Friends and fans online mourn Michelle Trachtenberg’s death at 39
Pop culture catch-up
The world of Hollywood does not rest. This week, get the low down on the latest music and trailer releases from your favourite pop stars, plus details on Michelle Trachtenberg’s tragic death in our pop culture news round up.
[Trigger warning: this article contains mentions of sexual assault, sexual abuse, non-consensual sexual activities, vomiting, defecation, and BDSM relationships. Reader’s discretion is advised.]
Michelle Trachtenberg passes away at age 39
On 26 February, police in Manhattan were called to her home when Michelle Trachtenberg was found unconscious and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The child star—who landed her first major film role in Harriet the Spy at 10 years old—found fame on TV with cult shows such as Gossip Girl and Buffy The Vampire Slayer during the 1990s and 2000s. Her other notable roles include Ice Princess, 17 Again, and Eurotrip.
According to reports, Trachtenberg’s death is not treated as suspicious and believed to have occurred due to natural causes. The actress recently received a liver transplant and was experiencing health issues leading up to her passing. Friends, co-stars, and fans are paying tribute to the actress following her sudden death.
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Michelle Trachtenberg has touched so many of our hearts, whether it be through Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, Ice Princess etc. she will be missed by us all pic.twitter.com/CyDwMZtkDL
— retrocvnt (@retrocvnty) February 26, 2025
Michelle Trachtenberg was a 2000s icon, between buffy, Harriet the spy, gossip girl, ice princess….a devastating loss
— strawberry in love (@honeybunwife) February 26, 2025
michelle trachtenberg, our ice princess forever pic.twitter.com/GtJOznRNDp
— ana (@literatiloverr) February 26, 2025
Tate Mcrae and The Kid Laroi show off their chemistry
In the most perfect way to round up the month of love, Tate Mcrae and beau The Kid Laroi have dropped a music video for their collaborative track ‘I know love’ off of Mcrae’s latest third studio album, So Close To What. In the simple yet sweet music video, the pop star couple are seen cozying it up in the studio and posing for the camera using a Macbook filter. Ah, young love!
Andor drops thrilling new trailer for season 2
After three years of waiting, Andor fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief because season two is coming soon! In the highly-anticipated trailer that has already garnered six million views, the critically-acclaimed Star Wars series will continue to follow Cassian Andor’s journey in the rebellion leading up to the opening scene of the film Rogue One. The second and final season of Andor will premiere this spring on 22 April 2025.
Selena Gomez and Gracie Abrams team up for ‘Call Me When You Break Up’
Selena Gomez and her fiancé cum producer Benny Blanco have tapped rising pop sensation Gracie Abrams in their latest single ‘Call Me When You Break Up’. Featuring a fun and breezy melody, the pop song talks about wishing for their ex-lover to break up so they can make up. Previously, Gomez and Blanco released a song together titled ‘Scared of Loving You’. Here’s to new tunes from the musical couple!
Tate Mcrae bares it all in So Close To What
Pop princess and dancer extraordinaire Tate Mcrae returned with her highly-anticipated third studio album, So Close To What, on 21 February. Amongst the 15-track record is ‘It’s ok I’m ok’, which earned the star the highest-debuting song of her career on the Billboard Hot 100 and ‘Sports Car’, the latest single of Mcrae’s to go viral with over one million TikTok creations. An introspective exploration of self-discovery, love, and newfound confidence, So Close To What takes a personal look at the realities of fame, what it means to be a woman, and embracing a newfound confidence. Stream the album below.
Don Toliver and Speedy are all about that ‘LV Bag’
If you were hoping to hear more of this banger that was playing in the background during the Louis Vuitton FW25 show in Paris last month, now you can! ‘LV Bag’ was one of the handful of songs first previewed at the event alongside The Weeknd and Playboi Carti’s ‘Timeless’ and Seventeen’s still-unreleased ‘Bad Influence’. The duo also brought on J-Hope, the Maison’s global brand ambassador, to add some bars to the hip-hop R&B track. Now when you’re going on your next shopping spree, you know what to play!
Justin Baldoni launches website of evidence while Blake Lively amends her complaint
[Updated on 21 February 2025]
And the drama continues. On 18 February, Blake Lively filed an amended version of her complaint in the ongoing legal battle against Justin Baldoni and others. In the 163-page filing, her legal team purports that this version “provides significant additional evidence and corroboration of her original claims” and “includes previously undisclosed communications” between Lively, Wayfarer Studios, Sony, and “numerous other witnesses.”
Despite this, the 37-year-old actress states that she will not be disclosing any names or including screenshots of emails or messages that reveal the identity of these witnesses to protect their safety and privacy amidst the publicised scandal. She reaffirms that she “was not alone in complaining about Mr Baldoni” and that “other women confided in Blake about their discomfort and fear of coming forward and their concern about the current public vitriol.”
In response, Baldoni’s attorney Bryran Feedman said in a statement, “Our clients have been transparent in providing receipts, real-time documents and video showing a completely different story than what has been manipulated and cherry-picked to the media…Her underwhelming amended complaint is filled with unsubstantial hearsay of unnamed persons who are clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims.”
[Original article published on 18 January 2025]
In the latest update of the ongoing feud between the It Ends With Us co-stars that deserve its own film adaptation, Justin Baldoni has filed a lawsuit against Blake Lively on the grounds of civil extortion, defamation, and invasion of privacy, claiming $400 million in damages. The lawsuit also includes Ryan Reynolds, Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloane, and her PR firm Vision PR.
This countersuit comes after Lively’s December 2024 complaint where the actress alleged sexual harassment during the filming of It Ends With Us, claiming instances where Baldoni (who was the director and male protagonist) pressured her to be fully nude in a birth scene without prior discussion or the presence of an intimacy coordinator.
Other claims include walking into her trailer while she was undressed and acting out kissing scenes without explicit consent. All of this came to a head when The New York Times published an exposé with screenshots of messages and emails, detailing an alleged smear campaign orchestrated by Baldoni and his team to turn public opinion against Lively once the press tour began.
In response, Baldoni’s attorney denied the claims, accusing Lively’s team of doctoring evidence and mischaracterising events. The 176-page countersuit by Baldoni alleges that Lively and Reynolds used their star power and connections to “hijack” the film and sought to “destroy” his reputation.
Details include Lively supposedly summoning Baldoni to her New York apartment to discuss her rewrite of a scene with Reynolds and Taylor Swift present to “pressure” him, Lively equating herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones and calling Reynolds and Swift her “dragons”, locking him and his editors out of the editing process while she worked on her cut of the movie, and placing him and his entourage in a basement during the film’s premiere.
Justin Baldoni dropping photos of himself sequestered in the basement of the It Ends with Us Premiere, per Blake Lively’s request pic.twitter.com/oy7OuQsvAI
— Zack Peter (@justplainzack) January 17, 2025
In light of Baldoni’s lawsuit, Lively’s legal team has released a statement. “This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation, and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim…This is what experts call DARVO. Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim Offender.” Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing saga.
Justin Bieber goes on an Instagram unfollow spree, raising eyebrows
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Speaking of celebrity feuds, Justin Bieber’s recent unfollow spree on Instagram did not go unnoticed by his fans. On 18 January, Beliebers saw that the singer unfollowed and blocked several celebrities and close friends. This included his mentor Usher, former manager Scooter Braun, former long-time bodyguard Kenny Hamilton, songwriter and producer Poo Bear, Ryan Good, and even his father-in-law Stephen Baldwin.
However, Bieber is still following his former mentor Sean “P Diddy” Combs, who is currently behind bars and awaiting trial after being arrested on sex trafficking and racketeering charges in September 2024. The ‘Boyfriend’ singer was known to have a close relationship with the rap mogul, spending a lot of time with Combs during his adolescent years. Does this mean anything? Only time will tell.
Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, and more to headline FireAid Benefit Concert
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The Los Angeles fires that swept the state are regarded as the most destructive in California history and have displaced over 80,000 residents, killed at least 27 people, and destroyed over 60 square miles, according to CBS News. Billie Eilish and Finnneas, Lady Gaga, Gracie Abrams, and more are coming together to support the wildfire victims at the FireAid Benefit Concert.
FireAid will have a star-studded lineup that will also include Stevie Nicks, Green Day, Katy Perry, P!nk, Tate McRae, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer, Lil Baby, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sting, and Rod Dave Matthews. Additional acts and special guests will be announced in the coming days. The benefit will air on major streaming platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and Apple TV on 30 January.
Daredevil makes a gritty return to the small screen
It was an exciting day for Marvel fans on 15 January as the official trailer for Daredevil: Born Again was released. The series follows the comic-favourite character Matt Murdock as he overcomes the challenges of being blind since childhood and fights criminals as a lawyer and the masked vigilante, Daredevil. Fans were even more excited about this news as the original cast from the Netflix series will return after seven years since the last season. Daredevil: Born Again premieres on 4 March exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar.
Neil Gaiman faced with multiple sexual assault claims
This week, Neil Gaiman found himself in treacherous waters after multiple women accused The Sandman and Coraline author of sexual assault. In the bombshell Vulture cover story, eight women detailed their disturbing experiences with the fantasy writer.
One of the women featured prominently in the article is Scarlett Pavlovich, a drama student who worked as a babysitter for his five-year-old son. Pavlovich, who was 24 while Gaiman was 61, recalled the first time she met the author. After asking her to try out the garden bathtub, he joined her fully naked, asked her to sit in his lap and sexually assaulted her.
According to Pavlovich, he would also demand that she refer to him as “Master” and would often perform anal sex on her without lubrication despite her explicit refusal. On other occasions, she recalled having to eat her own vomit and faecal matter. On 14 January, Gaiman responded to these allegations on his website, stating that he “never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with anyone.”
“Some of the horrible stories now being told simply never happened, while others have been so distorted from what actually took place that they bear no relationship to reality,” he added. “I am prepared to take responsibility for any missteps I made. I’m not willing to turn my back on the truth, and I can’t accept being described as someone I am not, and cannot and will not admit to doing things I didn’t do.” Stay tuned for more updates.
Tom Holland and Zendaya are engaged!
The sweet couple have taken their relationship to the next level! On 6 January, it was revealed that Tom Holland had proposed to Zendaya sometime between Christmas and New Year’s at her family home, according to TMZ who was the first to break the news. While the couple has not explicitly posted about the engagement, Holland’s father confirmed the news in a recent blog post on his Patreon account, sharing that the Spider-Man actor was “incredibly well prepared.”
Zendaya was also seen with her engagement ring at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, flashing the sparkly east-west cut on the red carpet. The pair, both aged 28, first met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming and began dating in 2021. Congratulations to the couple!
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