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Happy anniversary to Dropout's most mind-bending viral video: "Brennan Quits Dropout."

It was July 14, 2025, when Game Changer aired "Fool's Gold." In this episode, Dropout contributors pitched video concepts to a Shark Tank-like panel of investors. The goal: Make the most viral portfolio. The most viral video? Vic Michaelis' pitch for "Brennan's Exit Video."

Dressed like an American Girl Doll, Michaelis pitched that Brennan Lee Mulligan post a video to social media claiming he was quitting Dropout, Dimension 20, and Dungeons & Dragons altogether to dedicate himself to his passion for creating shoes for American Girl Dolls.

Over the past year, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko has interviewed Michaelis, Mulligan, and Game Changer host Sam Reich about this epic moment, which led not only to a TikTok video that had fans and newbies to Dropout freaking out, but also a Google Easter egg.

To toast the anniversary of this very silly video — that some people took very seriously — our Executive Video Producer Mark Stetson has compiled all that Michaelis, Mulligan, and Reich have revealed about the magic and mischief of "Brennan Quits Dropout."

Sure, they got snubbed by the Emmys. But we'll always have, "AAAAAH! THIS IS ME!"

SEE ALSO: Dropout curious? Here's where you should start watching.

For more interviews with Dropout's stars and other celebrities, check out Say More or our YouTube channel.

TL;DR: Razer has launched the Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition for $139.99, a Bluetooth gaming headset featuring Cinnamoroll’s signature floppy ears, sky-blue design, plush cushions, and customizable RGB lighting.

Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition $139.99 at Razer
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If your gaming setup could use a little Sanrio sweetness, Razer has a new headset that might help. The company has launched the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition for $139.99, a Bluetooth gaming headset that swaps the usual cat-ear look for Cinnamoroll’s signature floppy ears, sky-blue styling, and Sanrio-inspired details. It’s the latest and final drop in Razer's Sanrio collaboration lineup.

The headset takes inspiration from Cinnamoroll, the popular Sanrio character known for his oversized floppy ears and cloud-like aesthetic, bringing that look to Razer’s existing Kraken Kitty V2 BT design. Instead of the standard cat-ear silhouette, this version features plush white and blue accents, character artwork across the headband, and a design made to stand out whether you’re gaming, streaming, or just listening to music.

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The wireless headset keeps the Bluetooth connectivity of the original Kraken Kitty V2 BT and comes with ear cushions designed for longer sessions. It features customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting on the earcups, letting you add your own lighting effects while gaming or streaming.

The Cinnamoroll Edition is part of Razer’s broader run of character-inspired gaming accessories, following collaborations featuring other Sanrio favorites like Hello Kitty and Kuromi.

Consider this your invitation to float into Cinnamoroll’s world — just with a headset, RGB lighting, and a lot more gaming involved.

Get the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT Cinnamoroll Edition today.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting down to the pointy end, with only seven countries left in the running for this year's title. Almost all the remaining soccer teams are European, the sole exception being Argentina, which continues to represent South America.

Most of these contenders aren't surprising, as five of them are listed in the official FIFA Men's World Ranking top 10. However, in a competition where a single loss means you're out, there have been a few upsets in the lead up to the semi-finals, with a couple of underdogs making it further than expected.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Here are all the teams still fighting it out in this year's FIFA World Cup, as well as the players to watch.

France: Kylian Mbappé Credit: Ulrik Pedersen / NurPhoto via Getty Images

France is already through to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after beating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday, the two-time champion looking to make it a hat-trick. Though the semi-final match is set to take place next Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the team's opponent is still yet to be determined. Whether Spain or Belgium will go up against France will depend on which of the two teams comes out on top in their match Friday. 

Known as Les Bleus, the French national team has had an undefeated run to the semi-finals, beating Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1) in Group I before proceeding to the knockout bracket. Here they maintained their streak, defeating Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0), and Morocco.

Featured Video For You How F1 became a global obsession

All eyes will be on forward Kylian Mbappé in the matches ahead. The captain of the French team is widely considered one of the best players at the World Cup — and even the world. Though Mbappé ranks Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo above himself, there's no denying that he's at least nipping at the soccer legends' heels. France's all-time top goal scorer has already set several records at this year's event, scoring the most goals out of anyone at this year's World Cup so far, and tying with Messi at 17 non-penalty goals across all his World Cup appearances.

While he suffered an ankle injury during the match against Morocco, Mbappé has reassured fans that he's "completely fine," and will hopefully be fully recovered by the semi-final next week.

Spain: Lamine Yamal Credit: Ayman Aref / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Nicknamed La Roja, Spain's national soccer team is set to play Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals this Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Spain last won the World Cup in 2010, and it's one of the top-ranked teams in this year's competition, surpassed only by Argentina. As such, 2026 could very well be Spain's year.

Spain performed well in Group H, tying with Cabo Verde (0-0) before defeating Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0). Having since knocked out Austria (3-0) and Portugal (1-0), the Spanish team will now face Belgium for a spot in the semi-final against France next week.

The Spanish team's star player Lamine Yamal has recently recovered from a hamstring injury, stating before the World Cup that he was still working his way up to playing a full match. Even so, the 18-year-old right winger has already proven himself in previous tournaments, and is only expected to get better.

Belgium: Romelu Lukaku Credit: Nico Vereecken / Photo News via Getty Images

The Belgian team gained significant attention for trouncing Team USA 4-1 on Monday, kicking the Americans out of the FIFA World Cup on their own home soil. This was despite FIFA suspending U.S. star player Folarin Balogun's red card so he could play in the match, a move President Donald Trump claimed he was involved in. Now De Rode Duivels (the Belgian Red Devils) will play against Spain in the quarter-finals this Friday, hoping for the chance to face France in the semi-finals.

Belgium's national team kicked off its World Cup run with ties against Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0), before soundly defeating New Zealand (5-1). They continued to prove themselves in the knockout stage, taking out Senegal (3-2) before sending the U.S. national team packing (4-1).

Some football fans were skeptical that Belgium could defeat the U.S. with Balogun on the field, betting odds having favoured a win for the Americans after Trump's alleged intervention. Even after Belgium's victory, coach Rudi Garcia stated that "everyone thinks [they] are going home." Belgium is ready to prove these people wrong, with striker Romelu Lukaku expected to be instrumental in silencing the naysayers. Belgium's all-time top goal scorer, Lukaku scored a goal in each of the team's last three games at the World Cup after having come on as a substitute in all of them. This made him the first player in World Cup history to score as a substitute in four separate matches. No doubt he'll be keen to take on more records.

Norway: Erling Haaland Credit: Jean Catuffe / Getty Images

Norway's next FIFA World Cup appearance will be their quarter-finals match against England, scheduled this Saturday, July 11, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Reaching this stage is already the best result they've ever had at the World Cup — though of course they would like to go even further. Considering the talent on this year's team, it doesn't seem like an impossible dream.

Known locally as Landslaget, which simply means "the national team," Norway was also placed in Group I alongside France at the start of the tournament. Yet despite a 4-1 loss to Les Bleus, the team still made it to the knockout stage by defeating Iraq (4-1) and Senegal (3-2). Booting Côte d'Ivoire (2-1) and Brazil (2-1) from the competition, Norway will now have to beat England. 

SEE ALSO: A clip of Erling Haaland eating has gone viral. It's not real.

The top Norwegian player to watch is undisputedly Erling Haaland, whose name is often spoken in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo. Like Mbappé, Haaland has demurred when others have compared him to the soccer greats. Even so, the striker's achievements speak for themselves. Norway's all-time top scorer has racked up an impressive 60 goals in 53 senior international games, shooting his 60th in the World Cup match against Côte d'Ivoire. In comparison, Messi and Ronaldo took more than twice as many games to reach the same goal count.

England: Harry Kane Credit: Eric Verhoeven / Soccrates / Getty Images

Called The Three Lions after the animals on their team crest, England's national soccer team are set to take on Norway in their next game on Saturday. Both quarter-finalists are battling for a chance at the semi-finals, with the winner to go up against the victor of the match between Argentina and Switzerland.

England fought its way through Group L to get here, defeating Croatia (4-2), tying with Ghana (0-0), and besting Panama (2-0). It then took out the Democratic Republic of Congo (2-1) and Mexico (3-2) in the knockout bracket, leaving it three victories away from taking the Fifa World Cup championship.

SEE ALSO: Harry Kane's World Cup post-match interview goes viral for all the right reasons

The standout player on England's team is captain and striker Harry Kane, England's all-time top scorer. Kane has scored six goals at this World Cup, ranking fourth behind Mbappé, Messi, and Haaland. He previously won the Golden Boot award at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well, given to the player who scored the most goals during the tournament. Kane has been having a stellar run recently, scoring a total of 73 goals in the 2025-26 season thus far —  second only to Messi's record set in 2011-12.

Argentina: Lionel Messi Credit: Marcel Bonte / Soccrates / Getty Images

The official FIFA Men's World Ranking currently lists Argentina as No. 1 in the world, with head coach and captain Lionel Messi widely considered one of the best players in the world. As such, they're expected to do very well in their quarter-final match against Switzerland on Saturday, July 11, set to take place at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas, Missouri.

La Albiceleste dominated Group J, beating out Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1), then continued their streak in the knockout stage by sending Cabo Verde (3-2) and Egypt (3-2) home. Argentina is now the sole non-European competitor remaining in the 2026 FIFA World Cup this year, though this certainly doesn't mean that it's an underdog.

SEE ALSO: Why is the internet rooting against Argentina?

Messi needs little introduction, with his name familiar even to those who only have a passing interest in soccer. Dubbed the greatest footballer of all time by numerous fans, commentators, and players, Argentina's all-time top scorer holds a slew of records and is constantly held up as an inspiration to other players. Messi was the first to win the World Cup's Golden Ball award for the tournament's best player twice, and has already set several new records during the course of this year's competition. These include scoring the most goals in World Cup history, a number which has since climbed further to 21, and being the first ever player to score in eight consecutive matches at the tournament.

Switzerland: Granit Xhaka Credit: Eric Verhoeven / Soccrates / Getty Images

Switzerland's national soccer team will have to slay giant Argentina to get past the quarter-finals this weekend. Taking out the top ranked team is a formidable task, particularly with Switzerland currently ranked at 19. Still, Nati have made an excellent show of themselves thus far, and it wouldn't be the first upset of this year's FIFA World Cup.

Placed in Group B, the Swiss team tied with Qatar (1-1) before beating Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-1) and Canada (2-1). In the knockout bracket, Switzerland pushed out Algeria (2-0) and Colombia (0-0, with a 4-3 penalty shootout). Now they're facing their biggest challenge thus far, up against Argentina for a semi-final spot.

While the Swiss team have expressed excitement about facing soccer icon Messi, they're even more eager to defeat him. Captain and defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka aims to lead them to that victory, having already brought Switzerland to its first World Cup quarter-final since 1954. While his position doesn't typically shoot goals, Xhaka has proven a skilled playmaker, breaking through opponents' lines and setting his teammates up for success.

For all things 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mashable's got you covered.

Apple is reportedly working on adding camera sensors to a future version of AirPods -- and it’s not the only company putting cameras near our ears. CNET’s Bridget Carey explores what they could be used for and looks to one recent acquisition.

SAVE $30: As of July 10, the Lego Jaws set is on sale for $119.99 at Lego as part of its Insiders Days event. That's $30 off its usual price of $149.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jaws (21350) $119.99 at Lego
$149.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Lego's Insiders Days event has started, and if you're a member, there are some excellent sets on sale. My personal favorite Jaws set is included in the bunch, and while it's currently on backorder at the retailer, it's well worth putting an order in since it's retiring soon. When it's retired, it won't be available to purchase anymore from Lego, so this could be your final opportunity to get it at a discount.

If you don't mind waiting — Lego's store page says it will ship in 60 days — this deal is pretty awesome for Lego Insiders. If you're a member — you can learn more here and it's free to join — you can score the Jaws set for $119.99. Usually it retails for $149.99, so this is a good opportunity to save $30.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Olivia Rodrigo collab just dropped: Where to buy, preorder details, price

I had an absolute blast piecing together this Lego set, and it's one of my favorite displays I have up in my house (you can check out my full breakdown of building it here). Recommended for adults, since it's quite a complex assembly, it comes with 1,497 pieces that create a diorama of The Orca boat sailing the seas with the huge shark on its tail. Of course, it also comes with three minifigures to complete the scene: Chief Brody, Matt Hooper, and Sam Quint.

Once you've finished piecing it together and it's ready for display, it also comes with a plaque printed with the film's most famous line: "You’re gonna need a bigger boat."

The offer is only available until July 12, so be quick.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

YouTube creators who playlist their videos can now easily turn them into shows.

Announced Thursday, the platform will now let anyone part of the YouTube Partner Program organise their video playlists into seasons of episodes, or create a new show using the tool.

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According to YouTube's support site, shows are defined here as "a collection of high-quality episodes with a clear connection across episodes." The platform provided some best practices for creators, including making sure the show has a "consistent story or topic" featuring the same hosts if possible, a "consistent look" with the same intro and thumbnail art style, and higher-quality video and sound.

Shows must have visuals (not just audio) and can be serial or non-serial, meaning they don't necessarily have to run chronologically. YouTube will default the running order by publish date, but you can edit this in YouTube Studio.

SEE ALSO: X's Live Studio aims to make livestreams easier for creators

YouTube noted that creating a show might be advantageous to creators for visibility in search on the platform, saying "shows may be eligible to appear in search as well as under 'Recommended shows' and 'Continue watching.'"

Want to make a show from your existing episodes? It's pretty easy.

How to create a YouTube show from a video playlist Total Time

• 10 min

What You Need

• YouTube account
• YouTube Studio
• existing YouTube playlist

Step 1: Sign in to YouTube Studio.

Head to studio.youtube.com.

Step 2: Click "Content" in the left side menu.

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 3: Click "Playlists."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 4: Hover over your chosen playlist and tap the three dots for "Options."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / YouTube

Step 5: Tap "Add show features" and set a season number, then enjoy playing around with the show tools.

According toYouTube, "All videos from the selected playlist are added as episodes to 'Season 1' of your show. If you manually set the order of videos in your playlist, episode numbers are assigned based on your specified order. If not, episode numbers are assigned based on oldest to newest order by published date."

Step 6: Add artwork for the show.

You'll need to add texted poster art and can optionally add backdrop and title treatment art. YouTube has the resolution and file size specifications for these on its help page.

Step 7: Select "Done" when you're finished.

If you want to add a brand new show, in the top-right corner of YouTube Studio's lobby, click "Create New show." After adding all the details like description and art, you can save the show, then manage adding new episodes from the "Content" menu in the YouTube Studio lobby — click "Add content" to start.

If you want to edit the episode order (YouTube defaults to publish date), head to "Episodes" within your show and hover over the season or episode number, then tap the arrow pointing down to move things around.

If you're not sure where to even start, check out Mashable's In My Bag series for the gear you'll need to become a content creator. You can also visit our VidCon hub for inspiration, and meet the Mashable 101, the creators shaping digital culture right now.

Featured Video For You Natalie Tran says content creation made her a better filmmaker

Recently, single women told Mashable that dating in 2026 is, in a word, bleak. But that opinion seems to transcend gender. Take a look at any dating or dating-adjacent subreddit, and you'll find people saying that trying to find a partner sucks.

Posts range from users hating their dates to not having luck finding a date at all. A throughline between all these differences is an overwhelming dissatisfaction. Of course, these being people from Reddit, it's bound to skew negative, but it does at least say something about what dating is like for a segment of the population. 

SEE ALSO: The latest green flag? Not using AI, survey states.

Mashable reached out to several men on Reddit, all of whom chose to be anonymous to speak freely about their experiences (and, thus, we also have to take their takes with a bit of skepticism). And I chatted with men's dating coach, Connell Barrett, about his thoughts on what dating is like for men right now, too. 

The looksmaxxing dater

Wading through the muck of r/onlinedating, r/dating_advice, and other subreddits, I came across a post I believed was ragebait. I can't copy and paste it here now, as it has been deleted from Reddit, but to summarize: A young man asked for dating advice because the women in his orbit were overweight and "letting themselves go."

I reached out to this man, an 18-year-old attending the University of Florida, before his account was also banned from Reddit. I asked him if he believed what he said, or if he was ragebaiting (as some commenters believed). He told me he really believed this, and that it was a similar case when he went to high school. 

But how did he look himself, physically? "Pretty muscular," he told me over Reddit DM. "I was fat until I started taking reta," he said, referring to a weight-loss drug called Retatrutide that's not FDA approved, yet is available online by sketchy retailers, "and a couple months ago I started a steroid cycle."

That's not all this teenager did to "looksmax," or improving one's appearance, oftentimes with extreme measures. He listed the ways he does this to Mashable, including the Retatrudide.

1. Perm hair

2. Skincare

3. Invisalign

4. Melanotan II for tanning (also an unregulated drug — the Skin Cancer Foundation just issued a warning about Melanotan)

5. Teeth whitening

6. Penis pumping "for size gains" (A penis pump can make it look larger temporarily.)

7. Retatrutide 1mg "for lean bulk" once per week

8. Four IUs of Human Growth Hormone "taken before bed for better gains" (HGH is highly regulated and has a long list of side effects)

9. 300mg Testosterone enanthate per week intravenous (which is typically used for testosterone replacement therapy)

10. 20mg Anavar (a steroid) split into two doses twice per day

11. 5mg Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction

12. 1.2mg oral Finasteride and 3mg oral Minoxidol per day to prevent hair loss prophylactically

13. GHK-Cu peptide "for skin" (it's touted as anti-aging)

14. Accutane for steroid acne

15. Exercise and diet

"Also shaving face," he wrote. "Also, I take a beta blocker for high blood pressure from [steroids]."

This man is looksmaxxing in order to get a "harem of girls," he told Mashable, and cited the anime High School DxD as his inspiration. He said he still has no romantic experience, but he hasn't been on campus while looksmaxxing.

"I'm certain it is going to work though," he said. "Many looksmaxxes take lots of time to work."

For now, however, he considers himself an incel, as "any man who would like a relationship but hasn't got one is an incel." He plans on meeting "Stacies" and "Stacelites" (attractive and sexually active women, according to Mashable's incel glossary) on the University of Florida campus this fall through Tinder and frat parties.

"The pros of looksmaxxing will always outweigh any side effects," he said. When Mashable asked if this was all some sort of joke, he insisted it wasn't. 

"You don't have to be on an incel forum to be one," he said. "Not posting on forums doesn't mean you're not a genetic dead end."

Looksmaxxing and incel culture are tangential to the manosphere, a right-wing subsection of the internet that claims (among other things) that men are superior to women, but that men must look physically attractive and be high earners in order to obtain a desirable partner. 

Dating coach Connell Barrett said the manosphere is a place where many young men are lonely and confused, and don't know why they're alone. Then, manosphere figures come in and say, "You're not crazy…women are the problem."

"That is toxic," Barrett said, "it's a total poison being poured into the ears of young men, but it gives that young, lonely man an answer where he doesn't have to look at himself and say, 'You know what, I need to work on myself, I need to grow'...Instead, he gets to say the problem is women."

Why men are afraid to date

Not every man is an incel, of course, but the manosphere does tap into real anxieties and insecurities men have. 

"Men are more afraid than ever to talk to women in real life." - Connell Barrett

"The biggest thing that I see from men is that men are more afraid than ever to talk to women in real life," he said. They don't want to come off as creepy or get mocked on TikTok. There are a few reasons for this: social media surveillance and the fear of being cringe; a lack of social skills due to growing up online; and fears fueled by the MeToo era. 

When discussing MeToo and how to square men's fears of rejection with women's fear of physical assault (81 percent of women reported experiencing some sort of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center), Barrett said he makes sure his clients understand the latter. 

"I tell them, 'Look, I know you got your dating frustrations, but let's be honest…we don't have to worry about the same things women have to worry about,'" he said.

As a coach, Barrett also sees how insecurities can manifest as fear of dating and approaching women in person. He works on their beliefs, like teaching them that they are worthy of love, and then works with them to build confidence to speak to strangers in the real world. 

"Let's be honest…we don't have to worry about the same things women have to worry about." - Connell Barrett The daters who've given up

While the 18-year-old Redditor is looksmaxxing to get ahead, another man, a 35-year-old, said he "tried all the possible dating advice out there," like going to the gym, wearing better clothes and cologne, and improving education and social skills. He told Mashable over Reddit DMs that the only thing he hasn't tried is the "extreme" measures like surgery.

While he's on a number of dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Facebook Dating, Badoo, and Hinge), he said he's been rejected for 15 years and doesn't have high hopes. He's also not willing to put in as much effort as he once did.

A 30-year-old man Mashable spoke to over the phone, who commented on the r/OnlineDating subreddit that he gets around a match a year, and has gotten one date out of those matches a couple of years ago. (He texted that date for a bit after, but he said she kind of ghosted him).

This Reddit user tried meeting women through his social circles, but the options have been limited. Meanwhile, he does want a wife and a family.

When asked what's contributing to the trouble, he said, at the risk of sounding like "certain groups of people on the internet" (like incels), "if you don't have something that makes you remarkably attractive to women, there's not going to be a whole lot of signals of interest." He meant physical appearance or height; if you're on dating apps, he said, these are the metrics that matter.

Beyond looks, he believed there was a societal element to dating where people don't feel safe around each other anymore. "I fully understand why women don't feel safe around a lot of men," he said. "It makes sense why women are handling those interactions that way, but at the same time, that's filtering out the good men just as much as it is the bad."

This echoed what Barrett had been saying about how men are afraid to talk to women. "Society has changed the behavior of so many people, especially men, to look for love first and foremost on their phones, that most men are just not in the habit and hobby of going out into the real world," he said. And the universal thing he's hearing from men and women is that "pretty much everyone hates apps." Barrett has no problem with the apps — but said people don't fall in love on their phones. 

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Redditor said dating apps give the illusion of having lots of opportunities, and that combined with social media has risen expectations. "I think people do kind of have an inflated idea of what a reasonable expectation is for they can kind of expect out of a partner," he explained, "and so there's probably a lot less people that are perceived as potential partners, and we all kind of suffer from being on the outside of that."

"When you're looking for the perfect match, you probably miss a lot of people that would be pretty good ones." - 30-year-old Redditor

"When you're looking for the perfect match, you probably miss a lot of people that would be pretty good ones," he continued.

When discussing what dating is like for men overall, he said that, "There's a desire for better from a lot of people involved, but maybe a limited amount of willingness to change personal approaches to make it happen."

It's a cycle: Women are highly selective, and then have bad experiences with men — which is men's fault — and they get more cynical towards dating, and thus more selective, he said. 

"Women's solution is men need to be better so we actually want them, men's solution is women need to lower their standards, and neither of those is actually really a step towards either being more appealing to the other," he said.

He's also frustrated by what he calls "toxic positivity" content, and the idea that he's not behind. He wanted to have kids by 30, but he just turned 30 and is single. 

"It's not just like a loneliness or a wanting attention thing. There's actual bigger things we want in life that are impacted by this, too, and it's not as simple as this can happen when it happens," he said.

At the same time, however, he mentioned some things he could do, like get in better shape and be more aggressive about asking people out.

Barrett encourages men to go to any place where it's socially acceptable and reasonably normal to meet women, be it a bar on a Friday night, a gym, or a party. "People fall in love — or begin to connect — and eventually fall in love by meeting in person," he said.

And yes, men will have to deal with the fear of rejection, but as Barrett said, "Welcome to life."

Tiffany Haddish has used her Jimmy Kimmel guest-hosting platform this week to make fun of Donald Trump, so much so that she actually got a response from the White House.

But she isn't done just yet. In the clip above, the actor takes a parting jab at the president on her final night as guest host.

"I've had the best time this week, oh my goodness. I made some new friends, I told some jokes that pissed off the White House," says Haddish. "And now I can go back to making the president mad just by being a successful Black woman."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

“If the net result is that all the teens in Australia are still using social media, even after they’re technically banned from doing it, why are we doing any of this?”

TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Wimbledon is hurtling towards the finals taking place this weekend, but in many senses, the biggest game of the tournament is scheduled for the semi-final stage. Top seed Sinner faces off against Djokovic for a place in the final. It's going to be electric in centre court.

Djokovic came through an epic five-set match with Auger-Aliassime to make this stage of the tournament. Sinner had a much more straightforward victory over Struff. The Italian hasn't really been tested since his tough first-round match with Kecmanović, but you'd imagine Djokovic will stretch him.

If you want to watch Sinner vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Sinner vs. Djokovic for free

Sinner vs. Djokovic in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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One of the key problems in modern robotics is the hands. More precisely, the human hand is such a powerful, versatile and precise instrument that it's incredibly hard to create a robotic version of it that even comes close.

Palo Alto-based robotics company 1X appears to have made some significant progress here by creating a robotic hand that uses a tendon-like system to operate. The company CEO Bernt Bornich posted a video of the NEO robot and its new hands in action, and while it is impressive, it's also very, very unsettling.

SEE ALSO: Humanoid robots just removed a gallbladder in a live surgery

In the video, we see the robot perform tasks that are easy for most humans but pretty hard for robots, including separating grapes from their stems, picking up a steel glass, and screwing in a lightbulb.

Then, the video veers deep into uncanny valley territory, as the robot slowly unzips a man's jacket, and – in a particularly creepy moment – shows that its fingers can bend backwards.

We get it; the robot is pretty dextrous, and at times it even surpasses human abilities, but us humans are very sensitive to things being almost-but-not-quite-human. The robot's emotionless face doesn't help matters much, either.

In a blog post, 1X explains that with these new "25 Degree of Freedom" hands, NEO can "perform virtually any task a human can do with their hands." The hands are IP68 waterproof and food-safe (meaning NEO can wash its hands like a human can), and they're not just a blunt instrument for handling things; instead, they're also filled with sensors allowing the robot to react to different, delicate situations, such as recognizing when something is about to slip and fall, or handling something as fragile as origami without breaking it.

Even better, the hands aren't just a prototype that's years from manufacturing. 1X claims it can produce them in house, at a scale of 10,000 units per year. Not quite global reaching yet, but pretty good given this entire branch of robotics is still in its infancy.

Still, that video will probably haunt us forever.

SAVE $30: As of July 10, the Shark ChillPill is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That marks a return to its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark ChillPill $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

Considering how hot it's been this summer, a portable fan is worth thinking about. Thankfully, Amazon is making it nice and easy to shop by offering discounts on select models. Among them is the two-in-one Shark ChillPill, which has returned to its Prime Day price.

As of July 10, the sleek Shark ChillPill is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. Compared to its full price of $129.99, you're saving $30. More importantly, this marks a return to its lowest-ever price at the retailer. So why not scoop it up now and make your summer adventures a bit more breezy?

SEE ALSO: 16 summer hosting essentials that cost under $25 at Amazon

The two-in-one Shark ChillPill will certainly help keep you cool this summer. It offers 10 speeds and 10 noise levels — and it can mist you. The dry-touch evaporative mist keeps you cool without getting you all wet, which is a nice bonus against the summer heat. Plus, it has a versatile design that can be worn, attached to something you own, or twisted if you want to prop it up on a table.

Mashable's Samantha Mangino reviewed this fan and called it, "the most unique take on the personal fan that I've ever encountered." She continued to say, "With 10 speeds, it's effective at cooling you down, even on the hottest of days." Plus, it's one of our favorite gadgets so far this year.

If you're looking for something to keep you cool on-the-go during these warmer months, don't miss out on this deal on the Shark ChillPill at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

European Union authorities said the company’s use of “addictive design” violated a digital safety law.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 10, the DREO TurboPoly Fan 512 has dropped to $86.40 at Amazon. That's $13.59 off its list price of $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: DREO DREO TurboPoly Fan 512 $86.40 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $13.59   Get Deal

It's a hot one, and if you've been on the lookout for a fan to help keep you cool at home, Amazon can help. A few deals have been popping up on select models, including the DREO TurboPoly Fan 512. For a limited time, the grey model has dropped to $86.40.

Usually this DREO fan retails for $99.99, so you're saving $13.59 on this color variant. The dark grey version is also on sale right now at Amazon, though it costs a few dollars extra at $89.96. However, the regular grey model won't be on sale for long. Not only does it have a "limited time deal" tag, but it's also being claimed, which you can see in the bar below the price on the right-hand side. So if it's caught your eye, now is the time to grab it.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is packed with outdoor deals for summer from Coleman

From a personal standpoint, I think this DREO fan is worth every cent. I recently bought it to help with the heatwaves and it's made a big difference in my apartment. It's a pedestal fan that oscillates up to 120 degrees vertically and horizontally to cover the room. While the vertical tilt needs to be adjusted manually, the horizontal can be controlled through a remote and the panel on the front.

To find your ideal breeze, it also offers up four wind modes — auto, sleep, turbo, and normal — alongside nine wind speeds. Plus, it operates quietly — keeping noise levels down to 20dB — which is a huge positive if you're using it when sleeping. Furthermore, this is a great air circulator, and so can also be used in the colder months to carry warm air from your heater and push it around the room.

If a new fan has been on your mind, act fast to save on the DREO TurboPoly Fan 512 at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Millie Bobby Brown has taken on so many nightmares in the Upside-Down that a mere spicy wing is nothing to her.

That's why she's back for another appearance on First We Feast's Hot Ones in the clip above, answering questions on everything from Enola Holmes 3 to the animals she looks after on her farm.

The highlight? A very frantic post-Da Bomb marine life quiz during which Brown tells host Sean Evans to "Shut the f*** up!"

Donald Trump departed the NATO summit in Turkey on a different plane than he arrived on. The president landed in Ankara aboard his shiny new $400 million Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8, but flew home in the old Air Force One.

And The Daily Show's Ronny Chieng has questions.

"OK, first off, how do you fly back on a different plane? Like, did they bring both Air Force Ones? Is that why there's no gas in the world anymore? Because the president flies with an extra emotional support plane?" the host asked on Thursday night.

"Also, you know what happens anytime they switch planes on you, OK? Trump definitely lost his luggage. He's calling them like, 'Hey, did you guys find a box? It says 'Epstein.' Don't open it.'"

SEE ALSO: Ronny Chieng's 'Daily Show' interview with Aaron Chen is a delight

According to the New York Times, the Secret Service cited security concerns with the Qatari plane amid the U.S.' ongoing war with Iran.

"Of course, we have to abandon the Qatari plane for security concerns. Of course, that happened. This is why, when it comes to the most important plane in the world, you don't go certified pre-owned," said Chieng.

"America should spring for a new one, and Trump should give the Qatar plane to...I don't know, give it to Southwest. I'll fly in it. I don't care if they spy on me. What are you gonna do? Find out I'm watching my own movies on the entertainment system? I'm not ashamed. I'm great in them."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

The Blooms by Play-Doh lineup: Play-Doh Blooms Rosy Petite Bouquet Kit $24.99 Shop Now Play-Doh Blooms Wildflower Petite Bouquet Kit $24.99 Shop Now Play-Doh Blooms Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit $39.99 Shop Now Play-Doh Blooms Garden Bouquet Kit $39.99 Shop Now

If your last memory of Play-Doh involves making lopsided snakes in kindergarten, this is the version your adult self has been waiting for. The iconic toy is getting a surprisingly sophisticated makeover with Blooms by Play-Doh, a new line of adult craft kits designed to turn colorful dough into display-worthy floral arrangements.

The collection starts at $24.99 and is available now at Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Play-Doh Blooms Rosy Petite Bouquet Kit Opens in a new window Credit: Play-Doh Play-Doh Blooms Rosy Petite Bouquet Kit $24.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

The Blooms by Play-Doh Rosy Petite Bouquet Kit keeps things simple without feeling too basic. The kit comes with everything you need to build a small bouquet, including Play-Doh compound, shaping tools, a clear display vase, finishing spray, and a step-by-step guide with photos, making it easy to jump in even if you've never tried crafting flowers before.

You'll create eight blooms using a rolling technique that forms two different flower styles, then seal everything with the included finishing spray to help the finished bouquet hold its shape over time. The floral-scented Play-Doh adds a nice touch, while the finished arrangement is designed to sit on a desk, shelf, or table as a handmade decoration instead of ending up back in the craft drawer.

Play-Doh Blooms Wildflower Petite Bouquet Kit Opens in a new window Credit: Play-Doh Play-Doh Blooms Wildflower Petite Bouquet Kit $24.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

The Play-Doh Blooms Wildflower Petite Bouquet Kit is also a great starting point if you're curious about the new collection but don't want to jump straight into a larger bouquet. The kit comes with everything you need to create 12 colorful wildflowers, including floral-scented Play-Doh, shaping tools, a clear display vase, and a detailed step-by-step guide that makes the process simple.

Once your bouquet is finished, a light coat of the finishing spray helps preserve the flowers so they're ready to display. There's also plenty of room to get creative along the way, making each arrangement feel a little different from the last.

Play-Doh Blooms Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit Opens in a new window Credit: Play-Doh Play-Doh Blooms Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit $39.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

The Play-Doh Blooms Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit is designed to make crafting feel relaxing instead of intimidating. Everything you need comes in the box — from flower molds and shaping tools to stems, a vase, and finishing spray — so you can jump right in without buying extra supplies.

One of the coolest parts is watching the flowers take shape. You simply load the colorful Play-Doh into the blooming tools, press down, and watch detailed petals emerge to create your own bouquet. Once your bouquet is finished, let the flowers dry, give them a light coat of the finishing spray to help preserve them, then arrange everything in the clear vase for a display piece that can stick around long after craft night is over.

Play-Doh Blooms Garden Bouquet Kit Opens in a new window Credit: Play-Doh Play-Doh Blooms Garden Bouquet Kit $39.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now Why we like it

If you're looking for the most display-worthy kit in the lineup, the Blooms by Play-Doh Garden Bouquet Kit is a great choice. It lets you build a full bouquet of 20 flowers in different shapes and sizes, with soft pinks, whites, and yellows giving the finished arrangement a fresh, spring-inspired look.

What makes this kit fun is that it feels more like arranging flowers than playing with modeling dough. The included tools help shape realistic petals, while the smaller blooms and greenery let you personalize the bouquet rather than just follow a template. Once your flowers have dried, a quick spray helps them hold their shape so they can stay on display as a colorful handmade centerpiece.

I reviewed the Ninja Slushi when it came out in 2024 and have had a blast with it since. The Slushi is the easiest little machine to use, and I have a hard time finding any real cons about it. Perhaps the Slushi's biggest downfall is that it's such a hot commodity that it can be hard to land on one flavor for a group of people. At least that's the problem Ninja was aiming to solve when it released the Ninja Slushi Twist in May 2026.

What's special about the Ninja Slushi Twist?

Like the original, the Ninja Slushi Twist can turn room-temperature liquid into the perfect frozen slushy consistency in less than an hour, and no ice or pre-freezing is needed. The Twist doubles the fun of the original with two separate vessels for making two separate drinks at the same time.

Those drinks can be the same treat in two different flavors or can be two different recipes completely. Then, they can be dispensed separately or mixed together by swirling your glass with the dial on the drip tray.

Technically, you could sorta kinda mix flavors with a single canister Slushi. It'd just involve combining two recipes beforehand, like mixing two fruit flavors before they go in the Slushi. Except that doesn't fly with a picky strawberry daiquiri or strawberry margarita purist like me, which can make happy hour cocktails feel very boring for the rest of the group. The simplicity of the Slushi Twist's two canisters operating individually is a foolproof way to prevent the friendship-ruining lie that you can "barely taste the pineapple."

I also couldn't help but think about how clutch the Ninja Slushi Twist would be at large family gatherings. I originally convinced a friend's parents to get a Slushi for their beach house. My friend's siblings, nieces, and nephews come over all the time, and the Slushi has been a year-round hit. (The kids are always psyched to help with the recipe process — I would have probably been more excited about fractions at 10 years old if I were getting a slushie out of it.)

The Slushi Twist would allow the adults to make their margs and the kids to make their age-appropriate Baja Blast slushies at the same time, rather than one group having to wait for the first batch to finish.

The Slushi Twist slushes smarter and faster

Just like the original Slushi, you can make slushies, frappés, milkshakes, and cocktails (with or without alcohol) in the Ninja Slushi Twist. But instead of pushing a button to tell the Slushi what kind of drink you're making, the Slushi Twist already knows what to do. SlushAssist technology senses the mixture of ingredients in the vessel and chooses an optimal slush time and temperature for you.

The Ninja Slushi Twist (left) and the original Ninja Slushi (right). Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable The Slushi Twist has clear lights to help with water and sugar ratios. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

I followed the included booklet's recipe for three servings of frosé, which just involved rosé, cocktail juice, and some simple syrup (I mimicked that as best I could on the other side with white wine and pineapple juice). I'd have to manually select "spiked slush" on the original Slushi, but here, I just pressed the "Dual SlushAssist" button in the middle and let the Twist take the wheel. Less than 30 minutes later, both wine slushies were ready — and dare I say, an even smoother consistency than that of my favorite rooftop bar's.

4:51 p.m. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable 5:08 p.m. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

You don't necessarily have to make the same type of concoction on both sides of the Slushi. Perhaps half of your brunch guests are craving espresso martini milkshakes, while the others would prefer frozen mimosas or bellinis. SlushAssist should recognize that one side's ingredients require a warmer temperature to preserve a creamy texture that can be poured and won't be chunky.

If you're only using one side of the Twist, you can just press the SlushAssist button on that side. Just one of the 72-ounce vessels is more than enough for me if I'm making a protein shake or fun drink by myself.

I also appreciate the Slushi Twist panel's addition of the specific "add water" and "add sugar" lights. The original Slushi doesn't have dedicated warning lights for either of those errors, only warning you that your ratio is off through a special pattern of blinking lights on the front. It's important to remember that Slushi concoctions sometimes require more math than you'd expect, and that making a low-sugar or sugar-free drink in the Slushi won't go well. Let us live, chemistry.

SEE ALSO: The Ninja Creami Scoop & Swirl is even better and more fun than the original Creami — but are we still using it a year later?

Correct water, sugar, and alcohol content of your mixture determines whether the Slushi machine actually slushes correctly. You need to keep an especially careful eye when you're going rogue and making up your own recipe, but ratios can be thrown off by changes as simple as doubling or halving a recipe.

Too much water or too much alcohol will make your mixture runny, while too little sugar could make your mixture freeze a little too well (like, into a block). Both errors could cause your machine to completely shut off by itself. Luckily, the included recipe book does a great job of explaining the appropriate percentages of each ingredient across a variety of recipe types.

Things to consider: What makes the Ninja Slushi Twist worth it?

While the original Ninja Slushi feels quite slim for being a whole-ass frozen drink maker, the Ninja Slushi Twist is significantly bulkier. The Slushi Twist measures 11.93 inches wide compared to the 6.54 inches of the single-vessel 88-ounce Slushi, taking up nearly double the width on your counter. There's nothing that Ninja can do about the inherent size difference, but it's something to keep in mind if you don't have a ton of free storage space.

Overall, the Slushi Twist absolutely works like it's supposed to. It chills liquids into fun frozen drinks in as little as half an hour, and isn't loud and obnoxious while doing so. The Twist requires very little manual intervention during slushing and is even easier to use than the OG model. Is the end result basically the same as something a blender can do? Sure. But I will die on the hill that the serotonin boost and hit of nostalgia of on-demand slushies make this ridiculous dessert appliance feel a little less extra.

Choosing between the original Ninja Slushi and the Ninja Slushi Twist should be super straightforward. Before buying, you surely already know whether your frozen drink needs are serious enough to justify a $399.99 machine that makes two flavors at once. If you have guests over frequently or have more than four people in your home, you'll probably get your money's worth out of the double vessels.

Trying to choose between the Ninja Slushi Max and Slushi Twist? If you're already going to spend $369.99 on the Slushi Max, you might as well spend $30 more and secure the variety made possible with the Slushi Twist instead. Across the two 72-ounce vessels, you get a full capacity of 144 ounces compared to the 150-ounce capacity of the Slushi Max.

Ninja Slushi Twist $399.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Love Island USA has found its latest relationship status to argue about: “exclusive.”

As Season 8 heads into its final stretch, islanders Zach Georgiou and Kayda Bosse have turned a familiar dating label into one of the villa’s messier debates. After weeks of being coupled up, Zach asked Kayda if she would “exclusively date” him, stopping short of asking her to be his girlfriend. Kayda accepted, but when she told the other women, they downplayed the arrangement, with fan-favorite Trinity Tatum calling it a "situationship."

Viewers have been debating the difference ever since.

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Love Island has its own relationship dictionary. Islanders “explore” connections, become “closed off,” “recouple,” and even like “french fries” (whatever that innuendo means). The term “closed off” typically means a contestant is no longer open to pursuing other people in the villa, while boyfriend and girlfriend is the clearer, more traditional label. Zach and Kayda’s “exclusive” step landed somewhere in between, which is probably one of the reasons why it caused such a reaction.

SEE ALSO: 'Love Island USA' dumps the internet's favorite 'robot'

Zach and Kayda have been coupled up since Day 3, but their run hasn't been completely smooth. Their relationship hit a rough patch after Casa Amor, the Love Island twist where couples are temporarily separated and introduced to new Islanders who can test their connections. At that time, Zach explored another connection with Alannah Keyser, who was later removed from the villa after social media posts resurfaced of her using a racial slur. Zach then told Kayda he would have chosen her either way, but Kayda was hurt after learning from another Islander that Alannah’s departure had changed the situation.

The two eventually reconciled, and Zach later told Kayda he was not ready to use the boyfriend-girlfriend label because they had only known each other for a few weeks and live in different countries.

That explanation did not fully land with everyone in the villa. When Kayda shared the news with the other women, Trinity interpreted the “exclusive” label as less of a milestone and more of a gray area. In her view, the step did not seem meaningfully different from what Zach and Kayda were already doing, especially so late in the season. The word “situationship” quickly became the center of the conversation, both on the show and among fans.

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Online, Love Island viewers have been split. Some argued that “exclusive” is a normal and reasonable step before boyfriend and girlfriend, especially for a couple about to leave a controlled reality TV environment and test the relationship in the real world. Several commenters said the villa is not normal dating, and that wanting to see how things work outside before using an official label is fair.

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Others sided more with Trinity’s read, or at least understood why the label felt underwhelming. Some fans pointed out that Zach and Kayda have spent weeks together, shared a bed, talked about their feelings, and acted like a couple. To those viewers, asking to be exclusive after all that felt less like a romantic leap and more like a cautious rebrand. One common reaction was basically: If you are already choosing each other, why not just say "boyfriend and girlfriend"?

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A third camp thought both sides had a point. Some fans said “situationship” may have been the wrong word, but that the women were reacting to something broader about Zach’s behavior and timing. Fans brought up his Casa Amor choices, Kayda’s trust issues, and the fact that the couple had recently been vulnerable in America’s vote. For those viewers, the issue was less the dictionary definition of “exclusive” and more whether Zach’s actions matched the seriousness of the moment.

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The debate is especially timely, as many of the other Islanders have made it official: Bryce Dettloff asked Trinity to be his girlfriend on the June 29 episode, making them the first official couple of the season. And then on July 7, KC and Titi became boyfriend and girlfriend after 9 days of knowing each other. I guess when you know, you know.

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Zach’s brother, Charlie Georgiou (Georgio professionally), who was on Love Island Season 7, defended the choice online. He wrote that exclusively dating before becoming boyfriend and girlfriend was a “mature decision,” arguing that the villa is a manufactured environment and that leaving the show as a couple comes with its own complications.

Ultimately, in my opinion, Kayda's frustration with the word "situationship" is valid, as it's a label that lacks commitment or a shared understanding of where things are going. Exclusivity, by contrast, is at least one clear agreement: the two people are not pursuing anyone else. By that definition, Zach and Kayda may not be fully official, but they are not exactly floating around label-free either.

Still, Love Island relationships are rarely judged by the couple alone. Zach and Kayda may know what “exclusive” means to them, but in the villa, every label gets interpreted by the group — and then relitigated by the internet.

Reality TV scandals have always been good for ratings. This year, they may also be good for Emmy nominations.

The 2026 Emmy nominations arrived on Wednesday, July 8, and two of the most interesting reality TV nods came with some very juicy backstories. Summer House earned its first-ever Emmy nomination after a season dominated by relationship fallout, friendship fractures, and one very closely watched timeline. Ariana Madix, the former Vanderpump Rules star whose post-Scandoval career has also become a reality TV success story of its own, earned her first nomination as host of Love Island USA.

Neither nomination can be reduced to a scandal. Emmy voters are not handing out awards for mess alone, and both nominations also speak to production, casting, editing, hosting, and the kind of storytelling that turns chaos into television.

But...it is hard to ignore the pattern: some of reality TV’s biggest awards breakthroughs are coming after seasons where off-screen betrayal became part of the on-screen event.

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Bravo has seen this before. In 2023, Vanderpump Rules earned its first Emmy nominations after Scandoval, the cheating scandal involving Madix, her long-term boyfriend at the time, Tom Sandoval, and her best friend, Rachel Leviss, that turned a long-running Bravo show into a full-blown pop culture fixation. Cameras went back up after the affair became public, the finale became must-watch TV, and viewers treated the reunion like a national hearing with better contour. The show went on to earn another Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program nomination in 2024.

SEE ALSO: The 6 most Scandovalous quotes from the 'Vanderpump Rules' reunion

Now, history has repeated itself.

Summer House landed in Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program, where it’s nominated alongside America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Love on the Spectrum, RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked, and Welcome to Wrexham. The nomination follows a Season 10 that kicked off with classic Hamptons house drama and ended with fans dissecting what actually went down between Amanda Batula, West Wilson, Ciara Miller, and Kyle Cooke.

For fans, it's long-overdue recognition for a show that's been delivering quality reality TV for over a decade.

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Unlike Scandoval, the Summer House drama of Season 10 was not a single explosive reveal that immediately reshaped the season. It was a slower-moving internet investigation. Season 10 showed Batula dealing with marital issues with Cooke, while Miller remained one of her closest confidants. Wilson, who had previously dated Miller, was still flirting with her throughout the season and keeping the possibility of a reconciliation alive.

Then Batula and Wilson confirmed they were dating after previously denying romance rumors, and viewers began reassessing everything they had already watched: the friendship, the flirting, the timing, and the reunion-room answers.

The season was huge, just check the numbers. Part 1 of the Season 10 reunion drew 3.1 million multi-platform viewers in seven days, the biggest episode in Summer House history. Reunion content also racked up 84 million social video views after May 26. Bravo even sold tickets to an exclusive extended and uncensored screening of the reunion in New York, giving fans a chance to watch the fallout together before it aired on TV and Peacock.

That right there is the power of reality TV at full volume, where a relationship betrayal becomes a ratings driver, a reunion becomes an event, and a cast member becomes someone fans want to defend, follow, and see win.

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Madix knows that trajectory well. After Scandoval, she became one of Bravo’s biggest breakout figures, turning a very public breakup into a career expansion that included Dancing With the Stars, Broadway, brand deals, and eventually the Love Island USA hosting job.

When she took over the Peacock dating show, she did not arrive as a traditional host dropped into a franchise, but as a fanbase that had watched her become the wronged woman at the center of one of reality TV’s biggest scandals and was already invested in her next chapter. Love Island USA already had its own momentum, cast, drama, and fan ecosystem, but Madix brought an additional audience ready to show up.

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Since then, Love Island USA has become one of Peacock's biggest reality hits. Season 6 became Peacock’s most-watched and most-talked-about series by minutes watched and social conversation volume. Fans have turned nightly episodes, recouplings, Casa Amor fallout, Aftersun interviews (hosted by Summer House's Cierra Miller, who landed the gig after her cheating scandal broke), and off-screen drama into a full-blown social media routine.

Madix is nominated alongside RuPaul Charles for RuPaul’s Drag Race, Alan Cumming for The Traitors, Kristen Kish for Top Chef, and Jeff Probst for Survivor. That is a stacked category filled with reality-TV institutions, which makes her first-time nomination even more notable.

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Taken together, Summer House and Madix's nominations point to the same thing: reality TV’s messiest moments can become bigger than temporary internet chaos. When handled well by producers, editors, hosts, and networks, they can raise a show’s ratings, deepen fan investment, and turn reality stars into television figures with real staying power.

Cheating scandals have a particular pull on viewers because they deliver both an emotional story and a mystery to solve. The betrayal of infidelity hits hard — but it also turns audiences into detectives. Viewers have a reason to keep watching beyond the episode they're currently watching. Fans comb through old scenes hunting for clues, rewatch confessionals with fresh context, compare reunion answers to podcast interviews, and treat Instagram posts like evidence in a case file.

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Plus, reality TV inherently makes viewers feel unusually close to its cast members, especially on shows like Vanderpump Rules and Summer House, where relationships and friendships have been filmed for years. Fans do not personally know Madix, Miller, Batula, Wilson, or anyone else involved, but they have watched enough birthdays, breakups, group trips, fights, and reunions to feel invested in the stakes.

Reality TV has spent years being treated like television's guilty pleasure. In 2026, the guilt seems beside the point, because the pleasure, apparently, is Emmy-nominated.