New Photo - The Punisher, as told by the Punisher: Jon Bernthal on the inspiration fueling the 'dark version'...

Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green dive into the brutal streaming special. The Punisher, as told by the Punisher: Jon Bernthal on the inspiration fueling the 'dark version' of One Last Kill Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green dive into the brutal streaming special. By Nick Romano :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/NicholasRomanoauthorphotoadc9b60763e34711935cbf7b3d768d24.jpg) Nick Romano Nick Romano is a senior editor at with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green dive into the brutal streaming special.

The Punisher, as told by the Punisher: Jon Bernthal on the inspiration fueling the 'dark version' of One Last Kill

Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green dive into the brutal streaming special.

By Nick Romano

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Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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May 13, 2026 3:10 p.m. ET

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Jon Bernthal facing forward with a serious expression

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'. Credit:

- Jon Bernthal calls *The Punisher: One Last Kill* "a dark version," "a psychologically complex version," and "a pretty brutal version" of Frank Castle.

- The actor, co-writer, and executive producer points out the real psychological condition that inspired the story.

- Director Reinaldo Marcus Green and Bernthal discuss shooting that striking one-shot on the streets of New York City.

**Warning: This article contains spoilers from *The Punisher: One Last Kill*.**

Jon Bernthal remains blown away by the fact that Marvel Studios let him realize a darker vision of his comic-book vigilante. It's hard to imagine how much darker the Punisher of the Disney-owned house of the Avengers could become, but *The Punisher: One Last Kill*, a new streaming special that just arrived on Disney+, sees Frank Castle at his lowest.

He finally finished what he set out to do: Kill everyone who had a hand in the slaughter of his loved ones. The Gnucci crime family (a name pulled directly from Marvel comics) was the last on his list. Now, as New York City plunges into discord due to the power vacuum left by their vacancy, the skull-emblazoned gunman is ready for one last kill — himself.

It's a story Bernthal conceived himself. He also co-wrote the script with his *King Richard* and *We Own This City* director, Reinaldo Marcus Green; executive produced the special; and, of course, starred in it. The actor's personal stamp is all over this.

"It's a dark version, it's a psychologically complex version, and ultimately it's a pretty brutal version," Bernthal tells ** backstage at New York City's August Wilson Theatre, where he's currently starring in Broadway's *Dog Day Afternoon*. "But I hope it takes Frank to a place where he can now start to knock on the door of fighting for things like justice and for other people and honoring his family in that way."

It's been seven years since Bernthal headlined his own Punisher series on Netflix, but he formally came back into the fold as Frank Castle with *Daredevil: Born Again*. He "took a hand in writing" his big scene with Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock in that first season, he says, after which he pitched the heads of Marvel a vision for the story he wanted to tell next.

Frank Castle / The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) in Marvel s THE PUNISHER: ONE LAST KILL

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'.

Courtesy of Marvel

Since his original casting, Bernthal grew close to a group of Marine Raiders, including Nick Koumalatsos, who's a producer on *One Last Kill* and appears as one of the many hallucinations plaguing Frank. Bernthal and Koumalatsos had a conversation a few years back about what rock bottom can look like for a military veteran. Rock bottom for Koumalatsos, who served 12 years in the United States Marine Corps., made him consider suicide, which he wrote about in his book, *Excommunicated Warrior: 7 Stages of Transition*.

"The story just really weighed on me and really affected me," Bernthal says. "And then talking to Nick a ton, I came up with this idea for Frank."

'Daredevil: Born Again' season 2 finale: Showrunner talks set leaks, season 3 setup

Deborah Ann Woll and Krysten Ritter in a scene alongside Daredevil

Krysten Ritter on that 'Daredevil: Born Again' finale character reveal

Krysten Ritter reacts to 'Daredevil: Born Again' season 2 finale's character reveal

Frank's mental state in *The Punisher: One Last Kill* is inspired by anomie, a condition many veterans often face when they transition back to society after a highly structured life in the armed forces. It's a general state of "normlessness," marked by a breakdown of social norms. For Frank, it contributes to PTSD-spawned hallucinations. In the depths of his despair, figures from his past — including previous *The Punisher* stars Jason R. Moore as Curtis Hoyle, and *Daredevil* vet Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page — come back to haunt him.

"Unreliable narrator" is the phrase Bernthal often used in developing this narrative arc.

"It is such a symptom of that condition," he says of anomie. "There were, unfortunately, many more hallucinations that were in the script. We just didn't really have the bandwidth and the time to get them all in. But, yes, we really wanted to introduce this idea of him cracking and that you couldn't really trust what he was seeing."

One of the few exchanges that is real is the sudden emergence of Judith Light as Ma Gnucci. She tracks Frank down at his apartment complex to inform him of the bounty she placed on his head for killing her loved ones. Now every local criminal in the area converges on his location, forcing Frank to fight through swarms of assailants in his building.

Jon Bernthal in The Punisher: One Last Kill

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'.

Marvel/Disney+

Green says the Gnucci family was something Bernthal had loaded in his back pocket. "It's something that's happened in a lot of American cities that I've lived in," the actor says. "When you really target organized crime, sometimes what it does is it leaves a power vacuum in the streets, and you get crime of desperation and crime that's completely disorganized, which is chaos. I have a lot of different feelings about organized crime."

Frank is oblivious to that, Bernthal continues — at least initially. "He forgot about Ma, and now he's created a monster in the same way that he was created. He caused the very same monster: the hunger for revenge, the hunger for blood. I think going forward, that's gonna be a real enemy for him, a real adversary."

Ma Gnucci remains a prominent figurehead from the Punisher comics, which both Bernthal and Green wanted to honor. The director, who lives in London, traveled back home to New Jersey once he told his mother that he would be making *One Last Kill*. Sitting on the top of his boxed-up comic collection that he shares with his brother were the Punisher specials.

"Was this fate?" Green recalls thinking. "We hadn't opened this suitcase in 25 years. What do you mean that those were at the top of the pile? It was very, very strange and sort of kismet."

"I really feel like this special almost could be a comic book," Bernthal adds. "That's why Robert is so important. Each frame tells a story in the same way that a comic book does. That was really important to me."

Jon Bernthal in The Punisher: One Last Kill

Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in 'The Punisher: One Last Kill'.

Marvel/Disney+

One example is a tracking shot filmed on the streets of New York City. Frank, with his hood up, walks down a sidewalk as all manner of violence breaks out in the blurred periphery. It goes back to the question of whether what he's seeing is real or not, which becomes murkier by the end when an internal glimpse inside Frank's mind reveals all he can hear are the sounds of military warfare.

Bernthal wrote it as a one-shot, but Green was initially resistant to the idea. "I didn't know we were gonna be able to accomplish it on the New York City streets, and we were running out of time," he notes.

"It was a tremendously difficult shot to get. We tried a few times, and when we got it, we knew we got it," Bernthal acknowledges. "This was not a big-budget movie. We shot this whole thing in less time than it takes to do an episode of one of these shows. We had a smaller budget. It was such an incredible group of people who made this show. Such an unbelievable amount of dedication and purpose."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

The last shot of *One Last Kill* sees Frank back in the Punisher suit. He intervened to save the life of a young girl who reminded him of his own daughter and now seems determined to take justice for those who can't get it themselves. The next time we'll see the character is in this year's *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, which Bernthal admits he needs to be careful when discussing at this stage.

"The first conversation I had with Destin [Daniel Cretton, the film's director] is he wanted to know exactly what was going on in this special. And I really appreciate that," Bernthal says. "Obviously, tonally these are gonna be very different pieces, but it was really important to me that you bought that the same guy could walk off one set to the other."

*The Punisher:* *One Last Kill *is now streaming on Disney+.

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The Punisher, as told by the Punisher: Jon Bernthal on the inspiration fueling the 'dark version'...

Bernthal and director Reinaldo Marcus Green dive into the brutal streaming special. The Punisher, as told by the Punisher: Jon Berntha...
New Photo - Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast. Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast. By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 27, 2021 9:00 a.m.

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast.

Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale

Listen to the final episode of EW's Binge: Vampire Diaries podcast.

By Samantha Highfill

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Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

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August 27, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

For *The Vampire Diaries* creatives, casting Enzo was a particularly difficult task. Because originally, the role was going to be very different.

"You were supposed to be the third Salvatore brother," executive producer Julie Plec tells star Michael Malarkey in episode 8 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*. Writer Brett Matthews adds, "That was always the plan, and then it went a different direction, but that's why it was so hard to find the person. We thought it was going to be a Salvatore brother, so we cast a very wide net [and] looked very hard." Ultimately, they scrapped that plan and made it so Enzo didn't share Salvatore blood, but he was a brother figure for Damon (Ian Somerhalder) for many years (and he was sired by Lily Salvatore).

But that wasn't the only plan that changed in the writers' room over the years. In discussing the *Vampire Diaries*' final season, Plec and Matthews recall the final major debate: Which Salvatore were they going to kill in the series finale? "We went back and forth in the writers' room all season long," Plec says. "We finally landed on: We're killing Damon. That's the right thing to do. He is the one with the consequence to pay. Stefan was morally a bit stronger of a character."

The Vampire Diaries

Michael Malarkey as Enzo and Ian Somerhalder as Damon on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Annette Brown/The CW; Bob Mahoney/The CW

Matthews adds, "Damon's a fairly obvious choice," noting that the writers really fell in love with the idea of Damon compelling Stefan (Paul Wesley) to let him die. But when executive producer Kevin Williamson proposed that it should be Stefan that dies, they started to rethink their plan. "It felt like dying for Stefan freed him from a lot of weight, whereas it felt like living for Damon freed him to go and be the man that he was always supposed to be," Plec says.

Of course, both Salvatores were meant to die in the original ending Plec and Williamson came up with during the show's second season. In that ending, "The boys would sacrifice themselves to save Elena so that Elena could go and have a life and be human and live," Plec recalls during the podcast. "To save her, they would die together, and that was always the pitch. And then when Nina [Dobrev] left, it felt like the show can't be as much about protecting Elena's happiness, although that's important to us, but we want to protect the bothers' happiness, we want them to get something out of this. Then it shifted to: We can't kill both of them for her because that feels somehow like nobody got what they wanted. Let's find a different way to give one of these brothers the happiness that they need and the other brother the closure that they need."

(One other way Dobrev leaving changed the plan? Plec says, "I thought that by the time we came back to the end of the series, whenever it was, that Elena would've found her way back to Stefan and Damon would've found a different path.")

For more about the final season, listen to the full podcast episode below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews, and stay tuned to EW.com.**

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- Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows

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Published: May 14, 2026 at 06:19PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Vampire Diaries bosses on casting Enzo as a Salvatore brother and Damon's fate in the finale

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New Photo - Hailey Bieber Opens Up About Raising Baby Jack With Justin

This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.Hailey Bieber Opens Up About Raising Baby Jack With Justin Hannah MalachMon, May 11, 2026 at 5:56 PM UTC 0 "Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin dated on and off long before they became husband and wife. Hailey first met Justin in the late aughts, and they eventually struck up a casual romance.

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Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin dated on and off long before they became husband and wife. Hailey first met Justin in the late aughts, and they eventually struck up a casual romance.

Though they decided to keep it out of the public eye, this didn’t stop fans from obsessing over their relationship. After a breakup and surprise reconciliation-turned-whirlwind engagement two years later, Justin officially made Hailey his Mrs. during a September 2018 New York City courthouse ceremony. They got married in front of friends and family in a more formal wedding a year later. In May 2024, they announced they were expecting their first child. They welcomed their son, Jack, in August 2024.

From their highly publicized South Carolina nuptials to their adjustment to parenthood, here’s the couple’s full history and how their relationship has evolved.

November 2009

Hailey has her father, Stephen, to thank for introducing her to her future husband. There’s even footage of their first meeting, which took place backstage at The Today Show. Hailey and Justin—then in their teens—shared a brief handshake and the rest, as they say, is history.

February 2011

New York Daily News Archive - Getty Images (New York Daily News Archive - Getty Images)

Chaperoned by her father yet again, Hailey attended the New York City premiere of Justin’s documentary Never Say Never. Later that month, Justin confirmed his relationship with Selena Gomez when the couple made their red carpet debut at Vanity Fair’s Oscar After Party.

September 2011

Hailey officially declared herself a member of the Jelena fan club. The model took to Twitter, sharing her support for the couple. “I don’t care what anyone says but Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez together is the definition of a teenage dream! #word,” Hailey wrote.

November 2014

After calling it quits with Gomez, Justin was photographed attending church services at Hillsong alongside Hailey and fellow supermodel Kendall Jenner. It wasn’t long before fans began speculating that Hailey and Justin were an item.

December 2014

Hailey denied any romantic connection between her and Justin. She set the record straight during an interview with E!. “I’ve known [Justin] since I was like 13—and we’ve just been good friends over the years,” Hailey said. “We have just stayed close, and there’s nothing more to it than that.”

Justin backed up Hailey’s statement in an Instagram post. The singer shared a snap of himself and Hailey, writing, “I’m super single and this is my good friend u would know otherwise.”

December 2015

Hailey joined Justin and his family on vacation in Anguilla, fueling rumors that their friendship was actually something more.

January 2016

Justin made his romance with Hailey Instagram official. Shortly after New Year’s Day, he shared a photo of them kissing.

February 2016

Hailey and Justin revealed that their relationship was casual. "We are not an exclusive couple,” Hailey told E!. Meanwhile, in an interview with GQ, Justin called Hailey “someone I really love,” but he added that he didn’t “want to be held down by anything.”

August 2016

Hailey and Justin ended their brief fling. According to People, Justin also unfollowed Hailey on Instagram amid his new relationship with Sofia Richie.

Following their split, Hailey and Justin completely lost touch for almost two years. In 2020, Hailey shared her thoughts on their time apart: “Our lives seemed to be going in very different directions,” she told ELLE. “I actually think—now that I look back at it being married—that it was a good thing for the two of us, very healthy.”

During Justin and Hailey’s rift, the singer rekindled his romance with Gomez in November 2017. However, by March 2018, Jelena was over for good.

May 2018

Hailey revealed that she was speaking to Justin again. “We went through a long period of time when we weren’t friends,” she told The Times UK. “We’ve moved past that.”

June 2018

Justin and Hailey appeared as if they were back together. After sharing some PDA at a religious conference, they were spotted together at LIV nightclub in Miami. Just days later, they were photographed holding hands and kissing in New York City.

July 2018

After rumors of the couple’s engagement began to swirl, Justin confirmed the news on Instagram. He posted two portraits with his new fiancée and penned a lengthy caption devoted to her. “Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you,” he wrote. “So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you.”

Hailey joined the love fest, tweeting, “Not sure what I did in life to deserve such happiness but I am so utterly grateful to God for giving me such an incredible person to share my life with!”

September 2018

Just two months after their engagement, TMZ ran photographs of the couple walking into New York City’s Marriage Bureau. The next day, People claimed that Hailey and Justin obtained their marriage license, officially making them husband and wife.

Twitter (Twitter)

Meanwhile, Hailey dismissed the gossip on Twitter: “I understand where the speculation is coming from, but I’m not married yet!”

November 2018

The couple finally confirmed their marriage status. Justin shared an Instagram photo of him and Hailey with the caption “My wife is awesome.” The following day, Hailey changed her last name to Bieber on all of her social media accounts.

August 2019

TMZ broke the news that a second wedding was imminent after the date was moved several times. The outlet acquired a photo of a save the date card, which revealed that the ceremony would take place on September 30 in South Carolina.

September 2019

Mr. and Mrs. Bieber officially tied the knot…again! People disclosed the details of their ceremony, which took place at Somerset Chapel in Bluffton, South Carolina. Vows (and Tiffany & Co. wedding bands) were exchanged “as the sun set.” The star-studded guest list included Kendall Jenner, Camila Morrone, and Jaden Smith, among others.

A day later, Justin basked in wedded bliss as he shared photos from the couple’s reception.

October 2019

The Biebers continued to share photos from their big day. Hailey put her Off-White by Virgil Abloh wedding dress on full display, including her elaborate train, which read “’till death do us part.” Justin wore a Celine tuxedo.

Getty Images (Getty Images)

Weeks later, the newlyweds found themselves embroiled in Jelena fan drama, after Justin’s ex dropped her new single “Lose You To Love Me.” The track captured Gomez’s feelings moving on from her 10-year on-off romance with Justin and closing that chapter.

Shortly after the song came out, Hailey upset some Jelena fans when she posted an Instagram Story, where she shared that she was listening to Summer Walker’s “I’ll Kill You.” Hailey denied that this was a dig at Gomez. Commenting beneath JustJared’s Instagram post, she wrote, “please stop with this nonsense. There is no ‘response.’ This is complete BS.”

Gomez, meanwhile, told her fans on Instagram Live not to attack Hailey. “I am grateful for the response that the song is getting. I’m so grateful,” she said. “However, I do not stand for women tearing women down. And I will never, ever be by that. So please be kind to everyone. It doesn’t matter what the situation is. If you’re my fans, don’t be rude to anybody, please. Don’t go off and say things that you just feel in the moment. And just please, from me, know that that’s not my heart. My heart is only to release things that I feel that are me and that I’m proud of. And that’s all that I’ll say, yeah.”

Hailey tried to shut down feud rumors herself when she liked Gomez’s Instagram post promoting “Lose You To Love Me.” A source close to the Biebers also assured E! that things were copacetic. “It isn’t ideal for Hailey,” the insider told the outlet, “but she understands the creative process of writing music and that Justin had a past. Justin and Hailey both want Selena to be happy and in a good place and aren’t fazed by it.”

January 2020

Justin rang in the decade with his new single “Yummy,” which details his sex life with Hailey.

February 2020

Hailey landed the March 2020 cover of ELLE. She spoke candidly about the couple’s decision to delay their South Carolina ceremony for a year. “When we first got married, we were just figuring out our life together,” she said. “I felt like putting a wedding in the middle of all of that would be really hectic and stressful.”

August 2020

Although the Biebers weren’t ready for children yet, Hailey was already thinking about parenting. Amid worldwide protests in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Hailey discussed her outlook on motherhood. Regarding her future children, she told Vogue India, “They will be raised knowing how to treat people, why we don’t say certain things, and why we respect and acknowledge and give credit where credit is due.”

September 2021

Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images (Dimitrios Kambouris - Getty Images)

The Biebers attended their first Met Gala as husband and wife. Hailey stunned in a Saint Laurent column gown and matching wayfarer sunglasses. Justin paired his sleek suit with customized Nike sneakers.

November 2021

Hailey and Justin appearedon the In Good Faith with Chelsea & Judah Smith podcast, where they discussed the challenges they faced in their first year of marriage. At the time, Justin was battling with severe bouts of depression. Hailey admitted that watching her partner struggle wasn't easy.

“There were days where I literally was like, ‘I don’t know if he’s going to be okay.’ Something really deep down inside of me was like, ‘He’s going to get through it.’ I just didn’t know how long it was going to take. That’s what I think was the hardest thing. There’s no guarantees," she said.

Nevertheless, Hailey was determined to stick by her husband: “Imagine abandoning somebody in the middle of the worst time of their life, potentially. I’m not that type of person,” she said.

February 2022

Amid the launch of her skin care line Rhode, Hailey did an interview with WSJ Magazine. The entrepreneur shared her thoughts on having children. “I think ideally in the next couple of years we would try. But there’s a reason they call it try, right?” she said. “You don’t know how long that process is ever going to take. Definitely no kids this year; that would be a little bit hectic, I think.”

Hailey also revealed her decision to stop discussing her marriage in interviews. “It doesn’t feel worth it to me anymore,” she explained. “I try to have an open conversation with someone, and then it gets taken out of context.”

March 2022

Hailey was hospitalized after having stroke-like symptoms, though she fortunately fully recovered. Her health scare left Justin reasonably shaken, with a source close to the couple telling People, “[He] is probably more traumatized than even she is. When it happened, there was a lot of panic. Justin texted everyone he knew and asked everyone to pray for her, and he never left her side. He was saying that he can’t lose her, that whatever it takes, he wanted the best medical treatment available.”

Justin later discussed the situation during one of his concerts. “You know, it’s kind of crazy how life throws you curveballs,” he said during a Denver performance. “Most of you probably know or seen the news about my wife …but she’s okay, she’s good, she’s strong. It’s been really scary. But I know for a fact that God has her in the palms of his hands, and that’s a good thing.”

April 2022

CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images (CBS Photo Archive - Getty Images)

Hailey accompanied her husband at the Grammys. She opted for a flowy strapless gown, which led some fans to speculate that she was hiding a growing baby bump. After RadarOnline published an Instagram post about the rumors, Hailey swiftly shut them down. “I’m not pregnant; leave me alone,” she commented.

June 2022

Just months after Hailey’s hospitalization, Justin had a health scare of his own. A virus called Ramsay Hunt syndrome left half of the singer’s face paralyzed, but he eventually recovered. A source told People that although this year has been “overwhelming” for the couple, relationship-wise, “they’re unbreakable.”

During an interview with Good Morning America, Hailey shared a promising update on her husband’s health. “He is getting better every single day. He’s feeling a lot better and, obviously, it was just a very scary and random situation to happen, but he’s going to be totally okay, and I’m just grateful that he’s fine,” she said.

August 2022

Ahead of the couple’s fourth anniversary, Hailey discussed her relationship with Justin in Harper’s Bazaar.“[Justin’s] still the person that I wanna be rushing back to,” she said. “I might fly somewhere and go do a job, but I can’t wait to come back and hang out. And I feel like that’s because of the effort that’s been put in on both sides. At the end of the day, like, he’s my best friend, but it still does take a lot of work to make it work.”

September 2022

Hailey appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast. In a conversation with Alexandra Cooper, Hailey insisted that she never “stole” Justin from Gomez and that it’s “not [her] character to mess with someone’s relationship.” She also confirmed that Justin had already “closed a chapter” with Gomez before he rekindled things with her in 2018.

Hailey went on to discuss her seemingly speedy engagement to Justin, which took place just two months after they began dating again. “I’m like, ‘yeah, that seemed really drastic and really crazy,’” she said. “But that was what we felt was a decision between the two of us, and it felt correct for the two of us at the time, and clearly, we were right because here we are, four years later.”

October 2022

Tyrell Hampton / Academy Museum Gala (Tyrell Hampton / Academy Museum Gala)

Hailey and Gomez posed for pictures together at the Academy Museum Gala, proving once and for all that there is no drama between them. A source informed People about Justin’s reaction to the news. “[He’s] very happy with the fact that they can all move on and that it can be peaceful between everyone,” the source said.

Of Hailey and Gomez’s motivation, a source told Entertainment Tonight, “Selena and Hailey were both super chill together at the Academy Museum Gala. They’ve both moved on and are happy in their own lives. They wanted to show the world that there’s no beef or bad feelings between them anymore.”

December 2022

A source gave Entertainment Tonighta brief update on Hailey and Justin’s relationship as 2022 closed out. “Hailey and Justin are doing incredible as a couple,” the source said. “They are each other’s rocks. They make sure they’re there for each other for whatever each of them needs and show their support for one another.”

“They have so much love and passion in their relationship and share the same beliefs and values, so it’s easy for them to get along,” the insider continued. “They love doing pretty much everything together, especially traveling.” The couple ended their year by traveling to Aspen and celebrating the start of 2023 with Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

February 2023

Justin interviewed Hailey for Vogue Australia. He asked her what her favorite part of being married is. “Mmm... My favorite thing about being married is honestly the companionship I feel we have,” she said. “Genuinely, you are my best friend in the entire world. There’s nobody I would rather spend more time with or do anything with.”

March 2023

Hailey posted a birthday tribute to Justin, ignoring the ongoing TikTok discourse about her history with Gomez. She wrote to her husband, “29 never looked so good ☺️Happy Birthday to you best friend! Words couldn’t possibly sum up all that you embody. So here’s to more joy, more travel, yummy food, adventures, more peace, fun, and most of all more love. ✨🥳”

Justin didn’t comment on the TikTok drama but shared a tribute to Hailey to assert his love for her. “LUV U BABY,” he wrote.

Hailey and Gomez shared statements on March 24, asking for the fan bullying to stop. Hailey wrote:

I want to thank Selena for speaking out, as her and I have been discussing the last few weeks how to move past this ongoing narrative between her and I.The last few weeks have been very hard for everyone involved and millions of people are seeing so much hate around this, which is extremely harmful. While social media is an incredible way to connect and build community, moments like this only create extreme division instead of bringing people together.Things can always be taken out of context or construed differently than they were intended. We all need to be more thoughtful about what we post and what we say, including myself.In the end, I believe love will always be bigger than hate and negativity, and there is always an opportunity to meet each other with more empathy and compassion.

Instagram (Instagram)August 2023

The couple was regularly photographed out together during summer 2023.

On August 28, Justin went viral for wearing sweatpants while Hailey was in a red minidress at an event both attended to promote her Rhode Beauty and Krispy Kreme doughnut collaboration.

Gotham - Getty Images (Gotham - Getty Images)

Justin then posted a couple of Instagrams featuring him and Hailey together. In one shot, he appears wearing a sweatshirt with her name on it while showing PDA with her.

September 2023

The Biebers marked their fifth wedding anniversary with Instagram tributes.

Justin’s was longer. The singer wrote to Hailey, “To the most precious, my beloved. 5 years. You have captivated my heart. I know from the depths of my soul down to my bones that this journey with you will only exceed our wildest expectations. So let’s keep dreaming big baby. Cheers to forever and ever. I love you with every fiber of my being. HAPPY 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!”

Hailey, meanwhile, wrote to Justin, “5 ✨🤍 I love you.”

October 2023

The couple attended a Victoria Monét concert together wearing coordinated oversize black leather jackets. Justin shared several pictures in which he is smiling with his wife and friend Monét. He called the evening a “date night” in the caption.

November 2023

On November 22, Justin celebrated Hailey’s 27th birthday with a romantic Instagram post. He shared a black and white clip where he is leaning down to kiss his wife as she lays in his lap.

“Happy birthday baby. You make life wonderful. And I’m the lucky one that gets all of you 😍,” he wrote in the caption.

A few days earlier, he shared a carousel of photos that included pics with Hailey. He captioned it, “Some cute things.”

In the first pic, she leans against her husband as they stand outside in front of a green lawn. Later in the post is a clip of them riding a tandem bike together.

December 2023

On Wednesday, December 27, the Biebers were at a Toronto Maple Leafs game in the team’s hometown, where the hockey team was playing against the Ottawa Senators. The next day, Justin shared some snaps from his night out with his wife, including a cute selfie of them together in the stands. He was in a blue jacket with the team’s logo, while the model wore a blue baseball cap. She also had a blue scarf tucked into her black leather jacket.

“Had fun last night at the next gen game with the @mapleleafs,” he captioned the post.

January 2024

Justin signaled his relationship with Hailey is going strong in the new year with a PDA shot of the two on Instagram. “We’re cute ☺️,” Hailey commented on it.

February 2024

On February 14, a source spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the couple’s marriage status. “Hailey and Justin are doing well,” that source said. “Justin feels comfortable, safe, secure, and at home with Hailey, which is great for him. Hailey is extremely supportive and encouraging and vice versa. They lift each other up in their careers and personal lives.

“Hailey and Justin actively commit themselves to be better partners and make sure to share their feelings openly,” the source continued. “They are very committed to one another and take their vows seriously.”

On February 28, the couple had another public outing together, going to a church service. Both had gray in their look, Hailey’s plaid sweater complementing Justin’s hoodie.

BACKGRID (BACKGRID)March 2024

Hailey spoke out against blind items on TikTok spreading false rumors about her marriage to Justin. “Just FYI the stories and constant ‘blind items’ I see on TikTok are 100 percent of the time wrong. Made out of thin air...” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “Come from the land of delusion... So I know it may be fun feeding into these stories but just know they’re always false. xx sorry to spoil it.”

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Instagram (Instagram)April 2024

A source shut down rumors of the Biebers having relationship trouble to People. “[They’re] doing really well,” the insider said. “There’s no divorce and no truth to that whatsoever. They are very, very happy.”

On Friday, April 12, the couple was seen at Coachella 2024, watching Lana Del Rey perform with Billie Eilish. They also attended Ice Spice’s set.

May 2024

Hailey announced she’s pregnant with her and Justin’s first child on Instagram. She shared a photo shoot of them from their vow renewal ceremony to unveil the news:

On Friday, May 24, Hailey shared a new photo dump captioned, “little cherry blossoms on my nails little cherry blossom in my belly.”

The couple was photographed in Tokyo together doing a little shopping. The Rhode founder was wearing a white cropped T-shirt that showed off her pregnant figure. She had on matching white shorts and a colorful cardigan and knitted hat. Justin wore a gray button-down shirt with long shorts and slides.

On May 27, they were back in Los Angeles and were photographed walking through a parking lot together after sharing lunch.

July 2024

A source told Entertainment Tonight that Justin and Hailey were surrounded by friends and family as they got ready for the newborn.

The couple has reportedly been “spending time with family and friends, going to church, and leaning on their close-knit circles on the regular...they’ve been trying to keep everything sacred during this special time.”

The source continued, “Justin and Hailey are feeling so thrilled and excited as Hailey gets closer to her due date. They can’t wait to have a family together and are closer to one another than ever before. They know that this was their destiny and that this chapter was what was in store for them and their partnership was meant to be.”

Meanwhile, Justin has been extremely supportive of his wife.

“Justin has been doing little things to take care of Hailey whether it’s satisfying her pregnancy cravings, massaging her feet, or treating her to nice dinners,” the source said. “He’s at her beck and call, and the sky is the limit. Whatever she needs, he’s sure to get.”

On Friday, July 26, Justin shared more photos of Hailey Bieber that included a shot cuddling up to her.

August 2024

The Biebers are officially parents!

On Friday, August 23, the couple shared the announcement on Justin’s Instagram. He posted a photo of the baby’s foot with the caption, “WELCOME HOME JACK BLUES BIEBER 🐻”

Both the new mom and the baby are “doing well” at home, a source close to Justin told People. “They’re both overjoyed. The baby is such a miracle. He’s adorable and doing well,” the source said. “Hailey’s doing well, too.”

The model’s hand could be seen in their Instagram announcement, and her maternal manicure was apparently designed by Justin. “Justin has been choosing Hailey’s nail design lately,” Hailey’s manicurist Zola Ganzorigt told Vogue in an interview published August 25, “and it was his request.”

Hailey’s manicure consisted of a “more muted nudish white micro French style on almond-shaped nails,” the Los Angeles-based manicurist added.

September 2024

On Sept. 13, 2024, Hailey celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary with Justin. In her Instagram Stories, she shared a photo of a Polaroid in which she is kissing her husband. She wrote over it “six years” and “love you baby.”

Instagram (Instagram)

A source spoke to Peopleon September 22 about how the new parents were adjusting to life with Jack one month in. “They seem even more in love since the baby arrived,” the insider said. Hailey is “feeling great, [and Justin is] encouraging her to catch up with friends.”

Justin is doing wonderfully too, they added: “[He’s] been in a happy bubble since baby Jack was born. [He] wants to focus on being a great dad and husband.”

October 2024

Hailey supported Justin by attending his first performance since they welcomed their son, Jack. Justin joined Don Toliver onstage at Toliver’s L.A. show on October 19. Hailey was in the audience with Justine Skye and Lori Harvey. Harvey shared footage of Hailey there.

Justin posted a photo with Hailey to Instagram the next day, offering a rare look into their relationship.

On October 25, Justin shared some more photos from a date night, sharing a dinner at a nice restaurant and then a quick kiss. In his Instagram Stories that day, he offered a glimpse of Jack, posting a picture of the baby’s feet in his car seat.

Instagram (Instagram)

Justin also shared a photo of him with Hailey in a photo booth.

Instagram (Instagram)November 2024

On Halloween, the family wore a group costume, which Hailey and Justin shared pictures of the next morning. The Biebers were characters from the Disney Channel show Kim Possible. Hailey was dressed as Kim and Justin was her friend, Ron. Baby Jack was dressed in a pink onesie as Ron’s pet naked mole rat, Rufus.

Hailey also shared a pic of Jack’s feet in a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed onesie.

Instagram (Instagram)

On Friday, November 29, Hailey posted a photo carousel on Instagram including a candid family pic of herself, Justin, and Jack. In the photo, the group is bundled up for an outdoor walk, with Justin in a gray and black camo fleece and matching jacket, Hailey in a fuzzy coat, and Jack in a gray hoodie lined with white shearling.

She captioned the carousel, “November aka the best month of the year.”

December 2024

On December 16, Justin shared photos from a trip the couple took. In one shot, Hailey appears kissing his cheek, while he returns the favor in another pic. “💕🙈😛🫶🏼,” he captioned one post on Instagram.

January 2025

On January 1, Justin signaled his marriage with Hailey is going just fine on his Instagram Story. He shared a shot of her in a two-piece set and wrote, “Um goin anywhere with u bb. Happy new year.”

Instagram (Instagram)

On January 21, Justin drew attention for briefly unfollowing Hailey on Instagram. He followed her again and posted an explanation on his Instagram Story. “Someone went on my account and unfollowed my wife,” he wrote. “Shit is getting suss out here.”

Instagram (Instagram)

In the hours following, both Hailey and Justin shared new photos of each other on Instagram. Hailey tucked in a shot of Justin sleeping to a carousel of photos she posted.

February 2025

On Valentine’s Day, the couple seemingly offered updates on their relationship with some funny Instagram posts. Hailey first shared a picture in her Stories indicating she may be “mad” at her husband at the moment, but that doesn’t keep her away from him. The Story included a picture of the animated cat Topsy from Tom & Jerry stomping across the room, with a caption that read, “When you’re mad at him, and he says ‘come here, baby.’”

She added some heart-themed emojis to make the message even sweeter.

The singer shared a number of photos to celebrate Hailey on Valentine’s Day, too, first with a carousel of pics he captioned, “HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM THE BIEBERS.”

She shared one of those pics in her own Instagram Stories, writing, “My best friend is my Valentine.”

Justin then shared a couple more photos with a kiss emoji in which Hailey can be seen holding his hand and looking over his shoulder. She wore a fluffy black jacket and cropped top that showed off her toned midriff. He wore a leopard print tie.

They were later seen arriving at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel for a Valentine’s Day meal, with Justin wearing a black puffer jacket over a gray hoodie, wide-legged jeans in photos taken while they were greeted outside.

March 2025

For his 31st birthday, Justin shared a carousel of photos from the celebration that included a rare picture of baby Jack.

The model shared a few more photos with her husband in her Stories for his birthday, one in black-and-white in which she is lying in his arms on the floor. Over it, she wrote, “Happy birthday to my love.”

Instagram (Instagram)

Instagram (Instagram)May 2025

Justin and Hailey made an appearance together on May 18, attending game 7 of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff series against the Florida Panthers. Sitting rinkside at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the couple appeared in good spirits throughout the night. Hailey wore a blue Leafs jacket to support Justin’s longtime favorite team, while Justin shared multiple Instagram posts and Stories from the outing. They included backstage shots, rinkside selfies, and a series of PDA-filled photos.

“Made it into the building,” he captioned one post of Hailey walking ahead of him as they arrived.

In another, he expressed his optimism for the team despite their loss that evening. He wrote, “I don’t remember a time in my life when I haven’t been obsessed with the leafsssss. This year we made it farther than we have in so long and I’m happy about that. I can be patient ’cuz I know this is the team to do it.”

Michael Chisholm - Getty Images (Michael Chisholm - Getty Images)

That same month, Hailey addressed how her marriage is perceived in a Vogue interview, saying, “I feel like I’ve fought so hard to try to get people to understand me, or know who I am, or see me for me. And people just don’t want to sometimes. And there’s nothing you can do about that. I’ve been in a position where I’ve tried to tell my side of a story or correct a narrative or tell the truth of a lie and then they go, Well, she’s lying. Imagine how trapping that feels.”

She added, “I’ve learned so much from Justin, really. He’s been doing this literally since he was a child and he has had to face the most scrutiny of any person that I know. He was like, ‘Baby, trust me, I’ve been here before many, many times. You’re not going to win. There is no winning.’”

June 2025

In June, Hailey drew attention when she was photographed without her wedding ring on two outings in New York City, but was then seen wearing her ring again, including the upgraded engagement ring she debuted last year.

A source speaking to Entertainment Tonight explained the current state of the couple’s marriage: “Justin and Hailey have been struggling in their relationship,” the insider said. “They both want to salvage their marriage, but right now things are not good.” The source added that their friends believe they can work things out, too.

There are issues on both sides, the source detailed: “Justin has been getting irritated easily and feels like Hailey can be superficial about the way their relationship looks in the public eye, and Justin’s lack of motivation has been upsetting for her.”

July 2025

On July 14, Justin shared shots from a recent trip to Italy with his wife.

On July 16, he shared a carousel of pics from another recent vacation, opening with a shot of him giving her a kiss on the cheek.

On July 17, a source told Entertainment Tonightthat things have improved, but the couple never considered calling it quits, due to their deep love for each other and their son, nearly 1-year-old Jack.

“Justin and Hailey are doing much better these days, [but] things were up and down for a bit,” the source said. “Even though they have gone through rough patches in their marriage, divorce was not on the table. Hailey loves Justin and the family they’ve built.”

The couple appeared to be having a fun time after a listening party for Justin’s new album, Swag, on July 25. They both shared photos of a hot kiss and Justin shared a number of images from his big event.

Instagram (Instagram)

Instagram (Instagram)

Justin discussed his issues with Hailey on his album Swag and in “Daisies” and “Walking Away.” In the “Walking Away” chorus, he sang, “Baby, I ain’t walking away / You were my diamond / Gave you a ring / I made you a promise / I told you I’d change / It’s just human nature / These growing pains / And baby, I ain’t walking away.”

August 2025

The couple was seen on a date night at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica dressed up for their evening out. The model was wearing a black minidress with ruched fabric forming long sleeves and a collared neckline, plunging down in the middle. Hailey wore the dress with black pointed-toe heels and carried a black handbag. She left her hair down and wore small silver earrings and sunglasses.

Justin wore an oversized black leather coat over a bright blue hoodie and wide-legged jeans, as well as a SKYLRK white beanie and sunglasses. Justin held the car door open for his wife before following her into the eatery.

September 2025

On September 5, Justin dropped Swag II, the surprise follow-up to his July album, and Hailey was quick to show her support. She celebrated the album’s release on her Instagram Stories with a “Happy swag II day” post and highlighted tracks like “Bad Honey,” “Love Song,” “I Do,” and “When It’s Over.”

The record itself features multiple references to Hailey and their son, Jack. In “I Do,” Justin echoes his wedding vows, singing that she’ll “always be the one that I choose,” while “Mother in You” reflects on the parts of Hailey he sees in their child. Other songs, including “I Think You’re Special,” “Love Song,” and “Safe Space,” emphasize his devotion to her and the life they’ve built together, even as he nods to past challenges in their marriage.

On September 13, they celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary, and a source spoke to People about the current status of their relationship four days later. “They’ve had challenges like anyone else, but they always come back to the same thing: They truly believe they are soulmates,” the insider said. “Becoming parents has only deepened their bond. Jack is the center of everything for them.”

Justin and Hailey are also both “thriving right now.” The source added, “They just celebrated their wedding anniversary, he’s on top of the charts, and she’s breaking records in beauty. They are both very focused. Justin’s super grateful for his fans. He’s hyped about Coachella. Hailey will be there of course.”

October 2025

On Friday, October 25, Justin shared some pictures with Hailey following his SKYLRK basketball team’s The League game. In the photos, she is sitting in his lap and giving him a hug as they’re surrounded by people, smiling broadly.

The next day, Pop Base shared a video of the couple at a Dijon concert in San Diego. In the short clip, Justin is standing behind his wife with his arms around her. She leans back against him and they sway to the music. At one point, he gently strokes a strand of her hair. Their friend, Kendall Jenner, can be seen beside them enjoying the show as well.

November 2025

Justin and Hailey shared photos from their family Halloween celebration on November 1. The family dressed as characters from The Incredibles, with Hailey as Elastigirl, Justin as Mr. Incredible, and their son, Jack, as Jack-Jack.

On November 5, Justin posted a photo from Kendall Jenner’s 30th birthday celebration showing Hailey kissing him at the private beachside party. He wore a white tank top and tan pants, while Hailey appeared in a leopard-print minidress.

Hailey and Justin spoke about Jack during a Twitch stream on November 12. Hailey described his personality, saying, “He’s like that. He’ll just walk up and start hugging.” Justin added, “I always wanted a kid who wasn’t, like, super shy, and didn’t want to go to people. He’s super personable and open. It’s too cute.”

December 2025

On December 21, Hailey and Justin were photographed out in West Hollywood. Justin wore black-and-white shorts, a gray hoodie, and sneakers, while Hailey paired an ivory top and charcoal pants with a long black coat.

Justin posted a selfie with Hailey to celebrate Christmas on December 25. In the photo, the couple embraced in winter outfits. He captioned it, “MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BIEBERS 🫂🎅❤️”

January 2026

On January 16, Hailey participated in a viral 2016 Instagram trend and included a throwback photo of herself and Justin kissing. She captioned the post, “you just had to be there.”

February 2026

On February 18, Hailey shared a new update about motherhood during her appearance on Jake Shane’s Therapuss podcast. She revealed their son, Jack, had started singing along to one of Justin’s early hits. “He does [listen to Justin’s music]. He’s been saying, ‘Baby, oh, baby, oh, baby, oh’,” she said, adding that it began “literally in the last two days.”

Hailey also spoke about her desire to grow their family in the future. “I definitely do want one more [kid],” she said, adding, “I’m not in a rush, but I definitely want one more. Maybe I’ll have four more. Maybe I’ll have three. I don't know, I really don’t know. I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

April 2026

Hailey supported Justin during his Coachella headlining performance, attending the show. During one moment in his set, Justin gave a shout-out to his family while singing, “Mom and Dad, hallelujah. Hailey babe, hallelujah. Baby Jack, hallelujah.” The camera then cut to Hailey in the audience, and she blew him a kiss and waved to the crowd.

On April 14, Hailey spoke about her marriage and family life with Justin in her Interview magazine cover profile. Discussing their personal style, she said, “We both just really like expressing ourselves through our style and supporting each other’s individualism.” She added, “On a day-to-day basis I’m like, ‘I don’t give a shit what you want to wear. Are you comfortable? Do you feel good?’ That’s all that matters to me.”

Hailey also shared insight into dressing their son, Jack Blues, saying, “My vibe with him is cozy and yummy and cute and simple.” Reflecting on motherhood, she said the most exciting part is “just seeing this little human evolve before your eyes. They grow so fast and they change so much and there’s always so much excitement. You’re watching them experience life for the first time, so you kind of feel like you’re experiencing it that way with them.”

Later that month, on April 28, Justin posted a photo of himself and Hailey from Coachella. Hailey wore a blue athletic jacket with coordinating shorts and carried a black shoulder bag, while Justin paired a washed charcoal hoodie with black pants and a bright pink knit cap. He captioned the post, “😍.”

May 2026

On May 10, Hailey celebrated Mother’s Day by sharing a black-and-white selfie with Jack on her Instagram Story. “I love being your mommy,” she wrote alongside the photo.

Hailey Bieber / Instagram (Hailey Bieber / Instagram)

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New Photo - Ben Affleck spoke about working with Miami cops on The Rip months before lawsuit

Two officers in the department are suing the duo for defamation. Ben Affleck spoke about working with Miami cops on The Rip months before lawsuit Two officers in the department are suing the duo for defamation. By Mike Miller :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/MikeMillerauthorphotob3bff8b901b7410698a7f7f9b88a5b80.jpg) Mike Miller Mike Miller is the executive editor on the movies team at . He previously worked as a writerreporter for PEOPLE and TMZ. EW's editorial guidelines May 11, 2026 3:57 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/theripbenaffleckmattdamon0511261724075792a24f4b8b708b2783aff705.

Two officers in the department are suing the duo for defamation.

Ben Affleck spoke about working with Miami cops on *The Rip *months before lawsuit

Two officers in the department are suing the duo for defamation.

By Mike Miller

 Executive Editor Mike Miller author photo

Mike Miller

Mike Miller is the executive editor on the movies team at . He previously worked as a writer-reporter for PEOPLE and TMZ.

EW's editorial guidelines

May 11, 2026 3:57 p.m. ET

Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne and Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars in The Rip

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in 'The Rip'. Credit:

Claire Folger/Netflix

- Two Miami police officers are suing Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for defamation due to the depiction of law enforcement in the actors' Netflix crime movie, *The Rip*.

- Ahead of the film's Jan. 16 release, Affleck and Damon spoke with EW about working with members of the same department to support their research.

- Affleck praised the officers' generosity and noted that some of them ended up appearing in the film.

In the days leading up to its release, *The Rip** *stars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon spoke glowingly about working with the same Miami police department that employs the two officers now suing them.

During an interview with * *ahead of the film's Jan. 16 release on Netflix, Affleck raved about his experience shadowing real-life cops from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Department to prepare for his role as a narcotics detective who discovers $20 million hidden in the walls of a stash house.

"All the stuff that I find surprising and that I tend to be proud of comes from research," Affleck said, sitting beside Damon for the interview. "Like, I think I'm better skilled at recognizing interesting things from the world to put into films than just conjuring up from my imagination something to do. And so I really benefit from it."

RIP. (L to R) Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne in RIP

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in 'The Rip'.

Claire Folger/Netflix

The *Gone Girl *star also noted that some of those officers actually ended up appearing in *The Rip*. "Not only were they generous enough to share their time with us, but they also came up and populated the movie in small ways," he explained. "A lot of the men and women were at the premiere last night. So really gratifying, kind of a full circle [moment] because they contributed a lot."

Putting himself in their shoes, Affleck reflected, "All of us are there just madly stealing all their life's details and quirks and wardrobe habits. It's gotta be a weird feeling when a bunch of actors descend on you and be like, 'What kind of glasses are those? Where did you get that shirt?' You know?"

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Months later, Affleck and Damon are now accused of defaming two officers from the department who allegedly inspired the events depicted in the film. Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana of the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office are suing the actors' company, Artists Equity, as well as Falco Pictures, over the depiction of law enforcement characters in the crime drama.

Though neither officer is mentioned by name in the film, their lawsuit claims they are so heavily associated with Damon and Affleck's characters that their portrayal has caused "substantial harm to their personal and professional reputations" because the movie and its advertisements "imply misconduct, poor judgment, and unethical behavior in connection with a real law enforcement operation."

The officers' complaint, obtained and reviewed by EW, accuses Artists Equity and Affleck and Damon's LLC production company, Falco Productions, of defamation per se and defamation by implication. The officers have also brought a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne and Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars in The Rip

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in 'The Rip'.

Claire Folger/Netflix

Representatives for Affleck, Damon, and Artists Equity did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.

The complaint claims that the case that inspired the film was a real-life incident in which Smith and Santana seized more than $21 million in June 2016. As a result, the plaintiffs allege that "the film's use of unique, non-generic details of the June 29, 2016, investigation, combined with its Miami-Dade setting and portrayal of a narcotics team, creates a reasonable inference that the officers depicted are Plaintiffs."

While the film opens with text that says the project was "inspired by true events," Smith and Santana also allege that aside from "the fact that a large seizure occurred, the events portrayed in the film did not happen."

Furthermore, the complaint claims that Smith and Santana's lawyers sent a letter to the companies behind the film, enumerating the allegedly defamatory details in the movie and demanding that they "cease and desist from releasing" it in December 2025.

Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, Teyana Taylor as Detective Numa Baptiste, Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Catalina Sandino Moreno as Detective Lolo Salazar, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Sasha Calle as Desi in The Rip.

Ben Affleck, Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Matt Damon, and Sasha Calle in 'The Rip'.

Courtesy of Netflix

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The plaintiffs' attorneys allege the defendants responded to their inquiry after the film was released by saying that the "concerns are unfounded because the film did not expressly name Sergeant Smith and there was no implication that the Plaintiffs engaged in any misconduct in the film."

Smith and Santana's lawyers demand "a public retraction and correction," including "the addition of a prominent disclaimer" to the movie.

The two officers are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys' fees.

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New Photo - Which NFL teams deserve more or fewer prime-time games in 2026 schedule?

Which NFL teams deserve more or fewer primetime games in 2026 schedule? Michael MiddlehurstSchwartz, USA TODAYTue, May 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC 1 One of the trickiest and most scrutinized elements of composing the NFL schedule is figuring out the primetime slate. The league has placed a special emphasis on recent years out of maximizing the audience for its most lucrative windows. That shift has only increased the imbalance between the franchises that are fixtures of the standalone slate and those who tend to toil in obscurity.

Which NFL teams deserve more or fewer prime-time games in 2026 schedule?

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAYTue, May 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM UTC

1

One of the trickiest and most scrutinized elements of composing the NFL schedule is figuring out the prime-time slate.

The league has placed a special emphasis on recent years out of maximizing the audience for its most lucrative windows. That shift has only increased the imbalance between the franchises that are fixtures of the standalone slate and those who tend to toil in obscurity. But with this year's schedule release set for Thursday, several organizations could be set for a significant swing in how much attention they're afforded.

USA TODAY Sports took a look at five teams that deserve more prime-time games in 2026 and five that deserve fewer:

Five NFL teams that deserve more prime-time gamesNew England Patriots

With schedule-makers left to guess how New England's Year 1 resurgence under Mike Vrabel might take form, the Patriots only received an initial allotment of three prime-time games last season − the same number given to the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Chicago Bears. Safe to say a boost is coming in 2026.

Even independent of the Vrabel controversy that has loomed over the franchise this offseason, the defending AFC champions should compel plenty of people to tune in whenever they play. NFL MVP runner-up Drake Maye is one of the league's most prolific deep throwers, and there should be widespread interest in how the offense rebounds from its Super Bowl 60 unraveling. If the long-awaited A.J. Brown trade materializes after June 1, the wide receiver's acclimation into the league's No. 2 scoring attack will be one of the most compelling early-season storylines.

New England has plenty of matchups more than worthy of a significant spotlight. The Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks should be one of the most highly rated regular-season contests. Another tilt with the Denver Broncos should also prove far more entertaining than the sloppy AFC championship game was. Matchups with the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears offer up excellent quarterback showdowns. Meanwhile, the rivalry with the Buffalo Bills has turned into one of the league's best and most consequential divisional games. Expect the league to push the Patriots early and often in the prime-time slate.

Chicago Bears

From a network's perspective, the Bears have plenty going for them: Caleb Williams' captivating off-schedule plays, an offense that scores in droves and a novelty factor for a massive brand that's had new life breathed into it. Now, the league could be set to go all in on Chicago after hedging somewhat with three prime-time games in 2025.

What makes the Bears even more attractive for standalone windows is the abundance of intriguing matchups. None of the NFC North grudge matches would be out of place in an evening slot, but the clashes with the Packers seem particularly appealing given the thrills that the rivalry produced last year. The road trip to face the Seahawks seems like a strong candidate for the season opener, and the schedule will also include meetings with the Bills and Eagles. Don't be surprised if the Bears are topped by only the Cowboys and Chiefs in their prime-time tally.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Far from a mainstream draw, the Jaguars have frequently had to settle for their London dates as their most reliable opportunity to capture a wider national audience. After getting just one prime-time slot last year, however, Jacksonville should reap the rewards of its nine-win improvement with a substantially larger share of the spotlight this fall.

While the two meetings with the Houston Texans might not seem like a ratings winner, the AFC South tilt should be a compelling matchup at least deserving consideration for "Thursday Night Football." Jacksonville could also be paired with typical Sunday and Monday night fixtures, such as the Cowboys, Eagles, Steelers, Giants and Broncos. No matter which games are chosen, Jaguars fans probably will need to get accustomed to staying up late rather than merely getting up early.

Carolina Panthers

The NFL has treated Carolina as little more than an afterthought for marquee matchups this decade, giving them just six in the last six years. Perhaps this is the year for a breakthrough.

The Panthers are coming off an NFC South title and an end to a franchise-record playoff drought. With all eight division winners from 2024 having received at least four prime-time appointments last season, it seems like Carolina is due for a bump in visibility.

A first-place schedule will bring plenty of challenges for the Panthers while also opening lots of broadcast opportunities. A brutal home slate includes the Bears, Lions, Bengals, Ravens, Seahawks and Broncos. Meanwhile, the road schedule features the Eagles, whom the Panthers outbid to land marquee free agent edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.

New Orleans Saints

The last-place finisher in the league's most lackluster division might seem like an odd candidate for this list. New Orleans, however, has plenty going for it after last year being held out of the prime-time lineup for the first time since 2000.

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Going from 5-12 in 2024 to 6-11 last year might not seem like sufficient cause for more consideration in prized broadcast windows. But the Saints have already made significant strides. Chief among them: The quarterback outlook has gone from shaky to stirring, with ascendant second-year signal-caller Tyler Shough proving himself capable of making impressive throws on the move. With running back Travis Etienne Jr. and first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson providing the supporting cast with sorely needed big-play potential, Kellen Moore's offense could make waves in Year 2.

Yet there aren't necessarily many matchups on the slate that scream must-see TV. Maybe one of the NFC South rivalry games would suffice as "Thursday Night Football" fodder. And there are a couple of fun clashes of young quarterbacks with Shough taking on the Giants' Jaxson Dart and Raiders' Fernando Mendoza − depending on when the No. 1 pick takes the starting reins. Regardless, New Orleans deserves better than being blanked for a second year in a row.

Five NFL teams that deserve fewer prime-time gamesAtlanta Falcons

With five prime-time games and a standalone window for their Germany matchup in 2025, the Falcons received a major vote of confidence from the league. A breakthrough for Atlanta and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. never materialized, and Arthur Blank cleaned house in response to the disappointment.

Even with new coach Kevin Stefanski aboard, the Falcons hardly qualify as must-see TV. A quarterback competition between Penix and Tua Tagovailoa likely won't move the needle with viewers or produce much better results through the air. A stagnant Atlanta roster has also been passed up by its competition in the NFC South, with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints showing serious signs of growth. It's time to spread the wealth in the division, which can easily be achieved by bumping the Falcons down to a slate befitting a team stuck in neutral.

Miami Dolphins

The NFL made it all the way to Week 16 last year before flexing a prime-time matchup, giving the rudderless Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals the boot. That was perhaps a harbinger of how the league might treat the former this spring after reserving five such slots for the team in 2025.

First-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has left no doubt that Miami is going full bore with its teardown, which has sent away the likes of Tagovailoa, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, edge rusher Bradley Chubb and more. All that's left in the rubble: various low-cost holdovers, bargain free-agent signings and rookies trying to find their way. And while quarterback Malik Willis provides some panache with his big-play capabilities as a runner and downfield thrower, he's sure to be inhibited by a receiving corps lacking any established options. This looks like a season that will be spent toiling and tweaking before the Dolphins can establish any real competitive credentials. It's probably best for the group to do that away from the limelight.

Washington Commanders

In 2025, the league's schedule-makers embraced a Washington team coming off an unexpected run to the NFC championship game, giving the franchise five prime-time games along with a Christmas slot and a standalone international window. The Commanders went on to lose all seven of those contests, though three of those defeats were only sealed on the last play.

Is that a sign of a rapid re-emergence? With Jayden Daniels getting a fresh slate after a spate of injuries spoiled his sophomore campaign, there's reason to believe Washington should be far more formidable in 2026. Yet the Commanders will be working in two first-time coordinators, with David Blough instituting what likely will be a more methodical offense that emphasizes more under-center work. That's not exactly a scintillating setup for a team that didn't do much from a personnel standpoint to support Daniels, who still lacks a viable No. 2 target alongside Terry McLaurin.

The Commanders should find a more stable resting point between the high of 2024 and last season's nadir. But Washington remains decidedly outside of the NFC's prime class of contenders, and its schedule should reflect that reality.

Arizona Cardinals

Since getting rid of its mandate for every team to be scheduled for at least one prime-time game, the NFL hasn't been shy about keeping some of its duller and less competitive operations out of the spotlight. That could mean trouble for Arizona, which got two prime-time appointments in 2025 but could be blanked this fall.

First-year coach Mike LaFleur might see better fortune on the health front – the Cardinals finished last season with 24 players on injured reserve – and in close contests than predecessor Jonathan Gannon did. Yet the team that finished with the worst point differential in the NFC (-133) remains a long way off from challenging anyone in its division after going 0-6 against NFC West foes last year. No matter whether Jacoby Brissett holds onto the starting quarterback job or gives way to third-rounder Carson Beck, the offense looks bound to be boxed in by its limitations behind center. And while the arrival of Jeremiyah Love might spark some mild intrigue, running room likely will be hard to come by – as will any game times outside of Sunday afternoons.

New York Jets

Maybe this seems harsh for a team that was already pushed to the fringes, with their prime-time tally being razed from six in 2024 to two last year. Yet even matching that amount this fall would be generous for a regime that still hasn't conjured a reason for others to tune in.

Gang Green very well might be a more competent operation after absorbing some necessary lessons from Aaron Glenn's turbulent first year at the helm. But are the Jets any more compelling than they previously were? The defense still seems stuck in a transitional phase after dealing away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams at midseason, and the new pairing of quarterback Geno Smith and coordinator Frank Reich doesn't inspire a ton of confidence for an offensive surge.

The Jets, of course, are too big a brand to be shunted aside completely. But while a "Thursday Night Football" game against an AFC East rival might be reasonable, anything beyond that might be a stretch.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL schedule: Which teams deserve more or fewer prime-time games?

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Published: May 13, 2026 at 10:28AM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Which NFL teams deserve more or fewer prime-time games in 2026 schedule?

Which NFL teams deserve more or fewer primetime games in 2026 schedule? Michael MiddlehurstSchwartz, USA TODAYTue, May 12, 2026 ...
New Photo - “The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC 0 Tomer Capone, Laz Alonso, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid and Karen Fukuhara in 'The Boys'Credit: Jasper Savage/Amazon Prime Video Warning: This post contains spoilers for season 5, episode 7 of The Boys. An emotional sacrifice took place in The Boys&x27; penultimate episode Showrunner Eric Kripke explained why the beloved character&x27;s death was necessary to push the story’s emotional and narrative impact Samuel L.

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC

0

Tomer Capone, Laz Alonso, Karl Urban, Jack Quaid and Karen Fukuhara in 'The Boys'
Credit: Jasper Savage/Amazon Prime Video

Warning: This post contains spoilers for season 5, episode 7 of The Boys.

An emotional sacrifice took place in The Boys' penultimate episode

Showrunner Eric Kripke explained why the beloved character's death was necessary to push the story’s emotional and narrative impact

Samuel L. Jackson also voices a shark in a comedic cameo, marking a full-circle moment from his Deep Blue Sea role

The Boys have lost one of their own.

In episode 7 of The Boys' fifth and final season, "The Frenchman, the Female, and the Man They Call Mother’s Milk," the crew suffered a shocking loss when Frenchie (Tomer Capone) sacrificed himself to save Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) from Homelander (Antony Starr). During the final moments of the episode, Frenchie distracted Homelander from a weakened Kimiko and then opened up a hatch, allowing a blast of radiation to hit him.

His death was devastating, but in true Frenchie fashion, he used some of his final words to highlight his humanity — something Homelander could never understand. "Look at you, I bet you never danced a day in your life," he told the supe with a God complex, as the radiation hit them.

Homelander flew away unscathed, but there was no hope for Frenchie.

Kimiko then cradled him in her arms and thanked him for saving her, only for him to respond, "No, mon coeur, you saved me." The episode ended with Kimiko cradling Frenchie's body as "Dream a Little Dream of Me" played over the credits, calling back to a sweet third-season scene featuring the pair.

Karen Fukuhara and Tomer Capone in 'The Boys'
Credit: Prime Video

In a Wednesday, May 13 interview with The Hollywood Reporter,The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke explained why Frenchie had to die.

"We knew we had to kill off one of the Boys,” Kripke, 52, told THR. “You can’t have a shot at victory unless it costs your heroes something that’s really hard ... For narrative momentum, your heroes have to pay a steep price — because that’s how it works in the real world."

He added, "So it was going through each character and deciding what was going to be the most heart wrenching. I think we knew early on it was going to be Frenchie. In so many ways, Frenchie and Kimiko are the heart of the show. Despite what killers they are, they’re both so emotionally sweet. We knew this would have real maximum destruction, and I think it had to happen. They would not have a chance of winning if Frenchie doesn’t sacrifice himself.”

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Tomer Capone in 'The Boys'
Credit: Prime Video

With just one episode of the series left, the stakes couldn't be higher for the remaining Boys as they race to stop Homelander, who is on a path toward global domination. Still, The Boys remained true to its anarchic roots with an A-list voice cameo from Samuel L. Jackson as the Deep's (Chace Crawford) hammerhead shark companion, Xander, who officially banned him from the ocean.

"Shut the f--- up," Xander tells the Deep. "We know you were responsible for the pipeline genocide. Remember March 15, motherf---er!"

While the Deep tried to deny Xander's accusations, the no-nonsense shark wasn't having it. "If you step one f---ing simian toe in the water, anywhere — an ocean, a stream, a f---ing puddle — oh God, son, you're dead. We're going to kill you!"

For good measure, he added, "You are dead to us. B---- ass."

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Xander the shark in 'The Boys'; Samuel L. Jackson
Credit: Prime Video; Michael Rowe/Getty

Jackson, 77, voicing a shark on the show was something of a full-circle moment for the actor, whose character in the 1999 horror movie Deep Blue Sea was famously eaten by a shark. While the veteran actor was Kripke's first pick for the role, Kripke told Entertainment Weekly that he wasn't sure Jackson would be game when his team responded. Jackson joined the likes of Tilda Swinton and Charlize Theron in guest-starring on the show.

"There was just a morning. He was free in New York City and we brought him into a booth. I was in L.A., but video conferencing and was able to watch him do it," Kripke told EW.

He added, "That's a bucket-list thing, man, watching Sam Jackson read your dialogue. And I think it makes the scene just so funny because the Deep is getting told off and Sam Jackson's very, very good at that."

The Boys series finale premieres on Wednesday, May 20 on Prime Video.

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Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Source: Entertainment

Published: May 13, 2026 at 10:10PM on Source: MORNING MAG

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale

“The Boys” Kills Off Main Character in Shocking Moment Ahead of Series Finale Sabienna BowmanWed, May 13, 2026 at 6:58 PM UTC 0 ...

 

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