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The Met

John Galliano Met Gala Exhibition Canceled Amid Backlash

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Fashion designer John Galliano was set to have his work honored at spring’s Met Gala in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, the exhibition has since been canceled due to major backlash regarding Galliano’s history of making racist, anti-semetic remarks, and his hate crime conviction in 2011. 

“After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time,” Galliano wrote in a statement posted on Instagram.

The exhibition was to be titled “John Galliano: Horizons,” and was initially announced in early August to be kicked off at the annual Met Gala. 

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Galliano wrote: 

“I remain fully accountable for the pain caused by my words in the past, particularly the hurt I caused to the Jewish and Asian communities, and I remain deeply sorry.”

“I understand that meaningful atonement is not achieved through an exhibition, institutional recognition or a single public gesture. It is a continuing responsibility, demonstrated through listening, learning and one’s conduct over time.”

“I do not want the debate surrounding me to place the Met in a difficult position or distract from the remarkable work of the Costume Institute. I also recognize and respect that an exhibition honoring my work would be painful for some.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art director and chief executive officer, Max Hollein, said in a separate statement:

“Following thoughtful discussions with John Galliano, we have together decided not to proceed with the exhibition.”

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Met trustee Anna Wintour added: 

“John’s decision that the exhibition devoted to his work should not take place at this time is very courageous and a measure of the man he is. I believe this is the right decision, and both he and the museum have my full support.”

The New York Times had reported that in recent days, opposition to Galliano and his exhibition at one of the biggest events of the year from Jewish Leaders in New York City, and around the nation. They reported that some donors contacted the Met executives threatening to withdraw their gifts to the museum if they were to continue with Galliano. 

New York City council speaker, Julie Menin, sent a letter to the Met, calling the museum’s “decision to honor Galliano a mistake.” 

Menin wrote on social media: 

“Museums such as The Met must be held to a high standard of inclusiveness and tolerance, and I am pleased that they have listened to the concerns I have raised and reacted with the right decision.”

The museum said on Monday that details about “a new spring Costume Institute exhibition and the 2027 Met Gala will be announced at a later date.”

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande Plans Break From Public Eye After Eternal Sunshine Tour

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Ariana Grande has stepped away from a forthcoming London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George” as she prepares to retreat from public-facing work following the conclusion of her current tour.

The tour is Grande’s first in six years. It comes after a particularly eventful period for the 33-year-old singer and actor, who spent the past year promoting the second “Wicked” movie, while also ending a three-year relationship.

Empire Street Productions announced that Grande has “decided to step back” from the musical, which is scheduled to open at London’s Barbican Center next summer. The production company said the revival will still move forward as planned, with replacement casting to be revealed “in due course.”

Grande had been expected to portray both Dot and Marie opposite Jonathan Bailey, her co-star in the “Wicked” films.

“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best.”

The change comes amid renewed public discussion about Grande’s appearance and health. Her representative told People that the singer and actor intends to take “a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” which is scheduled to conclude in London next month.

Much of that attention has unfolded on social media, where users have repeatedly speculated about Grande’s weight and overall health.

Grande’s final performance on the tour is set for Sept. 1. Her representative described the tour as a positive experience but said the intense attention surrounding Grande has contributed to her decision to temporarily withdraw from public life.

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“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

Discussion of Grande’s body and health has followed her for several years, with the scrutiny intensifying around the release of “Wicked: For Good” last year. Grande responded at the time by sharing a clip from a 2024 interview in which she pushed back against the idea that people should feel entitled to comment on another person’s appearance.

In the interview, Grande said that, in society, “there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have, at all” when it comes to discussing how other people look. She described that behavior as “dangerous for all parties involved.”

Grande also said that invasive commentary can encompass everything from assumptions about a person’s health to criticism of their clothing, face or body. She argued that people have become far too comfortable publicly analyzing what they believe may be happening in someone else’s private life.

The conversation resurfaced following Friday’s release of “Petal,” Grande’s eighth studio album, as well as the accompanying music video for its title track. The video presents a violent satire of the entertainment industry and the standards imposed on performers.

Grande plays an actor named Pepper who repeatedly auditions for casting executives and is repeatedly told she is “not good enough.” The character eventually kills the executives with a chainsaw. At the end of the video, however, a director calls “cut,” revealing that the killings are part of a production. Grande then leaves the set as members of the crew praise her performance and talent.

In an interview with Apple Music, Grande characterized the new album as “very experimental and different.” She also said the project allowed her to access the “unfiltered rage that I think we all feel sometimes.”

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The debate surrounding Grande is part of a wider conversation about increasingly thin beauty ideals in Hollywood. In May, actor and activist Jameela Jamil warned that an alarmingly thin standard had begun taking hold in society, echoing concerns raised by some dietitians, celebrities and social media users.

Dr. Sarah Gupta, a psychiatrist and the medical director of the mental health platform Modern Health, told People the current tension follows years of progress toward body positivity and body neutrality. The size-inclusivity movement of the 2010s encouraged brands to feature a broader range of bodies while helping normalize fat acceptance and common physical features such as cellulite and stretch marks.

According to Gupta, the apparent reversal may be fueling fears of a return to the diet culture of the 1990s and 2000s, when extreme thinness was often treated as the dominant beauty standard. She said those broader concerns can be worth examining, but the discussion should support health without imposing additional pressure on individuals.

Social media can also influence body image and the development of eating disorders, making the language used beneath photographs and videos consequential. Lizzy Pope, a University of Vermont associate professor who studies diet culture in popular culture, has observed a renewed willingness to openly express a desire for thinness. She contrasted that language with the wellness-focused terms that had become more common in recent years.

Experts cautioned, however, that attempting to challenge harmful beauty standards by dissecting a particular person’s appearance can reproduce the same damage. Gupta recommended shifting attention away from whether an individual celebrity looks “too thin” and toward systemic issues, including the growing visibility of GLP-1 medications, their promotion by drug companies, unequal access to the drugs and the role social media algorithms play in amplifying them.

She also advised people to avoid comments about body shape or size and to remember that comments, whether online or in person, may affect how others view their own bodies, particularly among children and teenagers.

Although Grande plans to limit her visibility after the Eternal Sunshine Tour ends, she still has a major film project awaiting release. She is scheduled to appear alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in “Focker-in-Law,” the next installment in the “Meet the Parents” franchise. The movie is set to arrive in theaters Nov. 25.

parkinsons

Carly Simon Shares Parkinson’s Disease And Cancer Diagnoses: ‘I Have Not Stopped Living’

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Carly Simon recently opened up about what she’s been enduring throughout the past few years as she stayed out of the public eye in order to prioritize her health, while also reconnecting with her art.

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jurassic park

Sam Neill, One Of Hollywood’s Great Leading Men, Dies At 78 

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Sam Neill, the iconic Oscar winning New Zealand actor known for blockbuster movies like “Jurassic Park” and “The Piano,” has passed away at the age of 78. 

Neill’s death was announced on Monday in a statement shared on his Instagram account. 

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” the statement read. 

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“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private hospital for their incredible care.”

“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Manager Philip Grenz confirmed later on that the cause of death was from pneumonia. “Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy.” 

In March 2023, Neill revealed that he was being treated for stage 3 blood cancer while he was promoting his memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” 

He was specifically diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, “a rare, often but not always, aggressive form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma,” according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation. 

The statement released on Wednesday also said that the family would be holding a private memorial service to honor Neill. 

“As Sam was an intensely private man who loathed a fuss, his family will honor him with a private family memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a still-undetermined later date,” the statement said.

Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in 1947 in Northern Ireland. In 1954, his family moved to New Zealand where he eventually took the name Sam because there were several Nigels at his school.

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When he got older, he initially started studying law, which he previously described as “catastrophic,” prompting him to pivot into acting. He worked in theaters before moving into some smaller local TV roles. His breakout role was the 1977 film “Sleeping Dogs,” which was the first New Zealand movie to open in the US.

Shortly after, he landed the leading role in “My Brilliant Career” in 1979, and spent the next decade making appearances in many iconic films such as “Omen III,” “Possession,” “Evil Angels,” “Ivanhoe,” and more. 

In 1993, Neill became a major household name by starring in both Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning movie “The Piano,” and Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” where he played Dr. Alan Grant, a role he revived in both “Jurassic Park III” and “Jurassic World Dominion.”

Neill lived on a farm and winery that was called Two Paddocks in the Central Otago wine region. He described it as “a ridiculously time and money consuming business. I would not do it if it was not so satisfying and fun, and it gets me pissed once in a while.” He also famously named a lot of his farm animals after his co-actors like Laura Dern (a chicken), Kylie Minogue (a duck), and Helena Bonham Carter (a cow). 

Neill first publicly opened up about his illness and treatment in 2023 in his memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” 

By the time the book was published, his cancer was in remission, but he had to undergo monthly chemotherapy for the rest of his life. The actor also signed a contract with the drug company he was using that said if he was still alive after four months, his treatment would be free. 

In 2023, Neill actually spoke to the Guardian regarding the end of his life after enduring his treatments. 

“I’m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know? We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.” 

Sam Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.

merger

Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hit With Multistate Antitrust Lawsuit

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A coalition of 12 state attorneys general sued Monday to stop Paramount Skydance’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the merger would reduce competition across the film, television, streaming and cable industries.

The transaction is valued at approximately $111 billion, making it one of the largest media mergers ever proposed. The states’ case also focuses specifically on the market for “tentpole” films, costly blockbuster releases that generate a significant share of major studios’ revenue.

The antitrust lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington also joined the case.

“The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.,” Bonta said in a release.

“The coalition has asked Warner Bros. and Paramount not to close the merger until after the judicial process concludes, and if they do not agree, the coalition will be filing a temporary restraining order.”

Paramount pushed back against the allegations, saying it was willing to address genuine competition concerns but did not believe the WBD transaction presented any.

“We are confident the facts and the law support this transaction, and we will continue to defend it vigorously,” a Paramount spokeswoman said.

The lawsuit represents the most substantial remaining legal threat to the merger in the United States after the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice completed its review in mid-June and declined to challenge the deal.

“The Division has completed its analysis of the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. and determined based on the evidence received in its investigation that the transaction is not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.”

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The states’ action also reflects a broader effort by state attorneys general to pursue antitrust cases independently as federal regulators under President Donald Trump have approved major transactions or settled other competition lawsuits.

In April, state officials obtained a restraining order temporarily halting the proposed combination of broadcasters Nexstar and Tegna. That same month, a coalition of states secured a jury verdict finding that Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, had operated as a monopoly after the Justice Department settled its portion of the case.

Internationally, Paramount has received clearance from more than 20 countries and regions, including China and Australia. The European Union is still reviewing the transaction, however, and the European Commission has set a new provisional deadline of July 22.

The commission said in a public filing this month that Paramount had submitted concessions intended to address concerns about the merger. Britain is also among the jurisdictions that have not yet approved the acquisition, and a British government official said in June that the country was leaning toward conducting its own examination.

If completed, the merger would unite Paramount and Warner Bros., two of Hollywood’s oldest and most recognizable film studios, under one corporate owner. It would also combine the companies’ major streaming services, Paramount+ and HBO Max.

The deal would create the largest collection of television networks in the United States. Paramount’s portfolio includes the CBS broadcast network and cable channels such as MTV and BET, while Warner Bros. Discovery owns CNN, TNT and several other major networks. The resulting company would bring CBS News and CNN under a single media organization.

In their lawsuit, the states pointed to the scale of the proposed company, alleging that it would control nearly one-third of the film market and close to one-third of basic cable television programming.

Paramount has argued that a company of that size is necessary to compete with streaming heavyweights such as Netflix and Amazon. It has also said that savings from combining the two businesses would allow it to spend more on programming and deliver stronger content to consumers.

Concerns about the transaction have grown across Hollywood, where actors, documentary filmmakers and producers have warned that further consolidation could lead to fewer theatrical releases, reduced spending on film and television projects and significant job losses. More than 1,000 writers, performers and directors signed a letter in April opposing the merger.

Paramount CEO David Ellison has said he is committed to protecting jobs after the transaction. In sworn declarations filed last month in a separate lawsuit brought by streaming subscribers, Paramount executives said the combined company planned to release at least 30 movies in theaters each year.

The executives also said new films would remain exclusively in theaters for at least 45 days before becoming available on streaming platforms.

Paramount additionally floated potential investments in California while attempting to avoid a state challenge. One proposal involved creating a $50 million training fund for unionized workers whose jobs could be disrupted by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the discussions.

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Bonta has publicly indicated that he favors “structural remedies” to address his competition concerns, a term that generally refers to requiring a company to sell or spin off part of its business rather than relying solely on promises about its future conduct.

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the transaction in April. Ellison said during a recent earnings call that the deal remained on schedule to close by September.

Under the agreement, Paramount would owe Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders roughly $650 million in cash for every quarter the transaction remains unfinished beginning in October.

Ellison first turned his attention to WBD last September. Within weeks of the Paramount-Skydance merger closing, the newly combined company made its initial approach, triggering multiple bids and eventually prompting a formal sale process.

David Ellison, a producer whose credits include “Top Gun: Maverick,” acquired Paramount last year with financial backing from his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. He later mounted a campaign to outbid Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery and reached an agreement to buy the company in February.

Warner Bros. Discovery had initially agreed to sell its film studio and streaming businesses to Netflix. Paramount later disrupted that agreement by launching a hostile takeover effort and revising its offer.

Netflix ultimately abandoned its deal, leaving Paramount with an agreement to purchase all of Warner Bros. Discovery for $31 per share.

Lawmakers in the United States and Europe subsequently scrutinized the transaction, including the foreign financing involved in Paramount’s bid.

The acquisition has also renewed attention on the Ellison family’s relationship with Trump. Larry Ellison is a friend of the president, and David Ellison attended a CBS News dinner in Washington in April where he sat with Trump and Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was also present at the event, which was held while the Justice Department was still reviewing the merger.

Paramount has expanded its legal team in preparation for a possible court battle. Its hires include Jeffrey Kessler, the Winston Taylor attorney who represented the states in their successful Live Nation case, and Paul Clement of Clement and Murphy, who is known for arguing cases before the Supreme Court.

congress

Utah Boarding School Where Paris Hilton Alleged Abuse Loses License

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Utah regulators have revoked the license of a girls’ boarding school where Paris Hilton has said she was abused as a teenager, ordering the facility to end services at its Springville campus by August 6.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services said Provo Canyon School had “failed to provide applicable health and safety services for clients.” In a notice sent Monday, July 7, the department described the issue as the “provider’s chronic, ongoing noncompliance with applicable rules, statutes, or requirements.” Regulators cited findings that included unnecessary restraint, aggressive physical contact and instances of neglect dating back to 2025, including an alleged incident involving one resident and a separate failure to protect clients from potential harm or acts of violence.

The school’s girls’ facility, which is described on its website as an intensive psychiatric youth residential treatment center for girls ages 12 to 18, has 15 days to challenge the order, including by requesting a hearing.

Hilton, 45, who has become one of the most prominent public critics of the so-called troubled-teens industry, welcomed the state’s decision and said the school had long ignored former students’ accounts.

“For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma,” Hilton said in a statement to the BBC.

“Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care. I was one of those children. I know what it feels like to cry for help and believe no one is coming. Today, children still inside that facility know someone is finally coming to protect them.”

In a separate statement to Rolling Stone, Hilton added that the move showed that institutions could still be held responsible, even after years of public pressure from former residents.

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“The little girl in me who was told she would never be believed feels so validated today. We were telling the truth. We always were. No institution is too powerful to be held accountable. When survivors refuse to stay silent, change is possible.”

Hilton also reacted on Instagram, writing that “nothing can erase the trauma so many of us endured,” but calling the license decision “a powerful step toward protecting future generations.” She thanked survivors, advocates and those who believed them, saying she was “endlessly grateful” to everyone who helped bring the issue to this point.

Provo Canyon School said it was reviewing the state’s action and had not ruled out fighting the decision.

School officials told local media they were “evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal”.

“As this is an ongoing matter, we are limited in what we can say at this time. Our priority remains providing safe, high-quality care and support for adolescents and their families, and we remain committed to serving those in need.”

Hilton attended the Utah school in the 1990s, when it was under different ownership. She has said she spent nearly a year at the Springville campus as a teenager, an experience she began speaking about publicly in a 2020 documentary about her life.

Her parents sent her to the school because they believed her partying had become unmanageable. They did not know what she was experiencing inside the facility.

“My parents were promised that tough love would fix me and that sending me across the country was the only way,” Hilton said in 2021, adding that her time in such facilities “haunts her to this day”.

During a 2021 appearance on Capitol Hill, Hilton described being stripped of her identity at the school.

“At Provo Canyon School in Utah, I was given clothes with a number on the tag. I was no longer me, I was only number 127.”

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She also alleged she was kept indoors for 11 months without sunlight or fresh air, watched in the shower by male staff, assaulted, called vulgar names, forced to take medication without a diagnosis, denied a proper education and placed in solitary confinement in a room she described as covered in scratch marks and smeared with blood for up to 20 hours.

Since going public, Hilton has campaigned for stricter oversight of private youth treatment programs and has pushed for laws aimed at protecting teenagers placed in residential facilities as part of her broader campaign against the “troubled teen” industry, a network of private, often for-profit centers that market themselves to parents as treatment or behavior-modification programs.

Provo Canyon School has previously responded to Hilton’s allegations, stating that the facility changed ownership in 2000. In 2020, its parent company, Universal Health Services, paid $117 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations, a law that includes provisions tied to whether patients receive adequate and appropriate services.

The Springville girls’ campus is not the only Provo Canyon School facility facing scrutiny. State health officials also placed temporary restrictions on the school’s boys’ campus in Provo, Utah, in June.

According to the school’s website, the boys’ campus “continues to serve those under our care, but is not permitted to accept new admissions at this time”.

That restriction followed an inquiry that found staff failed to protect a boy during a fight and did not immediately seek medical care for his injuries.

Provo Canyon School has faced mounting calls for closure from Hilton and other former residents who have described abuse, neglect and trauma at the facility. Complaints were also filed with Utah’s licensing agency last month.

The latest action by state regulators marks a major development in a campaign Hilton has pursued for years, turning her own allegations about the school into a broader push for accountability across youth residential treatment programs.

AI

AI “Actor” Tilly Norwood Set to Lead Feature Film After SAG-AFTRA Backlash

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The controversy surrounding Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated “actor” criticized by Hollywood performers and SAG-AFTRA, is now moving from debate to production.

Particle6 Productions announced Monday that its digital creation will star in a feature-length comedy-drama titled “Misaligned,” a film set inside what the company calls the “Tillyverse” or “a surreal digital world located somewhere up in the Cloud.”

The project will follow “a coming-of-age story infused with existential AI chaos,” placing the synthetic performer at the center of a narrative that appears to lean directly into the real-world unease surrounding AI’s growing role in entertainment.

In the film, Tilly is portrayed as an AI entity without a physical body, a childhood or lived memories of her own, instead drawing from access to other people’s experiences. The story becomes more chaotic when a rogue bot from the dark web pushes her to break free of her guardrails and begin forming desires, impulses and ambitions that make her appear increasingly human.

“The film will absolutely be funny, chaotic and self-aware — very Tilly,” said Eline Van der Velden, the comedian, writer and founder behind Particle6 Productions.

“But underneath it, there’s something deeper about identity, performance, and our very human fears around AI. And yes, art will most definitely be imitating life.”

The character has drawn sharp criticism from actors and industry observers since its introduction as an AI “actor,” with concerns that synthetic performers could replace working artists or be built using the labor of real actors without their proper consent.

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That backlash intensified in late 2025 after Van der Velden suggested that Norwood was close to signing with a talent agency.

Norwood has since become one of the most visible computer-generated symbols of the entertainment industry’s fight over AI, with her creators also leaning into the controversy through provocative social media posts.

Those concerns were amplified by SAG-AFTRA, which condemned the studio for “using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.”

The union also rejected the idea that Norwood should be considered a performer in the same sense as a human actor. SAG-AFTRA said Tilly Norwood is “not an actor,” but “a character generated by a computer program.”

“It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we’ve seen, audiences aren’t interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience.”

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Despite the backlash, Particle6 is positioning Misaligned not as a replacement for traditional filmmaking, but as a hybrid production. The company said the film will involve traditional film and television professionals, including directors, writers and editors, working with AI specialists.

Particle6 also said AI training and mentorship will be built into the production process. The project is currently in early development, with major creative collaborators still being attached.

“Our work this year has proven something we suspected all along,” Van der Velden said in a statement.

“AI can support premium narrative filmmaking, but only with substantial amounts of human craft, skill, judgement and time. That’s not a limitation of the technology. That’s the point.”

Van der Velden also said that filmmakers who can carry traditional storytelling experience into emerging AI tools will be best positioned for the next decade, adding that Misaligned is where Particle6 plans to test that approach at feature-film scale.

The film will also be produced as part of Particle6’s broader slate of AI-related film, television, co-production and service work, alongside projects from its campaign and brand division.

The announcement places Misaligned at the center of one of Hollywood’s most heated debates over whether AI can serve as a creative tool without undermining the people whose work makes film and television possible. By casting Tilly Norwood in a story about identity, performance and anxiety over artificial intelligence, Particle6 appears to be using the backlash itself as part of the film’s premise.

awards

Janet Jackson Makes Surprise Appearance To Honor Teyana Taylor, History Made At BET Awards 

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The BET Awards were last weekend and history was truly made. The night was full of surprises, from Lauryn Hill giving an impromptu performance, to Janet Jackson coming out to give Teyana Taylor the Icon of the Year Award, the evening is being hailed as one of the most entertaining award shows this year.

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universe

Steven Spielberg Once Again Asks The Question, Are We Really Alone In This Universe?

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Steven Spielberg has been creating a multitude of cinematic worlds for over 50 years now. As a director, Spielberg has a way of inviting the audience to go on wild adventures while being introspective about the world around them and their own lives.

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love island

Love Island USA Removes Season 8 Contestant After Videos Allegedly Showing Racial Slur Surface

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A contestant slated to appear on Season 8 of “Love Island USA” has been removed from the cast before the season’s premiere after videos allegedly showing her using a racial slur resurfaced online.

Peacock confirmed to NBC News that contestant Vasana Montgomery is no longer part of the upcoming season. The streaming service said the videos were not publicly circulating until after the Season 8 cast was announced.

Neither the show nor Peacock has publicly addressed Montgomery’s departure beyond the confirmation, and no replacement contestant has been announced.

Peacock did not provide any additional details about Montgomery’s exit from the cast. It also remains unclear how much filming had taken place before her removal. Because the series is filmed in real time, episodes typically air about two days after they are shot.

“Love Island USA,” the American adaptation of the long-running British dating series, follows a group of singles living together for six weeks as they attempt to form romantic connections and avoid elimination. Throughout the season, producers introduce new contestants, known as “bombshells,” along with twists and challenges designed to test relationships and create drama.

Contestants are filmed nearly around the clock throughout their time in the villa, taking part in challenges, compatibility tests and other competitions while viewers help influence eliminations through public voting. The winning couple receives a $100,000 prize.

Although the show had built a dedicated audience over several years, its popularity surged dramatically in 2024. Season 7 became Peacock’s most-watched original season ever, generating more than 18 billion minutes viewed.

Montgomery’s removal came less than a day after “Love Island USA” revealed its newest cast on Thursday. Shortly afterward, fans began investigating contestants’ social media histories, and two videos allegedly featuring Montgomery began spreading online. In one clip, she appeared to say the N-word while singing along to a song. In another, she appeared to use the same slur while reacting to an arcade game.

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Montgomery, 25, is from Beaverton, Oregon. On her TikTok profile, she describes herself as a “Thai/Lao girl.” She was among the 12 original Islanders announced for Season 8 and, in promotional materials for the show, described herself as the “whole package,” citing her business ownership and independent lifestyle. The esthetician school graduate owns studio spaces that house beauty and cosmetic businesses, including tattooing, lash treatments and makeup artistry.

The incident marks the latest controversy involving resurfaced social media content on the hit reality dating series, which faced similar situations during its previous season.

Last summer, contestant Yulissa Escobar was abruptly removed from Season 7 after clips emerged that appeared to show her using the N-word during a podcast appearance. The show offered little explanation for her departure at the time, with narrator Iain Stirling simply telling viewers, “Yulissa has left the villa.” Escobar had appeared in the season premiere, but her departure was announced in the following episode. Escobar later issued a written apology, saying she was sorry for using a word she had “no right” to use.

Later that season, contestant Cierra Ortega, who had entered the villa as a fan favorite before becoming one of the season’s most heavily criticized Islanders, was also removed after viewers resurfaced old social media posts in which she used an anti-Chinese slur.

Her departure was similarly brief on-air, with Stirling telling viewers she had left the villa due to a “personal situation.” Days after exiting the show, Ortega posted an accountability video apologizing to the Asian community and saying she had not understood the history or harm associated with the term she used.

The latest casting shakeup comes as “Love Island USA” grapples with growing concerns about online behavior among its increasingly passionate fan base.

Ahead of the Season 8 cast reveal, Peacock released a statement urging viewers to engage with contestants respectfully.

“The Villa runs on good vibes, and so does this community. We love seeing your reactions, opinions, and debates, but everyone deserves to feel safe and respected,” the statement read. “This is a space for fun, not negativity — so keep it kind, keep it positive, and remember: this is LOVE Island!”

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During Season 7, contestants faced intense scrutiny and online harassment. As the show’s popularity has grown, fans have increasingly examined the Islanders’ behavior, physical appearance, personal histories and political views, often leading to widespread criticism and speculation on social media.

Season 8 is scheduled to premiere June 2 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock, with Ariana Madix returning as host. Ahead of the new season, Madix offered advice to the incoming Islanders, encouraging them to remain authentic throughout their time on the show.

“It sounds cliché, but be yourself because being yourself is what made the people who make the show fall in love with you, and that’s what’s gonna make the audience fall in love with you. It’s what’s gonna make the Islander that you have a crush on fall in love with you. Being authentic and vulnerable and showing yourself is really the best thing you can do in that situation.”

In recent years, “Love Island USA” has evolved from a niche dating competition into a major pop-culture phenomenon, regularly sparking online debate and intense viewer engagement as fans dissect contestants’ relationships and behavior in real time.

Because contestants remain isolated from the outside world during filming and have no access to social media while inside the villa, many only discover the online discourse surrounding them after leaving the show, when they are often met with both newfound notoriety and waves of criticism.

Despite Peacock’s appeal for civility, many viewers responded with jokes and skepticism.

On Instagram, the most-liked response to the statement, receiving nearly 63,000 likes, speculated that the cast must be “chopped,” or unattractive, for producers to feel compelled to issue the warning.

“LMAO not them giving us a talking to before the cast comes out,” another highly liked comment read, accumulating nearly 60,000 likes.

Fans also observed that Peacock did not tag contestants’ Instagram accounts in this year’s cast announcement. Comments on many Islanders’ personal pages were already restricted before the season’s debut, prompting speculation that producers had implemented additional social media protections to reduce harassment.