From the Group Chat: "It Ends With Us" Press Tour Drama, Nepo Baby Iris Law, and "Industry"

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. As a Non-Sports Person, I must confess that I’m a little sad to see the Olympics winding down today. Specifically, I’m going to miss the fashion (Exhibit A: men in spaghetti straps), Hoda’s endearing mom energy (she even surprised Simone Biles with a bouquet of French fries), and most of all, the memes (this viral gem from Friday's breakdancing competition is a top five for me). To fill the void, I’ll be catching up on theSkimm's sports pod Well Played for the highlights, contemplating Rihanna’s “crystal-covered eyebrows,” and attempting to emulate Jennifer Lawrence’s “art teacher”-chic look, which honestly, looks pretty comfy. What doesn’t look comfy? Wearing a denim jacket as a towel (yes, you read that right) à la Khloé Kardashian. That’s one way to dry your hair.

— Taylor Trudon / Writer, Culture & Lifestyle / Brooklyn, NY

🤔 Brace yourselves, millennials: Statement necklaces are “back with a vengeance.”  

🍂 Move over, “brat green” — “corporate gray” and “toasted sesame” are autumn’s trendiest fashion colors.

👙 Finally, some swimwear trends we can get behind: “Swim skirts” are in and bikini bottoms are finally trending in the right direction.

🐱 After reading about the most popular haircuts for this fall (puzzlingly named the “kitty cut” and “butterfly cut”), we're starting the petition to just let hair…be hair.

Every now and then, a movie’s press tour manages to spectacularly eclipse the film itself (*cough, Don’t Worry Darling, cough*). This time, It Ends With Us is bringing the drama — in more ways than one. The blockbuster Colleen Hoover novel had already stirred up controversy long before its film adaptation was in the works. Many readers argued that the book, about a florist who falls for a handsome, controlling, and eventually abusive surgeon, romanticizes intimate partner violence (the book is still sold in the “romance” genre), and were outraged with certain marketing strategies, including an It Ends With Us coloring book announcement. So it wasn’t surprising that fans worried about how the film would handle the issue. 

And somehow, the film’s press tour has also amplified a different controversy, unrelated to criticisms surrounding the plot. Eagle-eyed TikTokers have noticed that there seems to be tension between actor Justin Baldoni and other cast members, including his co-star Blake Lively. The biggest pieces of “evidence”? Baldoni, who also directed the movie, was absent from joint press events and photo ops with Lively; a viral video shows cast member Jenny Slate dodging a question about Baldoni at the premiere; and Lively, Hoover, and Slate seem to have unfollowed him on Instagram. All of which has fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes drama that even Lively's chaotic, colorful press tour outfits can’t distract from. (See: this comprehensive recap with the internet’s working theories, including how Ryan Reynolds could be involved.) So we couldn’t help but wonder: Is this eventful press tour meant to divert us from the original criticism of the story? A marketing tactic to boost ticket sales? Or is there genuine tension among the cast? Whatever's going on, it’s certainly caught our attention.

After a two-year hiatus, Industry is back. The third season of the HBO series — which has been sold as a younger and hotter version of Succession or Billions — picks back up at Pierpoint & Co., the fictional international bank in London where deeply Gen Z traders ruthlessly navigate the seedy, bankrupt world of big finance. Season 3 features more shifting alliances, juicy drama, and high-stress stakes as Pierpoint dives into “ethical investing” — whatever that means. Fans can also expect to see familiar faces (Myha’la Herrold, Ken Leung, Marisa Abela, and Harry Lawtey have all returned) as well as some new ones (including fellow HBO alums Kit Harington and Sarah Goldberg). Described by critics as both “brutal” and “intoxicating,” this new season — which premieres tonight — is proof that good things are worth waiting for.

Congratulations are in order for Iris Law, daughter of Mr. Napkin Head and the new face of Versace glasses. And while she may come from a family of cinematic greats (in addition to her dad being Jude Law, Iris’s mom, Sadie Frost, is an actress, producer, and fashion designer), Iris has carved out her own path as a successful model. When she’s not walking the catwalk for designers like Miu Miu and Roberto Cavalli, you can find Iris taking glitter-freckled selfies on Instagram or documenting her passion for snacks on TikTok. Some other fun facts about the Gen Z “it” girl who’s way cooler than us: Kate Moss is her godmother, she once casually shaved her head for British Vogue (and later bleached her hair), and she’s somehow able to chic-ify the most heinous Y2K trends, whether that’s wearing a dress over pants, a leather bra top with a deeply ‘00s ruched skirt, or frosted eye shadow. We could never be so brave.

Shout-out to Mihaela Cambei, who won silver for lifting a final total of 205kg (that’s over 450 pounds) in the women’s 49kg weight class — in full glam. We’re patiently waiting for the Romanian weightlifter’s GRWM video.

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Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.