'SNL' takes on Iran attacks and Khamenei killing in cold open

The latest "SNL" cold open couldn't be more timely.

"Saturday Night Live"kicked off its Feb. 28 episode with a sketchaddressing news that the United States and Israel launched military strikes and combat operations against Iranearlier in the day, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In the cold open, James Austin Johnson played PresidentDonald Trumpdelivering remarks and declaring, "Happy World War III to all who celebrate!"

Johnson's Trump went on to say he launched the attack on Iran because he and his "Board of Peace decided that we were bored of peace" and because he needed help "distracting from the Epstein files."

"I know on the campaign trail I promised no new foreign wars," he said. "But listen: Wars, plural, right? I'm allowed to do one."

Surprise!'Heated Rivalry' star Hudson Williams joins Connor Storrie on 'SNL'

In a meta moment, Johnson's Trump also implied the breaking news required "SNL" to throw out a cold open focused on the president's State of the Union address earlier in the week.

"People are asking, 'Why attack Iran now?' Well, we had to strike in the early hours of Saturday, which has two advantages militarily: One, it's after the stock market closes for the weekend, and two, it's to cause immeasurable fear, rage and chaos in the 'SNL' writer's room," he said. "Those guys were going crazy. They probably had a big State of the Union address thing they were going to do. Not anymore!"

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Colin Jostsoon entered as Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethto declare that although he seems confident, "I am scared and I don't know what I'm doing. When he said we were going to blow up the leader of Iran, I thought he was kidding."

Harry Styles is returning to 'SNL':Get the details

The "SNL" sketch kicked off the show's first new episode after a nearly month-long hiatus. It was also a return to the sketch show's typical format of beginning with a Trump spoof;the cold open of the previous episode on Jan. 31, hosted by Alexander Skarsgård, was rare in that it didn't feature Johnson's portrayal of the president. Instead, former cast member Pete Davidson returned to play White House border czarTom Homan.

Connor Storriehosted the Feb. 28 episode of "SNL," coming off the massive success of "Heated Rivalry." The hockey romance series, streaming on HBO Max, has catapulted Storrie from obscurity to stardom, and the actor made his debut on late-night television in January with a "Late Night With Seth Meyers" interview.

'SNL' cold open:Trump distracts from 'freaks and psychos' in ICE

Mumford & Sons served as musical guest for Storrie's "SNL" episode.

Who's hosting 'SNL' next?

Saturday's episode is the first ofthree consecutive weeks of new "SNL" shows.

Next week's episode will feature thereturn of Ryan Gosling, who is serving as host for the fourth time alongside musical guest Gorillaz. The week after,Harry Styles is doing double dutyas host and musical guest on March 14.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'SNL' cold open addresses Trump's Iran attacks, Khamenei killing

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

'SNL' takes on Iran attacks and Khamenei killing in cold open

The latest "SNL" cold open couldn't be more timely. "Saturday Night Live"kicked off ...

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With sniper rifle photos, Kim Jong Un intensifies spotlight on his daughter, a potential successor

North Korea on Saturday released pictures showing leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter at a rifle range, the latest propaganda images to promote the child touted as a potential successor.

State media KCNA said Kim and his daughter – along with Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong and other officials – fired the rifles after the North Korean leader gifted them to military leaders to salute their service to the reclusive state's ruling party.

One of the images – which was flagged during a CNN check as being potentially AI-manipulated – showed the girl,believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and in her early teens, firing a sniper rifle.

In all, North Korea released 27 pictures of the event.

CNN checked four of the photos for signs of manipulation. Only the picture of Kim Ju Ae firing the rifle showed possible use of AI.

Kim specially prepared the gifts of the "new generation sniper's rifle" for the key leaders, calling it "a really wonderful weapon," the KCNA report said.

The shooting-range event came after the conclusion of a congress of the Korean Workers' Party, a largely rubber-stamp political gathering of the nation's elite, where Kim's leadership was reaffirmed by unanimous vote.

At the assembly, Kim Yo Jong was promoted to director of a party department after years in a deputy role, solidifying her standing in the inner circle. Several senior party and military posts were reshuffled, elevating younger loyalists.

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But much of the attention was on Kim's daughter.

Kim Ju Ae stood with her father on the grandstand as he reviewed some14,000 troops goosestepping through Kim Il Sung Square, named after her great-grandfather, in the capital of Pyongyang.

She has also been at her father's side for previous missile tests and other ruling-party events, fueling speculation that she will be the fourth-generation successor to the Kim family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since before the Korean War started in 1950.

In February South Korea's spy agency said it believes the dictator has "entered the stage of nominating her as successor."

There has been no official confirmation from North Korea on the daughter's role, but the image of her purportedly firing the sniper rifle on Friday brought even more attention to her.

"By emphasizing that Kim Ju Ae knows how to fire a rifle, North Korea is hinting that she is undergoing succession training," Yang Mu-jin, a distinguished professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul,told the Chosun Daily newspaper.

Other images appeared to show Kim Ju Ae, wearing a leather jacket, observing through binoculars as her father took a shot, and helping present the rifles to others at the event.

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byCreto Bactum

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February 28, 2026

With sniper rifle photos, Kim Jong Un intensifies spotlight on his daughter, a potential successor

North Korea on Saturday released pictures showing leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter at a rifle range, the late...

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Dennis Quaid's ex-costar blasts his 'crazy' Trump support after Air Force One trip: 'At least I got to slap him'

Lauren Holly slammed her former costar Dennis Quaid for aligning himself with Republican politicians.

Key points

• "It's crazy to me at this point," she said of Quaid's support for Donald Trump after he flew on Air Force One with the president.

• "At least I got to slap him real hard in Any Given Sunday," she added under a photo of Quaid with Ted Cruz.

Lauren Hollyisn't pleased withDennis Quaid.

TheNCISactress slammed theReaganactor's alignment with Republican politicians in a series of Threads posts on Friday.

After Sen. Ted Cruzshared a photo of himselfwith Quaid aboard Air Force One on social media on Friday, journalist Yashar Ali shared the same photo on Threads, prompting Holly to offer her two cents in the replies.

"At least I got to slap him real hard inAny Given Sunday,"wrotethe actress, who had a strained onscreen marriage with Quaid in the 1999 football drama.

Holly also responded to avideo of Quaidsaying "I love Donald Trump" during a public appearance with the president in Corpus Christi, Tex., on Friday.

"It's crazy to me at this point," Hollywrote.

The actress also endorsed and replied to a post labeling Quaid a fascist. "Watching @laurenholly comment on all the Dennis Quiad capitulation is top tier @threads energy. Make fascists uncomfortable by any means possible…" a user wrote.

"Any means…." Hollyresponded.

Representatives for Quaid did not immediately respond toEntertainment Weekly's request for comment.

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Prior to the Corpus Christi event, Cruzshared a videoof Quaid seated at a table with Trump on Air Force One.

"I'd like to ask President Reagan what you think of President Trump," the Texas senator says in the clip.

Quaid, who portrayed Ronald Reagan in the 2024 biopicReagan, slipped into character as the 40th U.S. president. "I think he's like me on steroids, actually," he said of Trump in his Reagan voice.

"An historic conversation on AF1 between TWO great American Presidents…." Cruz wrote in his caption.

Quaid previously said heplanned to vote for Trumpin the 2024 election. "As president, the only thing I liked about Trump was everything he did," theRookiestar said onPiers Morgan Uncensored. "People might call him an a--hole, but he's my a--hole."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Quaid recentlydescribed Trumpas "very surprisingly approachable," "very funny," and "really genuine" during an interview with Greg Laurie onThe Greg Laurie Show.

"He wouldn't be president if he wasn't genuine," the actor said. "Because people, the people who voted for him, they know that he has their best interests at heart, that he is a genuine person."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byCreto Bactum

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February 28, 2026

Dennis Quaid's ex-costar blasts his 'crazy' Trump support after Air Force One trip: 'At least I got to slap him'

Lauren Holly slammed her former costar Dennis Quaid for aligning himself with Republican politicians. Key poi...

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Max Greenfield Says It's 'Really Scary' How Easily All of His “New Girl” Costars Slip 'Right Back' into Old Dynamics (Exclusive)

Max Greenfield says the New Girl cast still keeps in close contact years after the finale

NEED TO KNOW

• He admits his kids don't find Schmidt as funny as fans do because "they live with it"

• Greenfield also reveals his favorite episode came from season 1

More than a decade afterNew Girlfirst introduced Schmidt's precision grooming and obsessive organization to audiences,Max Greenfieldsays stepping back into that mindset still happens almost automatically — especially when he's around his former castmates.

The actor tells PEOPLE that the chemistry forged during the sitcom's seven-season run remains so intact that reunions instantly revive their old dynamic. "If you put us together in any circumstance, we go right back," Greenfield, 46, says. "It's really scary."

That enduring connection extends beyond occasional get-togethers. Greenfield says he remains in regular contact with the core group, includingJake JohnsonandZooey Deschanel, with friendships that have quietly continued long after the cameras stopped rolling.

"We all keep in touch in a really beautiful way," he says. "I was texting with Jake this morning."

When they do spend time together, he admits Schmidt sometimes resurfaces — to Johnson's amused exasperation. Greenfield laughs, recalling how easily he slips into the character's controlling instincts, even in ordinary situations like airplane travel.

"We were on a plane together … and I'll say to the flight attendant, 'Oh, excuse me — he can't eat this,' and start organizing his food," he says. "He'll be like, 'We're not on the show anymore.' "

Revisiting Schmidt's meticulous tendencies recently for a campaign reminded Greenfield how closely the character still overlaps with his real personality. The experience, he says, reinforced his affection for both the role and the series that shaped his career.

"It's so connected to the character and who that character was," he says. "It brings you back to that role in that show."

At home, however, Schmidt's quirks feel far less novel. Greenfield sayshis children— who have seen parts ofNew Girl— view the character through the lens of familiarity rather than fandom.

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"I don't think they think it's as funny as America, because they live with it," he says. "They're like, 'Ugh, I know.' "

Asked whether he would ever return to Schmidt, Greenfield says the answer is easy — provided the original creative team is involved. Rather than imagining the character's future himself, he says he'd prefer to discover it through the writers who defined him.

"For sure, it would always be fun to jump back in," he says. "I would always just be really excited to see what the writers thought — where they think Schmidt would be — and then I'd jump in and do whatever that was."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

He already knows which episode best captured Schmidt at his core: season 1's "Control," which explored the character's struggle to relinquish order. The story's theme of clinging to small certainties, he says, still resonates in his own life today.

"It really, truly was my favorite episode — the one we submitted for the Emmys," Greenfield tells PEOPLE. "It just dialed in exactly this idea of these little things that we can control in our lives."

Even now, that idea remains surprisingly relevant. "As long as I know the leftovers are stored safely and stacked neatly," he adds, "then I can go to sleep at night and I'm okay."

In fact, Greenfield partnered with Rubbermaid's EasyStore containers for its "Neat Freaks" campaign, which is available now on Amazon.

Read the original article onPeople

byCreto Bactum

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February 28, 2026

Max Greenfield Says It's 'Really Scary' How Easily All of His “New Girl” Costars Slip 'Right Back' into Old Dynamics (Exclusive)

Max Greenfield says the New Girl cast still keeps in close contact years after the finale NEED TO KNOW He a...

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Racial slur at BAFTA awards stirs complex feelings for Black people with Tourette syndrome

For Black people living with Tourette syndrome, the British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards incident earlier this week where a vocal tic manifested as a racial slur while two Black stars of the movie "Sinners" were onstage has left them with complicated feelings.

"It's been pretty difficult because I feel like there's such a clash between both sides," said Chloe Winston, 24, who experiences coprolalia, the same verbal tic as John Davidson, the BAFTA nominee and Tourette syndrome advocate who yelled the slur. "A tic is not intentional, but it still causes harm. And I think that does require accountability."

Davidson's utterance just as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first award of that night's ceremony ignited a firestorm that overshadowed Sunday's BAFTAs. There was immediate outrage that the actors and other Black attendees were subjected to the slur. Then there was frustration from the disability community at a lack of understanding about Tourette syndrome. But anger has been loud and widespread for broadcaster BBC because of its decision to allow the racial slur to air uncensored two hours after the live event. Most live awards shows likethe Oscarsoperate on a seconds-long tape delay.

The BAFTA and BBCapologiesalso were criticized as insufficient. The BBC plans to edit it out of its iPlayer streaming service.

The ordeal has compelled Black people with Tourette syndrome, from politicians to content creators, to speak out. They assert that showing empathy for those dealing with the disorder doesn't minimize the pain felt by the Black community. There needs to be acknowledgment of the harm, some have said. Others also worry that misinformation or stereotypes about Tourette syndrome could exacerbate racial profiling or discrimination for Black people who live with it.

Now, advocacy groups are using the BAFTA moment to try to grow existing support networks focused on Black people who feel isolated by Tourette syndrome.

What is Tourette syndrome and coprolalia?

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by sudden, involuntary movements and/or sounds called tics, according to the Tourette Association of America. These can be motor and vocal tics. Tics can range from mild and inconsequential to moderate and severe and can even be disabling in some cases.

"We know that there's this sort of sensory and motor loop happening. And again, similarly in the vocalizations, they typically start with things like coughing, sniffing, or other just non-specific sounds, said Dr. Jeremiah Scharf, a tic disorder specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

In a majority of people, the symptoms begin to emerge during elementary school age and peak between ages 10 and 14, according to Scharf. Roughly 1.4 million people in the U.S. live with Tourette syndrome or a persistent tic disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Coprolalia is "the involuntary utterance of obscene and socially unacceptable words and phrases." The Tourette Association of America estimates between 10%-15% of people with Tourette syndrome live with it. The organization has cautioned against making assumptions about the person based on the content of the tic.

These vocal outbursts — typically vulgarities and insults — are a biological condition that can sometimes be triggered by stress such as not enough sleep or being upset, Scharf said. The tics are hard to stop and involuntary — almost like a sneeze.

"Unfortunately, for this subset of people, it is incredibly disabling because they don't want to say those things. It's very distressing to them," said Scharf, who was talking in general terms and not about the BAFTA awards incident specifically. "They feel significant remorse about it."

Treatment for severe tic disorders can range from medication to behavioral therapies. Retraining the brain to handle tics is "takes an enormous amount of practice in terms of recognizing when the tics are coming," Scharf said. But, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Incident stirs up struggles against racism and ableism

Jhónelle Bean, an American Sign Language interpreter who is Black and has Tourette syndrome, took to TikTok after seeing so much "all-or-nothing" discourse around the BAFTA awards. Her video about the "complexity and duality of the situation" has garnered over 3 million views.

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"Two things can be true at the same time," Bean said. "Just because he ticced that does not mean it was intentional. But then also that still caused hurt or harm for people that heard it, which again is why I'm mad at the BAFTAs and the BBC for keeping it in the broadcast in the first place because they had the power to take it out."

The incident also brought up "ableism" comments that were flat-out discriminatory. They included that Davidson, the man who shouted the racial slur, "should have been locked away, he should've had a muzzle, things like that," Bean said.

At the same time, Bean disagreed with some engaged in the social media discourse who said those who took offense over the N-word needed to "get over it."

Jumaane Williams, New York City's public advocate who is Black and has Tourette syndrome, said it can be "painful both physically and mentally" to hold in a tic. As someone who has coprolalia too, Williams gives Davidson some credit for removing himself from the situation though "maybe he could have moved a little sooner."

"For me, it was all about making sure we're practicing care. And I don't think that happened for the two actors that were there or the Black folks who were there or people who didn't want to hear the word," Williams said.

A demand for support groups for Black people with Tourette syndrome

There's always going to be inherent concern if you are Black with Tourette syndrome or any tic disorder, said Reice Griffin, 20, who is a Tourette Association of America rising leader and ambassador. She has had people witness her tics and assume she uses drugs or is typically belligerent. And interacting with police can be even more stressful.

"Law enforcement is not well equipped to deal with Tourette syndrome, but also historically, as a Black person, you never really want to be around law enforcement," Griffin said.

The association, which offers printable "I Have TS" cards, is actively trying to offer more support for people of color.

Griffin recently attended a virtual support group meeting for Black young adults, and she has been speaking at schools and to groups to become more comfortable with herself.

"I thought that because I had Tourette syndrome that, like, public speaking was out the window," Griffin said. "If I could help another young Black girl with Tourette syndrome not feel as alone or help people get diagnosed — that's the dream."

Williams, the New York City public advocate, agrees there is not enough support for Black people with Tourette syndrome. He tries to help by speaking about his own life. That has led to him hearing directly from New Yorkers.

"Sometimes in the street or an event people will bring their family member up which is always a pretty emotional space for me because when I see the kid, I know what they're going through," Williams said.

Tang reported from Phoenix.

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

Racial slur at BAFTA awards stirs complex feelings for Black people with Tourette syndrome

For Black people living with Tourette syndrome, the British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards incident earlier thi...

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Trans Activist Alexandra Billings Gets Emotional as She Recalls Eric Dane's 'Brave' Act on “Grey's Anatomy ”Set

Actress and trans activist Alexandra Billings recalled a key moment working with Eric Dane on Grey's Anatomy

NEED TO KNOW

• Even though they didn't know each other well, she said that how he treated her exemplified the kind of person he was

• "Eric Dane showed everyone on that set what a true ally looks like," she said on Instagram the day after the actor died at age 53

Actress and trans activist Alexandra Billings shared an emotional memory of working with Eric Dane onGrey's Anatomyfollowing the actor's death at age 53.

TheTransparentactress, 63, fought back tears as she recalled Dane's meaningful act of allyship on the set of the drama series in a video posted toInstagramon Feb. 20, the day after hedied of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's disease.

Billings was cast as Donna Gibson, a trans woman navigating a breast cancer diagnosis while transitioning, during season 3 of the ABC show. While she noted that she doesn't remember "everything" about filming the episode and that Dane was "not a personal friend," she still felt the "story matters because it speaks to his character."

"I got the role onGrey's Anatomy, which was shocking to me. I hadn't done a lot of television, and I was floored. This was 2006," she explained. "Now, 20 years ago, the landscape for transgender performers in Hollywood was the Sahara Desert; it was nonexistent."

When she got the script, she remembered thinking, "'Did a trans person write this?' Because the character was so honest and so true."

Billings explained that in the episode, titled "Where the Boys Are," her character was "dying," as her "hormones were causing breast cancer" and if she continued using them, she would most likely die. The alternate option was to stop using the hormones so doctors could treat her with a higher chance of success.

Her character had a "huge monologue" in the episode, which Billings noted was "incredible" and beautifully written. Despite memorizing the scene, Billings said she was "terrified" and "nervous" when she got to set that day.

"I meet Eric, who is lovely, and we do our first scene together," she recalled. "The first scene is Eric and my character, Donna, explaining to Ellen [Pompeo], and he's misgendering me a little bit, and we have this great little back-and-forth scene. We do it a couple of times, and the director says, 'Cut.' "

It was then that Dane, who portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan on the show, turned to Billings and asked about her own real-life experience transitioning in the '80s.

"Eric turns to me between takes and says, 'Alex, listen, what happened between you and your doctor when you talked to him about hormones and treatment? What transpired?' "

Billings, aware that "this is television" and they "don't have time" to waste, was hesitant to open up, fearing that she just needed to "say [her] lines" and keep it moving.

Sensing her hesitancy, Dane told her, " 'It's okay, I really want to know.' "

"The entire set stops and listens to me because of Eric. Again, this was 20 years ago," Billings recalled. "I say, 'Well, I began my transition in 1980, and back then, it was illegal.' His eyes got really wide, and he said, 'You're kidding.' I said 'No. You couldn't walk down the streets of Chicago if you were transgender, and I spent some time in jail because I was walking down the street. You had to have two articles of what they called male clothing on, or they would haul you off. ' "

She then told him about her doctor, explaining how the medical professional showed quiet yet powerful support, emphasizing that "it wasn't so much the conversations, it was his demeanor."

"Dane said, 'What do you mean?' ... and I said, 'Being a transgender human at that time was unheard of. We didn't know where any of us were ... We were really alone, and [my doctor] would take my hand or touch my knee, or hold me and let me know hesawme, no matter what we were talking about. It was less important about the hormones and much more important about how he treated me.' "

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When they filmed the scene again, Dane's demeanor changed.

"We start the scene again and as we are talking, Eric puts his hand on my shoulder, and then we do another take and Eric puts his hand right on my thigh or my knee," she recalled, growing emotional. "And then at the end of the scene, he takes my hand —this isn't in the script — he holds my hand, and I put my hand on top of his."

"I know how mundane this sounds, but back then, it changedeverythingfor me. This compassionate, kind, brave human being changed everything for me," Billings confessed through tears.

When it was time for Billings to perform her "page-and-a-half" monologue, however, the director kindly told her they would have to cut it for time.

Although Billings was "destroyed" on the inside, she told him it was okay, but Dane knew it was important to her and the entire trans community.

"Eric, he is sitting on a chair, and we're very close together. I'm sitting on a couch, and we're facing each other in this scene," she remembered. "And Eric puts his hand up and he turns to me and he says very quietly, 'What are the five most important things you say in that monologue?' "

When she tried to tell him it was fine, he simply repeated the question. When she finally told him, Dane suggested they do a condensed version of the scene, hitting the most important parts of the monologue while improvising the rest to cut down on time.

"And that's what you see in the episode," Billings said. "Let me tell you why this is so important that you know this about this man: He didn't have to do that."

"There was no reason in the world for him to do that. It didn't have anything to do withhim. He was concerned that the trans story was told from an honest and true place so that other trans people could see themselves reflected in this story. That's why he did what he did."

She noted that "time is money, especially in television," and he "didn't have to do that" but knew it was the right thing.

Billings went on to say that Dane was "one of the kindest, most empathetic humans I think I've ever worked with."

The actress noted that she "could count on one hand" the number of times she left a set feeling truly moved, and that "extraordinary" moment with Dane was one of them.

"Eric Dane showed everyone on that set what a true ally looks like. It's not just talk. It's not just speeches. It's not even just benefits or writing a check or talking to your neighbors — it is those things, but it's notjustthose things."

"An ally takes action. An ally creates change. An ally is present, even when there's danger in them being present and that's what Eric Dane did," she said through tears.

"I didn't know him, but I absolutelyknewhim. He will be missed," she concluded. "Thank you, Eric. Thank you, from all of us."

Read the original article onPeople

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

Trans Activist Alexandra Billings Gets Emotional as She Recalls Eric Dane's 'Brave' Act on “Grey's Anatomy ”Set

Actress and trans activist Alexandra Billings recalled a key moment working with Eric Dane on Grey's Anatomy ...

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Lil Jon's son's cause of death confirmed after body pulled from pond

The cause of death forLil Jon's son, Nathan Smith, has been revealed after the 27-year-old's body was recovered from a pond near his home in Georgia on Feb. 6.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's confirmed that Smith's cause of death was "drowning in the setting of psilocybin use,"PeopleandE! Newsreported, citing an autopsy report.

The autopsy also stated that Smith's blood had tested positive for "a pharmacologically active hallucinogenic compound of psilocybin — hallucinogenic mushrooms," according to E! News and People.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Fulton County Medical Examiner.

Smith, who went by the stage name DJ Young Slade, was found dead after running out of his home without his phone on Feb. 3 around 6 a.m, according toa missing persons report. The Milton Police Department in Milton, Georgia, said at the time that he "may be disoriented and in need of assistance."

After police confirmed his death on Feb. 6,Lil Jon shared a statementsaying he and Smith's mother, Nicole Smith, were "extremely heartbroken" and "devastated."

"Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted."

"He loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest. He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU," the statement continued. "We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we're comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him."

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Lil Jon and Nicole Smith married in 2004 and later separated in 2022. The rapper is also a father to daughter Nahara, whom he shares with girlfriend Jamila Sozahdah.

DJ Young Slade attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 11, 2024, in Elmont, New York.

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Lil Jon's son found dead at 27. Revisit his career as DJ Young Slade.

DJ Young Slade attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on Sept. 11, 2024, in Elmont, New York.

Who was DJ Young Slade?

Nathan Smith was a DJ and musician, just like his father, Lil Jon.

"Lade released this when he graduated from college. He was so happy to express his art n do it himself. I was so proud of him for doing it all on his own," Lil Jon wrote on Instagram promotinga song called "Move Thru Fire."

Under the stage name DJ Young Slade, Smith aimed to follow in his father's footsteps while also paving his own lane. In March 2025, he dropped anew single titled "Feels"that premiered on MTV.

"It's dope to appreciate my dad, show respect, and just look at all the things he's done, and it's nice to get the torch passed down and do my own thing," Smith toldThe Quintessential Gentlemanfollowing the release of the track in March. "Because it's like it comes from him, but also I'm definitely taking it and making it my own."

Lil Jon previously said his son started DJing at age 11 and graduated from the Scratch DJ Academy in Los Angeles at age 12, according toPeople. As a teenager, he DJed at various LA clubs before making his own music.

"It's literally in your kid's genes to do what you do," he said, per People. "It is in their genes. It is in their DNA. We pass everything we get and we learn down to our children. So he was destined to be in the music business and do music."

Contributing: Anika Reed and Anna Kaufman

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lil Jon's son Nathan Smith's cause of death confirmed

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

Lil Jon's son's cause of death confirmed after body pulled from pond

The cause of death forLil Jon's son, Nathan Smith, has been revealed after the 27-year-old's body was recovered ...

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“Bridgerton” Star Yerin Ha Opens Up About Representing the Asian Community in Netflix Hit: 'We Deserve These Spaces' (Exclusive)

Bridgerton star Yerin Ha opens up about representing the Asian community as Sophie in the fourth season of the Netflix drama

NEED TO KNOW

• "We deserve these roles and spaces," Ha told PEOPLE at the Lunar New Year Gold Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 12

• Bridgerton season 4 is available to stream on Netflix

Bridgerton'sYerin Hais speaking out about the importance of Asian representation.

Ha, 28, shared what it means to her to represent the Asian community in Netflix's beloved drama while speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Lunar New Year Gold Celebration hosted by Gold House in New York City on Wednesday, Feb. 12. TheBridgertonstar plays Sophie Baek, a maid who attends a masquerade ball and catches the eye of Benedict Bridgerton, in theseries fourth season.

"It's been really, really amazing and beautiful," Ha shares of being a part of the series' latest season. "I've been really caught up with a press tour, it has been really positive."

"I just feel so proud that I get to be the face of that and keep advocating for change and knowing that we deserve these roles and spaces," she adds.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The fourth season ofBridgertonsees Sophie navigate class disparities and identity as her character falls in love with the wealthy Benedict, played byLuke Thompson. After meeting Sophie at the masquerade ball as the Lady in Silver, Benedict sets out on a quest to find the mystery woman.

For the Australian actress, working on the show has been filled with fun memories. "We just have fun every day," Ha says. "It was always a laugh on set, and everyone's a good time and a good chat."

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In an October 2024 interview withShondaland, Ha revealed the moment she discovered she landed the lead role in season 4. While she was having breakfast with her mom at a cafe in Korea, she received a phone call.

"She came out crying, and then after the phone call, she was like, 'We gotta go home. I think I have indigestion,' and so we left," Ha said. "It was really beautiful to kind of, I guess share that moment with her."

However, when Ha readAn Offer from a Gentleman, the book inJulia Quinn's series that follows Benedict's love story, the nerves set in. In her JanuaryInStylecover story, the actress revealed that the intimacy scenes between Benedict and Sophie made her nervous.

"Being a woman in this industry, it's a massive thing. People think that they have the right to talk about your body, how you look, and your external appearance," Ha said. "I've dealt with body image and that shame for a very, very long time — and I'm still working through it."

She continued, "But what's been really nice about Sophie is she's taught me a lot about self-love and self-acceptance. I'm still working on accepting myself for my entirety and being happy with who I am. In a world where we strive for perfection, what does that look like?"

Bridgertonseason 4 is available to stream on Netflix.

Read the original article onPeople

byCreto Bactum

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February 28, 2026

“Bridgerton” Star Yerin Ha Opens Up About Representing the Asian Community in Netflix Hit: 'We Deserve These Spaces' (Exclusive)

Bridgerton star Yerin Ha opens up about representing the Asian community as Sophie in the fourth season of the Netflix ...

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Did Carolyn Bessette Really Resist JFK Jr.'s Proposal? The True Story Behind Their Engagement

Episode 5 of Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette includes the political heir's proposal to the Calvin Klein associate

NEED TO KNOW

• The on-screen proposal had both similarities and differences to their real-life engagement

• In real life, JFK Jr. popped the question in 1995 on Martha's Vineyard

John F. Kennedy Jr.'s proposal toCarolyn Bessettewas anything but ordinary.

The political heir and theCalvin Kleinassociate's engagement played out on-screen inepisode 5ofLove Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, titled "Battery Park." In the limited series, JFK Jr. popped the question following a weekend at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Mass. But, Bessette said no, telling him they still have to talk about how their lives will "fit together."

Bessette's hesitation led to the couple getting into an infamous public fight in a New York City park on-screen — whichdid happen in real life, but not because of the engagement. As history shows, she eventually said yes to JFK Jr.'s proposal and the pairtied the knoton Sept. 21, 1996.

Here's everything to know about JFK Jr.'s real-life proposal to Carolyn Bessette.

JFK Jr. proposed on Martha's Vineyard in 1995

JFK Jr.proposed to Bessette on Martha's Vineyardafter the Fourth of July weekend in 1995.

As JFK Jr.'s former assistant RoseMarie Terenzio wrote in her 2024 bookJFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography— co-written by PEOPLE editor-at-large Liz McNeil — he popped the question while taking Bessette out on a boat.

Terenzio recalled Bessette telling her, "He said, 'When you go fishing, it's always better with a partner. Will you be my partner?' "

He gave Bessette two rings — but it wasn't his mother's toi et moi

In the series, JFK Jr. proposes to Bessette with his late motherJackie Kennedy'sring. But in real life,Bessette's engagement ringwas insteadinspiredby Jackie's "swimming ring."

According to McNeil and Terenzio's book, JFK Jr. gave Bessette two rings, including his mother's "swimming ring," which Jackie wore when she didn't wear her real wedding sparkler.

JFK Jr. had asked the late diamond magnateMaurice Tempelsmanto create a version of the emerald-and-sapphire "swimming ring." Bessette's ring was in the same style, but with diamonds and sapphires around a band, per the book.

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Bessette resisted the proposal for about three weeks

As seen in the show, Bessette did resist JFK Jr.'s proposal in real life. According to Elizabeth Beller's 2024 bookOnce Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Bessette responded to his question by saying, "I'll think about it."

In June 2017, a close friend of JFK Jr.'s told PEOPLE that Bessette held the proposal off for "about three weeks," which made him "all the more intent on marrying her." But, she did eventually say yes.

The couple kept their engagement secret and JFK Jr. denied it when it began spreading in the media

After JFK Jr. and Bessette got engaged, the couple kept it a secret, as their relationship wasn't officially on the media's radar yet, per McNeil and Terenzio's book. Terenzio wrote that the Calvin Klein associate was trying to avoid being "under a microscope" once the news got out.

However, theNew York Postpublished an enlarged photo of Bessette's hand with the engagement ring ahead of Labor Day weekend. As the speculation began spreading in the press, JFK Jr. initially thought it was best to ignore it.

However, with theGeorgemagazine press conference happening the following weekend, he and his business partner were concerned that the conversations around the potential engagement would overshadow their launch of the publication. So, they decided to issue a denial statement which Terenzio read at the press conference.

"Once again, John Kennedy seems to be bearing the brunt of a slow news day," she said, per her and McNeil's book. "The stories circulating regarding an engagement are untrue. He is not engaged."

JFK Jr.'s friendSasha Chermayeffwrote in McNeil and Terenzio's book that the public denial was the first sign for Bessette that "this is what life with him is going to be about."

"It's going to be about whatever looks good for him and his world, and I just have whatever role I'm given," Chermayeff added.

Although Bessette was hurt by JFK Jr.'s public denial of the engagement, the couple moved forward and got married in September 1996 in a private ceremony in Georgia.

For more on the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, pick up PEOPLE's special edition, available now on newsstands andhere.

Read the original article onPeople

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

Did Carolyn Bessette Really Resist JFK Jr.'s Proposal? The True Story Behind Their Engagement

Episode 5 of Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette includes the political heir's proposal to the Calvin Klein ass...

Read More