Oscar Winner Spills Award Victory ‘Not Good for My Career’

Actress Melissa Leo spilled that winning an Oscar for her performance in 2011’s The Fighter “has not been very good for me or my career.” The 65-year-old actress told The Guardian that her turn as overbearing mother Alice Eklund-Ward in the David O. Russell film limited the range of parts she was offered. “Winning an Oscar has not been good for me or my career,” she said. “I didn’t dream of it, I never wanted it, and I had a much better career before I won.” The actress added that after The Fighter, for which she won Best Supporting Actress, “all I was offered was older, nasty women. I don’t want to do that anymore.” Leo instead expressed her desire to play royalty, saying, “I’ve been asking for years: ‘Please, may I play the princess? The glorious, kind, benevolent queen?’” She’ll have to wait for that: Leo’s next film is a horror film called Passenger, directed by André Øvredal. It is slated for a release in 2026.

The cousin of accused killer Luigi Mangione has joined a soccer team in Brooklyn, just miles from where the alleged United Healthcare CEO assassin is in prison. Peter Mangione, 24, signed a deal with Brooklyn FC on Jan. 14, to join its inaugural USL Championship roster as a midfielder. “He brings a balanced midfield profile to Brooklyn, with the engine to cover ground and the end product to impact matches in the final third,” the club wrote in a statement announcing the new recruit. The soccer player hails from Hunt Valley, Maryland, where Luigi, 27, was also raised. Peter played soccer at Penn State University before becoming a professional sportsman. His previous club was FC Cincinnati 2, where he scored two goals and five assists. Brooklyn FC’s first USL Championship game will be against Indy Eleven in Coney Island, Brooklyn’s Maimonides Park on March 8. Luigi Mangione is currently incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Sunset Park, near Coney Island. He has been held at the facility since December 2024, ahead of a trial over the murder of healthcare CEO Brian Thompson that month. Luigi is due to return to court on Jan. 30.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

From self-love to shared pleasure, sex toys are a ticket to spicing things up in the bedroom. Lovehoney, an award-winning sex positive brand and retailer, recently kicked off its Valentine’s Day sale, with huge discounts on sex toys, lingerie, and accessories. You can save up to 50 percent on everything from high-quality vibrators and wands to lingerie and sex accessories across the Lovehoney site.

Not sure where to start? One of our favorites is the Lovehoney Hot Shot Male Masturbator, which recreates the sensations of oral sex by warming up and delivering rhythmic pulses and vibrations to the head of the penis. Its powerful motor features six patterns and three intensity levels, giving you full control over your pleasure.

Lovehoney Hot Shot Male Masturbator

See At Lovehoney

Looking to spice up partner play? Look no further than the Up All Night Couple’s Sex Toy Kit. This kit includes a variety of toys for penial and clitoral stimulation: a wand and G-spot vibrator, a bullet that fits the textured cock ring, plus a butt plug and stroker to keep things extra exciting. The toys are beginner-friendly and target a number of different sweet spots—ideal for couples ready to explore new kinds of pleasure together.

Up All Night Couple's Sex Toy Kit

See At Lovehoney

Still not sure what to shop for during the sale? While Lovehoney offers a wide variety of toys for beginners and connoisseurs alike, it can be challenging to find what you’re looking for with so many stellar (and discounted) options. Fortunately, Lovehoney offers a comprehensive guide with expert advice to help you find the toy (or two!) of your dreams.

From vibrator explainers to male sex toy guides, Lovehoney’s advice section will help guide you to your perfect fit.

Reality TV veteran Farrah Abraham decided to run for Congress after she jumped the gun on running for mayor of Austin. The Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant star announced on Instagram Thursday that she was launching her campaign to become the mayor of Austin. “Austin, my story isn’t just a headline; it’s the blueprint for Austin’s 2026 transformation,” wrote the 34-year-old in a now-deleted post. TMZ then called Abraham to inform her that the next mayoral election for Austin was in 2028—not 2026, as she apparently believed. Abraham then amended her paperwork to jump into the race for Texas’s 5th congressional district, which has been represented by Republican Lance Gooden since 2019. Abraham has not formally declared a political party, but she explicitly praised Donald Trump during his first term and said men would prefer to marry “Republican women.” Her campaign website features AI-generated graphics and only has a link for visitors to be “notified” about future developments. Abraham had her daughter, Sophia Laurent Abraham, in 2008. Sophia is now 16 years old.

Why so serious? That’s the question on TV fans’ minds, given the onslaught of recent series that are so intense, so grim, and, as such, so unfun. Would it kill someone to smile? That’s why the new Peacock spy thriller Ponies is such a welcome change of pace. The new series, which is now streaming, stars Game of Thrones veteran Emilia Clarke and The White Lotus alum Haley Lu Richardson. They play the wives of undercover CIA operatives in Russia in the 1970s. Their husbands, who are being tracked by the KGB, are considered Persons of Interest; they, however, are Persons of No Interest…aka PONIs. That is, until their husbands are killed and they end up playing spygames themselves. The show is flashy, and thanks to the crackling chemistry between Clarke and Richardson and their Odd Couple-esque characters. Click through to Substack for the full breakdown of why Ponies is so much more fun than the other spy thrillers out there.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

We’re officially in the midst of “dry January,” the viral 31-day challenge that prompts participants to reset and reassess their relationship with alcohol. Whether you’re actively participating in the challenge, more generally rethinking how drinking fits into your life, or just curious about alternative ways to unwind and socialize, TribeTokes has exactly what you need.

TribeTokes epitomizes the idea of “California sober,” a lifestyle that avoids alcohol and hard substances but keeps cannabis in the mix. Its products are formulated to help offer similar perks to booze—mood elevation, stress relief, sleep support—without negative effects like hangovers, empty calories, or liver overload. Not sure where to start? Try these standout picks from the brand’s selection.

Delta 8 THC Tincture

See At TribeTokes

This Delta-8 THC tincture essentially serves as the bitters of the cannabis world. Just add a few drops to your favorite mocktail, sparkling water, or other non-alcoholic drink, and it’ll transform into a subtly potent beverage that will keep you buzzy and socializing without slurring through your conversations.

Live Rosin Gummies

See At TribeTokes

TribeTokes bills these gummies as “the champagne of cannabis,” and its nickname is certainly earned. Leveraging live rosin—a top-shelf cannabis extract—these fruit-flavored gummies will elevate your night while keeping you headache-free.

THCA Mini Pre-Rolls

See At TribeTokes

If you enjoy a good smoke but are less into the idea of passing around a joint at a party (germ alert!), these THCA mini pre-rolls are perfectly portioned for individual use. Pick between three strains to match your mood: Tropicana Cherry (Sativa) for social situations, Blue Dream (Hybrid) for a creative spark, and Jealous (Indica) for when it’s time to activate your wind-down mode.

Whether you’re into edibles, tinctures, or joints, TribeToke’s clean cannabis products will not disappoint.

ICE detained Chinese businesswoman and casino financier Cui Lijie on the morning of January 13 for alleged immigration violations. The detainment took place in the Northern Mariana Islands, an unincorporated American territory in the western Pacific Ocean. Lijie is best known as the former majority shareholder of the defunct Chinese investment holding company Imperial Pacific International. According to Forbes, her networth was $1.1 billion as of 2018. The holding company had established the sole casino on the islands, named the Imperial Pacific Palace, and located on Saipan. The gambling den and its developer have been embroiled in controversy since the casino’s inception. In 2018, Bloomberg reported a series of safety violations during the construction of the Palace, and crews composed of hundreds of Chinese employees were working illegally on tourist visas. The U.S. government shut down the casino in 2020, and those involved in its construction were indicted for their employment practices. Since then, the casino filed for bankruptcy, and Team King Investment bought the property. According to Commissioner Anthony Torres, Lijie is confined at the island’s Department of Corrections, first reported by local paper Marianas Variety. ICE has not reported any other information about her detainment.

Nick Reiner, 32, had been placed under a mental health conservatorship years before he allegedly killed both of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, according to The New York Times. The paper reported that Reiner was placed under an LPS conservatorship for roughly a year beginning in 2020—a legal arrangement typically triggered by involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. The conservatorship allows a court-appointed individual, often a family member, to make decisions related to medical care and treatment for someone deemed gravely disabled due to mental illness. Lee Blumen, a lawyer specializing in psychiatric cases, told the outlet that such conservatorships are rare and reserved for only the most severe cases. Reiner has previously spoken publicly about struggles with drug addiction and mental health during his teenage years. People familiar with his condition told the outlet that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, and that his medication had recently changed prior to his arrest. Reiner is currently being represented by a public defender and faces two counts of first-degree murder. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

The U.S. lost out on a worldwide spike in tourism spending in 2025, thanks in part to President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies. Global spending on travel rose by 6.7 percent overall last year compared to the previous year, but the U.S. registered a 6 percent drop in foreign visitors and a 7 percent decrease in spending from foreign travelers, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Concern about U.S. immigration policy led many tourists to choose European countries such as Spain and France, or Asian countries such as Japan. U.S. Arrivals from Canada, Mexico, and Europe all fell, according to the WTTC. France was the world’s most-visited country in 2025, with 105 million visitors. Spain was next with 96.5 million visitors, followed by the U.S. with a far more modest 68 million visitors. Last year, tourism contributed the equivalent of 10.3 percent of global gross domestic product, and tourism spending grew at double the pace of global economic growth. When reached for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump has “done more for American tourism than anyone, including by making our cities safe and beautiful again for all to enjoy and bringing major events like the Los Angeles Olympics and FIFA World Cup to the United States.”

HBO has tapped famed composer Hans Zimmer to score the music for its upcoming Harry Potter series. In 2023, more than a decade after the last release of the massively successful Harry Potter movies, Warner Bros. announced a TV adaptation of the J.K. Rowling fantasy books. HBO has set the release date for early 2027. Zimmer, 68, is a celebrated composer known for his work on Inception, Interstellar, and The Lion King, along with many other scores for box-office juggernauts. The German star will be composing for the small screen alongside Bleeding Fingers, a music collective he co-founded with Russell Emanuel and Steven Kofsky. The stewards of the reboot’s musical score acknowledged the legacy of the film series’ striking compositions, noting in the announcement that it is a responsibility they “do not take lightly.” “With this score, we hope to bring audiences that little bit closer to it whilst honoring what has come before,” Zimmer added.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

Brace your wallets, folks, because Lululemon’s end-of-year sale event is officially live with tons of bestselling leggings, tees, and accessories marked down up to 40 percent off. Right now, you can score tons of steeply discounted activewear pieces for both men and women, ranging from celebrity-approved Align pants (Meghan Markle and Jennifer Lopez are fans) to the brand’s beloved Swiftly Tech Tank Top. In the men’s section, you’ll find the Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve Shirt 2.0 and the classic ABC jogger pants. It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your activewear lineup for 2026.

Shop Women’s Summer Scores

Shop At Lululemon

Shop Men’s End-of-Year Sale

Shop At Lululemon

The current end-of-season sale prices are now slashed anywhere from 20 to 40 percent off, so you can bet stock is already selling out fast. For this reason, we really do suggest adding everything you’re eyeing to your cart sooner rather than later. The end-of-season Lululemon sale event ends soon, so if you want to get the items on your list (and in your size), run, don’t walk.

Ne-Yo, 46, is discovering that polyamory comes with a workload. The Grammy-winning singer admitted that juggling three girlfriends is “hard work” during a Wednesday appearance on Sherri, where he spoke candidly about life after his “ugly” divorce from ex-wife Crystal Renay. Ne-Yo said he began exploring polyamory after deciding his days of lying to women were over. He publicly introduced his polyamorous relationship on Instagram in March last year, revealing he was dating Arielle Hill, Brionna Williams, Cristina, and Moneii — though he hasn’t specified which woman is no longer part of the polycule. Once he revealed that he was seeing other women, he said, all of them “chose to stick around” and work out how to make the arrangement function as a unit. That system balances solo and shared time. “Everybody gets their individual time,” Ne-Yo explained, adding that group time is “just as important.” Still, he noted the logistics aren’t simple — especially when it comes to gift-giving, which requires individual presents rather than a “blanket” present. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work,” Ne-Yo said, smiling.

Freddie Mercury’s alleged secret daughter, only known as “Bibi,” passed away from spinal cancer at 48. The woman’s husband announced her death to the Daily Mail and told the outlet, “B is now with her beloved and loving father in the world of thoughts.” She is survived by two sons. Love, Freddie, a biography published in September 2025 by author Lesley-Ann Jones, was the first to reveal Bibi’s existence. Known in the text as just “B,” the book alleges that she was born as a result of a 1976 affair between Mercury and a friend’s wife. Mercury’s longtime lover and former fiancée, Mary Austin, has disputed these claims. Jones states that she believed Bibi’s claims, adding that, “She has never asked for money. She does not want recognition.” The assertions in the tell-all remain controversial. Bibi says that she has confirmed her parentage through a DNA test and addressed these disputes in the book, “For 30 years, while the rest of the world was reinterpreting Mercury’s life, his music and all that he had been, I needed to have my Dad just for me and my family. How could I have spoken before?”