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The sun has officially set on Love Island USA Season 7, and America has spoken. After weeks of flirty bombshells, teary recouplings, steamy challenges, and enough drama to keep Twitter in a chokehold, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales have emerged as the new king and queen of Peacock’s sizzling summer reality hit. The pair were crowned winners during last night’s grand finale and will split the coveted $100,000 cash prize.

But the fireworks didn’t stop there. With a reunion special on the way, a global games edition launching this fall, and a brand-new spin-off tracking Islanders post-villa, the Love Island franchise is solidifying its place as the undisputed cultural juggernaut of reality TV.

Amaya & Bryan Take the Crown After a Rollercoaster Romance

Espinal and Arenales weren’t always fan favorites. In fact, their coupling came after both flirted with other connections and faced serious temptation during the infamous Casa Amor twist. But despite the detours, the duo chose to stick together, working through emotional setbacks and slowly building what audiences perceived as a genuine bond. Their slow-burn romance resonated deeply with viewers, especially in a season defined by chaotic pairings and headline-making drama.

By finale night, America had fallen for their chemistry, ultimately voting them the Love Island USA Season 7 winners. Espinal and Arenales now join the franchise’s short but elite list of couples who walked away both with love and money.

The Reunion Is Coming With Bravo Royalty Hosting

Mark your calendars, Islanders. Peacock has confirmed that the Love Island USA Season 7 Reunion will air on Monday, August 25 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. The reunion will be hosted by none other than Ariana Madix, fresh off her own Vanderpump Rules redemption arc, and Bravo’s chaos-conductor-in-chief, Andy Cohen, making this one of the most highly anticipated post-finale episodes in Love Island history.

Sources say the special will bring together the final couples, standout bombshells, and even some controversial cast members for a no-holds-barred recap of what really went down in the Villa. Expect unfiltered confessions, emotional confrontations, and possibly a few surprise announcements.

A Record-Breaking Season for Peacock

Season 7 wasn’t just the hottest Love Island USA season. It was the biggest.

According to Peacock, the show has ranked as the #1 streaming reality series for five consecutive weeks, drawing the platform’s largest mobile audience ever for an entertainment title. In fact, over 30% of viewers tuned in via mobile, proving this show has officially entered the scroll, tap, repeat era.

And the buzz wasn’t confined to the platform. Across Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, Love Island USA clocked over 130 million social media interactions, making it the most talked-about entertainment series on television this summer.

(Data source: Talkwalker, May 26 – July 8, 2025)

Even more impressively, over 40% of this season’s viewers were brand-new to the franchise, a sign that Love Islandmania is only just getting started in the U.S.

Love Island Games Returns September 16 With a Global Cast

Following her reunion duties, Ariana Madix will return to host the upcoming second season of Love Island Games, launching September 16, 2025. This international showdown will feature returning fan-favorite Islanders from the U.S., U.K., Australia, and beyond.

Filmed once again in Fiji, the games will blend Love Island’s signature romance with brutal challenges, unexpected twists, dramatic recouplings, and high-stakes eliminations. Narrator Iain Stirling, beloved for his snarky commentary on the U.K. version, will also return to keep the chaos light and cheeky.

“Beyond the Villa” Premieres Today, Spotlighting Season 6 Islanders

In case viewers still can’t get enough of their favorite flirty influencers, Peacock is also launching a brand-new spin-off, Love Island: Beyond the Villa, which premieres today, July 13, 2025.

The docu-style reality series follows ten memorable Season 6 Islanders as they navigate the post-villa world of Los Angeles fame, influencer careers, messy friendships, and even messier romances. Cast members include:

• JaNa Craig






• Aaron Evans






• Miguel Harichi






• Leah Kateb






• Kaylor Martin






• Connor Newsum






• Serena Page






• Kenny Rodriguez






• Olivia Walker






• Kendall Washington

The series also features cameos from other iconic Islanders, adding extra heat to an already explosive new chapter.

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A family can celebrate the return of seven-year-old Jamal White, who was kidnapped at gunpoint by an unknown man on Friday, July 11, in Milwaukee. Footage captured on a neighbor’s doorbell showed that White was outside riding his bike when screams were heard.

He was abducted by an unidentified Black man wearing a black zip-up and black face mask and put in a white jeep, according to NBC-affiliated TMJ4 News.

A statewide Amber Alert was issued for the missing child on Friday evening, and by the next day, White’s family had organized a search with missing posters of Jamal and pictures of the jeep he was taken in, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A community gathered with the family at Carmen Park and split into four groups around White’s neighborhood and in areas where similar vehicles had been spotted to search for the missing boy. They searched at gas stations, businesses, and remained aware of the possible violence they may come across if they found White’s abductor, also according to the Milwaukee Journal.

White’s family was reassured of his safety when police reported that he had been found near the corner of 39th & Lloyd, Milwaukee, according to ABC-affiliated WISN 12 News. Jamal’s cousin, Nikki Harrington, spoke with WISN 12 News and said, “The community came through. We found him safe and sound, alive… I’m happy.”

Also speaking with WISN 12 News, community activist Vaun Mayes said, “This has been the work of not only law enforcement, shout out to them, but the vigilance of the citizens. We don’t play about kids in Milwaukee… I’m proud of my city today.”

Though no announcement of an arrest has been made, neighbors said that they saw someone taken into custody by the police, according to TMJ4 News. However, per WISN 12 News, the family said that four masked men took the young boy. No arrests have been confirmed yet.

A family in the Bronx is looking for answers from the New York Police Department after the NYPD said an 18-year-old committed suicide in her cell following an arrest after a fight with her girlfriend earlier in the day, according to reporting from NBC New York. 

According to the NYPD, Saniyah Cheatham got into a fight with her girlfriend after a family cookout, leading to both women being arrested. Shortly before 1 a.m. on July 5, police said Cheatham was found unconscious in her cell. Police claim they attempted life-saving procedures on the teen before transporting her to Lincoln Hospital, also in the Bronx. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

Cheatham’s mother, Thomasina Cheatham, said the police told her she used a sweater to asphyxiate herself. However, Thomasina said her daughter didn’t have a sweater on that day and is questioning the police account of suicide and is looking for footage from the precinct where she was held. 

“What happened to her? I don’t believe she killed herself. Maybe she said something they didn’t like [and] they roughed her up. I don’t believe my daughter committed suicide,” said Thomasina of the NYPD’s claims. 

Thomasina also said Cheatham was all smiles and happy earlier in the day during the family cookout, questioning why she’d then take her own life later in the cell. “She was happy and I was happy to see her,” said Thomasina.

The NYPD’s Force Investigation Unit is looking into Cheatham’s case. The Unit investigates deaths that happen in police custody. Thomasina and her family are asking for the NYPD to release surveillance footage from inside the precinct, video from the arresting officers’ body cameras, and an autopsy. 

Thus far, the medical examiner has not determined a cause of death in Cheatham’s case. 

6

The BLACKPINK girls are back, bras first.

Jennie Kim, the ever-enigmatic superstar of BLACKPINK, sent shockwaves across SoFi Stadium last night when she confidently revealed her bra mid-performance during the group’s sold-out Los Angeles stop on their “Deadline” World Tour. While performing her solo hit “Like Jennie”, the 29-year-old stunned fans and reignited conversations about girl group power, sexuality, and stage spectacle, all with a single flash.

What seemed like a subtle moment of sass quickly turned into a global trending topic. As fan-recorded footage flooded TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), one truth became clear: Jennie is not just in her bag. She is the bag.

BLINKS GAGGED, SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS

Fans in the crowd, many already breathless from BLACKPINK’s high-octane setlist and intense visuals, were left gasping for air when Jennie lifted her cropped tour tank to reveal a peek of what turned out to be bra merch is an unreleased piece reportedly dropping later this week under Jennie’s own “Jentle” capsule collection.

The moment sent fans into an unholy frenzy. Within minutes, videos racked up millions of views.

“Since she lurking here probably she saw blinkcity did the boobs reveal and decided to caught up,” one fan wrote on X, referring to a fan who recently went viral for flashing during a BLACKPINK set.

“They are so funny bc the moment they step foot in America they start wilding on stage lmaoo,” another user added.

“No she’s trying to drive US crazy,” said one fan, clutching metaphorical pearls.

Other fans saw the moment as a loving nod to the fans who’ve shown bold appreciation at previous shows.

“I imagine she must be very proud of the Blinks showing their breasts for her here on this network,” one tweet read.

CRITICS AND COMMENTARY: NOT EVERYONE’S CLAPPING

Not all reactions were celebratory. While many applauded the pop provocateur for owning her body and brand, others questioned whether the moment was contrived.

“When the talent can’t bring you attention and you need to try anything else,” one critic tweeted.

“When music don’t sell anymore,” another chimed in.

And some were simply confused, stunned by Jennie’s ability to blur cute and sexy in one singular move:

“Is it okay for Jen to want to be sexy but show off with such a cute face???”

Despite minor backlash, the stunt undeniably worked. The words “Jennie bra,” “Deadline Tour LA,” and “Like Jennie live” dominated trending charts globally.

IS THIS MERCH OR MARKETING GENIUS?

Leave it to Jennie to turn a bra into a cultural event.

The “Like Jennie” performance wasn’t just a moment. It was a marketing masterclass. According to insiders, the lingerie Jennie revealed is a part of BLACKPINK’s exclusive tour merch capsule set to launch later this month, reportedly designed in collaboration with stylists from Mugler and her personal creative director.

“She’s promoting her merch😂,” one fan posted and they’re probably right.

BLACKPINK’S UNSTOPPABLE GLOBAL REIGN

While fans were screaming for bras and breakdowns in LA, BLACKPINK was simultaneously dominating the global charts.

YG Entertainment announced that the group’s newest single “Jump” has rocketed to the top of the Spotify Daily Top Song Global Chart, racking up 13.9 million streams in just two days. This marks BLACKPINK’s third No. 1 after “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down”, making them the first K-pop group to achieve such a feat.

Meanwhile, their follow-up track “Run” has topped YouTube’s global popular music video chart, landing at No. 1 in South Korea, the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The track, described as a hard-style anthem laced with electric guitar riffs, has drawn comparisons to scenes from Sergio Leone films and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

The song also charted No. 1 on iTunes in over 60 countries, proving BLACKPINK’s reign is nowhere near over.

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Noir Nation, it’s been 10 years since the devastating and suspicious death of Sandra Bland, and the pain still cuts deep. On July 13, 2015, the 28-year-old was found dead in her jail cell in Waller County, Texas—just three days after a routine traffic stop escalated into an arrest that never should’ve happened.

———

Sandra’s case shook the nation. The official ruling of suicide raised more questions than answers—and many still don’t believe the full truth has ever been told.

———

🎓 Bland was more than a viral name or hashtag. She was a proud HBCU grad from Prairie View A&M, a vocal advocate against injustice, and a woman who used her platform to speak truth to power. In her own words: “It’s time, y’all. It’s time to stop being silent.”

———

That silence has been broken—but the accountability is still missing.

The #SayHerName movement was amplified in her honor, shining a light on the Black women whose lives are stolen by systems meant to protect them.

———

🖤 A decade later, we remember Sandra as more than a victim—she was a truth-teller, a sister, a spark for change. But remembering isn’t enough. We still demand transparency, justice, and reform.

———

10 years. No justice. But still—no forgetting.

We say her name today, tomorrow, and always: Sandra Bland.

Doressia McKee launched her own investigation to figure out why she received two completely different toxicology reports in connection to her son’s death. She didn’t just question the police but she sought secondary expert opinions that she believes may validate her theory that the reports were fabricated.

The Root previously reported that 38-year-old Freddie McKee was found dead on the front porch of his father’s house in Columbia, Missouri. McKee claims the police botched the investigation into his death, writing Freddie off as a drug addict with no other probe into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. The most baffling part of the situation, she says is the fact that she received not one but two different toxicology reports regarding her son’s death.

One report came back flawless while the other one came back showing a lethal amount of eutylone. McKee denies her son ever had a drug addition.

Expert Weighs In

Okorocha also said many times the cause of death is determined by a “finding of exclusion.” Therefore, concluding a death as an overdose may not be due to finding something specific but rather the ruling out of any other cause.

Comparison to George Floyd

For reference, Okorocha cited George Floyd’s case, where many insisted the Minneapolis man died of fentanyl use. Daniel S. Isenschmid, the NMS Labs forensic toxicologist who signed off on McKee’s second toxicology report, testified at Derek Chauvin’s trial that Floyd’s level of substance in his blood was 50 percent lower than that found in the blood of people who died of an overdose. In conclusion, it wasn’t the drugs that killed him.

All inquiries to Isenschmid were redirected by NMS Labs to the medical examiner, Dr. Carl Stacy, who has not responded to multiple inquiries from The Root.

No More Blood?

For second opinions on the findings, McKee said she reached out to various experts such as Dr. Satish Chundru and an attorney. However, she was told there were no samples of McKee’s blood left in the lab to test. The Root received the same response when inquiring with Southwest Missouri Forensics.

Though, when asked about the samples, Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner’s Office death investigator Stacey Huck said it was typical that forensic labs keep an extra blood sample up to two years following the initial testing.

A Probe Falls Flat

The man accusing Tyler Perry of sexual harassment, assault, and retaliation in a $260 million lawsuit is speaking out for the first time since the June 13 filing in Los Angeles Superior Court. 

Actor Derek Dixon, who appeared in Perry shows such as “Ruthless” and  “The Oval,” told the Hollywood Reporter in an email that bringing the lawsuit against the 55-year-old media mogul has been “terrifying.” However, he’s speaking out because he “couldn’t just let him get away with it.” 

“Everyone deserves to go to work and do their job without their boss trying to have sex with them,” Dixon said. “My goal is to help ensure that the next generation of actors and creatives don’t have to choose between their dreams and their dignity.”

Dixon, an actor in his late 30s, appeared in 85 episodes of “The Oval” between 2021 and 2025 as the character Dale. In his June 13 filing, he alleges that throughout his professional relationship with Perry, the writer and producer made multiple unwanted sexual advances toward him, including one in which he claims Perry pushed him against a wall and groped him. Dixon is also accusing Perry of engaging in a pattern of exploiting male actors.

Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry, has maintained that claims are part of an attempt to scam Perry. 

“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” Boyd told People magazine. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Dixon noted how fears of being written off as a fraud “is why people, especially men, don’t come forward.” 

“I was too afraid to come forward. I knew it would be awful. And I was right,” he said. 

When asked if he tried to settle the matter privately before coming forward, he noted how there “are always” attempts to resolve privately, but “they never result in the type of change necessary to protect further victims.” 

He added, “At the end of the day, my absolute fear is that he will be able to continue doing this without any major consequences.”

Before filing, he said he even tried to convince himself that this “was part of the industry” or that he had to accept it to keep working. 

“But eventually, I couldn’t stay silent anymore,” he said.

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Vanessa Hudgens just turned the internet into a full-blown celebration.

The High School Musical alum and her husband, retired MLB star Cole Tucker, are officially expecting their second child together, less than a year after welcoming their first baby in July 2024. The couple confirmed the news on Saturday, July 12th, in classic Hudgens fashion: a dazzling maternity photoshoot, uploaded to Instagram, where the 36-year-old actress beamed proudly, her hands cradling a visible baby bump.

“Round two!!!!” Hudgens wrote in the caption, pointing joyfully at her belly, while wearing a silky nude-toned ensemble that glowed against a neutral backdrop.

A Warm Shower of Love From Hollywood

Within minutes, Hudgens’ post ignited waves of congratulations from her inner celebrity circle. Fellow Disney Channelalum Aly Michalka exploded into the comments with an “Omg!!!!!!!! Congrats,” while Step Up star Jenna Dewan cooed, “Ohhhhh congratulations my love!!” Actress Alexandra Shipp and So You Think You Can Dance icon Allison Holker kept it simple and sweet with red heart emojis. Broadway veteran Corey Cott, who starred with Hudgens in Gigi, also chimed in, writing, “Congrats V!”

The announcement marks a new chapter for the couple, who married in December 2023 during a breathtaking ceremony in Tulum, Mexico. Just two weeks ago, Hudgens publicly gushed over Tucker on Instagram for his 29th birthday, posting a photo of them in sunglasses pulling silly faces.

“Happy birthday to my best friend/lover/partner in life. @cotuck you’re everything to meeeeeee. No one does it better,” she wrote.

Tucker replied, “You’re the best mama, thank you,” hinting at the couple’s evolving life as parents.

A Rocky Start to Parenthood

While Hudgens and Tucker’s journey into parenthood began with joy, it wasn’t without frustration. After the birth of their first child in July 2024, their experience was abruptly overshadowed by paparazzi intrusion. TMZ published unauthorized photos of Hudgens being wheeled out of a Santa Monica hospital with her newborn, triggering backlash from fans and a stern response from the new mom herself.

“We’re disappointed that our family’s privacy was disrespected and exploited during this very special time due to the greed of a long lens camera feeding the media,” Hudgens wrote in an Instagram Story at the time.

It was a rare moment of public vulnerability from the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star, who has generally maintained a graceful and grounded public presence throughout her transition from Disney sweetheart to Hollywood powerhouse.

From Disney Darling to Fierce Matriarch

Hudgens has remained a fixture in entertainment since her teenage debut in High School Musical. Over the years, she’s conquered Broadway (Gigi), fronted fashion campaigns, hosted red carpets at the Oscars and Met Gala, and most recently starred alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, proving her dramatic and comedic range continues to expand.

Off-screen, she’s also leaned into her roles as wife and mother, showing fans a more intimate and grounded side of her life, a refreshing evolution that many of her followers have applauded.

With baby No. 2 now on the way, the Hudgens-Tucker household is growing again, and this time, it seems like they’re ready to take on the chaos with grace, style, and an abundance of love.

Check out Hudgens’ full pregnancy announcement here on Instagram.

Stay tuned for baby name predictions, possible gender reveals, and what boho-chic nursery aesthetic Hudgens will bless us with next.

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