In this week’s handle with care, JLo hates Virgos, a praying mantis getting into HSLOT, and Olivia Rodrigo duetting with Billy Joel. Plus, a Bachelorette hometowns recap.
Olivia Wilde appeared on the cover of Variety’s newest issue to talk about her film Don’t Worry Darling. The editorial and design team chose violence when they picked the headline I fear.
In the interview, she talks about how important female pleasure in film is to her as a feminist, The Serve at CinemaCon, and firing Shia LaBeouf from the film in order to make Florence Pugh feel safe and supported. “His process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions,” said Wilde about his firing. “He has a process that, in some ways, seems to require a combative energy, and I don’t personally believe that is conducive to the best performances.” LaBeouf is currently awaiting trial after being sued for sexual battery by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs. His exit from the film paved the way for Harry Styles to be cast in the supporting role instead.
LaBeouf actually sent an email to Variety the next day, debunking Wilde’s narrative that he quit the movie “due to lack of rehearsal time.” He sent the publication screenshots of text messages, video, and emails as proof, subsequently sending everything we know about this movie in a tailspin. The video is of Wilde asking LaBeouf to reconsider his decision to exit the film, and it was leaked online.
In it she says: “I feel like I’m not ready to give up on this yet, and I, too, am heartbroken and I want to figure this out. You know, I think this might be a bit of a wake-up call for Miss Flo, and I want to know if you’re open to giving this a shot with me, with us. If she really commits, if she really puts her mind and heart into it at this point and if you guys can make peace — and I respect your point of view, I respect hers — but if you guys can do it, what do you think? Is there hope? Will you let me know?”
I think watching her call Pugh “Miss Flo” was worse than reading it. While promoting DWD, Wilde always talks about how incredible it was to work with Pugh, but it looks like Pugh was being pressured to work things out with someone she just wasn’t comfortable with. And that tracks with the rumored tension between Wilde and Pugh right now. Pugh even declined to be interviewed in the Variety cover story, and will not promote the movie after it premieres in Venice. There are more dots that I need connected in order for me to have a restful sleep!!
The other DWD star
Speaking of, Harry Styles is Rolling Stone’s first global cover star, appearing on every international cover of the magazine in September/October. I wrote a little thing about it for United By Pop!
Styles also started his 15-show residency at Madison Square Garden this week, and I’ve gathered some highlights:
#1 Harry fans rightfully chiding Ans*l Elg*rt, who was at one of the shows
#2 The overwhelming stench in the pit on the first night
#3 The girl that brought a praying mantis into the show
Her response 😭
I was the one who taught you deja vu
Olivia Rodrigo was brought on stage at Billy Joel’s concert at Harry’s House Madison Square Garden this week. They performed her song “deja vu,” in which Rodrigo famously sings, “I’ll bet that she knows Billy Joel / ‘Cause you played her ‘Uptown Girl,’” before duetting his song “Uptown Girl.”
Happy Virgo Season!!!
This week Heather Morris, Glee actress and professional dancer, went on a podcast and talked about what it was like auditioning to be a dancer for one of JLo’s tours.
She says that JLo said, “‘If there are any Virgos in the room, can you just raise your hand?’” and after whispering to her assistant, she told them, “‘Thank you so much for coming, get out of here.’” Zodiac sign discrimination? From a Leo?? Be fucking for real!
The Bachelorette Week 7 (Hometowns) Recap
This week on The Bachelorette, the European cruise on an Unbranded Cruise Ship (I’m not getting paid for this) is over!! It’s back to the U.S. we go to visit six out of the seven remaining men’s hometowns with Gabby and Rachel.
Gabby is visiting Jason first in New Orleans, Louisiana. I need to say off the bat that I loved Gabby’s outfit. They walk along Bourbon Street, throw beads from a balcony, and Gabby tries (and fails) to get an old man to flash her for beads. Since Jason’s parents aren’t together, Gabby meets the parents separately. They meet his dad at a park, and he really likes Gabby! Then they go to Jason’s mom’s house to meet her, his sister, and his sister’s boyfriend. Gabby’s mission is to figure out if Jason’s more reserved nature is a good match for her. When Jason talks to his mom, he confesses that he can’t see himself getting engaged because it’s not realistic to him. At this point, I think it’s only been a little over a month since they met, so… understandable! Even if it is the whole point of the show. He doesn’t tell Gabby this information at the end of the date.
Rachel’s first hometown date is with Zach in Anaheim Hills, California. They ride bikes through town together and arrive at a mysterious building. Zach tells Rachel they’re going to climb up the attached ladder for a surprise. They’re watching planes take off and land, just like they both used to do as kids. When it’s time to meet the family, I was pleasantly surprised to see Patrick Warburton (Puddy from Seinfeld!!! Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove!!!) was there. He’s Zach’s uncle you guys. If Rachel doesn’t pick him at the end… anyway! The family chats go well, and afterward they all watch the movie that premiered on their first one-on-one date in the backyard. At the end of the date, Zach tells Rachel he’s in love with her. The little end credits scene is Rachel talking to Patrick Warburton about being a pilot. Cute!
Gabby’s next date is in Palm Beach, Florida with Johnny, and because he misses his family so much, they’re meeting them right away! His parents, brother, brother’s girlfriend, and best friend are all in attendance. Both parents are supportive of the relationship, but Johnny is also unsure of getting engaged right away. They go on a duffy boat for their date after meeting everyone.
Rachel is now on the east coast for her date with Tyler in Wildwood, New Jersey on the local boardwalk where Tyler and his family work. The whole boardwalk is exclusively for them today, but Rachel can’t help but compare it to her first hometown date with Zach, saying she feels like she has other stronger connections and fears she isn’t ready to get his family involved. It’s time to sit Tyler down and break it off. He pours his heart out to her and even tells her that he’s “so in love” with her. Rachel literally cannot get a word in edgewise during his spiel. She tells him that she doesn’t feel 100 percent confident, and wishes she could get to that point with him. She gets into the car, and Tyler walks home to tell everyone that he was just broken up with. It’s a shame because there were so many charcuterie boards out on the table.
Gabby’s final date is with Erich in Bedminster, New Jersey, and he wants to see his family first too. Erich tells Gabby about his dad’s current battle with terminal cancer. They check in with him first, and find out that his cancer came back, but that Erich’s mom has been taking good care of him. Gabby talks to her, and she tells her how important commitment is in their family. After that emotional visit, Gabby and Erich go out for drinks and he tells her he’s falling in love with her. And she tells him the same thing!! It’s definitely interesting to see the reluctance for an engagement from Jason and Johnny, and Erich knows he’s all in.
Rachel is in Santa Clarita, California to visit Tino and his family in the last hometown date of the episode. Rachel is already nervous to meet them, but Tino tells her not to worry. Right away there is a negative energy in this house. As they’re talking about their relationship, Tino’s dad is very skeptical of how this could possibly last after two months. He talks to Tino while Tino’s mom talks to Rachel, or as Rachel put it, she “grilled her ass.” Rachel has an even scarier conversation with Tino’s dad, who has her convince him that she really knows him. He seems annoyed with her, and tells her that he asked Tino, “Is this person just looking to get married, or does this person really like you?” since this is her second time on the show. He tells Rachel that she and Tino should just be honest with each other.
After that chat, Rachel tells a producer that she feels like his parents hated her. Rachel and Tino exit the house and sit outside, and she tells him she thinks his parents didn’t like her. Tino tells her they “adored” her. Oh brother, he’s already lying… Rachel reiterates her feelings and says that she wasn’t given a chance, and that they were so tough on her. Instead of comforting her, Tino tells her that he’s falling in love with her. She says it back, but she’s still worried about potentially getting engaged to him without his parents’ approval.
Rachel still has one more hometown date next week with Aven, who is still a contender. Then after that it’s the Men Tell All!! I was thinking about how underwhelmed I am with this season of the show. As one person on Twitter cleverly put it, we were supposed to get double of everything with two leads, but it feels like we got half.
I got a late start this week but for a good reason! I spent a whole evening rewatching Abbott Elementary on HBO Max before it clears at the Emmys next month. I was also thinking about Greta Gerwig’s Barbie amidst all the Don’t Worry Darling drama while I did my nails yesterday.
I’ve been reading Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty series, which I’ve been wanting to do all summer since watching the show and I’m just now getting to. I’m trying to stay offline as much as I can and keep busy in other ways lately. Okay, thank you so much for reading!!! See you next week!