Streaming giant Netflix and social platform Meta joined forces Wednesday night at San Vicente Bungalows for a glittering LGBTQ+ celebration dubbed “Toasting Too Much With Most,” honoring Meg Stalter, the breakout star of Lena Dunham’s new series Too Much. The evening featured a private screening of the show, a cozy dinner among queer creatives and allies, and a portrait studio capturing guests in full celebratory mode.
Lukas Gage attends Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
Leading the honoree list was Meg Stalter, already earning buzz for her portrayal of Jessica – a self-described New York workaholic navigating heartbreak and sudden loneliness, only to crash-land in London and find unlikely connection with a quirky stranger, Felix (played by Will Sharpe).
Carlita Landrum, Ashlee Kim and Naomi Hearts attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for NetflixMackenzie Barmen attends Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
Attendees included a dazzling lineup of queer and queer-aligned talent: Euphoria star Barbie Ferreira; comedians Chelsea Peretti, Sandy Honig and Chris Fleming; actors Lukas Gage, Becca Moore, Naomi Hearts and Ashley Kim; and LGBTQ+ creatives such as Emily Uribe and Kelz Washington. Industry insiders praised the event as a vibrant representation of queer solidarity and artistic celebration.
Sarah Lugor, Tyris Winter, Carlita Landrum and Kelz Washington attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
During the evening, Meta sponsored an interactive portrait studio, where guests – under the lens of photographer Lindsey Byrnes – posed in joyful and heartfelt expressions.
Lukas Gage and Barbie Ferreira attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
Meg Stalter has been outspoken about queer identity and mental health in interviews. Her role in Too Much – a dramedy about life, love, and cross-continental linguistic confusion – adds a fresh dimension to queer storytelling on streaming platforms. The show premieres July 10 and features an expansive ensemble cast including Will Sharpe, Richard E. Grant and Naomi Watts.
Zach Noe Towers, Julian Burzynski and Kevin Sullivan attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for NetflixBen Evans and Barbie Ferreira attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for NetflixMegan Stalter, Lukas Gage and Kate Berlant attend Netflix’s A TOO MUCH Toast with Most at San Vicente Bungalows on July 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix
After nearly a decade of uplifting transformations and heartwarming journeys, Queer Eye will air its final season on Netflix. The streaming giant announced Wednesday that the beloved reboot — its longest-running reality series — will conclude after Season 10, which is set in Washington, D.C. The show’s finale marks the end of a major chapter in LGBTQ+ representation and reality TV history. “First day of the FINAL season of Queer Eye. It’s been a long, beautiful journey…thank you! Thank you!!!!!” co-host Tan France posted on Instagram, reflecting on the show’s impact and legacy.
A Decade of Transformation and Celebration
Since debuting in 2018, Queer Eye — featuring the charismatic Fab Five: Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, and originally Bobby Berk — captured the hearts of millions worldwide. With each episode, the group ventured across the United States — and occasionally overseas — to help individuals rediscover confidence, style, wellness, cuisine, and self-worth.
In Season 10, the team will set up shop in the nation’s capital, bringing its signature mix of style makeovers, emotional breakthroughs, and life-affirming advice to D.C.’s unique and vibrant communities. The location is especially fitting as Queer Eye has long served as a platform for social progress, equality, and joy.
While the show reshaped the lives of its “heroes,” it also left an indelible mark on queer culture. From heartfelt conversations about identity and acceptance to viral moments that inspired millions, Queer Eye became one of the most significant LGBTQ+ media events of the 21st century.
Not without its seasonal shifts, Queer Eye adapted over time. In Season 9, designer Bobby Berk departed, making way for Jeremiah Brent, who had already guest-starred in several makeover episodes. Brent brought his own energy and perspective, helping to maintain the show’s sense of inclusivity and evolution.
The Fab Five are:
Karamo Brown (culture and emotional wellness guru)
Tan France (fashion expert and style strategist)
Antoni Porowski (food and wine connoisseur)
Jonathan Van Ness (grooming and self-care advocate)
Bobby Berk (home design aficionado, Seasons 1–8) — succeeded by Jeremiah Brent (home design expert, Seasons 9–10)
This team dynamic proved key to Queer Eye’s appeal. Each cast member brought professional expertise, authenticity, and lived experience that resonated with both LGBTQ+ viewers and mainstream audiences. Their diverse backgrounds – queer and ally – underscored the show’s ethos of acceptance and understanding.
(L to R) Karamo Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski in Queer Eye. Photo: Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix
From Personal Growth to Culture-Changer
The series has earned critical acclaim and cultural significance. In 2023, Queer Eye won its sixth consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Structured Reality Program, a run that lasted from 2018 to 2023. The achievement signaled more than just industry recognition; it reflected the growing appetite for queer-affirming programming.
Queer Eye. (L to R) Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski in Queer Eye. Photo: Iiana Panich-Linsman/Netflix
A 2012 Hollywood Reporter survey noted that 27% of viewers said shows like Queer Eye and Glee had made them more supportive of marriage equality — evidence of the power these programs wield in shaping hearts and minds around LGBTQ+ issues.
Season 10: A Farewell to Remember
With filming underway in Washington, D.C., the final season of Queer Eye promises to lean into intersectionality and social impact. The city’s historical and political backdrop offers a fertile ground for the show’s mission: to mentor individuals, nurture community, and foster social unity through upliftment. “Season 10, the final season,” quipped Jonathan Van Ness on social media, acknowledging the close of a chapter yet inviting fans to celebrate the journey.
Beyond individual makeovers, Queer Eye has always lent its platform to broader dialogues: mental health awareness, trans acceptance, racial equity, and family reconciliation. The upcoming farewell season is expected to continue this tradition – while offering the emotionally satisfying send-offs that have earned it such loyalty from viewers.
What the Final Season Means for LGBTQ+ Media
As Queer Eye bows out, its absence will be deeply felt. Network TV and streaming alike may struggle to fill the gap left by a format that married heart-tugging storytelling with high-fashion aesthetics. But the show’s lasting legacy may be even more significant.
By celebrating queer joy and normalizing vulnerability, Queer Eye helped redefine queer narratives – no longer relegated to trauma or exclusion, but celebrated for authenticity, culture, and community.
Queer Eye. (L to R) Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Tan France, and Jonathan Van Ness. Photo: Bronson Farr / Netflix
For many queer viewers, seeing themselves reflected on-screen – whether through Karamo’s emotional openness, Tan’s sartorial flair, Jon’s self-love mantra, Antoni’s heartfelt cooking sessions, Bobby’s nurturing design solutions, or Jeremiah’s blend of modern aesthetics and queer resilience – offered validation and pride.
Beyond the Final Curtain
Even after the final episode airs, Queer Eye‘s influence will endure. Its hosts are branching into new ventures:
Karamo Brown continues his work as a motivational speaker, author, and advocate for emotional well-being.
Tan France has launched a fashion brand and a Netflix competition series, Next in Fashion.
Jonathan Van Ness maintains their podcast and champions mental health awareness.
Antoni Porowski has hosted cooking shows and authored a cookbook, inspiring home cooks everywhere.
Bobby Berk and Jeremiah Brent continue to influence home design with accessible and inclusive aesthetics.
Rumors swirl about reunion specials, international spin-offs, or seasonal specials centered on specific themes like trans care or chosen families. While no official announcements have been made, the magnitude of their cultural impact suggests the Queer Eye brand will live on in new forms.
(L to R) Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness. Photo: Netflix
The official reason behind Queer Eye’s conclusion remains unclear. Netflix has not specified whether the decision was creative, contractual, or strategic. But in the streaming world, where data-driven metrics often determine a show’s fate, the warm farewell seems fitting for a series that never lost its authenticity or impact.
For now, fans can look forward to Season 10, which will premiere later this year and land squarely in a city synonymous with political change. It’s an apt setting for the show’s final mission: transforming lives, one person and one city at a time.
Reality TV star Magan Mourad has revealed she was hospitalized during filming for Season 2 of Netflix’sThe Ultimatum: Queer Love, saying the emotional intensity of the process led to what she described as a physical collapse. On the What’s the Reality? podcast, Mourad and her fiancé, Dayna Mathews, discussed the profound psychological and physical toll of the show’s experimental format, which involved couples separating and forming trial marriages with other participants.“I just f—— felt so depleted. I couldn’t handle it anymore,” Mourad recalled, describing how an emotional breakdown and suspected low blood pressure led to her being rushed to the hospital.
The show challenges committed couples to pause their current relationships and take a “trial marriage” with fellow cast members. For Mourad and Mathews, both paused their long-term partnership to explore relationships with others – Magan with Haley Drexler, and Dayna with Mel Vitale. Despite the difficulties, the couple ultimately returned to each other, reuniting and becoming engaged under dramatic and emotionally charged circumstances.
The Toll of Emotional Separation
Mourad emphasized that the heartbreak she experienced stemmed from watching someone she deeply loved forge an intimate connection with another person. “It’s just hard because you love someone so much, and it’s the first time you want to spend your life with someone,” she said, her voice cracking. “I don’t want to let you go… you’re dating other people… it hurts, you know?”
The couple described the strangeness of finding freedom during a week-long stay in a hotel without their phones—an enforced disconnection from their world and each other. “I worked out at 11 at night, every night, just to remind myself who I am,” Magan shared. “I would basically walk with a buddy for every mundane thing—going to the gym, even using the bathroom.”
Dayna Mathews and Magan Mourad in episode 209 of ‘The Ultimatum: Queer Love’.
The physical consequences became severe. Magan reported feeling faint and dizzy after pushing herself through grueling workouts designed to keep her centered. Eventually, the film crew called for medical attention, and she was hospitalized overnight as a preventable but alarming health scare.
Queer Visibility in Reality TV
The Ultimatum: Queer Love breaks new ground by placing LGBTQ+ relationships at its center. Unlike the original Ultimatum series, which primarily represented straight couples, the Queer Love installment places queer identities at the forefront, reflecting a broader push in reality television to diversify relationship narratives and spotlight underrepresented communities.
Magan and Dayna’s story embodies many stressors unique to LGBTQ+ couples—queer identity stress, societal pressures, and navigating a heterosexual-centric relationship model. Their willingness to open up about mental and physical health consequences marks a rare moment of vulnerability in reality TV, where dramatic revelations are often superficial.
Stripped Down, Raw, and Real
Podcaster-host Amber Desiree “AD” Smith described the challenges participants face when phones are taken away and judgment is deferred to the production environment. For queer participants, that stripped-down isolation can exacerbate the emotional weight of separation and reinvention. “It’s not what you imagined it to be,” Dayna admitted, echoing Magan’s struggles. “It isn’t easy.”
Magan recalled that part of what tipped her was the loss of what she called “identity anchors”—the routines and touchstones that kept her mental health stable. “I didn’t realize how much energy I was expending,” she said. “I started freaking out.”
Moments like this highlight ongoing conversations around mental health support for reality TV participants. The rapid pace and emotional intensity are often discomforting at best and damaging at worst—particularly for queer individuals who may already feel vulnerable.
Love Rekindled, Engagement Announced
Despite the heartbreak posed by experimental relationships, Magan and Dayna ultimately returned to each other and became engaged. The podcast preview showcases their reflections on growth, communication, and emotional evolution. “When Dayna and I come together, we have a certain type of energy together,” she said. “Now we’re just understanding how to be better partners and what we need individually.”
Their engagement – set against the backdrop of Netflix’s emotionally rigorous environment – emphasizes queer resilience. The couple, like other queer participants, is rewriting the template of televised romance, where happy endings are too often reserved for straight couples.
Beyond the Screen: A Beacon for Queer Communities
Magan’s candid account brings queer narratives closer to authentic experience. While LGBTQ+ characters are increasing in scripted shows, queer representation in reality television remains rare. When it does appear, it often glosses over emotional complexity, sanitizing narratives to avoid controversy.
By sharing the unscripted high and low points of their relationship, including a trip to the hospital, Magan Mourad is humanizing queer love. She aligns with advocacy efforts that encourage nuanced inclusion rather than narrative tokenism. “I hope people who watch us understand that being queer in love isn’t always rainbow-bright,” Magan said. “It’s messy, it’s real, and it can be overwhelming –but it’s still worth it.”
Moving Forward in Health and Healing
Magan revealed that following her hospitalization, she and Dayna focused on rebuilding their lives with new emotional tools. Therapy, mindfulness, and establishing daily wellness rituals are all part of their life-as-podcast—practices meant to support long-term relationship health.
The couple’s honesty is significant, offering lessons to queer viewers about mental-health self-care in the context of emotional upheaval. “For queer folks in relationships—it’s okay to feel broken by love,” Dayna said. “It’s in the rebuilding that you discover your resilience.”
Finale and Reflection
The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2 dropped on Netflix on July 2, featuring six same-sex and queer couples at various stages of commitment. Magan and Dayna may have captured headlines, but the series as a whole is a watershed moment in LGBTQ+ reality TV—amplifying love, identity, challenge, and growth in equal measure.
Their story speaks to a universal truth—that love, especially under scrutiny and separation, can cause profound emotional pain, but also imaging that same love can spring forward stronger. “We came back to each other,” Magan said. “And we’re trying to do better, for us and for queer visibility in love.”
Fergie and comedian Megan Stalter just dropped a revamped version of the 2006 music video for “London Bridge,” and yes, this time they actually filmed it on London Bridge. The new version celebrates the upcoming launch of Too Much, Netflix’s buzzy new romantic comedy series from creator Lena Dunham.
The video, now live on Fergie’s YouTube channel, serves as the official kickoff to the series’ July 10 premiere.
Right Bridge, Right Time
Back in 2006, Fergie’s “London Bridge” music video made waves, but it mistakenly showcased the more photogenic Tower Bridge instead of its namesake. Now, with Netflix’s blessing and Dunham’s vision, the error’s been cheekily corrected.
Shot on the real London Bridge (less iconic, slightly grimier, but geographically accurate), the reboot pairs Fergie with Too Much star Megan Stalter. Directed by Mia Barnes with creative input from Dunham and Fergie herself, the result is both a nod to pop nostalgia and a playful bridge to what promises to be one of summer’s most talked-about shows.
Meet Too Much
Too Much follows Jessica (Stalter), a heartbroken New Yorker who impulsively relocates to London after a devastating breakup. What begins as a solo reinvention quickly turns into a whirlwind romance with Felix (Will Sharpe), a charming indie musician.
“As an American girl who once had her own adventures in London filming the original video, I instantly felt a connection to this project,” Fergie shared. “Lena told me ‘London Bridge’ was the only song she could imagine introducing the show, and I couldn’t have been more honored.”
Her favorite part? The chance to reclaim the moment, with a wink. “Twenty years later, we finally filmed on the actual (albeit slightly messier) London Bridge, because what isn’t too much about filming a video for a song you already have a video for?”
Dunham’s Dream Came True
Lena Dunham called the collaboration a dream come true. “Fergie has always been deeply iconic to me, her glamour, her honesty, her ability to be just enough and too much at the same time,” she said. “We’re all still pinching ourselves that she agreed to come bless our world.”
With its blend of high-energy pop, chaotic comedy, and big-hearted romance, Too Much may be exactly what we need this summer. And now that Fergie’s finally crossed the right bridge? Consider us all the way in.
“I feel like it’s good to do a light launch into the first message. Right? You got to catch their eye with something a little bit more gentle,” Megan Stalter told Gayety when asked about her dating app go-tos.
The comedian is currently promoting her upcoming series Too Much, Netflix’s new romantic dramedy (streaming July 10) starring Stalter as Jessica, a New Yorker in her mid-thirties still reeling from a breakup that shattered her world. She escapes to London to be alone—but instead stumbles into something real with Felix (Will Sharpe), a man who’s somehow both charming and full of red flags.
A Messy Lead with a Big Heart
But the show explores so much more than just romantic connections. As creator Lena Dunham put it, Too Much is about people “who are figuring it out.”
“With Jessica, I also wanted to show that someone could be really messy and really complicated and also have a really good, pure heart,” Dunham said. “She says the wrong thing, she puts her foot in her mouth, but she is always trying and she always wants to make everybody feel seen and reflected. And I love that she’s a lover and that she’s a kind of—Megan and I keep joking—she’s just a good girl. She’s a good girl.”
That’s what makes Jessica’s relationship with Felix feel so refreshing—it’s not about being saved by love. It’s about feeling like yourself again.
“What I want people to understand is that it’s not about finding a relationship being the ultimate test of who you are as a person,” Dunham explained. “It’s just that she realizes that Felix makes her life better. He makes her feel happier. He makes her feel more like herself. And also, had she not found that and had she found that with a friend or with her mother and her sister or with her dog, that would also have been a totally okay version of life.”
What’s a Meet-Cute?
And how about that meet-cute? “I really enjoyed the film, how unconventional it was, how real it was,” said interviewer Caitlynn McDaniel. “And one part that really stuck out to me was of course, the meet-cute. I mean, who doesn’t love to meet in a dirty pub bathroom?”
“It’s very romantic,” Stalter joked.
Sharpe’s own love story had a similarly chaotic start. “I met…so, my other half when we were in a show called Casualty that we have in England, which is like a medical drama,” he shared. “And the first scene we had together, I see a severed head in a field, and then I’m so scared that I back away from the head and then I smash my face into an ambulance. And then she had to do a kind of routine test on my vision—am I impaired, and have I gone insane from running into an ambulance? So that was quite a weird… first encounter, I guess.”
Stalter’s story might sound more familiar—but still serendipitous. “I met my girlfriend on a dating app,” she said, before adding, “We’ve had really crazy synchronicities. And our first date was at a restaurant, which is not the same as the set thing that you were describing, but…I would say, I think meeting on… It’s interesting—even if you meet on a dating app, everything still has to align for you to meet. That you’re living in the same city…I mean, me and my girlfriend lived in the same city for a year, and then we didn’t actually meet for years…six years later. So I think that’s kind of crazy too, don’t you think?”
As Stalter summed it up: “We sent a lot of voice notes before we met. I liked that. It felt like I already knew her.”
Whether you’re dodging ambulance doors or debating your opening line on Hinge, Too Much gets it. Love is messy. People are weird. But if they make you feel more like you—that’s something worth holding onto.
Too Much premieres July 10 on Netflix. Watch the full interview below.
Jonathan Bailey may have played one of the most desired men in Regency-era London, but when it comes to real-life romance, even Lord Bridgerton himself admits it’s a bit more complicated.
The 37-year-old actor, currently promoting his summer blockbuster Jurassic World: Rebirth, sat down with Amelia Dimoldenberg for a new episode of the beloved YouTube series Chicken Shop Date. And between bites of chicken nuggets and playful banter, Bailey peeled back the layers of his heartthrob image.
Not a Romance Pro, Actually
When asked if playing the dashing Viscount Anthony Bridgerton helped him improve his love life, Bailey didn’t hesitate to bring the fantasy back to earth.
“It’s fantasy, isn’t it? Romance is grounded and real,” he said plainly, drawing a line between Netflix’s corset-clad courtships and the messier realities of modern dating. It’s a refreshing confession, especially from someone whose screen kisses have become GIFs shared across Twitter.
Casting Chaos and Spinster Slams
The flirtation flowed freely when Dimoldenberg asked Bailey if she’d fit into the Bridgerton universe. Though he joked he lacked casting power, he offered to “put in a word.” As for her role? Bailey teased she’d be “really uptight,” maybe even “a potential spinster,” prompting an exaggerated reaction from the unflappable host.
It’s all part of the show’s charm, awkward pauses, dry humor, and celebrities caught slightly off-guard in a chicken shop. And Bailey? He fit right in.
Jurassic Jumps and Internet Thirst
Bailey stars alongside Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali in Jurassic World: Rebirth, where he plays Dr. Henry Loomis, one of the film’s undeniable highlights, according to early reviews. While reactions to the film itself have been mixed, critics agree: Bailey is a standout.
The Glasses Heard ‘Round the Internet
Of course, no Jonathan Bailey appearance is complete without talk of his now-iconic “slutty little glasses,” which became a viral obsession online. On Chicken Shop Date, the topic was impossible to avoid, and Bailey leaned in.
He’s even collaborated with eyewear brand Cubitts to create a limited edition pair of specs, with proceeds benefiting his LGBTQ+ nonprofit, the Shameless Fund. Talk about using fashion for a good cause.
Fans Already Calling It a Classic
With sizzling chemistry, heartfelt honesty, and a shared love of nuggets and chips, this date might just become one of the most memorable Chicken Shop sit-downs yet.
To celebrate The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2, Netflix and Frameline took over SF’s first women’s sports bar for a night of reality TV, Pride magic, and community vibes.
Netflix brought the drama — and the community — to San Francisco’s Castro district this week with a special Pride Month screening of The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2 at Rikki’s, the city’s first women’s sports bar. Co-hosted with Frameline Film Festival, the event delivered free bites, a few surprises, and the kind of chaotic queer romance reality TV fans live for.
And yes — Lexi Goldberg from The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 1 even made a guest appearance, showing love to the new cast and the local community.
“We are a women’s sports bar, and queer women cannot be disconnected from women’s sports,” said Danielle Thoe, co-owner of Rikki’s. “So to see queer, female, and non-binary representation in mainstream media — as a part of things that are as silly and fun as reality TV — is important. It means there’s acceptance and inclusion in the broader media landscape throughout.”
Rikki’s: Born From the Sidelines
Danielle co-founded the bar with Sara Yergovich, her former teammate on the San Francisco Spikes LGBTQ+ soccer team. “Danielle and I just really wanted somewhere to watch women’s sports reliably,” Sara shared. “Where we could just go and know it was going to be on. And we kind of realized that no one else is going to do it if we didn’t.”
The event held special significance, as it came just weeks after the bar’s Pride Month grand opening. “To be able to have an event during Pride Week with Frameline,” Sara added, “means that we can engage with the community in a way that we wouldn’t have already been able to. It’s really cool.”
First Impressions: Drama, Dating, and Queer Love Realness
Guests came dressed in cocktail chic, sipped on themed drinks, and gave instant reactions to the new season. “Drama,” Shelby (she/her) and Alice (she/her) said in unison. “I only really believe that two couples are genuine,” Shelby added with a laugh.
As one guest noted during the screening, “If you’re going on the show and you have to issue something — an ultimatum — that’s kind of a tough spot to be in. Maybe it’s important for them to break up.”
Queer Dating Wisdom, Straight From the Barstools
When asked for dating advice, Sara kept it short and powerful: “Show up and keep showing up.”
Another attendee chimed in with her own love-life origin story: “Join a queer sports league. I met my girlfriend through gay dodgeball and we’re in love, and that’s beautiful.”
Netflix + Community = A Win for Queer Joy
With a full house at 2223 Market St., this wasn’t just a premiere — it was a celebration of queer representation, local business, and chosen family. As Danielle said, “It’s been an awesome packed night full of all the drama and love and tension you’d expect from The Ultimatum. So it’s been fun.”
Catch the Drama at Home
The Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. New episodes drop weekly through June:
Week 1 (May 24): Episodes 1–4
Week 2 (May 31): Episodes 5–8
Week 3 (June 7): Episodes 9–10
So if you’re ready to scream at the screen (again), the queer love chaos is just a click away.
Netflix’s Olympo may center on elite athletes chasing greatness, but it’s Juan Perales who’s truly going for gold: in looks, charisma, and on-screen steaminess.
The Spanish heartthrob, who plays rugby star Sebas Sendón in the new young adult drama, recently turned up the temperature again in the latest issue of Folie Magazine. From shirtless smolders to tailored sex appeal, Perales is proving that he’s not just a rising actor, he’s a full-blown thirst trap.
Meet the Star Heating Up Your Watchlist
Released globally on June 20, Olympo is Netflix’s newest Spanish-language series from creators Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, and Ibai Abad. Think of it as Élitemeets the Olympics, with a twist of sci-fi and moral chaos.
Set at the fictional CAR Pirineos, an elite training facility tucked in the mountains, Olympo follows a pack of gifted young athletes pushing themselves, and each other, to the limit. At its core is Amaia, the captain of Spain’s artistic swimming team, whose world unravels when her best friend begins outperforming her with unexplained skill boosts.
Amid all the sweat, ambition, and drama is Perales’ Sebas, a wealthy rugby player with an edge, and a very intimate storyline. His tension-filled romance with Roque (played by Agustín Della Corte) has fans glued to the screen, not just for the plot twists, but for the ahem very generous camera angles.
Folie Magazine? More Like Fuego Magazine
While Olympo might have introduced him to a global audience, Perales’ new Folie Magazine spread is solidifying his status as Spain’s next breakout star—and certified hottie. The editorial showcases his classic model features and magnetic presence, giving us everything from brooding athlete to high-fashion fantasy.
Styled to perfection, Perales effortlessly balances sultry and sophisticated, exuding the same layered energy he brings to Olympo. It’s a shoot that has fans collectively asking, “Do we even need AC this summer?”
A Look Back (and Ahead)
Before landing his breakout role in Olympo, the 25-year-old actor made his screen debut in 4 Estrellas in 2024 and popped up briefly in Élite’s eighth season as Bernat. But it’s clear Perales isn’t just here for a cameo career, he’s sprinting toward stardom.
Between the buzz around his Olympo scenes and his growing modeling portfolio, Juan Perales is shaping up to be one of Spain’s most promising (and most ogled) exports. Whether he’s charging down the rugby field or striking a pose, this is one Olympian we’ll be keeping our eyes on.
Juan Perales Is That Guy
From steamy love scenes to magazine covers hot enough to melt your screen, Juan Perales is having a moment, and we are absolutely here for it. Whether you’ve already binged Olympo or are just now discovering this Spanish star, one thing’s for sure: he’s impossible to ignore and even harder to forget.
Charlize Theron made a bold statement on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of The Old Guard 2 — and it wasn’t just with her fashion. The Oscar-winning actress, activist, and producer spoke candidly about the importance of representation in genre films and why the inclusive cast of the Netflix sequel marks a major milestone for action storytelling.
“It’s important in all films,” Theron exclusively told Gayety. “This cast really came together with sincerity. We found the right people and the right representation that felt true to the story. And it’s something that enriched The Old Guard in a way I could never have imagined.”
Returning as Andy, the battle-hardened immortal warrior, Theron leads a cast that celebrates diversity on every level — from race and nationality to gender and sexuality. In a cinematic world where queer and POC characters are still often pushed to the sidelines in action and fantasy genres, The Old Guard 2 puts them front and center.
And according to Theron, that’s exactly the point.
The Old Guard Universe: Bold, Queer, and Immortal
The Old Guard 2, which premieres globally on Netflix on July 2, picks up with Andy (Charlize Theron) and her fellow immortals, including Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), as they battle new enemies while facing internal threats. With themes of vengeance, mortality, and legacy at its core, the sequel delves deeper into the emotional terrain of characters rarely given depth in this genre.
Among the standout relationships is the romance between Joe and Nicky — a gay couple whose love story became a defining moment in the original film. Their unapologetically romantic and heroic presence was widely celebrated by LGBTQ+ audiences, and the sequel doubles down on that representation without turning it into a footnote.
Director Victoria Mahoney, the first woman of color to helm a major comic book adaptation of this scale, returns with a sharp focus on inclusive storytelling. With Theron as both star and producer, the project reflects a commitment to portraying characters from all walks of life with dignity, complexity, and joy.
Charlize Theron’s Red Carpet Power Play
For the Los Angeles premiere at Netflix’s Tudum Theater on June 25, Charlize Theron turned heads with a daring high-fashion statement: a black fishnet Givenchy bodysuit from the brand’s Fall 2025 ready-to-wear collection. Styled with a sharp black blazer and high-waisted shorts (“HotPants,” per WWD), the look embodied Theron’s mix of elegance and rebellion — much like her character Andy.
Her look was pulled from creative director Sarah Burton’s first collection for Givenchy, which paid homage to the French house’s 1952 debut while updating silhouettes for a new generation. Theron completed the look with square-toed boots, a slick chignon, and a smoky eye — commanding the carpet with her signature presence.
As the press circled, Theron’s comments stood out not just for their authenticity but for their clarity: representation isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the foundation of stories that matter.
“We Made Something Bigger Than Us”
Speaking about the cast and their collective impact, Theron said, “Now, especially after finishing the second one, I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished — each one of us.”
That pride was shared across the cast. The ensemble includes Uma Thurman, Henry Golding, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Veronica Ngô, among others — many of whom bring unique identities and experiences to the screen. From Black and Asian leads to queer relationships portrayed without compromise, The Old Guard 2 doesn’t just tick boxes. It builds a world that feels expansive, inclusive, and real.
This mirrors the success of the first film, which drew acclaim for its seamless integration of LGBTQ+ characters, especially in a genre that historically underrepresents them. The choice not to “other” Joe and Nicky’s relationship — or minimize Nile’s perspective as a Black woman — earned The Old Guard a loyal fan base among queer audiences and beyond.
More Than Representation — It’s Visibility with Depth
In a media landscape where queer and trans characters often exist only as subplots or tokens, Theron and her team are pushing for authentic visibility. Not just in casting, but in narrative focus and emotional richness.
At a time when queer and trans rights are under political attack, Theron’s insistence on representation as a core creative value, rather than an afterthought, carries weight. In her words, “We didn’t just want people to feel seen — we wanted them to feel powerful.”
That power resonates not just on screen but behind the scenes, too. With Theron championing projects that uplift underrepresented voices, and Mahoney directing with fearless vision, The Old Guard 2 becomes more than a sequel. It’s a declaration: stories led by diverse casts can be action-packed and profoundly human.
The Old Guard’s Legacy — and the Future of Queer Cinema
As anticipation builds for the film’s streaming debut, it’s clear The Old Guard 2 isn’t just another summer action flick. It’s a statement about who gets to lead, who gets to love, and who gets to live forever on screen.
With The Old Guard franchise, Charlize Theron continues to redefine what it means to be a leading lady in Hollywood — not just by starring in big-budget blockbusters, but by ensuring those blockbusters reflect the world as it truly is.
“The Old Guard 2” releases worldwide on Netflix July 2, 2025.
The breakout star reflects on queer representation, redefining masculinity, and training like an elite athlete.
In Netflix’s gripping Spanish drama Olympo, the country’s top athletes train at the Pirineos High Performance Center, where perfection isn’t a goal—it’s the bare minimum. Amaia (Clara Galle), the captain of the national synchronized swimming team, has always led with discipline and drive. But when her best friend Núria (María Romanillos) begins to outperform her, Amaia suspects something more sinister is at play.
For Agustín Della Corte, who plays rugby phenom Roque Pérez, the series is more than a sports drama—it’s a psychological deep-dive into obsession, identity, and what we sacrifice for greatness.
From the Field to the Screen
Before stepping into Roque’s cleats, Della Corte was no stranger to high-performance athletics. A former rugby player himself, he began preparing for the role the day after receiving the casting call.
“I’m obsessed with my work,” he told Gayety’s Calix Quan. “When I read the script, I said, ‘This is mine.’ I started training right away with a personal trainer and a strict diet that I had to maintain for almost a year.”
That dedication helped him embody the physical and emotional toll of elite sports. “There’s this constant feeling that you’re being evaluated—that at any moment, you could be cut from the team,” he said. “That affects your confidence, your relationships, everything.”
While Roque’s sport is rough, the character’s emotional journey is tender—and deeply personal.
“Roque gave me access to a vulnerability I hadn’t explored in myself,” Della Corte said. “There’s this idea that rugby players have to be tough, but some of the most sensitive men I’ve ever met were teammates. Roque breaks that stereotype.”
As one of the show’s LGBTQ+ characters, Roque also confronts the extra challenges that come with queerness in a hypermasculine space. “I felt proud and very responsible to carry the LGBTQ+ flag in this story,” he said. “Because while there are other LGBTQ characters, Roque is the one who faces the most difficulties in terms of his sexual orientation.
“I’m really happy that these kinds of topics continue to be addressed in fiction, because what’s happening in the real world shows us that it’s still necessary. Whether in sports or any other field, a person’s sexual orientation is often given more weight than any other value—like, in this case, their athletic performance.”
At its core, Olympo isn’t just about winning. It’s about defining what success really means—and how far we’re willing to go to achieve it.
“It’s a question I ask myself every day,” Della Corte said. “We’re all under pressure to be the best, whether you’re an athlete, a doctor, or an accountant. What I love about this show is that it forces us to sit with that pressure and ask: is it worth it?”
He hopes viewers walk away feeling seen—and maybe a little more self-aware. “If you watch Olympo with an open mind and no judgment, you’ll find a lot to reflect on.”
Olympo is now streaming on Netflix.
Editor’s Note: This interview has been translated from Spanish to English.
