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There’s nothing like the phrase “bikini season” that can cause self-confidence to plummet. There’s a lot of pressure—both internal and external—to lose a certain number of pounds before an upcoming vacation. 

Often, this leads to hard, punishing workouts and cutting calories way back. While this “no pain, no gain” mindset may work in the short-term, science is clear that it doesn’t work long-term. According to a widely cited review in American Psychologist that analyzed 31 long-term diet studies, one-third to two-thirds of dieters regained more weight than they lost.   

Besides, who wants to spend their vacation counting calories or in the hotel gym? Fortunately, there’s a more effective (and enjoyable) way to transition into summer: soft wellness. Instead of intense workouts and extreme diets, soft wellness encourages slowing down, listening to your body and choosing habits that feel supportive instead of stressful.

Related: 'I Tried Tai Chi Walking—and Was Honestly Surprised by the Results'

While this softer approach is more effective, it still requires guidance. That’s where BetterMe comes in. BetterMe’s soft wellness approach and bite-sized workouts make it easy to keep up with, even on vacation. It’s not restrictive or time-consuming. It also helps create mindset shifts that make living a soft wellness lifestyle long-term easy.

Keep reading to find out why taking a softer transition into summer is so effective and how BetterMe can help you along the way. 

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Soft wellness can be applied both to how you eat and how you move your body. “Soft wellness is about treating your body with more kindness and less pressure, and nutrition is one of its most important pillars,” says Victoria Repa, CHC, a certified health coach and the CEO and founder of BetterMe. 

Repa explains that while many people believe that wellness means following strict dietary rules or cutting out entire food groups, the reality is that the healthiest approach is usually the most sustainable. “A balanced approach to nutrition lays the foundation for all other healthy lifestyle habits, from physical activity and mindfulness to productivity and emotional well-being,” she says.

Scientific research backs this up. According to a scientific study known as the DIRECT study, long-term weight loss success was strongly tied to adherence, regardless of the type of eating plan participants followed. The study showed that no single diet was best for long-term weight loss; what was more important was what was most sustainable. 

This ties into something else that Repa says is important: There is not one way of eating that works for everyone. “Our nutritional needs are influenced by age, genetics, physical activity levels, health status, hormonal balance and lifestyle. This is especially true for women, whose nutritional needs can change significantly across different life stages,” she says.

Related: These Are the 5 Best Workouts for Complete Beginners, Personal Trainers Say

Repa explains that when it comes to nutrition, soft wellness is about choosing foods that help you feel full, energetic and nourished. “This means prioritizing whole foods whenever possible, listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues and building a diet that includes a balanced mix of protein, healthy fats, fiber and carbohydrates,” she says.

This same approach applies to movement too. Instead of doing workouts that push your body to the limit, soft wellness prioritizes gentle workouts that feel nourishing instead of draining. Brittni Johnson, NCPT, a certified Pilates instructor and BetterMe’s Head of Pilates, has experienced the difference between intense workouts and a more gentle approach firsthand. 

“As a dancer and gymnast, I was very much living that hustle and grind lifestyle with my workouts, but now that I’m older, I craved an approach that didn’t leave me so fatigued and drained. Soft wellness is more sustainable for longevity and is also much more realistic,” Johnson says.

Johnson points out that intense workouts can often backfire, leading to injury or sustained cortisol levels that can make losing weight more challenging. It’s why Pilates is one of her favorite workouts to integrate into a soft wellness routine. “It’s the perfect mixture of both strength and mobility in a very low-impact way,” she says. 

Other examples of soft wellness workouts that prioritize low-impact, sustainable movement are yoga, brisk walking, water aerobics or swimming, or leisurely bike rides. 

Related: The Exact 15-Minute Pilates Routine Instructors Recommend for Beginners

BetterMe is the quintessential app for living a soft wellness lifestyle. As Repa explained, the most successful plans are ones that are individualized and sustainable, and you won’t find a more personalized app than BetterMe. That starts with the BetterMe quiz, which is designed to understand your goals, assess your fitness levels and factor in other factors such as your age, weight and height to create the most effective and efficient plan for you.

After completing the quiz, you can check the app each day to see your recommended daily workout from the app’s library of more than 4,000 workouts and log your food, water intake and steps. There is also a fasting feature that can be used for intermittent fasting.

“We don’t view nutrition as a separate category from wellness. It's connected to movement, hydration, recovery, sleep and mindset. That's how people actually live, and that's how healthy habits are built,” Repa says. She explains that BetterMe offers more than 20 nutrition plans tailored to different goals and dietary preferences, whether someone follows a plant-based lifestyle, needs gluten-free options or simply wants guidance on balanced eating. 

The app also provides practical tools, such as an AI calorie tracker that can instantly identify foods and estimate calories and macronutrients. “We focus all nutrition features on helping people become more aware of their habits. For example, many users don't realize they're under-eating protein, skipping meals or not drinking enough water until they start paying attention. Small adjustments in these areas can create significant improvements in energy, recovery and overall well-being,” Repa says.

Part of your personalized plan includes a daily reading centered around building healthier habits through mindset changes. For example, one of the daily readings shares how to challenge negative thoughts you may have about your body. Another reading explains intuitive eating and how learning how to listen to your body can lead to weight loss.

Though the app is comprehensive, nothing is too time-consuming or hard. This is why it’s so easy to keep up with, no matter how busy you are or how much you’re traveling.

The recommended workouts typically take about 45 minutes total, but the videos are broken up into shorter segments, so you can do them all at once or spread them out throughout the day; whatever works best for your schedule. And if a recommended workout is too long or not what you feel up to that day, you can choose another one from the extensive library. 

As Johnson explained, Pilates is the perfect soft wellness workout, and BetterMe has tons of guided Pilates workouts you can do anywhere, including while you’re on vacation. If you want to step up your practice, you can purchase the Pilates Power Kit, which includes a toning Pilates ring, soft Pilates ball, sculpt dumbbells, adjustable weight bands, long resistance bands and Pilates loop bands. 

If you know you’re going to be traveling this summer, you can opt for the Pilates travel kit, which includes Pilates loop bands, adjustable weight bands and long resistance bands. Everything is small enough to take up hardly any room in your suitcase. 

Johnson says she likes that BetterMe offers a wide variety of workout videos that range in how long they are, and she’s also into the app’s step tracker. “I like the idea of workout snacks,” she says. “You don’t have to do everything all at once. You can go on a 10-minute walk in the morning, a 15-minute walk after lunch and a 20-minute walk after dinner. It adds up!” she says. 

If you want extra support, BetterMe offers access to a daily coach for daily motivation, accountability and guidance. 

My current workout routine is pretty intense: 30 minutes of strength training followed by a five-mile run, three to four times a week. I liked the idea of dialing it back for a softer approach, but was worried that trading my hard workouts for a gentler routine wouldn’t have the same results. But there was no way that I could keep up my current routine with all the summer travel I have planned, so I decided to see if BetterMe would be a more sustainable approach both at home and while I was on vacation.

After downloading the app, my first step to getting started was doing the BetterMe quiz. The questions asked how active my lifestyle was, how well I slept and what my energy levels were like. Women can also use the app to track their cycle, but I opted not to do that.  

It asked for three activities I was interested in and I chose general fitness, Pilates and running. It also asked about my “bad habits,” such as not resting enough, having a sweet tooth, drinking soda or loving salty foods. I copped to liking sweets. Later, I learned through using the app that the mindfulness chapters are partially inspired by one’s “bad habits,” giving practical advice on how to change the behavior by changing destructive thought patterns.

The quiz also asked what my goal was and I said that I wanted to lose 10 pounds. If I stuck to my individualized plan, it said I could meet my goal in 2.5 months.

I was ready to check out my plan. My personalized plan included a daily step goal of 8,500 steps, drinking 92 ounces of water a day and staying within a 1,493-calorie budget each day. That seemed extremely doable to me—a lot more sustainable than plans and calorie budgets I was given with other apps.

Now that I had my plan, I started with the daily reading. Throughout my whole experience using BetterMe, the daily readings ended up being one of my favorite features because it was like nothing I had seen before on other wellness apps. Over time, it truly did help me challenge negative thoughts that would sabotage my progress in the past. 

For example, in the past, I would eat a calorie-loaded sweet treat and then immediately feel bad about it, thinking, “I can’t believe I ate that. I’ll never meet my weight loss goal now.” But BetterMe’s readings taught me how to challenge negative thoughts like these before they completely derail my progress. 

The food log made staying within the calorie budget easy—especially since the budget isn’t super restrictive. The app has an AI calorie tracker where you can take a photo of your plate and it calculates the calories and nutrients. I personally didn’t find this feature as accurate as using its food library. The library is super extensive, including specific brands as well as the foods themselves. I was never not able to find a food or ingredient in the app’s library.

For my first few days using the app, I would input each food right before every meal. Over time, I found that I preferred planning my day’s meals in advance and then entering everything in the morning. That way, I wouldn’t get to dinner with only 400 calories left, for example. Not only did inputting the foods in advance make staying within the calorie budget more manageable, it also meant I could dig into lunch and dinner without stopping to enter the foods into the app first.

BetterMe also offers different intermittent fasting plans, with a timer telling you how much time is left in your eating or fasting window. I found this helpful and was grateful to offload the mental energy of looking at the clock and doing my own calculation.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t very good at tracking my water intake. But I could see how people who struggle to drink enough water could benefit from tracking their hydration.

Emily Laurence

Going off my interests for general fitness, Pilates and running, my recommended daily workout came in three parts. The first part was a guided workout video that was 15 to 20 minutes long (depending on the day and the other workouts it was paired with) that targeted the abs, which is what I requested through the quiz. 

I liked the rhythm of these guided workouts. They always started out with some easy stretches before getting into more intense ab-targeting moves. They always ended with a few minutes of easier stretches to cool down. I definitely felt the burn! 

The daily Pilates videos followed a similar structure. They started off with some easy stretches before transitioning to more challenging moves. The Pilates workouts that were recommended as part of my daily workout didn’t require any equipment, but since I had the Pilates Power Kit, I often chose Pilates workouts from the library that used the kit. I especially liked videos that incorporated the adjustable weight bands and long resistance bands.

The recommended running workouts were shorter than the general fitness and Pilates workouts; typically between 10 and 15 minutes, though once a week there was a 24-minute guided long run. I did these runs on the treadmill, but they could easily be done outside. The guided interval training—saying how much exertion to give for a set amount of time—made it feel like I had my own personal running coach. The intervals made the time fly by too.

Though my new routine with BetterMe was gentler than my typical routine, I can honestly say that it worked just as well. After just one week using the app, I felt stronger and more toned. I also felt much more energized, which made me realize that my old routine left me depleted. 

The guided workout videos are perfect for traveling because they don’t require much space or any equipment. Since I’m loving the Pilates bands that came in my box so much, I do plan on tucking them into my suitcase when I travel and choosing videos from the library that integrate them. 

The biggest lesson BetterMe taught me was that a routine that’s sustainable is much more effective than one that’s extreme. Listening to your body and being kind to yourself can still bring results. It’s a lesson I plan on putting into practice not just during the summer, but all year long.

Up Next:

Related: A Doctor Says the Strength of This Body Part Predicts Longevity—and Almost No One Realizes It

• UCLA Study: diets not a long-term solution for weight loss: ‘rest-of-your-life’ changes like eating fewer calories and exercising regularly are needed to lose weight permanently. Healthy Years.
• Victoria Repa, CHC, certified health coach and the CEO and founder of BetterMe.
• Brittni Johnson, NCPT, certified Pilates instructor and BetterMe’s Head of Pilates.
• Greenberg, I., Stampfer, M. J., Schwarzfuchs, D., et al. (2009). Adherence and success in long-term weight loss diets: the dietary intervention randomized controlled trial (DIRECT). Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 28(2):159-68.

Dylan Dreyer is opening up about the "painful" miscarriage she suffered while "surrounded by people."

The Today show meteorologist, 44, opened up about experiencing a pregnancy loss while on a group vacation during a candid conversation on The Parent Chat podcast with The Viall Files co-hosts Nick Viall and Natalie Joy.

"I’ve suffered one miscarriage, and I remember we were kind of on a group vacation," Dreyer recalled on the Thursday, July 2, episode. "So, there was just like a lot of people around, and everybody’s happy, everybody’s on vacation. And I was hiding the fact that I was pregnant. So, I’m like pretending to drink, but not really drinking."

Dreyer also remembered the devastating experience of hiding her miscarriage on the trip. "I’m surrounded by people. There’s literally no one I can talk to," she shared. "I’m crying in my bed in so much pain, because no one really tells you how painful, physically painful, it is. And I’m like, ‘Man, I wish I could share this with someone,’ and you can’t always do that."

Dreyer, who is mom to sons Calvin, 9, Ollie, 6, and Rusty, 4, with estranged husband Brian Fichera, has been open about her miscarriage experience over the years. In April 2019, she recalled on the Today show the experience of waking up to "massive bleeding" that wouldn't stop.

"I wake Brian up, and I tell him that, and I said, ‘I think I lost the baby,'" she remembered. "And the first thing he said to me is, ‘You didn’t lose the baby. It’s your body doing what it needs to do. You didn’t do anything wrong.’ He was so supportive."

"I am blessed with the family that I have, but going through a miscarriage and not knowing what the future holds is emotional," she continued. "And I just want people to know that I’m going through it, too."

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No matter the time of year, it's never a bad idea to have an extra spot where guests can lounge, unwind, or even sleep when needed. A piece of convertible furniture like the Hommpa Folding Sofa Bed can really come in handy in one of those instances. This stylish and incredibly plush option shifts from sofa to bed in mere seconds — and it boasts a luxe look that definitely belies its price.

In fact, it is an absolute steal right now at Walmart. You can snag it for as low as $100 in the single size during a limited-time flash sale. There are twin, queen, and full sizes available as well at varying discounts. It offers a budget-friendly way to bring some extra comfort to your living space without occupying too much room. The sofa bed is exactly the kind of piece that fits nicely into more snug spots, whether it's a reading nook or a guest room.

Courtesy of Walmart

It shines as much from an engineering perspective as it does for its classic design. With a 7-inch high-density foam filling, it has a 400-pound weight capacity and is designed to adapt to your body with premium cushioning. It's soft, but won't sag with time thanks to its robust bounce-back memory foam. Shoppers described the feel as "very firm."

The ergonomic layout includes a modular headrest and lumbar pillows that naturally follow the curves of your spine, whether you're lounging upright or fully reclined. Another huge perk is that it's also durable enough for anything your life might bring. The material is resistant to everything from scratches to spills, so daily wear won't affect its integrity over time.

Since tools aren't needed, assembly is a breeze. It arrives ready to go, and can be collapsed down to half its size when it's not in use. Shoppers love the practicality. "Great buy! Super comfy, stylish, and practical. It's literally more comfortable than the bed I bought." Another reviewer shared, "It's exactly what I needed. Easy to move around and super easy to unfold."

Related: Walmart’s 'Beautiful' $115 Farmhouse Arched Storage Cabinet Is Perfect for Organizing Small Spaces

Whether you're getting set for visitors or you want to elevate your home with an easy piece that folds out of the way when you don't need it, you can't beat the value of the Hommpa Folding Sofabed. Pick up this beautifully designed piece while it's on flash sale for a sweet $100 at Walmart!

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As the July heatwave officially signals the start of the peak summer travel season, millions of families across the Tri-State area are packing up their beach bags and heading straight for local pools, lakes, and waterparks to cool down.

But while splashing in the water is a quintessential summer rite of passage, safety experts are reminding parents that the absolute most important accessory a child can carry this season isn’t a pair of trendy goggles or a colorful pool float—it’s the ability to swim.

In a major effort to bring widespread awareness to crucial water safety education and prevent accidental summer drownings, Six Flags Great Adventure officially stepped up to the plate this morning, transforming its massive wave pool into a giant, record-breaking classroom.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Jackson, New Jersey destination joined a massive, synchronized global movement by hosting the annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson event.

Kicking off promptly at 9:00 a.m. at the Blue Lagoon wave pool inside Hurricane Harbor New Jersey, the park united with hundreds of waterparks, aquatic centers, and specialized swim schools across the entire country to conduct a simultaneous swim safety lesson designed to build confidence and vital survival skills in the water.

Related: Dolly Parton Just Gave You the Perfect Excuse to Visit the Smokies After Dark

What elevated the morning event beyond a standard community workshop was Six Flags Great Adventure's continued, purposeful collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey.

Bringing together approximately 150 local participants—including children, mentors, and family members—the partnership is part of an aggressive, ongoing regional effort to actively expand access to water safety education for youth development programs across local New Jersey communities.

Because traditional private swim lessons can often present a significant financial or logistical barrier for working families, bringing an elite training framework directly into a major local theme park setting offers a highly engaging, non-intimidating way to deliver lifesaving skills to kids who need them most.

Following the completion of the morning's structured water lessons, all of the participating children and their families were invited to stick around to enjoy a completely complimentary, stress-free day of fun exploring the massive collection of water slides, lazy rivers and roller coasters across both Hurricane Harbor New Jersey and the main Six Flags Great Adventure theme park.

Related: Matt Damon Plays Santa for Safe Water Access

According to the World Waterpark Association—the founding organization behind the global initiative—teaching children basic swim techniques and water proficiency at an early age reduces the risk of drowning by an astonishing 88%.

By transforming a routine operating morning into a high-visibility, community-driven event, the park is helping to dismantle the common misconceptions around water safety while actively demonstrating that a structured, life-saving lesson can be just as thrilling as a day on the park's biggest drop towers.

Ultimately, as families map out their high-energy road trips and weekend lake escapes for July and August, the morning's record-breaking event stands as a powerful reminder that preparation is the ultimate foundation for summer fun. By equipping local youth with the physical skills and situational awareness to navigate the water confidently, the unified team at Six Flags and Big Brothers Big Sisters is ensuring that New Jersey families can dive into the warmest months of the year with true peace of mind.

Related: Six Flags Just Opened a New Retro Boardwalk Destination

Tyler Childers is back on the Billboard 200 with a familiar album nearly 15 years after launching his recording career.

The country singer-songwriter's acclaimed 2017 album Purgatory has re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 192 on the chart dated July 4, 2026. The album returns with a "RE-ENTRY" label after spending a total of 247 weeks on the chart. It previously reached a peak position of No. 71.

The latest chart appearance adds another milestone to Childers' career, which began with the release of his independent debut album, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011. Since then, the Kentucky native has built one of country music's strongest independent success stories through steady album sales, streaming, and loyal fans.

Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images

Released in August 2017, Purgatory marked a turning point for Childers. The album was issued through his own Hickman Holler Records alongside Thirty Tigers and quickly became his breakthrough project.

Produced by fellow Kentucky musician Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson, the record blended country, bluegrass, folk, honky-tonk and Appalachian influences. Critics praised its storytelling and traditional sound, while listeners helped turn songs like "Feathered Indians," "Whitehouse Road" and "Lady May" into fan favorites.

The album debuted at No. 71 on the Billboard 200 during its original run. It also climbed to No. 9 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, No. 2 on the Americana/Folk Albums chart, and No. 3 on the Independent Albums chart.

Its success continued well beyond its release year. Purgatory appeared on several Billboard year-end charts between 2019 and 2025, showing its lasting popularity. The album has also earned Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after reaching one million certified units in the United States.

Critics also welcomed the album when it arrived in 2017. It received a Metacritic score of 82, indicating universal acclaim based on published reviews. 

Childers released his first album, Bottles and Bibles, in 2011 while pursuing music across Kentucky and West Virginia. Before finding commercial success, he worked odd jobs while performing in small venues and building a following through live shows.

His breakthrough finally arrived with Purgatory, a project that introduced his songwriting to a much wider audience without relying heavily on country radio.

Since then, Childers has continued to expand his catalog with albums including Country Squire (2019), Long Violent History (2020), Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? (2022), Rustin' in the Rain (2023) and Snipe Hunter (2025).

His career has also earned multiple Grammy Award nominations. The single "All Your'n" received a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, while "In Your Love" became his first top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. His 2025 album Snipe Hunter also received several Grammy nominations, with "Bitin' List" winning Best Country Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

His 2019 album Country Squire expanded on the momentum created by Purgatory. The project produced the Grammy-nominated single "All Your'n," while his 2020 release Long Violent History explored traditional fiddle music alongside themes of empathy and social issues.

Childers followed with the ambitious triple album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? in 2022, earning his first top-10 placement on the Billboard 200. A year later, he released Rustin' in the Rain, which featured "In Your Love." The song became his first top-10 hit on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and brought additional Grammy nominations.

His latest studio album, Snipe Hunter, arrived in 2025 and continued his exploration of Appalachian music while blending country, gospel, experimental rock, and psychedelia. The project earned several Grammy nominations, including Best Contemporary Country Album, while "Bitin' List" won Best Country Song at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Away from the studio, Childers has remained active on tour. Earlier this year, he postponed two concerts in New York and Pennsylvania as he and his wife, fellow musician Senora May, prepared to welcome their second child. The rescheduled performances are set for August, with previously purchased tickets remaining valid.

Related: Country-Rock Star Announced as Headliner for America's Salute 250 Concert

Historically, rock bands aren't exactly known for being drama-free. Throughout the '60s and '70s, a slew of stories involving drugs, betrayal, and infighting surrounded some of the most beloved bands in history. While many groups, from Fleetwood Mac to Led Zeppelin, can coyly own up to dozens of salacious stories, few can say they have weathered it all and remained a band like The Rolling Stones can.

On the cusp of their 25th album, Foreign Tongues, and in the wake of their bandmate Charlie Watts' 2021 death, famed guitarist Keith Richards offered some heartfelt thoughts on their longevity in a 2023 CBS Sunday Morninginterview that the Stones recently reshared on their official Instagram page.

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"I think we basically, we love each other and we love our music," Richards said plainly. "And when you're doing it, you don't really think about it. But I think with Charlie [Watts] going, I've realized more and more how special that is. I mean, there's something about the Stones, and there's something about us all that sort of says, 'No, we stick together.' And then you can't just drop it, you know. You've got to follow it right down to the end, down the tunnel."

Foreign Tongues, slated for release this week on July 10, 2026, promises to blend familiar Stones tunes with contributions from cutting-edge and classic artists. Steve Winwood, Robert Smith, Chad Smith, and the legendary Paul McCartneyall have guest spots on the album, as does work by the late Watts.

According to an interview with MOJO magazine, singer Mick Jagger spoke about the album's concept, which seems to generally focus on the dysphoria circulating in and around America.

“It’s about America as an idea,” Jagger elaborated to MOJO about the band's new song, "Ringing Hollow." “The American Dream is intact for some people, and I’m sure we can find some wonderful immigrant stories that happened in the last 12 months, but we read about the decline of the American Empire. Is the Iran war America’s Suez moment? Well, it’s not the same at all, but there are a lot of questions about imperial overreach and the lobbying system. The money spent on an election is absurd – it’s not corruption per se, but unnecessary. Is it indicative of this administration, or is it something that has been happening a long time? In any case, it’s not the same place as it was.”

Related: 1981 Rolling Stones Dreamy Song Took Almost a Decade To Make

Historically, the Stones have never shied away from controversial topics or politically charged lyrics. “Sympathy for the Devil” meanders through history from "evil's" point of view, highlighting moments of war, disease, and famine across time. “Mother's Little Helper” addresses the prescription pill epidemic plaguing neglected housewives. “Street Fighting Man” was just one of the anti-Vietnam War songs they produced in their time together. And that's just a handful of samples featuring the band's strong political views.

Knowing they are keeping that rebellious spirit alive still warms the hearts of fans across the globe. And knowing that they are still doing it just because they love it will make the new album sound all the sweeter.

You can probably imagine how hard it was to write novels in the past without even typewriters. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy was written before the invention of the typewriter, meaning that it had to be written by hand.

However, it wasn’t Tolstoy who wrote everything nearly for the publishers. While he did handwrite the initial drafts, his wife, Sofya Tolstoy, had the job of painstakingly deciphering his messy handwriting and creating drafts that the publishers could read.

One round of writing wasn’t enough. Tolstoy was notorious for his perfectionism, and so, when Sofya would write out one of his drafts — at night, by candlelight — he would then scribble over the words, make more notes and edits, and then hand it all back to her to handwrite a clean draft again.

And he did this seven times! Keep in mind, this ended up being a 1,200-page book!

Sofya was just 18 at the time they married, when this duty first fell on her. At the same time, she had to raise their children and keep the house clean, which is why all the writing was done at night, as it was the only time available.

To make matters worse, the novel that we know from the 1869 publication wasn’t the original one published as serials. The original story was published as short serials starting in 1865 — two years after he originally started the draft — with the first half of the novel titled 1805. Parts continued to be published until 1867, but Tolstoy wasn’t happy with the finished work, and it had a different ending.

Between 1866 and 1969, he rewrote the story, which Sofya continued to clean up, until it was ready to be published as a whole novel stretching 1,200 pages, split into four volumes and an epilogue split in two parts.

Due to the way the whole piece was published and then changed, Russians were eager to buy the completed work, so War and Peace sold out immediately, and it was quickly translated for the world to read. Don’t worry; Sofya didn’t handwrite any of the translations!

Out of all of Tolstoy’s novels, War and Peace was never banned. While the leftist factions didn’t like it, the Russian government viewed it as supportive of the regime, as the main focus was on Russia’s triumph over Napoleon’s forces. It was only as Tolstoy got older and more anti-establishment that his works started to be banned, but War and Peace continued to excel.

Millie Bobby Brown is seeing her acting career in a new light since becoming a mom!

The Enola Holmes 3 actress, 22, shared how welcoming her daughter via adoption with husband Jake Bongiovi has impacted her view of her characters in an interview with Access Hollywood released on Saturday, July 4.

Acknowledging that Enola Holmes is a character that she thinks might inspire children, the Stranger Thingsalum said she hoped her acting roles could also make an impact on her daughter.

“I definitely feel now, becoming a mom, everything is about her and bringing that to life,” Brown explained. “I'm doing it for her, but I'm not going to expect that she's going to want to see mom and want to be like mom.” 

“On the screen, however, I want to bring more females to the screen, so if that inspires more filmmakers or young actresses to get to the screen and be that for my daughter, that would be amazing," she added.

As for her own childhood "hero," Brown revealed that she looked up to Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana, a teenage girl who lived a double life as a pop star.

“I thought it was crazy. She lived the best of both worlds. That's a hero,” said the Netflix star. “And in so many ways now, I feel my whole life is about being Hannah Montana in a way.”

Brown and Bongiovi tied the knot in May 2024 after about three years together, and in August 2025, they announced that they had become parents via adoption.

"This summer we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption," the couple wrote in a joint statement on Instagram at the time. "We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. And then there were 3."

History is filled with moments that seemed ordinary at the time but ultimately changed the world. Arguably no moment in rock history fits that description better than what happened 69 years ago today, on July 6, 1957.

On that summer afternoon, 16-year-old John Lennon met 15-year-old Paul McCartney for the first time at the Woolton Parish Church Garden Fête in Liverpool, England. It was, as History notes, "the start of one of the most fruitful musical partnerships in history." Just seven years later, Lennon and McCartney, joined by George Harrison and Ringo Starr, would become The Beatles, forever changing the course of popular music.

The meeting almost never happened. "It's easy to assume that John and Paul would eventually have met on some other day," History observes. "But as much as they had in common, the two boys lived in different neighborhoods, went to different schools and were nearly two years apart in age." Without that church fête and a mutual friend who introduced them, one of music's greatest creative partnerships might have begun very differently, or perhaps not at all.

Earlier that day, Lennon had performed with his skiffle group, The Quarrymen. Afterward, McCartney picked up a guitar and played Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock," Gene Vincent's "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and a medley of Little Richard songs entirely from memory. He also showed Lennon how to properly tune his guitar and jotted down chords and lyrics to some of the songs he'd played.

The performance made an immediate impression. In "The Day John Met Paul," author Jim O'Donnell wrote that Lennon, "a young man not easily astonished," was exactly that after hearing McCartney play. O'Donnell argued that, in that moment, "one of the most important partnerships in the history of modern music was begun."

Lennon had a decision to make. Inviting another talented guitarist into The Quarrymen could strengthen the band, but it also meant sharing the spotlight. He chose the music. Later that evening, Lennon told fellow Quarryman Pete Shotton that he wanted McCartney to join the group, and about two weeks later, the invitation became official.

That decision changed music history. McCartney eventually brought his younger friend Harrison into the band, while Starr completed the lineup in 1962. Together, they became the Beatles, the best-selling music act of all time, with an estimated 600 million records sold worldwide, 20 No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and an influence on songwriting, recording and popular culture that still resonates today.

Looking back nearly seven decades later, it's remarkable that one of the defining moments in rock history wasn't a legendary concert, a chart-topping hit or a groundbreaking album. It was simply a chance introduction between two teenagers at a neighborhood church fête, a meeting that sparked a partnership unlike any popular music had ever seen.

Related: 1971 Hit Ranked No. 1 ‘Greatest Song of All Time’ in New Book

Billy Squier was one of the biggest artists of the early MTV era. With songs such as ”The Stroke,” “In the Dark,” and “My Kinda Lover,” Squier was featured in heavy rotation on the music video channel and quickly became a fan favorite.

But one video nearly derailed Squier’s career—and 42 years later it’s still being talked about.

The 1984 song, “Rock Me Tonite,” came with a Kenny Ortega-directed music video that featured Squier prancing, dancing, writhing on the floor, and tumbling onto a pink satin-sheeted bed.

As recently as spring 2026, the song was debated on Reddit, with one user calling it a “cringe fest” and another admitting that it was hard to take Squier seriously  as a rocker after the video came out.

And during a July 2026 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Motley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, another '80s MTV icon, recalled that he loved Squier’s music but took pause at the odd video.

“We need you on the ground swimming around,” Lee joked about the direction Squier was likely given.

 “Hopefully….I hope it was his idea," the Motley Crüe legend added, noting that it would have been worse if a producer had tanked Squier’s video career instead of Squier just having a creative idea gone wrong.

“Rock Me Tonite” was actually Squier’s biggest chart hit. The lead single from the album Signs of Life, the song peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1984.

At the time, Squier downplayed the damage from the video. In 1986, he told The Los Angeles Times, “People have the wrong impression about it. The video didn’t do anything. It didn’t ruin me. It didn’t come close to that. They forget there were some good things that happened, too. There was no catastrophe.”

“When an album (Signs of Life) sells over a million, you can’t be too unhappy about it,” he added.

RELATED: 1982 Power Ballad Written by Rock Legends Became Iconic Band’s Only Top 40  Hit

Still, in the 2011 book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution, Squier noted that his concert career changed upon the release of the cheesy "Rock Me Tonite" video.

“As soon as that video came out, I was playing to half houses,” he revealed. “I went from 15,000 and 20,000 people a night to 10,000 people. Everything I'd worked for my whole life was crumbling, and I couldn't stop it. How can a four-minute video do that?"

Four decades later, Squier doesn’t intend to be remembered for “Rock Me Tonite.” In a 2025 interview with Goldmine magazine, the singer said, “I assume that I’ll be remembered for Don’t Say No. ...  It’s a classic, and no one is ever going to make a record like that again … but I think most people know that, so I won’t pick that one. I’ll go with [1993 ’s] Tell the Truth. Truth shows my evolution as an artist on all fronts. The playing on it is great.”

“I spent a lot of time thinking about the lineups for the songs and it worked really well,” Squier added. “As for the songs themselves, I think [producer] Mike Chapman said it the best. One night when we were on a dinner break, he said to me, ‘Billy, you are the best songwriter I’ve ever worked with in my life.’”

Related: 1981 Hard Rock Classic, Inspired by a Bible Verse, Remains a Timeless Anthem 45 Years Later

Amy Schumer is showing off her 50-pound weight loss in a stunning swimsuit for the Fourth of July holiday.

The actress and comedian, 44, who transitioned from stand-up standout to Comedy Central fame with her beloved series, Inside Amy Schumer, went on to film roles in projects like Trainwreck and I Feel Pretty. After dropping 50 pounds, the comedy queen shared a sweet photo from the holiday weekend at a backyard barbecue. However, it wasn't the bar that had most people staring. In a photo shared to her Instagram Stories, the star looked svelte in a plunging blue bathing suit.

(Instagram/Amy Schumer)

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In recent years, Schumer has gotten lots of press for her weight loss transformation, including her use of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. Schumer has previously spoken out on social media about why she decided to lose weight. In a now-deleted Instagram reel, she said she did so to “survive” Cushing syndrome, a condition caused by too much of the hormone cortisol in the body, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“I didn’t lose 30 lbs, I lost 50,” Schumer explained. “Sorry for whatever feeling it’s giving you that I lost that weight.” She went on to say that she’s now able to play tag with her son, Gene.

One thing fans can always expect from Schumer is honesty. The actress and comedian has spoken candidly with the press about her health. Back in 2023, she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen and revealed that while she tried using Wegovy several years ago, the side effects were horrific, and she became devastatingly ill as a result. Schumer told Cohen the drug made her “so sick” that she couldn’t even play with her son and had to ditch the medication.

“Like, a year ago, I tried it. I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son. I was so skinny, and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t],” she shared.

More recently, Schumer said she’s been having a “really good experience” with a different drug called Mounjaro.

 “My symptoms of being in perimenopause have disappeared. My hair is fuller, my skin is better, I have more energy. I want to ‘get down’ more, if you know what I mean,” Schumer shared in a video taken while sitting in her car. “I’m talking about sex.”

Related: Amy Schumer Says She Had a ‘Botched' Medical Procedure as She Shows off 50-Lb Weight Loss

Looking back on the fierce competition of the 1990s daytime television, Maury Povich and fellow talk show icon Montel Williams revealed that more than 100 talk shows came and went during their careers, but only one stands out for sending a shockwave through the industry.

One of the biggest threats, according to the pair, was fellow talk show host Ricki Lake.

"Did you feel the way I did that when she came on the scene a couple of years after we started, she scared the hell out of us because she had a young audience and we didn't have that young of an audience?" Povich asked Williams during the Monday, July 6, episode of his popular podcast, On Par With Maury Povich.

"Absolutely, my friend," Williams replied.

Povich recently echoed the same sentiment to Lake directly during her April appearance on his podcast.

"When Ricki came on, you have to understand, the '90s were the golden age of daytime talk shows. I mean, there were 20 of us on the air, and most of us were in our 40s and 50s and maybe even older. And here comes this 23-year-old who gets the youngest audience of us all, and we were scared s---less," he told the Hairspray star.

As Povich and Williams reflected on the daytime television boom of the decade, Williams estimated that more than 100 talk shows launched and disappeared during their tenure.

"If you go back in time, people don't remember when they think about talk, early talk. Let's go way, way back," he explained. "There was really only five. There was Geraldo [Rivera], [Phil] Donahue, Sally [Jessy Raphael], Oprah [Winfrey], and back then Regis and Kelly were not considered a talk show. They were considered a morning access show."

The Montel Williams Show premiered in July 1991, followed two months later by Maury and The Jerry SpringerShow. Ricki Lake debuted in September 1993, and lasted more than a decade.

"I think one of the things that's so good about coming on as early as we did is that we kind of solidified our place," Williams explained. "All the other shows ended up being basically judged among themselves. And we were kind of like the guys that came there before them."

Williams' talk show aired for more than 3,500 episodes, while Maury reached more than 5,500 during its 31-season run.

Despite the crowded talk show space, Williams explained that every show in the genre was drawing audiences that would be nearly impossible to replicate today

"Every single one of us had ratings that were higher than the ratings of the highest-rated show today," he said. "We were getting four and five ratings… five, six million people were watching every day."

Oprah Winfrey may have become the undisputed queen of daytime television, but according to fellow talk show veterans Maury Povich and Montel Williams, her early success wasn't quite as different from the competition as many fans remember.

During the Monday, July 6, episode of On Par With Maury Povich, the former rivals reflected on the daytime TV boom of the early 1990s, revealing why they believe people often overlook one key detail about Oprah's rise to the top.

"We were all chasing Oprah," Povich recalled. "Who had the biggest [audience] of all. She was the queen and the king."

Williams agreed, "Absolutely. And you know...doing the same topics that we were all doing. Let's not try to figure out that, you know, there was one doing this and one doing that. We were all doing them, especially back in '91, '92."

According to Povich, Oprah — whose iconic talk show ran from 1986 to 2011 — did not go "mainstream" until she had already gained a loyal fanbase.

"To get her audience, she was doing what all of us were doing," he added.

Williams went on to explain that Phil Donahue pioneered the format of engaging studio audiences that has dominated daytime talk shows in recent decades.

"It's like the whole idea of our form of talk, where we were in the audience asking questions of the audience members and getting them to give them back. Phil [Donahue] really was the guy who did that, who started that," he said. "You know, a lot of people don't know this, but during one of his shows, he literally took his microphone and stepped across the light grid to put a microphone in a woman's face that wouldn't be quiet. And that's what started the entire concept of a talk show host having the audience ask questions."

While The Oprah Winfrey Show later became known for celebrity interviews and self-help conversations, its early years frequently tackled many of the same tabloid-style and audience-driven topics that dominated daytime television at the time.

The Academy Award winner previously explained that she wanted her show to be "about and with everyday people."

"I started the show as a job and was very happy to get the job, but it was not long before I understood that there was something else going on here. More than just job satisfaction. Something in me connected with each of you in a way that allowed me to see myself in you and you in me," she shared following the show's finale.

She would later go on to interview A-list stars such as Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Cruise and Celine Dion.

After more than 4,500 episodes, Oprah said goodbye to daytime in May 2011.

For decades, Subway has remained known for its famously oversized sandwiches and conveniently low prices, making it a fantastic option for all those interested in budget-friendly meals to enjoy on the go.

While we're always partial to a classic Italian sub or an equally delicious club sandwich, Subway has just captured our attention with their brand-new menu addition: the SubDog.

According to a recent press release from the company, the SubDog is a "category-reinventing sandwich experience that transforms an all-beef Schneiders hot dog into a fully customizable Subway sub."

Far from being just a hot dog alone, the SubDog features a nearly half-pound, all-beef hot dog that comes with an assortment of customizable options and add-ons, including fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes and/or a drizzle of ketchup or mustard.

“People have been debating this for years, but at Subway, we know sandwiches,” says Chef John Botelho, Culinary Manager at Subway Canada. “With the SubDog, we’re not just joining the conversation; we’re settling it. This is a classic summer favourite, reimagined the Subway way – fully customizable, built exactly how you want it, with your choice of bread, toppings and sauces."

As worthwhile as the new menu item might sound, it's worth mentioning that, sadly, the new SubDog sandwich is only available at Subway locations in Canada right now. While it's always possible the menu item might eventually expand to the states, as of right now, the only place you'll find them is in the Great White North.

As expected, the new item's debut in Canadian Subway locations has sparked a viral reaction across social media, with many expressing their interest in the first-of-its-kind footlong hot dog.

"OK... we're glistening," one fan wrote on Instagram.

"This is groundbreaking," added another.

"Let's GOOOO!!!" echoed a fourth, complete with a fire emoji next to their comment.

Pringles is celebrating one of summer's most popular staples, the hot dog, with a truly first-of-its-kind release—and no, it's not a hot dog-flavored crisp.

While the brand has forayed into cookout-style chips, releasing a new Carolina Pulled Pork flavor and expanding its grillin'-inspired Miller Lite collab this year, its newest limited-edition offering reimagines Pringles flavors in a way that we're almost sure fans never thought possible.

In just a few days, Pringles will release its first-ever line of hot dog buns inspired by the flavors of three of its most recognizable crisp flavors. The innovation is without a doubt surprising, coming from a chip brand, but when you break down the pieces, the idea starts to make sense.

Using a potato-based bun (the base of its crisps), the "snacking masterminds" at Pringles transformed the traditional hot dog bun into a flavor-packed experience unlike anything shoppers will find at the grocery store. 

"This summer we’re bringing the ‘Once You Pop’ experience to the center of the plate!" Mauricio Jenkins, Salty Snacks Brand & Content Lead at Mars North America, shared in a statement, explaining the release started out of a desire to "take something everyone knows and completely flip it into an exciting new snackable experience."

Related: Pringles Debuts 6 New Flavors in ‘Exciting Expansion’ That Promises to ‘Satisfy’ Fan Cravings

"With our new ‘Once You Pop’ campaign, our mission is to continually deliver the unexpected to our fans, which is why we’re reimagining ordinary, bland buns and transforming them into an extraordinarily flavorful experience fit for our iconic cans," Jenkins added, joking, "Trust me, that extra Pringles flavor truly makes these buns pop because... Once You Pop, The Pop Dogs Don’t Stop," Jenkins joked.

As for those flavors, Pringles Pop Dog buns are debuting in three classics: Sour Cream & Onion, BBQ and Honey Mustard. And the best part? How you dress up your dog is up to you—use chip crumbles for a Latin American-inspired twist, or simply top with the classic mustard-and-ketchup combo. Whatever fans choose, the Pringles bun will support any build with its pillowy soft texture and add even more flavor.

• Pringles Sour Cream & Onion Pop Dog Buns: All the tangy, savory and creamy flavors fans know and love, reimagined in a soft, potato-based bun.
• Pringles BBQ Pop Dog Buns: A little smoky with a touch of sweetness for a backyard barbecue flavor that perfectly complements any hot dog.
• Pringles Honey Mustard Pop Dog Buns: Combines the sweetness of honey with the tang of mustard for a bold, satisfying twist on the classic bun.

Pringles

As we teased before, these new Pringles-inspired buns won't be stocked in the bread aisle at your favorite retailer. In fact, fans will only find them in one of three online stores for an extremely limited time, according to the July 6 press release.

All three flavors will be available in one of two drops this month, the first happening on Wednesday, July 8, and the second on National Hot Dog Day (Wednesday, July 15) at 12 p.m. EST–and if you're hesitant about the idea, the buns are available at no cost, so fans don't have much to lose.

Pringles limited-edition Pop Dog buns will be available to anyone who purchases a Pringles three-pack (which includes its Sour Cream & Onion, Honey Mustard and BBQ crisps) on the official campaign website, as well as via the company's Instagram and Facebook shops for $6.97, while supplies last.

Next: Doritos Shakes Up Its Dinamita Chip Line With a Big Upgrade

Sharon Osbourne is keeping late husband Ozzy Osbourne in her heart nearly a year after the Black Sabbath rocker's death.

The Talkalum, 73, took to Instagram on Saturday, July 4, to commemorate what would have been her 46th wedding anniversary with Ozzy, who died at age 76 on July 22, 2025.

Sharon, who tied the knot with Ozzy in 1982, shared a photo of her hand holding that of the late musician's, writing, "Today would have been our 46th wedding anniversary. Instead, it is a celebration of a love that even death could not diminish."

"I miss your hand in mine, but I carry your love with me every step of the way," she continued. "Forever my husband. Forever my heart."

The couple's daughter, Kelly Osbourne, also marked the anniversary with a heartfelt message, penning a public letter to her mother shared on social media on the day of her wedding anniversary.

"Today feels different," Kelly, 41, began her note. "A day that was once filled with celebration now carries a quiet ache. This is your first wedding anniversary without Daddy by your side, and I can only imagine how heavy your heart must feel. There are some dates that remind us just how deeply we have loved, and today is one of them."

"I hope you know that love like yours doesn’t end when a life does," she continued, in part. "It changes shape. It becomes the warmth of the sun on your face when you need comfort, the memories that make you smile through tears, the quiet moments when you somehow know he’s near. Daddy may no longer walk beside you, but he will never stop walking with you."

Kelly also promised her mother that her family would be there for her as she faces more milestones without Ozzy. "We will hold your hand when the days are too heavy," the Fashion Police alum assured, "celebrate your victories, sit with you in your sadness and remind you whenever you need reminding that love is still all around you."

If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card sitting in your wallet, it’s time to log into your online portal because a viral travel trick could save you a whopping $500 on a single hotel stay.

While high-end credit cards are famous for offering luxury perks to offset their hefty annual fees, a massive 2026 update from Chase is allowing cardholders to double-dip their benefits in a way that is taking the travel world by storm.

The catch? One half of this incredible "double stack" hack is completely temporary and will officially expire on December 31, 2026, meaning you need to book your next getaway before the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.

Related: 7 Things to Know Before Booking an All-Inclusive Hotel With Points, According to The Points Guy

The strategy relies on combining two separate hotel credits on a single, prepaid reservation of at least two consecutive nights. Normally, Reserve cardholders get access to "The Edit by Chase Travel," which is a handpicked collection of luxury properties that comes with a flexible $500 annual credit, usable as two separate $250 statement credits at any point during the year.

However, for 2026 only, Chase introduced a brand-new, one-time $250 credit for prepaid stays at select partner hotel brands, including major lines like IHG Hotels & Resorts, Omni, and Virgin Hotels.

If you find a luxury property that happens to sit on both lists, Chase allows you to trigger both $250 statement credits simultaneously, slicing $500 right off your bill.

Putting the strategy to the test, The Points Guy managing editor of credit cards, Giselle Gomez, recently used the double-stack trick for a stay at the Kimpton St Honoré Paris. According to Gomez, the statement credits hit her account almost immediately after she booked.

Related: Chase Is Making Major Changes to Its Top-Ranked $95 Travel Credit Card

Beyond the cash savings, booking a property through The Edit unlocks a treasure trove of VIP on-site perks that feel like automatic elite status. Your stay comes loaded with free daily breakfast for two, space-available room upgrades and a $100 property credit you can blow on fine dining or spa treatments.

To pull off the trick yourself, simply filter your Chase Travel portal searches to eligible 2026 brands like IHG, look for the special logo indicating the property is part of The Edit, and make sure you select the "Pay Now" option at checkout.

If you don't carry the premium Reserve card and prefer the wallet-friendly, $95-a-year Chase Sapphire Preferred, you aren't completely left out of the hotel rewards game. While you can't stack the luxury Edit credits, Chase actually just upgraded the Preferred card's annual travel perk to a very generous $100 hotel credit.

It's incredibly straightforward to use—there are no minimum-night requirements or strict brand limitations. As long as you book any hotel stay directly through the Chase Travel portal and charge it to your card, that $100 statement credit automatically kicks in, completely wiping out the cost of your annual fee in one easy step. Whether you are aiming for a five-star luxury stack or a simple weekend road trip, maximizing these portal perks is the ultimate way to travel smarter.

Related: This ‘Old Reliable’ Credit Card’s Travel Rewards Just Increased, But The Annual Fee Didn’t

When Forrest Gump was released on July 6, 1994, the film was immediately embraced by viewers and critics. From the main character's innocent perspective to the four-decade-spanning political and social commentary, it was hard not to fall in love with Forrest Gump. "If any criticism might be leveled at the film, it is that its most heart-wrenching moments are too adeptly skirted, but, then again, that’s in keeping with Forrest’s strength," The Hollywood Reporter wrote at the time.

The film made more than $670 million worldwide and was nominated for 13 Academy Awards. It ended up winning six, including Best Picture and Best Actor, making Tom Hanks the fifth performer to win back-to-back Oscars. The elite group he became part of consisted of Luise Rainer, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, and Jason Robards. However, while many still love the film -- it has a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes -- its share of detractors has also increased.

One of the biggest criticisms many have taken with Forrest Gump in the decades since its release is that Forrest, who is more of a submissive, passive observer in life, seems to have everything go his way. Characters who are more outspoken and interested in changing the world, such as Jenny, struggle and encounter tragedy.

Some have looked at it through a political lens, comparing Forrest to a conservative and Jenny to a progressive. Director Robert Zemeckis has argued that the movie isn't meant to be political but rather a satire.

“I think modern audiences have lost the understanding of irony because they watch a movie like Forrest Gump in isolation, and they don't understand the irony of what it was, what it's all about," Zemeckis told Time. "They take it a hundred percent literally,” he says. “And filmmakers like me, who find irony in life and in art and in movies—that’s getting lost somehow.” 

Another criticism some have leveled against the film centers around Forrest's disabilities. Some have felt that his low IQ is used as a tool to elicit laughs, while others have thought that an actor with an intellectual disability should've portrayed Forrest instead of Hanks.

And then there's the argument that Pulp Fiction or Shawshank Redemption, two other films that Forrest Gump was up against for the Best Picture Academy Award, were better. Hanks disagrees.

“The problem with Forrest Gump is it made a billion dollars," he told The New York Times. "If we’d just made a successful movie, Bob (director Robert Zemeckis) and I would have been geniuses. But because we made a wildly successful movie, we were diabolical geniuses. Is it a bad problem to have? No, but there’s books of the greatest movies of all time, and Forrest Gump doesn’t appear because, oh, it’s this sappy nostalgia fest. Every year there’s an article that goes, ‘The Movie That Should Have Won Best Picture’ and it’s always Pulp Fiction." 

"Pulp Fiction is a masterpiece without a doubt," he added. "Look, I don’t know, but there is a moment of undeniable heartbreaking humanity in Forrest Gump when Gary Sinise — he’s playing Lieutenant Dan — and his Asian wife walk up to our house on the day that Forrest and Jenny get married.”

Forrest Gump occupies a unique space in cinema history: it is both an enduring, beloved classic and a perpetual lightning rod for critical debate. Whether one interprets it as a brilliant, ironical satire or a controversial, rose-tinted fable, its ability to stir such strong reactions decades later is perhaps the truest measure of its impact. Regardless of where one lands in the "Best Picture" debate, the film's legacy is defined less by its Oscar haul than by its stubborn refusal to be forgotten.

Break out the platform slides and butterfly clips, because Bath & Body Works is taking us back to the early 2000s with its latest launch. The colorful and fruit-forward collection brings together peak 2000s nostalgia with emerging trends and is a collaboration with someone who knows exactly how to merge the two successfully. 

Related: These Bath & Body Works Finds Are Bringing Back ‘90s Kitchen Vibes in the Best Way

That’s right, Bath & Body Works has joined forces with none other than Ms. Lizzie McGuire herself, Hilary Duff, on the new Fruit Fusion line as both a brand ambassador and a creative partner. A longtime fan of the brand, the singer and actress is bringing “her body-positive confidence and cross-generational appeal to the campaign as its star,” Bath & Body Works told Parade. 

The celebrity collab isn’t the only novel thing about this Bath & Body Works collection, as it features new bottle architecture and soft-touch packaging with bright and playful colors for its products, including all day moisture body wash, smooth & soothe body cream, perfume mist that you can use for body or hair, lip oil, hand cream, PocketSpray and PocketSpray holder, as well as fruit coin purses and adorable fruit charms you can put on your products or on a backpack, purse, or phone chain. 

Related:Bath & Body Works Fans Gush Over ‘Unreal’ Limited-Edition Fragrance They’re ‘Obsessed With’

The four new Bath & Body Works fragrances are:

Banana Blend, which features scents of smooth banana surrounded by sugared florals and soft woods. 
Top notes: Italian bergamot, sweet orange
Heart notes: whipped banana, candied jasmine
Base notes: smooth vanilla, radiant amber, sandalwood

Berry Bliss is a sparkling mix of blackberries and frozen acai woven together with pomegranate seeds, sugared musks, and breezy woods.
Top notes:blackberry, acai, pineapple
Heart notes: tart pomegranate
Base notes: sugar, sheer woods, musk

Tangerine Twirl is a fragrance shaped around mango and nectarine that the brand says is energetic, joyful, and optimistic.
Top notes: fizzy tangerine, sparkling pink grapefruit, juicy blood orange
Heart notes: nectarine blossom, mango pulp
Base notes: blonde woods, sheer musk

Watermelon Whirl pairs dewy watermelon with berries and petals for added brightness and luminosity, finished with vanilla musk for sweetness.
Top notes: juicy watermelon, sugared berries
Heart notes: dewy fruits, peony petals
Base notes: soft musks, sheer vanilla, blonde woods

Currently, Bath & Body Works shoppers can snag the perfume mist, body cream, body wash, and body lotion through a mix-and-match buy-three-get-one-free sale. There’s a similar mix-and-match minis sale, with the travel-size perfume mist and hand cream eligible for that promotion. 

Next: Bath & Body Works Collab With Cult-Favorite Brand ‘Is Exactly What Fans Want to See’

There are three things that seem consistent in our limited time on this planet: Death, taxes, and rumors of returning players on Big Brother. Every year, fans of the hit CBS reality series pour onto social media like vomit out of a possessed piglet, bringing rumors of houseguests walking back through the doors of the house, once again submitting themselves to a summer of intense strategy, high-stakes competition, and a diet of enigmatic "slop." Social media activity, bookings for watch parties and events, and even vacation itineraries are checked, all in an effort to find out which vets might be in the mix once more.

Most of the time, these musings only exist as merely rumors. In fact, in the past five years, we've only seen one returning houseguest on Big Brother: Rachel Reilly. But the chatter on the BB streets this year feels a little different, with speculation turned up to an all-time high. And then Julie Chen Moonves dropped a bomb about the upcoming Season 28.

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When speaking to the press during a tour of the Big Brother 28 house, the veteran host teased, "Controversial people will be factored. If you're a Big Brother fan, you'll be like, 'Ha ha!' And I think a lot of people will be like 'Yes!' And I think some people like, 'What?!' But it's good TV. And if you love reality television beyond Big Brother — yes, there are other shows beyond Big Brother — you'll be excited as well."

Any kindling of returnee discussion from the Big Brother fanbase has turned into an outright inferno with this news. What returning houseguests would prompt that particular reaction? Are people from other reality shows making their Big Brother debut? And are these unscripted stars actually playing the game, or making guest appearances?

Regardless of who may be coming back for this season (if anyone at all), Chen Moonves went on record about the players from past seasons that she would want to see play again. And she went back over 20 years in her choices.

"I kind of want to see Chill Town back in there," she says.

Related: ‘Big Brother’ Alumni Reveal the One Change They’d Make to the Show (Exclusive)

Screenshot courtesy of CBS

The twosome of Will Kirby and Mike "Boogie" Malin was arguably the first alliance in Big Brother history. Formed right at the beginning of Season 2, its initial run was not necessarily a successful one. The vast majority of the house turned on them in the very first week, booting Boogie's pawn before sending him out the door a few weeks later. Will, however, was able to put together a remarkable run founded in simultaneously reducing his threat level while making his target so big it became invisible. He was crowned winner of Season 2, and is still remarked as one of the best players ever to this day.

Will and Boogie would return five years later for the very first all-star season of Big Brother. The two were far and away the most prominent duo, even donning "Chill Town" shirts around the house. But, when it came to gameplay, they were not phoning it in (even if they literally were in the Diary Room). Navigating myriad alliances and betrayals, the boys were able to make it all the way to the Final Four. And, while Will would be taken out, it was Boogie's time to shine, as he walked out of the house with a win of his own.

In the years since All-Stars, Chill Town has made appearances on the show, albeit as individuals. Boogie played again in Season 14, finishing in tenth place. And Will has made a number of cameos, serving as the host of the jury roundtable and even residing as the neighbor to the second group of all-star houseguests in 2020. And, the more Chen Moonves muses out loud about the idea of a Chill Town, the less appealing it sounds.

"Part of me feels like that was so long ago," she figures. "If they can't recreate the magic of Chill Town, then I don't want it. They're dads now. They're probably very responsible. So...whatever."

But Chen Moonves has one more selection for a returning houseguest. And about the most old-school you can get.

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"The Season 1 Big Brother winner, Eddie," she answers. "How would he do in the house? Totally different game."

Indeed, when Big Brother made its landfall on American shores in the summer of 2000, it looked unrecognizable compared to what we have today. The houseguests did not compete for power or safety. Despite sporting only ten players, Season 1 ran for 88 days and a whopping 70 episodes, using a daily release schedule like what you might see in Love Island nowadays. And, most importantly, the houseguests did not vote to evict one another, with the fans instead deciding who would stay and who would go. Eddie's mix of positivity and humorously blunt personality made him a favorite of the houseguests and fans alike. And, in addition to his inspiring story of overcoming the loss of his left leg to cancer during childhood, he walked his way to the win, receiving over 50% of the final audience vote.

When Big Brother shifted to a more social strategy format the year after, discussion began as to how Season 1 players would adapt should they come back. We got a glimpse of that in the first all-stars season, as "Chicken" George Boswell adapted well enough to make it all the way to fifth place. But Eddie has stayed in the industry since his time in the house, having over 40 credits as an actor. How do you think he would do with a possible return to reality TV?

For Chen Moonves, the answer is simple.

"Because I believe he's a Long Islander, and I'm from Queens, New York, I think he would do well."

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