Whitney Leavitt addresses future on “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” amid Broadway run and Taylor Frankie Paul scandal

Whitney Leavittbegan her screen career as a Mormon wife, but might she be turning the page on that chapter?

TheSecret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar first appeared on the series in September 2024. Over the course of two short years, much has changed for Leavitt. And since the series dropped its fourth season in March, even more has changed for cast membersTaylor Frankie Pauland Jessi Draper, who are respectively battling fallout from a series of allegeddomestic violence incidentsand adivorce.

Leavitt, meanwhile, has been living her best life, competing on season 34 ofDancing With the Starsandjoining the cast ofChicagoon Broadwayin February. When asked during a recent interview withGood Morning Americawhat that means forMormon Wives, Leavitt was both cryptic and suggestive.

"We're figuring it out in real time. I don't really know," Leavitt said of her thoughts on whether to return for season 5 of the Hulu reality series. "I feel sometimes that it's time to venture out. Like, this is what I'm passionate about," she said, gesturing to the Ambassador Theatre'sChicagoset around her and Mark Ballas, herDWTSpartner whojoined her inChicagolast month.

Leavitt joked that that MomTok, the group of Mormon housewife influencers who became viral sensations before being cast onMormon Wives, is "100 percent" more dramatic than the cast of an actual Broadway drama. Perhaps hinting at the scandals that have beset some of herMormon Wivescostars, she said, "Do you see what's going on in the world right now?"

It was revelations about centralMormon Wivesstar Paul and her relationship with ex Dakota Mortensen, with whom she shares 2-year-old son Ever, that knocked down the first domino in the latest bout of cast drama.

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Paul has been implicated in severalalleged instances of domestic violenceinvolving Mortensen, including one shocking 2023 incident in the presence of Paul's child.Video of the incidentwas surfaced in March, leading ABC to make the unprecedented decision toshelve Paul's season ofThe Bachelorettedays before its premiere.

Paulpleaded guiltyin abeyance to aggravated assault in connection with the 2023 incident, with other charges being dropped as part of an agreement with prosecutors. After the now-infamous video emerged and ABC pulledThe Bachelorette, Paul spokesperson'sclaimed in a statementthat the reality star had endured "years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation" and was focused on ensuring "that she and her children are protected from any further harm."

Mortensen subsequentlysaid in a statement, "As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation. I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny.  I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same."

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Meanwhile, fellow MomTok-er andMormon Wivesstar Jessi Draper's husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, filed for divorce amid the Paul fallout. Ngatikaura alsorequested a restraining order, which Draper formally opposed the same day.

In atell-all interviewon theCall Her Daddypodcast shortly thereafter, Draper said she was "blindsided" by the filing and described being "beaten down emotionally" and "deeply unhappy" in the relationship.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byCosmopolite

in

April 09, 2026

Whitney Leavitt addresses future on “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” amid Broadway run and Taylor Frankie Paul scandal

Whitney Leavittbegan her screen career as a Mormon wife, but might she be turning the page on that chapter? TheSecret Lives of Mo...

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Justin Bieber is headlining Coachella this month: How the pop star is forging a new path

Justin Bieber is back. For the first time in his nearly two-decade-long career, the artist is headlining Coachella, performing on Saturday, April 11, and Saturday, April 18.

The singer, who previously appeared on the Indio, Calif., music festival stage as a guest artist alongsideacts like Tems, will reportedly receive amassive $10 million payday— a deal he supposedly negotiated directly with festival promoter Goldenvoice.

Bieber’s greatly anticipated Coachella performances come after a series of career highs — and lows. His 2025 two-part album,Swag, received four Grammy nominations and becamea criticaland commercial success. However, that same year, a series of interactions with paparazziraised alarms over Bieber’s health— audio from which Bieberincluded onSwag. (​​“It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business, is it? I’m a human being, you’re standing around my car, at the beach,” Bieber says on the appropriately titled track “Standing on Business,” featuring Druski.)

Swagcame after the “Yukon” artistended his 2022Justicetour early. He initially postponed dates, citing exhaustion and a desire to make health a priority. That same year, Bieber wasdiagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which left his face partially paralyzed.

The singer alsoparted ways with longtime manager Scooter Braunin 2023 after Braun stepped back from artist management, further suggesting a crossroads in Bieber’s career. That same year, he sold the rights to his catalog of music released through 2021 to Hipgnosis Songs Capital,reportedly for more than $200 million.

But now Coachella could mark a major milestone for the pop star.The father of Jack Blues Bieberhas already been giving fans something to look forward to in performances leading up to the main event.

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Justin Bieber played a surprise show in Los Angeles ahead of Coachella

Before this month’s music festival, Bieber stepped out fora series of intimate, invite-only performancesin Los Angeles. In March, he performed at the Roxy Theatre, before hitting the stage at the Troubadour in April. At both shows, he sang songs exclusively offSwag, like "Daisies," "Yukon," "Go Baby" and "Devotion." Bieber shared videos of the performances onInstagram.

Typically, Coachella has performers sign a (somewhat controversial)“radius clause,”which prevents artists from performing in Southern California from the December before Coachella takes place through the May after the festival. The goal of the clause is to ensure that Coachella will benefit from the artist’s placement on its lineup. However, artists can occasionally get around the clause or adjust it in their contract.

While it’s unclear whether Bieber’s Los Angeles shows offer a preview of his entire Coachella setlist, it’s worth noting that becauseBieber sold the rights to his back catalog of musicto all songs he released through 2021, he will not receive performance royalties for older tracks.

Bieber recently performed at the Grammys

Bieber’s small shows in Los Angeles weren’t his only performance ahead of Coachella: He also took the Grammys stage in February, where he stripped down to just shorts and socks tosing hisSwagtrack “Yukon.”His wife, Hailey Bieber, was emotional in the audience as Bieber showed off a back tattoo that wassupposedly a portrait of the Rhode Beauty founder.

The awards show’s executive producer, Ben Winston, said that Bieber’s rehearsal for the set moved quickly.

“He came to the stage, he did it once,” the producer told the podcastRolling Stone Music Nowafter the show. “It was brilliant. We are seven minutes into his hour-and-a-half rehearsal. And he goes, ‘How’d it look to you? You happy with it?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my God. It looked beautiful. I loved it.’ And he went, ‘OK, fantastic. See you Sunday!'”

The stripped-down number was the first time Bieber performed at the Grammys in four years. In 2022, he was joined by Daniel Caesar and Giveon fora performance of “Peaches,”off his 2021 album,Justice.

byCosmopolite

in

April 09, 2026

Justin Bieber is headlining Coachella this month: How the pop star is forging a new path

Justin Bieber is back. For the first time in his nearly two-decade-long career, the artist is headlining Coachella, performing on Satur...

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Japanese town sours on the crowds coming to see cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (AP) — The trouble started with a beautiful photo.

Japan Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom Woes

Social media was soon awash with the lovely view of Japan's snow-cappedMount Fujilooming over a red pagoda and the short-livedcherry blossomsthat herald the approach of spring.

Tourists wanting a similar shot soon packed this peaceful town at the foot of the mountain. The complaints were not far behind: chronic traffic jams; piles of litter; ill-mannered foreigners knocking on doors of private homes to borrow toilets; tourists relieving themselves in front yards.

It got so bad officials in Fujiyoshida announced in February that they were canceling this year’s annual cherry blossom festival, which started as a way to promote tourism a decade ago.

What locals are calling “tourism pollution” has illuminated a broader problem for Japan: As the country's economic malaise deepens, officials are eager for the economic boost of increased tourism, even as local communities find themselves entirely unprepared for what a small army of foreign visitors means for their communities.

10,000 tourists a day 'threaten residents' daily lives'

“This area is primarily an ordinary residential neighborhood, where balancing (tourism) with the safety of people's living environment has become difficult,” Masatoshi Hada, manager of the Fujiyoshida Economics and Environment Department, told The Associated Press. “We decided not to promote a festival that would invite more visitors.”

Even without the festival, foreign tourists packed the area on a sunny day in early April whencherry blossomsreached their prime. The narrow streets up to the popular Arakurayama Sengen Park were filled as the visitors lined up for a chance film the world-famous panoramic views.

In recent years, foreign tourists have exceeded 10,000 per day in the area, something that has “threatened residents’ daily lives,” the city said in a statement in February.

‘Tourism pollution’ across Japan

Overtourism has also been seen in other popular destinations in Japan, like Kyoto and Kamakura. In Kyoto, locals complain of tourists with large suitcases clogging city buses.

“Tourism pollution” comes as Japan confronts a rapidly growing population of foreign workers brought in as the country's population dwindles and ages. The combination has led toxenophobia, and Prime MinisterSanae Takaichi’s nationalistic government has proposed tougher rules on foreigners.

Even as it promises to address overtourism concerns, the government wants to boost the current level of 40 million inbound tourists to 60 million visitors by 2030.

Locals find the tourism ‘good but annoying’

Beginning April 1, at the start of the region’s cherry blossom season, Fujiyoshida increased its security guards and restricted entry of tour buses and vehicles into the scenic neighborhood, requiring visitors to reach the park on foot.

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On a recent day, security guard Hiroaki Nagayama gestured to passersby so they would stay out of busy areas. He asked tourists to throw cigarette butts in designated places and tried to help the lost.

“I’m struggling. I cannot communicate with them in Japanese. Some people buy food at stalls and leave litter behind,” Nagayama says. “I think what’s happening here is a typical example of overtourism.”

Sitting on a bench outside his house just a couple of blocks away, Hitoshi Mori, 93, says having many visitors is “good but annoying.”

“It’s too crowded outside so I can only get groceries once a week and stock up on food,” he says.

Tourists enjoy the view and culture, despite crowds

Tourists, meanwhile, seem delighted by the spectacular view, despite many signs popping up that order them to behave better. There are also hours-long lines to get to cherished scenic spots.

“It’s pretty (well) organized. When they let you come in, you have like five minutes to take as many pictures as you can, and it was amazing,” said Lisa Goerdert from Paris.

Vicky Tran, who came from Melbourne, Australia, with her family and friends, said they could not go all the way up to see the pagoda with Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms, because it was too crowded. Still, she said she enjoyed the view and the neighborhood.

Overtourism dividing residents

The overtourism has opened divisions between residents who want quiet and those who have started businesses using their yards to operate toll parking or setting up new shops or food stalls.

In a nearby shopping arcade that once had many closed mom-and-pop shops, business has picked up after another viral social media shot showed Mount Fuji looming over the street.

Throngs of tourists stand in the street to take photos of Mount Fuji, often blocking traffic, with frustrated vehicles honking.

The sudden flood of visitors is a huge change “for people like us who are used to a quiet suburban lifestyle,” says Masami Nakamura, who runs a decades-old school uniform shop with her husband. “I only hope the tourists respect our rules and manners.”

The crowds are a big change even for those who are seeing increased business.

“I once almost hit a tourist who jumped into the street without looking,” said Kyoko Funakubo, a 60-year-old employee at a local hotel and a part-time vendor selling Fuji-themed souvenirs. “This place used to be almost abandoned, with many shuttered shops. But now, with many stores reopened or new shops that have opened, I feel good seeing this area come alive again.”

byCosmopolite

in

April 08, 2026

Japanese town sours on the crowds coming to see cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan (AP) — The trouble started with a beautiful photo. Japan Mount Fuji Cherry Blossom Woes Social media was ...

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Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ray Stevens recovering after breaking neck

NASHVILLE (AP) — Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ray Stevens broke his neck and is recovering at home after being briefly hospitalized, according to a statement published Tuesday.

Ray Stevens Broken Neck

The 87-year-old country star, who is known for his topical satire, fell late last month, according to the statement released on his X account. He will need to wear a neck brace for about a month.

“He remains fully mobile & in good spirits," the statement said.

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Stevens' decades-long recording career has included such hits as the Grammy-winning “Everything Is Beautiful" as well as the zany “The Streak," which captured the mid-1970s craze for running naked in public.

Born Harold Ray Ragsdale, Stevens's music was also known for its social commentary. In 1961, he recorded “Jeremiah Peabody’s Poly Unsaturated Quick Dissolving Fast Acting Pleasant Tasting Green and Purple Pills,” which made fun of the advertising industry.

His latest album is expected to be released Friday on Curb Records.

In July, Stevens suffered a mild heart attack and had heart surgery, according to a post on his X account. His performances at his CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tennessee, were canceled for the rest of the month as he recovered.

byCosmopolite

in

April 08, 2026

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ray Stevens recovering after breaking neck

NASHVILLE (AP) — Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Ray Stevens broke his neck and is recovering at home after being briefly hospitalized...

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Sabrina Carpenter Is Nearly Unrecognizable in Mini Shorts for Magazine

Sabrina Carpenterlooks almost unrecognizable in new photos from her Perfect Magazine shoot. The songstress swapped her signature blonde locks for a jet-black wig with blunt bangs, posing in leather mini shorts and a tank top. The photos, released on April 7, have now gone viral online. This Perfect Magazine issue will come with a total of eight covers and an accompanying interview with designer Marc Jacobs.

Sabrina Carpenter poses in leather mini shorts for Perfect Magazine in photo

Take a look at Sabrina Carpenter stunning in leather mini shorts:

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Sabrina Carpenter paired a simple black ribbed tank top with ultra-low-rise black leather micro-mini shorts. She added a punk-rock edge to her look with a wide, statement leather belt featuring prominent silver-tone grommets and stud detailing.

Photographed by Bryce Anderson and styled by Katie Grand, the “Nonsense” singer completed her look with black stiletto pumps featuring distinct white detailing. Her shiny black manicure enhanced the gothic vibes. The dramatic smudged eyeliner and black mascara made her light blue eyes pop.

The postSabrina Carpenter Is Nearly Unrecognizable in Mini Shorts for Magazineappeared first onReality Tea.

byCosmopolite

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April 08, 2026

Sabrina Carpenter Is Nearly Unrecognizable in Mini Shorts for Magazine

Sabrina Carpenterlooks almost unrecognizable in new photos from her Perfect Magazine shoot. The songstress swapped her signature blonde loc...

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