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

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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)

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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

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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.

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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 ass...

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Vatican removes salty white film coating Michelangelo's 'The Last Judgment'

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Michelangelo's "The Last Judgement"is getting a facial, with restorers removing a chalky white film of salt that has accumulated over the Renaissance masterpiece since its last major renovation three decades ago.

Vatican The Last Judgement

The Vatican on Saturday gave the media a sneak peak to the cleaning operation, which is taking place on a floor-to-ceiling scaffolding that has obscured the imposing fresco of heaven and hell that dominates the front of the chapel.

The cleaning operation is expected to be completed by Easter, in the first week of April. The public can continue to visit in the meantime, but will have to settle for a reproduction of "The Last Judgment" superimposed on a screen that covers the scaffolding.

Vatican Museum officials on Saturday described a simple but important cleaning operation to remove the white film of salt that has accumulated on the fresco thanks to the nearly 25,000 people who pass through the Vatican Museums each day.

"This salt is created because, above all, when we sweat, we emit lactic acid, and unfortunately lactic acid reacts with the calcium carbonate present on the wall," said Fabio Moresi, in charge of the scientific research team at the Vatican Museums that is overseeing the cleaning.

Climate change also has a role to play, since the visitors who do come tend to sweat more, creating even more humidity that reacts with the fresco, he said.

Vatican Museums chief Barbara Jatta described the film as a "cataract" that is easy enough to remove: Restorers dip sheets of Japanese rice paper into distilled water and apply them to the fresco, and carefully wipe away the salt film.

Viewed up close on Saturday on the scaffolding, the difference between before and after is remarkable: Sections of the fresco that haven't been cleaned look as if they are coated in a chalky dust; the cleaned sections show the vibrant colors and detail of the original. On the figure of Jesus, for example, at the center of the fresco, a privileged visitor can see how Michelangelo painted his hair and the wounds of his crucifixion.

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The Sistine Chapelis named after Pope Sixtus IV, an art patron who oversaw the construction of the main papal chapel in the 15th century.

But it was a later pontiff, Pope Julius II, who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the famous ceiling, the "Creation of Adam" showing God's outstretched hand, between 1508 and 1512. A later pontiff, Pope Clement VII, commissioned Michelangelo in 1533 to return to paint "The Last Judgment."

The other frescos of the Sistine Chapel, where Pope Leo XIV was elected in May, undergo yearly cleaning with restorers working at night on cherry-pickers that can be removed each morning before the public arrives.

But such machines can't access all of "The Last Judgement," since the fresco is located behind the altar, which is itself raised up marble steps. That logistical impediment required the mounting of a fixed scaffolding to access the full fresco to clean it.

The Sistine Chapel underwent a complete restoration between 1979 and 1999, when centuries of smoke, grime and wax buildup was removed. The Vatican has left small patches of the pre-restored fresco intact to show the difference, which are now visible on the upper floors of the scaffolding and show a nearly blackened wall.

Rather than radically reduce the number of visitors who can access the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican is studying ways to address humidity levels, through filtration systems and other technologies, so that the salty film doesn't form again.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byCreto Bactum

in

February 28, 2026

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