Latest news with #Jezebel
Elle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6, Episode 4 Recap: June Makes A Dangerous Move
Spoilers below. It didn't take long for June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) to join the Mayday rebellion in the final season of The Handmaid's Tale. June's history of fighting against the oppressive Gilead regime ensures her voice is heard, but it is at the cost of others like Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and Moira (Samira Wiley). Conflict brews between June and her loved ones when the next stage in the rebels' plans reveals potential issues and June discovers another friend will get caught in the firing line. Gilead continues to get its branding makeover after the positive response to New Bethlehem last week. More lenient rules and excellent fertility services make countries like the UK and Mexico feel better about booting American refugees out of their countries. To celebrate the early success, Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) graduates to a higher role, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) gets more positive attention from a new admirer, and even Rita (Amanda Brugel) steps back into the country she previously fled. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE Not everyone is making strides in 'Promotion', and for those like Janine (Madeline Brewer), the challenges of her current position mean there is very little hope. But even the women at Jezebel's might have something to celebrate if the Mayday plan comes to fruition and there is no holding back in the final season. 'We're gonna blow some shit up,' Luke excitedly tells June. The targets are a comms tower, an ammunition warehouse, and the Federal task has been made easier thanks to the new trade route (with less security) that will aid the entry into Gilead. June seems less enthused, but before she can object too much, they are interrupted by Mark Tuello (Sam Jaeger), who comes bearing good news. Luke is no longer facing criminal charges (the intel from Gilead helped), and they can officially go to Alaska. June is ecstatic about this update, but Luke is noticeably quiet regarding the relocation. Luke doesn't wait long to tell June that he needs to see through the bombing mission. He can't think about building a life together when he has to see this through. June's objections are rooted in how rag-tag the Mayday operation is, which lacks the professional firepower of Gilead's military. June has been through hell and back, so she can't keep quiet when Jezebel's is named the place where the commanders are most vulnerable. the warhogs who shot down their planes won't be the only ones caught in the crossfire, there are plenty of innocent women who work at Jezebel's too. The plan is for sharpshooters to take the commanders out, then detonate the bombs and let the military role in. Of course, June immediately finds flaws in the plan, but her concern is genuine. Much to June's horror, Moira volunteers to go in ahead of time to coordinate with those forced to work there. Moira reasons that, as the only former Jezebel within Mayday (she knows the penthouse like the back of her hand), she should be the one to do the recon mission. June forbids Moira from going back to Jezebel's. 'I don't think you realize how psycho you sound right now, so I am going to give you a beat,' Moira rightly tells her. June has just gotten Moira back and is scared about the danger, but this is not enough reason to talk to her like she is a child. Moira has spent so long following June's path, and she cannot live her life anymore. The disagreement is put on pause when the pair find out that Janine has been reassigned to Jezebel's, but it also means June feels like this is her fight now. Rather than talk to Moira, June goes behind her back to the Mayday leader. June wants to go in Moira's place, and uses her get-out-of-jail-free commander card (Nick) as leverage that she will have an out if anything goes wrong. Plus, June has been to Jezebel's many times. Luke is furious when June tells him, calling her disrespectful and 'goddamn infantilising.' Moria is angry at her best friend and how little June thinks about their abilities. It is impossible not to side with Moira and Luke on this one. June uses their recent mission issues to prove her point that they are out of their depth, but Luke thinks the truth is that June wants to go in. But this is his chance to fight for Hannah. It feels like we will go in frustrating circles, but husband and wife hit a compromise. 'If you want to fight, then let's fight together,' says Luke. Rather than push back, June agrees, and the subject of Hannah comes up again. Their family is broken, and has been ever since Hannah's been gone. Luke remains hopeful they will be reunited, saying he already had an 'impossible dream' come true when June returned. 'This is who we are now: two lunatics going into Gilead on a wing and a prayer,' Luke says. Serena greets Rita at the New Bethlehem gates and is genuinely thrilled to see her former Martha. Once again, Serena is rewriting the past as if she weren't integral to Rita's oppression. Serena mentions that both she and Nick (Max Minghella) pulled a lot of strings to make it happen, and there is an undertone of wanting Rita to thank her. Rita and her sister Gia have an emotional reunion; this is the dream of New Bethlehem working in action. When Rita visits Nick, she mentions his new (to her) role as commander, and he says it is 'the safest thing to be'. Rita wants to know if New Bethlehem is better than the rest of Gilead, and it is his job to make it this way. The former Martha wants Nick to guarantee he will eventually be able to get her family out, and he says it will take time (a year or two). I believe his intentions, but Nick is walking a tightrope at the moment and Rita should have a contingency plan. Meanwhile, Serena and Nick's father-in-law, Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), continue their flirty tête-à-tête about the future of Gilead. Wharton explains that he was skeptical about New Bethlehem, but Serena's faith in reforms is giving him food for thought. Wharton mentions his wife dying when Rose was young, and he exudes girl dad vibes. But in Gilead, even a commander who seems enlightened probably has some skeletons. How did he get to be so powerful in the first place? Wharton seems taken by Serena, and reveals this crush is far from new. He once had to pray for forgiveness for coveting another man's wife at an event in Washington D.C., when he saw Serena dancing with Fred. In the middle of the deserted street, Wharton asks Serena to dance, and she says yes. It is a little cheesy, but the best moment comes when Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) happens to walk by this dalliance. They aren't doing anything untoward, but this will surely set tongues wagging. Dowd's delivery of 'Blessed evening' is very funny and it's clear Aunt Lydia is storing this information for future use. One person who is intent on reforming Gilead is Commander Lawrence, who is being made a High Commander. At home, Angela (Janine's daughter) has drawn a picture that Lawrence says his wife would be impressed by before he whispers 'my real wife' (referring to his deceased wife, Eleanor). Lawrence has so much disdain for his current wife, Naomi (Ever Carradine), who is thrilled to wear jewelry from Paris, but also has some advice. She mentions that the men he is about to work with associate power with virility. 'Power will come from reform. They know I'm their man,' he replies. To celebrate the fruits of his labor, the other high commanders have Jezebel's in mind. Wharton is strictly against this vice, meaning Nick gets to avoid this toxic masculinity showdown. Lawrence has no such luck. Commander Bell (Veep's Timothy Simons) treats Janine like a plaything, but will let Lawrence have a turn on his old handmaid as it is his special day. I hope very bad things happen to the latest Handmaid's Tale villain. There is never any intention that Lawrence wants to sleep with Janine and he says they can just talk. Janine is still furious with him that she went from being Lawrence's handmaid to Jezebel's. 'Well, you married a real cunt,' Janine says. She immediately regrets saying it out loud, but he says it is fine. Lawrence has Angela's drawing in his pocket, which he gives to Janine. The conversation turns to Angela's future as Janine knows 'bad things happen to commanders' daughters too.' Lawrence says he will do everything he can to keep her safe, and I believe him. But that doesn't mean he can make it happen. Later, Lawrence reads A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett to Angela, which he tells her was one of Eleanor's favorite stories (the closing credits also feature Whitford reading this story and it has a very soothing effect). Lawrence has always been driven by self-interest, but this growing bond with Angela could impact how hard he pushes for the reforms. It doesn't make him a hero, but if June has a High Commander she can turn to in times of crisis (and not just Nick), it is another weapon in the Mayday arsenal. With June planning to return to Jezebel's, she could do with all allies on call. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Emma Fraser is a freelance culture writer with a focus on TV, movies, and costume design. You can find her talking about all of these things on Twitter.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From Boardrooms To Brand Deals: How I Hid My True Self - And Why I'm Done Masking
I was recently dropped by a brand. Not because I missed a deadline, violated a contract, or underperformed. The PR agency delicately told me that while they vehemently disagreed, the brand no longer wanted to partner with me because my content included themes they considered NSFW (Not Safe For Work). What they meant, without saying it, was: Too Black. Too bold. Too Woman. Too much. That email stayed with me for days. It wasn't the first time I'd been asked to shrink, soften, or sanitize myself. Church taught me how to perform purity. School taught me how to button up and carefully fall in line. Corporate life taught me how to say just enough to seem valuable, but not enough to sound threatening. And content creation? I naively believed that after leaving the corporate world, after building something of my own, I was finally free to be fully me. Turns out, the expectation to perform, play by the rules, and appear palatable doesn't end just because the office does. A post shared via Instagram I was raised in the Apostolic Church and was taught from the crucial age of 11 that a woman's body should also be seen as her greatest shame. At this church, women were not allowed to wear jewelry (because, of course, Jezebel was known for her excessive jewelry and the jingle from her anklets could be heard before she was seen), perm or cut our hair, wear pants… the list goes on. The only rule for men, was that they could not grow their hair too long. One particular Sunday service comes to mind, as I wore one of my favourite dresses with wide, ivory straps over my shoulders. My mom immediately placed an itchy chiffon cardigan on top to cover my shoulders. When I started to object, one of the elder women of the church jumped in to yell in my mom's defence, 'you think you're going into the house of the Lord with your skin all out? Who do you think you are?' Understood. My 11-year-old shoulders were sinful and needed to be hidden from even God himself. To be respectable and safe for a church house, I need to dress in a manner that earns respect. The policing of Black women's bodies is of course an issue that dates back to colonialism, and the adultification of young Black girls is no different. Certified Emotional Intelligence and Neuro-Life Coach Karlyn Percil explains that she 'doesn't wear anything that doesn't make [her] feel good.' I take comfort in Percil's words today, knowing that she, as a successful business woman who partners with Fortune 500 companies, assures me that fashion can be a form of therapy, allowing Black folks to connect with their roots, research their histories and of course showcase their personalities. 'When I wear something from a Nigerian designer, I am connecting with something ancestral and having to deepen my knowledge in myself,' says Percil. That moment in church stuck. Over time, it shaped the way I moved through every space that followed: school, work, the internet. I got really good at reading a room and tucking parts of myself away. Call it survival, strategy, codeswitching, hiding, I just knew that to be accepted, to be respected, to be safe - I couldn't be all of me. When I attended university, at what's now known as Toronto Metropolitan University, I was one of five Black girls in the entire broadcasting program. We naturally gravitated towards each other based on this shared experience. Other students quickly became annoyed by this, assuming we were stuck-up or antisocial. In the student lounge, a boy yelled, 'Why are the Black girls even in this program?' To this day, I'm not completely sure what he was suggesting. Perhaps he couldn't fathom that Black girls could actually be shy and find safety in being ourselves among ourselves? Perhaps he couldn't see that every other race, culture, and identity group naturally gravitated toward their own affinity circles, but only our group enraged him? I'm not sure. But what was understood was that my need for social safety and comfort did not make me safe or accepted in an academic environment. Years later, I graduated and received one of my first jobs as a marketing manager in Dubai. I flew halfway across the world to support young founders in building their marketing agency. As the only woman in the office, they'd often call me into client meetings, 'joking' that they needed a skirt in the room. In that same office, we hired a coordinator, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl from Australia. She seemed to have an obsession with the N-word and just couldn't restrain herself from using it, daily. She'd use it in place of 'guys' or 'everyone'. No one in the office said or did anything about it. Whenever she blurted it out they would all look at me to see how I'd react. At my wits end about it, I reported it to the founder, who then asked me if I was 'going to be the bigger person or if they should fire her'. Understood. My need for psychological safety made my white counterparts uncomfortable. I wish I could tell you that my immediate response was 'yes, get rid of her and bring in an HR specialist to investigate this place'. I was in my early twenties, on another continent, and afraid of upsetting the peace. Instead, the founder gave her a scolding, and she pulled me aside after work to cry and ask why I would tell on her. I continued to climb the corporate ladder, moved back to Canada, and was consistently praised for how well I took criticism and for being the most mature person on the team. During one performance review, I was told that although I wouldn't receive the promotion I had worked so hard for, I should be congratulated for my 'professionalism' and maturity. My director even asked me to help hold our team accountable because 'Dom, you really are the most mature person on this team.' This coded compliment sounded a lot like taking on the responsibilities of the senior manager role I was working for, without the title. It sounded like working twice as hard to get half as far. While my white counterparts were able to have angry outbursts, even cry when they didn't get their way, my 'professionalism' earned me a pat on the shoulder while my colleagues were celebrated and promoted publicly. I had successfully embodied the respectability politics that my upbringing relentlessly imposed on me. Dilute. Mask. Shapeshift. Prioritize their safety in that moment to ensure your own security in the long term. A post shared via Instagram 'Embrace the process of unlearning all the blockers you put on yourself in the hopes of coming across as palatable to your white coworkers', advises Jermaine L. Murray. Jermaine L. Murray, also known as The JobFather is the founder of JupiterHR. Murray is well on the way to completing his mission of helping 500 Black people get jobs in tech. Every day he works with Black candidates getting into mostly white tech spaces. His advice is always to show up as yourself. 'Authenticity is one of the highest forms of self-respect, but as Black people, we are often penalized for being authentic. It would make sense to accept that showing up as yourself isn't going to happen overnight. So 'tek time'. Give yourself grace and slowly interject more of you in your day-to-day until you can fully embrace being who you are in all spaces,' says Murray. I left my corporate job last May, and now I am very intentional about how I show up. In every client meeting, branded partnership presentation - I refuse to code switch, dress or be in any room that doesn't feel authentic. I go back and forth deciding if I'm incredibly privileged to not only get paid, but paid well for this, and even more so to feel safe when holding these boundaries in my work life. But safety shouldn't be a privilege. As I continue to grow and shed the corporate cloak that I once used to hide my true self, I'm exploring new ways to express myself - ways that the little church girl wasn't permitted. I've signed multiple brand partnerships with Fortune 500 brands, and I refuse to conceal any part of who I am. I'm grown, married, a mother, and bursting with creativity - if I do say so myself - and I'm letting reflect that authenticity. If this feels NSFW for a brand, then that's unfortunate. But if working with you means I can't be truly myself, then that's NSFM (Not Safe For Me!)
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lea Michele shuts down yearslong rumor she can't read — by reading on video
Lea Michele is attempting to close the chapter on the viral online theory that she can't read. The "Glee" actress appeared on the "Therapuss with Jake Shane" podcast on May 7 where she dispelled the theory and, at one point, even recited Shane's cue cards out loud to prove it. The rumor that Michele secretly can't read, which dates back to 2017, has run rampant on the internet. While she's briefly addressed it several times over the years, her latest response offers the most solid evidence yet to quiet the conspiracy theorists once and for all. While talking about her experience on the debate team growing up, Michele brought up the viral rumor about whether she can read. "For everyone who thinks that I can't (expletive) read — like I was on the debate team, I mean I would write speeches," she said. As for whether she finds the theory funny, Michele said "it depends on the day." "That someone has so little to do in their life and their day that they would waste it on me is hilarious to me," she said. "And then there are moments where I (expletive) get so frustrated by it because I'm one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college." She added, "for someone to minimize that, it's so sad and so frustrating." Michele also said "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy was the first person to tell her about the viral theory. "Ryan Murphy called me and he was like 'Have you heard this rumor?' And I was like 'No what's going on?' And yeah, the fact that we are here all these years later," she said. Can Lea Michele read? Keke Palmer weighs in on conspiracy theory The rumor started in 2017 when podcasters Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman posted a video to social media presenting their theory that Michele can't read or write. They later told Jezebel that it originated from late "Glee" actor Naya Rivera's memoir "Sorry Not Sorry," which includes a story about Michele allegedly refusing to improvise scenes on the show. Michele has poked fun at the rumors before, including in a 2022 TikTok video where she said she was "calling Jonathan to read me the comments." She also told The New York Times in 2022 that she finds the rumor to be sad. 'I went to 'Glee' every single day; I knew my lines every single day,' she said. Michele also read some of the cue cards during her appearance on "Therapuss," seemingly squashing the long-standing rumors. "Jonathan is not here to read me this (expletive)" she said. The podcast shared a clip from the interview on social media. The TikTok cuts off before Michele begins reading, but the full, hourlong episode is available on YouTube. She also acknowledged that her recitation may not satisfy everyone online. "The theories are going to be like, 'Jake called her in advance, this doesn't prove anything,'" she said. Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at MKhan@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can Lea Michele read? Watch her prove it after years of rumors
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Lea Michele shuts down yearslong rumor she can't read — by reading on video
Lea Michele shuts down yearslong rumor she can't read — by reading on video Show Caption Hide Caption Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's Met Gala appearance Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan made his Met Gala debut, but what should have been a historic moment was marred by a glaring oversight. unbranded - Entertainment Lea Michele is attempting to close the chapter on the viral online theory that she can't read. The "Glee" actress appeared on the "Therapuss with Jake Shane" podcast on May 7 where she dispelled the theory and, at one point, even recited Shane's cue cards out loud to prove it. The rumor that Michele secretly can't read, which dates back to 2017, has run rampant on the internet. While she's briefly addressed it several times over the years, her latest response offers the most solid evidence yet to quiet the conspiracy theorists once and for all. Lea Michele on rumor she can't read: 'So sad and so frustrating' While talking about her experience on the debate team growing up, Michele brought up the viral rumor about whether she can read. "For everyone who thinks that I can't (expletive) read — like I was on the debate team, I mean I would write speeches," she said. As for whether she finds the theory funny, Michele said "it depends on the day." "That someone has so little to do in their life and their day that they would waste it on me is hilarious to me," she said. "And then there are moments where I (expletive) get so frustrated by it because I'm one of the only women in my whole family to get accepted to college." She added, "for someone to minimize that, it's so sad and so frustrating." 'Glee' creator Ryan Murphy told Lea Michele about theory she can't read Michele also said "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy was the first person to tell her about the viral theory. "Ryan Murphy called me and he was like 'Have you heard this rumor?' And I was like 'No what's going on?' And yeah, the fact that we are here all these years later," she said. Can Lea Michele read? Keke Palmer weighs in on conspiracy theory Where did the rumor that Lea Michele can't read come from? The rumor started in 2017 when podcasters Jaye Hunt and Robert Ackerman posted a video to social media presenting their theory that Michele can't read or write. They later told Jezebel that it originated from late "Glee" actor Naya Rivera's memoir "Sorry Not Sorry," which includes a story about Michele allegedly refusing to improvise scenes on the show. Michele has poked fun at the rumors before, including in a 2022 TikTok video where she said she was "calling Jonathan to read me the comments." She also told The New York Times in 2022 that she finds the rumor to be sad. 'I went to 'Glee' every single day; I knew my lines every single day,' she said. Watch Lea Michele prove she can read Michele also read some of the cue cards during her appearance on "Therapuss," seemingly squashing the long-standing rumors. "Jonathan is not here to read me this (expletive)" she said. The podcast shared a clip from the interview on social media. The TikTok cuts off before Michele begins reading, but the full, hourlong episode is available on YouTube. She also acknowledged that her recitation may not satisfy everyone online. "The theories are going to be like, 'Jake called her in advance, this doesn't prove anything,'" she said. Melina Khan is a trending reporter covering national news for USA TODAY. She can be reached at MKhan@
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
What time does 'The Handmaid's Tale' come out? Release date, cast, where to watch
What time does 'The Handmaid's Tale' come out? Release date, cast, where to watch Show Caption Hide Caption 'The Chosen: Last Supper' trailer: Amazon Prime Video streaming date 'The Chosen: Last Supper' Season 5 goes to Amazon Prime Video on June 15. Watch the trailer featuring Jesus (Jonathan Roumie). Editor's note: This post contains spoilers about Season 6 of "The Handmaid's Tale." Season 6 of "The Handmaid's Tale" just delivered a shocking twist no one saw coming. As June (Elisabeth Moss), Luke (O-T Fagbenle), and Moira's (Samira Wiley) set their plans to take down Gilead into action, an unanticipated betrayal completely blindsides June. While the trio were able to successfully infiltrate Jezebel, meet up with Janine (Madeline Brewer), whose help they need to destroy Gilead, and get ahold of the intel needed, things take a turn for the worse as June discovers Nick (Max Minghella) ousted their plans to Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), who has now shut down Jezebel's. It is not yet known what will happen to the women there, but given history, it can't be very good. 'The Testaments': Will 'The Handmaid's Tale' return for another season? In the final season of the Emmy-winning drama series, June will fight to take down Gilead with Luke and Moira joining the resistance, per Hulu. Serena, meanwhile, "tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick (Max Minghella) faces challenging tests of character." "This final chapter of June's journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom," this season's synopsis says. Adapted from Canadian author Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel of the same name, "The Handmaid's Tale" is about "the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States," according to the series synopsis. June/Offred, one of the few fertile women in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, known as Handmaids, "struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife." Here's what to know about Season 6 of "The Handmaid's Tale," including full episode schedule and cast. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox When do new episodes of 'The Handmaid's Tale' come out? New episodes of "The Handmaid's Tale" Season 6 drop every Tuesday on Hulu at midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT (previous day). 'The Handmaid's Tale': Stream on Hulu | Watch on Sling Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6 episode schedule The final season of "The Handmaid's Tale" will have 10 episodes. With four episodes remaining, here's what the upcoming schedule looks like: Episode 7 "Shattered": May 6 Episode 8 "Exodus": May 13 Episode 9 "Execution": May 20 Episode 10 "The Handmaid's Tale": May 27 How to watch 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6 "The Handmaid's Tale" is available to stream on Hulu. Hulu offers membership options ranging from $9.99 a month to $18.99 a month for normal streaming services, and $82.99 a month to $95.99 a month for plans with streaming and live TV. New users can also sign up for a free trial. Watch every season of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6 cast Cast members for "The Handmaid's Tale" Season 6, as per Hulu, include: Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred as June Osborne / Offred Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford as Serena Joy Waterford Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence as Commander Joseph Lawrence Max Minghella as Commander Nick Blaine as Commander Nick Blaine Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements as Aunt Lydia Clements O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole as Luke Bankole Samira Wiley as Moira Strand as Moira Strand Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo / Ofwarren / Ofdaniel / Ofhoward as Janine Lindo / Ofwarren / Ofdaniel / Ofhoward Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue as Rita Blue Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam as Naomi Putnam Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello as Mark Tuello Josh Charles as High Commander Wharton Watch 'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6 trailer We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
