Among the many things the Islanders need to take a hard look at this offseason, here’s one that’s flown a little under the radar: the state of their AHL team.
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced allergies to the extent of actually wanting to do something about them — that is, until recently. My chest started sounding like a broken accordion every time I tried to take a deep breath, and mysterious rashes sent me straight to my dermatologist. All the signs pointed me in one direction: I needed to clear my indoor air ASAP. Dust bunnies, pollen, mystery particles — anything bold enough to float through my 830 sq ft apartment had to go.
I started looking into professional indoor air testing and allergen assessments, but the cost made my eyes water more than, well, the allergies. So I pivoted to the more practical option of researching air purifiers. (Cue me falling down a rabbit hole of reviews and filter types.) Right around the same time, Clorox reached out and asked if I wanted to try its new Turbo Air Purifier for Home with a True HEPA Filter — and I said yes, mostly out of desperation.
After running the purifier consistently for about a month, I’ve noticed fewer sneezing fits, clearer breathing and even my skin has calmed down. It’s the $90 fix I desperately needed.
This Clorox air purifier is designed for medium-sized rooms up to 1,000 square feet — perfect for my living-dining-bedroom combo. It uses a 3-stage, 360° filtration system, which includes a pre-filter for big stuff like dust and pet hair, a True HEPA filter that traps 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns and an activated carbon filter to neutralize odors. Translation? It handles allergens, cooking smells, viruses and that invisible gunk floating around you.
I especially love that there’s a Turbo Mode, which, according to Clorox’s Home Environment Product Manager Nicole Backus, was specifically created based on user feedback.
“We learned that consumers weren’t using the standard timer feature on air purifiers,” Backus explained over Zoom. “So we repurposed it as a Turbo Timer. If you’ve just cleaned, cooked something strong-smelling or are getting ready for bed, you can run it on Turbo for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. It cleans the air quickly, then goes back to your previous setting.”
I turn on Turbo while winding down at night — it’s like setting the vibe, but for your lungs.
One thing I didn’t fully expect, however, was being able to sleep better. Backus noted that better air quality doesn’t just help with allergies — it can also improve your rest at night.
“A recent study showed that a HEPA air purifier can actually increase sleep by 12 minutes,” she told me. “If you’re tracking your sleep, that’s a lot. When you breathe easier, you sleep better — it’s that simple.”
If you’ve suddenly found yourself waking up with puffy eyes or sneezing through spring, this under-$100 air purifier is the breath of fresh air you need — literally.
If you’ve been hunting for new spring styles to add to your wardrobe but are disappointed by every retailer you’ve visited, you’ve come to the right place. Walmart just dropped hundreds of new spring arrivals, making it a breeze to refresh your closet. Most styles start at just $13!
Walmart’s latest arrivals include everyday jeans, pretty tops, shoes, bags and more that you can style for any occasion. We have our eye on a $21 trench coat that looks straight from a designer boutique. There’s so much to browse so we’ll let you get to it. Happy shopping!
Everything Worth Buying from Walmart’s New Spring Arrivals
1. Our Favorite: This Free Assembly trench coat ties any outfit together. It’s slightly long length is perfect for pairing with boots and jeans. Hurry and snag it while it’s under $22!
2. Everyday Denim: These high-waisted pants have a vintage design, offering a stretchy fit and relaxed legs that tastefully showcases your curves.
3. New Timepiece: The Time & Tru two-tone bracelet watch is a luxurious-looking piece that won’t break the bank. The watch has a modern, analog face crafted from water-resistant quartz, which give it a timeless and durable design.
4. Embroidered Blouse: Complete your spring wardrobe with this embroidered blouse that flatters all bust sizes. The top includes eyelet details, a V-neck collar, cuffed lantern sleeves and a button front, which you can dress up or down.
5. Two-Piece Set: Whether you’re having a low-key day or want to be comfortable while running errands, make sure you have a comfy set on hand. The affordable pick comes in a trendy mocha shade and includes a smooth tank top and a midi skirt.
6. Flirty Jumpsuit: Some jumpsuits lack style, but not this one from Sofia Jeans. The statement belt will turn heads!
7. Breathable Tank Dress: Now that the weather is warming up, you want your clothing to keep you cool all day long. That’s where this tank top dress comes in. It’s crafted with bra-friendly tank straps and a scoop neckline.
8. Straw Bag: If you’re heading on spring vacation, make sure you have this packable straw tote in hand. The orange and yellow hues are guaranteed to cheer up any outfit!
9. Workout Hoodie: You’re going to love this hoodie, which is so easy to toss on for your morning workout. Shoppers praise the elevated raglan sleeves with banded cuffs.
10. Rich-Looking Sandals: These leather-like sandals look like they came from a designer boutique, yet they’re just $15. They have a sleek silhouette decorated with a chic, large ornament.
11. Versatile Tank Top: You can never have too many tank tops, so snag the Sofia Jeans sweater tank top while it’s still in stock. The breathable cotton design keeps you cool all day.
12. Wedding Guest-Ready: A stunning wedding guest dress doesn’t have to cost a fortune. We found this midi dress for just $25! It features a gorgeous green leaf print and supportive straps that cross in the back.
13. Denim Duo: This denim set immediately caught our eyes because we thought we ended up at Zara. The two-piece set includes a vest and mini skirt that falls right above the knee.
14. Ballet Flats: If you need a new pair of flats for spring, try these fishnet shoes. They’re made with a patent leather combination and a stretchy microfiber insole.
Dr. Mehmet Oz’s granddaughter, Philomena, fainted while President Donald Trump spoke at the White House after Oz’s swearing-in ceremony.
Oz, 64, was at the White House on Friday, April 18, to be sworn in as Trump’s administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The former TV personality was confirmed to the position when the Senate voted to approve him earlier this month.
For the ceremony, Oz was joined by his wife Lisa, son Oliver, and daughters Daphne, Arabella and Zoe. Some of Oz’s grandchildren were also in attendance, according to multiple outlets.
After being sworn in by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump, 78, spoke to the crowd about Oz joining his administration. The president’s remarks were interrupted when the little girl collapsed.
One of Oz’s daughters stated, “Philo fainted, Philo fainted. Dad, go,” according to People.
Oz ran over to check on Philomena, 11, before returning to Trump’s side. Philomena’s mom Daphne and her uncle, Oliver, walked her out of the room.
The event was subsequently cut short following the incident. Reporters and bystanders were ushered out of the Oval Office.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
The White House released a statement on Friday to CBS News regarding the incident.
“A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz’s swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office,” the statement read. “We are happy to say she is OK.”
No additional details about Philomena’s condition have been released.
Us Weekly has reached out to Oz for comment.
Daphne and her husband, John Jovanovic, welcomed Philomena in March 2011. The couple, who tied the knot in 2010, also share son Jovan, 9, and daughters Domenica, 6, and Giovanna, 4.
Last month, the family of six celebrated Philomena’s 11th birthday, and Daphne paid tribute to her eldest daughter.
“Happiest 11th birthday to our first born, Philomena!! ,” she wrote via Instagram in March. “You still love pink. You still love stories of every kind and remember absolutely everything. You’re still creative, and brilliant, and wise beyond your years. You’re the fastest in the land! You’re ‘preppier’ now (she picked these emojis lol), though I feel like that means something different than it did when I was your age … and most of all, you still feel like a little bit of magic every day. We love you so much!! ”
In the post, Daphne included a snap of the birthday girl surrounded by her family as she prepared to blow out her birthday candles.
Robyn was previously married to David Jessop — with whom she shares children David, Aurora and Breanna — until their divorce in 2007. After their legal case was settled, she met Kody and his first wife, Meri Brown, at a gathering hosted by Robyn’s cousin. From there, sparks flew as the duo courted throughout the reality series’ first season, which aired in 2010.
Robyn and her children — whom Kody legally adopted after the couple legally wed in December 2014 — then moved into the Brown family compound. They later welcomed two children of their own. (Kody divorced Meri before his 2014 nuptials, but the duo remained in a spiritual union for a decade.)
After four years together, Kody and Robyn were spiritually married. At the time, Kody was legally married to Meri and spiritually married to both Janelle and Christine.
The couple went on a plural date night alongside Meri, Janelle and Christine. Robyn captioned an Instagram selfie at the time, “Playing hooky! We may never go home! #spontaneousmoviedate.”
The large brood, who previously lived together in a joint compound in Utah, relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona. Instead of one large house, each wife — and their respective children — had their own residence.
"Vegas has been good for us; I’m not saying that it hasn’t, it’s been really good. And it’s been great for our kids. They’ve all really grown here and done so many wonderful things and it’s been great for us," Christine said during a season 13 episode of the reality TV program. "I’m just ready for the next adventure.”
“Kody is leading the charge on how careful we’re being,” Robyn exclusively told Us of her husband’s COVID-19 safety guidelines, explaining why he stayed at her house significantly more than his other wives' homes. “I know that it’s really important to protect lives up until the very end.”
She continued: “I know that they were making choices that they felt comfortable with as far as traveling and having people in the home … making it so that Kody was not able to go see them. I have little kids, so I kind of just had to run my will with Kody with whatever he decided and just do what he was doing because that’s the only way my little kids would be able to see him.”
Following Kody’s split from Christine, a source hinted that Robyn felt uneasy that her strong connection played a role, telling Us, “She secretly knows that she’s the one to blame for the separation, so obviously there’s some guilt there.”
“I cannot express enough how hard it is to be in a plural family where my husband and his other wife is having a problem and it completely affects my life, but I’m really supposed to stay out of it and I have no say,” Robyn said the difficulties of being in a plural marriage during the December 26 episode of Sister Wives. “The lines are hard between our different marriages because it’s like, ‘OK, you’ve got to respect that she’s got her own relationship with Kody.’ But at the same time, their relationship affects yours.”
A source told Us that Kody was "spending all his time with Robyn" amid his ongoing struggles with Janelle and Meri. "The others are in their own world, living their own lives. He spent the holidays with Robyn and her kids. He didn’t even try making plans with the others,” the insider said at the time. "All the wives were very much separated for the holidays, spending time with their own families."
Robyn confessed during part 2 of the Sister Wives season tell-all special that she often feels caught in the middle of Kody's conflicts with the other wives. "It’s been really, really tough for me. It’s been really painful,” she said at the time. "There’s been a lot of unsafe spaces. I just want people to see me as who I am. I want them to see that I love this family. That I'm committed to them. That I'd do anything for them. That I love them. And that I want the relationship."
In the first preview for season 17 of Sister Wives, Robyn hinted that she felt betrayed by Christine leaving the family. "I would never do anything to this family to hurt it. I just wish people would see that," she said.
Robyn and Kody purchased Christine’s portion of the family’s Coyote Pass property in Flagstaff, Arizona, for $10, according to property records obtained by Us. The sale went through one month prior.
Robyn witnessed Kody falling apart during season 17, which was filmed in spring 2021 and aired in fall 2022, as he and Christine continued to grow apart pre-split. After Christine moved Kody’s things out of her place, Robyn realized just how serious their issues were and called for her husband to try and make amends to save their plural family. “Sometimes you just can’t sleep in the same bed with your spouse because you’re struggling. Maybe she just needs a break,” Robyn said during a confessional interview. “He doesn’t need to not be there. In fact, it should be the other way around. He should be there, present.” The mother of five later confessed that the tension between Kody and Christine affected their relationship as well. “I miss my husband. Anytime I try and talk to him I get the anger thrown at me,” Robyn claimed. “I have tried to speak with the sister wives, I’ve tried to talk to Kody but, you know, nobody’s willing. I’m starting to feel really helpless.”
Following Christine’s announcement that she and Kody had split, the patriarch called for control of the rest of his wives and their respective children. “I’m going to be the head of my household again,” he told all of his wives during a season 17 episode, which was filmed in summer 2021 and aired in October 2022. “So, I’m not going to be circumvented in that. If everybody is willing to conform to patriarchy again, I guess.”
He explained: “I’ve been fighting to make everybody happy. My bitterness is out of trying to do that and not having the family that I had thought about and designed. If it is too awkward, or I don’t feel like the head of my household when people are around then I’m not going to have the whole family together.” The family leader concluded: “I’m disappointed in how I’ve managed this. I felt like all of your independence was more important [and] in that [thought process] we sort of [lost] some sort of community. I guess I’m just sorry we failed.”
On camera, Robyn took issue with Christine’s explanation of when she and Kody fell apart romantically. After Christine claimed that her marriage was struggling in Las Vegas, Robyn called out the alleged “lie.” Robyn also denounced the notion that she and Kody were thriving while his other marriages had issues.
“She’s sitting here saying everyone’s relationships were struggling in Las Vegas and we didn’t have what we had,” Robyn said during a confessional. “And that Kody and I were the only ones that were OK. That’s not true.”
Robyn expressed concern for the future of the family — and Kody’s well-being — during the season 17 finale. “It’s hard to be a plural wife when your husband has a wife leaving him,” she explained. “Most men in monogamy, they go do stupid stuff and they date whoever. And they’re angry and they’re pissed. And [think that] women suck.”
The Utah native continued: “He’s dealing with that while he’s married. And I’ve told him several times, I feel like he’s lining up all women and I’m there too. And he’s shooting us all down because Christine is a woman. And he’s angry and he’s hurt.”
Robyn later told Meri and Janelle, “We need to work on it. Or we’re going to sort of disappear as a family.” Janelle, however, didn’t want to focus on the negativity and walked away from the conversation after confessing that she didn’t feel like her boys were “welcome” at group gatherings.
After the finale aired, Janelle and Kody confirmed that they had been “separated for several months.”
“That’s the most unfair question,” Kody said during part 3 of Sister Wives: One-on-One when asked if Robyn was his “favorite” partner. “You don’t have any idea the work she has done. What she has done as a person. The sacrifices that she’s made. The games that she hasn’t played.”
He continued: “It’s not about a favorite, it’s about finding favor. The words that Christine [Brown] uses incite enmity toward Robyn. She never did anything to Christine but be kind to her.”
Robyn revealed during part 3 of Sister Wives: One-on-One that she is done being a punching bag for her plural family. “They’re making those choices but somehow, I get lumped into it,” she said when speaking about Kody’s drama with estranged wife Janelle. “I’m like, ‘Leave me the hell out of it.’”
The mother of five showed frustration toward her husband and her fellow wives after being scrutinized for being Kody’s alleged “favorite” spouse. “I’m tired of being punished and blamed. And people thinking I’m a bad person because I am just communicating,” Robyn said while breaking down into tears. “I’m tired of being punished for it. I’m tired of it being somehow a bad thing, because it’s not.”
She added: “I don’t let Kody push me around. I say my truth. I speak to him like he’s my best customer. And I expect him to treat me the same way.”
In the wake of Kody’s three divorces, he and Robyn listed their Flagstaff, Arizona, home for $1.65 million. Their five-bedroom house was purchased in 2019, one year after they relocated as a family from Las Vegas.
During the season 19 Sister Wives premiere, fans got a glimpse at Robyn and Kody’s marital issues as a monogamous couple. “Robyn and I are really kind of in a struggling place,” Kody confessed at the time. “We’re probably doing the worst we’ve ever done in our marriage. It’s been tough between us.”
Robyn pointed to his breakups as the catalyst to their own turmoil. “He doesn’t know who to blame, himself or one of the other wives,” Robyn explained. “Kody’s feeling a lot of rejection. And so, I think he’s kind of looking at me going, ‘Are you going to reject me too?’ I’m on my toes. I’m having to consistently make sure that he is not sabotaging our relationship.”
She added, “There’s no resource to help with the idea that I’m still married to a man who’s going through divorces.”
“Will you accept me as a monogamist?” Kody asked Robyn during a season 19 episode. “Is there a problem with that?” Robyn took a beat, but eventually responded, “I’m always going to stick with you.”
She confessed, “I’m just having an identity crisis.” Robyn later told the cameras that while she does “love” Kody, “This is not what I wanted for my life.”
After years of back and forth, Kody and Robyn sold their Coyote Pass property in Flagstaff, alongside Meri and Janelle, who owned part of the land. The property reportedly sold for $1.5 million, earning the family a profit of $680,000.
The parcel was the only thing tying Meri and Janelle to their former spouse as they have both moved from Arizona. Meri resides in Utah, while Janelle lives in North Carolina.
With interest in Rory McIlroy’s personal life at an all-time high following his Masters victory, one of the most talked-about female golfers in the world has entered the chat.
Charley Hull, currently the No. 10 ranked golfer in the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings, knows a thing or two about going viral. After all, Hull, 29, became a sensation last year when she was pictured smoking cigarettes on the course at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2024.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Hull reacted to the overwhelming amount of attention being placed on McIlroy, 35, after his Masters triumph on Sunday, April 13.
“At the end of the day, what people say about you, whether it’s good or bad, is irrelevant,” Hull said, while promoting her partnership with Passes, an online platform for content creators. “If you’re doing something good, people always have bad things to say about you, and try to bring you down because you’re doing well.”
Hull continued, “My famous saying is, ‘People’s opinions don’t pay my bills.’ So you’ve just got to brush it off with a pinch of salt, you know what I mean?”
David Becker/Getty Images
Much of the conversation surrounding McIlroy has to do with his relationship with his wife, Erica Stoll.
Stoll, 37, and the couple’s 4-year-old daughter, Poppy, were both on hand to celebrate with McIlroy at Augusta National Golf Club after his Masters win. However, Stoll did not appear to accompany McIlroy on a trip with their daughter to Ireland on Friday, April 18.
Viewers also noticed that McIlroy did not mention his wife by name during a post-tournament interview with CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis.
McIlroy and Stoll have been married since 2017, though the couple did briefly split last year after McIlroy filed for divorce in May 2024. McIlroy filed to dismiss the divorce filing just one month later.
Hull said all of the drama surrounding McIroy and Stoll is “a hundred percent” part the reason she’s kept her new relationship “private.”
“I think it’s a good thing to do,” Hull explained. “It can be hard with my job and everything. In a couple weeks time, he is going to come out for a few days, but that’s about it, really.”
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
While Hull values privacy in many aspects of her life, she’s breaking down some of her walls on Passes, where she will share exclusive golf, fitness, and lifestyle content with her fans.
“It’s pretty cool because obviously fans know me on the golf course, so this gives an insight into my real day-to-day life,” Hull said. “Like what I do when I’m at home or what I do an hour before my tee time. I always get messages saying, ‘What do you do in the gym? What do you eat? What are you working on your golf swing?’”
Say their name, say their name — because, at long last, Michelle Williams has met Michelle Williams.
The Oscar-nominated actress Michelle Williams stopped by the singer Michelle Williams’ current gig on Broadway Thursday night, April 17, catching Death Becomes Her and meeting up with her name twin after the show.
The singer, 45, surprised her followers with the long-awaited news, posting a hilarious video via Instagram.
“Y’all we had an amazing show tonight. The crowd was lit. We love lit crowds,” the Destiny’s Child alum said. “And so I’ve got more things to sign. I always love to bring y’all in on my journey and of course I’ve got more, more, more of these.”
“What do you want?” she asked the person off camera, moving her phone to reveal Michelle Williams, the actress, seated behind her.
“Who should I make it out to?” the actress, 44, asked as the two shared a laugh.
Earlier in the night, Williams the singer invited Williams the actress on-stage and the two embraced, according to a TikTok video posted by one of the attendees. The clip was set to “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child, naturally.
While it was a hilarious viral moment, it wasn’t unexpected. The Dying for Sex actress appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen earlier in April where she was asked if she would see the other Williams take the stage. “I have my tickets for next week!” the Dawson’s Creek alum said.
Her moniker-mate has joked in the past about fans mixing up the two of them, even showcasing fan mail she’s received that was meant for her counterpart. The Grammy winner read one such letter in an Instagram video in March from a fan named Phillip.
“‘I am writing to kindly ask if you would consider signing the enclosed photos I have of you,’” Phillip wrote alongside photos of the Emmy-winning Michelle Williams. “‘Your work in Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea [and] The Greatest Showman, has deeply moved me and many others, showcasing your exceptional talent. … Furthermore, I wish you all the best and much success with your current production of Death Becomes Her at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. I am sure that your captivating performance will leave a lasting impression on the audience.”
The Death Becomes Her star took the mistake in stride, noting that she was hopeful they’d cross paths soon.
“Phillip, thank you so much,” she replied, adding, “Michelle knows what’s going on as well, and I cannot wait to see her, hopefully sooner than later. It’s being worked out.”
She added, “Let me admit, I do get a lot of other fan mail that is actually addressed to me. This Michelle Williams. I just wanna acknowledge that.”
The clock is ticking, and spring vacations are quickly approaching. There’s a laundry list of essentials to pack when jet-setting to tropical locations. Before you stuff your packing cubes to max capacity, snag these under $40 swimsuit cover-up pants.
Loved by shoppers for their comfortable and slimming design, the RoseSeek Swimsuit Cover-Up Pants are a White Lotus-level vacay staple. Polyester delivers an airy, lightweight feel that looks like expensive linen. Due to their lightweight fabric, reviewers note these trousers are slightly see-through, which is why we recommended them as a swimsuit cover-up.
A loose-fitting silhouette and waist-cinching drawstring are two slimming features that keeps shoppers coming back to snag these pants in more shades. Speaking of the color selection, these linen-like trousers are available in tons of fun hues. Want to make a vibrant statement? Go for yellow and orange. Need a classic color to pair with multiple swimsuit styles? Snag these affordable pants in white, pure black and light khaki. Choose from women’s sizes XS through XXL.
Whether you’re lounging poolside or taking a day-long excursion, you’ll feel confident in these pants. They look amazing whether you’re lounging poolside or venturing off the resort. Pair them with a one-piece swimsuit or bikini top. They look just as good paired with airy button-ups as well. Accessories like earrings, bracelets and necklaces take the pants from ordinary to polished and sophisticated.
“Omg, I simply ADORE these pants! They are so soft and so flowy and sooo comfortable!! They caress the skin – that’s how soft they are,” one happy shopper shared before disclosing the surprising versatility these trousers offer. “I know they’re supposed to be beach coverups, but I use these as pajamas. They are very breathable and, as a result, are a little see-through, but that’s ok because if I were at the beach, I’d be wearing a swimsuit, and since I’m at home sleeping, no one sees me anyway!”
Ready to serve luxurious vibes without breaking the bank? Don’t hesitate to snag these comfy cover-up pants.
See it: Get the RoseSeek Swimsuit Cover-Up Pants for just $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Not quite what you’re looking for? Scope out more swimsuit cover-ups here and don’t forget to check out Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds.
Savage Garden star Darren Hayes revealed he had a near-death experience after a “terrible accident” in March.
“I’ve been trying to keep it private but my lengthy recovery period means it’s easier to admit the truth,” Hayes, 52, wrote via Instagram Friday, April 18, alongside photos showing facial bruising and swelling.
The musician explained that he’d been off the grid since March 17 because he “snapped [his] left jawbone in half” in an accident that took place two months to the day after the death of his mother, Judy Hayes.
“I lost consciousness — I fainted shortly after getting out of bed and collapsed 3 times, losing consciousness each time,” he recalled. “The blunt force trauma was so severe it snapped my left jawbone in half. I woke up in a pool of blood, terrible pain in my left side of my head and with 9 teeth shattered. I’m so lucky that I was found, and taken to the amazing team at the emergency room of St John’s Providence in Santa Monica, where they acted quickly. I could have died if I landed in a different position.”
Courtesy of Darren Hayes/Instagram
Hayes subsequently underwent a battery of medical tests in hopes of finding the root of his recent medical issues, though his doctors still aren’t sure what’s wrong.
“They scanned for and ruled out heart issues and anything neurological. I was scheduled for emergency reconstructive surgery and this happened on March 21st,” he noted. “The incredible surgeons inserted a titanium brace to re-connect my jaw bones and my mouth was wired shut for a minimum of 8 weeks while the left jaw bone could heal.”
After assuring followers he is “under incredible care,” Hayes alerted them to his plan to take more time away from social media to focus on his health.
“So far my heart is normal, my arteries are normal and I don’t have a brain tumor or anything that could cause the accident,” he wrote. “No judgement to those who partake but I do not take drugs or drink alcohol – this was a complete shock. But we are still investigating.”
The “I Want You” singer went on, “I just wanted my fans to know why I’ll be out of action for quite some time. After my jaw heals it’s a long road to rehabbing my jaw function and then of course replacing my shattered teeth. I love you folks.”
“I’m so grateful to be alive and every day I’m getting stronger,” he insisted. “I’m almost one month post surgery now and I’m only just starting to feel better. I’m so grateful to my loved ones for coming to my rescue and to the doctors and nurses who have treated me with such care. After surviving a brutal divorce, losing my Mother, finding out my father died [in 2023] and then this I have had moments of deep sadness. But I am a survivor and I’ll come back strong.”
In January, Hayes shared a heartfelt tribute to his “beautiful, extraordinary, magnificent, wondrous” mother via Instagram, in which he acknowledged feeling “absolutely devastated” by her passing.
“I want you to know she adored the people who enjoyed my music and meeting you was a great joy for her,” he wrote to fans. “We always had an invisible string, a magical connection that was unbreakable no matter where I was in the world. I like to imagine that string was a little bit like twine and she’s a beautiful balloon.”
“The string has been cut and now my Mother has ascended to the heavens where she is forever young, beautiful and can finally breathe and is pain free,” he continued. “Even though she appears to have floated gently into the clouds above, our bond remains forever — perhaps now a connection made of glitter and stardust and wishes and love. My heart is broken but I’m so grateful she is finally at peace.”
Bowen Yang had a long and significant connection to The Wedding Banquet before being cast in the 2025 remake.
“I first saw the movie in college, so well after it had come out. I was obviously familiar with Brokeback Mountain, but then it was in college that I kind of wanted to do my homework on [director Ang] Lee as a filmmaker,” Yang, 34, exclusively shared with Us Weekly at the film’s Los Angeles premiere. “And watching this was very, very resonant because I was also hiding a big part of my life from my parents as well.”
Lee, 70, directed the original film, which premiered in 1993 and followed Winston Chao’s Wai-Tung and his boyfriend, Simon (Mitchell Lichtenstein), as a happy gay couple in New York City whose lives are thrown into flux when Wai-Tung’s Taiwanese parents, unaware of his sexuality, ask him to marry a struggling artist hoping for a green card. The remake, directed and written by Andrew Ahn, stars Yang alongside Lily Gladstone, Kelly Marie Tran and Han Gi-Chan.
In the new iteration, Yang portrays Chris, an updated version of Lichtenstein’s Simon. He recalled the original film ending on an “uncertain note” when it came to Wai-Tung’s complicated coming-out journey with his family, but he said it also gave him “hope” for his own story as a gay man.
“You’re not really sure if things are going to be OK or not. [His family hasn’t] fully accepted him as a gay man, but it still ends in a gesture of love,” Yang explained of the 1993 film’s ending. “They still embrace, and that gave me hope for the future, that I could have an honest life with my family. And so to check in with it now, as we release this version of it, is really beautiful and touching because that came to pass.”
Luka Cyprian
Yang shared that he now has a “really beautiful relationship” with his parents about his queerness, and that “is the resonance that the original movie has that I hope people can contextualize with what an amazing journey it is.”
Ahn’s iteration, of course, has made some major updates since Lee’s 1993 story. The new film ups the queerness level with Gi-Chan as Min, who wants to stay in America with boyfriend Chris but is at risk of being sent home to Korea after getting fired from his job by his grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung). When Min’s grandmother comes to visit the States, he and upstairs neighbor Angela (Tran) pretend to be engaged in fear of her traditional views. Angela, meanwhile, is battling her own relationship woes with partner Lee (Gladstone), as the pair have been experiencing multiple pregnancy losses amid IVF.
While poignant themes are woven all throughout The Wedding Banquet — generational divide, women’s health and queer identity, to name a few — it’s also chock-full of hijinks and fun, both of which drew Gladstone in.
Luka Cyprian
“I’m very genre-agnostic. It’s about if I see myself in the character and a lot of times if it’s something I can challenge myself,” the Oscar nominee, 38, told Us at the L.A. premiere. “With that being said, with The Wedding Banquet, anybody who knows me and loves me and has watched it says this is the most Lily role that I’ve taken yet. It feels the most like hanging out with me, watching Lee. And I agree. In a lot of ways this comedy, this world, this loving, hilarious story feels very close to some origin.”
Another draw for Gladstone was the opportunity to star opposite “household name” Yang, who reminds her mother of the unborn son she lost to a miscarriage before getting pregnant with Gladstone.
“It sounds silly. [And I was like], ‘God, Andrew, don’t tell Bowen this. It’s too heavy. Too much pressure.’ But my mom had lost a baby before she got pregnant with me that she knew was gonna be a boy,” Gladstone shared exclusively with Us. “His name was going to be August. So we grew up, I grew up with this knowledge of who this boy was, and if he were here … I think the overlap, the timing didn’t work out. So I just felt his presence growing up and my mom and I would kind of acknowledge it and talk about him, who he would’ve been, how he would’ve been, what his sense of humor was, what he would’ve been good at.”
Gladstone said that she and her mother were watching Saturday Night Live when a sketch with Yang came on the screen and Gladstone’s mom immediately felt connected to him. “She’s like, ‘That’s my son. There he is,’” Gladstone recalled. “So I wanted to give my mom that gift of having both of her kids, her earthly body child, and her star baby on onscreen together.”
As for Tran — who publicly came out as queer in November 2024 — the allure of The Wedding Banquet was simple.
“I was just really excited to tell a queer story with a bunch of queer folks,” she told Us. “And I think that the film does such a good job of illuminating such a plethora of different queer experiences. That was the thing that I was really excited about.”
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The punk rocker who broke America with ‘White Wedding’ looks back on the ‘unhinged’ time of free love and sex before Aids, legging it from rehab back to crack addiction, and making his starry new album. And, finds Craig McLean, he also has a sensitive side...
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,” she wrote via Instagram in March. “You still love pink. You still love stories of every kind and remember absolutely everything. You’re still creative, and brilliant, and wise beyond your years. You’re the fastest in the land! You’re ‘preppier’ now 
(she picked these emojis lol), though I feel like that means something different than it did when I was your age … and most of all, you still feel like a little bit of magic every day. We love you so much!! 
”
Michelle “Bridgerton” Williams
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