Latest news with #PennBadgley
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joe Goldberg lookalike reveals he's inundated by fans of Netflix's You - as he shares the VERY bizarre requests they make
A Joe Goldberg lookalike has been inundated by fans of Netflix 's You who ask him to 'kidnap them and lock them in cages'. Nikita Darwin, 22, a content creator from Dover, Kent, says he is regularly compared to Joe, the lead character in the hit series played by Penn Badgley. Goldberg's character initially appears charming and innocuous, but watchers quickly realise he is an obsessive stalker with murderous tendencies. Perhaps an unfortunate likeness, Nikita said it is 'kind of crazy' to be told that he looks like the fictional serial killer and the amount of messages he gets about it is 'insane'. Nikita even claims women on dating apps ask him to kidnap them and lock them in a cage - like Joe does in the show. He says some women have even sent him their address by way of an invitation, but insists he's never taken anyone up on the offer. Nikita says the resemblance has revealed people's kinky preferences. 'People really love the idea of being stalked by Joe,' he said. 'A lot of people tell me that I have a serial killer vibe, which is kind of scary as I'm not trying to be a serial killer. 'I will be sent locations, people will ask me to stalk them and lock them in a glass cage.' Nikita started posting videos on TikTok, where he has 179,000 followers and a combined ten million 'likes', and his messages were soon flooded by strangers who said he bears striking resemblance to Joe Goldberg. He said he found it 'crazy' to be likened to a serial killer but has leaned into the stereotype. He said: 'I have had a lot of people in my life who tell me I look like Joe, including many family members and friends. 'So, I thought I would start posting online and it has been kind of crazy. 'I get thousands upon thousands of messages every day of people telling me that I look like Joe and asking me to stalk them.' Nikita, who is single, says women on dating apps will often message him with their location and he will often jokingly respond that he is Joe's brother. 'I get people on dating apps messaging me asking if I can put them in a glass cage,' he said. 'People will send me their live location and ask me to stalk them. They don't think I am a catfish, they just think I am a really good lookalike. 'I just respond to them saying I'm his brother and their reaction is always a surprise.' Nikita is a huge fan of You, but doesn't understand why women are fascinated by Joe as a character. And every time he leaves the house, he says, someone will approach him - having mistaken him for the actor. He said: 'My initial response is always "I get that a lot". I will leave the house and people will come up to me asking me to stalk them. 'In all honesty, I don't think people would enjoy it as much as they think they would. I think he is really bad, but all the girls seem to be fascinated by this serial killer, which is really messed up.' Women's attraction to the show's violent protagonist is nothing new. The newest season hit Netflix a month ago, but the first episode streamed in 2018, and social media has since been flooded with women professing their attraction to the fictional killer. Elaine Parker, CEO and Founder of Safer Date, has warned that this tendency to focus on the character's charming and attractive side is concerning. She argues that if you do the same in a real-life relationship, it's easy to miss the warning signs of violent and controlling tendencies. Elaine told FEMAIL: 'When it comes to dating - and particularly online dating - everyone needs to be aware that there are no legal standards for the dating industry. 'So, you could literally be talking to anyone online - even serial domestic abusers and sex offenders. 'When it comes to You, we've seen a lot of women on social media say that they have a guilty crush on Joe despite his violent tendencies. 'These definitely aren't qualities you should be looking for in a partner. 'However, watching his character on TV, we can see how easy it is for Joe to hide these characteristics and that's why it's so important to look out for red flags like "love bombing" and possessiveness.' She added: 'If you are dating and you see any red flags - trust your gut and get out of the relationship. 'Please look out for your friends too. If any of your friends are dating online and you feel something isn't right, ask if they're okay. 'It's not always easy to talk about what's going on behind closed doors, so if you see less and less of them and they are becoming withdrawn, reach out. It's difficult to start those conversations, but it could make a huge difference.'
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Women beg me to ‘kidnap them and lock them up' because I look a Netflix serial killer – I get locations sent to me daily
A JOE Goldberg lookalike says he's inundated by fans of Netflix's You who ask him to "kidnap them and lock them in cages". Nikita Darwin, 22, says he is regularly compared to Joe Goldberg - the lead character in the hit series - played by Penn Badgley. 8 8 He said it is "kind of crazy" to be told that he looks like the infamous stalker and serial killer and the amount of messages he gets about it is "insane". Nikita even claims women on dating apps ask him to kidnap them and lock them in a cage - like Joe does in the show. Some women will even send him their address for him to go over - but insists he's never taken anyone up on the offer. Nikita, a content creator, from Dover, Kent, said: "I have a lot of family and friends say that I look like Joe from You. "A lot of people tell me that I have a serial killer vibe, which is kind of scary as I am not trying to be a serial killer. "People really love the idea of being stalked by Joe. "I will be sent locations, people will ask me to stalk them and lock them in a glass cage." Nikita started posting videos on TikTok three weeks ago, and his messages were soon flooded by strangers who said he bears striking resemblance to Joe Goldberg. He said he found it "crazy" to be likened to a serial killer but has leaned into the stereotype. Nikita said: "I have had a lot of people in my life who tell me I look like Joe. You season 5 trailer "So I thought I would start posting online, it has been kind of crazy. "I get thousands upon thousands of messages every day of people telling me that I look like Joe and asking me to stalk them." Nikita - who is single - says women on dating apps will often message him with their location. He says he will often jokingly tell them that he is Joe's brother. 8 8 Nikita said: "I get people on dating apps messaging me asking if I can put them in a glass cage. "People will send me their live location and ask me to stalk them. "They don't think I am a catfish, they just think I am a really good lookalike. "I just respond to them saying I'm his brother and their reaction is always a surprise." 8 8 8 8 Nikita said he is a huge fan of You, but doesn't understand why women are fascinated by Joe as a character. He said every day he leaves the house, someone will come up to him - mistaking him for the actor. Nikita said: "My initial response is always 'I get that a lot'. "I will leave the house and people come up to me asking me to stalk them. "In all honesty, I don't think people would enjoy it as much as they think they would. "I think he is really bad, but all the girls seem to be fascinated by this serial killer, which is really messed up." The final season of You IN the fifth and final series, which is now streaming, viewers see Joe embarking on an affair with a young woman named Bronte, played by Madeline Brewer. They meet after she gains employment at his bookstore but it soon becomes clear that she has an ulterior motive after she developed suspicions that Joe was responsible for the death of her close friend. Penn Badgley reprises his role of Joe Goldberg, the serial killer who has gotten away with numerous murders. The show is based on the book series by Caroline Kepnes. You started out on Lifetime, after Netflix originally passed on it. But, with low ratings on the cable channel, the streaming network picked it up and saw massive success.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Stunning actress Madeline Brewer looks sensational in dress made from a 1986 Sun front page
ACTRESS Madeline Brewer makes a splash — in a dress made from a Sun front page. Redhead Madeline, 33, star of Netflix hit You, wore it for Behind the Blinds magazine. 2 It features a January 1986 edition of The Sun — the first printed at Wapping. The style resembles the John Galliano newspaper dress worn by Sex and The City star Sarah Jessica Parker in the popular series. Madeline starred alongside actor Penn Badgley in popular series You. In the fifth and final series, which is now streaming, viewers will see Joe embarking on an affair with a young woman named Bronte, played by Madeline. They meet after she gains employment at his bookstore but it soon becomes clear that she has an ulterior motive after she developed suspicions that Joe was responsible for the death of her close friend. Penn has led the show since its inception on the streaming service but has shied away from getting down and dirty on-camera for the past two series. However, he has since decided that in order to give the show a "proper conclusion," he needs to head back to the bedroom to spice things up for the final series. 2 @behindtheblinds. Madeline is wearing @vetements_official on the cover. She's captured by @foxhunter & styled by @orettac. Shot for Behind The Blinds Magazine.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pitch Perfect star Anna Camp reveals truth about split from husband after debuting new lesbian romance
Anna Camp compared her first marriage to fellow actor Michael Mosley as a 'one-night stand that lasted 7 years.' The Pitch Perfect actress, 42 - who recently debuted her new lesbian romance with stylist Jade Whipkey - opened up about her first husband during Wednesday's episode of Penn Badgley's Podcrushed podcast. Both Camp and Badgley starred together on the fifth season of the hit series You - where she took on the role of Maddie Lockwood. Anna was previously married to Mosley from 2010 until their divorce was finalized three years later in 2013. During the conversation, Camp recalled initially crossing paths with the Ozark star during a night out in NYC shortly after a breakup. 'So we met very young, it was like a one-night stand that lasted 7 years. And we grew a lot from 21 - he was a little older - but I changed so much when we both moved from New York to L.A. together,' she explained. The actress was previously married to Mosley from 2010 until their divorce was finalized three years later in 2013; former couple seen in 2010 in Beverly Hills 'He's an actor, a wonderful actor,' Camp continued before giving insight into where they stand now. 'We're still pretty close. But it was really difficult to not be working anymore,' she added of their past relationship. 'It was really, really, really hard to see someone who met me at such a young age. I just moved to New York. We were like doing our laundry, walking down the street getting drunk. Hanging out, partying.' Anna explained, 'I wanted to keep that for the rest of my life because that is what I had imagined. 'And then to have it just not be working at all and having us be totally different people - that was really, really hard. And that was definitely a heartbreak of mine.' However, she shared that her ex is 'great' and that they both 'still talk' despite their separation over a decade earlier. Camp and Mosley had gotten engaged back in 2008 and said 'I do' two years later. However in 2013, he filed for divorce and cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the split. The two stars have proven that they are still on good terms when they reunited to appear in the 2024 movie Neo-Dome. Anna later married her Pitch Perfect co-star Skylar Astin in 2016 but they later divorced in 2019. At the time, the pair issued a statement to Us Weekly to confirm their separation after three years of marriage. 'We can confirm that we have decided to separate, and this decision was made mutually and amicably. We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this transition.' During an interview with People at the time, Camp got candid about the end of her second marriage and stated: 'It's been really scary and liberating at the same time.' She added, 'I feel more me than I ever have. It's a vulnerable place to be, but it's also very empowering. I feel really grounded. The decisions I've been making have been for the best. 'I've learned that you can go through a life change and remain positive and remain kind and friendly.' Camp was also later linked to drummer Michael Johnson - although it is not known when their relationship came to an end. The True Blood actress recently came out of the closet and confirmed she is in a romantic relationship with another woman called Jade Whipkey. The True Blood actress recently came out of the closet and confirmed she is in a romantic relationship with another woman called Jade Whipkey In February of this year, she and Jade gave a TikTok interview where Anna proudly declared that she was 'dating a woman, and it's great.' However, she now fired up her Instagram and left her fans in no doubt as to her status with Jade, who works as an on-set stylist. Jade posted an Instagram story of Anna across the table from her at a dinner date, captioned: 'Her smile is a poem, her eyes are roses, her laugh is music for dancing.' Anna then re-posted the image to her own Instagram stories, confirming to her approximately one million followers that she and Jade are an item. The post came not long after Anna uploaded an image of Jade during another dinner out that she described on Instagram as a 'Date night.' Back in February, Jade and Anna gave a sweet interview on the TikTok channel in which they talked about the worst dates they had ever had. Anna recalled a male date who showed up 45 minutes late 'and then he said that I was prettier in a movie than I was in person.' When she was then asked: 'What do you expect from a guy on the first date?' Anna replied: 'Well, I don't expect anything from a guy anymore because I'm dating a woman and it's great,' as Jade threw an arm affectionately around her. Earlier this week on Tuesday, Anna and Jade were spotted sharing a kiss as they stepped out for an outing in Los Angeles not long after going public with their budding romance.
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Psychopaths Are More Attractive, Study Warns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dark personalities may not just be uncaring, self-obsessed and skilled at manipulation—but they may also look trustworthy, according to a new study that sheds light on how physical appearance can subtly disarm our instincts. A new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences examined how people perceive strangers' trustworthiness based on facial appearance alone. Researchers found that individuals with high levels of the so-called "dark triad" traits—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—were consistently rated as more trustworthy. Why? The answer lies in looks. People with high dark triad traits tended to be perceived as more physically attractive—and this perception strongly influenced how trustworthy people believed them to be. Penn Badgley attends the Netflix's "You" Season 5 New York Screening at The Plaza Hotel on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Badgley has previously spoken out about his character in "You" being romanticized... Penn Badgley attends the Netflix's "You" Season 5 New York Screening at The Plaza Hotel on April 23, 2025 in New York City. Badgley has previously spoken out about his character in "You" being romanticized despite his psychopathic tendencies. More Michael Loccisano/WireImage)/Getty Images In four experiments involving nearly 600 participants, individuals were asked to judge strangers' faces in rating tasks and simulated trust games. Time and again, those with high dark triad scores were seen as more trustworthy from their image alone. Psychopathy, characterized by a lack of empathy and impulsivity, might seem like it would repel trust. But in practice, individuals with this trait can be highly charming and socially strategic. Similarly, narcissists often exhibit confidence, charm, and polished self-presentation, while Machiavellians excel at reading social cues and manipulating perceptions. The study found that these traits may influence their facial expressions and appearance in subtle ways that boost their appeal, especially in brief or superficial encounters. "In short-term cooperative settings, individuals with high Dark Triad traits tend to inspire more trust, partly due to being seen as more attractive based on their facial features," said paper lead and psychologist professor Qi Wu of the Hunan Normal University, China, in a statement. Notably, their faces still prompt greater trust even when other traits like dominance, extraversion, and attractiveness are accounted for, suggesting facial features have a unique influence on how trustworthy people are perceived." Psychology professor Jason Walker of Chicago's Adler University—who studies the dark triad—told Newsweek: "We're hardwired to associate attractiveness with trust, a psychological shortcut known as the halo effect. "This becomes quite dangerous when it collides with the 'dark triad' personalities, who often know and use it to their advantage. These individuals will present as polished, confident, and even charming. "They have mastered the art of performance: they know how to look like the ideal high-performing teammate or a visionary leader, but they're actually consolidating power and manipulating people's perception." These findings could help explain real-world patterns too, like how people with dark personality traits rise quickly in leadership roles or gain social influence, at least in the short term. Dark Triad Traits in Popular Culture The study may also add context to cultural phenomena like the public fascination with serial killers. For example, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were both described as attractive or charismatic—qualities that may have helped them avoid suspicion. It's playing out in pop culture too. The popular Netflix series YOU, has presented a chilling case study in how charm and appearance can mask deeply violent behavior. The show's central character, Joe Goldberg, is a soft-spoken bookstore manager who also happens to be a stalker and serial killer. Despite this, fans have often expressed romantic interest in him, a reaction actor Penn Badgley has repeatedly pushed back on, reminding viewers: "He is a murderer." While recent research suggests people with high dark triad traits may be perceived as more trustworthy due to their facial features, a 2018 study revealed there are limits to our ability to actually detect those traits. The researchers also tested whether people could identify narcissism, psychopathy, or Machiavellianism just by looking at faces—and the results were mixed. Participants could reliably spot high narcissism in both men and women, and high psychopathy in men. But they struggled to detect psychopathy in women and couldn't recognize Machiavellianism at all. These findings suggest that while some dark triad cues may subtly show in facial appearance—particularly narcissism—the connection isn't consistent across traits or genders. Still, the perception of trustworthiness or attractiveness tied to these faces may explain how people high in dark triad traits can initially gain others' trust, even if the observer can't consciously identify what feels "off." When it comes to protecting yourself from being taken in by dark triad personalities, Walker said: "Watch how they treat those with less power. True character is revealed in how someone engages with people they don't need to impress. Attractiveness may open the door, but sustained trust should be earned through consistency, humility, and integrity, not charisma or a curated image." References Shiramizu, V. K. M., Kozma, L., DeBruine, L. M., & Jones, B. C. (2019). Are dark triad cues really visible in faces? Personality and Individual Differences, 139, 214–216. Zhang, S., Wu, Q., Liu, J., Peng, K., Liang, Y., & Li, H. (2025). Trust in Darkness: Individuals with high dark triad traits gain others' trust through facial attractiveness and other associated facial features. Personality and Individual Differences, 242, 113214.
