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The scream queen of a generation is back, and she’s done hiding.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, 46, made a jaw-dropping return to the red carpet on Monday night, July 14, stepping out for the world premiere of the 2025 sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer, held at the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles. Photos of the actress ignited a firestorm across social media, not just for her bold fashion statement, but because the ‘90s icon debuted an unexpected new look: a ginger-red hair color that sent the internet spiraling.

This rare red carpet appearance marks one of Love Hewitt’s first major public outings in years and it didn’t disappoint.

“JLH is thick now! Remember in the 90s when they were obsessed with her rack,” one Twitter user wrote, setting off a storm of praise, outrage, and nostalgia.

The Comeback of a Final Girl

Hewitt, once the brunette bombshell of the late ‘90s slasher era, famously anchored the original I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, a box-office hit that cemented her as one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars. Now, nearly three decades later, she’s returning to the blood-soaked saga as Julie James, a woman haunted by more than just the past.

The 2025 sequel, releasing July 18, brings fresh blood and familiar faces. And yes, she’s still got lungs made for screaming.

The new installment follows five modern-day friends entangled in a fatal accident, whose cover-up sets off a deadly chain of events eerily reminiscent of the legendary Southport Massacre. As their group is picked off one by one, they enlist the help of two survivors: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., who reprise their iconic roles.

Synopsis: When five friends inadvertently cause a deadly car accident, they cover up their involvement and make a pact to keep it a secret rather than face the consequences. A year later, their past comes back to haunt them and they’re forced to confront a horrifying truth: someone knows what they did last summer… and is hell-bent on revenge.

Directed by Do Revenge filmmaker Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, the film promises to blend horror nostalgia with sharp social commentary and sleek new visuals. The story was developed by Robinson and Leah McKendrick, with a screenplay by Robinson and Sam Lansky. Produced by Neal H. Moritz, the film features a fresh, buzzy cast: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, and Austin Nichols, alongside returning franchise royalty.

A Message to the Fans and to the Haters

On July 3rd, Hewitt took to Instagram to express her love for the film and for Robinson, who she calls the “bad ass boss” that made it all possible.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer is almost here! July 18th you will get to see it! Before you do I need to give a shoutout to our director! @jennkaytin is a force,” she wrote.
“She loves the original movie and wanted you to see that in this new one! We are on screen and the posters but her heart and hard work is in every frame.”

It’s a rare glimpse into Hewitt’s behind-the-scenes pride and her intentional decision to give credit where it’s due, especially to women directors making waves in a genre long dominated by men.

Hollywood Ageism, Body Politics, and Being “Unfuckable”

Though many fans celebrated her red carpet glow-up, some users dredged up a familiar and tired trope: criticizing a woman’s body for aging naturally.

Social media reactions to her appearance ranged from overtly sexual to aggressively ageist. One user cruelly fixated on how “she no longer has the body of a fucking teenager,” prompting a wave of defenders to step in.

“Imagine being a grown ass man looking at a middle-aged woman with CHILDREN and the first thing your worm brain comes up with is how she no longer has the body of a fucking teenager,” one user tweeted. “Every single one of you belongs on a list.”

“Black people complimenting her curves while white men (and some white women) are calling her fat. Lol…” another pointed out, highlighting a cultural divide in body standards.

“Thick or thin she will always make me 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵,” another person wrote unapologetically.

“She felt good in what she was wearing. That’s all that matters,” a fan chimed in, with the now-viral quote: “Oh she ate that. Body tea, hair laid, face card activated yes.”

Hewitt has not directly responded to the online commentary, but she’s previously spoken out against the pressures placed on women to remain “frozen in time.”

In an interview with Fox News, she addressed the persistent ageism she faces in Hollywood.

“Whatever it is, you just want to have the freedom to be whoever you are at that age,” she said. “And it’s hurtful sometimes when people reject you as you are verbally on Instagram or the internet because they’re having a hard time adjusting to it.”

A New Era of Horror and Hewitt’s Second Act

With Jennifer Kaytin Robinson behind the camera, the 2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer doesn’t just reboot a franchise. It reclaims it. Gone are the days of helpless final girls running in high heels. This is a generation of horror that’s self-aware, feminist, and fiercely stylish.

The film’s premiere wasn’t just a return to horror. It was a reclamation of narrative, of womanhood, of being seen.

Jennifer Love Hewitt didn’t just show up. She showed out, and she brought a whole damn legacy with her.

The 2025 sequel to I Know What You Did Last Summer hits theaters July 18th.

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