“Love on the Spectrum” Stars Tina Zhu Xi Caruso and Pari Kim Announce Breakup: 'We’re Just Friends Now'

Love on the Spectrum star Pari Kim announced that she and Tina Zhu Xi Caruso have broken up after meeting on season 3 of the Netflix show

NEED TO KNOW

• In Kim's Instagram Stories, she shared that the two are still friends, and are "two trains on different tracks"

• "I hope we can still advocate as friends for things we believe in," Zhu Xi Caruso captioned her post confirming the news

Pari Kim and Tina Zhu Xi Carusohave split.

TheLove on the Spectrumstars, who met on the third season of the Netflix reality show, announced in a pair of Instagram posts that they are no longer together.

Kim posted a series of Instagram Stories explaining their relationship status. She began by acknowledging questions from fans about her relationship with Zhu Xi Caruso, explaining "just wanted to be honest" and shared that the former couple is just friends now.

"Two trains on different tracks, but / wish her the best and a bright, T-riffic future! 😊," Kim wrote.

"No matter what media and comments may come out about this news, just know I spoke from my heart and handled this with grace," Kim's second post to Instagram Stories read. "Hope everyone continues to lead with kindness and compassion! 💜 I have spoken my truth! "Pari 💜."

Zhu Xi Caruso posted anInstagramphoto of the former couple in their Halloween costumes asWickedcharacters, Glinda and Elphaba, and wrote the split was "mutual."

"We're just friends now," she wrote. "We are like Glinda and Elphaba in the way we advocate for what we believe in. I'm the Elphaba and I can't wait to show the world how I advocate."

Advertisement

"Pari will continue to advocate like Glinda. I hope we can still advocate as friends for things we believe in like public transportation and disability advocacy," Zhu Xi Caruso concluded.

The pair met on season 3, when Kim, a newcomer, dreamed of finding a "T princess" — a reference to her love for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, commonly referred to as the "T."

During her first date with Zhu Xi Caruso, the pair quickly hit it off, learning of their shared commonalities, including being pet owners, having Jewish heritage, along with being queer and on the autistic spectrum.

The former couple's announcement comes weeks after their costars,Abbey RomeoandDavid Isaacman, announced theirsplit after nearly five years of dating. Romeo and Isaacman met on the first season of the Netflix reality show in 2021.

"Abbey and David spent four and a half years together and truly value the time they shared and each other," Romeo, Isaacman and their families shared in a joint statement exclusively to PEOPLE. "At this point, they want different things and have decided to go their separate ways, but they remain friends wishing each other the best."

Just before Romeo and Isaacman's announcement, the series fourth season premiered and revealed fan favorite coupleConnor Tomlinson and Georgie Harrisbroke up off-camera during the season's production. Connor announced the news at costarsMadison Marilla and Tyler White's engagement party.

“Georgie and I are no longer together,” he told the assembled group ofLove on the Spectrumstars. He confirmed that they will remain friends, adding, “We reached an understanding. We're two wonderful people, but two very different people.”

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

April 25, 2026

“Love on the Spectrum” Stars Tina Zhu Xi Caruso and Pari Kim Announce Breakup: 'We’re Just Friends Now'

Love on the Spectrum star Pari Kim announced that she and Tina Zhu Xi Caruso have broken up after meeting on season 3 of the Netflix s...

Read More

Why Was Michael Jackson's 1993 Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Cut from the “Michael” Biopic? What We Know

Michael, starring the singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson, premiered in theaters on April 24, 2026, after several delays

NEED TO KNOW

• The biopic ends in 1988, omitting any mention of the child sex abuse allegations Michael Jackson faced in the final decades of his life

• Director Antoine Fuqua confirmed to The New Yorker that the film originally included scenes covering allegations from 13-year-old Jordan Chandler

TheMichael Jacksonbiopic chronicles a large portion of the musician's career, but it notably leaves out some pivotal — and controversial — moments of his life.

Michael– starring the "Thriller" singer's nephewJaafar Jacksonas the titular character — premiered in theaters on April 24, 2026, over three years after the project was first announced. A previously shared logline for the movie said that the film would bring an "honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated" singer, whose final years before his2009 deathwere marked by a string of controversies.

Days before the movie's release, director Antoine Fuqua toldThe New YorkerthatMichaeloriginally opened with the 1993 police raid on Neverland Ranch, the singer's infamous California compound, following sex abuse allegations from 13-year-old Jordan Chandler.

"Ishot [Michael] being stripped naked, treated like an animal, a monster," Fuqua said.

But, the final cut that made it to theaters is instead one that ends in 1988, omitting any mention of the singer's troubling history.

So, why isn't Michael Jackson's 1993 child sex abuse lawsuit covered in theMichaelbiopic? Here's what to know.

What was Michael accused of in his 1993 lawsuit?

In 1993, Jackson was accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler.

According toThe New York Times, the young boy, who was not named at the time, accused the singer of molesting him repeatedly over a five-month period. The young boy alleged that Jackson frequently bathed with him, shared a bed with him and showered him with gifts and trips, as well as fondling him and performing various sex acts with him, per the outlet.

In return, the Chandler family filed a civil lawsuit against Jackson, accusing him of sexual battery, seduction, willful misconduct, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and negligence in a campaign to entice the boy.

What was the result of the lawsuit?

Following the allegations, Jackson agreed to pay the Chandler family roughly $25 million to settle the lawsuit. Chandler reportedly stopped cooperating with prosecutors after the settlement, and the investigation was subsequently closed, perThe New Yorker.

The Jackson estate has repeatedly denied abuse accusations made against the late singer, who wasacquitted of separate child molestation chargesin 2005. Additional allegations against Jackson were explored in the 2019 documentaryLeaving Neverland,prompting an ongoing legal battle.

Advertisement

Why isn't the lawsuit included in the Michael movie?

The allegations from Chandler and the aftermath were reportedly akey "backbone" of the movie,Puckreported in January 2025.

According toVariety, the film's original script included one scene in which Jackson stared at himself in the mirror, capturing his gaze as police car lights flashed behind him, in 1993, just after the singer was accused of child molestation. Per the outlet, there was also reportedly a scene in which investigators arrived at Neverland Ranch to search for evidence in the wake of the allegations.

Notably, both scenes did not make it to the final cut because the settlement between Chandler and Jackson reportedly included an agreement that the Chandlers can never be mentioned or dramatized in a movie, perPuck.

According to the outlet, the legally binding agreement had previously been overlooked when the script had been vetted and approved.

How did the lawsuit affect theMichaelbiopic?

Shortly after reports surfaced that the biopic was disrupted by the legal issues, a source close to production told PEOPLE in January 2025 that the film was "not in total chaos," and that they had reshoots slated for that March.Varietyreported that much of the third act was devoted to the sexual abuse allegations that surfaced in 1993, leaving them to rework the biopic's finale, which now concludes in 1988.

The film ultimately had a year-long delay, as it was originally intended to premiere in theaters on April 18, 2025.

In November 2024, it was postponed by six months to Oct. 3, 2025. In May 2025, however, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said during the studio's Q4 2025 earnings call that the biopic wasunlikely to hit theaters before the end of 2025, and it later received its new premiere date of April 24, 2026. Elsewhere in the call, Lionsgate film chief Adam Fogelson confirmed that they were now considering splitting the biopic into two parts, perDeadline.

The delays and reshoots also led to financial repercussions. According toVariety, when the cast reassembled for 22 additional days in June 2025 for reshoots, it added $10 to $15 million to the budget.

The outlet also reported that the Jackson estate covered the extra costs because it was their error that made the changes needed, and as a result, they also received an equity stake in the film.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

April 25, 2026

Why Was Michael Jackson's 1993 Child Sex Abuse Lawsuit Cut from the “Michael” Biopic? What We Know

Michael , starring the singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson, premiered in theaters on April 24, 2026, after several delays NEED TO ...

Read More

Tia Stokes Addresses Her 'Controversial' Decision to Not Allow Her Kids Phones, Despite Them Having Social Media (Exclusive)

Tia Stokes initially went viral by spreading positivity while undergoing chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but she's retained her social media following by sharing broader content about her life

NEED TO KNOW

• She regularly tells her followers — which total at over 1 million on Instagram and 2.6 million on TikTok — about her life as a parent, including her rule about not allowing her five kids to have cell phones

• Stokes, 40, tells PEOPLE that she made the decision to protect their childhoods, but she acknowledges that it was a fairly "controversial" decision since they already have their own social media pages

Tia Stokesis a cancer survivor, a dancer, a content creator and an overall advocate for hope and positivity, but most importantly, she's a mom. And just as she does in her many other roles, Stokes does parenting her own way.

The mother of fiveinitially went viralwhile undergoing chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite the toll it took on her body, she danced every day of her treatment. The ritual earned Stokes, 40, a following of over 1 millionInstagramfollowers and 2.6 million onTikTok.

Today, she's five years into remission and officially considered an AML survivor, and her social media presence has evolved to focus on broader lifestyle content in addition to her recovery. Stokes regularly posts about raising her children, whose ages range between 6 and 17 years old, and she maintains one household rule that continues to pique viewers' interests:the kids don't have cell phones.

Stokes tells PEOPLE she knows it's perceived as somewhat of a "controversial" decision, especially since she's the first to acknowledge their lives are already heavily documented online. Plus, her children even have pages of their own, though Stokes says she runs their personal accounts, and her sons, who play competitive sports, appreciate having a place to post their highlight reels for future recruiting opportunities.

"They all have little platforms. They're not heavily growing — we're not trying to grow them, if that makes sense," says Stokes of her kids' social media activity. "But when I post family stuff, I'll just collaborate [with their accounts] on the picture. So then as they get older, if they want it later, they can have it. If they want to use it as a resume."

Ultimately, she and her husband, Andy, chose not to give their kids phones to preserve what they see as the most precious part of childhood. "You only get the gift of just living radical freedom like this for 18 years, really," Stokes notes.

Adults are often burdened by the pressure to respond to texts, calls and emails no matter where or what they are doing. Stokes makes the point that as a kid, there's simply less need to be reachable all the time. If the kids really want to contact someone, they are allowed to make calls and send texts using their parents' phones.

"It's not so much as our kids having access to the world, but the world having access to our kids," she says. "We've explained this to our kids, 'Trust me, bro, you're not going to get these moments back. As soon as we give you that phone, it's going to be colleges, it's going to be teachers, it's going to be a job, it's going to be friends.' I mean, us as adults, we're just consumed by people wanting something."

Stokes remembers that the kids did slightly push back when they were first told they weren't getting phones, and they cited the fact that all of their friends had devices of their own. "But literally now they don't even want a phone," Stokes says of her kids. "They don't even ask for it. They don't even care."

Advertisement

Her eldest son, Major, is allotted 15 minutes per day to check his social media page, where he usually receives messages from his friends. But Stokes says that when she first started giving him phone access, he also became more critical of himself as an athlete. She noticed that after Major saw other kids' highlight reels online, he developed a tendency to compare that content to his own abilities.

"He was saying, 'Oh my gosh, so-and-so got this award. Why didn't I get invited? I've got to be as big as him. Oh, I've got to be as strong as him,'" Stokes says of the 17-year-old. "I saw that confidence start to shift, going down within his life and within just sports."

Finally, she told him she didn't think social media was the best thing for his mental health, and Major agreed. Stokes said her son had noticed the change, too.

Stokes says, "I finally told him, I said, 'Major, I think I'm not going to let you get on as much, buddy ... I think it's just a good idea just to be here. Just do your thing, focus onyoursports, focus on school.'"

She's regularly asked if she worries about her kids falling behind socially, but she says their lack of cell phones hasn't set the kids apart. "I mean, my kids are popular. I'm not trying to boast or anything like that. They're very well-liked, they're athletics, they're athletes, they are thriving where they're at," Stokes says.

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.

Her decision to restrict that screen time pays off when she gets messages from their teachers, who compliment the way Stokes' kids participate in class and make meaningful contributions to conversations. However, nothing feels as rewarding as when the kids notice the difference themselves.

"They go out with their friends, and everybody's on their phone," she says. "[My kids] are just sitting there like, 'Anybody want to talk to us?'"

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

April 24, 2026

Tia Stokes Addresses Her 'Controversial' Decision to Not Allow Her Kids Phones, Despite Them Having Social Media (Exclusive)

Tia Stokes initially went viral by spreading positivity while undergoing chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but she's r...

Read More

CNN correspondent says goodbye after 2 decades with the network

Longtime CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam is leaving the network after two decades of covering news for the broadcast giant.

Elam, 52, officially announced her departure in an April 18statement shared by Variety.

"For more than 20 years I’ve been in the CNN orbit developing and delivering news stories on everything from the environment and entertainment to business and breaking news of all kinds," she said. "I’m so proud of my CNN career. Live or taped, writing packages or doing a show-and-tell, I’ve done it all — and having a front row seat to document history has been a gift."

She did not share any further information about her future plans.

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon hasbeen arrestedon Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

Stephanie Elam's time with CNN

Elam began her career with CNN as a freelance anchor/reporter out of New York City in 2005, according to herpublic LinkedIn page, before becoming a business correspondent in 2007. She briefly left the network from 2011 to 2012 to work at KNBC, an NBC station based in Los Angeles, before returning to CNN in March 2013, still based in LA.

During her time at CNN, Elam covered a huge range of topics, according to her LinkedIn, from COVID-19, market crashes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions to the Emmys, red carpet interviews and the deaths and lives of celebrities like Michael Jackson and Prince.

More news:'GMA Weekend' co-anchor posts 'goodbye' message amid sudden exit

Colleagues and CNN speak on Stephanie Elam's departure

In anInstagram post from April 18, co-host and friend Sara Sidner spoke highly of Elam in a clip, saying, "thank you for being my friend, for helping me through cancer and being a sister, really...CNN brought us together, but ain't nothing gonna tear us apart. Thank you for all your hard work."

Advertisement

"You're not getting rid of me, I love you," Elam responded. "I love you guys...everyone there, I love you guys, and it's been a joy working with you all."

Another CNN colleague, Oscar Jimenez, commented on the post saying, "We’re losing a real one! Loved this moment on air. 🙏🏾"

In a statementshared with Variety, CNN said it was "grateful for her many contributions."

"Stephanie brought clarity, credibility, and heart to every story she touched over her two decades at CNN," the network told Variety. "Her versatility and natural ability to connect with audiences made her a trusted voice and a valued colleague."

Where Stephanie Elam got her start

Elam's career began at Dow Jones Newswires in 1995, where she served as a copy editor before moving to BridgeNews and reporting on corporate finances for PBS’s "Nightly Business Report," according to her LinkedIn.

She went on to anchor shows "Market on the Close" and "First Business" for Webfn, reporting on the stock market and business, eventually moving to Black Enterprise Magazine to co-anchor the "Black Enterprise Report," a nationally syndicated show about business, career and financial education.

She graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor's in broadcast journalism, her LinkedIn also shows.

Stephanie Elam's departure comes after another CNN personality's exit

Elam is the second CNN personality to depart the network in recent months. "Early Start" hostRahel Solomon announced her exit on-air in March, saying simply, "I have decided that this will be my last week at CNN. More to come on what's next for me...But I'm really excited about this next chapter."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam announces departure from network

byCosmopolite

in

April 23, 2026

CNN correspondent says goodbye after 2 decades with the network

Longtime CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam is leaving the network after two decades of covering news for the broadcast giant. Elam...

Read More

Patrick Muldoon Said He Was 'Excited' About Next Project in Final Instagram Post 2 Days Before His Sudden Death

Patrick Muldoon died suddenly on Sunday, April 19, after a heart attack

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor, 57, had recently been posting on Instagram about his excitement for an upcoming project

• Muldoon was best known for his roles on Days of Our Lives and Starship Troopers

Patrick Muldoonwas busy with work in the days before his sudden death.

TheDays of Our Livesstar died on Sunday, April 19, after a heart attack,Deadlinereported. He was 57.

Just two days earlier, Muldoon had shared aposton Instagram about a new project he had lined up, a crime thriller film calledKockroachstarringChris HemsworthandTaron Egerton.

"So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz and Alec Baldwin," Muldoon wrote in the caption of the post.

Muldoon was credited as an executive producer on the film, which he wrote is "filming now in Australia 🇦🇺."

Advertisement

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.

Muldoon's death also came days before the release of another project of his. He starred in a new thriller film,Dirty Hands, which is slated for a digital release on April 24.

The film sees Muldoon and Kevin Interdonato play brothers who get caught in a dangerous drug war, and it reunites Muldoon with hisStarship TrooperscostarDenise Richards, who plays his girlfriend in the new film, according to the outlet.

Muldoon rose to fame playing Austin Reed onDays of Our Livesfrom 1992 to 1995. He later reprised his role after a 16-year hiatus in 2011.

After his initial exit fromDaysin 1995, he went on to play the villainous Richard Hart in another iconic show,Melrose Place, for three seasons.

He also starred in three episodes ofSaved by the Bellin the early 1990s, as well as playing Zander Barcalow in the 1997 cult classicStarship Troopersalongside Richards,Casper Van Dien, Michael Ironside and Dina Meyer.

Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart, along with his parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr., his sister and brother-in-law Shana and Ahmet Zappa, his niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

April 23, 2026

Patrick Muldoon Said He Was 'Excited' About Next Project in Final Instagram Post 2 Days Before His Sudden Death

Patrick Muldoon died suddenly on Sunday, April 19, after a heart attack NEED TO KNOW The actor, 57, had recently b...

Read More