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MrBeast said making his Amazon show 'Beast Games' was 'not a good' financial move: 'I lost tens of millions of dollars'

MrBeast looks on from a suite during an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 19, 2024 in Inglewood, California
MrBeast is one of YouTube's top creators.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

  • MrBeast has said that making his Amazon show "Beast Games" was "not a good financial decision."
  • The YouTuber — real name Jimmy Donaldson — made the comments in an appearance on the "Diary Of A CEO" podcast.
  • "I lost tens of millions of dollars on that show," Donaldson said.

MrBeast said he lost "tens of millions of dollars" making his Prime Video series "Beast Games" as he opened up about his finances during a recent appearance on Steven Bartlett's "Diary Of A CEO" podcast.

While "Beast Games," which was released in December, became one of Amazon's biggest series debuts of 2024, MrBeast said making it was "not a good financial decision."

"I lost a ton of money filming the show, so that came out of my pocket," the YouTuber — real name Jimmy Donaldson — said.

The 10-episode reality competition sees contestants compete for $5 million cash prizes. It drew more than 50 million viewers in its first 25 days and became Prime Video's most-watched unscripted series ever, Amazon said in January.

But that seemingly didn't stop Donaldson from suffering big losses.

"I lost tens of millions of dollars on that show. I'm an idiot," he told host Bartlett, explaining that just the sets on the first two episodes cost more than $29 million together.

Despite his heavy losses, Donaldson — who confirmed that the show cost more than $100 million to make in total — has no regrets.

"For me, it was about making season one as good as possible. I can't let the YouTube community down because creators don't have a good rep when it comes to doing stuff on streaming platforms," he said. "If I fail, it's over; no streaming platform is ever gonna touch a YouTuber ever again," he added.

Elsewhere in the interview, Donaldson touched on his own finances, telling Bartlett that he had "less than a million dollars" in his bank account.

"Are you a billionaire?" Bartlett asked the 26-year-old creator, who has more than 365 million subscribers on YouTube.

"On paper, yeah," Donaldson responded. "But I mean, in my actual bank account, I have less than a million dollars."

Donaldson added that while he pays himself a salary, he tries to give himself just enough to cover what he personally spends a month, preferring instead to reinvest his money back into his brand.

"Money is fuel to grow business," he said. "You find a business that you enjoy that's better for mother nature or Earth or people, and there you go you have a fulfilled life. That's my theory."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Plot details to remember before watching season 2 of the 'Yellowstone' prequel '1923'

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in "Yellowstone" prequel series "1923."
Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren in "Yellowstone" prequel series "1923."

Trae Patton/Paramount+

  • "Yellowstone" prequel series "1923" returns to screens for season two on February 23.
  • It's been around two years since audiences were first introduced to the earlier generation of Duttons.
  • If you don't have time to rewatch season one, here's a recap of what's happened so far.

After a roughly two-year wait, "1923" is finally set to return to screens.

Season two of the Paramount Network drama, which stars Hollywood legends Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, premieres on Sunday, February 23.

The series, created and written by Taylor Sheridan, is an origin story about an earlier generation of Duttons and their struggle to hold onto the land that makes up the "Yellowstone" ranch.

But as audiences who tuned into season one saw, there was more to "1923" than just the story of the Duttons.

In case you need a refresher on what happened, Business Insider has you covered. Here's a rundown of what went down in season one of "1923."

The Duttons' ownership of their Montana ranch was under threat.
Helen Mirren as Cara, Harrison Ford as Jacob and Darren Mann as Jack of the Paramount+ series "1923."
Helen Mirren as Cara, Harrison Ford as Jacob, and Darren Mann as Jack.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Much of season one of "1923" revolved around the Duttons' battle to keep hold of their land and cattle. After angering a group of local sheepmen led by Scottish sheepherder Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn), the family found themselves caught up in a range war.

By the end of the season, Banner had found a powerful ally in mining magnate Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton) who found another way to destroy the Duttons.

In the final moments of the season one finale, he showed up at the ranch with a signed document from the bank stating that the ranch's deed would revert to him if Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford) did not manage to pay his property taxes by the end of the year.

As viewers saw throughout season one, Jacob has no way to pay the ranch's debts, having been denied a loan to purchase more cattle or hay, and is against the idea of taking out a mortgage.

There were two major deaths in the Dutton family.
John Dutton Snr. (James Badge Dale).
John Dutton Snr. (James Badge Dale).

Paramount Network

Tragedy struck early on in season one when Jacob's nephew John (James Badge Dale) — who was originally introduced as a child in "1883" as the son of James and Margaret Dutton — was killed in a shootout with Banner and his men.

Beset by grief, his wife Emma (Marley Shelton) shot herself soon after, leaving behind their adult son Jack (Darren Mann) to help defend the ranch with Jacob and Cara (Helen Mirren).

The adventuring Spencer learned that he needed to return to the ranch.
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer and Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra in "1923."
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer and Julia Schlaepfer as Alexandra in "1923."

Paramount+

Before the series began, Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) left the family homestead in Montana to fight in World War I. When the war ended, he chose not to return and instead became a big game hunter in Africa.

He only learned of the peril at the ranch after his traveling companion Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer) encouraged him to read a stack of unopened letters sent by his aunt Cara.

Once he did, the pair wasted no time in starting their journey back to Montana. He and Alexandra left Kenya via a rickety tugboat that ended up capsizing before being rescued by a cruise liner that took them to Sicily.

Once there, they boarded an England-bound liner, with plans to board another ship to America once there, hoping to make it back to Montana in time to save the ranch.

Spencer's homecoming was delayed. 
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer of the Paramount+ series "1923."
Brandon Sklenar as Spencer.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Without realizing it, Spencer and Alexandra boarded the same ship as Alexandra's scorned ex-fiancé and his aristocratic family.

Tensions built up over the course of the weekslong journey, resulting in Alexandra's former flame, Arthur (Rafe Soule), challenging Spencer to a duel, which Spencer won. Afterward, Arthur pulled a pistol on Spencer, leading Spencer to throw him overboard in self-defense.

As a result, newlyweds Spencer and Alexandra were separated. Spencer made it ashore to the nearest port, and Alexandra vowed to reunite with him in Bozeman, Montana.

Jack and Elizabeth also faced heartbreaking news by the end of the season.
Darren Mann as Jack and Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth of the Paramount+ series "1923."
Darren Mann as Jack and Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth.

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

Audiences saw another tragedy unfold when Spencer's nephew Jack and his wife Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph) discovered that she had had a miscarriage.

It came after she sustained an abdominal injury during a shoot-out earlier in the season, and it's suggested that this has affected her ability to carry children and continue on the Dutton name.

Native American teenager Teonna managed to escape her abusive boarding school.
Aminah Nieves as Teonna and Michael Greyeyes as Hank of the Paramount+ series "1923."
Aminah Nieves as Teonna and Michael Greyeyes as Hank.

Christopher Saunders/Paramount+

Alongside Spencer's odyssey to return to the Dutton homestead, the first season of "1923" also focused on the homeward journey of Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves).

Teonna is a young girl from the "Yellowstone" universe's fictional Broken Rock Reservation who has been taken away from her tribe and placed in a residential boarding school run by the sadistic Catholic priest, Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché).

After suffering abuse at the hands of some of the school's nuns, she eventually escapes.

While wandering the badlands, she reunited with her father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), and crossed the border from South Dakota into Wyoming. However, a determined Father Renaud wasn't far behind.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Netflix's 'Apple Cider Vinegar' is based on a 'true-ish story.' Here's what's fact and what's fiction in the hit show.

Kaitlyn Dever portrays disgraced Australian influencer Belle Gibson in "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Ben King/Netflix

  • "Apple Cider Vinegar" tells the story of an Australian influencer who faked having terminal cancer.
  • The Netflix series looks at the dramatic rise and fall of Belle Gibson and her wellness empire.
  • While a large part of the series is true, the creators took some creative license with the story.

Netflix's "Apple Cider Vinegar" makes a few things clear from the very beginning.

First, Belle Gibson — the Australian fraudster portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever in the series — is not profiting from the show's use of her name and likeness.

Second, the story is "true-ish." While large parts of the series do reflect real events, the makers took creative license with certain parts, with some characters and events having been fictionalized.

Below, we separate fact from fiction in the new hit show.

Gibson admitted to lying about having cancer.
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson in "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Ben King/Netflix

Gibson crafted her wellness empire on the premise that she had cured what she claimed was her terminal brain cancer through healthy eating and alternative remedies.

But the show depicts how her story began to unravel in 2015 when journalists from Australia's The Age newspaper began an investigation into her business and charity work.

Gibson would confess to Australian Women's Weekly later that year that she had falsified her cancer diagnosis.

The Age wasn't the only publication looking into Gibson.
Aisha Dee as Chanelle, Mark Coles Smith as Justin in "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Aisha Dee as Chanelle, Mark Coles Smith as Justin in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Netflix

The show is based on reporters Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano's 2017 book, "The Woman Who Fooled The World," and focuses on their investigation into Gibson for The Age newspaper.

However, they weren't the only ones digging into the former influencer. Richard Guilliatt, a reporter at The Australian, also had suspicions about her story.

After Donelly and Toscano published their piece about Gibson not donating money raised for charities in March 2015, Guilliatt rushed to get his exposé of Gibson, which cast doubt on her cancer claims, live.

Speaking in the 2021 documentary "Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con," Guilliatt said that he was spurred into looking into Gibson's claims as his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer years earlier.

Gibson's history of lying about her health began in online skateboarding forums.
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle in "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Netflix

As a teenager, Gibson really was involved in the skateboarding community and used online chat forums to share bogus health claims, including that she had "died" for several minutes on an operating table.

Milla Blake isn't a real person. However, her story bears similarities to that of Jessica Ainscough.
alycia debnam-carey as milla blake in apple cider vinegar. she's sitting in an outdoor pool in a green swimsuit, her knees pulled up to her chest as she holds a paperback in her hand
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Netflix

In "Apple Cider Vinegar," Gibson's rise as a wellness influencer plays out against the story of Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey).

While Milla isn't real, her story seemingly draws from the life of Jess Ainscough, an Australian magazine editor turned influencer.

In 2008, Ainscough was diagnosed with a type of sarcoma and refused her doctor's recommendation to amputate her arm, opting instead for a type of chemotherapy, before eventually turning to alternative methods.

Ainscough, who went by the self-coined nickname "The Wellness Warrior," published the book "Make Peace With Your Plate" in 2013.

Ainscough died at age 30 in 2015.

Gibson really tried to clear her name in a now infamous "60 Minutes Australia" interview.
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle in "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Netflix

Gibson was confronted about her claims in a 2015 interview with journalist Tara Brown on "60 Minutes Australia."

It marked the first time Gibson had spoken out about her controversy since admitting that she did not have, nor had ever had, cancer in an April 2015 interview with Australian Women's Weekly.

In the "60 Minutes" interview, Gibson — who was reportedly paid A$75,000 (around $49,000) for the appearance — failed to give a straight answer about her real age and claimed that she had been duped into believing she was dying through misdiagnoses.

The interview was widely derided at the time of its airing.

The Hirsch Institute appears to based on Gerson therapy
A woman with long brown hair drinks a glass of red juice at home. She's wearing a light gray hoodie with a white and blue floral vest top. An engagement ring is on her finger. In the background, a small wooden shelving unit and a crucifix are on the wall.
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Ben King/Netflix

The Hirsch Institute — where Milla gets her treatment plan from in the show — isn't real. But it appears to have been based on Gerson therapy, a pseudoscientific treatment named after its creator, the German doctor Max Gerson.

As BI previously reported, the therapy involves drinking 13 glasses of juice a day alongside coffee enemas to "clean" the liver and colon.

Cancer institutes around the world say there is no scientific evidence to support the use of Gerson therapy.

Gibson's mother really did speak out against her.
Essie Davis as Natalie Gibson in. "Apple Cider Vinegar."
Essie Davis as Natalie Gibson in. "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Amanda Gooch/Netflix

As depicted in "Apple Cider Vinegar," Gibson's mother, Natalie Dal-Bello, gave a tell-all interview about her daughter.

Speaking to Women's Weekly in 2015, Dal-Bello said of her daughter: "I can't tell you how embarrassed we are about what she has done."

"We sincerely wish to apologize to anyone who was deceived by Belle. For what small part we played in her life, 
we would like to say sorry," she continued. "She's got to look inside her 
own soul. The only way she is going to get forgiveness is to stop playing the victim card and spend the next few years doing nothing but charity work for cancer victims."

Read the original article on Business Insider

'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' is out now — here's how it differs from the book

Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Universal

  • Warning: This article contains major spoilers for "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
  • The fourth and final Bridget Jones film is an adaptation of the 2013 novel of the same name.
  • As with any book-to-screen adaptation, there have been changes — some big, some small.

"Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy," the fourth and final book-to-screen adaptation from Helen Fielding's best-selling series, is streaming on Peacock.

The movie centers on Bridget (Renée Zellweger) navigating life as a widow and single mother with the help of her family, friends, and former flame, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant).

Taking place four years after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), the film sees Bridget open herself up to love again, which results in her being pursued by a younger man (Leo Woodall) as well as her son's science teacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

As with the previous films in the series, some changes have been made in translating the story from book to screen, including Bridget's career and some details about how her relationship with her young love interest, Roxster, unfolds.

Meanwhile, Bridget's blossoming friendships with fellow mums Rebecca (Isla Fisher) and Nicolette (Leila Farzad) have been largely cut from the film.

Here are seven of the biggest differences between the book and film of "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy"

Shazzer makes an appearance in the movie after being left out of the final book.
Sally Phillips as Shazzer and Renée Zellweger as Bridget in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Sally Phillips as Shazzer and Renée Zellweger as Bridget in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Universal

Shazzer does not make much of an appearance in the book. She is the only one of Bridget's close friends to leave London, having moved to Silicon Valley to become a "dot-com whizz" with her husband.

In the movie, not much is revealed about Shazzer's relationship status but she's still living in London and hosts a podcast. Shazzer is still close with Bridget, and at one point she babysits her children for a night so she can go on a date.

Isla Fisher's character, Rebecca, has a larger role in the book.
Isla Fisher as Rebecca in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Isla Fisher as Rebecca in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Universal

Early in the film, Bridget's neighbor shouts at her three children and threatens to send them to "Squid Game" if they don't behave.

Bridget sees this from across the road and calls her a "hero," but the neighbor doesn't appear for the rest of the film.

In the book, Bridget and the woman, who is called Rebecca, have more awkward interactions like the one in the film. Rebecca, who has two children, and Bridget eventually become friends and host playdates for one another.

When Bridget falls for Mr. Wallaker in the book, Rebecca helps her learn about his background, since her husband is his best friend.

Bridget Jones pursues an entirely different career in the movie.
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures

In both the book and the film, Bridget tries to get herself out of a rut by returning to work a few years after Mark's death.

In the film, Bridget asks her former boss, Richard Finch (Neil Pearson), to get her a job as a producer on the morning news show "Better Woman." Miranda, Bridget's coworker and friend in "Bridget Jones' Baby," hosts the show alongside another woman called Talitha.

In the book, Bridget doesn't return to full-time work. Instead, she writes a movie script, adapting a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen called "Hedda Gabler." It's picked up by a studio, but they eventually replace Bridget with a full-time screenwriter because she is always distracted.

The film becomes a straight-to-DVD movie.

Roxster doesn't ghost Bridget Jones in the book.
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones and Leo Woodall as Roxster in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Jay Maidment/Universal Pictures

The film changes Bridget's relationship with her 29-year-old "toyboy" in a number of ways.

Instead of connecting with the charming, flirty Roxster McDuff (Leo Woodall) on Twitter as she does in the book, Bridget meets him when he rescues her and her children from a tree on London's Hampstead Heath. The two then reconnect when they match on a dating app.

In the book, their relationship ends after Roxster tells Bridget he thinks he should be with someone his own age. The two meet again and Roxster tries to win Bridget back.

In the film, Roxster suddenly ghosts Bridget without explanation, only to show up at the TV studio where she works weeks later to apologize.

But in both versions, Bridget realizes that the two are at different life stages and they have an emotional goodbye.

Daniel Cleaver has a son in the movie.
Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Peacock

In the film, Daniel, the former playboy, has a teenage son named Enzo (Alessandro Bedetti), whom he doesn't see very often.

However, after being diagnosed with a heart murmur, Daniel reevaluates his life and decides to reconnect with him.

When we meet Enzo at Bridget's New Year's Eve party at the end of the film, he has inherited his father's womanizing ways, flirting outrageously with Bridget's friends.

In the book, Daniel doesn't have a son and is an aging bachelor. He does end up in hospital because of an alcohol dependency. Afterward, Bridget and others realize they need to prioritize their friendships with Daniel and keep an eye on him.

In both the film and the book, the health scare is a wake-up call for Daniel, but for different reasons.

Bridget and Nicolette bond in the book.
Renée Zellweger as Bridget and Leila Farzad as Nicolette in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget and Leila Farzad as Nicolette in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Universal

In both the book and the film, Nicolette is the overbearing mother of twins who attend the same school as Bridget's son, Billy.

In the film, while Bridget is initially intimidated by Nicolette and her dedication to her children's education. But we see that her husband is a workaholic who is always on calls and her sons aren't as smart as she makes out.

The book delves deeper into Nicolette's story, revealing that her husband has been having an affair, and her world crumbles.

After Nicolette confides in Bridget, Bridget invites her over and the two spend a night drinking, eating junk food, and scrolling dating sites, cementing their unlikely friendship.

Billy doesn't struggle with Mark's death in the book.
Renée Zellweger as Bridget in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Casper Knopf as Billy, and Mila Jankovic as Mabel in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

Universal

In the film, Bridget's nine-year-old son Billy (Casper Knopf) grieves his father's death and worries about forgetting him as he grows older.

His science teacher, Mr. Wallaker, eventually helps him work through this and perform a solo at the school's Christmas concert in honor of Mark.

This storyline is absent from the book, although Bridget does note in her diary entries that both Billy and Mabel were helped by an "army of bereavement counselors and therapists" in the aftermath of Mark's death.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Australian authorities 'won't let up' trying to recoup Belle Gibson's fine

"Apple Cider Vinegar" cast members.
"Apple Cider Vinegar" cast members.

Don Arnold/WireImage/Getty Images

  • Australian authorities are still pursuing Belle Gibson for the unpaid fine she owes from 2017.
  • Gibson was ordered to pay a fine of A$410,000 after being found to have broken consumer law.
  • A new Netflix series tells a fictionalized account of how she lied to followers about having and curing cancer.

Following the release of Netflix's "Apple Cider Vinegar," Australian authorities are continuing their efforts to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding fines, penalties, and interest from former wellness guru Belle Gibson.

"Apple Cider Vinegar," which debuted earlier this month, tells a fictionalized version of how Gibson lied to friends, online followers, and major corporations like Apple and publisher Penguin about curing what she said was her terminal brain cancer through healthy eating and alternative therapies.

Gibson, who admitted not having cancer following an investigation into her business by Melbourne newspaper The Age in 2015, was found guilty of five breaches of Australian consumer law in 2017.

Court documents viewed by Business Insider show that an Australian Federal Court judge ordered Gibson to pay a fine of A$410,000 (around $260,000), plus A$30,000 (about $19,000) in legal costs at the time.

However, Gibson said in subsequent court appearances that she was unable to pay the money, ABC reported.

Although Gibson's case appeared to have been marked as finalized and abandoned in 2021, Jacinta Allan, the Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, has confirmed that local authorities are still working to recover the fine.

"Behind the TV stories, behind the dramatisation, are real people who have had their lives devastated by the actions of this individual," Allan said, per The Guardian. "Consumer Affairs Victoria is continuing to pursue this, particularly in the context of the orders that have been made by the court."

Allan added that she was "disappointed" the matter still had not been resolved but that Consumer Affairs Victoria "won't let up."

kaitlyn dever as belle gibson in apple cider vinegar. she's wearing a pink turtleneck sweater with her hair pulled back, and staring firmly ahead
Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson in "Apple Cider Vinegar."

Netflix

The current outstanding balance that Gibson owes has not been disclosed. Consumer Affairs Victoria did not immediately respond to BI's request for clarification, which was sent outside regular working hours.

But after officers raided Gibson's home in Melbourne in 2021, it was reported that the fine amounted to more than A$500,000 (around $317,000), including penalties and interest.

Gibson's case has been thrust back into the spotlight following the release of the six-part Netflix series, which has been viewed by more than 3.8 million people since its release on February 6, according to the streamer's own data.

Gibson became a global influencer in the mid-2010s as she amassed more than 200,000 followers on Instagram. She went on to create a nutrition app called "The Whole Pantry" and later a cookbook of the same name.

Following her confession to Australian Women's Weekly in 2015 that she had falsified her cancer diagnosis, Gibson has mostly kept a low profile, with the exception of her now infamous "60 Minutes Australia" interview.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Where was 'The White Lotus' season 3 filmed?

Morgana O'Reilly, Arnas Fedaravičius, Christian Friedel, Dom Hetrakul, and Lalisa Manobal on season three of "The White Lotus."
Cast members of "The White Lotus."

Fabio Lovino/HBO

  • Season three of HBO's "The White Lotus" follows a group of wealthy vacationers in Thailand.
  • A number of luxury hotels, including one in Phuket and one in Koh Samui, were used to bring the season to life.
  • The production team also built some interiors at Acts Studio in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Each season of "The White Lotus" focuses on guests vacationing at a different location within the show's fictional luxury hotel brand.

After welcoming audiences first to its Hawaii location in season one and then to its Italian resort in season two, the Emmy Award-winning series has turned to Thailand for its highly anticipated third season.

The new batch of episodes boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, and Jason Isaacs. With the exception of Natasha Rothwell, who played a hotel worker in season one of the show, the rest of the core cast consists of actors who are new to the world of "The White Lotus."

Kicking off on Sunday, February 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, the new season will see the wealthy vacationers check in to The White Lotus Koh Samui, but as to be expected, not everyone will make it out alive.

Here's everything you need to know about the real-life shooting locations behind the series.

Various five-star hotels across Thailand have been used to bring the latest "White Lotus" hotel to life

Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola on season three of "The White Lotus."
Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola on season three of "The White Lotus."

Fabio Lovino/HBO

According to a press release, season three was filmed across several hotels in Thailand.

The majority of scenes were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, which should come as no surprise to fans of the series. The luxury hotel chain's locations in Maui and Sicily were used as filming bases for the previous two seasons.

The real-life resort is located on the island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani province, which is known for its pristine beaches and waterfalls.

four seasons resort koh samui thailand
The majority of scenes were filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, pictured above.

Courtesy of Four Seasons Resorts

Several of the hotel's villas, the breakfast and lunch restaurants, the pool, the gym, and the boxing ring, were used in filming.

The Anantara Mai Khao Villas hotel in Phuket province was also used for several key locations featured this season, such as Belinda's lodgings and the wellness sanctuary.

A third hotel, the Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort was also used for a few small scenes showing the hotel driveway and lobby. The Singing Bird Lounge at its sister hotel, the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, doubled for the "White Lotus" hotel bar.

Phuket
Filming also took place on the island of Phuket.

Shutterstock / VODIN VASILII

The Thai capital, Bangkok — known for its vibrant nightlife and striking temples — was also used to shoot some scenes.

The production team built some interiors at Acts Studio in the city.

Read the original article on Business Insider

What happens to every key character in 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'

A composite image of Renée Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

  • "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy" is the fourth and final installment of the rom-com franchise.
  • Most of the main cast are returning.
  • Here's where each returning character ends up, including Bridget Jones' parents, lovers, and close friends.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy."

"Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," which is available to stream on Peacock, is the final chapter of the British rom-com series.

Renée Zellweger returns as the hapless and lovable diarist who now finds herself in middle age, raising two kids, and ready for love again.

The cast includes a few new faces, including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Leo Woodall, who play Bridget's love interests.

There are also a number of returning cast members, including Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, and Sally Phillips, who make up Bridget's nearest and dearest.

Here's a breakdown of where every character ends up.

Bridget Jones makes a vow to start living for herself following the loss of her husband.
A composite image of Renée Zellweger in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Jay Maidment / Universal Pictures

When audiences first met Bridget in the 2001 movie, she was a single, 30-something Londoner whose New Year's resolution was to find a nice, sensible boyfriend.

Over the course of the four films, Bridget falls in love and marries human rights barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), but her path to her happily ever after wasn't exactly straightforward.

When audiences meet Bridget again in "Mad About the Boy," she's single once again but raising two children.

After embarking on an ill-fated fling with Rockster McDuff (Leo Woodall), a man twenty years her junior, Bridget finds herself falling for the stern, straight-laced science teacher, Mr. Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

The two share a kiss in the street following a school Christmas concert, and in the final scene of the film, Mr. Wallaker is among those seen ringing in the New Year with Bridget and her loved ones.

Bridget's former boss and boyfriend, Daniel Cleaver, has become 'Uncle Daniel' to her kids.
A composite image of Hugh Grant in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) is Bridget's former boss. As audiences will recall from the first film, after flirting via instant messaging in the office, the two embark on a relationship that ends sourly when Bridget finds out that Daniel is cheating on her with — as she put it — an "American stick insect."

While Bridget and Daniel reconnect in Thailand in the second film, "The Edge of Reason," he is absent in the third film.

When we see Daniel in "Mad About The Boy," he and Bridget have a platonic, teasing relationship, deepened by their decades of friendship. He is even referred to as "Uncle Daniel" by Bridget's children and babysits them.

Still a bachelor in his 50s, Daniel has a much younger girlfriend at the start of the film. Following a health scare, however, Daniel breaks up with her.

When audiences last see Daniel at Bridget's party, he and Bridget's colleague and friend Miranda (Sarah Solemani) have hit it off, to put it delicately.

Mark Darcy is absent, save for a few flashbacks.
A composite image of Colin Firth in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

In the first film, Darcy is introduced as a human rights lawyer who has known Bridget since she was a toddler, running around naked in his paddling pool.

While they made an unlikely couple, Bridget and Mark eventually get together.

However, it's revealed in "Mad About The Boy" that Mark was killed on a humanitarian mission in Sudan four years before the events of the film, leaving Bridget a widow and single mother.

As a result, Mark is mostly absent from the latest installment, except for a couple of scenes in which Bridget reminiscences about life before the tragedy.

Shazzer remains Bridget's best friend.
A composite image of Sally Phillips in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Sally Phillips as Shazzer in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Shazzer is Bridget's bold, feminist friend who doesn't fear confrontation. In the first film, Bridget introduces Shazzer (Sally Phillips) as a journalist who "likes to say 'fuck' a lot."

Shazzer's personality has not changed much since the first film, and she now hosts a feminist podcast. She is last seen celebrating New Year's at Bridget's house.

Tom, another member of Bridget's inner circle, is still offering her dating advice.
A composite image of James Callis in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
James Callis as Tom in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Another close friend of Bridget is Tom (James Callis) an arrogant, drama-loving retired '80s pop icon.

In the first film, Tom uses his one-hit-wonder status to get laid. By the final film, he has become a life coach and is still single.

Jude is also still on the scene, having climbed the corporate ladder.
A composite image of Shirley Henderson in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Shirley Henderson as Jude in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Rounding off Bridget's close friends is Jude (Shirley Henderson), the most emotional member of the friendship group.

In the first film, Jude is the head of investment at Brightlings, a fictional bank, and cries on multiple occasions to Bridget about her relationship problems.

In "Mad About The Boy," Jude has leveled up at work, but Bridget is not sure whether she is a "COO" or "CEO."

Bridget's beloved dad, Colin, is sadly no longer around.
A composite image of Jim Broadbent in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Jim Broadbent as Colin Jones in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Bridget has always been close with her father, Colin (Jim Broadbent), even after her he and mother briefly split during the first movie. But Bridget does not have Colin as her rock in "Mad About The Boy."

Partway through the film, a flashback scene reveals that Colin died a few years prior. Before his death, Colin tries to persuade Bridget to live life to the fullest after he's gone and not wallow in grief.

Toward the end of the film, Bridget writes in her diary that she realizes what Colin meant by this while watching her son, Billy, overcome his grief to give with a genuine smile at his school's Christmas concert.

Bridget's mom, Pamela, has moved into a nursing home.
A composite image of Gemma Jones in "Bridget Jones' diary" and "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."
Gemma Jones as Pamela Jones in 2001's "Bridget Jones's Diary" and 2025's "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy."

Miramax / Universal Pictures

Despite often despairing of her daughter's sartorial choices and approach to dating, Pamela (Gemma Jones) has stuck by Bridget's side throughout the films.

In "Mad About The Boy," she has moved into a nursing home, which Bridget and the rest of the family have been instructed to refer to as a "hotel," alongside her lifelong pal Una (Celia Imrie).

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'Emilia Pérez' wins top Spanish film award amid growing backlash against star Karla Sofía Gascón

Karla Sofía Gascón
Karla Sofía Gascón

Medios y Media/Getty Images

  • "Emilia Pérez" has scooped a top prize at Spain's equivalent of the Oscars.
  • It comes amid a backlash against star Karla Sofía Gascón over resurfaced social media posts.
  • Gascón did not attend the awards, which took place Saturday night in Granada, Spain.

Over the past few weeks, "Emilia Pérez" star Karla Sofía Gascón has gone from Academy Award frontrunner to industry pariah following backlash over resurfaced social media posts.

Amid the controversy, the Netflix film has now scooped a top prize at Spain's equivalent of the Oscars on Saturday, winning best European film.

While Gascón did not attend the ceremony, two representatives from the movie's Spanish distributors accepted the award on stage and gave the star a shout-out.

As one representative noted, the Spanish-language drama received the most nominations at this year's Oscars with 13 nods, including best film and a best actress nod for Gascón.

"In the face of hatred and ridicule, more cinema and more culture," the pair said together.

Voting for Goya nominations closed on January 24, almost a week before a number of offensive posts on X that appeared to have been made by Gascón began going viral.

The posts were brought to light by Canadian journalist Sarah Hagi, who shared screenshots on X. Business Insider couldn't verify all the screenshots before Gascón's account was deleted, but according to multiple reports, the posts contained Islamophobic and racist content.

Since then, the director of "Emilia Perez," Jacques Audiard, and costar Zoe Saldaña — who is up for best supporting actress at the Oscars — have criticized her alleged posts.

Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have reported that Netflix is distancing itself from Gascón in the wake of the controversy.

It is not yet clear whether Gascón will still attend the Oscars on March 2. She is up for best actress against Cynthia Erivo, Mikey Madison, Demi Moore, and Fernanda Torres.

A still from "Emilia Perez" of a woman in a shirt holding a mobile phone
Karla Sofía Gomez in Emilia Pérez.

WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS / PATHÉ FILMS / FRANCE 2 CINÉMA / PAGE 114

In an interview with CNN en Español in early February, Gascón said she had no intention of withdrawing from the awards.

"I cannot step down from an Oscar nomination because I have not committed any crime nor have I harmed anyone," she said. "I am neither racist nor anything that all these people have tried to make others believe I am."

Gascón returned to social media on February 7, posting that she planned to stay quiet for the rest of the film's Oscars campaign.

She said she was hopeful that her silence would "allow the film to be appreciated for what it is, a beautiful ode to love and difference."

Read the original article on Business Insider

A complete timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship

travis kelce taylor swift
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs' AFC Championship win.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

  • Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been dating since the summer of 2023.
  • The pop star and athlete, both 35, have gushed about each other in interviews.
  • Swift recently cheered for Kelce and the Chiefs at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

We'll take a wild guess and say that Travis Kelce's favorite track from Taylor Swift's "Midnights" might be "Mastermind."

Shortly after he turned up to the Eras Tour with a friendship bracelet and a dream, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end began dating the multi-Grammy-winning superstar.

Kelce, 35, laid the groundwork last July. He made his feelings known for Swift, 35, after he failed to get some one-on-one time when she performed on his home turf in Missouri. Soon, all the dominoes cascaded in a line: Swift began attending NFL games, openly cheering for the Chiefs, and stepping out with Kelce for date nights in New York City. 

Here's a complete timeline of their relationship so far.

July 8, 2023: Kelce attends Swift's Eras Tour show stop in Kansas City.
Travis Kelce points (left); Taylor Swift smiles.
Travis Kelce is a football player and Taylor Swift is a world-renowned pop star.

Ed Zurga, George Walker/AP

Kelce officially entered his Swiftie era when he attended the second of the "Anti-Hero" singer's two performances on his home turf.

Before the concert, held at Arrowhead Stadium, Kelce was seen chatting with other Swifties and even trading friendship bracelets, according to a video posted on X (formerly Twitter).

July 26, 2023: A few weeks later, Kelce says on his podcast that he wanted to give Swift his number at the show.
Travis Kelce discussed his failed attempt at wooing Taylor Swift on his podcast, "New Heights."
Travis Kelce discussed his failed attempt at wooing Taylor Swift on his podcast, "New Heights."

YouTube/New Heights Show

Speaking on his podcast, "New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce," the athlete said he was "butt hurt" he couldn't give Swift a friendship bracelet (a tradition among Swifts' concertgoers) that included his phone number.

"I was disappointed that she doesn't talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings," Kelce told his brother and cohost, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.

Jason then asked which number he put on the bracelet — the number on his Kansas City Chiefs jersey (87) or his phone number. 

"You know which one," Travis responded. He also quipped that while Swift "doesn't meet anybody" before her shows, he "took it personal."

According to Swift, she and Kelce began dating "right after" the podcast episode aired.
travis kelce taylor swift
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift photographed in July 2023.

JC Olivera/Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

In an interview with Time magazine, Swift confirmed her relationship with Kelce and offered details about the beginning of their romance. 

"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she said. "We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I'm grateful for, because we got to get to know each other."

September 21, 2023: Kelce says he's "thrown the ball in her court" and invites Swift to one of his football games.
Travis Kelce rests his hands on his collar while looking off to the side during a Chiefs game.
Travis Kelce plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lachlan Cunningham/AP Images

Two months after his podcast episode, Kelce told ESPN's Pat McAfee that after trying to woo the Grammy winner with a friendship bracelet, he extended an invite to one of his upcoming games.

"I told her, 'I've seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead and see which one's a little more lit,'" Kelce said in the interview.

 "So we'll see what happens in the near future," he added.

September 24, 2023: Swift attends the Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears three days later.
Taylor Swift cheers from a suite with Donna Kelce as the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Donna Kelce and Taylor Swift on September 24, 2023.

Cooper Neill via Getty Images

Swift sent the internet into meltdown when she accepted to Kelce's invitation. However, according to Swift, the lovebirds were already official by the time she attended her first game on September 24.

"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple," she told Time. "I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."

On that fated day, Swift was photographed wearing Kansas City colors as she watched the game from Kelce's private suite, alongside his mom, Donna Kelce.

When Kelce — already considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history — hauled in a touchdown pass from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the third quarter, Swift rose to her feet and cheered.

After chest-bumping with another spectator in the box, the singer appeared to shout, "Let's fucking go!" as Mama Kelce smiled and applauded.

After the game, images of Kelce and Swift walking out of the stadium together and driving off in his old school convertible were shared on X.

The pair ended their night at Prime Social Rooftop, which Kelce rented out for Swift, his family, and his teammates, per Entertainment Tonight. In photos obtained by TMZ, the couple weren't shy about showing their affection for each other as Swift was seen wrapping her arm around Kelce's neck as they chatted to other partygoers.

In the days following, an anonymous source told People that Kelce and Swift had been "hanging out" and were still in the "super, super early days" of getting to know each other. 

"They're having fun," the source told the outlet. "This was Taylor's first time meeting his mom and dad, and everyone was enjoying themselves."

Meanwhile, Kelce debriefed the Swift-inspired frenzy on his podcast. He thanked her for "pulling up" to his game, saying he "sure as hell enjoyed this weekend."

September 27, 2023: Kelce speaks about Swift again on his podcast.
travis kelce
Travis Kelce on the field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

During an episode of "New Heights," Kelce joked that his personal life is "not so personal" anymore.

"Shout out to Taylor for pulling up," he said. "That was pretty ballsy."

Kelce went on to praise Swift for her behavior with his family at her first Chiefs game.

"I just thought it was awesome how everyone in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her. The friends and family," he said. "She looked amazing, everybody was talking about her in great light. And on top of that the day went perfect for Chiefs fans, of course."

"To see the slow motion chest bumps, to see the high fives with mom," he continued. "To see how Chiefs kingdom was all excited that she was there, that shit was absolutely hysterical and it was definitely a game I'll remember that's for damn sure. And then we just slid off in the getaway car at the end."

October 1, 2023: Swift attends a second Chiefs game a week later — and brings some of her famous friends.
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively cheer from the stands during an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium
Taylor Swift and Blake Lively at MetLife Stadium.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

During the Chiefs game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New York, Swift supported Kelce again and brought along some A-list pals.

Swift was spotted watching the game alongside Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sabrina Carpenter, Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner, and Antoni Porowski. 

While Swift and Kelce left the stadium separately, it seems they had spent some time together beforehand; the Super Bowl champion was spotted by Page Six leaving Swift's New York apartment that morning.

October 4, 2023: Kelce tries to get the NFL to pull back on its coverage of Swift at his games, declaring on his podcast, "They're overdoing it."
Travis Kelce, left, and Taylor Swift, right, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium.

Denny Medley/USA Today/Reuters; Jason Hanna/Getty Images

Kelce said the NFL had gone overboard in their coverage of Swift during an episode of his podcast, released on October 4. 

"I think it's fun when they show who all is at the game. I think it brings a little more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you're watching," Kelce said.

"But at the same time, I think they're overdoing it a little bit," he continued.

NBC Sports, which aired the game, made frequent cuts to shots of Swift cheering on the Chiefs. The NFL also briefly changed bios on Instagram and X to reference Swift after the Chiefs beat the Jets.

In response, the NFL defended its coverage of the pair in a statement obtained by ESPN

October 5, 2023: Kelce celebrates his 34th birthday. Swift reportedly flies to Missouri to spend the weekend with him.
A collage of two photos side by side. The image on the left is Travis Kelce, #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs, while the image on the right is of Taylor Swift.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images and Omar Vega/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

According to multiple outlets, the "Fearless" singer spent a few days with Kelce following his 34th birthday.

Us WeeklyPage Six, and the Daily Mail reported that Swift flew from her home in Nashville, Tennessee to Kansas City, Missouri the day after his birthday.

The two were not seen out together, and an anonymous source told Us Weekly that the pair chose to have a "chill night" together. It's unknown when Swift left, but she was not present at the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Minnesota Vikings the following Sunday.

October 12, 2023: Swift shows up to her third Chiefs game, one day after premiering "The Eras Tour" movie.
Taylor Swift attended her third Chiefs game on October 12.
Taylor Swift attended her third Chiefs game on October 12, 2023.

RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The "Cruel Summer" singer returned to the Arrowhead Stadium to cheer on Kelce as his team took on the Denver Broncos.

In a video shared by People, Swift was seen wearing a Chiefs-branded jacket for the game, where she caught up with Kelce's parents in the family suite. She was also seen speaking with Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kelce's teammate, Patrick Mahomes.

Photos published by Mail Online showed what appeared to be Swift's security team outside Kelce's home until Friday afternoon, suggesting that the pop star had stayed the night.

Kelce's mother later discussed the "whirlwind" caused by Swift's game-day appearances.

"I thought it would be over at that point, but it seems to just continue, and every week just seems to trump the week before," Donna said during an episode of the "Got It From My Momma" podcast. "So it's really kind of wild, a wild ride." 

October 14, 2023: The couple is photographed holding hands in public for the first time.
travis kelce taylor swift snl after party new york city
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift attended the "SNL" after-party.

Gotham/GC Images

Swift and Kelce were photographed holding hands after enjoying a date night in New York City.

The outing marked the first time the two have been photographed by paparazzi in public together, and many took it as confirmation of their relationship.

Their first public display of affection came after the pair dined at celebrity hot spot Nobu, per photos and video obtained by TMZ and Page Six

Swift and Kelce later went to Rockefeller Center, where they made separate surprise appearances on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." They finished the night at the show's after-party, pictures from Getty Images showed.

October 15, 2023: One day after crashing "SNL," Kelce and Swift hold hands again after dining together in New York City.
taylor swift travis kelce new york city
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in New York City on October 15, 2023.

Gotham/GC Images

Swift and Kelce were photographed by paparazzi after spending Sunday night at Waverly Inn

Swift has dined at the West Village hot spot before, most notably in 2016 with Cara Delevingne, Lorde, and Jack Antonoff.

October 22, 2023: Swift attends another of Kelce's games in Kansas City.
taylor swift kansas city chiefs game
Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium on October 22, 2023.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Just a few days before the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)," Swift was on hand to support the Kansas City Chiefs as they took on the Los Angeles Chargers.

She was filmed cheering for Kelce, looking concerned when he fell, and performing an elaborate handshake with Brittany Mahomes.

Swift and Kelce were also photographed together at a post-game party, alongside Kelce's teammate Mecole Hardman Jr. and his girlfriend Chariah Gordon.

Gordon shared a series of photos on Instagram, including one of Swift kissing Kelce on the cheek.

October 22, 2023: Jason Kelce says that Travis is "excited" about his new relationship.
jason kelce travis kelce superbowl
Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce both play for the NFL.

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

After the Chiefs beat the Chargers, Jason opened up to NBC Sports about his brother's new relationship and the frenzy it has caused.

"It's certainly been weird, the level that it is now," he told NBC Sports on Sunday night. "On one hand, I'm happy for my brother that he seems to be in a relationship that he's excited about, that he is genuine about. But there's another end of it where it's like, 'Man, this is a lot.'"

"This is another level of stardom that typically football players don't deal with," he added.

October 24, 2023: Kelce's dad praises Swift as "smart" and "genuine."
travis kelce snl
Travis Kelce's family sat in the audience when he hosted "Saturday Night Live."

Will Heath/NBC via Getty Image

In an interview with People, Ed Kelce described Swift as "a very, very sweet, very charming, down-to-earth young woman."

The athlete's father also praised her first impression as "very genuine," presumably referring to the Chiefs game on October 12, when Swift and Ed were seen chatting in the stands.

"I'll tell you something very special that I noticed about Taylor the first time I met her," Ed shared. "We're sitting in the suite, she gets up and in the front room, she gets up to go get a drink or something and she starts picking up empty bottles, cans, plates that are scattered around. Because in the suites everybody gets stuff and you empty it down wherever you can."

"And I'm just thinking, I don't think she got the diva memo. She didn't get the spoiled musician," he continued. "She doesn't know how to pull that off. And that really to me said a whole lot."

November 3, 2023: Kelce responds with a smile when asked if he's "in love" with Swift.
travis kelce
Travis Kelce at a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany.

Arne Dedert/picture alliance via Getty Images

At a press conference in Frankfurt, Germany, where the Kansas City Chiefs would soon play the Miami Dolphins, Kelce fielded a direct question about his feelings for Swift.

According to ESPN's NFL reporter Jeff Darlington, the reporter asked, "What is the latest status and are you in love?"

"I got to see her last week. That's the latest status right there," Kelce said of their current status, though he added, "I'm going to keep my personal relationship personal."

A video of the exchange shows that Kelce was grinning as he replied.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Kelce also said it was "cool" to see people dress up as him and Swift for Halloween, though his brother thought it was "pretty creepy."

November 10, 2023: Kelce joins Swift in Buenos Aires the day after she kicks off the Latin American leg of the Eras Tour.
taylor swift new york city
Taylor Swift photographed in November 2023.

Gotham/GC Images

Swift and Kelce were spotted at a restaurant in the Argentine capital after Swift postponed her second scheduled show in Buenos Aires due to "truly chaotic" weather in the city, she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

According to People, the couple appeared to be joined by Swift's dad, Scott Swift, as they dined in a private room at Elena restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires.

November 11, 2023: Kelce attends his second Eras Tour concert, where Swift changes the lyrics of "Karma" in his honor.
taylor swift eras tour
Taylor Swift performs in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift made a small but significant change to "Karma" during her second show in Buenos Aires as Kelce watched from the VIP tent, alongside the pop star's father, Scott Swift.

"Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me," Swift sang with a giggle, per multiple videos captured by fans at the Estadio River Plate concert.

TikTok user @flormosso caught Kelce's reaction to the moment, when the crowd erupted into cheers. The two-time Super Bowl champ covered a huge grin with his hands while Scott patted him on the shoulder.

Kelce later said he "had a little bit of a clue" that Swift was preparing something special for the show, but once he heard the lyric change, it "still shocked me."

"I was like, 'Oh, she really just said that,'" he said on his podcast.

November 11, 2023: Swift and Kelce share their first public kiss.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce kissing.
When the show ended, Swift ran straight into Kelce's arms and kissed him.

X/@ViralContentz

When her second concert in Buenos Aires ended, Swift left the stage and ran into Kelce's arms as he waited for her by an exit.

The couple shared their first public kiss as fans cheered.

November 20, 2023: Kelce praises Swift in an interview.
travis kelce wall street journal magazine
Travis Kelce photographed for WSJ. Magazine.

Gregory Harris for WSJ. Magazine

In a cover story for WSJ. Magazine, the NFL player said he was a Swiftie before he began dating the pop star.

He praised her songwriting, especially her song "Blank Space," and even described Swift as "a genius."

"I've never been a man of words," Kelce said. "Being around her, seeing how smart Taylor is, has been fucking mind-blowing. I'm learning every day."

He also said he's been hesitant to discuss their relationship in public because he doesn't want to spook her.

"That was the biggest thing to me: make sure I don't say anything that would push Taylor away," he said.

"Obviously I've never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them… I've never dealt with it," Kelce added. "But at the same time, I'm not running away from any of it."

December 3, 2023: Swift attends another of Kelce's games in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
taylor swift brittany mahomes nfl game
Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes cheer for the Chiefs in December.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Once again, Swift was photographed cheering for Kelce in a private suite with Brittany Mahomes. (Unfortunately, the team lost to the Green Bay Packers 27-19.)

"They're both really hard workers, and he acknowledges her art is hers, and he has what's his," an anonymous source told People. "He understands the territory their relationship comes with and like he said, isn't letting any of the hoopla impact how they're growing together."

December 6, 2023: Swift confirms her relationship status with Kelce and says they're "proud of each other."
taylor swift time magazine person of the year cover
Taylor Swift is Time's 2023 Person of the Year.

Inez and Vinoodh for Time

Swift opened up about Kelce in a cover story for Time magazine, which named her Person of the Year for 2023.

She said she enjoys attending NFL games "to support Travis" and praised him for openly courting her on his podcast.

Although Swift has a complicated history with dating in the public eye — and has kept previous relationships extremely private — she said there's nothing to hide when it comes to Kelce.

"When you say a relationship is public, that means I'm going to see him do what he loves, we're showing up for each other, other people are there and we don't care," Swift told Time. "The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you're seeing someone. And we're just proud of each other."

January 26, 2024: Kelce says he and Swift are happy to ignore the "outside noise."
taylor swift travis kelce
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce photographed leaving Arrowhead Stadium.

Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

During a Chiefs press conference, Kelce fielded questions about navigating his relationship amid his growing fame.

"As long as we're happy, we can't listen to anything that's outside noise," Kelce said. "That's all that matters."

Kelce added that he'd be "silly" to deny Swift's role in his growing fan base, but his priority is still his job.

"I brought this upon myself, and I do enjoy having fun with it all, and the biggest thing is making sure my focus is right here in this building," Kelce told reporters.

January 28, 2024: Swift celebrates with Kelce when the Chiefs secure their spot in the Super Bowl.
travis kelce taylor swift
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs' AFC Championship win.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

For her 12th NFL appearance, Swift watched the Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens to secure their spot in Super Bowl LVIII.

After the game, she joined Kelce and his family on the field to celebrate. The couple shared several hugs and kisses in front of the crowd.

February 11, 2024: Swift joins Kelce on the field after he wins the Super Bowl.
taylor swift travis kelce super bowl
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift share a kiss at the Super Bowl.

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

At the 2024 Super Bowl, Kelce and the Chiefs became NFL champions for the second year in a row. Swift had flown from Tokyo to watch the game and could be seen celebrating the historic win in a VIP box, flanked by friends and members of Kelce's family.

Later, she joined Kelce on the field, where the couple shared several intimate hugs and kisses.

April 13, 2024: Swift and Kelce attend Coachella together.
taylor swift travis kelce coachella
Ice Spice, Taylor Swift, and Travis Kelce at Coachella.

Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty Images

Swift and Kelce were spotted in the crowd at Coachella watching pals Ice Spice and Bleachers perform. 

Several videos showing the couple dancing and kissing at the music festival circulated on social media. Swift also wore a "New Heights" hat to support Kelce's podcast.

Kelce later said that he prefers to watch concerts "from the fans' perspective."

"I'm a fan of the music. I'm a fan of live shows," Kelce said on his podcast. "I want to see it from the front of the stage. Yeah, we probably could've finessed it that way [watching backstage], but I think it's just that much more of an experience if you're in the pit, man. If you're in the madness with all the fans. It was awesome though."

April 19, 2024: Swift releases her new album "The Tortured Poets Department," which may include a nod to Kelce.
taylor swift the tortured poets department deluxe album cover
"The Tortured Poets Department" is Taylor Swift's 11th studio album.

Beth Garrabrant

Swift's 31-track double album "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" contains two songs that may nod to Kelce.

The first is "The Alchemy," which doubles as a love song and an ode to Swift's enduring career. The lyrics feature several sport-related metaphors like "Call the amateurs and cut 'em from the team" and "Where's the trophy? He just comes running over to me."

According to the liner notes, "The Alchemy" was copyrighted in 2023, so it's unclear how deeply tied to Kelce it can be. (Swift's albums are typically finished several months ahead of their release date, ensuring vinyl factories have enough time to fulfill preorders.)

However, "So High School," which also seemingly references Kelce, was released in the album's deluxe half, meaning it wasn't included with physical copies of the album. A song can be made available to stream almost immediately after completion, so it's possible the song was written more recently.

"So High School" is perhaps the only straightforward love song on "Poets," depicting a relationship that transports Swift back to her "You Belong With Me" days — the giddy rush of young love and lust.

The track appears to include direct references to Kelce, including, "You know how to ball, I know Aristotle," "You knew what you wanted and, boy, you got her," and, "Are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me?"

Back in 2016, Kelce played a game of "Kiss, Marry, Kill" with AfterBuzz TV, in which he chose to kiss Swift.

April 27, 2024: Kelce calls Swift his "significant other" at a charity gala.
travis kelce taylor swift flag
A Kansas City Chiefs fan supports Kelce and Swift at the Super Bowl victory parade.

David Eulitt/Getty Images

Kelce brought Swift as his date to the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Golf Classic gala in Las Vegas.

In a highlights reel shared by Kelce's teammate, the couple can be seen walking into the event holding hands.

Other clips shared by fans at the event show Kelce and Swift cuddling and kissing at their table. At one point, Kelce made a speech and referred to Swift as his "significant other." For a surprise auction item, they sold four tickets to The Eras Tour for $80,000.

May 12, 2024: Kelce watches Swift perform her 87th show on The Eras Tour.
taylor swift eras tour
Taylor Swift performs in France.

Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images

When Swift returned to the stage for the European leg of The Eras Tour, she had adjusted the set list to perform songs from "The Tortured Poets Department." The new segment includes "So High School," possibly as a nod to her current relationship.

Swift's fourth and final performance in France also happened to be the tour's 87th show. Kelce, who wears No. 87 for the Chiefs, was in the audience. He was spotted dancing with Swift's close friend, Gigi Hadid, and filming Swift on his iPhone.

"Can you believe it's our 87th show tonight?" Swift asked the audience during her acoustic set, just before playing "The Alchemy" and "Begin Again" as the evening's surprise songs.

During the concert's "1989" segment, Swift also debuted a new outfit: a glittering yellow top with a red ombré skirt. Fans interpreted this as a nod to Kelce and the Chiefs, whose colors are yellow and red. (Kelce previously said his favorite song of Swift's is "Blank Space" from "1989").

Finally, to close the evening, Swift tweaked the lyrics of "Karma" to salute "the guy on the Chiefs" for the second time.

June 23, 2024: Kelce makes his debut appearance on The Eras Tour stage.
Taylor Swift is joined onstage by Travis Kelce (R), during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Wembley Stadium on June 23, 2024 in London, England.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce perform during The Eras Tour in London.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24 via Getty Images

During Swift's third and final performance in London, Kelce made a surprise appearance during her onstage costume change for "The Tortured Poets Department."

This scene depicts Swift getting shot and killed at the end of "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived." Then, she's picked up and revived by a set of dancers dressed as ringmasters. These characters force Swift to strip down, put on heels, and keep performing through the pain — a segue into her meta bop "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart."

Kelce joined the skit as another ringmaster. He picked up Swift's body from the stage, carried her to the fainting couch, and mimed applying powder to her face with a makeup brush. 

Kelce is now cemented in Swiftian history as the first boyfriend to join Swift onstage during one of her concerts.

September 7, 2024: Swift brings Kelce as her date to a friend's wedding.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leave a friend's wedding in New York City.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leave a friend's wedding in New York City.

MEGA/Getty Images

Swift and Kelce were spotted out together in New York City, where they attended the wedding of Karen Elson and Lee Foster, per Vogue.

Elson is a model, while Foster is the owner of Electric Lady Studios, where Swift has recorded many songs over the years — from "Lover" to "The Tortured Poets Department."

Swift wore a cream-colored floral dress for the occasion, paired with a Vivienne Westwood purse, Louboutin sandals, and $64,000 worth of jewelry.

September 8, 2024: The couple attends the US Open together.
Travis Kelce hugging Taylor Swift from behind at the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships.

Gotham/GC Images

During an extended break from the Eras Tour, Swift and Kelce attended the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships, where they were photographed cuddling, kissing, and singing along to "I Believe In a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness. They even wore color-coordinating outfits.

The couple was joined by friends like Brittany Mahomes and the Haim sisters.

September 11, 2024: Swift gives a shout-out to "my boyfriend Travis" at the VMAs.
Taylor Swift accepts the award for video of the year at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Taylor Swift accepts the award for video of the year at the 2024 VMAs.

Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Swift won video of the year for "Fortnight" at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. During her acceptance speech, she described her joyful experience filming (and directing) the video.

"Something that I'll always remember is when I finished a take and I'd say 'cut,' and we'd be done with that take, I would always hear someone cheering from across the studio where we were shooting it," she said. "That one person was my boyfriend Travis."

After an eruption of applause, Swift continued to thank Kelce for his positive attitude.

"Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic," she said. "So I want to thank him for adding that to our shoot because I'll always remember that."

October 7, 2024: After skipping a few games, Swift makes a stylish return to Arrowhead Stadium.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the Chiefs game in Kansas City on October 7, 2024.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the Chiefs game in Kansas City on October 7, 2024.

David Eulitt/Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Despite recent tabloid speculation about their relationship status, Swift showed up to cheer for Kelce when the Chiefs took on the New Orleans Saints.

Swift wore a Vivienne Westwood set and glitter freckles for the occasion in Kansas City, where the Chiefs won their fifth consecutive game and extended their undefeated season.

January 26, 2025: Once again, Swift celebrates on the field when the Chiefs win the AFC championship.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs becoming 2025 AFC champions.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs becoming 2025 AFC champions.

Perry Knotts/Getty Images

For the second year in a row, Swift watched the Chiefs become AFC champions at Arrowhead Stadium — her ninth attendance of the season and 22nd total. She joined Kelce and his team for the on-field celebrations.

February 9, 2025: Swift supports Kelce at Super Bowl LIX.
Taylor Swift at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025.
Taylor Swift at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Swift traveled to New Orleans to cheer for Kelce at their second Super Bowl as a couple.

Earlier that week, Swift and Kelce were spotted dining with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes at Lilette, a popular French restaurant in the city. Swift also had dinner with friends at Gianna, an Italian restaurant near the French Quarter, the night before the big game.

Some of those friends accompanied Swift to Caesars Superdome, including the Haim sisters, Ice Spice, and stylist Ashley Avignone, who was previously mentioned in the liner notes of Swift's 2012 album "Red."

Unlike the previous year, the Chiefs lost at the Super Bowl, falling to the Eagles 40-22.

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Everything you need to know about the 2025 Academy Awards

The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

  • The 97th Academy Awards will be held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
  • Conan O'Brien will host the ceremony for the first time, taking over from Jimmy Kimmel.
  • There will be a few other changes this year, including no best original song performances.

The Academy Awards ceremony is Hollywood's biggest night of the year.

This year's ceremony will see a number of changes, with Conan O'Brien set to host for the first time and no best original song performances.

Here's everything you need to know about the 97th Oscars ceremony.

The 97th Academy Awards is set to take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025

The ceremony is scheduled to take place on the first Sunday in March at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Cillian Murphy accepts the Lead Actor award for "Oppenheimer" onstage at the 96th Annual Oscars held at Dolby Theatre on March 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Cillian Murphy won the best actor award at the 96th Academy Awards.

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images

The ceremony will be broadcast on ABC and be available to stream

The Awards will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories around the world, according to a press release.

Audiences will be able to tune in live to watch from 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on ABC and the ABC App.

The official live red carpet show will begin airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

The ceremony will also be streamed live on Hulu, as well as Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.

The acting awards will be presented by last year's winners

Robert Downey Jr., Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone,  and Cillian Murphy at the 2024 Academy Awards.
Robert Downey Jr., Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Emma Stone, and Cillian Murphy at the 2024 Academy Awards.

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

The Academy has announced that 2024's acting winners will present this year's acting awards, meaning that audiences can expect to see the likes of Emma Stone and Cillian Murphy back on stage.

Original song nominees will not be performed during the ceremony

While one of the highlights of the 2024 Oscars was Ryan Gosling's rendition of "I'm Just Ken," the Academy has announced that none of the songs up for best original song will be performed during this year's ceremony.

Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang said in an email to members that instead, the show would "celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life."

Conan O'Brien will host for the first time

The Emmy Award-winning TV host, best known for his eponymous late-night talk show on NBC, is set to host the prestigious ceremony for the first time.

He takes over from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the ceremony for the last two years.

In a joint statement, Kramer and Yang said they were "thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O'Brien host the Oscars this year."

"He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies and his live TV expertise," they said. "His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best — honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year."

O'Brien responded to the announcement with his typical dry humor, saying: "America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars."

Netflix's "Emilia Pérez" has received the most nominations

Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro and Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez in "Emilia Pérez."
Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro and Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez in "Emilia Pérez."

Netflix

The Spanish-language musical starring Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Selena Gomez received 13 nominations.

The award-season favorites "Wicked" and "The Brutalist" received 10 nominations each.

The nominations did see some surprises, including Sebastian Stan earning a best-actor nod for his portrayal of Donald Trump in "The Apprentice" and Pamela Anderson missing out in the best actress category for her critically acclaimed work in "The Last Showgirl."

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'The Simpsons' voice actor Hank Azaria fears AI may soon replace him: 'It seems just plain wrong'

Hank Azaria has been voicing some of the most beloved and recognizable characters on television for more than 40 years.
Hank Azaria voices a number of characters on the show.

Pool/Getty Images

  • Voice actor Hank Azaria has said he fears being replaced by artificial intelligence.
  • In a New York Times op-ed, he wrote: "It seems just plain wrong to steal my likeness or sound."
  • The actor has voiced more than 100 characters in the long-running animated comedy "The Simpsons."

Actor Hank Azaria has opened up about the possibility of being replaced by artificial intelligence.

In a New York Times essay published earlier this month, Azaria — known for his work on "The Simpsons" — said he feared the evolving technology could be coming for his job on the animated series.

"I imagine that soon enough, artificial intelligence will be able to recreate the sounds of the more than 100 voices I created for characters on The Simpsons over almost four decades," Azaria wrote.

"It makes me sad to think about it. Not to mention, it seems just plain wrong to steal my likeness or sound — or anyone else's."

The Emmy Award-winning actor added that AI models would have a lot of data available to train on, with "access to 36 years of Moe" — one of his most famous characters on the show.

"He's been terrified, in love, hit in the head and, most often, in a state of bitter hatred. I've laughed as Moe in dozens of ways by now. I've probably sighed as Moe 100 times," he wrote. "In terms of training A.I., that's a lot to work with."

Azaria is credited for voicing the characters of Moe the bartender, Chief Wiggum, and Comic Book Guy, among others, on the long-running animated comedy. In 2020, he stepped down from his role voicing the Indian character Apu after accusations that the character was a racist stereotype.

Despite the strides made in AI capabilities in recent years, Azaria said he held some hope that the technology couldn't quite match up to his performances.

"I'd like to think that no matter how much an A.I. version of Moe or Snake or Chief Wiggum will sound like my voice, something will still be missing — the humanness. There's so much of who I am that goes into creating a voice," he said. "A misconception about voice acting is that it takes only a voice. But our bodies and souls are involved to get the proper believability."

But Azaria added that he was nevertheless still worried about his job.

"If I'm being honest, I am a little worried. This is my job. This is what I love to do, and I don't want to have to stop doing it," he wrote. "The conventional wisdom in Hollywood is that the technology for making faces seem fully human is five years away. I fear that the voice equivalent is also coming."

Azaria's op-ed follows a debate over whether the use of AI to enhance the Hungarian accents of stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones in the Oscar-nominated film "The Brutalist" makes it less deserving of artistic praise or potential awards.

According to Dávid Jancsó, an editor who worked on the Brady Corbet-directed film, the production team fed the voices of Brody and Jones into Respeecher — a Ukrainian software platform that uses AI to let one person speak in the voice of another — and then added in Jancsó's own voice to perfect them.

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Netflix's chief content officer Bela Bajaria said 'nobody knows' what prestige TV is as she rejected criticism of the platform

Bela Bejaria, Netflix's Chief Content Officer at the company's annual showcase of films, series and games coming in 2025.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer.

Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

  • Netflix's Bela Bajaria has defended the platform against suggestions it no longer makes prestige TV.
  • "Nobody knows what 'prestige TV' actually is," Bajaria said.
  • She was speaking via livestream at a Netflix preview event attended by Business Insider.

Netflix's chief content officer has responded to suggestions that the streaming service no longer makes prestige TV.

Speaking via a livestream in Los Angeles for a Netflix preview event attended by Business Insider on Wednesday, Bela Bajaria said she wanted to bust the "myth" that the streamer no longer creates prestige original programming for its subscribers.

"The most annoying thing about this myth — besides the fact that it's not true — is that nobody knows what 'prestige TV' actually is," Bajaria said.

"Is it a critically acclaimed show? Does it win awards? Is it a show audiences love? Is it one that people at your dinner parties in New York and L.A. talk about?"

Bajaria added: "The only thing we do know is that a lot of people who brag about making prestige TV have a very narrow audience. "

Over the years, Netflix has expanded its offerings to include live sporting events and reality shows, which some see as a departure from hit original dramas like "Narcos" and "House of Cards."

But Bajaria said Netflix was "different" from other streaming services and networks because it has "never tried to be famous for just one thing" and so attracts a wide-ranging audience.

House of cards season 6
"House of Cards," which debuted in 2013, is often credited with establishing Netflix's ability to produce prestige dramas.

Netflix

The streamer announced in January that it had finished 2024 with more than 300 million paid subscribers worldwide, placing it above rivals such as Apple TV+, Max, and Prime Video.

Bajaria also argued that Netflix was making more critically acclaimed and celebrated shows "than ever," pointing to the fact that the streamer had 107 Emmy and 36 Golden Globe nominations last year.

Bajaria said that this year, the streamer will be bringing viewers a variety of shows "that meet any definition of 'prestige TV."

Such offerings include "Zero Day," a political thriller starring Robert de Niro, Angela Bassett, and Jesse Plemons, which is set to debut on February 20.

Others include "Death By Lightening," a new historical miniseries produced by "Game of Thrones" showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, "The Beast In Me," a thriller starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, and "Black Rabbit," which will reteam "Ozark" stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney.

At Wednesday's event, Bajaria also took the opportunity to push back at criticism of "sameness in mainstream culture."

While bringing up a screenshot of a 2024 New York Times video article titled "Is Creativity Dead?," Bajaria said: "I get it. Last year, the 15 highest-grossing films were all sequels, reboots, or spinoffs."

But she added that "there's a whole lot of really interesting, creative work that people don't always see."

"Creativity is not dead — not on Netflix, and not for the creators we work with. They're always coming up with amazing, original ideas we can't stop thinking about."

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Beyoncé finally announced the 'Cowboy Carter' tour for 2025. Here's everything we know.

Beyoncé is taking "Cowboy Carter" on the road. The singer announced an accompanying tour to her 2024 country album on February 1.
Beyoncé debuted live performances of "Cowboy Carter" songs on December 25, 2024.

Netflix

  • Beyoncé confirmed the "Cowboy Carter" tour is happening.
  • The singer is hitting the road in 2025, making stops across the US, plus London and Paris.
  • Her previous tour for "Renaissance" wrapped in late 2023.

The wait is over, Beyhive: Beyoncé has finally confirmed the "Cowboy Carter" tour is set to go ahead.

The star made the announcement in a pair of social media posts early Sunday morning, nearly a year after the country-inspired album was released.

The first post featured a video of a light-up sign flashing the words: "COWBOY CARTER TOUR."

The second post showed an image of Beyoncé alongside a brief caption, confirming the tour would take place in 2025.

Later that night, Beyoncé won three Grammy Awards, including best country album and album of the year. After the ceremony, she shared tour dates on her official website.

The Cowboy Carter Tour will make stops across the US, including four dates at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, four dates at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and two stops at NRG Stadium in Beyoncé's hometown of Houston. The tour will also travel across the pond for four shows in London, followed by two in Paris.

The full list of 22 confirmed tour dates can be found below:

  • April 28, 2025: Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium
  • May 1, 2025: Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium
  • May 4, 2025: Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium
  • May 7, 2025: Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium
  • May 15, 2025: Chicago — Soldier Field
  • May 17, 2025: Chicago — Soldier Field
  • May 22, 2025: East Rutherford, New Jersey — MetLife Stadium
  • May 24, 2025: East Rutherford, New Jersey — MetLife Stadium
  • May 25, 2025: East Rutherford, New Jersey — MetLife Stadium
  • May 28, 2025: East Rutherford, New Jersey — MetLife Stadium
  • June 5, 2025: London — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • June 7, 2025: London — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • June 10, 2025: London — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • June 12, 2025: London — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • June 19, 2025: Paris — Stade de France
  • June 21, 2025: Paris — Stade de France
  • June 28, 2025: Houston — NRG Stadium
  • June 29, 2025: Houston — NRG Stadium
  • July 4, 2025: Washington, D.C. — Northwest Stadium
  • July 7, 2025: Washington, D.C. — Northwest Stadium
  • July 10, 2025: Atlanta, GA — Mercedes Benz Stadium
  • July 11, 2025: Atlanta, GA — Mercedes Benz Stadium

The general on-sale will begin Friday, February 14, at 12 p.m. local time, according to a press release from Live Nation.

Fans who already signed up for updates on Beyoncé's website will have BeyHive presale access starting February 11. Fans can also sign up for Ticketmaster's Artist Presale now through February 6 at 8 a.m. ET for presale access on February 13.

Additionally, Citi cardholders and Verizon customers will have presale access on February 12. For those hoping to attend a show in London or Paris, Mastercard cardholders will have special access to presale tickets starting February 12.

Beyoncé had been dropping hints about exciting news on the horizon

The singer debuted live performances of songs from "Cowboy Carter" during an NFL halftime show on Christmas Day, which was streamed live on Netflix under the title "Beyoncé Bowl."

The announcement of the tour comes after Beyoncé's  Christmas Day Halftime performance during the NFL game streamed on Netflix.
Beyoncé teased her "Cowboy Carter" tour with the "Beyoncé Bowl."

Netflix

Following the performance, the singer dropped a now-deleted video that teased an announcement on the date January 14, 2025, with the caption, "Look at that horse," referring to a lyric from her song "Sweet Honey Buckiin.'"

Fans theorized that either a tour announcement or a new album was on its way. But Beyoncé chose to postpone the announcement due to the wildfires that were devastating the Los Angeles area at the time.

Then, on Sunday, Netflix shared a post directing viewers to revisit the "Beyoncé Bowl." An audio-less clip from the performance was captioned: "Tonight seems like the perfect night to rewatch Beyoncé Bowl on Netflix."

Beyoncé originally teased "Cowboy Carter" in a Verizon commercial during last year's Super Bowl. She quickly followed up with a pair of lead singles: "Texas Hold 'Em," which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "16 Carriages."

The album was released on March 29, 2024, to widespread critical acclaim. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and scored a second week atop the chart.

Many fans had hoped that Beyoncé would announce the "Cowboy Carter" tour in 2024.

However, as fans will know from the documentary concert film "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé," which chronicled the creative process behind bringing her previous world tour to life, a Beyoncé concert does not come together overnight.

As the singer revealed in the documentary, the tour was the culmination of four years of planning and dedication.

The "Renaissance" world tour saw Beyoncé perform 56 shows across Europe and North America. It wrapped up in Kansas City on October 1, 2023.

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'Emilia Pérez' star Karla Sofía Gascón deactivates her X account following backlash over past posts

Karla Sofía Gascón posing at the Golden Globe Awards. She's wearing a one-shoulder orange dress.
Karla Sofía Gascón at the Golden Globes earlier this month.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

  • "Emilia Pérez" star Karla Sofía Gascón has deactivated her X account following backlash over old tweets.
  • Fans had highlighted negative tweets that appear to have been posted by Gascón as recently as 2021.
  • "I can no longer allow this campaign of hate and misinformation to affect me and my family," Gascón said.

"Emilia Pérez" star Karla Sofía Gascón has deactivated her X account after coming under fire for controversial past social media posts.

The actor, who made history as the first transgender performer to be nominated in the Oscars' best actress category, said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter that she apologized for her "erroneous" past opinions and that she had deactivated her account as she could "no longer allow this campaign of hate and misinformation" to affect her or her family.

"I have been threatened with death, insulted, abused and harassed to the point of exhaustion," she added. "I have a wonderful daughter to protect, whom I love madly and who supports me in everything."

In a separate statement via Netflix, the actor acknowledged the "conversation" around her past posts, adding: "As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain."

On January 30, the Canadian journalist Sarah Hagi shared screenshots on X of posts that appeared to have been made by Gascón. Business Insider couldn't verify all the screenshots before Gascón's account was deleted.

The screenshots contained disparaging remarks about Muslims and Islam.

The posts were written in Spanish but translated through Google by Hagi. This led more social media users to search for and share screenshots of other posts that appeared to be from Gascón.

Gascón wrote in other posts, seen by BI, that all religions should be banned. In a post from 2020, the actor referred to the COVID-19 vaccine as "the Chinese vaccine" and said it had a chip inside it.

Variety reported that in a post shared in 2021, Gascón referred to the Oscars ceremony that year as an "Afro-Korean festival" and "ugly, ugly gala." That year Daniel Kaluuya, a Black British actor, and Yuh-jung Youn, a South Korean actor, both won Oscars.

Variety also highlighted another deleted post from 2020 that was shared days after George Floyd's death in which Gascón referred to him as "a drug addict and a hustler."

Representatives for Netflix, Gascón, and the Academy did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

On January 31, Zoe Saldaña, Gascón's costar, said in response to the controversy during a Q&A for "Emilia Pérez" in London: "I'm still processing everything that has transpired in the last couple of days, and I'm sad. It makes me really sad because I don't support [it], and I don't have any tolerance for any negative rhetoric towards people of any group."

Since January 31, Gascón has shared two more statements on Instagram defending herself. On February 1, she appeared in an hourlong interview with CNN en Español, where she broke down in tears while defending herself from accusations of Islamophobia.

Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro and Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez in "Emilia Pérez." They're sitting next to each other at a table in a restuarant.
Zoe Saldaña stars alongside Karla Sofía Gascón in "Emilia Pérez."

Netflix

'Emilia Pérez' is the most nominated film of the 2025 Oscars

The controversy around Gascón has come after critics of "Emilia Pérez," which won four Golden Globes and received 13 Oscar nominations, voiced their opinions about the film on social media, calling out its problematic portrayal of Mexico and transphobic stereotypes.

Gascón has been one of the film's main defenders.

On Tuesday, the Brazilian publication Folha de S.Paulo published a video interview in which Gascón criticized people who were tearing her down to support Fernanda Torres, one of her competitors for the best actress Oscar.

In response, some sought to have Gascón disqualified from the Oscars, accusing her of breaking an Academy rule prohibiting those involved with a film from sharing public communication that casts a competing movie in a "negative or derogatory light."

Variety reported on Wednesday that Gascón didn't break the rule because she didn't comment on Torres' performance in "I'm Still Here."

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'Sex and the City' star Kristin Davis on why you shouldn't lend money to people you're dating: 'Horrible mistake'

Kristin Davis.
Kristin Davis.

Arnold Jerocki/WireImage/Getty Images

  • "Sex and the City" star Kristin Davis said a man once "ghosted" her after she lent him $5,000 while they were dating.
  • She said she made the "horrible mistake" of lending money to the "out-of-work" actor in the 1990s.
  • The "now very successful" actor never paid her back, she said.

Kristin Davis said a "very successful" actor once "ghosted" her after she loaned him $5,000 while they were dating.

The "Sex and the City" star spoke about her experience with guest and former costar Sarah Wynter in a recent episode of her podcast Are You A Charlotte?"

Davis told listeners she made the "horrible mistake" of lending the money to the then "out-of-work" actor in the mid-1990s.

She recalled: "At the time, I had money because I'd been working, and I was at his house, and he had all of these 'your electricity's gonna be turned off' notices that you get when you can't pay your bills. They were all just all over his house."

Davis said the unnamed actor had also "wrecked his motorcycle," which prevented him from attending auditions.

"I was like, 'Can I lend you some money?'" she said. "Horrible mistake. Anyone listening, do not lend anyone money that you are dating. It doesn't end well. It really irked me."

sex and the city
Kristin Davis said the incident occurred before she found fame on "Sex and the City."

HBO/Getty Images

The actor said that the incident occurred sometime before she found fame as Charlotte York on the hugely successful HBO series "Sex and the City," which ran for six seasons between 1998 and 2004 — and around the time she was on "Melrose Place."

Davis said the pair had "a casual thing" but refused to name the actor involved. She added that he had gone on to become "very successful."

She soon came to regret the decision, however, as she said lending the money "changed the dynamic in a horrible way."

She continued: "I probably should have known better. But I just felt like, 'I can help. I should help this guy. He's so talented,' which he is."

"I think it was all of $5,000. So I lent him this money, and then he stops calling. I'm like, 'What the heck?'"

"I just would love some acknowledgment or whatever, which is kind of a fantasy," she added.

But that seemingly wasn't the last time the "And Just Like That" star made the "mistake" of lending a date money.

"I think the next time was the last time," she said.

Davis, who starred in "Cash Out" alongside John Travolta last year, announced her podcast in December.

The show, which debuted on January 13, sees Davis and special guests share "untold stories" and behind-the-scenes tales from "Sex and the City."

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Timothée Chalamet's guerrilla marketing campaign for the Bob Dylan biopic 'A Complete Unknown' may help him win an Oscar

Timothée Chalamet posing with a bike in front of a sign that reads "Searchlight Pictures, A Complete Unknown."
Timothée Chalamet arrived to the London Premiere of "A Complete Unknown" on a rental e-bike.

Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images for The Walt Disney Company Limited

  • People can't get enough of Timothée Chalamet's unusual marketing campaign for "A Complete Unknown."
  • He performed deep-cut Bob Dylan songs on "Saturday Night Live!" and arrived at the London premiere on a rental bike.
  • He's nominated for an Oscar and these stunts could help get the attention of the Academy Awards voting panel.

From rocking up to a premiere on a rental bike to performing a medley of Bob Dylan songs on "Saturday Night Live!" Timothée Chalamet has taken an unusual approach to his press tour for his latest movie, "A Complete Unknown."

These unconventional stunts are a smart tactic to break through the noise during a competitive awards season, marketing experts told Business Insider.

If they pay off, they could help clinch Chalamet his first Oscar, making him the youngest best actor winner in Academy Awards history.

Chalamet keeps going viral

In the last few months, Chalamet has gone viral for a number of unexpected side quests while promoting the James Mangold-directed biopic. Before the publicity campaign began in earnest, he showed up to a lookalike contest of himself last October, making him appear "down-to-earth," Katharina Stolley, a marketing lecturer specializing in the creative industries at the University of Birmingham, UK, said.

He kept up the stunts as the film hit theaters in December by surprising people with his "elite ball knowledge" on an ESPN panel, copying an unexpectedly casual and memed outfit of Dylan's at the New York premiere, and arriving to the London red carpet on a bright green e-bike that has become synonymous with young Londoners.

timothèe chalamet just arrived on a lime bike 😭 pic.twitter.com/oJJZ5ktFFA

— ٍ (@chxlametcinema) January 14, 2025

Then there was his circuit of interviews with niche internet celebrities with cult followings: Theo Von, Brittany Broski, and the eccentric journalist Nardwuar, who typically interviews musicians not actors.

Chalamet then used a more traditional promotional tactic this weekend: hosting the sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live!"

Even then he pushed the envelope, becoming the first actor to host and perform as an episode's musical guest, singing a selection of deep-cut Dylan tracks.

The appearance gave those who have not yet seen "A Complete Unknown" a glimpse of Chalamet's take on Dylan, while "endearing him to a new, wider audience," said Markus Wohlfiel, a senior lecturer in marketing at De Montfort University, UK.

Stolley said that these stunts cultivate a "relatable public image" and "reveal his commitment to staying connected with his audience."

Chalamet is at the center of a clever "guerrilla marketing campaign"

They also amount to, more or less, free publicity. Searchlight Pictures, the Disney-owned production and distribution company behind the film, rolled out a traditional marketing campaign for "A Complete Unknown," including press junkets, as well as advertising in print and in cinemas and on billboards.

But Wohlfiel said Chalamet's stunts have collectively delivered a "clever out-of-the-box guerrilla marketing campaign."

"As everyone is talking about it in the traditional and social media, creating interest in the actor and the movie, they are clearly achieving their objectives with hardly any financial investment," he said of Chalamet and his publicity team.

Carl Jones, a senior lecturer in digital media at the University of Westminster, UK, agreed that Chalamet's stunts are a cost-effective way of getting his name — and, by extension, the movie — out there.

"This type of activity is a free way to get a film talked about in the media. Usually advertising a film costs Hollywood studios millions of dollars, but doing a stunt only costs the price of the stunt," he said.

Better yet, the gambits match the theme of "A Complete Unknown," which covers a controversial period in Dylan's career in the 1960s when he switched from acoustic to electric guitar and took a gamble on a new sound; Chalamet is similarly walking an unorthodox path as a young star.

Chalamet's promotion of 'A Complete Unknown' has a second target — awards voters.

A composite showing an image of Timothée Chalamet wearing a blonde wig, blue beanie, grey scarf and black leather jacket next to an image of Bob Dylan in 2003 wearing the exact same look.
Timothée Chalamet at the New York premiere of "A Complete Unknown" in December 2024, copying Bob Dylan's outfit at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

Nina Westervelt / Variety via Getty Images / James Devaney / WireImage

Although the actor lost out on a Golden Globe earlier this month, he is still in the running for a BAFTA, SAG Award, Critics' Choice Award, and the most coveted of all, an Oscar. These awards are chosen by panels of industry insiders and critics whom nominees must impress.

Ashanti Omkar, a film, TV, and culture critic and broadcaster who is a member of the voting body for the BAFTAs, said Chalamet's virality could help keep him on voters' radars.

"Promotions which are memorable can stick in the minds of busy voters who are juggling their full time jobs while also assessing what to vote for," Omkar said. "The stunts here are great for visibility, but it is Timothée's sheer hard work and talent that has gotten him this level of awards buzz for 'A Complete Unknown.'"

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Mel Gibson wants to 'fix' Hollywood as part of his role as Trump's 'special envoy'

Mel Gibson attends the Los Angeles Special Preview Screening of "Monster Summer" at Directors Guild Of America on September 24, 2024.
Mel Gibson

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

  • Mel Gibson has said he wants to "fix" the problem of stars leaving Hollywood.
  • "A lot of people have left, and I don't blame them," Gibson said in a recent interview.
  • He was recently named one of President Donald Trump's "special envoys" to Hollywood.

Mel Gibson has said he wants to help solve the problem of people leaving Hollywood as part of his role as one of President Donald Trump's "special envoys."

Ahead of his inauguration, Trump named Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, and Jon Voight as ambassadors to Hollywood, tasking them with bringing business back to the film industry.

Discussing his new role with Fox News's Sean Hannity on Saturday, Gibson said he was "ready, willing, and able to be of service" to Trump before sharing his thoughts on the trend of Californians ditching the Golden State.

"A lot of people have left, and I don't blame them," Gibson said, adding that many had left for the reasons that Hannity said led him to move out of New York — which included crime, schools, high taxes, and regulations.

"It didn't suit them anymore," Gibson said. "Even people who were liberal, it didn't suit them anymore. But if everybody leaves, what's going to happen?"

The Oscar winner, known for his roles in "Lethal Weapon" and "Braveheart," said that despite the trend, he has chosen to stay in California. Gibson's home was recently destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires.

The actor, 69, said that going forward California needed to "be competitive" with the rest of the world to keep people from packing their bags.

People "are going somewhere else because it's more cost-effective. There's just a lot of prohibitive regulations and things in the way that I think could be lifted," he said. "But I think it can be fixed."

As Business Insider previously reported, between 2021 and 2022, just over 817,000 people left California — the most of any state in that period.

Actors, executives, and producers are among those to have decided to leave the Golden State in recent years — including Gibson's fellow Hollywood ambassador Stallone.

The "Rocky" actor said in an episode of "The Family Stallone" filmed in 2023 but aired in 2024 that he and his family had "permanently" vacated California and were headed to Florida.

It's not hard to see why Florida is an appealing alternative to California for some. The state has no personal income tax, while corporate income tax is also relatively low.

In the interview with Fox News, Gibson said he would look to focus on tax incentives in his new role, as those offered by California Gov. Gavin Newsom may not be "enough."

"I know Newsom gave some tax incentives, but maybe not enough because it's still not working. There are other things that offset that," he said.

Expanding on the state of the film industry, Gibson said that on one occasion, it had been cheaper for him to fly a whole film crew to Europe, provide accommodation, and shoot for three days than it was to "shoot for one day just down the road."

"There's something wrong there," he said.

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Jesse Eisenberg criticizes 'rich and powerful' tech leaders for getting involved in politics instead of 'doing good things for the world'

Jesse Eisenberg.
Jesse Eisenberg.

Nathan Congleton/NBC/Getty Images

  • Jesse Eisenberg has criticized top tech leaders for getting involved in politics.
  • The actor, who once played Mark Zuckerberg, said tech leaders should focus their money and attention elsewhere.
  • Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos were among the tech billionaires who attended Trump's inauguration.

Jesse Eisenberg has said that "tech bros" who have involved themselves in politics would be better off "doing good things for the world."

The actor, who portrayed Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film "The Social Network," made the comments during a recent episode of "Real Time With Bill Maher."

Eisenberg was asked by the show's host what he thought of the array of "tech bros" who attended President Donald Trump's inauguration earlier this month.

The actor-director responded: "I look at it from a very specific perspective, which is if you're so rich and powerful, why are you not just spending your days doing good things for the world? So it's hard for me to understand the specifics of what they're doing."

"You know, I married a woman who's like this amazing activist. All she thinks about all day is, 'How can I help the people who are most in need?'" he said of his wife, Anna Strout, who works for a number of nonprofits.

the social network eduardo dustin mark chris
Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 film "The Social Network."

Columbia Pictures

Eisenberg, who directed and starred in the Oscar-nominated film "A Real Pain," continued: "So when I watch these incredibly powerful people, I just think, 'Why are you not spending your day helping people?'"

"Why are you getting mired into this weird stuff — stuff I don't really understand — and taking privacy concerns away, hurting people who are already hurting, marginalized people?"

"I'm just thinking, 'Why are they not spending every day helping people?'" Eisenberg added.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were among the tech leaders to attend Trump's inauguration.

Musk spent millions of his own money supporting Trump's election bid last year and has since been tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Both Meta and Amazon have also offered their support to Trump, donating $1 million each to his inaugural fund.

Speaking a The New York Times' DealBook Summit last month, Bezos — who has been at odds with Trump in the past — said that he was "actually very optimistic" about another Trump term and that he would like to help Trump with his deregulation plans.

For Zuckerberg's part, he has made a series of sweeping changes at Meta that appear to be remaking the company at least partly in the image of Trump and Musk.

Trump's inauguration also saw Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI's Sam Altman, TikTok exec Shou Zi Chew, and Google boss Sundar Pichai in attendance.

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Everything we know about the 8th and final season of 'Outlander'

Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) in "Outlander" season seven, part two.
Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

  • The time-traveling romance drama "Outlander" is set to finish after season eight.
  • The final run will consist of 10 episodes and may finally explain many of the show's mysteries.
  • Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe will return to wrap up the series.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Outlander" season seven.

Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire's (Caitríona Balfe) time-traveling escapades are finally coming to an end.

It's been confirmed that the Starz drama "Outlander" has been renewed for an eighth and final season, meaning that audiences have just one more outing with the much-loved couple.

Here's what we know about season eight so far.

Season eight will be the show's final season.

What an incredible journey with an incredible fanbase. #Outlander has officially been renewed for an eighth and final season. pic.twitter.com/mNJ3AZXW2s

— Outlander (@Outlander_STARZ) January 19, 2023

In January 2023, Starz confirmed that the show would return for one final season.

"For nearly a decade, 'Outlander' has won the hearts of audiences worldwide, and we're pleased to bring Claire and Jamie's epic love story to a proper conclusion," said Kathryn Busby, Starz's original programming president, in a statement at the time.

The new season will consist of 10 episodes, which have already been filmed.

When announcing that production had begun on the show's prequel — "Outlander: Blood of My Blood" — in February 2024, Starz confirmed that the "10-episode eighth season [of Outlander]... will begin production shortly in Scotland."

Balfe and Heughan shared behind-the-scenes glimpses with fans throughout the summer of 2024, including photos from the final episode readthrough.

The two then filmed the very last episode of Outlander in September 2024.

Sam Heughan, Caitríona Balfe, and the rest of the main cast are all expected to return for the final episodes.
Sophie Skelton, Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Richard Rankin attend Outlander Season 7 Part Two Preview during NYCC at Jacob Javits Center on October 17, 2024 in New York City.
Sophie Skelton, Caitríona Balfe, Sam Heughan, and Richard Rankin.

Sean Zanni/Getty Images for STARZ

"Outlander" wouldn't be "Outlander" without its two main stars, who are set to return for season eight.

The pair, who have also acted as executive producers since season five, play 18th-century Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser and his time-hopping wife Claire Randall Fraser.

The couple's daughter, Brianna MacKenzie (Sophie Skelton), and her husband, Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin), will also be back on screen.

Other supporting characters audiences can expect to return include Buck MacKenzie (Diarmaid Murtagh), Young Ian (John Bell), Lord John Grey (David Berry), William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), Fergus (César Domboy), and Marsali MacKimmie (Lauren Lyle).

Recently introduced characters such as the Hunter siblings, Rachel and Denzell (Izzy Meikle-Small and Joey Phillips), will also likely be back, as well as Fanny Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson).

The final installment may finally answer questions about the appearance of Jamie's 'ghost' in season one.
The ghost of Jamie (Sam Heughan) appeared in "Outlander" season one.
The ghost of Jamie (Sam Heughan) appeared in "Outlander" season one.

Starz

Fans have been asking for an explanation about the appearance of Jamie's "ghost" in the pilot episode of the show for years.

It's expected that the final season will finally explain how and why Jamie was able to see Claire in 1945 before she took her life-changing tumble through the standing stones.

However, it's not the only mystery left unsolved.

As revealed in the season seven finale, Jamie and Claire's infant daughter Faith may have survived after all.

The episodes will be based roughly on the events of the ninth "Outlander" novel but will diverge from Diana Gabaldon's planned ending.
Diana Gabaldon has shared lots of news about the tenth and final book in the "Outlander" series.
Diana Gabaldon hasn't finished writing the "Outlander" series.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Starz

While early seasons of the show roughly adapted one book per season, that hasn't been the case in recent years.

The most recent seventh season incorporated elements and storylines from three different "Outlander" installments, "A Breath of Snow and Ashes," "An Echo in the Bone," and "Written in My Own Heart's Blood."

Audiences can expect to see the eighth season follow the storyline of the most recently published book, "Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone."

But like "Game of Thrones," another much-loved TV drama adapted from a long-running series of books, "Outlander" will likely end its run on television before the final novel is released.

Although Gabaldon has a close working relationship with the showrunners, audiences can expect the "Outlander" novels and "Outlander" television series to have different endings.

It's not the end of "Outlander" as a spinoff is on the way.
Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) in "Outlander: Blood of My Blood."
Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) in "Outlander: Blood of My Blood."

Starz

However, fans won't have to say goodbye to "Outlander" for good, as a prequel series is coming.

"Outlander: Blood of My Blood" will tell two parallel origin stories: how Jamie's parents came to meet and Claire's parents' war-time romance. It will air in the summer of 2025.

In the 18th-century Scotland storyline, Harriet Slater, best known for her role in "Pennyworth," will play Jamie's mother, Ellen MacKenzie. Actor Jamie Roy will play his father, Brian Fraser.

Claire's parents' story unfolds in World War I-era England. Hermione Corfield will star as Claire's mother, Julia Moriston, while Jeremy Irvine will play her father, Henry Beauchamp.

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Here's where every major 'Outlander' character ended up in the season 7 finale

Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

  • Warning: Spoilers ahead for the season seven finale of Starz's "Outlander."
  • The season finale of the time-traveling romance drama delivered plenty of twists and turns.
  • Here's a recap of where Jamie, Claire, and the rest of the characters ended up.

The season seven finale of the time-traveling romance drama "Outlander" aired on Friday.

Here's where all of the major characters ended up.

Claire was critically injured and made a shocking discovery about her past.
Caitríona Balfe as Claire in "Outlander" season seven
Caitríona Balfe as Claire in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

The second half of season seven delivered some truly shocking twists for our favorite time traveler.

Claire (Caitríona Balfe) was confronted with the news that Jamie (Sam Heughan) had died while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, leaving her widowed.

She then hastily married Lord John Grey (David Berry) as a means to stop the English army from arresting and executing her for spying on behalf of the rebels.

It was only after Claire and Lord John consummated their marriage that she learned that Jamie had survived his voyage to America.

As the Revolutionary War continued to wage on around them, Claire found herself at the center of the Battle of Monmouth, where she was critically injured by a stray bullet.

At the close of season seven, Claire had made a full recovery but found herself confronted with something she had previously believed impossible: her and Jamie's first child, a daughter named Faith, had not died in childbirth over 30 years before.

Jamie severed ties with the Continental Army.
Jamie Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.
Jamie Fraser in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Jamie finally returned to his native home in the second half of season seven after many years away.

The reunion with Jamie's sister Jenny (Kristin Atherton) and other members of the Fraser family was cut short when Claire was summoned to Philadelphia to help an ailing member of the Grey family.

Once back on American soil, Jamie found himself called upon by none other than George Washington, who promoted him to brigadier general in the Continental Army.

However, when Claire's life was put on the line, Jamie severed ties with the army, writing his resignation in blood on the back of a shirtless messenger.

Brianna was reunited with Roger and met some other family members.
Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie in "Outlander" season seven.
Sophie Skelton as Brianna MacKenzie in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Brianna's family was torn apart in the second half of "Outlander" season seven thanks to the meddling of her new adversary, Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton).

After being led to believe that Rob had taken her son Jemmy (Matthew Adair) through the stones at Craigh na Dun, Roger (Richard Rankin) followed, leaving Brianna and her youngest child, Mandy (Rosa Morris), to fend for themselves in the 20th century.

Brianna eventually found that Rob had not taken Jemmy to another time period but was holding him hostage in the present day. Thanks to Mandy's psychic-like connection to Jemmy, they eventually found that he'd been taken to a tunnel under Loch Errochty.

After that, Brianna and the two youngsters went through the standing stones at Craigh na Dun themselves, determined to find Roger in the past.

They did so, and Brianna was able to have another sweet family reunion as well, meeting her grandfather, Brian Fraser (Andrew Whipp).

Roger spent most of the season separated from his immediate family.
Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin) in "Outlander" season seven.
Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin) in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Roger spent all of the second half of "Outlander" season seven in 1739 after he wound up there while looking for his son.

He and Buck MacKenzie (Diarmaid Murtagh), who also made the trip back, encountered several key characters while there, including a younger version of Buck's parents, Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) and Dougal MacKenzie (Graham MacTavish).

Roger also came across his own father, Jerry MacKenzie (Nicholas Ralph), whom they discovered had also accidentally traveled to the past while fighting in World War Two. While Jerry wasn't aware of who Roger was, the two shared a sweet moment before Roger sent him back to his own timeline.

By the end of the season, Roger had reunited with his family after they found him at the family's ancestral home of Lallybroch.

Young Ian married for a second time and said goodbye to both his father and his beloved dog.
Ian Murray (John Bell) and Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small) in "Outlander" season seven.
Ian Murray (John Bell) and Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small) in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Young Ian (John Bell) began the second half of season seven in Scotland, where he reunited with his father (Steven Cree), who was dying of consumption.

Following that, Ian returned to America to be with Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small), and the two married in a Quaker ceremony. 

In the season finale, Ian received both good and bad news; firstly, he learned that Rachel was pregnant. Not long after, though, he woke up to find that his beloved dog Rollo died of old age in the night.

Lord John survived a brush with death and made it back home.
Lord John Grey (David Berry) in season seven of "Outlander."
Lord John Grey (David Berry) in season seven of "Outlander."

Starz

When his marriage to Claire was annulled following Jamie's return from the dead, Lord John Grey found his life on the line.

After Jamie pretended to take John hostage in a nearby forest to get a group of British soldiers off his tail, the two men came to blows when Jamie learned how close John had gotten to Claire in his absence.

A group of rebel soldiers who happened upon the sparring duo took Lord John away as their own prisoner. 

John managed to escape and was later found by a Continental soldier who set him free.

William discovered the truth about his parentage.
Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart) in "Outlander" season seven
Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart) in "Outlander" season seven

Starz

Shaken by the realization that Jamie was his father, William attempted to take his mind off of the truth about his parentage by visiting a brothel.

While there, he met Jane Pocock (Silvia Presente), a sex worker with whom he forged a friendship. 

William paid to spend a night with Jane in order to save her from the lecherous Captain Harkness (Adam Jackson-Smith).

Later on in the season, Jane and her younger sister Fanny (Florrie May Wilkinson) sought out William at the British Army encampment outside of Philadelphia after they fled the brothel.

As Jane explained, Captain Harkness had paid a large sum to take Fanny's virginity. Jane had then done what she thought she had to do to save her sister and killed Captain Harkness.

After Jane was arrested for the crime, William enlisted his father's help to try to rescue her.

Jane met a tragic end.
Jane Pocock (Silvia Presente), William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), and Fanny Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson) in "Outlander" season seven.
Jane Pocock (Silvia Presente), William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), and Fanny Pocock (Florrie May Wilkinson) in "Outlander" season seven.

Starz

Jane's time on the show is brief but important.

After initially meeting William at a brothel, Jane crossed paths with him again after she killed a high-ranking British soldier. William agreed to help her and her sister escape to New York.

Before William was able to get them out of Philadelphia safely, Jane was arrested and sentenced to death.

While being held prisoner, William and Jamie ambushed the soldiers guarding her. They burst in to save her, but it was too late. Accepting her fate, Jane had already taken her own life.

This left Fanny without a guardian. With no one else to turn to, William asked Claire and Jamie to take the youngster in, leading to the discovery that Jane and Fanny's mother may have been the couple's presumed-dead daughter, Faith.

In the last moments of the finale, Claire came across Fanny singing a song that she had sweetly sung to her daughter as a baby — a song that no one else, except a time traveler like Claire, would know since it hadn't been written by that point in history.

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