​“Love Island” star Austin Shepard is getting real about his struggle with addiction. During a podcast appearance, the 27-year-old opened up about relapsing while filming the show’s spin-off, “Beyond the Villa.”
Austin Shepard is no stranger to the spotlight, as he was also the center of attention during the most recent season of “Love Island” after netizens called him out for reportedly sharing offensive content.
Austin Shepard Relapsed While Filming The ‘Love Island’ Spin-Off
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Shepard revealed that he was 11 days sober on the “Previously On” podcast by TMZ. The “Love Island” alum shared that before reaching that point, he relapsed by using opioids while filming season 2 of the show’s spin-off, “Beyond the Villa.”
“No one knew,” he shared. “I’m a pretty manipulative, functional addict until it becomes so unmanageable—like how it got. But I can bullsh-t for a while.”
Shepard likened himself to a “salesman,” adding that he tends to “wave and pretend everything is OK.”
Austin Shepard Revealed His Co-Stars Noticed A Change In His Behavior

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Elsewhere, during his appearance on the podcast, Shepard showed love to his co-stars, who noticed the reality star’s demeanor had changed while filming “Beyond the Villa.”
“Charlie started reaching out in the last month and was like, ‘Bro what’s going on?’” he said. “I just got pretty real with him, just telling him pretty much everything. He’s been wishing me love, giving me love. Same with TJ, Iris. They’ve been sending me love.”
Shepard also got real about the difficulties he’s faced while managing his sobriety.
“I know how this road goes,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of friends who are not here today that have sadly passed from it and it’s either death or a long life of misery.”
“That was my moment of clarity, finally,” he said.
Austin Shepard Sought Professional Help

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For Shepard, gaining clarity was just one of the things that helped him deal with his struggle. He also admitted to seeking professional help at another point during his journey.
“There was one night where I was sitting there, I was just going crazy,” he said. “I hadn’t slept in four nights. I was very sick. Just puking. It was horrible. I was like, ‘I need to go somewhere, medically.’”
The facility Shepard checked into gave him excellent care, he said, adding that the support of his family members has helped strengthen him.
Shepard Faced Backlash After Sharing Controversial Posts

You absolutely cannot predict what he’s about to say. #LoveIslandUSA pic.twitter.com/R7HV3qQ8UO
— Nick (@aftersunfilm) July 4, 2025

According to a previous report from The Blast, Shepard faced backlas  

​Jennifer Hudson launched her daytime talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” in 2022 in syndication on stations across the U.S. Since then, she has hosted well over 500 episodes, featuring numerous high-profile guests. Now that the show has been renewed for its fifth season, the Oscar-winning singer and actress is reflecting on the show’s future and discussing who she’d like to see march down her iconic spirit tunnel.
Jennifer Hudson Opens Up About Her Talk Show Continuing
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Hudson interviewed with PEOPLE in March 2026 about her daytime talk show and its future. When asked if her tenure as a talk show host carries additional weight amid shows like “Sherri” being canceled and “The Kelly Clarkson Show” ending, she said, “I haven’t had much time to think about it, to be honest.”
She continued, “They are amazing, both Kelly and Sherri, and we’re all in this together. I just want to continue to make them proud and cheer them on, whatever they decide to do in the future.”
Regarding who she’d like to have on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” in the future, the “Spotlight” singer said, “I’ve been blessed to have a lot of great guests come to the show. I would love to see Barack Obama come through the Spirit Tunnel. I would love to see Denzel Washington and Halle Berry. I want to say Cher, but she’s already been to the show.”
‘The Jennifer Hudson Show’ Was Renewed In February
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Variety reported on February 19 that Fox Television Stations and Telepictures had renewed “The Jennifer Hudson Show” for its fifth season. The host released a statement, saying, “This show is about connecting with people in meaningful ways and sharing stories that lift and inspire. Our audience is the heartbeat of the show, and I can’t wait to take Season 5 to new heights.”
Lauren Blincoe, the Senior Vice President of Current Programming for Telepictures, also released a statement. She said, “We celebrate this milestone and look forward to creating even more moments that lift, inspire, and allow guests and audiences to ‘feel the love.’”
‘Sherri’ & ‘Kelly Clarkson’ Were Announced To End
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The same month, on February 2, Kelly Clarkson announced that she was ending her show after the fall of 2026 in order to spend more time with her family following the death of her ex-husband and father of her children, Brandon Blackstock. Per PEOPLE, she said in a statement, “I have been extremely fortunate to work with such an outstanding group of people at ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ both in Los Angeles and New York.”
She continued, “There have been so many amazing moments and shows over these seven seasons. I am forever grateful and honored to have worked alongside the greatest band and crew you could hope for, all the talent and inspiring people who have shared their time and lives with us, all the fans who have supported our show, and to NBC fo  

​When Jim Carrey stepped onto the red carpet at the César Awards in Paris, the moment should have been a celebration of his decades-long career. 
Instead, the actor’s appearance quickly sparked a wave of online speculation and criticism about how he looked. 
Amid the harsh comments and conspiracy theories, celebrity plastic surgeon Terry Dubrow is now speaking out, urging fans and critics alike to show the Hollywood icon a little more kindness.
Jim Carrey’s César Awards Appearance Triggers Online Debate
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Carrey made a rare public appearance at the Paris ceremony on February 26, where he accepted an honorary lifetime achievement award. However, instead of focusing on the recognition, much of the online discussion quickly shifted to his appearance.  Clips from the red carpet circulated across social media, with some viewers questioning whether the actor had undergone cosmetic procedures.
The reaction became so intense that paparazzi even began asking medical experts for their opinions. 
During an appearance on Tori Spelling’s “misSpelling,” Dubrow revealed just how much attention the topic had received.
“All they want to do is talk about the way poor Jim Carrey looks,” he said while discussing the questions he had been getting from photographers and reporters.
The reality TV surgeon described the reaction as unnecessarily harsh, especially toward someone who had spent decades entertaining audiences. 
“It’s like, what do you say when you’re confronted with that stuff? It’s so mean, right?” he added.
Carrey Gets Public Support From Celebrity Surgeon Terry Dubrow
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Dubrow acknowledged that the comedian may have looked different compared to how audiences remembered him during his biggest movie years. However, he believes the reaction was partly because fans had grown accustomed to seeing Jim Carrey appear youthful on screen for so long.
While discussing the situation, the cosmetic surgeon said the conversation surrounding the actor had become unfairly critical. “I still think he looks great,” Dubrow said.
He also emphasized that nobody outside Carrey’s personal medical team truly knew what may or may not have been done. According to the doctor, if someone had undergone a cosmetic procedure, swelling alone could temporarily alter how their face appeared.
He explained that swelling “could take a long time to go down,” which may cause noticeable changes before the face returns to a more natural look.
Jim Carrey’s Face Sparks Plastic Surgery Speculation From Other Experts
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As the online debate intensified, other cosmetic specialists also began weighing in with their professional opinions. 
One of them, Detroit-based surgeon Anthony Youn, shared a video analyzing Carrey’s appearance after the awards ceremony. Youn suggested the actor might have undergone several procedures designed to address natural aging and changes in facial volume.
“He appears to have had an endoscopic b  

​Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are preparing for a high-profile visit to Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April, which will combine private, professional, and charitable engagements.
Their last Australian tour in 2018 drew huge crowds, but public sentiment has shifted, and the couple may face mixed reactions from monarchists.
The trip follows Prince Harry and Meghan’s humanitarian visit to Jordan, where they met displaced families and youth at the Za’atari Refugee Camp.
Prince Harry And Meghan ‘No Longer Assured Of A Warm Reception’ In Australia, Sources Warn
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been warned that their upcoming trip to Australia could receive a mixed response from the public.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to travel to Sydney and Melbourne in mid-April for a series of private, professional, and charitable engagements.
The visit will mark the couple’s return to Australia since their widely celebrated royal tour shortly after their 2018 wedding, when large crowds gathered to see them.
However, observers believe public attitudes toward the pair may have changed since then, with a source sharing that they may “no longer [be] assured of a warm welcome.”
According to the Daily Express, an insider noted, “I think there will be plenty of monarchists and republicans who won’t welcome Harry and Meghan’s visit. Any ‘royal’ visit, even by members of the family who no longer represent the king, will inevitably create debate about the monarchy.”
The Sussexes’ Australia Visit Draws Attention Amid Royal Oversight
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Harry and Meghan’s planned visit comes not long after King Charles III traveled to the United States, his first visit there since 2018.
Charles himself visited Australia in October 2024, though reports at the time indicated that some officials at the New South Wales Parliament were disappointed by aspects of the trip.
According to reports, Charles and Prince William are said to be keeping a close eye on Harry and Meghan’s planned visit, particularly because it was arranged relatively quickly and ahead of any potential trip by senior working royals.
Last September, Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, met Charles at Balmoral and publicly invited William and his wife, Kate Middleton, to visit the country.
While there has been speculation about a possible tour later in the year, no official plans have been confirmed.
Prince Harry And Meghan Will Need ‘Thick Skins’ During Their Australia Trip
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Meanwhile, royal commentator Tom Sykes wrote in his “The Royalist” substack that Harry and Meghan “are likely to be lightning rods in Australia’s ongoing debate about the royal family and the country’s constitutional future.”
“For now, one thing seems certain: Harry and Meghan will need thick skins when they arrive in a country where they are no longer assured of a warm welcome,” Sykes added, per the Daily Express.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed th  

​Brooke Hogan is opening up about the loss of her father through a deeply personal new musical project. 
The singer and former reality star has shared a poignant tribute to the late wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who passed away in July 2025. 
Brooke and Hulk shared a complicated relationship over the years, and the former went as far as asking to be taken off her father’s will. 
Brooke Hogan Shares A Mournful Musical Tribute To Her Late Father

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Just months after the passing of her father, Hulk, Brooke has teased a new song titled “Wanna Go Back” that captures the raw pain of her loss.
In a snippet shared on Instagram, Brooke sings mournful lyrics like, “I don’t wanna go back, ’cause you were my world, and I was your girl.” 
While the song clearly serves as a tribute to the pop culture icon, other verses suggest a more complicated history between the two. The lyrics read, “Daddy, you lying there made a fool out of me” hint at unresolved feelings and “what you did to me,” reflecting a relationship that was perhaps as challenging as it was close.
The legendary wrestler, born Terry Gene Bollea, died at age 71 and was laid to rest in Clearwater, Florida, two weeks after his passing. 
Brooke Hogan Defended Her Decision To Skip Hulk Hogan’s Funeral
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While her new music hints at the unresolved tension within their family, Brooke chose to honor her late father on her own terms.
The singer was notably absent from the official funeral service, a decision she defended by explaining that she believed her father would have wanted a different kind of farewell.
Brooke mentioned that the wrestling icon “hated the morbidity of funerals” and was certain he wouldn’t have wanted a traditional service. 
The Blast confirmed that instead of attending the ceremony, she spent the day privately at the beach with her husband, former NHL player Steven Oleksy, and their twin children. She shared that being by the water made her feel closer to him, as the beach was a place he truly loved.
There Was Tension Between The Father-Daughter Duo
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Brooke’s private beachside farewell follows years of tension that she attributes to her father’s final marriage. In an August 2025 interview, the 37-year-old opened up about the rift that led to a two-year estrangement, specifically highlighting her disapproval of Hulk’s relationship with Sky Daily. 
Brooke recalled that the trouble began when her father confided in her about “uneasy” feelings he had before his 2023 wedding.
The conflict reached a breaking point when Hulk reportedly told his daughter that ending the relationship would be “really bad,” though he refused to elaborate on what that meant. 
According to The Blast, Brooke shared that she encouraged her father to slow down and avoid a third marriage if he wasn’t comfortable, but her con