“We haven’t been on since Karen was sentenced, and I don’t have much to say,” Cohen, 56, said on the Monday, March 3, episode of SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live. “I will say, I am thinking of Karen every day. I’ve been thinking about her a lot and I’m so sad about this. I’m so sad about how this entire thing has played out.”
On Wednesday, February 26, a judge sentenced Huger, 61, to two years in jail with one year suspended, meaning she will be incarcerated for one year. She was ordered to report directly to police custody.
The sentencing came after the Bravo star, known as the “Grand Dame” of Potomac, was previously charged with a DUI, a DWI and reckless driving after a March 2024 car accident. She was found guilty on nearly all charges — except the count of driving recklessly — in December 2024.
“Although we are disappointed in the jury’s verdict, we of course respect their decision and appreciate their time hearing our case,” Huger’s lawyer, A. Scott Bolden, said in a statement to People at the time. “We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”
Phylicia J. L. Munn/Bravo
While Cohen stated that he is a “Karen fan,” he made it clear that drunk driving “is no joke” and was surprised to hear from a Potomac judge that Huger had previous legal troubles involving alcohol.
“It’s so bad, so that this was her fourth situation was tough to hear and I’m not surprised that the judge was not playing, you know?” he explained. “I’m not surprised at all, and then hearing what I heard on the reunion last night from Gizelle [Bryant] who said that she heard that she was offered a plea and home confinement for six months. Who were her lawyers that were recommending to go to trial on this when they knew there was body cam footage like that? I mean, it’s so sad.”
Although Huger maintained her innocence throughout filming season 9 of The Real Housewives of Potomac, police body cam footage released after the guilty verdict led some costars to question her actions.
“I always knew she was guilty,” costar Mia Thornton said during the January 26 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. “Sorry, I did. It’s very, very sad. I really feel like if she would have just owned up to what she did, then we would not know.”
Huger was noticeably absent from The Real Housewives of Potomac’s reunion because she had enrolled in a recovery program. She addressed the situation in a pre-taped video.
“No, I’m not an alcoholic, let’s be clear,” she said in a clip that aired during the reunion. “This is very frightening but I accept full responsibility for everything that went on with my car accident. I don’t care about me right now … I care about my family. They are so hurt.”
Denise Richards’ daughters Sami and Lola Sheen fight hard but love harder.
“Things now are OK,” Sami, 20, exclusively shared with Us Weekly before the Tuesday, March 4, premiere ofDenise Richards and Her Wild Things. “I mean, obviously, we still fight like sisters do, but we’re at a much better place. We have each other unblocked now. We followed each other back on Instagram. I think we’re at a good place.”
According to Sami and Lola, 19, — whose dad is Richards’ ex-husband Charlie Sheen — they didn’t communicate with each other via the social media platform for nearly a year.
“It was terrible,” Lola told Us before giving credit to the family’s reality show for helping mend fences. “It forced us to obviously be around each other and then just the interviews and stuff. I can breathe again now that we’re talking.”
While viewers will have to tune in to see what led to the challenging dynamic between Sami and Lola, Richards, 54, believes the reality show served as a “great bonding experience” for her girls. (The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star also adopted Eloise, 13, in 2011.)
Us Weekly
“This is their first show as adults and they’re going through it together,” Richards explained. “They have each other. They’re doing all this press together for the first time. I think that’s something else that I think is really wonderful that they’re able to bond over too.”
If things do get tense between Sami and Lola, Richards said she tries her best not to pick a side. After all, she knows what it’s like to experience life’s ups and downs with a sister.
“I try to step in, but often, they tell me to stay out of it, and I try to reassure them,” she revealed. “My sister and I are 18 months apart. They’re 15 months apart. We are very close too — my sister and I — but we’ve definitely had our differences over the years and I just tell the girls, ‘It might seem like a big thing now, but as you get a little older, it’s going to be, like, why were we even fighting about that?’”
Richards’ new reality show will capture the actress as she navigates being an actress, wife to Aaron Phyphers and mother in the public eye.
“I wanted us to just live our life,” Richards said when explaining the goal of the show. “At the end of the day, I’m a mom that deals with challenges like a lot of other parents dealing with kids that are siblings and trying to let your kids grow up and be on their own. I think that there’s a lot in our show, a lot of things that a lot of people can relate to.”
Denise Richards and Her Wild Things premieres on Bravo Tuesday, March 4, at 9 p.m. ET. Viewers can stream episodes the next day on Peacock.
John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images
Despite months of preparation, Conan O’Brien wasn’t sure which jokes he was actually going to deliver at the 2025 Oscars.
“There are times where you think, ‘We’ve got a good joke here, but I’m not gonna do it. It doesn’t feel right.’ We made a lot of changes backstage,” O’Brien, 61, shared with E! News at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 2. “You just decide, ‘Oh, this is a better joke,’ or you think of something in the moment, and you just go with it, and those can be blessings.”
On Sunday night, the late-night host kicked off the annual awards show with a monologue featuring jokes directed at Timothée Chalamet, a cameo from Adam Sandler and even a performance discussing the art of not wasting time.
According to O’Brien, many of the jokes viewers heard were developed weeks before showtime.
“There’s the agony of before — preparation, getting ready — and that goes on for months,” he said. “Then we worked so hard that by the time we got to the point where it was time to go, I couldn’t wait. And it was a really great crowd. They were laughs, thank God.”
Conan O’Brien and Liza Powel O’Brien attend the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar PartyMatt Winkelmeyer/VF25/WireImage
While O’Brien doesn’t want to toot his own horn after his hosting performance, he’s grateful that things went well.
“I’m letting people compliment me,” he joked at Vanity Fair’s annual celebration. “I was really happy with how it went. It’s an honor to be asked to do it, and I’m just happy that people seem very pleased. And now I’m really happy to sleep for two weeks.”
O’Brien’s hosting gig came at a unique time for the comedian. In December 2024, the podcast host mourned the death of both of his parents. One month later, O’Brien and his family had to evacuate their homes during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
“Everybody I know has been affected,” he told the Associated Press in January. “The fire got very close but my house survived. But we won’t be back in there for a long time. And I’m the lucky one. I mean, I know so many people who lost their homes and I’m just, was ridiculously lucky. So we want to make sure that that show reflects what’s happening and that we put a light on the right people in the right way.”
During the 2025 Oscars, firefighters and first responders received a standing ovation when they appeared onstage inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
“On behalf of all of Los Angeles, thank you for all that you do,” O’Brien said during the telecast. “These are heroes.”
The 2025 Oscars brought glitz, glamour and plenty of gasps before awards season came to an unofficial end.
On Sunday, March 2, host Conan O’Brien helped lead a live telecast that honored the very best in film from the past year.
“For nearly a century, we have paused every spring to elevate and celebrate an art form that has the power at its very best to unite us,” O’Brien shared during his opening monologue inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “The work continues next year and for years to come. Through trauma and joy, this seemingly absurd ritual is going to be here. … The magic, the madness, the grandeur and the joy of film worldwide is gonna be with us forever.”
With the red carpet officially closed and all the awards handed out, Us Weekly is looking back at the best and worst moments from the 2025 Academy Awards. Keep reading to see all of the surprises at the biggest awards show of the year.
Wicked’s leading ladies kicked off the 2025 Oscars with a bang when they performed a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz and related adaptations over the years. Grande began the performance singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in a ruby red dress before Erivo took to the stage to pay tribute to The Wiz musical by singing Dorothy’s signature song “Home.”
They eventually came together to sing Wicked‘s “Defying Gravity.” Audience members were left crying, Ethan Slaterwas cheering and viewers immediately knew this was going to be a show!
Best Oscars Announcer: Nick Offerman
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Many Parks and Recreation fans may have recognized the unmistakable voice behind the 2025 Oscars. Offerman, who played Ron Swanson on the NBC comedy, took over from last year’s announcer, David Alan Grier, in a role originated by former President Ronald Reagan, who worked as an actor prior to stepping into politics.
One standout moment came when Offerman had a little fun at costar Amy Poehler’s expense by mispronouncing her name before she presented an award.
Best Milestone: Zoe Saldaña and Other History-Making Winners
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Saldaña tried to hold back tears when she accepted the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role thanks to her performance of Rita in Emilia Pérez. “I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award,” she said. “And I hope I won’t be the last.”
She wasn’t the only one to make history at the 2025 Oscars. Wicked’s costume designer Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design. In addition, Best Animated Feature Film victor Flow earned the title of first Latvian film to win an Oscar in any category.
Best Acceptance Speech-Turned-Very-Personal Request: Kieran Culkin
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
As Culkin accepted the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role thanks to his role as Benji Kaplan in A Real Pain, he couldn’t help but ask his wife, Jazz Charton, a personal request.
“I want to tell a really quick story about Jazz. About a year ago, I was on a stage like this, and I very stupidly publicly said that I want a third kid from her, because she said, ‘If I won the award, she would give me the kid,’” he said, referring to his 2023 Emmy Awards acceptance speech. “It turns out she said that because she didn’t think I was gonna win.”
After Culkin won an award for his performance in Succession, Charton made an innocent suggestion. “She said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar,'” Culkin recalled. “I held my hand out. She took it, and I have not brought it up once, until just now. … Let’s get cracking on those kids. What do you say?” Spoiler alert: She laughed off his request before mouthing, “No!”
Best Surprise: The Academy Spreads the Love
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Anything can happen at the 2025 Oscars. Just when movie fans thought Demi Moore was going to win Best Actress in a Leading Role thanks to The Substance, voters had another idea when they picked Mikey Madison from Anora to receive the trophy – and unofficial title of Best Upset of the night.
While past years have seen the same movie dominate in nearly every category, Wicked, Dune: Part Two, The Brutalist, Anora and Emilia Pérez all won multiple awards, proving there’s room for everyone.
Worst Luck at the Oscars: Dianne Warren
Arturo Holmes/WireImage
When arriving at the Dolby Theatre, Warren was hoping “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight would win Best Original Song. Because “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez ultimately took home the trophy, Warren still has yet to win an Academy Award despite 16 nominations during her career.
If it’s any consolation, at least Warren received her Honorary Oscar in 2022.
Worst Reminder of Time Constraints: Conan O’Brien
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
During his opening monologue, O’Brien acknowledged the fact that the Academy Awards has struggled to end the awards show on time. Instead of keeping his beginning segment short and sweet, the late-night host decided to burst into an original song about how he won’t waste time.
“I won’t waste time. Why would I waste time?” he sang before backup dancers joined in on the performance. “It’s such, such an audacious crime.”
For the record: The first award was eventually handed out a whopping 29 minutes into the show.
Worst Use of Musical Numbers: James Bond Tribute
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In a break from tradition stretching back to the 1940s, the 2025 Oscars chose to forgo live performances of the Best Original Song nominees. Instead, organizers chose to incorporate other unique musical numbers, like a laborious tribute to James Bond.
While Margaret Qualley, Doja Cat, Lisa and Raye have plenty of talent, recognizing films from decades ago doesn’t seem to be a fit when nominated songs from Emilia Pérez, The Six Triple Eight, Sing Sing and Elton John: Never Too Late deserve to have one night.
Worst Omission: Hollywood’s Fallen Stars
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
While The Academy deserves recognition for finding a tasteful way to honorGene Hackman days after his death was confirmed, the In Memoriam segment had a few talented actors noticeably missing.
Some viewers were left questioning where Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Shannen Doherty and Gossip Girl actress Michelle Trachtenberg (who both appeared in notable films, too) were. While both names appear on the Oscars’ official website, it’s clear some were hoping for a primetime tribute.
For select awards, presenters were tasked with delivering a personalized (sometimes awkward) message to each of the nominees. While Best Supporting Actor nominees likely appreciated praise from legendary actor Robert Downey Jr., some viewers wished producers would just stick to clips of the nominees’ performances.
“This conceit of the presenters addressing the nominees at length is BAD,” one user wrote via X. “Just show the work, please. #Oscars.”
During the live telecast at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 2, Morgan Freeman kicked off the In Memoriam portion of the show by sharing his fond memories of working with the late Oscar winner in the 2000 film Under Suspicion.
“I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’e work. He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world,” Freeman shared. “Gene always said, ‘I don’t think about legacy. I just hope people will remember me as someone who tried to put in good work.’ I think we speak for us all when I say, ‘Gene, you’ll be remembered for that and for so much more.’ Rest in peace, my friend.”
The tribute comes days after the actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were confirmed dead inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico, house. Hackman was 95 while his wife was 63.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy. He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” Hackman’s daughters and granddaughter told Us in a statement. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
According to the Santa Fe sheriff’s department, an official cause of death has yet to be determined. However, foul play is not suspected.
Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth told Us Weekly on Thursday, February 27, that some initially suspected he and Arakawa died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The fire department, however, found no signs pointing to any leaks.
During his acting career, Hackman was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two including Best Supporting Actor in 1992 for his role as Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven. He also won Best Actor in 1971 for his performance as detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection.
John Barr/Liaison
In a 2008 interview with Reuters, Hackman mentioned that he was no longer accepting acting work and had decided to retire.
“I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer,” he confirmed at the time. “I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.”
Ultimately, the Oscar winner became one of the world’s most recognizable actors throughout his six-decade career, thanks to iconic roles such as Lex Luthor in the Superman franchise
“[I want to be remembered] as a decent actor. As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion. I don’t know, beyond that,” Hackman told GQin a 2011 profile. “I don’t think about that often, to be honest. I’m at an age where I should think about it.”
As Grande, 31, opened the awards show on Sunday, March 2, to perform a medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz movie adaptations over the years, Slater, 32, made sure he was seated inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood to watch his girlfriend shine.
After the singer performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Defying Gravity,” the camera panned to Slater who appeared more than proud as he stood up and clapped.
Before the opening number, both Grande and Slater walked the red carpet separately as they celebrated the success of Wicked.
Grande, 31, looked magical for the special awards show while wearing a Schiaparelli Couture gown styled by Mimi Cuttrell. As for Slater, 32, he looked handsome whille following the black-tie dress code with a classic suit.
The 97th annual Academy Awards served as a grand finale for the Wicked cast of an unforgettable awards season.
Grande was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role thanks to her performance as Galinda. Meanwhile, her costar and close friend Cynthia Erivo was up for Best Actress in a Leading Role after portraying Elphaba.
Before any trophy was handed out, Slater gushed exclusively to Us Weekly about how impressed he was by his girlfriend’s latest role on the big screen.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for FIJI Water
“I’m unbelievably proud of her,” Slater said at the 40th Artios Awards in New York City on February 12. “She worked so hard. She and Cynthia worked so unbelievably hard to not only make this movie and be the best versions of Glinda and Elphaba, but to promote it. They’re incredible. I’m unendingly proud.”
With Wicked earning 10 total Oscar nominations, it would be understandable if the cast was a little nervous or overwhelmed with the whole season of awards.
But according to Slater, who played Boq in the film, the cast was just “riding the wave.”
“We’re all having fun,” he explained. “We’re all just rooting for each other because we get to still celebrate this thing that we loved to make. Whether we win or lose, it’s just a big celebration to be able to do the thing that we love so much. It’s really special.”
Slater and Grande have been dating since July 2023. While they try to keep their relationship away from the public eye, the “Into You” singer recently gushed about her boyfriend.
“No one on this earth tries harder or spreads themselves thinner to be there for the people that he loves and cares about,” Grande gushed to Vanity Fair in September 2024. “There is no one on this earth with a better heart.”
Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie are hoping this date night goes absolutely right.
The Substance actor and his wife stepped out on Sunday, March 2, to attend the 2025 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Quaid, 70, looked handsome in a classic suit but chose to dress without a tie. As for Savoie, 34, she matched her husband in a strapless black dress with a clutch purse and heels while posing for photos on the red carpet.
It’s an extra special night for Quaid, who played Harvey in The Substance. The film is nominated for several awards including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
In the past several weeks, Quaid has shared his prediction that costar Demi Moore will win the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
“I knew it, like, my second day working on that movie. I told Demi she’s going to win an Oscar for it,” he shared with the New York Post in an interview published Friday, February 28. “It’s just an incredible performance. It’s a gargantuan effort. I mean, it took nine months to do that. She was in makeup for like six, eight hours at a time.”
Awards aside, Quaid is looking forward to enjoying the biggest awards show of the year with his wife. At the same time, there is a chance he could run into a familiar ex. Meg Ryan, who was married to Quaid from 1991 to 2000, also made a red carpet appearance at the 2025 Oscars.
Kevin Mazur/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The actress stepped out in a strapless velvet gown and platform heels. Her last appearance at the awards show was in 1998 when she was still married to Quaid.
Quaid, ultimately moved on when he met Savoie in 2019 at a business event. According to the actor, it was “love at first sight.”
“I just love who she is as a person,” he explained to People in June 2020. “Her character, her intelligence, of course, her beauty. And her point of view of the world.”
The pair went on to marry one year after meeting and have gone on to create a production company titled Bonniedale Films. They have been by each other’s side for their biggest accomplishments ever since.
“Laura’s the love of my life,” Quaid told People in July 2023. “She came along and we have a bond with one another that I never had with anybody else before. It’s a joy of life that we share together.”
“[I’m most proud of] her grace and her absolute joy and love for all of the other nominees,” Willis, 33, exclusively told Us Weekly at Cure Addiction Now‘s inaugural fundraising evening on Monday, February 24. “She made sure to reach out personally to every other actress in the category in anything she’s been nominated in.”
From Willis’ perspective, the way her mom has moved through countless award shows this year “is so unbelievably gracious and humble, and she wants to use this performance and any opportunity she has to speak to be of service. That’s just who she is.”
This weekend, Moore, 62, is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2025 Oscars thanks to her performance in The Substance. She has already walked away with trophies at the 2025 Golden Globes and 2025 SAG Awards.
With Moore’s first Oscars nomination happening 40 years into her career, Willis believes her mom is proof that one should never put a time limit on their dreams.
“Did you see Jane Fonda at the SAG Awards? Hello!” Willis said when praising the 87-year-old’s acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award. “I do think it’s a choice. I really do. I think it’s a way of life. I hear people who are younger than me say ‘Oh, I’m so old now.’ And I met a woman when she was 93 and she told me she only came into her own in her 80s. I do really believe that having unwavering faith in yourself and what you want to create and what you want to do builds your reality. I really believe that.”
Scout WillisRobin L Marshall/Getty Images
Moore’s latest milestones serve as inspiration for Willis to go after her own dreams.
While supporting Cure Addiction Now, the actress stepped out in a L’AGENCE dress and performed two original songs including “Over and Over” and “Last Night.”
The star-studded event helped raise $800,000 for Nancy Davis’ nonprofit dedicated to funding innovative research for substance use disorder.
“Singing is happening. Acting is happening,” Willis teased about her professional life. “I’m so thrilled. I feel so grateful.”
She’s also pumped to support her mom at the biggest awards show of the year. Although Willis is staying mum on where she will be when the winners are announced at the Oscars, it’s clear she will be cheering for her mom.
“It’ll be PJs or gowns,” she joked, “one or the other.”
Out of all the celebrities Kerstin Lindquist interacted with during her 13 years as a QVC program host, there was one who stood out for all the right reasons.
“I loved working with Candace Cameron Bure because we were such kindred spirits,” Lindquist, 47, exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “She was the first woman who I saw do the kind of same thing I was doing — have a big focus on faith and fitness. I always really, really loved working with her.”
After years of building a successful fashion brand focused on fun, feminine styles that fit a woman’s life, Bure decided to step away from the shopping network to pursue other projects.
Lindquist also decided to leave QVC after 13 years in February to follow her passions in the faith and wellness space.
When deciding what to pursue next, Lindquist said Bure was supportive and helped provide guidance on securing book details in the Christian space.
“I was talking to her through that, who her publishing partners were,” Lindquist told Us before confirming she secured a two-book deal with Zondervan and Thomas Nelson. “She was very encouraging. … She stepped away from QVC as well. She had been in it, and again, with no real hard feelings, it was just time for a change in life.”
Courtesy of Kerstin Lindquist/Instagram; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
On February 5, Bure appeared on Lindquist’s “StRest” podcast to discuss faith, family, fitness and more topics both parties are passionate about. The support was appreciated by a host who continues to choose faith over fear.
“We do talk from time to time and she is a huge encouragement,” Lindquist shared about Bure. “She’s also a huge encouragement in the child-rearing space. We’re the same age, but her kids are older, so she’s like, ‘Girl, you’re going to get over it. You’re going to get to the other side of this teenage life.’ So it’s been great.”
More than three weeks after hosting her final show on QVC, Lindquist finds herself still raving about her favorite products including Happy Viking and VitaHustle protein powder, Josie Maran argan oil and Campanelli cleaning products.
But instead of waking up bright and early on weekends to host QVC’s No. 1 show Saturday Morning Q, Lindquist has her eyes on some other projects.
In addition to her podcast and book deals, Lindquist is planning a big summit in September with nearly 40 different doctors and wellness experts.
“When I was deciding to leave QVC, a big reason was I wanted to be able to truly put the skills that the Lord had given me to work in the wellness space as well as the faith space,” she said. “That’s where I’m putting all my focus.”
As her next chapter takes off, Lindquist admits she still sometimes questions herself if she made the right decision.
Being a host at QVC allowed Lindquist to communicate with millions of women about faith and wellness through a camera. Ultimately, she felt a “pushing and pushing” that she couldn’t ignore.
“I think that you have to listen to that. To me, that is the Holy Spirit and you can’t ignore that,” she reflected. “I felt like I got as far as I could get at QVC. There wasn’t something more for me to accomplish and I wasn’t done learning. I wasn’t done sharing. I wasn’t done helping people. So I knew that this was the time for me to make the change. Could I make it at 55? Sure. Can you redefine yourself at 60? Absolutely. But why would I wait when I had the opportunity now to do it?”
Stay connected with Lindquist by subscribing to her newsletter.
Betsey Johnson didn’t hesitate to sissy that walk to the judges’ table onRuPaul’s Drag Race.
During the Friday, February 28, episode of the MTV reality show, the fashion designer served as a guest judge after contestants were asked to create an original outfit inspired by her. (Some of the looks include classic rhinestone shoes available now.)
“Well, I can’t say I dropped dead, but how much more of a blessing and a thank you can I get?” Johnson, 82, exclusively told Us Weekly of the moment she first learned about the task. “I said, ‘Are you sure?’ All through the show, I’m like, ‘Could you stop saying my name?’ This is so amazingly, unexpectedly, bizarrely great. I’m so lucky.”
Johnson has been a longtime supporter of RuPaul’s iconic reality show, which features a group of talented drag queens hoping to win the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar.
Before guest judging on season 17, Johnson appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and supported RuPaul’s DragCon.
“I love drag queens. I should have been one myself, really. I think I am one,” Johnson joked to Us. “It’s always such a happy time, very nice people across the board. The show I love. I never taped a happier show all day with Michelle [Visage] and RuPaul. I’m so glad they like me and I love them. It’s a really good mix.”
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Sadly, Johnson and the judges had to send a contestant home in Friday’s episode. According to the designer, it’s the “worst part” of the job.
“I’m terrible with that. I hate to disappoint anyone,” she said. “You know you have to pick someone to say ‘bye-bye’ to and it does become clear. It does get easier, because you want to be fair to everybody else, and you have to edit. But there’s definitely someone who doesn’t live up to the gig. That’s all we’re going to say.”
Johnson has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to having transgender models on her runway beginning in the ’70s, she has consistently partnered with charities to raise funds and awareness for LGBTQIA+ causes.
Having RuPaul’s Drag Race continue to air on television is something Johnson firmly believes in.
“I think it’s very important that we accept everybody on the planet,” she said. “Go full speed ahead and keep on prancing.”
While Johnson isn’t ready to spill the tea on who wins big on the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, she’s happy to share what she thinks makes a great contestant.
For starters, one must have positive energy and talent.
“They basically have to be really f—ing good,” she joked. “It boils down to, usually, hopefully, the person that wins is technically, logically, visually, obviously, the most talented, and I always think the show is very fair in terms of the winner. It’s pure. If you got the vibe, if you got the talent, if you got it, you get it. There’s no politics. It’s the nicest, sweetest, friendliest time.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs on MTV Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is being accused of sexual misconduct by a contestant on his former reality show I Want to Work for Diddy.
In court documents obtained byRolling Stone on Thursday, February 27, Kendra Haffoney alleged that the rap mogul sexually assaulted her while participating in the first season of his VH1 reality show.
On one occasion, Haffoney alleged that Diddy, 55, invited her to an afterparty where she was offered a drink that resulted in her feeling “delirious.”
According to the lawsuit, Combs allegedly “guided [Haffoney’s] head down to have her perform oral sex on him.” Haffoney alleged the effects of whatever she ingested, along with the power dynamics of the situation, left her feeling powerless to resist.
“Plaintiff wanted to leave, but as the oral sex with Diddy continued, she felt her body getting weak and she ultimately passed out,” the lawsuit alleged. “She knew that she had been drugged with something, she felt weak, and her vagina area felt sore. Plaintiff knew she had been sexually assaulted, raped, but did not know what to say or who to speak with, was ashamed, confused, degraded, humiliated and shocked, so she suffered in silence and continued on the show.”
After the incident, Haffoney alleged that she flew with the cast to Los Angeles to continue filming. Without elaborating, she claimed Diddy subjected her to “additional acts of sexual assault and misconduct” in California.
Bryan Bedder/CP/Getty Images for CP
I Want to Work for Diddy aired on VH1 in 2008 and featured contestants competing in a series of tasks for an opportunity to become Diddy’s assistant.
Haffoney’s lawsuit was filed in New York under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act. The act allows survivors whose claims were previously time-barred to file a suit against their abuser during the window period of March 1, 2023 and March 1, 2025.
”This is yet another example of false claims being filed against Mr. Combs,” Diddy’s attorneys said in a statement to Us Weekly on Friday, February 28. “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason.”
The statement continued, “With the deadline for New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act expiring tomorrow, it’s clear that opportunists are rushing to file last-minute, meritless claims. Mr. Combs remains confident he will prevail in court.”
Haffoney’s lawsuit against Diddy also includes VH1, who aired the show. Us has reached out to VH1’s parent company Paramount for comment.
Diddy is currently behind bars at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, and is awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all allegations against him and awaits a trial set for May 5.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
While appearing on the Today show on Friday, February 28, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said investigators still have some unanswered questions — including how long the couple were deceased before their bodies were located.
“It’s very difficult to put a timeline together even with the help of the office of the medical investigator,” Mendoza told Savannah Guthrie. “Just based on their body and other evidence on the body, it looked — it appears [that they were deceased for] several days, even up to a couple of weeks.”
Mendoza said his team is trying to “put together a timeline” that includes when the deceased were last seen or spoken to. He added it’s been a challenge “because they were very private individuals and a private family.”
“I think it’s going to be very close,” he continued. “There was no indication that anybody was moving about the house or doing anything different, so it’s very hard to determine if they both passed at the same time or how close they passed together.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday, February 27, that Hackman and his spouse were found dead one day earlier inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico house. He was 95 while his wife was 64.
Police told TMZ that Arakawa’s body was “in a state of decomposition” with a bloated face and mummification in her hands and feet after a pair of maintenance workers found her and her husband’s bodies on Wednesday, February 26. The workers said they had not seen the couple in approximately two weeks.
An official cause of death has not yet been determined. Mendoza reiterated on Today that there’s no signs of foul play “but of course we are not ruling that out.”
As part of the investigation, Mendoza confirmed that an open prescription bottle was located at the scene. The evidence was collected and passed to the office of the medical examiner.
When asked when a toxicology report could be complete and released to the public, Mendoza warned that it could take “some time.”
“It could take up to three months or even possibly longer,” he shared. “It just depends [on] how busy the laboratory is. But we’re hoping it comes sooner than later so we can answer some of these questions, and hopefully it’ll help us in our investigation to help determine the matter and cause of death.”
“The autopsy is key,” Mendoza added. “That’s going to take some time, so I hope a little bit of patience on the family’s part, on everybody’s part, so we can have some answers into these deaths.”
Amber Portwood’s relationship with daughter Leah appears to be more distant than ever before.
On the Thursday, February 27, episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter, Leah, 16, opened up to Cheyenne Floyd about the possibility of being adopted by Kristina Shirley.
“I haven’t really talked to [Amber] or seen her in awhile. It’s fine,” Leah said. “I don’t really care anymore. I kind of want Kristina to adopt me. I’ve been wanting it for awhile just because Kristina’s been there for me since I was, like, in kindergarten and before that.”
Amber, 34, welcomed Leah in 2009 with ex Gary Shirley and documented her pregnancy journey on 16 and Pregnant. After the pair broke up, both Amber and Gary, 38, continued to allow MTV to document their lives as part of the Teen Mom franchise.
Gary and Kristina, 37, got married in November 2015 and welcomed a daughter named Emilee that same year. Over the years, Leah began to spend more and more time with her dad and stepmom.
Courtesy of Gary Shirley/Instagram
In recent episodes, Amber admitted that her relationship with Leah wasn’t as tight as she hoped it would be. At the same time, she acknowledged her mental health struggles — including a bipolar disorder diagnosis — have prevented her from being the best possible mom.
“With my daughter, she doesn’t want to be around me,” Amber said on the February 6 episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter. “I’ve never been a mom that didn’t care. Just a f—ed up mom.”
When Gary previously discussed the idea of Kristina adopting Leah, a source told Us Weekly Amber would not be onboard. “Having Kristina adopt Leah would never happen on Amber’s watch,” an insider shared in July 2024. “She wants to be in Leah’s life. She is not looking to hand off parental responsibility to somebody else.”
Courtesy of Kristina Shirley/Instagram
In her candid talk with Cheyenne, 32, Leah described the rare occasions when she hangs out with her mom.
“When I do see her, she acts like everything is perfectly fine, and I haven’t seen you in months. Why are you talking to me like this?” Leah asked. “Obviously she has a lot of things going on, lots of difficulties, but I feel like I can’t handle it. I wish I could but I can’t.”
While Leah admitted that “it would be good” to one day meet up and have a sit down with Amber, she doesn’t know when would be a good time.
After listening to Leah’s experience, Cheyenne called the whole situation “unfortunate and sad.”
“There’s nobody that could keep me from showing up for [my daughter] Ryder,” she said in a confessional interview. “It’s really hard to understand. I would be at their house damn near every day trying to fight for my relationship with my child.”
After speaking with Cheyenne, Leah reiterated her hopes that she could one day be adopted by Kristina. While her dad agreed to speak with an attorney to get information on what steps he would need to take, he warned his oldest daughter about the possible heartache it would cause.
“As a father, I want you to make sure you know if it’s 100 percent what you want,” Gary said. “Once that happens, for Amber, it would be a big heartbreak for her, which I know you’re not trying to do, but it’s just part of the process.”
Leah added, “It is, but she didn’t raise me.”
Teen Mom: The Next Chapter airs on MTV Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET.
The Bravo reality star began her year-long stay in jail, reportedly at Maryland’s Montgomery County Correctional Facility, on February 27, 2025. (Us Weekly has reached out for comment.)
That same day, a Maryland judge ruled that Huger’s official sentence would be two years in jail with one year suspended, meaning she will be behind bars for one year.
The decision came after Huger was found guilty by a jury of her peers on multiple charges including DUI and DWI.
“Although we are disappointed in the jury’s verdict, we of course respect their decision and appreciate their time hearing our case,” Karen’s attorney, A. Scott Bolden, told People in a statement shortly after the verdict was revealed in December 2024. “We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”
As Huger’s new reality begins, keep reading to see what life could be like at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility:
Television
Most housing pods have two televisions for inmates to watch and/or listen to. At any time, one TV is expected to be set to an English-language channel while the other TV is set to a Spanish-language channel. While there are a variety of channels to choose from, specific networks are not revealed online.
Dress Code
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
While Huger may be used to getting dressed up for red carpets, TV appearances or The Real Housewives of Potomac reunion, her new reality has a different set of fashion rules.
“You must wear your institutional jumpsuit whenever outside of your cell or in the day area. Whenever you leave your housing area, inmates are not allowed to wear sweatpants and/or sweatshirts underneath your jumpsuit,” the inmate guidebook stated. “Approved religious headwear may be worn in inmate cells, day areas and during religious programs.”
Inmates are responsible for their own laundry and the legs of the jumpsuit shall not be rolled up to expose socks or an inmate’s leg.
If Huger is looking for a hair appointment, barbering services are provided via a professional barber approved by the Department. They are available on a scheduled basis by submitting a haircut order form.
Rise and Shine
Shannon Finney/Bravo
Inmates are expected to be dressed in their jumpsuit and ready for daily and weekly inspections by 8:00 a.m. At that time, beds should be made and desks should be clear of all items except for one authorized religious book.
Family Visits
According to the inmate guidebook, each eligible inmate at MCCF is authorized to have two visits per week with authorized visitors during scheduled visiting hours.
“Relatives and friends may visit unless disapproved by the Warden or their designee,” the guidebook stated. “Inmates who are participating in any school, work or program (Bible Study, etc.) at the time of the family visit will not be sent to the visiting area.”
Each eligible inmate will receive one 30-minute visit on their assigned visiting date. All visitors and inmates are required to wear masks at all times regardless of vaccination status while inside the facilities. In addition, all visitors are expected to stay six feet apart from other visiting groups at all times, according to guidelines.
As stated in the guidebook, inmates will have daily access to collect call only telephones. All telephone conversations may be monitored and/or recorded.
As for letters, facility policies do not limit the amount of authorized mail correspondence. All incoming mail, however, will be screened for contraband.
Once searched, the mail will be photocopied, and originals will not be provided to inmates. Cash or personal checks will not be accepted through the mail.
Meals
Each inmate will be served three meals daily. Individual food preferences cannot be honored, and substitutions cannot be made on trays.
The guidebook warns inmates that extra helpings, beverages or trays are not permitted.
Jason and Kylie Kelce with their children.Courtesy of Kylie Kelce/Instagram
Kylie Kelce may just have a solid game plan when it comes to her kids and tablets.
“We are not opposed to screen time in our house,” Kelce, 32, shared on the Thursday, February 27, episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast. “I really do my best to limit it but not in a strict way.”
For Kylie, who is raising Wyatt, 5, Ellie, 3, and Bennett, 2, with husband Jason Kelce, she has a strategy for how much content her kids watch at certain times.
“I will pretend that I set a timer and I will tell them, ‘One more,’” she explained. “If my task that I was trying to complete is not finished, I will say, ‘You guys were so well behaved, I’ll let you watch one more.’”
The podcast host, who is expecting her fourth baby girl later this year, explained that her daughters have tablets that are to be used mostly on airplanes and “very rarely in the house.”
“They are not allowed to touch phones,” she continued. “That has been a rule from the very beginning. Occasionally, they will borrow someone’s phone and take pictures. Wyatt is really into taking selfies right now. Dad’s really thrilled about that one.”
Jason and Kylie Kelce with their children.Courtesy of Kylie Kelce/Instagram
In a fun segment of the podcast titled the “Screen Time Awards,” Kylie decided to share a glimpse into the movies “that dominate our life” in the Kelce house.
While The Grinch is a film that always helps the kids stop crying, Disney’s Encanto has the best music from a family-friendly film.
As for the best movie to play on an iPad while on an airplane, it had to go to the 2012 animated film Wreck-It Ralph.
“There’s always some degree when they’re younger of thinking that Ralph is like dad, which we love,” Kylie joked. “He’s a softie but a strong man. I see the correlation.”
Speaking of dad, Jason, 37, made the mistake of putting on a movie in front of the kids that may have been a little too mature for their innocent eyes.
When naming the winner of the “Are You F—ing Kidding Me Jason, They Can’t Watch This” award, Kylie recalled the moment the former NFL player put on the 2022 film RRR.
“If you haven’t seen it, proceed with caution,” she said when teasing the historical action drama film. “Do not put it on with kids in the room. The opening scene alone is enough to have me ask my husband, ‘Are you f—ing kidding me?’”
New details surrounding Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa’s deaths have come to light via a 911 call.
According to audio obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, February 27, an unidentified male caretaker of the area was heard frantically pleading with a dispatcher to send someone to the couple’s home.
“No, they’re not moving,” he said when asked if the victims appeared to be alert. “Just send somebody out here real quick.”
When asked if the two adults were breathing, the caller told the dispatcher, “I have no idea. I’m not inside the house. It’s closed. It’s locked. I can’t go in, but I see she’s laying down” from the window.
The caller, who identified himself as a “caretaker for the subdivision” offered to meet first responders at the gate to help them get access to the house.
“I think we just found two [or] one deceased person inside a house,” the caller added before audibly holding back tears. “Damn.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Thursday that Hackman, 95, and his 64-year-old spouse were found dead one day earlier inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico house. Police told TMZ that Arakawa’s body was “in a state of decomposition” with a bloated face and mummification in her hands and feet.
Gene HackmanRon Davis/Getty Images
Authorities also found the body of one of the couple’s dogs, a german shepherd, 10 to 15 feet away from Arakawa. Two other dogs were found alive and healthy inside the home, according to a police affidavit obtained by TMZ.
The couple had been married since 1991 and are survived by Hackman’s adult children, Christopher, Elizabeth and Leslie, from his first marriage to late ex-wife Faye Maltese.
Hackman’s rep also confirmed the Oscar winner’s death in a statement made on behalf of the family.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy,” the statement read. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
An official cause of death has yet to be determined.
“Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time, however, [the] exact cause of death has not been determined,” the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department noted in a statement to Us. “This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”
While Hackman’s daughter Elizabeth told TMZ on Thursday that their family initially suspected he and Arakawa died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the fire department found no signs pointing to any leaks.
Tatum O’Neal is coming clean about her recent relapse that occurred during a busy news cycle.
While marking her birthday and election night on November 5, 2024, the actress said she began drinking.
“I was with my gay friends, and was like, ‘I’m going to have a glass of wine — maybe two,’” O’Neal, 61, shared with Variety in an interview published Wednesday, February 26. “And then I was like, ‘OK, damn: I have one day of sobriety.’”
While O’Neal attends recovery meetings over Zoom, Variety reported that her sobriety remains a struggle. Her son, Kevin McEnroe, also expressed his wish that his mom gets a full year of sobriety under her belt “because I’m not sure she’s ever felt the kind of peace that comes with that.”
In addition to Kevin, 38, O’Neal also shares son Sean, 37, and daughter Emily, 33, with ex John McEnroe.
Back in May 2020, O’Neal experienced a serious health scare when she overdosed in her Los Angeles apartment, which caused a severe stroke.
According to Variety, the actress was suffering from chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, she was prescribed morphine by a doctor.
While O’Neal assured fans she loves her children, she remembered not wanting to live anymore.
Nino Muñoz for Variety
“I love them so much, but I’d already given so much,” she said. “Part of me just didn’t want to make it, you know?”
During O’Neal’s coma, which lasted six weeks, her son recalled having a conversation with a doctor about his mom’s future. Kevin said he was confident his mom would push through and overcome any health hurdles.
“There’s something in her that you can’t explain — that perseveres through even horrible situations she put herself in,” he said. “She is full of love — and I think that that’s something that she was born with.”
While O’Neal was unable to talk, walk or even see after her coma, she’s continued to make improvements both physically and mentally.
“Now I don’t want to hurt myself,” O’Neal said. “Now I don’t want to f—ing take drugs again — I really don’t.”
As for Kevin, he also sees a difference in his mother after her near-death experience in 2020.
“There’s something that’s happened,” he explained. “Maybe it’s the removal of drugs and alcohol, too, and this feeling that she’s safe and she’s living. And there’s this verve.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Those struggling with substance abuse can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
“I really do encourage everyone to keep Karen in your prayers,” Darby, 36, shared on the Thursday, February 27, episode of The Tamron Hall Show. “I really care about her and I learned this on the train coming here today.”
After discovering her longtime costar and friend was going to be put in jail, Darby said she couldn’t hold back the tears.
“I cried like a baby,” she told host Tamron Hall. “I did.”
On Wednesday, February 26, a judge sentenced Huger, 61, to two years in jail with one year suspended, meaning she will be incarcerated for one year. She was ordered to report directly to police custody.
The Bravo star, known as the “Grand Dame” of Potomac, was previously charged with a DUI, a DWI and reckless driving after a March 2024 car accident. She was found guilty on nearly all charges — except the count of driving recklessly — in December 2024.
“Although we are disappointed in the jury’s verdict, we of course respect their decision and appreciate their time hearing our case,” Huger’s lawyer, A. Scott Bolden, said in a statement to People at the time. “We continue to reserve Mrs. Huger’s right to an appeal and intend to fully pursue justice on her behalf. We appreciate your support and prayers for Mrs. Huger and her family at this time.”
Disney/Jeff Neira
Darby isn’t the only Real Housewives of Potomac star who is speaking out about Huger’s sentencing.
Gizelle Bryant — who helped launch the Bravo show with Huger and Darby in 2016 — said she was “shook” to learn her costar would be spending time behind bars.
“I do not have her wigs. I am concerned,” Bryant, 54, said during her Gizelle 21 Shady Questions Live at City Winery event on Wednesday. “In all seriousness, I am concerned for her safety. Karen ain’t cut out for jail. I pray that she’s OK and that the Lord is with her.”
During the event, Bryant also said she would “absolutely visit” Huger before revealing what she texted Andy Cohen about the case.
“We’re both giving our feedback on it,” she said. “One of the last things he said to me is, ‘When this show started nine seasons ago, never in my wildest dreams would I think that any of the ladies would be going to jail for five minutes — let alone a year.’”
The Tamron Hall Show airs weekdays. Check your local listings online.
The Gossip Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum was found unconscious inside of her Midtown West apartment in New York City, police sources confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 26. She was 39 years old.
“It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away,” the actress’ rep told Us Weekly in a statement. “The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.”
While the cause of her death is not yet apparent, the incident is not believed to be suspicious. (The New York Post was first to report the news.)
The news comes one year after the actress responded to users’ comments questioning her appearance in recent social media posts. “Explain to me how I look sick,” she wrote in response to one follower in January 2024. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
In a separate Instagram post that month, Trachtenberg wrote, “I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters.”
Trachtenberg first rose to fame as a child star in the 1996 movie Harriet the Spy. Her Hollywood career continued when she joined Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s sister, Dawn. She also became a fan-favorite guest star on Gossip Girl as Georgina Sparks.
Keep reading to see how Hollywood stars are paying tribute to and remembering Trachtenberg:
“Heartbreaking,” she said in a statement to Us when honoring her Harriet the Spy costar. “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.”
“Oh Michy…and we lived so close to one another,” the actress wrote via Instagram when paying tribute to her costar from the 1996 film A Holiday for Love. “My heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so… @michelletrachtenberg #ripsweetgirl.”
Ed Westwick
“So sad to hear of the passing of @MichelleTrachtenberg,” the Gossip Girl actor wrote via his Instagram Story alongside a photo of his costar. “Sending prayers.”
David Boreanaz
“So very sad… horrible news,” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor wrote via his Instagram Story. “R.I.P. and prayers to her and her family.”
Kim Cattrall
“Rest in peace sweet Michelle ,” the actress wrote via Instagram with a photo from their experience filming the 2005 Disney movie, Ice Princess.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of@michelletrachtenberg!!” the actress wrote via Instagram. “So young, so talented and so sweet! Here is a fun scene from when she was on #ClarissaExplainsItAll. I think this was about 1992 and the episode was an idea I had about babysitting a total nightmare. But Michelle was nothing like her character and even this young, we got along wonderfully.#gonetoosoon #RIP #GodBlesstheFunnyPeople.”
James Marsters
“My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul,” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor wrote via Instagram. “Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny, and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her.My heart goes out to her family who are good people, and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear. I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time. Godspeed Michelle. You are missed.”
Kenan Thompson
“Our first Nick movie star has departed us!!” the Saturday Night Live star wrote via Instagram with a throwback clip from the 1999 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. “She was my friend and now she rests!! Check on your people!!!
Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford and Michelle TrachtenbergCourtesy of Chace Crawford/Instagram
“Michelle was one of a kind,” the Gossip Girl star, who played Nate Archibald, wrote via Instagram. “I remember her coming on set for the first time and just absolutely owning it. She was a force of nature and just so so unapologetically funny and magnetic.. remembering those years with a big smile. Just a terrible loss. Love you .”
Kimberly J. Brown
The Halloweentown alum expressed her sadness over Trachtenberg’s death by sharing a throwback photo of the actress with a broken heart emoji.
Iris Apatow
“I watched her through every stage of my life,” the actress wrote via her Instagram Story. “She brought me a lot of joy when things were hard — I’m so heartbroken. Rest in peace.”
“Incredibly sad to hear about Michelle’s passing,” The Rookie star wrote via Instagram about his ex-girlfriend. “She was an incredible person and I will always remember the years we spent together fondly. She was loving, quirky and would never pass up a Law and Order SVU marathon:) My condolences to her mother Lana and sister Irene! This is an incredible loss!”
Chris Colfer
“Michelle was the absolute sweetest and one of the most supportive people I knew,” the Glee star wrote via Instagram. “I’m so lucky I got to be her friend. ”
Matt McGorry
Michelle Trachtenberg and Matt McGorryCourtesy of Matt McGorry/Instagram
“She had a fierceness but also a deep caring and softness with those she trusted,” the How to Get Away With Murder actor wrote via Instagram about his friend. “She always stood up for her friends, was incredibly talented and had the darkest sense of humor. She had the spirit of a true New Yorker. Michelle and I were really close but lost touch for quite a while. I was always sure that we’d cross paths again and I was looking forward to meeting as the people we’d grown to become. You will be missed by so many. Love you, Michelle. ”
Gregory Arlt
“She was, indeed, but a tween when my makeup brushes first touched her face. It was the beginning of relationship laced with creativity, endless laugh, and the quest for the perfect pale foundation (we figured that last one out!),” the celebrity makeup artist shared via Instagram when discussing his friend and client, Trachtenberg. “ Oh, Michelle… I cannot imagine a world — my world — without your acerbic wit, fierce intellect, doe-eyed beauty and great talent.”
He continued, “Please save a seat at the makeup counter for me, my friend. @michelletrachtenberg .”
“I’m so sorry your bright light died so young,” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer star wrote via her Instagram Story. “Our Buffy family lost a little sister today…Rest in peace lovely Mist Mist. You were loved.”
J. August Richards
“Just heard about the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg… My heart goes out to her family, friends and the many people who loved her,” the Angel star wrote via X. “39 is far too young… Rest In Peace, dear one…”
Beanie Feldstein
“I’m so beyond heartbroken,” the actress wrote via her Instagram Story with three broken heart emojis. “Her Harriet raised all of us little girls wanted to BE something.”
Michelle Trachtenberg.Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
Alyson Hannigan
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing,” the actress wrote via Instagram. “She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.”
Kevin Zegers
“What a loss,” the Gossip Girl alum wrote via Instagram. “Michelle was tough and a force. Just a kid, so sad.”
“I’m very sad to hear about the passing of @MichelleTrachtenberg,” the Twin Peaks actress wrote via her Instagram Story. “I knew her when we were young and working in New York. Sending love to her family.”
Clare Kramer
“Michelle and I worked very closely during my time on Buffy,” the actress, who played Glory on Buffy the Vampire Slayer told Us in a statement. “It was my first television series, and even though I was 10 years her senior, she taught me so much about filming and set life. She was an exceptional actress and a consummate professional. I was also really touched that at such a young age, she had such generosity — not only in her art, but also in her personal life. I’m keeping her mom, family and those who loved her close to my heart on this sad day. She will be missed.”
“Peace out little one. ,” Kramer also wrote via Instagram. “A talented & kind soul gone way too soon!You’re free to fly now… .”
Danny Tamberelli
Tamberelli, who starred with Trachtenberg on Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete, paid tribute to his late costar via Instagram. “We grew up learning how to make people laugh together,” he wrote. “More importantly, we learned to make each other laugh and pull pranks on everyone. We were doing improv when it was still called playing pretend to get laughs. She was a master of the clothespin game, tagging any and everyone she could. She once got upset when I got my 1st bass on set because I wouldn’t hang out during lunch. She hid the cable so I couldn’t play through the amp. I got the message. She was a bright light, firecracker and caring person who spent a lot of time and effort advocating for people who needed a louder voice. Michelle was someone to look up to in this business and to the general world at large. She will be missed. All my love, sympathy and compassion to Lana, Irene and the rest of her family and friends.
Kate Beckinsale
“What a terrible shock and loss, my God,” Beckinsale wrote via her Instagram Story alongside a snap of her and Trachtenberg out on the town. “My heart aches for your mama. Fly safe little bird.”
Blake Lively
Lively, who starred alongside Trachtenberg on Gossip Girl, honored her former colleague via Instagram. “This is the first day I met Michelle. She was electricity. You knew when she entered a room because the vibration changed,” the It Ends With Us actress wrote alongside a photo of the duo on set of The CW series. “Everything she did, she did 200%. She laughed the fullest at someone’s joke, she faced authority head on when she felt something was wrong, she cared deeply about her work, she was proud to be a part of this community and industry as painful as it could be sometimes, she was fiercely loyal to her friends and brave for those she loved, she was big and bold and distinctly herself.”
Lively continued, “You take for granted that you get the chance to see an old friend. To paraphrase, the real tragedies in life are the ones that blindside you on an idle Tuesday. Hold those you love and have loved dear. The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”
Trachtenberg’s childhood boyfriend, also a former kid actor, mourned Trachtenberg in a statement shared via Instagram. “I just heard the news about Michelle and I’m in shock,” he wrote, noting that he met the late actress when they starred together on a ’90s sitcom called Dave’s World. “I was so nervous to meet her, and the second she stepped on set my feelings for her grew tenfold…also, even though my Mom somehow pulled out the most classic of Mom moves – showing literal baby photos of me to Michelle’s mother (of course Michelle walked up WHILE THIS HUMILIATION WAS OCCURRING) – she and I developed a truly deep and special connection. Within a few weeks, we were boyfriend and girlfriend (I know, I still can’t believe it either).”
He went on to describe Trachtenberg as his “first love,” adding, “For her birthday a few months later, my Dad helped me record a version of the Beatles’ ‘Michelle’ which we played over the loudspeakers at her birthday party at The Oakwoods. She ran out of the party half-embarrassed-half-smitten (as kids do) but later revealed how much that meant to her.”
Carney noted that he’d last spoken to her in late 2024, writing, “There’s no other way to say it other than that she was my first love (and I may have been hers, as well…) I loved her brain, her wit, her seemingly unlimited energy, her effortless beauty, her loyalty and how every room she entered became precisely *infinity percent* more fun, just because she was in it. So many others have much more to say, but I just wanted to share how much I adored Michelle and how sad I am to know that I won’t be able to laugh or reminisce with her anymore. She was such a unique treasure of a soul and she will be unbelievably missed by the Carney/Heil household. We love you forever Michelle and our hearts go out to the entire Trachtenberg family .”
After news broke on Wednesday, February 26, that the actress was found unconscious inside her New York City apartment at the age of 39, many colleagues were quick to share their favorite memories working alongside Trachtenberg.
“My heart is heavy today. We have lost a beautiful soul,” James Marsters, who played Spike, wrote via Instagram. “Michelle was fiercely intelligent, howlingly funny and a very talented person. She died much too young, and leaves behind scores of people who knew and loved her. … Godspeed Michelle. You are missed.”
Between 2000 and 2003, Trachtenberg had the opportunity to play Dawn Summers — Buffy’s sister — on the hit series. Once the show wrapped, the actress went on to star in various projects, including Gossip Girl and Six Feet Under.
“Michelle touched a generation of television fans throughout her career, including in her unforgettable role as the independent and strong-willed Dawn Summers in Buffy,” a rep for 20th Television, the studio behind the series, said in a statement to TVLine. “She brought depth, heart, and authenticity to every performance and will be remembered for her remarkable talent. Our sincere condolences go out to her family and friends — she will be deeply missed.”
As friends and costars continue paying tribute to Trachtenberg online, keep reading to see the heartfelt posts from the Buffy family:
James Marsters
Courtesy of James Marsters/Instagram
“My heart goes out to her family who are good people, and are suffering the greatest loss anyone could bear,” the actor wrote via Instagram. “I hope everyone can give them space to heal in this most difficult time.”
David Boreanaz
“So very sad…horrible news,” the actor, who played Angel, wrote via his Instagram Story. “RIP and prayers to her and her family.”
Emma Caulfield
“I’m so sorry your bright light died so young,” the Anya actress shared via her Instagram Story. “Our Buffy family lost a little sister today…Rest in peace lovely Mish Mish. You were loved.”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Alyson Hannigan
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Michelle’s passing,” Hannigan, who starred as Willow Rosenberg, shared with her Instagram followers. “She brought a loving energy to the set of Buffy. My thoughts are with Michelle’s family and friends.”
Clare Kramer
“Peace out little one. ,” the actress, who played Glory on Buffy, wrote via Instagram. “A talented & kind soul gone way too soon!You’re free to fly now… .”
Although Trachtenberg never appeared on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff Angel, several stars from the show also paid tribute to the late actress on social media. “Sending love to Michelle’s family and friends,” Acker, who portrayed Fred, wrote via her Instagram Story.
J. August Richards
“Just heard about the passing of Michelle Trachtenberg… So young,” the Angel star, who played Gunn, wrote via Instagram. “My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. What a beautiful spirit who left an amazing legacy… Rest In Peace, dear one…”
Bianca Lawson
“It’s incredibly sad. She was young,” Lawson told Us Weekly exclusively at the 18th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards on February 27. “I didn’t know her well, but that’s always really a sad thing.”
(@Cloud9ineDreams) 
,” the actress wrote via 
Check on your people!!! 
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You’re free to fly now… 
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