Alec Baldwin believes the full story of the Rust shooting and its aftermath has yet to be told. The actor recently shared his thoughts on the case, saying he plans to uncover the truth behind the events. Speaking on David Duchovny’s Fail Better podcast, Baldwin said, “There’s more to come, but now it’s my effort to expose what really happened.” Reflecting on the legal and public scrutiny he faced, he described feeling as though he had to “counterpunch” while being “accused and indicted.”

The Rust incident has been widely discussed over the past three years, but Baldwin insists key aspects remain untold. According to him, “The mainstream press and the tabloid press suppressed every story that could benefit me and amplified every story that could hurt me.” While he expressed relief that the criminal charges against him were dropped, he said he would have preferred a jury trial to present “so much more” evidence. “A jury would’ve considered the facts,” he said, adding that a trial could have clarified the situation.

Despite the case’s dismissal, Baldwin hinted at more revelations to come through future legal filings. He criticized the intense public backlash he faced, saying, “In this country, when people hate you at that level, they want three things: they want you to die, they want you to go to prison, and they want you canceled.” He described cancelation as akin to being “invisible,” though he acknowledged he has remained in the public eye.

Baldwin suggested his career may be rebounding, saying he feels opportunities to work are returning. He and his wife are planning a reality show about their family, which includes their seven young children. For now, however, Baldwin intends to step back from the spotlight. “I’m gonna take a break,” he said. “I don’t wanna talk about this for a while. I just wanna take a nap.”

A new Vanity Fair report sheds light on Hollywood’s struggles to fulfill its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) promises made after 2020.

In 2020, amid the global reckoning following George Floyd’s murder, Hollywood studios pledged to amplify stories from underrepresented voices. Major companies invested in DEI programs and hired staff of color for roles ranging from writers to executives. But just a few years later, these efforts appear to be faltering.

According to Vanity Fair, two major factors are driving this reversal: financial challenges and political concerns.

Money Talks

Hollywood’s financial troubles are well-documented. The rise of streaming had already disrupted traditional revenue streams before 2020. Then came the pandemic, which halted productions, and most recently, the dual strikes by writers and actors. “Everyone has been suffering,” director and Emmy nominee Thembi Banks told Vanity Fair. “But there’s that old saying: ‘When white America has a cold, Black America has the flu.’”

These pressures have led to budget cuts, often at the expense of DEI initiatives. For example, Karen Horne, Warner Bros. Discovery’s North American VP for DEI, was laid off in 2023 during restructuring. Her departure signals the industry’s willingness to abandon long-term goals when money gets tight.

Political Pressures

Politics is another stumbling block. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to end Affirmative Action has raised concerns about legal risks tied to DEI efforts. Consultant Kristen Marston, who worked on films like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Little Mermaid, said some companies are avoiding anything that could be seen as a quota system. Even the word “equity” in job titles is causing unease, with fears it could become a legal liability.

Companies are also wary of public backlash. The rise of “anti-woke” sentiment has led some studios to scale back on DEI-related messaging to avoid controversy.

Structural Challenges

Beyond finances and politics, systemic issues persist. DEI consultants hired after 2020 often found their advice ignored. Hollywood remains a business driven by personal networks, and many decision-makers tend to connect with people who look like them. This cycle reinforces existing inequalities.

While Hollywood’s initial push for inclusivity was encouraging, the industry’s ability to sustain these efforts is now in question. For a deeper dive, check out the full report at Vanity Fair.

Sydney Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria and Anyone But You, has achieved remarkable success in Hollywood. Yet, even with two Emmy nominations and a flourishing career, the 27-year-old actress remains a target of public scrutiny—this time over her body. Recent paparazzi photos sparked cruel comments online, shedding light on the impossible beauty standards women face.

Earlier this week, candid photos of Sweeney outside her Florida home surfaced online. The images, showing her physique after intense training for her role as boxer Christy Martin, triggered harsh criticism. One social media user shared the photos with the caption, “All women are catfish. The question is, to what degree.” Others called her “frumpy,” “mid,” and “chunky.”

In response, Sweeney posted a video on Instagram juxtaposing these hateful comments with footage of her training for the role. She proudly showcased her preparation to portray Martin, a resilient athlete who survived domestic violence. This isn’t the first time Sweeney has addressed body-shaming. In 2021, she tearfully responded to being called “ugly” on Twitter, and earlier this year, her representatives spoke out against a producer’s disparaging remarks about her acting and looks.

A Double Standard for Women in the Spotlight

The backlash against Sweeney highlights a troubling double standard. Zeynab Mohamed, writing in her Substack Face Value, pointed out that women can’t win. “When [Sweeney] looks polished on Instagram, she’s accused of being fake. When caught candidly, she’s criticized for being too real,” Mohamed wrote. Male celebrities rarely face such scrutiny. As Mohamed noted, Chris Hemsworth’s unpolished moments don’t ignite the same vitriol.

Journalist Helen Coffey echoed this sentiment, observing how commenters relish seeing women fall short of perfection. “It really doesn’t matter what you look like,” she wrote, adding, “None of us will ever be good enough to appease men who hate women—because they want us to fail.”

Impossible Beauty Standards

Even women who align with traditional Western beauty ideals aren’t immune to criticism. Salon writer Nardos Hailey noted that figures like Margot Robbie have faced similar backlash, despite embodying the same narrow standards. Hailey argued that such attacks aim to control women’s bodies, rejecting any deviation from rigid expectations.

Hayley Maitland of Vogue suggested that praising Sweeney’s beauty as a defense against misogyny is misguided. “To embody a patriarchal fantasy is its own special hell,” Maitland wrote, explaining how women are simultaneously objectified and criticized for defying those objectifications.

The Role of Social Media

Writer Liz Plank explored the cultural forces behind such comments, linking them to social media algorithms and incel culture. Plank argued that these factors radicalize some men to view women as adversaries. “Instead of love and acceptance, they’re left tweeting about how Sydney Sweeney is ‘mid,’” she wrote. Plank concluded that this behavior reflects a broader societal failure to foster meaningful connections and empathy.

TikToker @ida_que highlighted how unrealistic social media portrayals fuel these toxic expectations. “We’ve forgotten what real people look like,” she said, pointing to the filtered, curated images that dominate online platforms. Another TikToker, Amelia Montooth, expressed concern that society is regressing to the fatphobic attitudes of the early 2000s, exacerbated by “tradwife” content and a renewed fixation on appearance.

A Call for Change

As Sweeney’s experience shows, beauty standards remain unattainable and disproportionately affect women. While Sweeney will likely continue to thrive, the attacks on her appearance underscore the persistent objectification women face. Until society shifts its focus from judging women’s bodies to valuing them as individuals, these harmful patterns will persist.

Sweeney’s response—a proud display of her hard work and resilience—serves as a reminder that no one should have to conform to arbitrary ideals. Instead of tearing women down, we should challenge the voices perpetuating these impossible expectations.

James Gunn unveils secrets from the set of the highly anticipated 2025 Superman movie: “I believe in the goodness of humanity.”

The first trailer for the new Superman movie gives fans a glimpse of the Man of Steel in a vulnerable state. Bloody and battered, he crash-lands in a frozen wasteland, his labored breathing hinting at broken ribs or fluid-filled lungs. Yet amidst the desolation, hope emerges in the form of his loyal canine companion, Krypto. “Take me home,” Superman pleads, a line that captures the emotional core of writer-director James Gunn’s vision for the film.

The trailer is sparse on dialogue, featuring only one other spoken line: a young boy, clutching a makeshift flag, whispers “Superman, Superman” with desperate hope. These moments reflect the themes of resilience and optimism that Gunn seeks to weave into the movie.

Superman, created in 1939, has long symbolized “Truth, Justice, and the American Way.” However, in a changing cultural landscape, DC updated the motto to “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow” in 2021. Speaking at a trailer launch event on the Warner Bros. lot, Gunn addressed how his Superman embodies the decency the character has represented for decades.

“That’s what ‘Take me home’ is all about,” Gunn explained. “At the start of the film, Superman is battered, much like our country. But I believe in the inherent goodness of people. Despite ideological or political divides, most people are doing their best to be good.”

Scheduled for release on July 11, 2025, the new Superman movie is the first solo film for the character since 2013’s Man of Steel. It’s also a cornerstone project for DC Studios co-leads Gunn and Peter Safran, who have ambitious plans for a reimagined DC Universe. To build excitement, Gunn and his team hosted a press event featuring stars David Corenswet (Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), and Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor).

Corenswet, known for his roles in Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood and The Politician, admitted there were moments on set when he didn’t feel like Superman. However, seeing his castmates’ reactions reassured him. “It’s like getting a great haircut,” he joked. “You forget about it until people say, ‘Whoa, you look amazing!’ Watching their reactions helped me see Superman through their eyes.”

Brosnahan shared a memorable moment from filming, recalling the first time she saw Corenswet in full costume. “I remember walking through a field and seeing you in the suit. I ran up and said, ‘You are Superman! Crazy.’”

Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, promises to be a compelling antagonist. “Even if you disagree with his methods, you can understand where he’s coming from,” Hoult noted. “His ideology might even seem, in some ways, better for humanity.”

The trailer also teases other heroes in Superman’s world, including Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific. Gunn’s knack for creating beloved animal characters shines with Krypto, who appears more like a scrappy rescue dog than the polished version from comics. “He’s not the best dog,” Gunn teased. “There’s a lot more to Krypto than meets the eye.”

Ultimately, Gunn describes the movie as “a story about kindness.” The trailer hints at a Superman grounded in humanity, striving to inspire hope and a better tomorrow for all.