one. It’s the first time in over two years I’ve gone in for my three-month check and not had to have a biopsy because I have another cancerous spot,” she said in an Instagram video. “Both me and my doctor, we just looked at each other and we were like, ‘What?’ It was, oh my gosh, such a good feeling.”
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Project Runway fans have mourned the deaths of some of the franchise’s memorable stars over the years.
The competition show, which has aired on Bravo and Lifetime, follows aspiring fashion designers competing in various challenges for a chance to break into the industry. Winners have gone on to appear on Project Runway spinoffs and worked at various high-end fashion brands.
Season 1 contestant Wendy Pepper became a fan favorite and after placing third in the competition. She later appeared on the second season of Project Runway: All Starsbefore her death in 2017 at age 53.
Bravo executive Andy Cohen reacted to the news of Pepper’s passing, writing via X, “#RIP one of the first of many great characters to appear on #ProjectRunway. She was a big reason for the first season’s success.”
Years later, season 18 alum ShaVi Lewis, died at age 38 in February 2025. A cause of death was not immediately revealed.
Keep scrolling for the most heartbreaking Project Runway tragedies over the years:
After appearing on Project Runway and Project Runway: All Stars, Knight died in 2017 at the age of 39. Knight was treated for intestinal issues at a Georgia hospital before his death.
"We are still processing the untimely death of our son, brother, friend, and uncle. Mychael meant everything to us and we loved him dearly. He was generous and so full of life. This is how we choose to remember his legacy," his family said in a statement.
According to an obituary, Pepper died peacefully in 2017 and was surrounded by family — including her daughter Finley.
“She was an artist who proudly forged her own path in life,” the tribute read. "A finalist on season one of Project Runway, Wendy designed and hand-sewed exceptionally beautiful clothes for children and adults. She was a chef, a writer, and a life-long entrepreneur. Her wit and humor were unmatched, as was her generosity of spirit."
The Project Runway season 4 star struggled with health issues following a serious accident in 2017. He fell and hit his head at home, which knocked him unconscious and caused him to be placed in a medically induced coma for several weeks. March woke up to learn that he was paralyzed from the knees down in both legs, as well as his right arm. He was placed in a nursing facility, where he suffered a heart attack and died at age 56 in 2019.
The celebrity hair and makeup artist known for his work on Project Runway died from a heart attack at age 52 in 2020.
“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm makeup artist Scott Patric has passed,” read a statement. “He was found today in his bed after not responding to calls. His talent, creativity and warmth were limitless. He will be greatly missed.”
During season 10 of Project Runway, Kosuke decided to leave the show early after discovering that fellow contestant Andrea Katz had pulled out of the competition in the middle of the night.
Kosuke's friend confirmed in a 2020 Instagram post that he died after battling encephalopathy.
Five years after competing on season 18 of Project Runway, Lewis died at age 38 in February 2025.
“I don’t have the words. My heart aches. The world and this industry will be dim without your light in it,” fellow contestant Brittany Allen wrote via Instagram at the time. “Your love, your laughter, and your continuous support no matter where we were in life was everything. Season 18 forever and ever. Rest in power @shavilewis. Love, your Brit Brat.”
The de la Mottes family is still processing their 15 years as members of their conservative church.
“[It felt like we were] brainwashed members of a cult,” Amber de la Motte shared on TLC’s Big Family, Big City on Tuesday, February 25, adding that it took them a long time to “figure out.”
Amber’s husband, Marc de la Motte, noted that being members of the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church is “kind of like the frog in the kettle.”
“You know, you don’t realize the water is getting hot until you’re boiling,” he explained.
The de la Mottes family are the stars of Big Family, Big City, which aired as a special on TLC on Tuesday. The special followed Amber, Marc and their 11 kids as they moved from the San Diego suburbs to New York City.
Big Family, Big City also touched on their time in the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, which Amber shared was “old fashioned” and “untouched by worldly influences.”
TLC
“Women were supposed to be quiet and subservient in every way,” Amber said on the show, sharing that some of the rules included women wearing skirts below their knees and no rock music.
Marc went on to explain that the family’s move to New York was their attempt at “trying to find their own way” outside of the church and have “new experiences within reason.”
Although Amber and Marc chose to part ways with their church, they still adhere to some of the traditional rules, especially surrounding a woman’s role in the family.
In Tuesday’s episode, Amber discussed her desire for her daughters Pearl and Naomi to “have a husband … who’s interested in providing for you … [and a] family” when they’re older.
“You will find your fulfillment being a wife and a mother,” Amber explained. “There’s a lot of things you can do from home when you’re ready to start a family, that would help support what your husband’s doing.”
Amber’s daughter Pearl pushed back, noting that having a family doesn’t mean she can’t pursue her musical career.
“When I have a family, I don’t want to put aside my musical career for the sake of the kids,” she shared. “It does seem a little strange to me that at the first baby, she would want me to drop my musical career that she’s put every bit of her life into [and] had the family move cross country [for].”
In a confessional, Amber added that if one of her girls “decided to pursue a career and not have a family,” she would feel like she failed.
Michelle Trachtenberg was a beloved member of her New York City neighborhood in the months leading up to her death.
Us Weekly confirmed on Wednesday, February 26, that Trachtenberg was found dead inside her Midtown West Side apartment. She was 39 years old.
“Michelle always seemed happy, I never noticed anything off about her at all,” Rafael Williams, who lived above Trachtenberg, exclusively told Us. “I didn’t know her personally, but she always made a point to say ‘Hi’ in the elevator. It’s shocking to me because she didn’t seem to have a problem in the world.”
“Michelle was a great neighbor,” Rodriguez told Us. “She wasn’t loud, smiled at everyone in the hallways. I saw her with her boyfriend a few times and they were always walking either hand-in-hand or with his arm around her.”
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
Rodriguez said she noticed Trachtenberg had become “svelte” and said she looked “less and less like herself in the last few months.”
She added, “I’m so sad that I won’t be seeing her anymore in the building. She always said ‘Hi’ to me.”
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Tractenberg has passed away,” the statement read, which was obtained by Us. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
Trachtenberg — best known for her roles on TV shows Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl and the 1996 movie, Harriet the Spy — had a liver transplant before her death.
Tributes to the late actress began pouring in after news of her death was reported.
“Heartbreaking,” Trachtenberg’s Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell said in a statement to Us Weekly. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Trachtenberg’s former Gossip Girl costar Ed Westwickexpressed his condolences via his Instagram Story.
“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg,” Westwick, 37, wrote on Wednesday alongside a throwback photo of Trachtenberg from the series. “Sending prayers.”
While Karen Huger refers to herself as the “Grand Dame” of Potomac, she also has an affectionate nickname for her husband, businessman Ray Huger.
“When I first started dating Ray, I helped him organize his office and I ran across a memo where he had written a speech to introduce Bill Gates to a conference of, I think, 800 people,” Karen recalled to Bravo’s The Daily Dish in 2016. “I was just blown away that this man that I’m dating actually introduced Bill Gates at a conference. And I said, ‘You’re my little Black Bill Gates.'”
The nickname and the couple’s playful dynamic would be captured by Bravo cameras when The Real Housewives of Potomac premiered in 2016.
“I didn’t even see Raymond physically. I just felt him spiritually,” Karen recalled of meeting her husband for the first time in 1994. “He’s my best friend.”
For the past nine years, the couple has documented their life for reality TV. Most recently, however, Karen found herself in a legal situation after she was found guilty of DUI.
Before being sentenced, Karen — as well as Ray — testified in front of a judge and were the only people who did so on her behalf. A judge officially sentenced her to two years in jail with one year suspended, meaning she will be behind bars for one year.
Keep reading to learn more about Karen and Ray’s bond on and off camera:
1994
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Starz
Karen vividly remembers the first time she met Ray during the Black Caucus near Washington D.C.
“We were at a formal event, and he asked me to dance,” she recalled to Bravo’s The Daily Dish. “And he took me in his arms, and I swear to God, he was making this noise in my ear, but when he took me in his arms I knew. The way he held me, I knew that was gonna be my husband.”
1996
After nearly two days of dating, Karen and Ray officially became husband and wife after getting married in a private ceremony.
2021
Brian Stukes/Getty Images
In honor of the couple’s 25-year wedding anniversary, Karen and Ray — who are parents to Rayvin and Brandon — decided to renew their vows at Virginia’s Platinum Wedding Event and Decor.
“We’re on a different level now,” Karen told Bravo in April 2022. “We are at a totally different level after the vow renewal. … We’re still married. Our life, Lord Jesus, when does it stop? That’s what I’m wondering. And it’s funny. And it keeps us so closely bound to one another. He is my best friend. He’s my rock. And he is my inspiration too.”
2022
Courtesy of Karen Huger/Instagram
In an August 2022 episode of the “Daily Dish” podcast, Karen admitted that her relationship with Ray had some moments of marital strife in recent years, as seen on the show.
But through any ups and downs, Karen said the couple’s kids remained very supportive.
“They were so cool with us, and they said, ‘Look, you guys have been great parents, but what we don’t want is you to stay together because of us,” she said. “They were like, rooting for us, but they were like, ‘Look! I want you to be happy!’ That’s when you raise your children right. And they love you and respect you enough to say, ‘Look, don’t do it for me. Do it for you all. You guys deserve the best.’ I’m so lucky to have them as kids. They are so freaking cool.”
2025
Courtesy of Karen Huger/Instagram
When Karen was sentenced to one year in jail following a DUI charge, Ray remained supportive of his wife by testifying on her behalf and showing up to court alongside her.
“You know he truly loves you when he insist on taking you to your wellness appointment. ,” Karen wrote via Instagram in 2024 after her legal saga began. “#hubby #rideordie #friendsforlife #mammogram #rhop.”
Trachtenberg played villainous Georgina on Gossip Girl from 2008 to 2012, making her first appearance in the second half of season 1. She was the mysterious frenemy of Serena Van der Woodsen (Blake Lively), who was always down for revenge. Throughout her appearances over the years, Georgina claimed that her baby was Dan Humphry’s (Penn Badgley) child, and she nearly ruined Blair Waldorf’s (Leighton Meester) life when she released a tape of Blair professing her love for Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) when Blair was supposed to marry someone else.
Despite wreaking havoc on screen, Trachtenberg had friendships with many of her Gossip Girl costars before her untimely death in February 2025. Us Weekly confirmed that the actress was found dead in her New York City apartment at the age of 39. (The cause of death has not been released.)
Scroll down to take a look back at Trachtenberg’s history with the Gossip Girl universe and cast:
In on the Secret?
Throughout her time on Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg played coy about whether her character was the scribe behind the Upper East Side gossip blog. During the 100th episode of the show, which aired in 2012, Trachtenberg’s Georgina was supposedly revealed as Gossip Girl.
“I knew about the last scene in November, a few days before we were filming it,” Trachtenberg exclusively told Us at the time. (During the cliffhanger, Georgina ruined Blair Waldorf’s royal wedding by exposing her love for Chuck Bass in a taped video confession. She was then seen typing away at the Gossip Girl blog, which had been out of commission for several months.)
“I was very shocked with the cliffhanger,” she said. “I knew the 100th episode would end with a bang, but definitely didn’t expect that!”
Trachtenberg teased that her costars Meester, Lively, Badgley and Westwick were not privies to the information before it aired. “On the ‘big secret episodes,’ only the people involved in the last scene get the script pages,” she told Us. “I was the only one in the scene!”
It was later revealed that Georgina briefly stole power from the blogger, but fans learned in the series finale that it was run by Dan Humphrey.
Oscar-Worthy
Courtesy of Kelly Rutherford/Instagram
Trachtenberg’s bond with her costars was strong three years after the series ended. She joined Kelly Rutherford (who played Lily Van Der Woodsen), Jessica Szohr (who played Vanessa Abrams) and Chace Crawford (who played Nate Archibald) for a post-Oscars party in February 2015.
“So happy to see these beautiful people (inside and out) last night,” Rutherford captioned the Instagram post. “Chase, Michelle and Jessica #GG #PostOscars .”
Shutting Down Rumors
Trachtenberg shut down rumors in 2017 that lead actresses Lively and Meester were at odds during the show’s tenure. “It’s funny because when we were filming, there was, ‘Leighton hates Blake, Blake hates Leighton, everyone hates Blake, everyone hates Leighton, everyone hates Chace,’ and blah, blah, blah,’” Trachtenberg recalled to Vanity Fair. “It really wasn’t. We were all chill. It was cool.”
Hanging in the City
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
Crawford and Trachtenberg were all smiles during a February 2019 outing. “Oh how I adore this man #nightbefore party … spotted xoxo ,” Trachtenberg wrote via Instagram, giving a nod to their time on Gossip Girl.
Bachelorette Reunions
Courtesy of Michelle Trachtenberg/Instagram
While Trachtenberg and Meester’s characters were rivals on The CW series, outside the show, they were friends. The twosome proved that in March 2019 when they reunited at a mutual friend’s bachelorette party.
“Spotted. Ms. Waldorf and Ms. Sparks. In the ballroom. With secrets. I’ll never tell. Xoxo ,” Trachtenberg wrote via Instagram, sharing a photo of the pair dressed in costume.
She also shared a photo via her Instagram Story, showing off the ladies’ gloves for the occasion. “Ms. Peacock in the dining room with the knife,” she captioned the post, hinting that the event was a murder mystery party like Clue.
Singing Their Praises
Penn Badgley and Michelle Trachtenberg on the set of “Gossip Girl.”James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images
Trachtenberg gushed about her Gossip Girl family in February 2020, exclusively telling Us, “Leighton and I actually had dinner not too long ago, and she’s also a mother.” She revealed, “I think it’s just amazing what they’ve all accomplished.”
The actress confessed she hadn’t watched former costar Badgley’s hit TV show You, but she was aware there was a Georgina-centric meme about the Netflix series. “[It] says that I would be the one to take him down, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what this means,’” Trachtenberg said with a laugh. “And then my friends were like, ‘Well…’ I go to all of my friends for the content to understand what’s cool with the kids these days.”
‘Gossip Girl’ Comeback
Karolina Wojtasik/HBO Max
Trachtenberg reprised her role as Georgina Sparks during season 2 of the rebooted Gossip Girl on Max. During the December 2022 episode, Georgina held the modern-day Gossip Girl, Kate Keller, (Tavi Gevinson) hostage in Dan and Serena’s apartment.
Showrunner Joshua Safran revealed that it was always part of the plan to get Trachtenberg back on screen. “I always knew I wanted Michelle to come back, and Michelle and I stayed in touch over the years,” Safran told Popsugar in December 2022. “When season 1 was announced, she’s like, ‘OK, when am I coming?’ I was like, ‘OK, you’re coming, but I want the table to be fully set and loaded so you can pull the tablecloth out and destroy everything.’”
Safran continued, “We waited until season 2 so by the time she arrives, everybody is at the highest place for themselves to fall, and all she cares about is anarchy and destroying people she doesn’t even know. That’s a game to her, so the idea that she can destroy everybody is where we find her, and I think it’s a lot of fun to watch.”
Bonding With the Next Generation
“She’s an icon,” Zión Moreno, who played Luna La on the reboot, said of Trachtenberg’s Georgina in December 2022. “I loved her in the OG series, and it was an honor to get to work with her.”
Moreno told Popsugar, “She’s a hoot for sure, and there’s never a dull moment around her. It was a little nerve-racking because you want to make her proud, but she was just really, really nice and wonderful.”
Savannah Lee Smith, who played Monet de Haan, told the outlet she wanted more scenes with Trachtenberg. “I didn’t get to have as many scenes as I wished with her, but I had one good one where it was all of us together,” she recalled. “She’s just a really fun person to be around on set. It was a little intimidating, [but] I think we did OK.”
Staying Quiet on Blake Lively Drama
Trachtenberg posted a cryptic Instagram message in January 2025 amid Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle over alleged sexual misconduct on the set of It End With Us. “It takes a lot of strength to see through all the bulls—. And some dark sunglasses,” Trachtenberg captioned a photo of herself in dark sunglasses.
After seeing the post, a fan asked Trachtenberg to “release a statement on the Blake drama” and asked, “Idk if this is a direct statement?”
She then replied, “Gosh. I’m busy worrying about real world news and families who have no home anymore from the LA fires. But you do you.”
Trachtenberg’s comment referred to the wildfires that took over Los Angeles in January 2025 and left thousands displaced. Her remark also appeared to be a slight dig about the issues between Lively and Baldoni, who have filed lawsuits against each other for their alleged actions on their movie set. (The two are set to go to trial later this year.)
In Loving Memory
“So sad to hear of the passing of @michelletrachtenberg. Sending prayers,” Westwick wrote via his Instagram Story in February 2025, paying tribute to his former costar.
For the past 53 seasons, lucky Price Is Right audience members have been invited to “come on down” and take a spin on “The Big Wheel”, in hopes of winning a grand prize of their dreams. The modern version of Price Is Right is actually a descendant of one TV’s earliest hits of the same name, which ran from 1956 to 1965 on NBC and later ABC. Starting in 1972, host Bob Barker entertained generations of players with his one-liners before current host Drew Carey replaced him in 2017. The basic gameplay rules of The Price Is Right have largely stayed the same throughout the decades, aside from notable banned prizes and quirky restrictions that fans may not know about.
As the CBS game show celebrates its 10,000th episode milestone, keep scrolling to find out more about The Price Is Right‘s unexpected rules and infamous no-nos:
No Meat Policy
Former host Barker was a noted animal rights advocate who closed every episode of The Price Is Right by encouraging viewers to have their pets spayed or neutered.
The Price Is Right staff adopted Barker’s philosophy by banning all meat products as prizes as well as only using fake veggie props on grills for the showroom floor.
“[Barker] really walked the walk,” Carey told Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February 2025. “People don’t know, I was telling [a Jimmy Kimmel Live!] producer, before I was the host, The Price Is Right was a vegan show. Like, they had no meat products. They had no leather goods [as prizes].”
Following Barker’s retirement, Carey was eventually able to get The Price Is Right to ease up on its ban of plastic steaks, at least.
“Now, we have fake meat,” he boasted to host Jimmy Kimmel.
Carey also confirmed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February 2025 that he doesn’t have a hand in picking the contestants or the prizes – with one exception.
The comedian revealed that he always hated grandfather clocks as a prize option, despite the fact that they were very popular with players.
“There was one prize that bugged me the first season, we would give away a grandfather clock every show,” Carey recalled. “I never got it. Every time there would be a grandfather clock, I’d be there with my mic like, ‘Alright, well, I guess people like grandfather clocks, I’m just going to shut up.'”
After a few years as host, Carey finally complained: “One of the first things I wanted to do … when I finally was able to speak up, was to get rid of the grandfather clocks.”
The Price Is Right encourages people from all walks of life to apply for tickets, though there are certain restrictions. Active CBS employees are not allowed to compete on The Price Is Right because of potential conflicts of interests.
Current candidates for public office are also banned from playing The Price Is Right because of potential violations of ‘Equal Time’ media restrictions. This government-mandated rule requires TV channels and radio stations to provide equivalent access to competing political candidates.
Former Price Is Right contestants are allowed to compete on the show more than once, so long as there is a 10-year gap between appearances. Players are not eligible if they’ve competed on four or more other TV game shows within a 10-year period.
Dress Code
Courtesy Everett Collection
Fans often immediately notice the colorful and, at times, outrageous outfits worn by fans in the Price Is Right studio audience. The show’s producers encourage their audience members to wear brightly-colored and flashy clothing in order to make for a more exciting TV viewing experience.
A notice to prospective audience members states: “Colorful, bright, fun colors are encouraged. Please avoid wearing white colored clothing. If you are wearing something family related or in the spirit of Price Is Right, please make sure there are no corporate logos or suggestive phrases/pictures on any clothing of any kind on the front or back.”
As for what audience members should not wear, The Price Is Right asks for no “shorts or skirts above the knees.” No sandals or open-toed shoes are allowed either, as they may not provide adequate safety protection.
Longtime Price Is Right producer Stan Blits confirmed to The New York Post in 2013 that many aspiring contestants have tried to bribe their way onto the show.
“People bring me stuff all the time, but I can’t take anything. Not even a business card,” Blits told the newspaper.
Flattery doesn’t work either. “People will put my face on their T-shirts, but the show can’t be about me. There can’t be an awareness that I am here,” Blits added.
Don’t even think about it. If you’re lucky enough to land a ticket to The Price Is Right, there is a built-in restriction that prevents you from trying to sell your spot.
The official Price Is Rightticket listings warn: “Sale of this ticket is prohibited.”
While audience members won’t be able to profit from their ticket lottery draws, The Price Is Right does try to accommodate scheduling conflicts. If an audience member can’t make the date they’ve been assigned, they can easily reserve a ticket for a different episode.
Trading Prizes for Cash
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Nope, you can’t do that either. Contestants may not have a use for that pogo stick or archery set they’ve won, but the most they can do is decline to accept a prize. A common misconception is that players can trade in any prizes they’ve won for cash – this is definitely not the case.
Former Price Is Right winner Aurora De Lucia confirmed on her blog in 2013: “There is no cash value option. They make it super clear in all of the paperwork – you take exactly what you won, or you take nothing. (You don’t have to take every single thing you won – for instance, I could’ve accepted the car, but forfeited the camcorders. But, you can’t trade for a different car, or money, or anything like that.)”
Contestants have to declare any prizes they do accept as income on their federal tax forms and pay any relevant taxes.
Players are not allowed to publicly disclose what they’ve won on The Price Is Right until their episode airs on CBS. This policy was put into place to prevent spoilers from dampening viewers’ interest in the show.
Former contestant De Lucia told Mental Floss in 2013 that there’s “a little winners’ room where we sign all our paperwork.” These forms require players to keep quiet about anything they won until they get permission to share, or risk forfeiting all of their prize winnings.
The Price Is Right airs weekdays on CBS at 11 a.m. ET.
Following the success of 2023’s Barbie, another beloved childhood character is coming to life on the big screen.
A live-action movie based on the children’s series Barney & Friends is currently in the works. Announced in 2019, the project will be coproduced by Mattel Films, A24 and Daniel Kaluuya’s 59% Productions.
“Working with Daniel Kaluuya will enable us to take a completely new approach to Barney that will surprise audiences and subvert expectations,” Mattel Films’ Robbie Brenner said in an October 2019 press release. “The project will speak to the nostalgia of the brand in a way that will resonate with adults, while entertaining today’s kids.”
The iconic purple dinosaur first hit TV screens in 1988 on the direct-to-video series Barney & the Backyard Gang. The character became a household name with PBS’ Barney & Friends, which ran for 14 seasons from 1992 to 2010.
Scroll down for everything you need to know about the upcoming Barney movie:
Who Will Star in the ‘Barney’ Movie?
In February 2025, it was announced that Emmy winner Ayo Edebiri will write the screenplay for the film and was also in talks to star. Details about her potential character were not revealed. At the time, Variety reported that Kaluuya will not appear in the film despite his role as a producer.
What Is the Plot of the ‘Barney’ Movie?
Plot details about the upcoming film have not been revealed. However, Mattel Films vice president Kevin McKeon told The New Yorker in July 2023 that the film will be “surrealistic” — and not intended for children.
“We’re leaning into the millennial angst of the property rather than fine-tuning this for kids. It’s really a play for adults,” he explained. “Not that it’s R-rated, but it’ll focus on some of the trials and tribulations of being 30-something, growing up with Barney — just the level of disenchantment within the generation.”
McKeon added that the movie will have “A24-type” vibes, referring to the independent entertainment company that’s produced shows like Euphoriaand movies including Everything Everywhere All At Once, Midsommarand more.
What Has Daniel Kaluuya Said About the ‘Barney’ Movie?
Daniel Kaluuya at the premiere of “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse”Fati Sadou/ABACAPRESS.COM/Shutterstock
“My last number of films have been so aligned to kind of what I stand for as a man. But there are a whole lot of things that I do as a man. I love kids’ films,” the Get Out actor told The Hollywood Reporter in June 2022. “How did everyone get into films? Watching kids’ films. I don’t want to restrict myself to the limitations of what I’m perceived as.”
Bieber, 28, showed off her abs via Instagram ahead of her Fila x Hailey collab launch party on Tuesday, February 25. In the mirror selfie, she flexed her toned body while rocking a Fila hoodie featuring a fitted bodice, baggy sleeves and a cropped silhouette.
Hailey, who gave birth to son Jack Blues, whom she shares with husband Justin Bieber, just six months ago, teamed the top with a low-waisted black skirt. She added a touch of sparkle to her look with diamond stud earrings and a sparkly necklace. Hailey completed her ensemble with her signature pearly manicure.
The It Girl mixed the off-duty look with a full beat, including glowy eyeshadow, filled-in eyebrows, a soft contour and rosy cheeks. She topped off her look with a touch of highlighter on her high points, subtle winged eyeliner, mascara and pink lips.
Hailey announced her collab with Fila on Tuesday, sharing the collection will go live on March 6. The line will include everything from retro jumpers to A-line skirts, sweaters and more.
“FILA x HAILEY a collab 2 years in the making ,” she captioned a pic of herself modeling in a sweater featuring the brand’s name on her chest. For the photo shoot, she wore her colossal diamond ring which Justin, 30, gave her while renewing their vows. The ring, which is one carat bigger than her engagement rock, features an elongated oval diamond set on a gold band.
Michelle Trachtenberg’s mother, Lana, discovered the late actress’s body in her New York City apartment on Wednesday morning, February 26, according to ABC News.
Lana discovered her daughter unconscious at around 8 a.m. in the former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star’s Midtown West apartment. She was 39.
Michelle rose to fame as a child, appearing on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete beginning in 1994, and starring in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy. She went on to portray Dawn Summers, Sarah Michelle Gellar’s onscreen sister on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl.
Her death comes just over a year after she first drew concern over an Instagram photo she posted with friend Alexa PenaVega, in which fans said she looked sick.
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Michelle replied to a fan under a January 2024 post. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
Michelle Trachtenberg and her mother Lana Trachtenberg.L. Cohen/WireImage for InStyle Magazine/Getty Images
Michelle later posted a selfie where she further addressed the comments.
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance,” she wrote. “I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Michelle’s Harriet the Spy costar Rosie O’Donnell was one of the first to express her sadness over the news, calling it “heartbreaking” in a statement to Us Weekly.
“I loved her very much,” she said. “She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
Reflecting on her time filming the movie, Michelle told Uproxx in a 2016 interview that she bonded with O’Donnell the most.
“She was very caring, and so funny,” she said. “When we had to be serious for a scene we would, but we always went back to giggling and playing games when that scene was done. She was a very giving actor, even off camera.”
She added, “Any scene with Rosie was so special for me. She was amazing to work with, and we genuinely had a great time together. She respected me as an actress and I learned a lot from her.”
Before he became one of the best tight ends in NFL history, Travis Kelce was just a baby-faced graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
To celebrate the 2025 NFL Draft Combine, which kicks off Thursday, February 27, in Indianapolis, the Kansas City Chiefs shared a throwback photo via Instagram of Kelce, now 35, from his combine event in 2013. Kelce was 23 years old at the time, eager to impress NFL scouts before the draft.
“Grown up and glowed up! #NFLCombine,” the Chiefs captioned the post, which also shared side-by-side photos of Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, Drue Tranquill and more team members from their respective combines.
Coming off three seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats — Kelce was suspended from playing in the 2010 season after testing positive for marijuana — the Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, 63rd overall.
Before Kelce’s rookie year, the Chiefs hired Andy Reid as the team’s new head coach. Reid, 66, detailed Travis’ draft process during a May 2023 appearance on the “New Heights” podcast, which the football star cohosts with his older brother, Jason Kelce.
“I saw [Travis] play against Temple and my son kept telling me, ‘This tight end is unbelievable. [Jason] Kelce’s brother is incredible. He’s 265 pounds. He’s a beast,” Reid said. “Then I get him and he’s 240, but that’s OK.”
Reid, who has coached Kelce every season of his 12-year NFL career, recalled meeting his soon-to-be-superstar for the first time.
“Game’s over, they just destroyed Temple,” Reid said. “I come over to the locker room. He comes be-boppin’ out and just giving me the business like we’re long lost friends. Deep down I’m going, ‘If I get my hands on that son of a buck, I am going to rip his heart out.’”
Reid continued, “But I played along with it. Cocky, cocky. Dammit, he was cocky.’”
The coach explained he was confident in Travis’ “roots” after having drafted Jason in 2011 when Reid was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“The first five years, it was a war,” Reid said of coaching Travis. “The last five years have been unbelievable.”
“I know everybody wants to know whether or not I’m playing next year and right now I’m just kicking everything down the road,” Travis said on the February 12 episode of “New Heights,” days after the Chiefs’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. “I’m not making any crazy decisions but right now the biggest thing is just being there for my teammates and being there for my coaches, understanding that a lot that goes into this thing.”
He continued, “You know, I’ve been fortunate over the past five, six years — I’ve played more football than anybody. And it’s because the people that are in that building and the fact that we keep going to these AFC Championships and these Super Bowls, that means I’m playing an extra three games more than everybody else in the entire league. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your body and it’s a lot of time spent in the building focusing on your craft, focusing on the task at hand … and that process can be grueling. It can weigh on you.”
Tatum O’Neal won a supporting actress Oscar when she was just 10 years old, starring opposite her father, Ryan O’Neal in the 1973 film Paper Moon — and 50 years later, when Ryan died in December 2023, Tatum learned she had been cut out of his will.
She was devastated at the time, the former child star told Variety in a story published Wednesday, February 26, but now, her perspective has changed.
“Keep it, motherf—er,” Tatum, 61, told the outlet.
Tatum’s defiant stance comes while she still manages the aftermath of a stroke brought on by an accidental drug overdose in 2020 that put her in a six-week coma. She still walks with a cane and says she still struggles with words, people and memories. According to her son, Kevin McEnroe, it’s a major improvement from the immediate aftermath, when a doctor asked him if Tatum would want to live “essentially as a vegetable.”
Now, Kevin, 38, has his mom’s back. He called his late grandfather’s assets “blood money,” adding, “I think the best revenge is your own success.” (Tatum shares Kevin, as well as Sean, 37, and Emily, 33, with ex-husband John McEnroe.)
Tatum O’NealNino Muñoz for Variety
Tatum grew up with abusive parents She detailed her upbringing in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life, in which she accused Ryan and her mom, Joanna Moore, of physical and emotional abuse. She also accused her mom’s ex-boyfriend of trying to rape her and her dad’s drug dealer of sexually assaulting her.
She believes the revelations in her book are what ultimately cut her out of the will.
“The first book that I wrote was just a f—ing honest book,” she said. “And that’s what got him.”
Tatum O’Neal and Ryan O’Neal attend the American Women in Radio and Television 2010 Genii Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center on April 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Asked before his death about her allegations, Ryan took issue with his daughter airing the family’s “laundry.”
“She wrote a book — bitch!” he said in a 2009 story for Vanity Fair. “How dare she throw our laundry in the street for money!”
Tatum O’NealNino Muñoz for Variety
Despite her upbringing, as well as her own struggles with addiction, Kevin said his mom “is full of love — and I think that that’s something that she was born with.”
Asked how that happened, she credited Kevin.
“I gave birth to my oldest son,” she said. “He was the most joyful, the most loving. And then both of us got into drugs, and that really changed us. And look at him now and look at me now. It’s just beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.”
Tatum added that she attends meetings over Zoom as a way to sustain her sobriety. Kevin said he is rooting for his mom to achieve a full year without drugs or alcohol.
“I’m not sure she’s ever felt the kind of peace that comes with that,” he said.
Check on your people!!! 
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