In this week’s handle with care, Timothée Chalamet is back in his employed era, HAIM and Taylor Swift are reunited, and a “Bachelorette” mini recap.
I have gotten numerous TikTok videos on my feed about the rumored beef between “Don’t Worry Darling” director Olivia Wilde, and the film’s lead, Florence Pugh. Discussion about the alleged rift resurfaced online this week due to the release of a new trailer.
It all started with an unverified rumor submitted by an anonymous source on DeuxMoi saying that Wilde had started seeing her current boyfriend Harry Styles and neglected her directing duties, forcing Pugh to direct half of the film. This sounds soooo bogus because if Wilde was distracted in any way, surely an assistant director or someone else on the production would take over?? Not only that, but it is super misogynistic to assume Pugh would be upset over Wilde dating someone.
Pugh notably is always very excited for her upcoming projects, and has a habit of reposting trailers and posters on her Instagram. She posted this when she was cast in “Don’t Worry Darling.”
“Olivia Wilde just tagged me in a picture *gasp no. 1*, Olivia Wilde casted [sic] me in a film *gasp no. 2*, Olivia Wilde is my idol and allowed me to be a part of this fecking [sic] incredible cast,” she wrote in the caption.
Something drastic must have happened between them because Wilde has posted multiple things with Pugh tagged, and she hasn’t liked or reposted anything. Pugh, who is also starring in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” reposted their official poster the day the new “Don’t Worry Darling” trailer was released. Pugh’s social media activity regarding Wilde’s film in particular is making people believe there is a conflict between them.
Variety exclusively reported late in the week that “Don’t Worry Darling” will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. I’m interested to see how the press tour for the film will go if they are actually at arm’s length with one another. And Florence Pugh is a Capricorn. If she is anything like my mother, she’ll have a really good poker face!
Virgo’s Groove??????
Beyoncé unveiled the tracklist and writing credits to her upcoming album, “Renaissance.”
Screaming because the next time you hear from me I will have heard “Renaissance!!!!!” We will debrief next Sunday 🙏🏽
Timothée Chalamet, get back to work!!!
Denis Villneuve’s “Dune: Part Two” started filming on location this week. I’m ready to see Timothée as Paul, and Zendaya as Chani again!!
Quinta Brunson’s network comedy “Abbott Elementary” also started filming their second season this week. Deadline exclusively reported that the show has gotten a full 22-episode second season. I need a holiday episode in December, and it’s critical for my mental health that I watch it with warm chocolate chip cookies.
BIG year for bralettes
HAIM ended their European tour at the O2 Arena on Thursday, and surprised their audience with Taylor Swift, who twinned with the sisters in leather pants and a bralette.
They sang “Gasoline” together, and Swift performed a little bit of “Love Story (Taylor’s Version).”
The Bachelorette Week 2 Recap
“The Bachelorette” is back in full force this week, and there are 28 men living in a mansion that doesn’t have enough beds for everyone. Unprecedented times!! Gabby and Rachel really wanted to have a pool party to get to know the men, but it’s raining. Instead, they have a pageant inside: the men wear their little Speedos, answer some questions, and perform a talent. Afterwards, the Bachelorettes will pick a few men to bring back to their house for an afterparty. Many questionable talents were performed, there was the whipped cream challenge, the worm was performed, and then there was some bad singing from Chris, who thinks he’s seeing Gabby and Rachel again later on. They whittle the group down to Aven, Brandan, Colin, Jason, Johnny, and Logan for the continuation of the date.
The individual chats start with Jason and Rachel, and he tells her that he’s leaning towards Gabby. Meanwhile, Gabby and Johnny talk and end up kissing. Rachel finds a connection with Logan, and they share a kiss. And then Logan also kisses Gabby!! When the Bachelorettes reconvene, Rachel tells Gabby about the kiss, and Gabby backs off so she doesn’t “step on Rachel’s toes.” It was weird that they didn’t show Gabby telling Rachel that Logan also kissed her, because they do show it in the promo for the episode! You already know they’re trying to devise the angle of them being pit against each other. When it’s time to hand out the group date roses, Rachel gives hers to Logan, and Gabby gives hers to Johnny.
The first one-on-one date of the season is with Rachel and Jordan V., the drag racer (not RuPaul’s). They take a drive in a cute convertible to an airport to get in a zero-gravity plane. Jordan is afraid of heights, but he seems to take to the lack of gravity well. He did not throw up like Vanessa did on Nick Viall’s season of “The Bachelor.” Rachel and Jordan even kissed! In the meantime at the mansion, the men are talking, and Chris is talking about getting to the Fantasy Suites, and says he would leave if the woman he’s dating has sex with the other men. The men sitting with Chris are disgusted, calling him “disrespectful.” Chris even doubled down on it later that night, and was asked by another man if he would let them know how he feels before. He doesn’t say yes or no, and it bothers the rest of the men. Back with Rachel and Jordan, they have dinner at a theater, and he tells her about his childhood and his parents’ divorce. Rachel is doing her best, but she knows something is missing. She excuses herself and talks to producers to work out her feelings. She returned to her table, and sent Jordan V. home. This was a controversial exit, with some people saying it was premature. I think it was fine for her to send him home if she knew she couldn’t get there with him. I don’t think she owed him another date to see if a connection could be formed.
Gabby’s first one-on-one date is with Nate, an electrical engineer. He knows he wants to use this day to tell Gabby about his daughter. He meets Gabby at her and Rachel’s house before heading outside to the house’s helipad for their ride. They fly down the coast before arriving at a hot tub with a view of Dodger Stadium. I really like this pairing, and they have immediate chemistry. Gabby and Nate then go to dinner at Union Station, and he opens up about being a “girl dad,” which makes Gabby emotional. She’s unsure on if she wants to be a mother because of the complicated relationship she has with her own mother, as she talked about on “The Bachelor.” She gives Nate the date rose, and he’s safe for the upcoming rose ceremony.
The cocktail party starts, and Rachel is worried about not having many connections. She speaks to Mario, who received Gabby’s first impression rose, and they have a flirty moment that Gabby sees while talking to another man. Rachel also spends time with Tyler, a small business owner (who I’m pretty sure is actually a carnie), and they play a boardwalk basketball game. Meanwhile, a group of men are discussing Chris’ earlier comments about Fantasy Suites, and one of them (Quincey) feels that they should tell them. Quincey pulls Rachel for a chat with them, and she questions why sex is even being mentioned on day four. Rachel finds Gabby, who is also disgusted. They immediately find Chris and confront him outside. Gabby says he’s “calculated,” and Rachel suggests he apologize. They walk him out, and I loved that they were hyping each other up afterwards for the way they handled their first major hurdle. Somehow, Chris meanders his way back in the mansion because he wants to figure out who spilled. Gabby and Rachel have to come back and ask him to leave again.
The first rose ceremony is pretty straightforward: the roses are from both women, and they’ll take turns handing them out. Logan, Johnny, and Nate already have roses. Gabby hands out roses to: Erich, Ethan, Jacob, James (aka “Meatball”), Jason, Jordan, Michael, Spencer, and Termayne. Rachel gives her roses to: Alec, Aven, Hayden, Kirk, Mario, Quincey, Tino, Tyler, and Zach. Brandan, Colin, John, Justin, Matt, and Ryan were sent home.
Ryan Gosling, the time is now! I love that his press tour for “The Gray Man” is also kind of a press tour for “Barbie.” I’ve been watching interviews he’s done recently and I have to skip around for the “Barbie” news and his stupid little quotes like him having “Ken-ergy” and the “no job, no money, no car, no house” of it all.
The above embed comes from this interview he did with Jimmy Fallon, where he also calls the “Barbie” script, which was written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, “the best thing I’ve ever read.” Another reminder that he is supposed to be promoting “The Gray Man” here! I do believe him when he says he was born to play Ken. I really have not been this excited for a movie in a long time.
It’s been a while since I sent a long newsletter, so thanks for reading if you’ve gotten this far!! Happy “folklore” day to all who celebrate!!! I’ve been keeping up with all the Marvel news coming out of San Diego Comic Con this weekend, and I’m really excited for “Wakanda Forever,” “The Marvels,” and the new “Fantastic Four” movie. I hope you’re all having a good weekend, see you next week!