Is Serena Williams’ Use of GLP-1 a Performance-Enhancing Drug? Should Tennis Ban It?

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There are two big things to know about what Serena Williams has been up to.

The first is that she has confessed to using GLP-1 medications for luxury weight loss, even posting paid promotions.

The second is that she has returned to tennis several years after retiring.

But there’s growing buzz about banning BLP-1 as a performance-enhancing drug. Is she going to have to choose between them? Should she?

Serena Williams attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026. (Photo Credit: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix)

GLP-1s among athletes is relatively new territory

The New York Times is talking about it, so we are, too.

Last year, Serena announced her partnership with Ro — a company in which her husband, Alexis Ohanian, has invested.

According to her narrative, she struggled to lose weight after giving birth to two daughters, which led her to trying Zepbound.

Now, Serena has last weight and returned to the world of tennis — though she says that she’s only playing doubles for fun.

This does make her the most prominent athlete to have openly used GLP-1 drugs for luxury weight loss.

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Anti-doping authorities in the tennis world and beyond have been monitoring GLP-1 drugs since 2024, shortly after the fad took off.

For now, they are not a prohibited substance.

They are also not currently classified as a performance-enhancing drug by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).

It is possible that this will never change.

There are arguments for banning the use of GLP-1s in sports, allowing it, and also for something in between.

Do they actually enhance anyone’s athletic performance though?

In Tennis, anti-doping protocols are managed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). WADA oversees compliance.

Serena claimed that, despite being one of the greatest athletes on Earth, she struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise until she began using a GLP-1 medication.

(Again, there is a financial stake given her husband’s investment, leaving some to question the credulity of her paid statements.)

Now, if GLP-1 use were to be considered a performance-enhancing medication, it might be for fat loss.

However, studies have shown that GLP-1 patients experience muscle loss. Obviously. Which would, if anything, sound like it would detract from an athlete’s performance.

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Ultimately, this discussion sort of misses the point, doesn’t it?

First of all, politics can play a bigger role in what is and is not banned from competitions.

Marijuana could not reasonably enhance anyone’s athletic performance, yet it is generally banned for athletes.

Trans women on estrogen may be banned, even though their HRT would, if anything, reduce their athletic performance. Meanwhile, cis women with higher levels of testosterone could also be banned, simply for being themselves.

Medicalized starvation — which, ultimately, is what GLP-1 medication does — probably doesn’t give an athlete an edge on the field.

But athletes are maybe the last people who should be promoting this as a “healthy” option for those who do not medically need it, such as diabetes patients.

Is Serena Williams’ Use of GLP-1 a Performance-Enhancing Drug? Should Tennis Ban It? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Taylor Swift Hugs Kylie Jenner Amid Kim Kardashian Feud Following Historic Knicks Win

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If there was ever an occasion for setting aside differences, this was it:

The New York Knicks came back from a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals last night.

And some of the biggest celebrities on the planet took to the court to celebrate the historic win — including ones who might normally give each other the cold shoulder.

Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Johan Cruijff Arena on July 05, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

As expected, Donald Trump was not on hand after being roundly booed during Game 3.

But Taylor Swift was seated courtside, right between the Haim sisters and Mariska Hargitay.

As usual, Kylie Jenner was there, alongside boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, a hardcore Knicks fan.

And in a development that few saw coming, Taylor and Kylie briefly embraced one another during the post-game celebration.

Social media users were quick to make note of the somewhat surprising interaction.

After all, Kylie happens to be the younger sister of Kim Kardashian, and Kim’s feud with Taylor has been simmering for what feels like several geological eras.

Yet here were Kylie and Taylor, hugging, smiling, and chatting like two people who weren’t connected to one of pop culture’s longest-running beefs.

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Taylor + Kylie celebrating the Knicks win @ESPN

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Of course this was no time for nursing old grudges.

The moment occurred after the Knicks beat the Spurs 107-106 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

The Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973, and the post-game scene looked like the world’s most chaotic awards show.

Kylie turned around, spotted Taylor standing behind her, and immediately broke into a smile. The two exchanged a quick hug and a brief conversation before heading off in different directions.

Naturally, Swifties and Kardashian-watchers immediately began dissecting every frame.

Does this mean the feud is over? Not exactly.

Taylor has never suggested she’s ready to become best friends with Kim Kardashian, and nothing about one courtside hug indicates a sudden reconciliation.

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But it does seem to suggest that Kylie has no interest in carrying on family drama that began nearly a decade ago.

And while Taylor’s interaction with Kylie generated plenty of buzz, she was already one of the night’s biggest attractions.

Fans packed Madison Square Garden hoping to witness a Knicks win, but no doubt many were also eager to catch a glimpse of Taylor, who arrived wearing a custom “Stevie Knicks” shirt in a nod to both the team and her longtime friend Stevie Nicks.

The appearance comes during an especially busy stretch for the singer, who has been making headlines thanks to speculation surrounding her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.

For now, though, the biggest takeaway from Game 4 might be this:

The Knicks are one win away from a championship.

And Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner are apparently on hugging terms.

Both developments seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago.

Taylor Swift Hugs Kylie Jenner Amid Kim Kardashian Feud Following Historic Knicks Win was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Barbra Streisand Skips Cannes to ‘Avoid Stress That Could Kill’ Her: Is She …

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Barbra Streisand is a larger-than-life figure in pop culture.

Why did she skip Cannes this year, when she was due to receive an award?

The official story is that doctors asked her to stay home for the time being.

But a new report says that the aging superstar’s days in the spotlight may be over.

Barbra Streisand speaks onstage during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026. (Photo Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

‘I am sadly unable to attend’

When Streisand skipped the Cannes Film Festival, was it just a sign of things to come?

“On the advice of my doctors, as I continue recovering from a knee injury,” she announced as explanation.

Therefore, Streisand shared in her statement: “I am sadly unable to attend the Festival de Cannes this year.”

“But I am deeply honored to receive the honorary Palme d’Or,” she affirmed, “and had so been looking forward to celebrating the remarkable films of the 79th edition.”

Streisand continued: “I was also very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues whom I so admire — and, of course, returning to France, a place I have always loved.”

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RadarOnline reports that there is allegedly more than her knee recovery at work.

“With Barbra’s resources, a bad knee alone would never stop this trip to France,” a source claimed.

“She flies private. She would have had medical staff, assistants, whatever she needed,” the insider listed.

According to the source: “This is much bigger than mobility issues.”

What is the real cause? It may be her big public appearance in March.

‘Right now the focus is Barbra’s health’

During the Academy Awards, an emotional Streisand honored the late Robert Redford.

Her tribute included singing several lines from the theme song of The Way We Were, a 1973 drama in which both starred.

The audience broke into thunderous applause.

However, online, people were less than kind about her Oscars performance. Some were even cruel.

As a result, it seems that her confidence in public appearances may have been shaken.

“The reaction shook her confidence badly,” a source described.

The insider added: “Barbra has always been incredibly sensitive and when she feels exposed or vulnerable, she disappears.”

That much is no secret. After all, The Streisand Effect is arguably better known than the Yentl star herself.

“Don’t expect another concert,” warned a second insider. “Right now the focus is Barbra’s health, her comfort, and protecting her from unnecessary stress that could kill her.”

She is 84 years old. But her age could also explain why doctors would prefer that she not cross any oceans or accept any awards while her knee recovers.

Barbra Streisand Skips Cannes to ‘Avoid Stress That Could Kill’ Her: Is She … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Donald Trump OUT, Taylor Swift IN For Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4!

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When Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the crowd booed him during the National Anthem, and the hometown New York Knicks lost for the first time in over a month.

The president generally isn’t a fan of embracing criticism, but it seems that he got the hint this time.

Several outlets have now confirmed that Trump will not be in attendance at Game 4 tonight — but it looks like a different cultishly beloved, highly divisive blonde billionaire will be taking his place.

Taylor Swift performs on stage during the “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Wembley Stadium on August 15, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

Yes, Page Six has confirmed that Taylor Swift will be on hand at Madison Square Garden tonight.

It won’t be her first time taking in a playoff game this year: Tay and fiance Travis Kelce were courtside for one of the Knicks’ away games during their series against the Cleveland Cavs.

Travis — Cleveland native and lifelong Cavs fan — even delighted the hometown crowd by standing and chugging a beer.

There are two important differences for tonight’s game:

For one thing, Tay will be able to openly cheer for the Knicks (New York is her adopted hometown, but she tamped down her fandom in Cleveland).

On top of that, it seems that Travis will not be in attendance tonight.

“She’s a huge fan of the Knicks and really wants to be there to support them. She is going with friends,” one source tells Page Six.

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Travis spoke about his own NBA fandom on the latest episode of his podcast, noting that he was not “trying to persuade Taylor into being a Cleveland sports fan” with him.

“This was me just having a fun date night knowing that I love going to basketball games. We actually tried to go to a game in New York, but I was stuck in Kansas City. I love bringing her into the sports world that I appreciate,” he explained, adding:

“Obviously, being a Cleveland sports fan all my life, getting Tay back to Cleveland and showing her my roots is always something I love doing.”

As for the players, it sounds like they’ll prefer playing in front of Taylor over Trump.

“I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient on everybody else. We’ve got more, obviously more security. We’ve got to send stuff early, I think our buses are a little earlier,” Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox told Yahoo! News before Monday’s game.

“The less stuff you can bring, the better. Obviously, we’re getting screened like it’s TSA. A little inconvenient for the people that’s gotta play. It is what it is.”

Obviously, Taylor is almost as famous as the president, but she won’t have the Secret Service shutting down entire city blocks on her behalf.

And we’re sure both the players and the city of New York will appreciate that.

Donald Trump OUT, Taylor Swift IN For Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Sydney Sweeney Champions NSFW ‘Euphoria’ OnlyFans Scenes, Says Being …

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On Euphoria‘s final season, Cassie Howard delved into controversy and OnlyFans, igniting debate among fans.

Sydney Sweeney portrayed her through all of that, including nude and NSFW scenes.

And she doesn’t have any regrets.

Explaining herself, Sweeney says that acting is all about embodying a character. Which, she says, is why no one knows who she really is in real life.

Sydney Sweeney attends the Los Angeles premiere of Lionsgate’s “The Housemaid” at TCL Chinese Theatre on December 15, 2025. (Photo Credit: Brianna Bryson/WireImage)

Cassie ‘has a need to be validated by other people’

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Sweeney justified her character, Cassie Howard, in her polarizing Season 3 storyline.

“From the very beginning, you can see that Cassie has this need to be loved,”

“She has a need to be validated by other people,” she continued. “She doesn’t know how to love herself unless someone else loves her.”

As far as Cassie’s decision to join the site, Sweeney said she thinks her character “was more excited by the idea of all these people loving her and knowing who she is and feeling like her world isn’t small.”

In real life, most OnlyFans creators are just trying to earn grocery money. But some — like Cassie — are after validation more than money.

“He sent me all the scripts and it already had all of Cassie’s scenes in it, the OnlyFans scenes,” Sweeney recalled of showrunner Sam Levinson.

“And he called me afterwards, and he was talking about it, and we talked through it all,” she continued.

“He asked me how I felt about it,” Sweeney shared. “And I told him, ‘Look, I’m playing a character.’”

Sweeney continued: “Do I agree with all of Cassie’s decisions? Would I personally make these choices? No, of course not.”

Among many other things, Cassie became an OnlyFans creator, even becoming one of the rare few to earn a substantial income through the adult media subscription platform.

Sydney Sweeney models the Comfy lingerie collection for her Syrn brand.

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— fanana hammock (@fananahammock.bsky.social) February 27, 2026 at 1:24 PM

She portrayed her character ‘in the most vulnerable and insane way possible’

“But I’m an actor and that’s my job,” Sweeney reasoned. “And this is Cassie’s life.”

She continued: “And to be able to do her justice and play her how she’s to be played is to bring Sam’s vision to life.”

That, Sweeney explained, meant that she wanted “to play Cassie in the most vulnerable and insane way possible.”

Like or hate Euphoria, she certainly did that.

Whether or not she’s a realistic portrayal of any exaggeration of Zoomers, Cassie is someone warped by trauma until she became exactly who she was.

Vanity Fair‘s interview asked Sweeney which of her characters — from Euphoria to Immaculate to Christie and beyond — is most like she is.

Sweeney avoided giving a direct answer, instead teasing that fans “have no clue” who she “actually” is in real life.

“That’s why I love acting,” she expressed.

“The whole point of acting is being able to play all these different characters,” Sweeney gushed. “It wouldn’t be fun playing myself.”

There are actors who seem to only play versions of themselves. It’s nice to hear of someone who could get cast in almost any project speaking about how much she loves actually acting, rather than simply line-reading.

That said, a lot of people would like to know who she really is. Maybe one day, she’ll stop playing coy, and they will.

Sydney Sweeney Champions NSFW ‘Euphoria’ OnlyFans Scenes, Says Being … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Ryan Edwards & Amanda Conner Are DIVORCING After 9 Months!

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Less than 1 year after they married, it’s over!

During a recent 911 call, Amanda Conner begged police to help her safely get her belongings out of the house before Ryan Edwards could destroy them — as he is known to do.

She also revealed that she is divorcing him.

Amanda detailed the alleged abuse that she has received at his hands during their marriage. Without police, she feared for her life.

‘Teen Mom’ villain Ryan Edwards appears in this mugshot from early 2023. He has many mugshots from his many arrests. (Photo Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office)

‘Me and my husband are in the middle of a divorce’

In Amanda Conner’s 911 call, which The Ashley has since acquired and published (below), she explained to police why she needed their help.

She explained to the operator that she feared Ryan because of his anger when she told him that their relationship was over — and because he has allegedly been “very abusive” in the past.

Amanda told authorities that the marriage was over, that she and Ryan are divorcing, and that she needed help to retrieve her things.

“I’m just requesting an officer to be here so I can get the things out of my house,” Amanda explained in the recording.

“Me and my husband are in the middle of a divorce,” she continued. “And he’s been abusive in the past and I just don’t feel comfortable. …”

“I have pictures of me with black eyes,” Amanda told police, before appearing to tell them that she has photos featuring a “busted nose.”

She explained: “I never reported it to the police because I just didn’t want him to go to jail that day.”

Amanda continued: “But, yes, I have evidence of him being very abusive. That’s what he does.”

She also described her fears about retrieving her belongings: “I’ll go in to get [my stuff] and he tricks me and I get stuck in there.”

Amanda detailed that she was in the car outside of her home, “scared to go in” without an escort.

Amanda Conner has had her own legal troubles. (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department)

‘The look in his eye, I knew better’

“I actually stayed the night here last night and I woke up and was like, ‘This is not going to work out’ and then he started yelling,” Amanda recalled to the operator.

“Like, the look in his eye, I knew better,” she explained.

Anyone who has had to be hypersensitive to the moods of a man in their household for their own safety and that of others can understand what she means.

“So I grabbed my purse and went to the car,” Amanda continued.

She expressed a fear that Ryan “is probably in there destroying my s–t so if they could hurry, that would be nice.”

None of this comes as any surprise to Teen Mom fans who have followed Ryan and those women unfortunate enough to end up with him.

(Including the part about destroying someone’s belongings — which Ryan has done in the past.)

In addition to Ryan’s history with his exes, Amanda’s sister said that he nearly strangled Amanda to death not too long ago.

The good news is that Amanda has spoken about it.

People hope that she will stick to her plan and leave him. No one deserves the grim fate of being Ryan’s wife.

Ryan Edwards & Amanda Conner Are DIVORCING After 9 Months! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Mayim Bialik Details ‘Explosive’ Nightmare with GLP-1, Warns of Severe Side …

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GLP-1 use is rising. History will determine whether that’s fine or very bad.

Sometimes, it seems that every celebrity, from Real Housewives to Oprah herself, is singing the luxury weight-loss drug’s praises.

The Big Bang Theory alum Mayim Bialik had a very different experience from one single dose.

Not only were her side effects severe, but she says that doctors found them unremarkable because they’re not uncommon.

Mayim Bialik attends the “Borderlands” Special Los Angeles Fan Event at TCL Chinese Theatre on August 06, 2024. (Photo Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

‘To say I had an adverse reaction would be somewhat of an understatement’

In an essay that she for some reason published on notorious right-wing site, The Free Press, Bialik detailed what she called: “My GLP-1 Nightmare.”

The actress explained: “I went on a weight-loss drug because a doctor told me it might help ease symptoms I’ve struggled with for basically my entire adult life.”

Bialik was diagnosed with Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, at age 23. She has spent half of her life grappling with the symptoms.

A few months ago, three different doctors advised her to try GLP-1 because “the drugs have shown promise in reducing the systemic inflammation that drives autoimmune conditions.”

Bialik took their advise, hoping that it would end up being the “magic cure.” Unfortunately, it was anything but.

“I took one shot of the lowest dose of a synthetic GLP-1, and to say I had an adverse reaction would be somewhat of an understatement,” Bialik revealed.

“Explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea,” she shared. “Sulfur burps so violent they left me afraid to open my mouth in public.”

Bialik continued to rattle off symptoms: “Sneezing attacks every time I tried to eat or drink — which apparently has a name, snatiation.”

She listed: “Cramping. Bloating. Full-body aching, as though I had the flu.”

Bialik’s list concluded: “And an inability to keep down even small sips of water without sprinting to the bathroom with yet more explosive diarrhea. More than three times, I didn’t make it.”

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She became so dehydrated that she needed IV fluids

“For the first two [days], I ate maybe one cup of rice and half a banana,” Bialik recalled. “Also some broth, which promptly left my body. I couldn’t even keep electrolyte drinks down.”

She characterized: “Everything exited with a rage that left me weak and debilitated.” Yikes!

“I was in constant contact with my prescribing doctor throughout,” Bialik described. “And when I couldn’t keep even a sip of water down, a nurse came to my home to administer IV fluids.”

One detail that stuck with her is how unfazed medical professionals seemed to be.

Her side effects were severe — but not uncommon. The praises that people hear about GLP-1s leave out horror stories like hers, but they’re very familiar in the healthcare world.

“On day three, I started antidiarrheal medication, which gave me just enough reprieve to eat toast and applesauce,” Bialik reflected.

“As soon as it wore off, though, the siege resumed as if it never stopped,” she grimly continued.

Bialik described: “I took more antidiarrheals and rode that seesaw for days, trying to coax my body back to homeostasis.”

She added that, though her intention in taking the single GLP-1 dose was to alleviate symptoms of a chronic illness, her existence as a woman in our culture and particularly in the entertainment industry had her wondering if she would lose weight as a result.

That is, we think that it’s safe to say, not praise of the controversial drug. Rather, it has everything to do with our society’s unhealthy body standards.

Mayim Bialik Details ‘Explosive’ Nightmare with GLP-1, Warns of Severe Side … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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