• The Trump administration is discussing oversight of new AI models, per the New York Times.
• Tech policy experts say such oversight could slow innovation.
• They added that such regulation should come from legislation, not an executive order.

President Donald Trump's administration is discussing government oversight of the rollout of new AI models, the New York Times reported on Monday.

The administration is considering an executive order to create a working group of tech executives and public officials to decide how oversight would be carried out, the Times reported, citing US officials and people familiar with the discussions.

The report said that White House officials told executives from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI about some of these plans.

The oversight would mark a U-turn from Trump's stance on AI,. In his second term, the president has prioritized deregulation and innovation, saying that a tight hold could hamper American competitiveness against China.

The move comes as policymakers face pressure from national security officials and tech analysts to consider the risks posed by powerful AI systems, such as Anthropic's Mythos.

Here is what tech and policy experts are saying about the potential regulation:

Daniel Castro, president at Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

Daniel Castro, the president of science and tech think tank ITIF, listed several reasons the potential executive order is a "terrible idea" on X.

First, he said it is a "full embrace" of the precautionary principle — the idea that governments need to protect the public from risks even without full scientific certainty.

"It would mean firms need government permission to innovate. That flips the default from building freely to asking first," Castro wrote on X.

He said that other risks include tech companies having to bend to each administration, allowing other countries to continue advancing, and slowing innovation.

"Innovation would move at the speed of Washington, not Silicon Valley," he wrote. "Every product launch, feature update, or model release would slow down. Government is not known for speed."

Janet Vestal Kelly, CEO of Alliance for a Better Future

Janet Vestal Kelly, who heads the Alliance for a Better Future, a conservative-leaning advocacy group, called the potential vetting of AI models "welcome news."

"AI is the most powerful technology the world has ever seen, and left to their own devices, Big Tech companies will run roughshod over kids, workers, and American values," she wrote in a statement shared on X on Monday.

"With the right approach, the US can have AI that protects kids, jobs and our nation, and also win the AI race against China," Kelly added.

Adam Thierer, analyst at R Street Institute

Adam Thierer, an innovation policy analyst at free-market think tank R Street Institute, said that big AI regulation should not be Trump's decision alone.

"Any sort of preemptive, pre-release 'vetting' of AI models by the White House could be tantamount to a de facto licensing regime, which should certainly not be done via executive orders," he wrote on X.

Thierer, who testified about frontier models in Congress, said that one of Trump's first priorities in his second term was to get rid of a Biden-era AI order.

"Executive orders have their place, but Congress needs to help establish a more stable framework that achieves these goals," he wrote.

Conor Grennan, CEO of AI Mindset

Conor Grennan, an AI consultant and former chief AI architect at NYU's Stern School of Business, raised concerns about this "vetting" process.

"Who gets the blame if something goes wrong- AI or the vetters? Or what if an AI leader criticizes Trump, is that model suddenly "too dangerous?" And how does this vetting happen, exactly?" he wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

He said that while guardrails are necessary, the government making these decisions "is going to get messy fast."

Eli Dourado, head of strategic investments at Astera Institute

Eli Dourado, who leads strategic investments at Astera, a nonprofit AI research institute, said that the proposal could mean many different things.

"If it's a mandatory review of AI models before they can be released, that's in direct conflict with the courts' First Amendment prior-restraint doctrine," he wrote, referring to a constitutional law that says that the government cannot stop speech before it happens.

He added: "Seems unlikely to fly."

Taylor Barkley, director of federal government affairs at Abundance Institute

Taylor Barkley, a director at tech policy organization Abundance Institute, said the potential regulation is a pre-approval process similar to the UK's.

He called it a "giant step backwards for innovation and an undoing of President Trump's excellent policy on AI so far" because it would slow implementation and raise barriers to entry.

He said it also gives regulators more power than innovators and undermines the administration's goal of cutting red tape.

"For all these reasons and more, Congress needs to clarify proper regulatory measures by passing a national AI framework," Barkley wrote on X.

Chris McGuire, senior fellow at Council on Foreign Relations

Chris McGuire, a senior fellow for China and emerging tech at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the move would be a "sorely needed regulatory pivot."

In a post on X, he wrote that if the US government wants to vet models pre-release, it also needs a plan to preserve security when they're live.

"This means putting in place certain cyber and physical security requirements that apply to frontier AI labs and any cloud providers that host advanced AI models," McGuire wrote. "It also means export controlling advanced AI model weights, to prevent them from being transferred to untrusted entities."

He added that the Biden Administration had a similar AI policy.

"The rule was complex and by no means perfect, but it was an honest attempt to get at a real problem the Trump administration now needs its own answer to," he wrote.

Thomas Woodside, senior policy advisor at Secure AI Project

Thomas Woodside, a cofounder and advisor at AI policy group Secure AI Project, said that a one-time approval process for AI models may not be the right approach. Instead, he argued oversight should be continuous, since systems are frequently updated and can pose risks even during development and internal use.

Like other tech analysts, Woodside said any such framework should be established through legislation rather than executive action.

• Oil supply remains ample, but jet fuel and petrochemical feedstocks are tightening.
• Goldman Sachs warns fuel buffers are depleting fast, raising risks to aviation and industry.
• Refining bottlenecks and trade frictions drive shortages despite ample crude supply.

The war in Iran has triggered a global scramble for oil as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz choke one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes — but the global economy isn't about to run out of oil.

Instead, it may be running short of key fuels made from oil that keep planes flying and industrial supply chains running, analysts at Goldman Sachs warned in a recent note.

"The speed of depletion and supply losses in some regions and products are concerning, with easily accessible refined products buffers approaching very low levels fast," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in the Monday note.

That's because while overall oil inventories remain above critical levels, shortages are emerging in specific refined products, especially jet fuel, petrochemical feedstocks like naphtha, and liquefied petroleum gas used to make plastics and chemicals.

Global commercial refined product stocks have fallen to about 45 days of demand, down from around 50 before the recent disruption, according to Goldman's estimates.

That compares with roughly 101 days of demand for total global oil stocks.

Inventories of naphtha — a critical input for plastics and industrial chemicals — have fallen significantly, including a 72% drop in UAE Fujairah storage and a 37% fall in northwest Europe's Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub since late February.

Asia outside China and parts of Europe appear particularly exposed to the shortages in refined fuels. South Africa, India, Thailand, and Taiwan are among the more vulnerable markets, Goldman's analysts wrote.

Even where crude oil is available, it cannot always be converted into usable fuel quickly enough. Refining constraints, trade disruptions, and export restrictions are creating bottlenecks, meaning surpluses in one location do not easily offset shortages elsewhere.

Nowhere is this more evident than in aviation, where the world's biggest carriers have canceled flights due to tightening jet fuel supplies.

Goldman estimates that European commercial jet fuel inventories — excluding government emergency reserves — could fall below the International Energy Agency's critical 23-day threshold as soon as June.

The global energy markets have been thrown into disarray following the US and Israel's attacks on Iran in late February, as supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz push crude oil futures over 50% higher.

"Even if Hormuz flows started recovering soon, any full normalization of deliveries would take at least several weeks," the analysts wrote.

International Brent crude futures were trading around $113 per barrel early on Tuesday, while US West Texas Intermediate was around $104 per barrel.

• Waymo CEO Dmitri Dolgov said tech breakthroughs spark hype cycles where startups rush in but don't last.
• He said that to survive beyond one hype cycle, startups should work on addressing complex edge cases.
• Waymo started in 2009 and now provides robotaxi services in several major metropolitan areas in the US.

Waymo's CEO said early-stage startups often make one big mistake that trips them up.

In a Sequoia Capital podcast released Friday, co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said startups tend to get excited by new technological breakthroughs but focus on quick solutions rather than addressing the complex edge cases needed to make systems truly reliable.

Speaking in the context of the autonomous vehicles industry, he said it is very easy to get started but "very difficult to take it all the way to a real product, full autonomy, and superhuman performance."

He said big breakthroughs like large language models fuel hype cycles, drawing in a wave of startups that don't last.

Dolgov said these breakthroughs change the "early part of the curve," and not the "long tail."

A Waymo spokesperson told Business Insider that the "long tail" for autonomous vehicles refers to edge cases — rare driving situations that occur once every million miles that the self-driving system must safely navigate.

"Today, worldwide, somebody loses their life in a crash on our roads every 26 seconds," Dolgov said in the podcast. "It's the combination of knowing that the mission is really important and understanding what you're up against — not looking for easy wins or quick solutions or silver bullets — that helps the team have the stamina to go the distance."

Waymo was founded by Google in 2009 as a self-driving technology company. It launched its first autonomous vehicles in Phoenix in 2020, and is now available in several US cities, including San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Miami, and Nashville.

The company's robotaxis are all electric and use AI, mapping technology, and sensors to drive autonomously. Waymo is one of the few autonomous-vehicle companies to offer robotaxi services in the US, alongside Tesla and Uber.

Before joining Waymo in 2009, Dolgov worked on self-driving car technology at Toyota and at Stanford. He shares Waymo's CEO title with Tekedra Mawakana.

• Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against her "It Ends With Us" costar Baldoni and accused him of a smear campaign.
• A judge officially ended Baldoni's lawsuit against The New York Times, Lively, her rep, and Ryan Reynolds in November 2025.
• Lively's lawsuit was set for a May 18 trial after a judge dismissed most of her claims, but the two sides have now settled the case.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement, bringing their "It Ends With Us" legal feud to an end.

The film's press tour in the summer of 2024 was overshadowed by rumors and speculation of a feud between lead star Lively and Baldoni, her costar and director.

While the movie survived the backlash and went on to become one of the summer's biggest hits at the box office, grossing $350 million worldwide, the "It Ends with Us" drama didn't end there.

In December 2024, Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, setting off a cascade of lawsuits involving both actors and even tangential figures like Baldoni's former publicist, Stephanie Jones.

In June 2025, a judge threw out Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit. He was allowed to file an amended complaint, but in November, the judge formally ended the suit after the deadline for Baldoni to do so had passed.

Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni was headed to a May 18 trial, though a judge dismissed 10 of her 13 claims. The two sides reached a settlement in early May, just weeks before trial.

Here's everything we know about their feud and legal battle.

Eve Crosbie and Ayomikun Adekaiyero contributed to previous versions of this post.

Baldoni didn't interact with other cast members at press events, sparking feud rumors.

Fans suspected something was amiss when Baldoni and Lively didn't interact during the press tour despite playing partners in the film.

Lively did press events with costars Brandon Sklenar and Isabela Ferrer, and author Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book the film is based on. Baldoni did most of his press solo.

When they both attended the New York premiere in August 2024, they were not photographed together. Lively posed with her castmates, Hoover, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman, his "Deadpool & Wolverine" costar. Baldoni was photographed with his wife and some of the other producers who worked on the film.

While speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the carpet at the New York premiere, Baldoni explained why he was stepping back from the limelight.

"This isn't my night — this is a night for all the women who we made this movie for," he said." This is a night for Blake, this is a night for Colleen. I'm just so grateful that we're here, five years in the making."

On social media, fans theorized about the potential drama between the two.

The speculation intensified a few days later after a user on the r/ColleenHoover subreddit noted that Lively and Hoover did not follow Baldoni on Instagram. Fans also noticed that the film's other stars, including Sklenar, Ferrer, and Jenny Slate, did not follow Baldoni. Baldoni followed all of them except Hoover.

Business Insider could not verify whether they previously followed Baldoni.

Adding to this theory was a clip of Slate seemingly sidestepping a question about Baldoni at the movie's New York premiere. Asked about having Baldoni as both a scene partner and a director, she responded by not mentioning him and instead speaking about how "intense" it must be to do both jobs.

As speculation increased, fans turned on Lively.

Many fans began blaming Lively for the supposed feud, accusing her of trying to take over the film.

This theory was supported by Baldoni and Lively's interviews in the lead-up to the premiere.

On August 9, 2024, Baldoni told Today that Lively and Reynolds, who was not a producer on the film, contributed significantly to it.

"You can't summarize Blake's contribution in a sentence, because her energy and imprint is all over the movie and really, really made the film better, and from beginning to end," Baldoni said.

Baldoni also said he struggled to balance allowing collaboration and having his voice drowned out entirely.

"You don't have to listen to everybody, and that didn't happen all the time, but there were just moments where I would get out of the way too much," he said.

Baldoni said Lively should take over as director to adapt the sequel to the "It Ends With Us" novel, "It Starts with Us."

Meanwhile, Lively told E! News on August 7, 2024 that Reynolds helped pen the opening scene of "It Ends With Us."

The film's screenwriter Christy Hal told People a day later that she wasn't aware that Reynolds had written some of the dialogue used in the final version of the script.

"When I saw a cut, I was like, 'Oh, that's cute. That must have been a cute improvised thing,'" Hall said. "So if I'm being told that Ryan wrote that, then great, how wonderful."

Fans also criticized how Lively promoted the movie, choosing to focus on its lighthearted and romantic elements instead of its heavy domestic abuse plot.

Baldoni was the only cast member who consistently spoke about the domestic abuse element.

A clip of Lively making an off-color remark to a reporter in a 2016 interview resurfaced amid the 'It Ends With Us' drama.

As online sentiment toward Lively turned increasingly negative, journalist Kjersti Flaa released an archival clip of an interview with Blake Lively on August 10, 2024 titled "The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job."

"It actually took me a while to get over the experience," Flaa told Business Insider in an email on August 19, 2024 of the interview, which took place years earlier.

"Every time I entered a room after this I got nervous that something similar might happen again," she wrote.

Lively's costar made a statement asking people to stop focusing on 'what may or may not have happened.'

Sklenar, who plays Lively's other love interest in "It Ends With Us," spoke out about the backlash in an Instagram post on August 20, 2024.

"Colleen and the women of this cast stand for hope, perseverance, and for women choosing a better life for themselves. Vilifying the women who put so much of their heart and soul into making this film because they believe so strongly in its message seems counterproductive and detracts from what this film is about," he said.

"This film is meant to inspire. It's meant to validate and recognize," Sklenar added. "It is not meant to once again, make women the 'bad guy,' let's move beyond that together."

Representatives for Baldoni, Lively, Reynolds, Hoover, and Sklenar did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Months later, Lively filed a complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and a smear campaign against her.

On December 20, 2024, Lively filed a legal complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, inflicting "emotional distress," and conspiring to damage her public reputation.

Lively's complaint also named Wayfarer Studios, Baldoni's production company, and Jamey Heath, the company's CEO, as two of the 11 defendants.

In the complaint, Lively said an all-hands meeting about Baldoni and Heath's behavior on set was held in January 2023. She accused him of showing her nude videos and images of women, improvising kissing scenes or intimate scenes, and entering her trailer while she was naked.

Lively said Heath and Baldoni responded by hiring Melissa Nathan, a crisis PR representative, and Jed Wallace, a Texas-based contractor, both defendants in the complaint, to orchestrate a "multi-tiered" plan to "destroy" her public reputation and stop her or anyone else from speaking out about what happened on set.

She also said that the cast agreed to a marketing plan created by the film's distributor, Sony Pictures Entertainment, to avoid talking about the sad parts of the movie, which Baldoni broke away from.

"What the public did not know was that Mr. Baldoni and his team did so to explain why many of the Film's cast and crew had unfollowed Mr. Baldoni on social media and were not appearing with him in public," the complaint said.

Baldoni's attorney said Lively blamed Baldoni in hopes of improving her reputation.

Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, told Business Insider in a statement after the complaint was filed: "It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation, which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film; interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions."

Freedman said Nathan was hired because Lively made multiple demands and threatened not to show up to set or promote the film if they were not met.

When asked to respond to Freedman, a representative for Lively referred Business Insider to a statement shared with The New York Times on December 21, 2024: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted."

On December 24, 2024, publicist Stephanie Jones sued Baldoni, his film studio, Melissa Nathan, and Jennifer Abel, a former employee of Jones' PR company, for breach of contract and defamation.

In the suit, Jones alleged Baldoni and the PRs orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively while her company was working with Baldoni. Jones said this was done behind her back until August 2024, when Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios stopped working with the company and worked directly with Abel.

In the following days, Hoover and other stars reacted to the lawsuit.

Lively's costars from 2005's "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" — America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel — shared a joint statement supporting Lively after she made the complaint.

Hoover and Sklenar, who worked on "It Ends With Us," seemed to both throw their support behind Lively by sharing links to her allegations on their Instagram stories.

"@blakelively, you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met," Hoover wrote in her story post. "Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt."

Hoover has since deleted her Instagram, TikTok, and Threads account.

Representatives for Hoover did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

Baldoni was dropped by his talent agency.

On December 21, 2024, The New York Times reported that Ari Emanuel, chief executive of the parent company that owns Baldoni's talent agency, William Morris Endeavor, said the agency had stopped representing him.

On December 9, 2024, before the complaint was released, Vital Voices, a nonprofit organization that supports women leaders, awarded Baldoni the Voices of Solidarity Award to honor his advocacy work for women.

On December 23, 2024, Vital Voices said in a statement on their website that they had rescinded the award.

"The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists included in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award," the statement read.

Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.

Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and others mentioned in a New York Times story that detailed Lively's accusations against Baldoni filed a lawsuit against the newspaper on December 31, 2024.

The lawsuit, obtained by Business Insider, said the Times' story published on December 21, 2024 "relied almost entirely on Lively's unverified and self-serving narrative" and accused the publication of "disregarding an abundance of evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motives."

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, contained screenshots of messages that it said contradicted the Times' reporting.

In a statement provided to Business Insider after the lawsuit was filed, a Times spokesperson said the newspaper stood by its reporting and would "vigorously defend against the lawsuit."

"Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article," the statement said.

The outlet also published its full statement responding to the allegations.

In a statement provided to Business Insider after Baldoni's lawsuit was filed, Freedman, the plaintiffs' lawyer, said Lively had orchestrated a "vicious smear campaign" and that the Times "cowered to the wants and whims of two powerful 'untouchable' Hollywood elites."

Freedman also said that they would also sue other individuals "who have abused their power to try and destroy the lives of my clients."

In a statement provided to Business Insider about Baldoni's suit, Lively's lawyers said: "Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims advanced in Ms. Lively's California Civil Rights Department Complaint, nor her federal complaint."

Lively filed her own lawsuit in New York.

The same day Baldoni filed his lawsuit against the Times, Lively filed a lawsuit against him, Wayfarer, and others in New York federal court.

Representatives for Lively said the lawsuit, which was obtained by Business Insider, was based on the legal complaint Lively previously filed with the California Civil Rights Department. The lawsuit accuses Baldoni and his PR team of engaging in a campaign to retaliate against her for speaking out about sexual misconduct.

"Unfortunately, Ms. Lively's decision to speak out has resulted in further retaliation and attacks," her lawyers said in a statement provided to Business Insider. "As alleged in Ms. Lively's federal Complaint, Wayfarer and its associates have violated federal and California state law by retaliating against her for reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns."

Representatives for Baldoni and Wayfarer did not address the lawsuit filed by Lively when reached by Business Insider.

Baldoni's lawyer accused Reynolds of teasing the actor with a 'Deadpool & Wolverine' character.

In January 2025, Freedman told SiriusXM's "The Megyn Kelly Show" that his team planned to take further legal action.

Freedman also alleged Reynolds used his influence to help Lively take over "It Ends With Us" and to mock Baldoni on "Deadpool and Wolverine," via a new character in the film called Nicepool.

In the film, which premiered in July 2024 and was the second-highest-grossing movie of 2024, Nicepool, a version of Deadpool from an alternate dimension whose face has not been disfigured, jokes about a woman's pregnancy weight, claims to be a feminist and wears a man bun.

Freedman alleged this was based on Baldoni, who has a reputation for being a feminist and has been known to wear his hair in a bun in the past.

In the movie, Nicepool is eventually killed by Ladypool, a female version of Deadpool from an alternate dimension played by Lively.

"What I make of that is that if your wife is sexually harassed, you don't make fun of Justin Baldoni," Freedman said. "You don't make fun of the situation. You take it very seriously. You file HR complaints. You raise the issue and you follow a legal process. What you don't do is mock the person and turn it into a joke."

Baldoni's company Wayfarer sued Lively, her publicist, and Reynolds.

On January 16, 2025, Baldoni, his associates at his company Wayfarer Studios, and his publicists Nathan and Abel sued Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, alleging they orchestrated a smear campaign against him.

Baldoni's lawsuit, which sought $400 million in damages, alleged that Lively, with the help of Reynolds and Sloane, hijacked "It Ends with Us" by wresting creative control away from Baldoni, then worked to destroy his reputation and livelihood.

The suit, which contained many of the same details as Baldoni's defamation suit against the Times, claimed that Reynolds pressured the talent agency WME — which also represents Lively and Reynolds — to drop Baldoni.

The agency did so but a WME spokesperson previously denied Reynolds and Lively put pressure on the agency.

Freedman told Business Insider that their suit was "based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team's duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni."

"Justin and his team have nothing to hide," the statement adds, "documents do not lie."

Lively's legal team said Baldoni's team's suit is another attempt to "shift the narrative" from one about harassment claims to one around battles for creative control.

"This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook," Lively's legal team said. "This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim."

Baldoni's team released behind-the-scenes footage from the "It Ends With Us" set.

In Lively's complaint, Lively said Baldoni acted as himself instead of Ryle while filming a slow-dance sequence for the romance film.

"At one point, he leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, 'it smells so good,'" the complaint read. "None of this was remotely done in character, or based on any dialogue in the script, and nothing needed to be said because, again, there was no sound."

Her team alleged Lively later objected to this behavior and said Baldoni replied, "I'm not even attracted to you."

In January 2025, Baldoni's production company and lawyer hit back by sending a nearly 10-minute behind-the-scenes footage of the cast filming the scene to outlets including the Daily Mail.

Baldoni's team said in a statement at the beginning of the video that the footage contains three takes filmed on May 23, 2023, and said these were the only versions filmed of the scene.

"Both actors are clearly behaving well within the scope of the scene and with mutual respect and professionalism," they added.

The video also showed that the initial direction in the "It Ends With Us" script is that Baldoni and Lively's characters just dance together.

In the takes, Baldoni repeatedly moves in to kiss Lively, and Lively pulls away and says it would be better if they talked during the scene. At one point, Baldoni rubs his face on both sides of Lively's neck seemingly without warning, but the pair joke about it in the video.

The video has elicited a range of responses on social media. Some users thought Lively looked uncomfortable, while others believed Lively was attracted to her costar.

Lively's attorneys sent a statement to The Hollywood Reporter after the video was published, saying that the footage corroborated Lively's story because "every moment of this was improvised by Mr. Baldoni with no discussion or consent in advance, and no intimacy coordinator present."

"The video shows Ms. Lively leaning away and repeatedly asking for the characters to just talk. Any woman who has been inappropriately touched in the workplace will recognize Ms. Lively's discomfort," the statement said.

"They will recognize her attempts at levity to try to deflect the unwanted touching. No woman should have to take defensive measures to avoid being touched by their employer without their consent."

Lively's attorneys also said that Baldoni's choice to release the video to the media instead of presenting it to court was an "unethical attempt to manipulate the public" and a "continuation of their harassment and retaliatory campaign."

"While they are focused on misleading media narratives, we are focused on the legal process," her attorneys said.

Freedman responded in a statement sent to Business Insider via email on Wednesday: "Prior to filing her lawsuit in court, Ms. Lively went to The New York Times in an effort to publicly destroy Justin Baldoni. When Mr. Baldoni exercises his right to publicly defend himself by putting forth actual facts and evidence, for Ms Lively and team this instantly becomes morally and ethically wrong."

The statement continued: "Ms. Lively wants very different standards to apply to her but fortunately, truth and authenticity apply to everyone and can never be wrong. Looking at the video and the evidence to come, I can understand why Ms. Lively would now, not want this to play out in public."

Baldoni's lawyers created a website containing his complaint and a timeline of events.

In February 2025, Baldoni's lawyers launched a website containing two documents related to his legal battle with Lively.

The first is an amended version of Baldoni's $400 million counter-lawsuit against Lively and Reynolds.

In the amended complaint, Baldoni's team claims that the metadata on The New York Times' website shows that the publication had access to Lively's civil rights complaint at least 11 days before publishing its report on Baldoni's alleged smear campaign, titled "'We Can Bury Anyone': Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine."

Another update in the lawsuit took aim at Lively's husband and accused him of using the character of Nicepool in "Deadpool & Wolverine" to bully Baldoni, saying that the "caricature of a 'woke' feminist" was a "transparent and mocking portrayal of Reynolds' warped perception of Baldoni."

The second document on the new site is a 168-page "timeline of relevant events" related to the feud and the movie's production. The timeline dates from January 2019, when Baldoni approached Hoover about adapting her novel, to January 2025.

In a statement to CNN, Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman said: "The decision to amend our lawsuit was a logical next step due to the overwhelming amount of new proof that has come to light."

Variety reported that the Times has disputed "inaccuracies" in Baldoni's complaint.

A judge threw out Baldoni's defamation lawsuit.

Last June, US District Judge Lewis Liman dismissed Baldoni's $400 million lawsuit, in which the actor and director accused Lively of taking creative control of "It Ends with Us" and damaging his reputation. The suit also alleged that Lively had falsely accused Baldoni of sexual harassment as a way to take control of the production.

The countersuit had previously been combined with a separate suit Baldoni had filed against The New York Times and Lively's publicist Leslie Sloane, which accused Sloane of planting rumors to smear Baldoni in the press and the Times of facilitating their circulation.

Judge Liman ruled that Lively's claims of sexual harassment were legally protected and immune from a lawsuit. Liman is still weighing whether to dismiss Lively's lawsuit against Baldoni.

Baldoni's defamation lawsuit was officially dismissed after deadline lapse.

On October 31, 2025, Judge Liman officially ended Baldoni's lawsuit against Lively.

Liman stated in his order that he contacted all parties on October 17 that his final judgment to conclude the case was coming soon. Only Lively responded. With Baldoni's side missing the deadline to continue to claim, the judge dismissed the lawsuit.

Lively's original lawsuit against Baldoni is still ongoing. A court date was set for May 18.

Unsealed court docs reveal Taylor Swift called Baldoni a "bitch" in texts to Lively.

On January 20, following Judge Liman's ruling that both parties release evidence before a hearing to dismiss the May trial, Lively's team released documents, including depositions and text messages.

They included text exchanges between Lively and her friend Taylor Swift. In one, Swift referred to Baldoni as a "bitch," writing to Lively before The New York Times story ran, "I think this bitch knows something is coming because he's gotten out his tiny violin."

A year prior to that text, Lively referred to Baldoni as the "doofus director of my movie" in a text to Swift.

The deposition of Lively's "It Ends With Us" costar Jenny Slate was also among the unsealed documents. In it, she describes an alleged incident on set where Baldoni said to her, "I can say this because my wife is here, but you look sexy in what you're wearing."

Slate said the comment was "not appropriate" on set or in "any workplace."

"The comment was about me, not my character. It wasn't useful for my work. It wasn't anything I wanted. It was unwanted and had no place, in my professional experience," Slate said in her deposition.

Texts by Slate were also released. In one, she described Baldoni as "a fraud."

In another message, she called him "the biggest clown and the most intense narcissist."

Baldoni's team has yet to release its evidence.

Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios, told Business Insider in a statement that "the evidence does not support the claims as a matter of law" and pointed to messages from Sony discussing Lively's behavior.

"A simple read of the newly released message exchanges makes the truth abundantly clear. We remain confident in the legal process and clearing the names of all of the Justin Baldoni parties."

Reps for Lively, Swift, and Slate did not respond to requests for comment.

Baldoni and Lively were in separate rooms during settlement talks.

February 12 marked the first day of settlement talks in hopes of resolving the feud before the May 18 trial date.

Baldoni and Lively never saw one another, as they were in separate but adjacent courtrooms in the Manhattan courthouse. Meanwhile, their lawyers tried to work out a possible deal with a magistrate judge.

Nothing was resolved on the first day.

A judge dismissed most of Lively's claims.

On April 2, federal judge Lewis Liman dismissed most of Lively's claims in the harassment lawsuit against Baldoni.

Liman tossed out 10 of 13 allegations in her case, including harassment and defamation.

Three claims were left in place against Baldoni: breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation. The case will go to a civil trial in New York on May 18.

Lively and Baldoni settle lawsuit weeks before trial — as she returns to the spotlight

On May 4, Lively and Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, announced that the two actors had reached a settlement, two weeks before their trial was set to begin.

"Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind," the studio said in a statement. "We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard."

The statement added: "It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."

The terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.

Just hours after the announcement, Lively appeared at the Met Gala — her first since 2022 — signaling a return to public life and a close to the yearslong controversy surrounding "It Ends With Us."

• An upscale residential tower near Moscow's city center was hit by a drone on Monday.
• It's one of Ukraine's deepest strikes into Moscow, which is preparing for its Victory Day parade.
• Ukraine often launches such strikes to undermine the parade, which won't be displaying equipment this year.

A Ukrainian drone hit a luxury high-rise tower in Moscow on Monday, a rare attack near the heart of the Russian capital just days before this year's Victory Day parade.

Multiple videos posted on Russian Telegram news channels appear to show debris strewn across a main road near the Mosfilm tower, a two-building residential complex about 4 miles from Moscow's city center.

Business Insider was unable to determine when these videos and photos were taken, but they are consistent with street markings and the city layout near the Mosfilm tower.

Another clip showed emergency vehicles and halted road traffic at a junction next to the complex.

The taller of the two buildings appears to have been the target, with photos showing visible damage to one of the 54-floor tower's upper levels.

Moscow's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, confirmed an attack on Monday evening, saying that a drone had struck a building on Mosfilmovskaya Street. Sobyanin said that there were no injuries.

Monday's attack on the Mosfilm tower is one of Ukraine's deepest drone hits in the heavily defended Russian capital. The skyscraper is located in one of Moscow's most affluent neighborhoods, with major foreign embassies down the road and a nearby city-center golf range.

The strike also comes five days before Russia is set to hold its annual parade celebrating the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.

Over the last few years, Ukraine has harassed Moscow with attempted drone attacks in the lead-up to the parade, which is one of the grandest displays of Russia's military might.

As Moscow prepared last year to host dozens of world leaders for one of its highest-profile editions of the parade, Kyiv repeatedly disrupted local airports by launching waves of drone attacks.

This year, the Kremlin said it would hold a scaled-down version of the parade, with no displays of significant military equipment due to the war situation and the threat of Ukrainian attack.

"This is telling," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday while attending a summit in Armenia. "It shows they are not strong now."

Zelenskyy hinted at further drone threats on Moscow this month, saying that Russian officials "fear drones may buzz over Red Square" during the parade.

The Russian defense ministry said that it had shot down at least 117 Ukrainian drones bound for the capital on Sunday night.

With Moscow about 275 miles from the nearest Ukrainian border, Kyiv often uses fixed-wing drones to attack the capital.

• Victoria Hugo left her social media business to start an art business.
• She does commissions of famous cities and places, painted on boarding passes.
• She said turning her hobby into her job has been fulfilling and helped her unlearn the corporate mindset.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Victoria Hugo, a 28-year-old art business owner based in Surrey, UK. It has been edited for length and clarity.

After a decade as a content creator and running a social media business, I quit to start painting again.

At 17, I made a TikTok account posting videos about body painting, face painting, and canvas work. My channel grew quickly, and within a year, I had a million followers.

I realized brands weren't on the platform yet, and I could help them get on it. So in 2021, I started a TikTok agency with two cofounders, working with clients across different sectors, from hospitality to beauty. By the time I left last year, we were turning over about £500,000, or about $675,000, a year.

I loved the challenge and the variety that the job brought me, but it left me no time for my art. I'm an all-or-nothing person, so if I could only give my art 5% of my time, it wasn't worth it.

After nearly 10 years on TikTok, I thought, "I'm not sure if this is really fulfilling me in the happiness department."

So I exited the business last year to paint full time.

Air ticket business

Last year, my husband and I took what we called a "honey year" after we got married and traveled to places we'd always wanted to go. I'm a raging ticket hoarder — boarding passes, little mementos.

After one trip in October, I had these Air India boarding passes, and I remember thinking, "I could just paint a moment from these trips on a boarding pass."

At first, it was just for me. I didn't think people would buy them. I painted the Taj Mahal on one of the passes, for a start.

I didn't have all my old boarding passes, so I asked a graphic designer friend to create editable versions I could paint on. Then I painted more from my trips and posted them online.

A friend commissioned one for her husband, and then I posted a video in January. Within a day, it exploded. I had so many DMs asking how to buy one.

So since the start of the year, I've gone all in on this. I've received about 60 orders.

The painting itself takes between two and 10 hours, depending on its complexity.

If they want it framed, I mount and frame it before shipping it off. Overall, each piece usually takes between one and three days from start to finish.

I recently received a wedding order of 13 boarding pass paintings of places that were important to the couple. They didn't have table numbers; rather, they had the "London table," "Seoul table," and so forth.

I then scanned those designs and created 100 individual boarding passes for the guests, each with their name and table assignment. I cut them all out individually. It was a long day, but it turned out great.

The risk is paying off

I charge £195 for an unframed piece and £245 for a framed piece, plus shipping. I've also added a fast-track option for people who leave things to the last minute, so they can pay £100 and guarantee their painting will be completed within a week.

Each one costs me roughly £50 to produce if it's framed, but a lot of that is just time and labor.

In the first few months, it made more money than I earned in salary at the social media agency. I'm very confident I won't need a second income.

I've had a few inquiries about events and wedding packages, and that's where the big money comes from compared to the one-off commissions.

Funnily enough, the biggest challenge has been the mental block of not being confident that I've created something that's valuable to the customer. I've just fallen into it, and it's happened really quickly.

Unlearning the mindset of chasing milestones

Before, I was always chasing milestones, like getting verified or hitting a million followers on TikTok. In my business, the aim was to make it profitable. But with this, I have a completely different mindset, which I need right now as I'm pregnant with my first child.

I love that I have the flexibility to paint, plan, edit, or do admin jobs, and that I can take my foot off the gas and enjoy what I'm doing. I want to do it for as long as I enjoy it, and I want to see where it can go, like working with brands like tourism boards or airlines.

When people say, "I get to do my hobby for a job," I thought they were kidding. Now, I get it.

All across Manhattan, stars powdered their noses, smoothed down wrinkles on gowns and suits, and did one final look in the mirror.

That might seem like a lot of fuss for a Monday, but it wasn't just any Monday. It was the first Monday in May, which means one thing in New York City: Met Gala day.

Celebrities gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the 2026 Met Gala. From A-list arrivals to the best and worst Met Gala outfits, here's how the night unfolded.

That's a wrap on fashion's biggest night!

This year's red carpet had some looks that will go down in Met Gala history — we won't forget Beyoncé's anytime soon — but not every outfit was a hit. Some celebrities didn't seem to understand the "Fashion is Art" dress code, while others just left us wanting more. See who made our worst-dressed list (sorry).

It's not really a Met Gala until Rihanna closes out the carpet.

As per her tradition, Rihanna was the last of the stars to arrive at the Met Gala on Monday night.

The Fenty mogul — who revealed her third pregnancy on the carpet last year — made her way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art after the red carpet shows had already wrapped up.

She sported a long-sleeved gown with a jeweled bodice and a shimmering silver skirt that matched her cape.

And now, it's time for the stars to party!

Timothée Chalamet swapped the Met for the Mecca.

It was the first Monday in May, and Timothée Chalamet was dressed in his best cobalt blue, ready to walk inside… Madison Square Garden.

The star skipped the fashion event for the first playoff game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks confirmed his presence with a video that showed Chalamet walking into the famous arena.

Many had hoped that Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, would make their Met Gala couple debut, but Jenner walked the red carpet solo on Monday night. Marty Supreme would be proud.

Kris Jenner brings her bob to the Met Gala.

The Kardashian-Jenner matriarch was the last of her famous clan to arrive on the Met's steps, and she didn't play it safe.

Jenner sported a sparkling white-and-orange robe, with a shade that coordinated with Kim Kardashian's metallic-orange bodysuit.

Her robe featured illustrations of leaves and sculptures, and she accessorized the ensemble with a Cleopatra-style bob.

Beyoncé reminded us why she's known as Queen Bey.

In a night of surprisingly lackluster fashion, Beyoncé has been one of the rare outliers.

The legendary singer — who is back as a co-chair after skipping the Met Gala for the past decade — made her entrance in a sheer, diamond-covered Olivier Rousteing dress designed to look like a skeleton.

Beyoncé paired the ensemble with a diamond headpiece, gloves, and a feathered cape.

She walked the red carpet with her 14-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, who made her Met Gala debut.

Blake Lively returns to the Met Gala just hours after settling her lawsuit with Justin Baldoni.

Blake Lively made it clear she's ready to move on after she and Baldoni put their lawsuit to rest following years of controversy from their movie "It Ends With Us."

Lively, once a fixture of the first Monday in May, returned to the carpet for the first time since 2022. She wore an archival Atelier Versace 2006 dress inspired by the 18th-century Rococo paintings.

The cream gown featured a voluminous skirt with pink, lavender, and peach fabric. She paired the ensemble with a custom Judith Leiber bag featuring artwork by her and Ryan Reynolds' four children.

Read full story

Kim Kardashian stuck to her form-fitting signature for the Met Gala.

Kim Kardashian has gone to extreme lengths for the Met Gala, from taking breathing lessons to fit in a Thierry Mugler corset to shedding 16 pounds so she could wear Marilyn Monroe's dress.

So it's no surprise that Kardashian went with another Met ensemble that showed off her body, this time wearing a custom piece by Allen Jones and Whitaker Malem, who describe themselves as a "body-based designer/artisan duo." She paired the metallic-orange bodysuit with blonde hair.

Kardashian posted pictures of Jones' 1970 artwork "Pour les Lèvres," which appeared to be the ensemble's inspiration.

Bad Bunny showed up as an aged version of himself.

The singer's outfit was pretty simple — except for his makeup and accessories. He wore a black suit and oversized bow tie and carried a cane. He also wore makeup that made him look over 50 years older.

On the red carpet, he said the look took "53 years."

Janelle Monáe used her outfit to send a message about AI.

So many people argue that the takeover of AI is inevitable, but Janelle Monáe's dress imagines a different world.

Monáe's custom Christian Sirano gown features recycled electric cables and wiring, threaded through real moss and succulents, and decorated with black-and-white butterflies.

During the E! red-carpet show, Siriano said the dress symbolized how Earth can fight through AI.

Kendall Jenner took inspiration from a famous statue in the Louvre.

Kendall Jenner wore a draped gown inspired by "The Winged Victory of Samothrace," which is on display in the Louvre Museum.

Though she worked with a different designer — Zac Posen designed Kendall's dress — the bodice of her gown was similar to her sister Kylie's.

Hudson Williams traded his jersey for a bolero.

The "Heated Rivalry" star's appearance was highly anticipated, and he brought some much-needed color to a red carpet full of black and white designs.

Williams worked with Balenciaga for his very first Met Gala, sporting a baby-blue bolero jacket and matching pants decorated with black embroidery.

He went shirtless underneath the matador-inspired look, which also featured a flowing black train. Metallic eyeshadow, applied "Black Swan"-style, completed the look.

Hailey Bieber is a 24-karat golden girl.

If April was all about Bieber fever, then May is Hailey's time to shine.

And the Rhode founder did so, literally, with a custom Saint Laurent dress featuring a solid 24-karat gold bodice.

The dress also featured a blue chiffon skirt with a flowing train, adding to the Greek goddess effect.

Sabrina Carpenter's Met Gala dress had a sneaky tribute to her name.

Sabrina Carpenter walked the red carpet in a halter dress made out of film strips.

The custom tulle gown, designed by Jonathan Anderson at Dior, featured strips from the iconic 1954 rom-com "Sabrina," starring Audrey Hepburn.

Carpenter paired her ensemble with a beaded headpiece and Old Hollywood curls.

Don't burst Eileen Gu's bubbles.

The Olympic champion arrived at the Met Gala in a strapless dress covered in tiny translucent bubbles.

Her strapless minidress even released bubbles as she walked up the Met steps.

Gu revealed on the red carpet that the Iris van Herpen dress featured 15,000 glass bubbles and took 2,550 hours to make.

The celebrity arrivals aren't slowing down, but we already have some favorite looks.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Zoë Kravitz, and Naomi Osaka are among the best-dressed celebrities so far.

Read full story

Kylie Jenner rocked a nude gown and bleached eyebrows.

The long-running love affair between Schiaparelli and the Kardashian-Jenner family continued as Kylie Jenner made her grand entrance.

Jenner walked the carpet sans boyfriend Timothée Chalamet — maybe he's busy watching the Knicks game? — in a strapless gown by the Italian fashion house.

Her dress featured a nude top with a corset back, a common design feature tonight, and a ball-gown cream skirt covered in sparkles.

Lisa and Gigi Hadid bring back the naked dress.

The naked dress is no stranger to the Met Gala, first making its debut with the help of Cher and an iconic Bob Mackie gown in 1978.

And the trend showed no signs of slowing down on Monday night, as both Lisa and Gigi Hadid opted for sheer gowns.

Lisa wore a long-sleeved white gown covered in crystals, with a flowing train and a veil held over her head by 3D recreations of her own arms. Hadid sported a custom black Miu Miu dress decorated with flames and florals.

Heidi Klum looked in her element on the red carpet.

Klum, queen of Halloween, put her costume skills to good use at the Met Gala, walking the red carpet in an ensemble that made her look like a living sculpture.

Klum said on the red carpet that her outfit, made of latex and foam, was inspired by "The Veiled Vestal."

Did it look more like a costume than a red carpet outfit? Sure, but we have to give Klum props for committing to the dress code.

Naomi Osaka graced the Met Gala with not one but two showstopping outfits.

The tennis star returned to the Met Gala in a custom Robert Wun ensemble that included an outfit change right on the red carpet.

Osaka first showed off an ivory coat and a matching floppy hat. The gown featured slits that gave a peek at what was hidden beneath, as did Osaka's red gloves.

Underneath was a form-fitting red gown with a high neck and open back. According to Vogue, Wun's creation featured 659,000 stitches and thousands of Swarovski crystals arranged in the form of the human anatomy.

The Met Gala raised a record $42 million this year.

The 2026 Met Gala broke its own fundraising record, easily surpassing the $31 million it raised in 2025.

A spokesperson for the Costume Institute confirmed the $42 million figure to Business Insider.

Helping add to the Costume Institute's coffers was a hike in individual ticket prices to $100,000, up from $ 75,000 last year.

The Costume Institute is the only department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that is required to be self-funded, so the money will go a long way to keeping the department running for decades to come — no matter what happens to fashion's biggest night.

Katy Perry channeled a famous Kim Kardashian Met Gala look.

Perry left the chandelier and burger costumes at home for something more subdued on Monday night.

The singer returned to the Met Gala for the first time since 2022, wearing a strapless white dress with matching opera gloves.

But what everyone will surely be talking about was the main accessory: a netted face mask with a chrome plate, which seemed to mimic a fencer's mask.

The look was reminiscent of Kim Kardashian's 2021 Met Gala ensemble, which featured a Balenciaga bodysuit and mask that completely covered her head.

Sergey Brin and his girlfriend, Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, had a matching moment.

The Google cofounder and his girlfriend, a wellness influencer who featured in a season of "Vanderpump Rules," made their Met Gala debut together on Monday night.

Gilbert-Soto sported a white coat with sparkling blue figures dancing across the train, appearing to pay tribute to Henri Matisse's iconic "Dance" painting. She later shed the coat to reveal a strapless white gown with a feathered blue skirt and thigh-high slit.

Brin matched his girlfriend in a black tuxedo adorned with a sparkling blue design.

Venus Williams, another co-chair, wore a dramatic black gown inspired by her own portrait.

Williams has been a frequent Met Gala attendee in recent years. This time around, she went for drama, wearing a sparkling black gown with a train and a large jewelry piece around her neck and chest.

On the red carpet, she said the outfit was inspired by her own portrait commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery.

She walked the steps of The Met with her husband, Andrea Preti.

"Heated Rivalry" star Connor Storrie is making his Met Gala debut.

Storrie has quickly been rising in the fashion ranks since starring in the steamy hockey series "Heated Rivalry," so it's no surprise he snagged an invite to one of the biggest fashion events.

He was spotted leaving The Carlyle Hotel in a black suit and polka-dot blouse, complete with a long neck scarf.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos' dress is surprisingly muted, but holds a hidden message.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos' involvement in the Met Gala has drawn protests from some groups around New York City, which may be why she decided to keep things (deceptively) simple on Monday night.

She walked the red carpet sans husband, although they are both honorary co-chairs, opting for an off-the-shoulder navy gown with jeweled straps by Schiaparelli, one of her favorite designers.

According to a post on her Instagram, Sánchez Bezos' outfit was inspired by John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of Madame X. The painting — which featured a well-known American socialite — was considered vulgar in Parisian society at the time, forcing Sargent to repaint one of her gown's shoulder straps.

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Nicole Kidman, a co-chair this year, turned the Met Gala into a mother-daughter date.

Kidman arrived in a sparkly red gown with a feathered tutu around the waist. It's not immediately clear how her outfit relates to the dress code, but the look works for her. From the colorful dress to her icy blonde hair, Kidman was styled to perfection.

She walked the carpet with her daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, who is making her Met Gala debut tonight.

Kidman said on the red carpet that her daughter "has to go to school tomorrow morning" at 8 a.m.

Ben Stiller and his wife coordinated to support the New York Knicks.

The first Monday in May coincides with the NBA playoffs, and Ben Stiller wasn't going to let the Met Gala dress code stop him from supporting his favorite basketball team.

Stiller and his wife, Christine Taylor, stepped out in coordinating outfits to match the Knicks' official colors, with the actor sporting a bright-orange tie and Taylor wearing a strapless cobalt-blue gown.

As the couple dances the night away at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Knicks will be playing the Philadelphia 76ers three miles away at Madison Square Garden.

The Met Gala has a strict no-phones policy, so TBD if Stiller — a die-hard Knicks fan — will be able to keep up with the score.

It wouldn't be a Met Gala red carpet without Anna Wintour's iconic sunglasses.

Take a look through Wintour's past Met Gala looks, and you'll notice she loves two things: sunglasses and feathers.

She arrived on the red carpet in a turquoise-and-black, beaded dress and a feathery cape reminiscent of the one she wore in 2019 for the "Camp: Notes on Fashion" gala.

Emma Chamberlain kicks things off on a high note.

Emma Chamberlain is hosting Vogue's official livestream, so the pressure was on to wear something fabulous.

And the influencer delivered in her hand-painted Mugler gown. The custom ensemble was designed by Miguel Castro Freitas, the brand's creative director.

In a video from Vogue, Chamberlain said the dress made her feel like she was in a "Van Gogh painting."

We have to agree with her assessment: "It's so elegant, but so major."

The Met Gala carpet has us seeing double.

We've got our first peek of the Met Gala's carpet, and it looks… sort of familiar.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's iconic steps have been covered with a design reminiscent of the 2024 carpet for the "Garden of Time" dress code.

Both predominantly featured green and white, though this year's carpet has also been designed to mimic stone. Framing the steps is a backdrop of flowers and drooping trees.

Beyoncé's Met Gala history

Few celebrities do the Met Gala quite like Beyoncé.

She's attended seven times since 2008, and she's made an iconic entrance every time. Designers like Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, and Armani have dressed her in an array of elegant and daring gowns.

Ty Hunter, who styled Beyoncé for each event, previously told Business Insider that many of her outfits were planned only a day or two in advance.

Despite her icon status, Beyoncé last attended the Met Gala in 2016 — marking her as one of the most highly anticipated stars expected to walk the red carpet this year.

No one has a bigger impact on the Met Gala than Anna Wintour.

Wintour, now Vogue's global editorial director, has been a staple of the Met Gala for over 30 years. She first co-chaired the gala in 1995, and by 1999, she was chairperson.

As chairperson, she doesn't pick the theme, but Wintour decides who gets invited. She's also said it's not uncommon for her to offer outfit advice to attendees and designers.

Wintour herself most often wears Chanel for the gala — paired with her iconic sunglasses — though she sometimes switches it up. In 2025, she wore Loewe.

Read full story

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are sponsors of this year's gala, much to the dismay of protesters.

After attending past Met Galas as guests, the billionaire couple is taking on a new role at this year's ball. They're helping fund this year's exhibit and gala, alongside Saint Laurent and Condè Nast. They're also honorary co-chairs.

Sánchez Bezos first attended the Met Gala in 2024, walking the red carpet solo in a statement Oscar de la Renta gown. The Amazon founder, on the other hand, has never walked the event's red carpet, but he's been photographed inside.

Though the couple has said they're excited for the Met Gala, protest groups have posted boycott signs and other displays across New York City.

Read full story

The guest list is largely a mystery, but we know some stars who will be there.

We know that the Met Gala's host committee members will be in attendance. That includes Anthony Vaccarello, the creative director of YSL, and Zoë Kravitz (no word yet on whether Kravitz will bring Harry Styles as her plus-one), as well as stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Teyana Taylor, and Lisa.

Others have indicated they'll be there by attending pre-Met Gala celebrations, such as Colman Domingo, who attended Wayman + Micah's party, and Kris and Kendall Jenner, who were spotted at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos' bash.

Of course, we'll be on the lookout for the stars who always make a splash, like Rihanna. Sometimes, though, it's first-time attendees who make the biggest impact, as Tyla did in 2024 when she arrived in a gown made of sand.

How to watch the Met Gala red carpet

Though we won't be able to see what happens inside the famous gala, the red carpet will be filmed from start to finish.

Vogue will livestream Met Gala arrivals on YouTube, TikTok, and its other digital platforms beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

Model Ashley Graham, actor La La Anthony, and model Cara Delevigne will host, and influencer Emma Chamberlain will return as a Vogue red-carpet correspondent.

You can also watch the red carpet on E! starting at 6 p.m. ET.

Meryl Streep won't be making an appearance — as herself or Miranda Priestly.

"The Devil Wears Prada 2" begins with Meryl Streep in an opening scene clearly inspired by the Met Gala, but life won't be imitating art at this year's event.

A spokesperson for the Oscar-winning actor confirmed that Streep will not be attending fashion's biggest night on Monday, as per her tradition.

"Meryl has been invited to the Met Gala for many years but has never attended," the representative told People, adding that the star-studded event "has never quite been her scene."

The absence still comes as a surprise, given Streep's recent media blitz for "The Devil Wears Prada 2," which included posing on the cover of Vogue alongside Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala for three decades. Streep — who plays a fashion magazine editor in chief inspired by Wintour in the film — also sat next to the legendary Vogue editor at a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in September.

Three iconic women are serving as co-chairs.

Anna Wintour, Vogue's former editor in chief, works with a set of famous Met Gala co-chairs each year to bring the event to life.

For 2026, Wintour tapped Nicole Kidman, Venus Williams, and Beyoncé.

Kidman and Williams have been familiar faces at the Met Gala in recent years, but Beyoncé hasn't attended the event since 2016 for the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" gala.

The theme of the 2026 Met Gala is "Costume Art."

Unlike some A-list events, the Met Gala always has a theme. It coordinates with the Costume Institute's annual exhibit, which attendees can explore once they enter the gala.

For 2026, museum curator Andrew Bolton created a "Costume Art" exhibit, saying he "wanted to focus on the centrality of the dressed body within the museum."

The Met Gala's red carpet also has a dress code that dictates the eye-catching looks celebrities wear. This year, stars will dress to the "Fashion is Art" dress code, as Vogue announced in February, advising guests to "consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas."

That description leaves plenty of room for guests to interpret the theme as they see fit, particularly compared to stricter Met Gala dress codes of years past, so we'll likely see a variety of different takes on "Fashion is Art" attire.

The 2026 Met Gala has arrived at last.

It's time to roll out the fancy carpet because fashion's biggest night is just hours away.

Held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Met Gala raises funds for the museum's Costume Institute and is the place to be for celebrities on the first Monday in May.

A night of glamour doesn't come cheap, though.

This year, individual tickets cost $100,000. More often than not, fashion houses and other corporate sponsors buy tables and bring guests to fill them (though Anna Wintour is said to have final say on who gets in). Tables cost $350,000 for 2026.

Read full story

• The 2026 Met Gala was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday night.
• Some attendees wore outfits that were out of place and underwhelming.
• Others wore suits that needed tailoring and dresses in unflattering colors.

Not everyone dressed their best for the 2026 Met Gala.

Celebrities and billionaires arrived at the Metropolitan Museum on Monday night, filling the red carpet with eye-catching fashion. Beyoncé wowed in a custom Olivier Rousteing look, and Blake Lively arrived in a vintage Versace gown.

Unfortunately, other stars didn't hit the mark with their outfit choices. A few people dressed outside the "Fashion Is Art" dress code, and others needed more technical tweaks, like different tailoring.

From the underwhelming to the out of place, here are the worst looks seen at the Met Gala this year.

Ashley Graham

Graham arrived in a custom Di Petsa dress. The sheer fabric matched her skin tone, making it look like an extension of her body. The bodice hugged her figure, with a layer of fabric creating a criss-cross pattern across her torso, while the see-through skirt flared around her thighs and fell into a train.

She accessorized the look with diamond jewelry, slicked-back hair, and silver-tipped fingers that appeared painted.

Graham looked elegant, but the look was lackluster for the Met Gala. A gown that made a stronger statement would have stood out more on fashion's biggest night.

Ben Stiller

Stiller chose a simple navy suit for the Met Gala, which he paired with an orange tie. The look appeared to be a nod to the New York Knicks, who are in the NBA playoffs and played the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night.

Stiller is a big Knicks fan, so it made sense for him to rep the team's colors. However, it didn't make any sense for the Met Gala. He should have saved the outfit for the ESPYs red carpet.

Olivia Wilde

Wilde attended in a Thom Browne design that was classic in the front and confusing in the back. The neutral gown featured a black satin bodice with off-the-shoulder straps, white tulle attached to her backside … and a structural cage extending from it.

The latter detail was especially strange and seemed out of place on the elegant garment.

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger took a fashion risk with his all-black ensemble. He wore an extra-short, cropped leather jacket over an extra-long blazer and a white button-up shirt, the latter tucked into corseted trousers. He also wore leather gloves, a black tie, and carried a cane.

Unfortunately, there were too many layers to the outfit to let us really appreciate any specific one.

Kim Kardashian

Kardashian wore one of the most colorful looks of the night: a metallic orange bodysuit with a corseted waist and a high neckline. It seemed to be made of a plastic-like material that exaggerated the shape of her body.

Though the top piece was eye-catching, it was embellished with a leather half-skirt that didn't match the look. It was custom-made for her by Allen Jones.

Odessa A'zion

Valentino custom-made A'zion's daring Met Gala outfit. It comprised a black satin waist corset over sheer tights, thigh-high boots, a robe-like jacket draped at her hips, and floral appliques in place of a top.

There was ultimately too much going on with the outfit, and it overwhelmed the actor.

Charli XCX

Charli XCX is known for her wild fashion, but she played it too safe at the Met Gala this year.

She wore a strapless Saint Laurent gown with a mesh train and a floral embellishment across its bodice. A more dramatic design, preferably one inspired by an art piece, would have fit the event better.

Camila Morrone

Camila Morrone was among the many, many stars who stuck to neutrals — both in color and structure.

Morrone's custom Tory Burch satin dress was a pink so light it almost looked white, with a classic strapless bodice.

Her cape featured 7,000 silk flowers, but they were embroidered in the same black color as her cape, making them nearly invisible.

On a night meant to celebrate "Fashion Is Art," she just gave us a nice dress that would've been at home on any other red carpet.

Cardi B

Cardi B has become a Met Gala icon, but her 2026 outfit won't be remembered as one of her best. Her Marc Jacobs gown was crafted from sheer lace and tan satin that puffed out at her shoulders and around her feet. There were also random pastel patches tucked into the lace.

The musician seemed to be having fun with her outfit, but its oversized fabric puffs made it look more silly than fashionable.

Rami Malek

Malek's all-black Saint Laurent ensemble consisted of a trench coat, pants, and a dramatic, fuzzy scarf that cinched tight on his neck. He wore the look with the Cartier Crash watch and a brooch on his lapel.

There were fun elements to Malek's look, but unfortunately, the scarf overshadowed the rest of the outfit, and it wasn't immediately clear how the look related to the dress code.

Tyla

Tyla's custom Valentino gown was daring. Its bodice was made of strands of gems that dipped low in the center and cut out on the sides. The teal skirt sat low on her waist, and it featured a dramatic slit in the center.

The skirt and top felt a bit disjointed, and her body glitter didn't quite fit the look. Compared to Tyla's showstopping 2024 Met Gala look, the dress just wasn't as impressive.

Serena Williams

The tennis star wore metallic Marc Jacobs for the Met Gala. The halter-style dress had a single strap, a keyhole cutout, ruching at the waist, and a skirt that was mini on one side and floor-length on the other.

Though the silhouette looked stunning on Williams, her gown's silver shade made it look more like a costume than a red-carpet piece. The same can be said for her strappy gold heels.

Karlie Kloss

Garlic is famously banned from the Met Gala menu — along with onions and chives — but that didn't stop Karlie Kloss from channeling the famous allium.

Kloss' white gown featured a bulbous bottom, which offered some whimsy. But the monochromatic look, complete with an out-of-place floral headpiece, still felt plain.

Maybe it'd be better for "dinner with the Kushners"?

Sarah Pidgeon

Sarah Pidgeon single-handedly helped revive tortoiseshell headbands and oval sunglasses with her portrayal of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in "Love Story."

But the buzzy TV actress' lime-green Loewe co-ord, featuring a bandeau top and skirt, probably won't kick off any new trends.

The ensemble was pretty but predictable, with the kind of silhouette already copied endlessly by fast fashion. We would've loved to see Pidgeon add something extra — a train, a cape, anything! — for some drama.

Lainey Wilson is staying busy in 2026, with a schedule that mixes stadium shows, major festivals, and a handful of headline dates — the kind of routing that usually means tickets can move fast in big markets. On her official tour calendar, Wilson is booked for everything from Nashville's Nissan Stadium and other stadium stops tied to Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show, to summer festival sets like Country Thunder Alberta, Windy City Smokeout, and WE Fest.

Wilson's rise has been fast for a reason: the Louisiana native broke through with story-first country hits and a signature "bell bottom" swagger, then kept leveling up with awards and big mainstream moments. She's a Grammy-winning artist with a catalog built for sing-alongs ("Things a Man Oughta Know," "Heart Like a Truck," "Watermelon Moonshine"), and she's continued expanding her live footprint with high-profile appearances — including a headlining set at Stagecoach 2026.

When it comes to ticket availability, it really depends on the night. Festival appearances usually require a single-day or multi-day pass, while stadium shows and headline gigs have varying prices based on demand. If your preferred date is already tight — especially on weekends or at marquee stadium stops — your best bet is to check verified resale like StubHub and Vivid Seats.

Lainey Wilson's 2026 schedule

Lainey Wilson will be hitting cities across the US, including Nashville, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Atlanta. Her tour kicks off at the end of May.

• May 23, 2026 - Nashville, TN at Nissan Stadium
• June 13, 2026 - Tampa, FL at Raymond James Stadium
• June 20, 2026 - Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium
• June 28, 2026 - Calgary, AB at Country Thunder Alberta
• July 10, 2026 - Chicago, IL at Windy City Smokeout
• July 12, 2026 - Craven, SK at Country Thunder Saskatchewan
• July 17, 2026 - Paso Robles, CA at California Mid-State Fair
• August 1, 2026 - Cincinnati, OH at Paycor Stadium
• August 6, 2026 - Detroit Lakes, MN at WE Fest
• August 7, 2026 - Oshkosh, WI at XRoads41
• August 8, 2026 - Detroit, MI at Ford Field
• August 9, 2026 - Canton, OH at Concert For Legends
• August 12, 2026 - Sturgis, SD at The Sturgis Buffalo Chip
• August 15, 2026 - Springfield, IL at Illinois State Fair
• August 16, 2026 - Des Moines, IA at Iowa State Fair
• August 21, 2026 - Atlanta, GA at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• October 2, 2026 - Ocean City, MD at Country Calling Festival

How much are Lainey Wilson tickets?

Resale prices for Lainey Wilson tickets can vary a lot depending on whether you're buying a stand-alone concert date (like Paso Robles) or a bigger festival/stadium bill where she's part of the lineup. On Vivid Seats, Lainey Wilson tickets currently start at $79 (with an average price around $160), so there are still some relatively affordable options if you're flexible on city and section.

On the higher end, pricing climbs quickly for premium inventory and festival-style listings. For example, Vivid Seats' Windy City Smokeout page shows resale options ranging from about $150 up to roughly $8,885 for top-end inventory. Over on StubHub, one example we spotted for her Paso Robles show ranges from $179 on the low end to $658 for higher-priced seats. In general, you'll pay the least for upper levels/standard passes, while closer seats, VIP-style listings, and peak-demand nights are where prices jump the fastest.

See more: Is StubHub legit? | Las Vegas Sphere tickets | Dolly Parton tickets | Kenny Chesney tickets | Ed Sheeran tickets | Bruno Mars tickets | Bon Jovi tickets | Journey tickets

Follow our WhatsApp channel and Instagram for more deals and buying guides.

• ServiceNow aims to double subscription revenue to $30 billion by 2030.
• ServiceNow's Now Assist product surpassed $750 million in annual contract value, its CFO said.
• ServiceNow CFO Gina Mastantuono reassures investors on AI and forecasts robust profit margins.

ServiceNow made a more forceful case to investors that it can thrive in the age of AI, outlining long-term financial targets and early signs of traction on Monday.

During a meeting with analysts, ServiceNow President and CFO Gina Mastantuono said the company is targeting more than $30 billion in subscription revenue by 2030, up from an expected $15.7 billion in 2026. There's potential upside to more than $32 billion, implying a roughly 20% compound annual growth rate, the CFO added.

ServiceNow also pushed back on concerns that AI could erode profit margins. The company said AI reasoning accounts for less than 10% of its cost to serve, helping it maintain gross margins above 80% even as AI usage rises.

Mastantuono also forecast operating margin and free cash flow margin expansion of 100 basis points in 2027. By 2030, ServiceNow aims to reach a "Rule of 60+," a high bar that combines revenue growth and free cash flow margins that total 60%.

Shares of many software stocks have plunged in the past year on concern that generative AI tools could reduce demand for software and help customers create their own software to replace traditional offerings. The new forecasts from ServiceNow are aimed at reassuring investors that AI is not a threat to its business and could instead become a major growth driver.

The update comes after a solid first quarter from ServiceNow in which subscription revenue rose 22% year over year to $3.67 billion. Still, the stock fell following that earnings report on concerns about AI's impact, margins, and deal delays due to the Middle East conflict.

A central piece of ServiceNow's new pitch is AI monetization. On Monday, the CFO said its Now Assist product, a flagship AI offering, surpassed $600 million in annual contract value (ACV) in 2025 and has exceeded $750 million as of the first quarter of 2026. The company expects that figure to top $1.5 billion by the end of this year and account for more than 30% of total ACV by 2030.

The data suggests AI is increasingly embedded in larger ServiceNow deals. In 2025, 91% of net new ACV came from customers buying five or more products, with a sharp increase in multi-product deals that include Now Assist.

ServiceNow also uses its own operations as proof of concept. Its internal AI deployment generated $500 million in annualized value in 2025, including $100 million in operating expense savings. Those savings are expected to accelerate to more than $200 million in 2026.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

It's no secret that purchasing a new pair of glasses can be a pesky and pricey task. Zenni offers a streamlined service that can help get you into some new frames without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. The online retailer carries sunglasses, readers, prescription frames, and other eyeglass products for a variety of budgets and tastes, so there's something for everyone. You can often find deals across the Zenni website, but one of the top ways to reliably bring the total price down at checkout is by using one of the best Zenni promo codes we've found below.

Our editors have tested out all the leading online eyewear retailers, and Zenni consistently makes the cut as one of the top options thanks to its stylish, budget-friendly glasses. The brand's in-house frames deliver impressive quality for the price, while designer options from labels like Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs prove you don't need to spend luxury-level prices to get a polished look. Zenni offers a massive selection of frames and lenses, including options for all ages and face types. For a closer look at why we like the retailer, you can check out our full Zenni review.

Zenni is already one of the most affordable online glasses retailers, but shoppers seeking some extra savings can find additional discounts by using one of the many Zenni promo codes that are currently active. We've scoured the internet for new coupons and rounded up the best options below. Plus, we've tested them all out to ensure that they're still working (at the time of writing). The best codes can help you save up to 15% at checkout.

Today's best Zenni discount codes

Previous Zenni promo codes

Are there any other Zenni sales running at the moment?

You can check out Zenni's sale page anytime for a full list of current markdowns on their frames. At the time of writing, Zenni is also running the following promotions.

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides

How to use Zenni promo codes

Start by adding eligible items to your cart. From the "Shopping Cart" page, scroll down to the bottom where it says, "Have a promo code?" You can paste a discount code into the text box and click "Apply." Then, continue to checkout as a guest or with an existing account.

Can you stack Zenni discount codes?

Zenni doesn't allow you to stack multiple promo codes. Only one code can be used per purchase. If it's your first purchase in the Zenni mobile app, we recommend using the 15% off FIRSTAPP code rather than one of the many 10% off codes, which you can use on future purchases.

Zenni promo code frequently asked questions

Does Zenni offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

Zenni offers eligible college students, teachers, military members (active, reserve, and veterans), and military spouses a 10% discount on all purchases. First responders and medical personnel can also receive a 10% discount on orders.

People eligible for these discounts must verify their status to take advantage of the offer. These discounts can't be combined with other promo codes or offers.

If you're a student or educator, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and best teacher discounts for more ways to save.

Does Zenni take insurance?

Zenni doesn't take insurance directly. However, they will provide a detailed receipt with your order that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

Zenni does allow you to spend FSA and HSA dollars directly on the site. Simply enter your FSA/HSA card at checkout like you would a credit or debit card. Learn more about using FSA and HSA dollars on Zenni's website.

Does Zenni offer free shipping?

Shoppers can receive free standard shipping on orders of $89 or more. Free shipping will automatically be applied once you have enough items in your cart, so you don't need to enter a promo code. Free shipping is also combinable with other offers and promotions.

How do I choose the best glasses for my face shape?

Zenni lets you shop frames by face shape on their website, so you can choose from frame shapes that typically complement your features. For example, they suggest choosing round frames if you have a square face shape or square and aviator frames for a heart-shaped face.

If you're unsure of your face shape or what would look best on you, Zenni also has a virtual try-on feature that allows you to see what any of their frames look like on your face.

Do I need a prescription to use Zenni?

Zenni offers plenty of non-prescription eyewear, so you don't need a prescription to use the site. You can shop for non-prescription readers, sunglasses, sports goggles, and blue-light-blocking glasses with Zenni.

What is Zenni's return policy?

Zenni allows shoppers to return items within 30 days of the original purchase in exchange for site credit and reimbursement of any shipping fees. For returns made within 14 days of your original purchase, you'll have the option to receive a full refund to your original payment method instead of site credit. Learn more about making returns on Zenni's website.

Can I reuse a Zenni promo code?

Zenni does not explicitly prohibit using promo codes multiple times. However, certain codes may only be applied to one order per person, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions for the code you want to use.

How do I know which size frames to get?

If you don't know which size to get for your frames, Zenni can help. Visit the size guide on the Zenni website for information on how to measure your face and sample frames you can print out to test your size.

Looking for more eyewear? Check out our roundups of the best GlassesUSA promo codes.

• Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar said its clients are burning through record amounts of AI tokens.
• Sankar said that tokens are the new coal and Palantir is the train.
• Palantir also called out "AI slop," calling itself a "no slop zone."

Palantir has become the latest company to tout its use of AI tokens.

On its earnings call Monday, CTO Shyam Sankar said Palantir customers are burning through record numbers of tokens on the company's AI platform, AIP, because their cost is falling so quickly.

Tokens are the building blocks of AI. Each one roughly makes up about ¾ of any word that's processed by a chatbot, and AI companies often charge based on how many tokens are used.

"Tokens are the new coal," Sankar said, adding that "AIP is the train."

He pointed to Jevons paradox, the idea that gains in efficiency increase overall consumption.

"When the Victorians built more efficient steam engines, everyone assumed coal consumption would fall. Instead, it skyrocketed," Sankar said.

Palantir, which builds bespoke software and AI systems for government and business clients, posted strong first-quarter results.

Its US revenue doubled year over year to $1.28 billion, while total revenue jumped 85% to $1.6 billion.

At the same time, Palantir is trying to strike a balance. Sankar repeatedly said that Palantir stands against AI slop by calling itself a "no slop zone."

Instead of blindly burning through tokens — or what developers call tokenmaxxing — Palantir says it focuses on ensuring its AI delivers real value, rather than spinning up dazzling demos that go nowhere.

"More tokens means more slop," Sankar said.

The NBA Conference Semifinals tip off tonight, and the matchups include a can't-miss Philly vs. NYC showdown. Below, you can find everything you need to know about where to watch 76ers vs. Knicks live streams, along with info on the rest of the series, odds, and playoff history.

If you don't want to read any further, you can live stream Game 1 of the 76ers vs. Knicks series on NBC via Peacock Premium in the US, TSN in Canada, and NBA League Pass in most other countries. Below, we'll break down other watch options (including those with free trials) and show you how to tune in from anywhere.

*Sling TV's local channel coverage, including NBC, varies by market.

The No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers made a remarkable comeback in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs, turning their luck around to win three straight games against the No. 2 Boston Celtics after being down 3-1 in the series. Now, they'll face the No. 3 New York Knicks and see if they can keep the hot streak going in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks made it all the way to the Conference Finals last year (where they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers), so it's safe to say they're looking to win the semis again this year. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games during Round 1 of the 2026 Playoffs, finishing in style with a devastating 140-89 win on the road.

What channel is 76ers vs. Knicks on?

Game 1 of the 76ers vs. Knicks series will air on NBC in the US. The game is scheduled to tip off on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. This isn't an NBC-only series, so you'll need access to ESPN, ABC, and Prime Video to watch other games. You can learn more about streaming those networks in our general where to watch the NBA Playoffs guide.

Where to watch 76ers vs. Knicks in the US

If you're a cord-cutter interested in live streaming NBC, several streaming services can help. The cheapest option is NBCUniversal's direct streaming counterpart, Peacock. Sports-friendly subscriptions start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium, but you can get ad-free on-demand content and a 24/7 NBC live stream by upgrading to Peacock Premium Plus for $17 a month.

If you'd prefer a streaming service with other playoff-friendly channels (like ESPN) or a free trial, month-to-month services like DirecTV or YouTube TV might be the way to go. DirecTV MySports carries NBC and around 20 other popular sports networks. MySports also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new customers can get $20 a month off their first two months of service ($40 total) after a free trial.

YouTube TV also carries NBC and 100+ other channels in its main plan. Right now, new customers can get their first five months for $68 a month. That's $15 a month in savings off the usual $83 a month price tag ($75 in total). Customers only interested in YouTube TV's sports offerings can get $10 a month off their first year of the Sports plan ($55 a month for 12 months, instead of the standard $65 a month). YouTube TV subscriptions also come with a free trial.

Sling TV also carries NBC, though local channel coverage varies by region, so it's a good idea to check what's available in your ZIP code before signing up. If NBC is on Sling in your market, you'll want to sign up for Sling Select or Sling Blue, ranging from $25 a month to $51 a month.

Where to watch 76ers vs. Knicks everywhere else

In Canada, the 76ers vs. Knicks game will be available through TSN. Outside the US and Canada, most countries can live stream every game of the playoffs through NBA League Pass. Several regions also have existing TV broadcast agreements for select games (in the UK, 76ers vs. Knicks Game 1 will be available through Sky Sports Action), but you should still be able to live stream the action through League Pass. Prices vary from region to region, but you can click through to the NBA League Pass purchase page to see availability and pricing in your home country.

How to watch 76ers vs. Knicks from anywhere

Everyone knows the pain of traveling overseas and realizing you can't access your usual streaming services. Fortunately, you don't need to worry about missing out on the playoffs while abroad, thanks to a handy tech tool called a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, let people temporarily change the location on their devices, so their usual websites and apps work from anywhere the same way they would back home.

If you're not sure where to start, NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's reliable, user-friendly, and has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more in our NordVPN review.

76ers vs. Knicks schedule

76ers vs. Knicks odds

The New York Knicks are favored to win the Knicks vs. 76ers series. Across various sportsbooks, the Knicks are a 7.5-point favorite for Game 1 (at the time of writing).

Where is the 76ers vs. Knicks game?

Game 1 of the 76ers vs. Knicks Conference Semifinals will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York since the Knicks are the higher-seeded team. Game 2 will also take place in New York before the series heads to Philadelphia for the next two games.

When was the last 76ers vs. Knicks game?

The last game between the 76ers and Knicks took place on February 11, 2026, during the regular season. The Knicks demolished the 76ers 138-89 in the game, putting up 32+ points in every quarter.

How much are 76ers vs. Knicks tickets?

The cheapest remaining original Standard Admission tickets for tonight's game start at $260.45 on Ticketmaster. On StubHub, the cheapest resale listings start at $329. On Vivid Seats, the cheapest resale listings start at $307.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• Celebrities gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on Monday for the Met Gala.
• The fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute had a "Fashion Is Art" dress code.
• Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Sabrina Carpenter, and Zoë Kravitz wore some of the night's best looks.

What's the hottest place to be in New York City on the first Monday in May? A museum, of course. Well, one specific museum: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Met Gala, known to fans as fashion's biggest night, is held on the first Monday in May each year and serves as an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute.

Beyoncé, Venus Williams, and Nicole Kidman co-chaired the 2026 Met Gala, which is celebrating the Met's "Costume Art" exhibition, alongside former Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour.

A-list attendees arrived at the event in their interpretation of the "Fashion Is Art" dress code. For Lauren Sánchez Bezos, that meant a gown inspired by a painting, while Emma Chamberlain wore a dress literally made with paint.

Read on to see the best looks from the 2026 Met Gala.

Blake Lively

As Lively told Vogue on the red carpet, her Versace gown was an archival piece from 2006, made more dramatic for The Met by adding a train.

The bodice of the gown was yellow with silver embroidery and had a halter neckline, while its full skirt was made of tiers of ruffled fabric.

The train certainly added drama, extending several feet behind her as she ascended the steps.

Anne Hathaway

Hathaway's Michael Kors dress was hand-painted by Peter McGough. With a strapless neckline that dipped in the center, the gown cinched at the waist and flowed to the floor.

White detailing adorned the gown, including a depiction of the Greek Goddess of Peace.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé made her long-awaited return to the Met Gala after 10 years as a cochair, and she didn't disappoint with her look.

Her Olivier Rousteing dress was designed to look like a crystal-covered skeleton, with sparkly embellishments that formed the shape of bones.

She wore a coordinating crown atop her head and a detached, fuzzy train that flowed dramatically behind her.

Madonna

Madonna's black dress had a gothic feel, but the showstopping element was her dramatic hat. A boat-like structure perched on top of it, with swaths of gray fabric extending around her that were carried by attendants.

It was the drama needed for the Met Gala red carpet.

Ciara

Ciara told Vogue her gold ensemble was a modern take on the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.

Her form-fitting, sheer dress was adorned with sparkly embellishments. She wore a gold headpiece that looked like a crown, oversized necklaces across her torso, and dramatic sunglasses.

Rachel Zegler

Zegler took inspiration from "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey" by Paul Delaroche for her Met Gala look.

Her white dress featured a corset bodice, off-the-shoulder sleeves, and a dramatic train. A sheer mask covered her eyes, in a nod to the painting.

Chase Infiniti

Infiniti's Thom Browne gown looked like a painting brought to life. Sculpted to her body, the dress was covered in a rainbow array of sequins that resembled a painting.

Fun and colorful, it was a beautiful choice for Infiniti's debut.

Adut Akech

Akech also walked the red carpet in Thom Browne.

The high-neck, black gown was made of semi-sheer fabric and covered in sparkly and floral detailing, including pink flowers on her pregnant belly.

White and black heels with a pop of the Thom Browne stripe completed the look.

Sabrina Carpenter

Carpenter stunned in a custom Dior look by Jonathan Anderson. Her halter gown was crafted from film strips — specifically from the 1954 movie "Sabrina," starring Audrey Hepburn.

The pieces hugged her body and extended into a floor-length skirt, which also featured a thigh-high slit. She wore the outfit with platform pumps and a diamond headpiece.

Audrey Nuna

Nuna's ensemble seemed inspired by abstract expressionism, as her white coat dress appeared splattered with black paint.

She wore a coordinating wide-brimmed hat, and her makeup enhanced the look, with black lipstick and dramatic eyeliner.

Sheer gloves with the same pattern completed the look.

Alex Consani

Consani walked into the Met Gala wearing a white, off-the-shoulder Gucci coat. However, upon arrival, she removed her coat, revealing a form-fitting gown underneath.

The top of the dress featured a completely sheer corset, while the dramatic skirt was covered in black feathers that flowed into a full train. Consani's ensemble was another look that put human beauty on display as art.

Kylie Jenner

Schiaparelli designed Jenner's gown, which made her look like she was naked from the hips up.

The top of Jenner's dress was structured and skin-toned, sculpted to resemble a woman's body. Her floral skirt folded down at her hips and had bodice detailing, making it look like Jenner had not yet pulled up the gown.

It was a perfect fit for the "Fashion Is Art" Met Gala, as it spotlighted both Jenner's form and the gown as art. She added to the drama of the look with bleached eyebrows and large jewelry.

Kendall Jenner

Like her sister, Jenner arrived at the Met Gala made to look like she wasn't quite finished getting dressed.

Her custom Gap by Zac Posen gown was sheer, and its neckline gave way to reveal a sculpted bra with nipple detailing.

The dress folded down around her waist, making it look like she was still pulling her dress on.

Eileen Gu

Gu's minidress was one of the most fun looks of the night, as it looked like she was covered in actual bubbles. The base of the dress was sheer with a layer of bubble-shaped embellishments sitting atop it.

The bubbles crawled up her neck, creating the illusion they were popping along her body. A full skirt and illusion strapless neckline added even more fun to the look.

As Gu walked the red carpet, bubbles flew out of the gown, popping around her as she walked.

Dwayne Johnson

Johnson walked the red carpet in a layered Thom Browne tuxedo that took 50 people to make.

His white blouse, tie, and vest lay under a black jacket that was cropped in the front and flowed to his mid-calf in the back. Three-dimensional embroidery covered the jacket's back, which split to reveal a red-and-white Thom Browne stripe lining on one side.

He wore black trousers with a skirt, as well as glasses and a green brooch on his lapel.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos

Bezos wore a form-fitting Schiaparelli dress inspired by "Madame X," a portrait by John Singer Sargent, to the gala, as she shared on Instagram.

According to The Met, the portrait caused backlash at the time it was painted because Madame X was depicted with the strap of her gown falling off her shoulder. Sargent then repainted the portrait with the subject's strap in its proper place.

The navy-blue dress Bezos wore to the gala mimicked the original painting, as she walked the red carpet with one pearl-encrusted strap falling down her shoulder just like the mysterious Madame X. Dangling diamond earrings completed the look.

Bezos' look appeared to be a commentary on the critiques she has often received for her own fashion and a fun replica of a painting inside the museum. It was a great choice for the sponsor to wear.

Naomi Osaka

You couldn't miss Osaka's custom Robert Wun ensemble, which turned out to be two looks in one.

She arrived in a dramatic white coat dress with puffy sleeves, a high neckline, and a full-length skirt trailing behind her.

She paired it with a wide-brimmed, curved white hat. Red, three-dimensional florals popped out of the top of the hat and floated from the rim, making it look like they were floating around her.

The look was similar to a Wun gown that's on display as part of the Costume Institute exhibit, making it a perfect fit for the gala.

Osaka then removed the coat to reveal a form-fitting red dress with a crisscross back and embroidery mimicking the human body's muscles. Matching gloves completed the look, which was by far one of the best looks of the night.

Heidi Klum

Klum literally transformed herself into a statue for the Met.

Her off-white, long-sleeve dress was designed to look like a Greek statue, but Klum was also covered in body paint. The gown blended seamlessly with her skin, making it seem like she was a statue.

The effect continued into her hair, where a crown sat atop her head.

Lisa

Lisa also took the physical element of the "Fashion Is Art" dress code literally, arriving in a Robert Wun gown with extra limbs.

She wore a sheer, white gown that had long sleeves, a mermaid skirt, and sparkly embellishments sewn into the fabric. The dress was pretty, but the showstopping element was the veil she wore over it, which floated around her thanks to three-dimensional mannequin arms that sat on her shoulders.

Lisa told Vogue on the red carpet that the faux limbs were replicas of her actual arms.

EJAE

The "KPop Demon Hunters" star wore a custom, floor-length Swarovski gown completely covered in crystals.

The dress had a high neckline, with smaller crystals sitting on her neck, larger crystals connecting it to the bodice, and smaller crystals making up the form-fitting bodice. Another cluster of larger crystals sat on EJAE's hips, with strands curving around to accentuate her figure.

She also wore crystal bracelets, rings, and even hairpieces, creating a look that sparkled from head to toe.

Venus Williams

Like many attendees, Williams took inspiration from a specific portrait for her look. However, Williams' was extra special because the inspiration was Robert Pruitt's portrait of her that hangs at the National Portrait Gallery, as she told Vogue on the red carpet.

The black Swarovski gown was covered in sparkles, spilling into a trumpet-style train at Williams' feet. A large silver neckpiece, designed to look like the Wimbledon plate, sat on her chest and bore symbolism related to Williams' life.

Strands of crystals flowed down her torso and arms, adding more drama to the look.

Emma Chamberlain

The influencer and Vogue correspondent wore a form-fitting Mugler gown that resembled a painter's palette.

The high-neck, long-sleeved piece was decorated with real hand-painted swatches across her chest and hips, which swirled into blends of green, red, and blue fabric on its ruffled mermaid skirt.

She completed the look with smoky eye makeup, yellow diamond earrings, and blue Stuart Weitzman heels.

Zoë Kravitz

Kravitz, who is heading up the gala's Host Committee for 2026, selected a lacy, black gown from Saint Laurent for fashion's biggest night.

The dress had a traditional ball-gown silhouette, with a scalloped, scooped neckline, long sleeves, and a full skirt that floated around her. The gown's semi-sheer, lace fabric contrasted with the shape, creating tension.

Kravitz styled the look with gold accessories and a messy updo, and she kept her right hand in the gown's pocket as she walked the red carpet, hiding her ring finger.

Jen Rubio and Stewart Butterfield

Rubio, the CEO of Away, and Butterfield, the former CEO of Slack, are members of the Met board. They walked the red carpet of the gala side by side.

The bodice of Rubio's gown appeared to be made of wood, with two three-dimensional monkeys carved into it on one side. The top contrasted with her ruched, white skirt, creating a fun mix of textures.

Butterfield opted for a deconstructed suit that featured a flipped collar and unfinished lapels. Red socks, a gold-and-red cummerbund, and a gold brooch tied his avant-garde look together.

I've tried nearly a hundred pairs of dress shoes as a style editor here at BI, but the most comfortable loafers I own tend to get the most wear. There's just something about their tailored polish and easy, flat soles that cushions my step and cleans up a simple tee-and-jeans look.

Now that my closet has been home to exactly 23 pairs, I can tell you which pairs are worth the break-in period. From penny loafers, chunky platforms, and a breathable, warm weather version of an all-time classic, our team has tried just about every variation. Walking in all these leather loafers was a labor of love (just ask our blistered heels), but we were pleasantly surprised by a few pairs that felt comfortable right out of the box.

The top pair we're wearing this spring are Everlane's Leather Day Driver Loafers. They're classic, comfortable, and extremely easy to slip on and go. If you prefer a practical pair with the comfort of a sneaker, Vionic's Uptown Loafer has a flexible footbed and deep heel cups for better stability.

The best loafers for women in 2026

Best overall: Everlane Leather Day Driver Loafer - See at Everlane
Everlane offers a pliable slip-on loafer with an unfussy shape that molds to your feet like soft leather slippers.

Best for walking: Vionic Uptown Loafer - See at Vionic
The arch support and super flexible soles on these collapsible loafers were the most comfortable walking shoes on our list.

Best lightweight: Cole Haan Danby Travel Loafer - See at Cole Haan
These pebbled loafers have a sleek fit akin to our favorite flats. The insides are lined with a smooth leather that's gentle on your skin.

Best classic: M.Gemi Sacca Donna Loafer - See at M.Gemi
These Italian-made loafers have a soft, unstructured fit that borrows from traditional menswear designs.

Best cushioned: Frankie4 Franklin Loafer - See at Frankie4
Adjust the fit to your preference using the 3 pairs of podiatrist-designed plush foam footbeds.

Best platform: Camper Milah - See at Camper
Lift your look with these leather high-platform loafers, which have cushioned Ortholite insoles and come in various fashion-forward colors.

Best lug sole: Madewell Bradley Lugsole Loafer - See at Madewell
Get the lift of a platform and the comfort of a cloud thanks to the cushy insoles of these lugsole loafers from Madewell.

Best classic penny: G.H. Bass Whitney Weejuns - See at Nordstrom
A classic penny loafer will always be in style. G.H. Bass makes some of the highest quality leather loafers for women we've tested.

Best for wide feet: Ally City Loafer - See at Ally
Available in four widths, this made-to-order pair is boardroom ready. While they are pricey, they feel like an investment in sustained comfort.

Best trendy: Tuckernuck Vivian Suede Loafer - See at Tuckernuck
Their stitched moc toe and suede uppers bear a striking resemblance to Yves Saint Laurent's Le Loafers.

Best stretch: Vivaia Samantha Walker Loafer - See at Vivaia
This pair has a stretchy, roomy square toe box that tapers off for a comfortable fit from forefoot to heel.

Best packable: Rothy's The Loafer - See at Rothy's
We like to switch into these after wearing heels because the soft, breathable mesh molds to your feet and folds neatly into a tote bag.

Best suede: Quince Italian Suede Penny Loafer - See at Quince
Quince's accessibly-priced loafers were a surprise hit for us. The supple sheep suede and lightly cushioned footbeds made them easy to break in.

Best T-strap: Bared Footwear Emutail - See at Bared Footwear
These comfy buckled-up loafers stand out with a woven brogue detail and gold hardware. Included is a "Fit Kit" with spare insoles.

Best lug sole: Madewell Bradley Lugsole Loafer - See at Madewell
Get the lift of a platform and the comfort of a cloud thanks to the cushy insoles of these lugsole loafers from Madewell.

Best for avoiding blisters: Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafers - See at Sam Edelman
This pliable pair takes no time to break in, and the leather conforms to your foot the more you wear them.

Best mid-range luxury: Nomasei Nono Loafers - See at Nomasei
The centerpiece of this Parisian-inspired pair is a shiny hand medallion atop their boxy leather upper.

Best luxury: Gucci Brixton Horsebit Convertible Loafers - See at Nordstrom
Our favorite Gucci loafers are made with supple Italian leather and have fold-down heels so they can double as mules.

Best driving loafer: M.Gemi The Felize - See at M.Gemi
M.Gemi's Felize loafer is the perfect travel shoe because of its typical driving rubber sole, which offers extra cushion and support with each step. 

Best budget: Naturalizer Cabaret Loafers - See at Amazon
If you're looking for loafers under $100, the Naturalizer Cabaret Loafers are an elegant and comfortable choice.

Best velvet: Birdies The Starling Flat - See at Birdies
These cushioned velvet loafers are designed to look like classic smoking slippers and have newly resculpted, more elongated look.

How we tested the most comfortable loafers

Over the years, our editors have personally tested over two dozen loafers. From podiatrist-led brands to French luxury labels, our goal was to find pairs that strike the sweet spot between tailored style and all-day wearability.

We wore each pair commuting to our office in Manhattan and on neighborhood strolls, logging at least a mile of walking at a time. Any shoe that felt unsupportive before hitting that mark didn't make the cut. The most comfortable styles featured built-in arch support and enough give through the vamp to prevent pressure across the instep after hours on our feet.

A lot of our favorite loafers are made from structured calfskin leather — which can be stiff at the heel, no matter how well-made they are — so we paid close attention to break-in time. Any leather loafers that made the cut took less than five or six wears to break in.

Learn more about how the Reviews team tests shoes at BI.

Best overall: Everlane Leather Day Driver Loafer

If you're a longtime Everlane fan like I am, you probably remember the brand's original Modern Loafer — one of the early hits that define the brand's minimalist aesthetic. The Day Driver Loafer builds on that foundation with a less boxy shape that feels noticeably more lightweight than its other models.

The toe box is slightly round, giving your toes more room to splay naturally, and the leather feels soft and extremely pliable right out of the box. Unlike its Made In Italy Loafers (which cost $130 more), these are more relaxed and were easier to wear barefoot. They're also the more versatile option since the unlined heel is collapsible, giving you a mule and loafer in one shoe.

The only potential drawback is that their light rubber sole could eventually wear thin. I've walked in mine for miles over multiple days and had no such issue, but if you're someone with a heavy gait you might find different. In any case, loafers with thick lug-soles are heavier and can cause fatigue on long walks, so in my opinion, the thin sole is a worth the trade-off.

The Day Drivers' single remarkable detail is the ruched uppers, but otherwise they're a simple, classic driver that's easy to wear on a daily basis. I've worn them barefoot with jeans on the weekend, but they dress up nicely with a Pointelle crew sock and Bermuda shorts.

The loafers come in whole and half sizes and run pretty true to size. I wear an 8 and got the 7.5, which just fit me. They may feel snug on wider feet, so if you plan to wear them with socks, opt for a half size up.

Best for walking: Vionic Uptown Loafer

Halfway between a sneaker and a loafer, the Vionic Uptown Loafer is an important style to know about if you're prioritizing comfort. Their performance is backed by Heeluxe's rigorous assessment that tests for fit, stability, cushioning, and flexibility.

When I first put these on, I was impressed by the sturdiness around my ankles from the deep heel cups. The leather was very stiff to begin with, but it started to soften after about five or six wears. These are also great if you have high arches like mine, because the padding reaches all the way up the inner wall of the shoe.

You can wear the Uptown Loafers just as you would walking sneakers — the lightweight, flexible soles can fold in half, and they have enough traction for stepping on uneven or slippery terrain. They're also perfect for travel, since they collapse into a slim profile.

Best lightweight: Cole Haan Danby Travel Loafer

I wore these lightweight Cole Haan loafers over a trip to Rhode Island, testing them on slick train station stairwells and throughout an errand-filled weekend. I loved the look of their slightly square, stitched moc-toes peeking out from under my bootcut jeans. They feel practically weightless on foot, and I'd recommend them to anyone who's averse to lug-soled styles, which in my experience are too heavy for true all-day wear.

This pair is not very cushioned in the heel, so avoid them if you have sensitivity in that area. However, they do fold neatly in half if you need them to fit in a crowded suitcase. Since they're made from pebbled leather, you won't have to worry about them creasing or scratching.

The Danbys were a close contender for our best overall pick, but the Everlane Day Drivers ultimately won — mostly because smooth leather loafers felt more versatile looks-wise than anything with braided twist details.

Best classic: M.Gemi Sacca Donna

The soft, unstructured M.Gemi Sacca Donna loafers are some of my favorites for its balance of comfort and elevated, masculine style. Its leather footbed feels softly cushioned underfoot with a subtle 0.4-inch stacked heel. Mine are a snazzy leopard print, but you can also find them in classic leather and suede colorways.

I wore them straight out of the box to our office in the Financial District, and they felt flexible and comfortable right away. The interior has a smooth, suede-like texture, and the thinner leather along the sides and heel allows the shoe to move naturally with your foot, thus reducing your risk for blisters. Underfoot, the flat outsole offers reliable grip, so I felt steady even on slick subway stairwells.

While the Sacca Donnas sit at a higher price point, the quality is evident. They're the kind of classic loafers that go with everything. From the premium materials to thoughtful Italian-made construction, this is a reliable loafer that delivers on comfort, fit, and timeless style.

Read more in our full M.Gemi review.

Best platform: Camper Milah Loafer

These super shiny leather loafers have a 2-inch platform heel and lightweight EVA soles — less clunky, more chunky. I won't lie, breaking these in gave me some blisters around my heels (something to be expected with new leather). To amend this, I wear mine with no-show socks.

The Milah loafers are becoming more flexible around the vamp with each wear. And despite their height, I don't feel like I'm on stilts in these — I feel grounded walking in them thanks to the Ortholite insoles. These give them some light cushioning in the heel and arch areas. 

As for their design, they're a slightly more rugged version of a classic penny loafer. The platform gives me just enough lift that I can wear them with extra long flared pants for a retro-inspired look.

Best cushioned: Frankie4 Franklin Loafer

Frankie4's shoes appear in several of our footwear guides, including the most comfortable heels and best flats. These supple tan leather loafers are just as impressive.

They come with extra triple-layer footbeds designed by podiatrists (so don't accidentally throw them out with the packaging!). This "Sole Saver Pack" lets you adjust the fit according to your preference. I'd say these loafers run slightly small and narrow, but my normal size 8 fit me.

If your foot skews narrow and you prefer a more snug toe box, you can add the full length footbed and forefoot cushions. Or, you can choose the half-length footbeds so you have more wiggle room up front. It saves you a ton of hassle in terms of returning shoes that are only slightly off.

The foam cushions feel really soft on bare skin, yet they're firm enough to cradle my arches. I could walk in them right out of the box and sustained absolutely no blisters, thanks to the little padded cushions around the upper edge of the heel counter.

Best classic penny: G.H. Bass Whitney Weejuns

There are several versions of G.H. Bass' Whitney Weejuns (a super chunky lug-sole pair, a '90s-inspired platform pair, a croc-effect pair, the list goes on), but nothing can beat the classic version of these best loafers for women. Though they take a bit of time to break in, especially at the heel, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how comfy and supportive the insole is. Plus, the traditional penny loafer look will never go out of style. 

In terms of sizing, these come in whole and half sizes, and I recommend going true to your usual size. If you're in between, you'll want to size up, especially if you plan on wearing them with socks.

Best for wide feet: Ally City Loafer

These dressy loafers come in impressive range of four different widths, meaning those with narrow or extra wide feet can achieve a near-custom fit. They're a more business-formal option than other loafers on this list, made with supple leather, a sleek almond toe, and polished buckles.

The City Loafers are considerably expensive and take a while to ship because they're made to order. I chose the chocolate brown leather pair in a size 38.5 B according to Ally's Fit Finder Quiz, and sure enough, they were a perfect fit. When I looked inside, the cushioned insoles illustrated how much attention to detail went into their design. So yes, while they're definitely steep, it's a good price compared to actual custom-made shoes.

I was surprised to find that, despite the lambskin lining, I don't sweat as much in these. That's because the perforated footbeds allow for more air flow than solid leather ones. These footbeds are also great for cradling high arches, and they come with a metatarsal dome that takes the pressure off the ball of my foot as I walk.

Ally also makes our favorite pumps for work, which you can read about in our guide to the most comfortable heels.

Best trendy: Tuckernuck Vivian Suede Loafers

When Tuckernuck opened the doors of its first NYC flagship store earlier this season, we learned that this pair of loafers were one of the first items to sell out. They're a solid dupe for the Yves Saint Laurent Le Loafer, which stands out for its hand-stitched moc toes.

Tuckernuck's lookalikes have the same subtle detail, available in either a pale cocoa or espresso brown. These are both great low-contrast shades that fit in perfectly with the brown-is-the-new-black trend. They reportedly run a touch large, and because they're suede, expect them to loosen a little as you break them in.

Best stretch: Vivaia Samantha Walker Loafer

Vivaia's Samantha Walker loafers have an extra roomy toe box to fit wide feet. They then taper off in the heel so your feet won't slip out while you walk. The flexible knit upper is soft, stretchy, and even water-repellent (I tested this by running them under the sink, and the beads of water brushed right off). They also have more squishy cushioning for light arch support and a slightly thicker padded heel, so you can walk on concrete for miles (as I did) without getting tired feet.

Read more in our full Vivaia shoes review.

Best T-strap: Bared Footwear Emutail Loafer

Here's yet another footwear brand from the Land Down Under. Bared Footwear is an Australian company that, similar to Frankie4, includes a pack of interchangeable insoles to allow you a more customized fit.

These loafers run pretty true to size. I wear a size 8 and have medium-to-narrow width feet, so I used the extra forefoot pads from the "Fit Kit" to make them feel a little more snug around my ankles. The toe box is tapered so it's not ideal for extra wide feet.

I love the feeling of buckling the T-straps of the Emutail loafers because they feel more secure atop my foot. This way my feet aren't sliding around inside whenever they get sweaty.

They come in black, though I opted for the brown leather option. It's coated with a glossy sheen and the color has a warm, almost orange hue. These chunky lug-soled loafers are not your typical pair — the long, square toe box is adorned with a woven brogue detail on top, and the gold hardware buckle adds to their shine.

Best packable: Rothy's The Loafer

If you know you have a strict limit of time you can stand in heels, it's good to have a backup pair loafers that can fit right in your work bag. Rothy's flexible knit material is made from recycled water bottles, and their loafers retain their shape even after being folded in half.

 The Lounge Loafers are similar to the original Rothy's Loafers, which I've worn for years, but I like the Lounge Loafers better because they have a comfier insole with more padding. Their outside is pretty similar, except the vamp is now a bit shorter.

These are too thin to wear in cold weather, but the mesh is nice and breathable, so they're ideal if your feet sweat a lot. I got mine in a beige colorway that matches practically everything in my wardrobe. They have a slender silhouette that's similar to Friulian slippers, and despite having a narrow toe box that may not suit wider feet, they still stretch comfortably. I recommend sizing up if you're between sizes. 

Read more in our full Rothy's flats review.

Best suede: Quince Italian Suede Penny Loafer

Quince undercuts many brands featured in this guide. This pair has many of the same features as the Quince's Glove Flats, like a genuine Italian leather upper and Ortholite insoles.

I tested these against Margaux's Andie leather loafers ($345), and the Quince loafers proved to a better bang for your buck. The main drawback is that the black suede around the toes got a little faded the more I wore them, so I recommend choosing the Almond colorway to keep them looking newer for longer.

That being said, I'm still impressed at how much they look and perform like Margaux loafers. The stacked leather heel is actually sturdy, and inside the leather is soft and molded to my feet. I don't suggest these for wide feet or sensitive high arches, but they fit me (size US 8) comfortably and true to size.

Read more in our full Quince review.

Best lug sole: Madewell Bradley Lugsole Loafer

Lug sole loafers are a great way to add some height without uncomfortable heels. This pair has an almost 2-inch platform, which makes it a great choice for wearing with pants that are just a little too long. They're also is padded with Madewell's signature CloudLift padding, which provides a cushioned insole so you can't walk in them.

Best for avoiding blisters: Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafers

The Sam Edelman Loraine Bit Loafers come in more than 20 colors, from classic neutrals to bold choices like bright lemony yellow, jade green, or pink croc-effect. Each season, you'll find new colors and textures introduced. 

The leather loafers for women are just structured enough to hold their shape, but not so stiff that they'll blister you out of the box. I was able to wear mine for the first time for a whole day (including commuting from the suburbs to Manhattan and back) with no discomfort. They have a small amount of cushioning — like enough that I would definitely bring these on a walking-heavy vacation. 

As for sizing, they come in whole and half sizes with a few colors offering a wide width. I am often in between a 7.5 and 8, and I opted for the 8 this time, but I easily could have fit in the 7.5. The leather will stretch and conform to your feet as you wear them, so I'd recommend going a half size down if you are already in between sizes. Otherwise, I'd opt for your usual size.

Best mid-range luxury: Nomasei Nono Loafer

"A great pair of loafers should be just like a perfect pair of denim: deliciously comfortable, wearable with just about anything, and a dependable staple for year-round wear. Founded by a duo who met while working at Chloé in Paris, Nomasei's luxe Parisian-inspired Nono loafers fit the bill precisely, albeit for a pretty penny at just under $500. But even after comparing these to my platform pair from Gucci, I'd opt for this style almost every time (and the Gucci pair cost twice as much).

The leather feels sturdy and thick yet buttery and luxurious, and while they do fit a little stiff at first, they break in nicely with a few wears. The arch support is also substantial, making them comfy to walk in (at least once the leather on the back of the heel softens up a bit). I got the all-black pair, though the brand is known for its bold bicolor and tricolor designs. I think the black will keep these feeling timeless despite the very trendy gold hand medallions, but if I had an unlimited budget, I'd be nabbing them in every color combo possible. I would follow the brand's advice of going a half size down — I personally went true-to-size with my initial order, and they were too big, so I had to return them and reorder." — Sally Kaplan, executive editor

Best luxury: Gucci Brixton Horsebit Convertible Loafer

If you've thought long and hard, and you know that designer loafers for women are what your heart desires, get the Gucci Brixton Horsebit Convertible Loafers. They're pricey, sure, but these fantastic women's loafers will last you a lifetime. Our former senior style and beauty editor, Maria Del Russo, has had her pair of Brixtons for five years and says they're the most versatile shoe she owns. She credits this to the fold-down heel that lets you wear them like mules, so you're essentially getting two shoes in one. The workmanship is apparent the longer you wear them, too. Maria has gotten these loafers re-soled twice, but the leather and hardware have both stood the test of time.

The one drawback to the Brixtons is that after many years, the fold-down heels have turned a slightly more faded shade of black than the rest of the heel. You can take them to a cobbler or use a leather conditioner to fix that, though. 

As for sizing, these come in whole and half sizes, but be careful to check the sizing chart since they're usually listed in Italian sizing, which is different from European sizing. We recommend going up if you're in between sizes.

Best driving loafer: M.Gemi The Felize

The M.Gemi Felize loafers are some of the most versatile and well-made shoes former Insider Reviews senior reporter, Mara Leighton, owns. After a year of testing them multiple times per week for our M.Gemi review, she says they've held up well (no wrinkles along the top, minimal wear along the underside of the toes and heel). However, she notes that sizing isn't perfect.

"I ordered my true size, and they've grown looser and more custom-fit as moccasins do over time. But, even so, the top is still snug; I couldn't layer anything thicker than a light sock with my pair." She says that if you're in between sizes, or you've ever had to size up in shoes, you should go up at least a half size in these.

Check out our full M.Gemi Felize Loafer review. 

Best budget: Naturalizer Cabaret Loafers

For a dressy shoe option on a budget, Naturalizer's Cabaret style is a great deal among the best loafers for women. The leather is flexible and not too stiff, so they're comfy for long days. Plus, you can almost always find this pair on sale in various colors (but beware that sizes sell out quickly every time they get marked down).

After testing the classic black leather version of a similar pair, we found the size chart to be a little off — this loafer is available in half sizes with narrow, medium, and wide widths, but we recommend to go down a half size, as they tend to run a bit large. Overall, though, Naturalizer creates comfortable loafers with good traction that you'll get a lot of mileage from. 

Best velvet: Birdies The Starling

Birdies makes loafer-flats that are as comfy as a pair of velvet smoking slippers. Executive editor Sally Kaplan compared two versions of its best-selling Starling flats in order to detect any key differences.

"I tested both the Starling classic loafers and the newly resculpted version that just launched from Birdies. They're basically the same shoe, but with some elegant design upgrades to the newer version. The resculpted pair has a slightly more elongated toe, a more premium velvet material (though the difference is negligible to me, both look great!), and a bit more traction on the bottom. The shoes look almost identical on foot and in terms of comfort, there's very little difference, but I do happen to prefer the more elongated look of the new version (pictured in the Brandy Velvet color at the top of this guide). I think it comes down to aesthetic preference for most people.

As for comfort and fit, these are unbelievably plush and cozy for a pair of loafers! They have a good amount of arch support without being stiff at all, and they're easy to wear with or without socks. All of its styles come in both regular and wide sizes, and though the site says they run true to size, I find them to run a bit large. I went down a half size in both pairs I tested, and I'd recommend you do the same. Birdies makes their signature Starling loafers in a ton of colors, and they're always launching new seasonal styles. In the fall and winter you'll see a lot of embellished velvet designs, and in the warmer months you'll find woven leather and fun textures like raffia."

Meet the expert behind this guide

Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor: Shoes are my passion, and I live in New York where they're put through a lot of hard wear. I personally own 23 pairs of loafers, though I've donated others to make room for more. I'm constantly testing new styles and have maintained this guide since I began my career at BI three years ago, witnessing the evolution of women's fashion trends bend toward comfort-first footwear. Here I've curated pairs that feel good to put on and complement a range of personal tastes.

FAQs on the best loafers for women

How should loafers fit?

Loafers should feel snug around the heel and midfoot without pinching at the toes. There should be a tiny bit of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Be sure to mind the curve of your toes — whether they're more squared, rounded, or pointed — and choose a toe box that is roomy enough to let your toes splay naturally.

What materials should I look for?

Calfskin is durable and molds to your foot over time, though as I've learned several blisters later, can take a while to break in. I've also tried flexible knit loafers like those from Rothy's and Vivaia, and while they're definitely ideal for travel, they don't have quite the same classic look as leather pairs. It's ultimately a matter of personal preference. In any case, look for padded heel collars and rubber soles that add traction.

How do I break in new loafers?

Try wearing your loafers around the house first to help soften the leather. You can also break them in with a thick sock to help loosen them up. Most quality leather loafers should start feeling more comfortable after five or six wears. If they're still giving you blisters, I recommend wearing a neutral no-show sock just to give your heels some respite.

• Lauren Sánchez Bezos attended the 2026 Met Gala on Monday night.
• Sánchez Bezos wore a navy-blue, off-the-shoulder Schiaparelli gown.
• The Bezoses also helped sponsor and cochair this year's event.

Following weeks of protests over her involvement in the Met Gala, Lauren Sánchez Bezos' knew all eyes would be on her as she walked up the Metropolitan Museum of Art's iconic steps on Monday night.

And she made sure to hide a message to her critics in her deceptively simple navy-blue gown.

Sánchez Bezos, who is an honorary cochair this year with her husband Jeff Bezos, walked the carpet solo on Monday night. Though Bezos and Sanchez Bezos have both attended the Met Gala before, they've never walked the red carpet together.

At this year's event, she wore an off-the-shoulder Schiaparelli gown, which featured jeweled straps, a deep V-neck, and ties running down the back that mimicked a corset.

The dress code for Monday night's event was "Fashion Is Art," and Sánchez Bezos revealed on Instagram that her source of inspiration was "Madame X."

The 1884 painting by John Singer Sargent was a portrait of the American socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. The original artwork featured a strap slipping from Gautreau's shoulder, which was seen as vulgar and salacious at the time by Parisian society.

It caused such a stir that Sargent repainted the strap.

Sánchez Bezos has received plenty of criticism of her own for her fashion choices, including when she sported an Alexander McQueen pantsuit that showcased her lacy bra during Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.

"No lace at the White House. Noted," she later told The New York Times in response to the backlash.

Monday night marks Sánchez Bezos' rising influence in the world of fashion. Her sponsorship was a direct request from Anna Wintour, who previously put Sánchez Bezos on the digital cover of Vogue following her multi-million-dollar wedding extravaganza in Venice.

Sánchez Bezos previously told "Today" that she's "honored" to be a cochair and excited to celebrate "true artists" through this year's "Costume Art" theme.

"It's going to be incredible to see what everyone wears and to be able to really honor all these designers," she said on the show.

Sánchez Bezos and her husband are the first private sponsors of the Met Gala since 2018, when it was funded in part by Blackstone CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman and his wife, Christine Hearst Schwarzman.

The Bezoses involvement in the annual event has been protested for weeks in New York City, where a group called Everyone Hates Elon — a reference to fellow billionaire Elon Musk — has posted boycott signs and other protest displays ahead of the ball.

The group says it's protesting Bezos' involvement due to reported poor working conditions at Amazon, which the company previously denied, and the company's longstanding ties to ICE.

• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are lead sponsors and honorary chairs of this year's Met Gala.
• In response, activists and fashion insiders have called for boycotts of the event.
• The move comes amid rising anti-billionaire sentiment.

At this year's Met Gala, a new trend is taking shape: blowback against billionaires.

From a video projected onto a nine-figure Manhattan pied-a-terre to social posts directed to Anna Wintour, protesters are staging stunts and counterprogramming in opposition to fashion's biggest night, and some insiders are boycotting the event, which is sponsored by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.

The outcry is a symptom of a broader frustration with extreme wealth.

As billionaire wealth balloons — the billionaire set was worth a collective $15.8 trillion last year, up 13% from 2024, according to a report by Swiss bank UBS — the public seems more eager to hate on billionaires.

A 2025 survey conducted by The Harris Poll found that 47% of respondents said they "despise billionaires," up eight percentage points from 2024. A majority of respondents also said they think we celebrate billionaires too much in our culture, and they blame billionaires for "creating more of an unfair society."

The results can be seen in policy, with the California billionaire tax officially garnering enough signatures to make the November ballot, and in the election of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who broke with tradition by not attending the Met Gala.

And, on the ground, activist groups like Everyone Hates Elon are spreading the message. Over the past year, the group has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to launch campaigns deriding billionaires at events like the Davos World Economic Forum and Bezos' Venice wedding.

The guerilla activists are behind the video projected on Bezos' penthouse on Sunday night, featuring a 72-year-old Amazon worker named Mary.

"When we struggle from paycheck to paycheck, from week to week, it really angers me, because if it weren't for every associate in every Amazon facility, he wouldn't have all those zeros behind his name," she said in the protest piece. "Enjoy your damn gala."

A new kind of drama on the Met Gala carpet

Since the February announcement that Sánchez Bezos and Bezos would be lead sponsors and honorary chairs of this year's Met Gala, there was backlash on social media.

While tech companies like TikTok and Apple have sponsored the gala before and billionaires like Bezos and Musk have walked the carpet, this is the first time a tech billionaire has been named as an honorary chair, affording them the famous photo opportunity on the steps of the Met next to Anna Wintour.

In the month leading up to the Met Gala, social posts around the event and Bezos and Sánchez Bezos reflected 70% unfavorable sentiment and 6% favorable sentiment, according to social intelligence firm PeakMetrics, which analyzed posts across X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, and Bluesky.

The posts paint the couple as "symbolic figures representing the penetration of wealth into cultural institutions" and focus on economic inequality, Jennifer Pratt, PeakMetric's director of marketing and communications, told Business Insider. Photos of Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg at recent fashion shows sparked a similar reaction.

There have also been 13,000 posts on X calling for a boycott of the event because of the Bezos' involvement, PeakMetrics found, namely by not tuning into coverage or purchasing Vogue.

Bezos, who skipped Monday's red carpet, and Sánchez Bezos did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The backlash is largely targeting the Bezoses. Other billionaires involved in the event, including cochair Beyoncé, have not received the same level of pushback.

In March, Everyone Hates Elon, which also organized a protest in Venice around Bezos and Sánchez Bezos' wedding, launched its initiative "ruin" the Met Gala for Bezos and "Trump's Billionaires," which raised more than $22,000. In addition to the Amazon worker video, they plastered posters around the city, hid hundreds of small bottles filled with yellow liquid — a nod to Amazon workers who said they urinate in bottles — inside the museum, and installed empty plastic bottles outside the building with a sign reading, "good enough for his staff."

Separately, a group of Amazon workers put on a fashion show, called the "Ball Without Billionaires," on Monday afternoon as Met Gala counterprogramming, and protesters gathered near the event, holding signs lambasting billionaires and letters spelling "tax the rich."

The criticism is also coming from inside the fashion house.

Livia Giuggioli Firth, a sustainable fashion advocate who has attended 10 Met Galas, posted an Instagram video directed at Wintour, criticizing her for bringing Bezos and Sánchez Bezos into the fold and describing him as "one of the most unethical people in the world."

"You chose to side on this line of history, which says the empire is really strong, and alive, and kicking, and tonight you will see the biggest manifestation of that," she said in the video, referring to Bezos and his support of Trump. "It's the Hunger Games scenes. They wear costumes there, too."

Actor Taraji P. Henson, who has attended the event in years past, commented on a video criticizing the Met's ties to Bezos with clapping emojis, saying she was "confused by some of the ppl that are going."

While Sarah Paulson did attend, she appeared to skewer the rich, wearing a large gray gown with her eyes blinded by a dollar bill.

Online, those who support Bezos' involvement are quick to point out that the event does not, at least financially, benefit billionaires or the famous couple. The money raised — a record $42 million — goes to the Met's Costume Institute. The museum declined to comment on the backlash or how much the party, which the sponsors cover, costs.

And as much as people hate billionaires, that doesn't mean they don't aspire to be one someday. When asked, 70% of respondents in The Harris Poll survey said they wanted to become a billionaire.

Update: May 4, 2026 — This story has been updated to include details from the Met Gala red carpet.

• Elon Musk is suing Sam Altman and Greg Brockman over his charitable donations to OpenAI.
• Brockman, an OpenAI executive and cofounder, took the witness stand on Monday.
• He was asked about his wealth and OpenAI's IPO plans.

The trial for Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman started up again after a weekend break.

On Monday, the Oakland, California, federal courthouse saw testimony from Greg Brockman, OpenAI's president, who is a co-defendant in the case. Jurors also heard testimony from Stuart Russell, a prominent artificial intelligence scientist whom Musk hired as an expert witness.

Brocman is expected back on Tuesday. Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member and mother to some of Musk's children, is also expected to take the witness stand this week.

Here are the biggest takeaways from the trial on Monday, drawn from witness testimony and evidence presented in the California federal court. It is also the first day the trial was streamed on YouTube.

Greg Brockman is officially one of the richest people in the world

Under questioning from Musk's lawyer Steve Molo, Brockman said he owns nearly $30 billion in OpenAI shares. Those shares alone would rank him somewhere in the 80s or 90s in Forbes's list of the wealthiest people in the world.

Brockman also said he has $471 million in shares of Stripe, where he served as chief technology officer before becoming an executive at OpenAI, among other investments.

Brockman said he'd donate $100,000 to OpenAI's charity — but didn't

Brockman's testimony kicked off with an email he sent to Marissa Mayer back in 2014 when she was still CEO of Yahoo. In it, he told her about the AI lab he was starting with donations from Silicon Valley bigwigs like Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel.

Brockman said he was "personally donating" $100,000, it emerged in court on Monday. Brockman made the same claim to other potential donors, but never came through with the money, he acknowledged under questioning by Musk's lawyer Steven Molo.

In explaining the delay, Brockman put the onus on Altman: "I asked Sam when I should donate this, and he said he would let me know."

Brockman confirms OpenAI is exploring a public offering

In his testimony, Brockman confirmed publicly for the first time that OpenAI was exploring an IPO for OpenAI.

"You are exploring the possibility of doing something called an initial public offering, is that right?" Molo asked Brockman.

"I think it's possible," Brockman said.

"You're exploring it, aren't you?" Molo asked.

"I believe so," Brockman said.

If OpenAI were to go public, its initial public offering would be one of the biggest in history.

The current record for the biggest IPO is Saudi Aramco, in 2019, at about $29 billion.

OpenAI's most recent round of fundraising put its private valuation at about $850 billion.

Anthropic and SpaceX are also reportedly considering IPOs this year.

Elon Musk asked Greg Brockman to settle the lawsuit 2 days before the trial

Shortly before court opened for the day, lawyers for the OpenAI defendants revealed in a court filing that Musk reached out to Brockman two days before the trial began to gauge his interest in a settlement.

Brockman suggested that both sides drop all their claims. Musk didn't appear satisfied.

"By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America," Musk responded, according to the filing. "If you insist, so it will be."

The lawyers for Brockman, Altman, and OpenAI asked US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to allow the communications to be entered into evidence. She hasn't ruled on whether the jury will be allowed to see them.

Elon Musk's very expensive expert witness

The first witness to testify on Monday was Stuart Russell, an artificial intelligence expert who teaches computer science at the University of California, Berkeley.

The most memorable part of Russell's testimony was when he talked about how much Musk's legal team paid him. He received an eye-popping $5,000 per hour for 40 hours of preparatory work. Expert witnesses in high-profile cases typically make between $500 to $1,000 per hour.

Russell testified he was making $235,000 altogether from his work on the trial, which he said amounts to about 20% of his income this year.

He is being paid by Excession, which is Musk's family office, he said.

• Six suspected cases of hantavirus have been linked to Oceanwide Expeditions' MV Hondius cruise.
• Three passengers have died, one is in the ICU, and two crew members are ill.
• Passenger Jake Rosemarin took to Instagram to share his fears.

The operator of the cruise ship stricken by a hantavirus outbreak said Monday that it is preparing to evacuate two ill crew members and then find a port where the rest of the people on board can be screened.

"Oceanwide Expeditions is still dealing with a serious medical situation on board the m/v Hondius, which is currently off the coast of Cape Verde," the company said in a statement on its website.

The World Health Organization said there is one confirmed case of the deadly rodent-borne respiratory sickness linked to the Hondius — a British national being treated in the intensive care unit of a Johannesburg hospital. There are five other suspected cases: the two crew members and three passengers who died.

There are 147 passengers still on board the cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, all of them in isolation. One of them vented about the situation on Instagram.

"What's happening right now is very real for all of us here," Jake Rosmarin, a travel vlogger, said tearfully in a video.

"We're not just a story. We're not just headlines. We're people — people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home.

"There's a lot of uncertainty and that's the hardest part. All we want right now is to feel safe, to have clarity and to get home."

Rosmarin later updated his Instagram story to praise the crew of the Dutch-flagged ship for "doing everything they can to keep us safe and informed."

The nightmare at sea began on April 11 when a Dutch passenger died on board. His wife left the ship with his body in St. Helena in the South Atlantic on April 24, and she fell ill and died.

On April 27, the British passenger fell ill and was evacuated. On May 2, a German passenger died on board.

"In addition, there are currently two crew members on board with acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe. Both require urgent medical care," the company said. "At this time, no other persons with symptoms have been identified."

Local medical personnel have visited the ship off Cape Verde, but no one has been let off. "The option of sailing on to Las Palmas or Tenerife are being considered to be the gateway for disembarkation, where further medical screening and handling could take place," Oceanwide said.

Hantavirus infections are usually linked to exposure to the feces or urine of infected rodents and are not easily transmitted between humans.

If you're looking to cut your monthly bill, Visible is a straightforward option for cheap cellphone service without contracts or surprise fees. The carrier runs on Verizon's nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network, so you get broad coverage with simple, prepaid-style pricing. For shoppers who want reliable connectivity at a lower cost, Visible remains one of the most popular budget wireless carriers right now.

Visible is currently running two separate offers — one for monthly plans and one for annual savings. Promo code FRESHSTART knocks $5 off every plan, while SLAMDUNK cuts 50% off the Visible Plus Pro annual plan, marking the best savings we've seen for Visible in months.

Are you not sure which Visible plan to choose? You have three to choose from: Visible, Visible Plus, and Visible Pro Plus, all of which are included in this ongoing promotion. All of them offer unlimited data of varying speeds, plus mobile hot spot functionality, select international calling, and more.

Best deals on Visible phone plans

The best promo for new Visible customers is the coupon code FRESHSTART, which knocks $5 off your monthly plan for 12 months when you sign up for any monthly plan. That effectively brings the Visible plan to $20/month, the Visible Plus plan to $30/month, and the Visible Plus Pro plan to $40/month for your first year, as long as you enter the code at checkout.

• Follow our WhatsApp channel and Instagram for more deals and buying guides.

Visible mobile FAQs

Does Visible have a free trial?

Visible offers a free 15-day trial to anyone with a compatible and unlocked smartphone. All you have to do is connect to Wifi and download the Visible app. Once there, you can follow the given steps to get a trial phone number with which you can use Visible's unlimited data, talk, text, and hotspot usage for 15 days. 

You do not need to cancel your current carrier's service to sign up for Visible's free trial. In fact, Visible recommends keeping your service to compare against their own during your free trial.

Visible vs. Visible Plus: What's the difference?

The most significant difference between Visible and Visible Plus is that the latter offers access to Verizon's fastest 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) network, which has faster speeds and better reliability in congested areas. Those benefits only come into play if you can even access them. 5G UW is only available in select markets and requires specific phones. You'll also get broader international calling and texting options, and the "Premium Network Experience" guarantees you full speeds up to 50GB, even during peak traffic hours.

No matter which you pick, both plans offer unlimited everything. That includes talk, text, data, and even a mobile hotspot, a rare concoction for MVNO cell phone service.

How good is Visible phone service?

Our Visible Wireless review found that it offers great overall value for money. The cellular network is top-notch, owing to its piggybacking on Verizon's extensive nationwide 5G network. We like the low monthly prices and the ability to get unlimited data, no matter which plan you're on.

The slow network speeds after exceeding thresholds and experiencing network congestion are annoying, but that's a standard practice most MVNOs use to keep costs down. We also thought Visible's customer support could be better (you only get direct help using its online chat) and would have appreciated even a small discount for having multiple lines.

Is Visible owned by Verizon?

Verizon owns Visible. Unlike T-Mobile's purchases of Metro and Mint Mobile and AT&T's purchase of Cricket Wireless, Verizon built Visible from the ground up. The MVNO launched in 2018 and operates independently under Verizon's supervision.

If you'd like to learn more about the network and how it works in the real world, be sure to check out our in-depth Visible Wireless review.

Still shopping around for other providers? Take a look at our roundup of today's best Mint Mobile deals.

When it comes to men's undergarments, undershirts are arguably just as essential as underwear. Whether you're layering to stay warm, dressing to stay cool in hot weather, or putting on your best business casual work clothes, staying sweat-free is an important part of comfort and presentation. The best undershirts for men should always be neatly hidden underneath your shirt, and should help protect your button-up shirt or sweater from sweat stains.

Our top pick is the Tommy John Second Skin Crewneck for its comfortable close-to-body fit and breathable material. And while tank tops won't give your armpits the same protection, we recommend Hanes Cool Comfort Tank Tops for sitting neatly under tighter-fitting sweaters or lightweight dress shirts. We also love All Citizens' V-necks to wear under casually unbuttoned shirts.

For more wardrobe essentials, check out our guides to the best underwear for men and the best T-shirts for men. 

Our top 3 picks for the best undershirts for men of 2026

Best overall crewneck: Tommy John Second Skin Modern Fit Crew Neck

We nearly gave up on T-shirt style undershirts. They can be ill-fitting at the collar, the sleeves can become loose over time, and they rarely stay tucked in. But Tommy John's undershirts solved all of our gripes. Close-fitting but not tight, they're long enough to stay comfortably tucked into your pants, and they practically disappear underneath your top layer of clothes. 

We especially like Tommy John's undershirts when wearing dress shirts. They're more comfortable (which is important when you're already wearing not-so-comfortable dress clothes), they help prevent sweat stains on the armpits, and they're a lot less visible if you're wearing a white or light-colored shirt because they lay flat.

Read our full review of Tommy John undergarments.

Best V-neck: All Citizens AirWeight Undershirt Deep V

V-neck undershirts serve a purpose other than style: When sporting a button-up shirt, you can leave the top button undone while still hiding the shirt underneath. And if you're going for a super casual look with two or three buttons undone, you'll need an even deeper V-neck. 

All Citizens' AirWeight Undershirt is a solid choice because it offers the option of a standard V-neck or a deep V-neck. The shirt also features mesh zones on the sides for breathability, a stay-tucked length, and a soft microfiber feel on the skin.

Best tank top: Hanes Cool Comfort Cotton Tank

While T-shirt style undershirts are best for preventing armpit stains under button-ups and dress shirts, tank top undershirts get the job done if you're only concerned with having a sweaty back and chest. The Hanes Cool Comfort White Tank is a no-frills undershirt, but with no tags, soft preshrunk cotton, and moisture-wicking technology, it has everything you need.

In line with all of Hanes' other products, the Cool Comfort tank tops are reasonably priced within everyone's budget. Although we regularly recommend skipping low-cost underwear for pricier, more durable options, we have found no issues with Hanes tank tops that should deter you from buying them.

Best budget crewneck: Hanes Ultimate Comfort Crewneck

What would a list of undershirts be without Hanes? In short, incomplete. As one of the most popular underwear brands, if not the most popular, Hanes has a huge assortment of all types of undergarments, including undershirts. If you're going for a classic T-shirt style rather than a tank top, the Ultimate Comfort Crewneck is what you'll want to buy, especially if you're on a budget. 

Each pack comes with four undershirts, making it the best bang for your buck. Made from 95% cotton and 5% Spandex, these Hanes undershirts are tagless, have lay-flat collars, and are available in sizes up to 2XL.

Best cooling: Twillory Performance Crew

The first thing you notice when you slip on one of Twillory's Performance undershirts is how cool and silky it feels against your skin. It only gets better as the day goes on, since it helps keep you feeling cool and fresh no matter what the weather throws at you. The fabric is a cotton-rayon-spandex blend that's breathable and does a great job wicking sweat. The brand's known for its performance menswear, and they bring the same mindset to their undershirts. 

These tees have plenty of stretch and are thin enough to even go under a polo without added bulk. The Performance tee has plenty of length in the torso, so it stays tucked in, and it doesn't show through a white cotton dress shirt. You can choose between a crew neck or V-neck. The brand also offers a tonal version that you can't detect even under white summer-weight linen shirts. 

Read our full review of Twillory's performance dress shirts here.

Best sweatproof: Ejis Sweat Proof V-neck

If you are apt to sweat a lot, Ejis has you covered with the brand's Sweat Proof V-neck, specifically designed to keep your dress shirts dry and sweat-stain free. They make the undershirt from a soft micro-modal that's light and breathable. The tees' secret weapons are ultra-absorbent underarm pads that are waterproof and prevent any sweat from getting through to your dress shirts. 

The tee also has anti-odor properties using silver nanotechnology that fights scent at the source. And besides the sweat-proof properties, it's tagless, has a collar that lays flat, and is cut long enough to stay tucked in. The V-neck allows you to leave one button undone on your collared shirt. It's not a cheap product, but it will help save your expensive dress shirts from getting sweat stains and ending up in a landfill.

Best slimming: SPANX Zoned Performance Compression V-neck

You probably know SPANX for its women's shapewear, but the Atlanta-based company also makes men's undergarments in sizes from small to XXL. The SPANX Zoned Performance Compression V-neck helps give men a more toned look under their dress shirts by targeting the torso and abs, toning the chest, and helping with your posture. 

They make the undershirt from a nylon-spandex blend that offers ease of movement, wicks sweat, and dries quickly. It also features mesh zones at the pits and back to help keep you cool. If you've been slacking at the gym or just need a boost of confidence, SPANX has you covered.

FAQs

What is the main purpose of wearing an undershirt?

Undershirts are typically used as a barrier between your skin and your shirts. They help prevent your shirt from soaking up your sweat, which can lead to discomfort and an unwanted aesthetic.

Why does the color of my undershirt matter?

While white undershirts are the standard color, a darker- undershirt is the way to go with lighter colored dress shirts, especially if they're summer-weight, like a thin cotton or a linen. Colors like gray or black are much less visible than traditional white undershirts under thinner, white or light-colored fabrics.

How do I choose between a crewneck and a V-neck?

If you're wearing a tie or buttoning your dress shirt all the way up, a crew-neck undershirt is your best bet. But if you, like so many others these days, are going for a more casual look with your dress shirt unbuttoned at the neck, a V-neck should be your go-to. This style of undershirt stays under wraps for a cleaner, more elegant appearance.

Is it worth spending more on undershirts?

Yes. As with a lot of things, you often get what you pay for. In our experience, high-quality undershirts will last longer. They have stronger seams, are often pre-shrunk, so they don't shrink further, and keep their stretch. As an essential that will get regular wear and washes, it's important to pick one that will last.

Underwear can play a big role in your daily comfort and confidence, so choosing the right pair (instead of whatever's on the shelf at the store) can mean the difference between feeling cool, comfortable, and fully supported and the discomfort of constant readjustments, chafing, and tight elastic waistbands.

As a men's style editor, I've spent years of my career actively testing underwear from well known brands and smaller startups alike, writing reviews of the best ones, and coordinating testing among our team to get additional feedback. Our team's top pick for the best men's underwear brand is Tommy John, and more specifically, we love the Tommy John Cool Cotton boxer briefs because they're super supportive despite the extraordinarily light and breathable material.

Below, you'll find our recommendations for the very best men's underwear brands and which pairs are the most comfortable, based on many years of testing. To shop for more specific underwear styles, check out our buying guides to the best boxer briefs for men and the best boxers for men.

Learn more about how the Reviews Team tests and researches style products.

Our top 3 picks for the best men's underwear

Best overall: Tommy John

You know that one pair of underwear you get a little bit excited to put on when it makes its way to the top of the underwear drawer? For me, that's Tommy John. 

I've tried just about every noteworthy pair, and Tommy John has the best boxer briefs for men to surpass them all.

While the brand's startup buzz may have dwindled somewhat, it still remains our top pick for a specific reason: the amazing fit. Boxer briefs are my go-to underwear style, and Tommy John's have a slightly longer-than-average inseam length. This eliminates that awful feeling of riding up or chafing. There's plenty of room and support in all the right places. 

Secondly, the Cool Cotton material is incredibly comfortable against the skin, doesn't cause irritations like polyester, and holds up well in the wash. If you like trunks, briefs, or relaxed fit boxers, Tommy John has all of those, too. They are relatively expensive, but are well worth the upgrade.

Read more in our full Tommy John review here.

Best support: Saxx

While several of the best men's underwear brands focus on either comfort or fun patterns, Saxx Underwear manages to do both exceptionally well, and its Vibe Xtra Soft Comfort Boxer Brief is the best example.

The highlight of the brand's comfort technology is the BallPark Pouch, which adds support, reduces chafing, controls moisture, and prevents you from constantly having to readjust. For most men, there's not much more you can ask for in underwear.

You'll find basic solid colors as well as cool patterns, bright colors, and themes. If you like to have fun with your underwear, you'll find plenty of options to fill your drawer with.

Read more in our full Saxx review here.

Best odor-resistant: Mack Weldon

Using a combination of Pima cotton, Ionic+, and Lycra, the Mack Weldon Silver Boxer Briefs are made with some of the highest quality materials for the best men's underwear available.

While Supima cotton and Lycra are common in soft and comfortable clothes, the inclusion of pure silver in Ionic+ is rather important. Silver is naturally anti-microbial, so it helps rid garments of bacteria, including the types that cause odor. Learn about Ionic+ technology here. 

To put into perspective how useful silver can be, similar technology has been used in clothing for NASA astronauts, Olympic athletes, and US Special Forces.

Although astronauts probably have to wear their gear for much longer than you have to wear your underwear, you'll still get great use out of them in the real world. Whether you work super long days, you live a high-intensity athletic lifestyle, or you're on a camping or hunting trip where showers are few and far between, you'll get through it without stinking.

In addition to odor protection, the Silver Boxer Briefs are very comfortable thanks to a no-roll waistband, which is designed to prevent digging into the skin, and targeted mesh zones to keep high-heat areas nice and cool.

Read more in our full Mack Wheldon review here. 

Best value: All Citizens

There's a lot more than a person's waist size that goes into finding comfortable underwear, and All Citizens recognizes that. 

Perhaps named after its inclusivity, All Citizens has underwear for almost every size and shape. Although I'm not very tall, I went with the longer fit because I hate when my underwear rides up, and I've come to like longer pairs from other brands. 

My first impression was that they were substantially better quality than most other brands. They're pretty thick, but not to the point of being uncomfortable or hot. I could tell they'd be able to hold up well to countless washes and wears, and after several months, they've done exactly that.

All Citizens also takes support seriously with its Paradise Pocket. While all underwear brands are gradually becoming more concerned with support, All Citizens has arguably the most advanced system to keep your business in place. Most pouch designs are more or less two extra pieces of fabric, but the Paradise Pocket is a comfortable compartment that keeps you from hanging all over the place.

At $18, they're a bit more affordable than other premium men's underwear, and there's no compromise in quality.

I'd recommend these to anyone who wants an affordable option, but wants a bit more quality than a budget multi-pakck.

Best budget multi-pack: Hanes

Founded in 1900, Hanes, for all intents and purposes, pretty much invented modern underwear. Love or hate underwear, we'd have our work cut out for ourselves if we were to claim not to have some deep appreciation for this brand.

These days, Hanes offers every kind of boxer, brief, and boxer brief you could imagine with dozens of styles. You'll find everything from high-tech synthetic athletic materials to the good old-fashioned cotton the brand was built on. The standard Cotton Boxer Brief 1- Pack is our favorite choice if you're on a budget.

This brand is timeless and it's not going anywhere soon. Plus, as some of the most affordable options for the best men's underwear you can buy, it's a good way to fill out your drawer when a 10-pack of Hanes is still cheaper than single pairs from the popular direct-to-consumer startups on our list.

Best subscription: MeUndies

If you're tired of boring tighty whities (or other basic underwear options), MeUndies is the easiest way to liven up your underwear drawer with a subscription service.

Every month, you get to choose your preferred style, size, and whether you want designs that are Adventurous, Classic, or Bold. And if you and your partner want to match, you can find the same patterns and colors in a number of other styles.

The brand hosts frequent sales events, offering opportunities to save on the best men's underwear and the MeUndies loungewear we've tried and loved. With a membership, you gain early access to these kinds of exclusive offers. MeUndies isn't the most advanced when it comes to material and fit choices, but the options that are available are super comfortable.

Best novelty designs: Shinesty

Shinesty is making underwear more fun with bold colors and novelty patterns. The brand offers seasonal designs for holidays and other themed designs you'll love. Not only can you liven up your underwear drawer, but you'll also be able to do the same for your partner with match pairs.

While Shinesty is one of the best underwear brands to shop for uniqueness, they're also extremely comfortable. Thanks to the brand's proprietary Ball Hammock technology, you'll stay secure and comfortable all day long.

Shinesty offers styles to fit your preferences. You'll find everything from boxer briefs and longer boxer briefs to trunks and briefs.

Best sustainable: Organic Basics

Made with recycled nylon and elastane, Organic Basics estimates that compared with traditional methods using virgin materials, production of its "SilverTech" style conserves some 21 gallons of water and prevents 4.2 pounds of CO2 and one ounce of waste from entering the atmosphere and earth. We can't quite confirm this, but you can take a virtual tour of the brand's factories and learn more about its practices.

SilverTech, which we find to be Organic Basics' most interesting style of men's underwear, is in fact infused with silver, which is supposed to quell odor and bacteria buildup. In our experience, it helps a good bit, but maybe not quite as well as others we've tried. The real win here is the comfort these skivvies offer, and since I've had them, they've easily been some of my most-worn pairs. A more relaxed boxer brief, they hold everything more or less in place while sitting flush so I can wear them with just about any pair of pants.

Organic Basics offers a couple of fabrics beyond SilverTech, and unlike that line, they're much more on the organic side: Tencel (a wood pulp-based cellulose that's more breathable and less shrinkable and wrinkle-inclined than cotton), and organic cotton.

How we tested the best men's underwear

The best way to test underwear is to simply wear them in your everyday life. There's a long list of brands making men's underwear brands and for the last 8 years, I have been actively testing boxer briefs. My testing has become so in-depth, and sample units have become so abundant, that I have not had to purchase underwear myself.

I've taken into consideration important factors like comfort, performance, inclusivity, accuracy of sizes and fits, durability with wears and washes, and price. While most underwear on this list is more expensive than a basic 6-pack, you can rest assured they meet a certain level of quality and longevity in your closet.

• Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their dispute over the filming of "It Ends With Us."
• Lively alleged Justin Baldoni sexually harassed her on set.
• The judge gutted most of the lawsuit before it was set to go to trial this month.

It ended — two weeks before trial.

The blockbuster dispute between "It Ends With Us" stars Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively over behind-the-scenes drama won't go to trial later this month. Lively and Baldoni's production company, Wayfarer Studios, announced Monday that they had reached a settlement.

"Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors — and all survivors — is a goal that we stand behind," the statement said. "We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard."

"We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments," it continued. "It is our sincere hope that this brings closure and allows all involved to move forward constructively and in peace, including a respectful environment online."

The terms of the settlement weren't publicly disclosed.

Lively's lawsuit alleged that Baldoni sexually harassed her on the set of the movie and that his production company, Wayfarer Studios, orchestrated a digital smear campaign to ruin her reputation. Baldoni directed and co-starred in the movie.

The case was set to go to trial on May 18 in Manhattan.

US District Judge Lewis Liman had already tossed almost all of the claims in Lively's lawsuit, leaving only three counts that would go to trial. He also threw out lawsuits Baldoni filed against Lively and against The New York Times, which first reported on Lively's claims.

• Delta canceled hundreds of flights this weekend, while American and United canceled a handful.
• An internal memo obtained by Business Insider shows the reason is crew scheduling.
• Delta is using a complex scheduling system to fill last-minute trips, which can be inefficient.

Delta Air Lines is canceling hundreds of flights — far more than its competitors — and its strained scheduling system is largely to blame, Business Insider has learned.

Since Friday, Delta has canceled about 500 flights, while American Airlines and United Airlines have canceled a combined total of 80 flights. Delta canceled some flights in recent days within hours of boarding.

"We apologize to our customers for higher than usual cancellations this weekend due to crew resources," a spokesperson told Business Insider in an emailed statement.

An internal memo obtained by Business Insider sheds more light on the crew problems.

The April 24 memo by Ryan Gumm, senior vice president of Flight Operations, cited a sharp decline in pilots taking on extra flights beyond their regular schedules. Acceptance rates for these open trips have plunged to 2% from about 37% year over year. That collapse has slowed Delta's ability to fill last-minute staffing gaps, the memo said.

To fill the gaps, Delta is using a complex staffing system, known internally as 23.M.7, to cover trips quickly. This system can be inefficient, incentivizing pilots to pick up unstaffed trips while leaving holes elsewhere. It also means that Delta is typically paying pilots a premium for these last-minute trip fills.

"23.M.7, never intended for consistent daily operations, is now being used 10 to 15 times more than last year," the memo said. The company is currently renegotiating the union contract, which requires the use of the pilot scheduling system in certain circumstances.

Where does that leave Delta?

Flight operations-related cancellations are now more than 10 times higher than historical levels and account for 35% of Delta's mainline cancellations, up from just 7% last year, the memo said. Flight operations refer to the company's staffing function, versus cancellations due to weather or other reasons.

Delta is required to work with travelers whose flights have been canceled to find the next available option at no extra cost; those affected may be able to claim some compensation, such as travel credit, hotel rooms, or cash.

The Delta spokesperson said the recent cancellations are "not consistent with the operational reliability that Delta is known for and has our full attention."

To help alleviate pressure, Delta has been increasing pilot reserve levels and accelerating pilot hiring, the spokesperson said. The company has 20% more pilots than in 2019, they said.

"Our operation today is far more complex than it was 15 years ago, yet many elements of trip coverage, scheduling practices, and pilot access haven't evolved at the same pace," Gumm wrote. "We can't rely on old structures and expect improved outcomes."

• Amazon formally adopts Claude Code and Codex company-wide, expanding access to AI tools beyond Kiro.
• Amazon is a close partner with Anthropic and OpenAI, having invested billions in both AI labs.
• The rollout addresses internal complaints over AI tools and enhances Amazon's coding capabilities.

Amazon is formally rolling out Anthropic's Claude Code and OpenAI's Codex to all corporate employees, pushing beyond its in-house Kiro tool.

In a note to staff, obtained by Business Insider, VP of Amazon Software Builder Experience Jim Haughwout said Claude Code would be available company-wide immediately, with OpenAI's Codex set to follow on May 12. Both tools will run on Amazon Bedrock and be managed through Amazon Web Services, saving the need to set up infrastructure or manage capacity, the note stated.

"To help you invent more for customers, we are expanding the agentic Al tools available to you," Haughwout said in the note.

The move significantly broadens Amazon's use of outside AI coding tools. Until recently, Claude Code wasn't formally approved for production use, forcing employees to seek special clearance. That restriction had fueled complaints from engineers who preferred it over AWS's in-house Kiro tool, Business Insider previously reported.

The rollout also reflects Amazon's deepening partnerships with leading AI labs, including Anthropic and OpenAI.

An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider the company is now "standardizing" access to Claude Code and Codex, eliminating the need for separate approvals to officially use them.

"At Amazon, we've long held there's no one-size-fits-all approach to how our teams innovate," the spokesperson said. "Our builders are using Kiro for agentic coding, and now with both Claude Code and Codex running on AWS, we are making additional tools available as well."

From resistance to rollout

Amazon engineers had been vocal about the lack of access to Claude Code for production work, particularly as competing tools gained traction. The restrictions became a point of friction inside the company, with some employees arguing that Amazon risked falling behind in developer productivity.

Now, the company is scaling both Claude Code and Codex across its corporate workforce, a sign that leadership views AI coding assistants as essential infrastructure rather than optional add-ons.

By running Claude Code and Codex through Bedrock, Amazon can keep usage within its own cloud environment, maintaining tighter control over data security and compliance while still giving employees access to cutting-edge models.

"Both run on Bedrock, where all inference runs," Haighwout said in the note. "Both will have easy install for all Amazon builders."

An Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that internal teams are still "primarily using" Kiro, which has been adopted by 83% of the company's engineers.

Amazon has invested billions of dollars in both Anthropic and OpenAI in recent months.

In February, Amazon announced a major new partnership with OpenAI, investing up to $50 billion in the AI company. In exchange, OpenAI agreed to use Amazon's Trainium chips and work with AWS on customized models and a new AI agent service built on Amazon's cloud.

At the same time, Amazon has doubled down on its relationship with Anthropic. In April, the company said it would invest up to an additional $25 billion in the startup, on top of the $8 billion it had already pledged. Anthropic, in turn, has committed to buying $100 billion worth of Trainium chips.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ekim@businessinsider.com or Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 650-942-3061. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Anthropic has partnered with private equity giants to create a $1.5 billion "McKinsey of AI."
• The unnamed firm will build playbooks on AI transformation inside and outside PE portfolios.
• Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs are joined by a consortium of other investors.

Wall Street and Silicon Valley are betting that generative AI will kick off an Industrial Revolution-sized paradigm shift. And who do business leaders call when they need to make a change?

Consultants.

Anthropic is teaming up with some of Wall Street's biggest investors for a $1.5 billion joint venture for "AI-native enterprise services" — or, in easier-to-understand terms, the "McKinsey of AI," said one insider with direct knowledge of the deal.

The four founding partners, Anthropic, Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs' asset management arm, announced the deal Monday. The first three firms each contributed $300 million to the deal, while Goldman contributed $150 million, according to the person familiar. The remaining funding comes from a consortium of major investors, including Apollo, General Atlantic, Leonard Green, GIC, and Sequoia Capital.

"This is a rare convergence: massive market need, the unmatched AI technical capability of Anthropic, and a consortium of investors with the reach to scale fast," said Hellman & Friedman CEO Patrick Healy in a media release accompanying the announcement.

The unnamed AI firm is a way for its backers to drive returns across their portfolio companies, create a playbook for transformation through the tech, and ultimately justify the billions these firms are pouring into AI infrastructure.

"We've got 275 companies," Jon Gray, Blackstone's president, said on CNBC on Monday. "They're very interested in using Anthropic's enterprise technology, but they're saying, 'Can you help me get there? 
Can you help me change the workflow?'"

And for investors like Gray, helping them out isn't just a matter of altruism; it could materially affect their bottom lines. Labor is a $60 trillion annual cost, he said, adding: "If you can make people 15% more efficient, that's $9 trillion."

Private equity firms have been under pressure to generate returns as holding periods have been stretching. Almost 40% of companies are now held for more than 5 years, according to Bain, up from 29% in 2019.

"The demand is off the charts," said Brian Mulberry, chief market strategist at Zacks Portfolio Management, who sees the venture as the convergence of several forces: growing computing power as data centers multiply, the urgency for financial sponsors to offload aging assets, and the soaring costs affiliated with rapid token consumption.

"When computing power grows, more data centers come online," he said. "The use of this AI as a tool to try and drive productivity then becomes very scalable."

Anthropic's growing foothold on Wall Street

A central part of the venture will involve working closely with Anthropic's engineers to embed AI into their workflows and reshape internal processes. In practice, that could include introducing AI-driven agents into existing systems, allowing companies to complete tasks faster, according to a second person familiar with the deal's logistics.

Another advantage for the venture's clients will be access to the latest upgrades to Anthropic's models, said another person familiar with the deal's logistics, adding that preemptive access to these models before the public receives them could help them address mounting cybersecurity concerns — some of which are tied to the unprecedented capabilities of Anthropic's own products.

In recent weeks, Anthropic's Mythos model, an advanced LLM that has stoked concerns among US officials, has been a fixation for banks and large corporations that are trying to secure themselves against its unprecedented cyber capabilities.

Billions on the line

If the new venture can figure out how to bring businesses into the AI era, it will likely be a very valuable company: Blackstone's own portfolio companies' spending on large language models is up 15 times in the last year.

"This is a rising tide," said Thomas T. Thomas, the CEO of private-equity AI value creation firm Teragonia. His firm has built a software platform for middle-market private equity firms to apply AI insights to their businesses, targeting a market that owns trillions of dollars in companies.

It may be a big market to serve, but it's also a hard one, Thomas said, pointing to the challenge of transforming businesses holistically within the timeframe of a private equity investor.

"These companies do need to exit, or there needs to be a liquidity event in about 60 months, or faster if possible," he said. "Doing that and telling an AI value creation story in a cohesive fashion is another matter."

There's also a longer-term payoff.

Blackstone says it is the world's largest data center investor, with over $150 billion in data centers globally and a $160 billion pipeline of potential deals. The four biggest players, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google, have planned $725 billion in spending this year, which has some worried about the sheer size of the bet.

Private equity has long influenced corporate strategy, first by breaking up the midcentury corporate conglomerates into focused businesses and then by running companies with a ruthless focus toward driving returns.

If the sector can create a repeatable playbook for artificial intelligence transformation, its data center bets are likely to pay off.

Apple's AirPods are undeniably great, but they're not the perfect match for everyone. If you're on Android, you'll get more features and better integration with earbuds built for your phone. And even for iPhone users, sticking with Apple isn't the only way to get excellent audio and powerful active noise cancellation (ANC). After testing dozens of models, we've pulled together the best AirPods alternatives you can buy in 2026.

Our recommendations offer good sound quality, dependable ANC, solid battery life, and wide device compatibility — often at a lower price than AirPods. Our top pick is the Beats Fit Pro. Though not AirPods, they're still made by Apple and offer a secure fit while playing nice with both iPhones and Android phones. Looking to spend less? The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are a standout budget option, delivering a surprisingly rich feature set and an AirPods-like design that Apple fans should appreciate.

Below, you'll find our full list of the best AirPods alternatives. Whether you're all in on iPhone, committed to Android, or switching between the two, there's an option here that should fit both your needs and your budget.

Our top picks for the best AirPods alternatives

Best overall: Beats Fit Pro - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC - See at Amazon

Best for working out: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - See at Amazon

Best noise-canceling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - See at Amazon

Best for a unique style: Nothing Ear - See at Amazon

Best open ear: Soundcore AeroFit 2 - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Beats Fit Pro are basically the "AirPods for everyone," which is why they make such a strong alternative. They use the same Apple H1 chip found in older AirPods, giving iPhone users familiar perks and seamless integration with Apple devices. But unlike AirPods, the Fit Pro also support a dedicated Android app, making them just as friendly to Android owners as they are to Apple fans.

Design-wise, the Fit Pro skip Apple's signature stem in favor of a flexible wing tip that keeps them securely in place. They're comfortable enough for long listening sessions, available in several colors, and offer IPX4 water resistance for workouts or rainy commutes.

iPhone users get all the expected conveniences: one-touch pairing, Automatic Switching across iCloud devices, Find My support, and hands-free Siri. Android users aren't left out, either — the Beats app adds one-touch pairing, customizable controls, and battery readouts. These are features AirPods don't offer when paired with an Android phone, giving the Fit Pro a meaningful edge for listeners outside the Apple ecosystem.

The earbuds also deliver strong active noise cancellation and a natural transparency mode, as well as support for Apple's spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Even without spatial audio, their sound profile is clear and balanced, offering more detail and restraint than the bass-heavy tuning of old-school Beats headphones.

You also get convenient features like automatic ear-detection sensors that pause playback when you remove a bud, along with simple one-button controls. Battery life holds up well, too, at around six hours with noise canceling on, plus an additional 18 hours from the charging case. The case is the Fit Pro's weakest point: it's bulkier than many modern alternatives and doesn't offer wireless charging.

Still, those drawbacks are minor compared to everything the Fit Pro get right. If you're looking for the best AirPods alternative that works seamlessly with both iOS and Android devices, these earbuds remain our top pick.

Best on a budget

Anker's Soundcore Liberty 4 NC are supercharged buds at an extremely low price. We honestly can't believe just how much these AirPods-esque earbuds offer for the money, redefining our expectations of how good budget buds can be. They're also notable for their stem-like design, which resembles Apple's classic AirPods. 

The Liberty 4 NC have noise-canceling quality that nearly mops the floor with similarly priced competitors. Only Anker's own Space A40 earbuds can compete in this price range, with the Liberty 4 NC offering a slight edge. This is quality canceling, especially with low frequencies. The adjustable transparency mode isn't quite as impressive, but it does the trick, letting you choose between vocal and full transparency depending on your situation.

Sound quality is also impressive. We experienced a clean, spritely midrange and treble response, with full, musical bass. The sound signature is a little snappy by default, but you can tame it with the multi-band EQ in Anker's loaded app.

When it comes to features, the Liberty 4 NC have a version of nearly everything there's a name for, from sound personalization and wind-buffering to high-resolution playback with Sony's LDAC audio protocol. You'll also get an earbuds finder, low-latency gaming mode, multi-point audio for quickly switching between source devices, and more. Battery life is also among the best in class, offering up to 10 hours of playback per charge. However, we achieved closer to seven hours with noise canceling engaged in our tests.

Like any pair of budget buds, not everything is top-flight. The touch controls are easy to customize, but they're not always as responsive as pricier buds. Additionally, some features, such as auto-pause, take longer than expected to activate. Still, it's hard to complain, considering all the Liberty 4 NC offer. If you want high-roller features on a budget, these are your earbuds. 

Check out our guide to all the best budget headphones.

Best for working out

Great workout earbuds need to fit securely while being adaptable to different environments, blocking out noise during intense gym sessions while staying open to the world during outdoor runs. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 nail that balance, making them an excellent fitness-focused alternative to Apple's AirPods.

This is especially true since the Powerbeats Pro 2 actually use the same H2 chip that powers the latest AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4. This means the earbuds support many Apple-friendly features, including Find My Tracking, Audio Sharing, Ultra-Low Latency, and iCloud Pairing.

Like the latest AirPods Pro 3, the Powerbeats Pro 2 also feature built-in heart rate tracking, which records health data and syncs with the Apple Fitness app on an iPhone. This also works with third-party apps on Android phones.

Although not as powerful as the AirPods Pro 3, these in-ear buds deliver effective active noise cancellation (ANC) to mute clanging weights and gym chatter. Their transparency mode does a great job of letting in ambient sounds, allowing you to stay alert to traffic while running.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds also offer punchy sound quality without muddying vocals or instruments. Whether you're pushing through heavy lifts or a long cardio grind, the Powerbeats Pro 2 make your playlists sound bold and motivating.

Comfort and durability are solid, too. The earbuds fit securely and stay in place even during sweaty workouts. They also feature IPX4 water resistance. The physical volume and playback buttons are a small but appreciated touch, especially when you're on the move.

Battery life is another notable advantage, offering up to 45 hours of use with the charging case. The chase now supports wireless charging and is more compact than the previous-generation model.

If you're looking for a workout-focused pair of earbuds with many of the features you'd get with the AirPods Pro, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are an excellent fit.

Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

Check out our guide to all of the best headphones for working out.

Best noise-canceling

Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are like a volume knob for the world. They block out pesky distractions better than any of Apple's earbuds, making these the best AirPods alternatives for people who want powerful ANC. Simply put, you won't find better noise-canceling earbuds anywhere on the market.

The new second-generation model was launched in September 2025, and the revised earbuds offer a few small but welcome tweaks over their predecessors. Most notably, they now come with a wireless charging case and deliver improved call quality — all while coming in at the same suggested retail price.

ANC performance remains the standout. Although the second-gen earbuds' performance is similar to that of the first-gen model, they still offer the most impressive noise cancellation we've tested in a pair of earbuds. The QC Ultra Earbuds also feature a clear and natural-sounding transparency mode that rivals the AirPods Pro 3. Like the AirPods Pro, their microphones are designed to keep your ears safe by limiting sudden loud noises with adaptive tech. They also deliver excellent AI-based background noise suppression for phone calls.

The Ultra's audio processing extends to their sound performance, which is detailed and dynamic. Though the second-gen model uses the same audio drivers as the first-gen earbuds, Bose has adjusted the tuning. The differences are subtle, but we did notice a warmer, better-balanced sound with the new model. Bass, in particular, is a step above what we've heard on the AirPods Pro.

However, if the sound becomes too bold, a three-band EQ in Bose's Music app for Android or iPhone allows you to adjust it to your taste. The app also lets you engage Bose's spatial audio feature, which creates a 3D soundstage from stereo sound, with head tracking to anchor you in your sonic space. It's not our favorite feature for music, but it's there if you want it.

Like the Beats Fit Pro, the QC Ultra's case is rather bulky. However, the second-gen model supports wireless charging, which was notably missing from the first-gen earbuds. The earbuds offer other convenient features, like a sonic test that adjusts the sound each time you put them in. The buds' design features ear tips and wings for a secure fit, and they come with new in-ear wax guards. That said, the buds' size makes them less suitable for smaller ears.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review.

Check out our guide to all the best noise-canceling headphones.

Best for a unique style

The Nothing Ear are some of the coolest-looking earbuds on the market. Their transparent design, complete with a stylish rectangular case, makes them look like something out of a James Bond film. You can also see Apple-esque design touches everywhere, particularly in their bulbous white housings, but they also chart their own course, offering a lighter design than Apple's AirPods Pro 2, alongside robust dust and water resistance.

We previously included the Nothing Ear (2) as our pick in this category, but that model has been replaced by an updated option simply called the Nothing Ear. The newer model features a similar external design but utilizes a new ceramic diaphragm to deliver enhanced audio performance, along with 1.8 times improved noise cancellation and longer battery life. Since they cost the same as the older model, we now recommend the new option.

The buds support third-party conveniences you won't find on AirPods, like Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, as well as distinctive touches like a voice that breathes in when you engage their transparency mode. Pinch commands simplify playback control, and extras such as multipoint pairing, a low-lag gaming mode, and customizable sound are also available.

We also like that Nothing has upgraded the battery life for this new model. Low battery life was one of our biggest complaints about the Nothing Ear (2), which were rated for just four hours with noise canceling and six hours without. The latest buds are rated for 5.2 hours with ANC on and 8.5 hours with noise-canceling off.

Although design remains the main selling point of the Nothing Ear, they offer an impressive overall package at a surprisingly affordable price. It all adds up to a great AirPods alternative, with style for days and plenty of features, no matter your phone preference. Nothing also makes a new pair of over-ear headphones with a similar aesthetic and performance. You can learn more in our Nothing Headphone (1) review.

Best open ear

Unlike the other earbuds on our list, the Soundcore AeroFit 2 use an open design. Instead of inserting each earbud into the ear canal, the buds rest just outside the ear and stay in place using adjustable over-ear hooks.

This makes the AeroFit 2 uniquely suited for outdoor activities like running and bike riding since their open design allows you to hear your surroundings while still enjoying your favorite music or podcasts. To accomplish a similar effect, many in-ear buds, like the AirPods Pro 3, use tiny microphones to enable transparency modes that let in outside sound, but these microphones can get overwhelmed by the wind.

The downside of the AeroFit 2's open design is that the earbuds aren't equipped to block out unwanted noises. Unlike traditional buds, which offer noise canceling or passive noise isolation, you'll hear everything around you with the AeroFit 2, for better or for worse.

Thankfully, the AeroFit 2 are still capable of solid bass performance, and they output enough volume for outdoor use. The overall sound quality is good for open-ear buds, and they surpass our previous pick in this category, the Sony Linkbuds Open. However, they still can't match the depth and clarity of in-ear models.

Our reviewer found the over-ear hooks to be comfy with a lightweight yet secure fit. You can even adjust the ear hooks to better match a variety of ear shapes and sizes. The included charging case has enough room to store the earbuds and hooks in whatever position you leave them in, so you don't have to keep adjusting them.

Though we prefer physical buttons for playback controls, the AeroFit 2 eabuds' touch controls work well enough, and you can customize functions in the mobile app.

Our other picks with in-ear designs offer superior audio performance. But the AeroFit 2 are the best AirPods alternatives for users who want an open design to use during activities like running.

Check out our guide to all the best headphones for running.

How we test AirPods alternatives

Our reviewers test earbuds using standard, reproducible methods to assess sound quality, functionality, and design. To select the best AirPods alternatives, we focused on models that deliver performance and features that match or exceed Apple's earbuds. We also tested how well the earbuds work with Apple-centric devices, Android, and PC products, with an emphasis on versatility.

When testing audio performance, we use a dedicated playlist featuring songs spanning genres such as pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, electronic, and acoustic. We also test spatial audio and head tracking features using a mix of stereo and 3D audio tracks encoded in formats such as Dolby Atmos.

Regarding noise canceling and transparency modes, we test earbuds using studio speakers to play specific test videos and noise generators, as well as during real-world activities such as hiking, walking dogs, and exercising in crowded areas. For battery tests, we use a timer and play music and podcasts at medium volume, checking the battery level regularly. Most importantly, we live with the earbuds we test over multiple days to get a feel for how they are to use for regular buyers.

Meet the experts behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: Steven oversees tech buying guides for Business Insider's Reviews team, and he's been covering headphones for more than a decade. Along with his team of writers, he tests earbuds year-round to keep this guide up to date with new recommendations that serve well as AirPods alternatives. Sure, Apple's buds have their perks, but plenty of competitors match those features and sometimes outdo them. His goal is simple: break it all down so you can feel confident you're getting a good pair of earbuds that won't have you missing Apple's headphones.

Ryan Waniata, contributing reporter: Ryan was previously a contributor to Business Insider's Reviews team but now writes for Wired. What really sets him apart is that he actually understands sound on a technical level. With a background in sound engineering and years of reporting under his belt, he's not just rattling off features from a spec sheet. He listens carefully and thinks about what actually makes a pair of earbuds worth it.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

What to look for in an AirPods alternative

The best AirPods alternatives are earbuds that can go toe-to-toe with Apple's in terms of features, performance, and overall experience.

Some of our recommendations stick pretty close to the classic AirPods look. For example, models like the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC have that familiar stem design but often improve on fit or add extra features. Others take a different design approach — like the Beats Fit Pro — while still offering Apple- and Android-friendly features.

As with any wireless earbuds, you'll want reliable Bluetooth (version 5.0 or newer), and battery life should be solid (around five hours with noise canceling is a good benchmark). Once you're spending over $100, features like active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and a companion app (for things like firmware updates, EQ tweaks, and battery tracking) should be expected. Step up to more premium models, and you'll usually get extras like multipoint pairing and wireless charging cases.

That said, the two things that matter most are fit and sound quality. All the features in the world won't help if the earbuds aren't comfortable or don't sound good. To narrow things down, it helps to check expert reviews (like this guide) and real user feedback on platforms like Reddit or Amazon. Brands like Sony, Bose, Nothing, Jabra, Beats, and Soundcore are generally safe bets.

For more top picks that suit a range of needs, check out our guides to the best earbuds and best headphones across various brands and designs.

Do AirPods offer anything that alternatives are missing?

The main thing AirPods still do better than most alternatives is tight Apple integration — quick pairing, seamless switching between Apple devices, hands-free Siri, and built-in Find My tracking all feel effortless. However, some alternatives, like the Powerbeats Pro 2, use Apple chips to enable these features.

Some newer AirPods, like the AirPods Pro 3, also support hearing health features and live translation that aren't available on alternatives. You can learn more in our guide to the best AirPods.

But outside that, the playing field is pretty level. Many of the best AirPods alternatives now match or beat AirPods in areas like sound quality, active noise cancellation, battery life, and customization. So unless you really value that Apple-only convenience, you're not missing out on much by going with something else.

AirPods alternatives FAQs

What's the difference between in-ear and open-ear earbuds?

In-ear earbuds sit inside your ear canal to create a seal that helps improve sound quality, emphasize noise-canceling, and provide passive noise isolation. On the other hand, open-ear earbuds keep your ear canal open while still delivering audio to your ears via various methods.

Some earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods 4, feature a semi-open fit, which sits somewhat loosely without creating a complete seal in your ears, allowing them to feel less constricted. However, because they lack a seal, these earbuds tend to sound less deep and intimate than in-ear options.

Brands also sell fully open-ear models, like the Soundcore Aerofit 2, that don't block any ambient audio. These earbuds sit above your ear and transmit focused sound waves from specialized drivers.

Bone-conducting headphones, like those from Shokz, are another type of open-ear option. These headphones use sound pads designed to transmit audio through your jawbone. All open-ear earbuds have limited use cases but are prized by active users for their ability to let in environmental sounds naturally.

What is multipoint pairing?

Multipoint pairing enables a pair of wireless earbuds or headphones to simultaneously connect to two source devices, such as a phone and a computer. While you won't be playing audio from both devices simultaneously, multipoint pairing makes it easy to switch between them, allowing you to seamlessly transition from taking a call on your phone to joining a Zoom meeting on your computer without having to connect and disconnect your earbuds.

What's the difference between noise-canceling and transparency modes?

Noise-canceling and transparency modes are both considered "ambient sound" modes, which use exterior microphones and advanced sound processing. But they're essentially the exact opposite of one another.

Active noise canceling (ANC) uses algorithms that continuously monitor environmental frequencies and invert their polarity before they're piped into your ears. This reversal of the sine wave for each affected frequency will "cancel" the sound.

Meanwhile, transparency mode lets environmental sounds pass through so that you can stay aware of your surroundings. You can usually increase or decrease the ambient volume level, and the best versions from brands like Bose and Apple can even use audio compression to block and/or reduce sudden loud noises to protect your hearing.

What is spatial audio?

Spatial audio, as it applies specifically to earbuds and headphones, is a feature that uses virtualization to create a sense of three-dimensional space and depth from just two speakers. Multiple versions are available, though Apple's is the best we've tried so far when using Dolby Atmos mixes as a source. While many spatial audio implementations also work with stereo sources, we think this is generally less effective than using the feature in conjunction with 3D audio formats like Atmos. 

Many versions of spatial audio also use head tracking, which is designed to create a sonic environment more like listening to regular speakers. With head tracking engaged, turning your head with your earbuds on keeps the soundstage centered, as though you're turning your head from a real pair of speakers.

Spatial audio is becoming increasingly common in music, with engineers focusing more on mixing songs for a 3D environment. That said, so far, we've found that spatial audio is still most effective for video content, such as movies and TV shows.

• GameStop's CEO had an awkward CNBC interview. At various moments, the hosts laughed, exhaled, or raised their eyebrows.
• Ryan Cohen's repeated insistence that he didn't understand a financing question drew a laugh from host Becky Quick.
• We rounded up the standout moments, from his distracted demeanor to a moment of moxie — and all the awkward pauses.

Well, that was…something.

GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen appeared on CNBC to discuss the company's unsolicited recent proposal to acquire eBay. Over the 16-minute interview, Cohen appeared distracted, frustrated, or straight-up confused by the questions, drawing laughter and exasperated sighs from the co-hosts.

At other times, he seemed to have a bone to pick with the network, telling the hosts multiple times that CNBC had previously predicted GameStop would do "really, really poorly."

Meanwhile, four different CNBC hosts took their turns asking questions — and after hitting a wall, gave deep exhales and perplexed looks to his responses.

For those who don't have time to watch the interview, or who are left even more confused after finishing it, we captured the most important frames.

Cohen looks distracted out of the gate

In fairness to Cohen, it's an early-morning CNBC show. We don't know what time zone the GameStop CEO was recording from, which could make it even earlier for him. But regardless — the guy looks tired from the get-go.

After an initial greeting, the GameStop CEO's eyes begin to wander — it's not clear if he's simply reading something on screen or focusing on something else, but he's definitely not focusing on the camera.

Asked about the rationale for wanting to pursue a deal like this, Cohen's facial expressions flit between a couple of reactions in rapid succession, eyebrow arching almost comically, before he answers while looking up and away from the camera.

Cohen's hanging "no" leads to a smile and chuckle-exhale from Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Andrew Ross Sorkin asks for the details of GameStop's proposal: "You've had conversations with the company? You've tried? What's happened here?"

Cohen answers with a flat "No" — and a brief pause that hangs in the air until Sorkin looks down, smiling, and lets out a soft laugh-exhale as Cohen picks back up with: "We're just starting."

Sorkin: "How does the math math?" Cohen's "we'll see what happens" draws another chuckle.

Sorkin asks, for the first time, for an explanation of the math behind the proposal. How exactly does GameStop plan to pay for eBay, as there appeared to be a roughly $16 billion gap in proposed financing and the deal price?

Cohen shifts his eyes to the side before looking down. "It's on our website," he says. "It's half cash, half stock." (Variations of "it's on our website" and "it's half cash, half stock" are repeated often over the course of the interview.)

Sorkin notes that he's read the website but many viewers haven't — can he walk them through it? Cohen asks "which part." Sorkin gives another detailed question pointing out the roughly $16 billion gap.

"We'll see what happens," Cohen says, leading to another short laugh-exhale from Sorkin and a smile.

Becky Quick jumps in with a laugh and raised eyebrows when Cohen states his confusion.

Eventually, host Becky Quick jumps in, cutting the tension between Sorkin and Cohen to say that it was a "straightforward question" and that she didn't "get it." She laughs a bewildered laugh.

"Where's the rest of the money coming from? Andrew laid it out pretty clearly," she says, referencing Sorkin's question.

"I don't understand your question," Cohen replies as Quick's eyebrows shoot up. He repeats that the full details are on GameStop's websites and then offers up something new: the company could issue new stock.

Quick leans forward: "But you're on our air."

"I don't understand your question," Cohen repeats as the silence hangs awkwardly.

Cohen goes a bit on the offensive, saying CNBC called for "GameStop's demise."

Here we start to see some semblance of moxie from Cohen, who has been noticeably low energy for the interview so far.

Host Michael Santoli points out that eBay has long been a public company, while GameStop's revenue is down. "Where's the evidence that you know how to grow a mature consumer business?" he asks.

"Didn't you guys call for GameStop's demise multiple times?" Cohen replies.

Santoli asks if Cohen is saying that because GameStop isn't "dead" that means he knows how to grow it.

"Look at our financial performance," Cohen says. "Is it better than you guys anticipated?"

Someone off-screen can be heard letting out a quick laugh, though it's not clear who.

Quick's eyes look to the ceiling in confusion.

Quick asks whether GameStop shareholders would see meaningful gains from an eBay acquisition, rather than a dilution of their stock and more debt, given Cohen's proposed solution of issuing more shares to make up the roughly $16 billion deal difference.

Cohen continues to look away from the camera. "I'm aligned with shareholders," he says.

Quick then lays out a scenario where shareholders might not see a significant gain from the acquisition. Cohen responds: "If I don't hit the thresholds, then I don't get anything."

Sorkin begins a question, but the camera stays on Quick. She looks up to the right, then to the left. A quizzical look (maybe even an eye-roll?), but a visible reaction to Cohen's answer.

Watch the full 16-minute video here:

• Hedge funds surged in April thanks to a bounce back in equity markets.
• After a rough March put many managers in the red for the year, a strong April wiped out funds' losses.
• Few funds will be able to match the more than 10% gain by the S&P 500 last month.

It's too early to say whether April's market bounce back is a sign of things to come for the rest of 2026 or just the eye of a turbulent storm, but hedge funds will take it either way.

After a rough March when many different hedge fund styles suffered losses, April helped the industry's biggest names get back to their winning ways.

Izzy Englander's Millennium Management returned 2.7% in April, bringing the $84.2 billion hedge fund's gains to 3.6% for the year so far, a person close to the firm told Business Insider.

Citadel, Ken Griffin's $67 billion manager, was up 1.4% in its flagship Wellington fund in April and now is up 2.4% for 2026, a person close to the Miami-based firm said. The firm's Tactical Trading fund, which blends its fundamental stockpicking strategies with its computer-run ones, was up 2.8% in April, bringing its year to date performance to 8.3%.

Michael Gelband's ExodusPoint gained 4% in April and is once again positive for the year. $19 billion Schonfeld, which avoided serious losses in March, posted a 2.5% return last month in its flagship Partners fund.

Multistrategy managers like those mentioned above trade different asset classes around the world and are known for the tight risk limits as much as their investing prowess. Because of these factors, this subset of funds doesn't lose as much when stocks tank — as evidenced in March — but also doesn't jump as quickly when equities rally.

While more concentrated funds may have had banner months, these managers did not come close to matching the S&P 500 index's more than 10% gain in April. The index is now up over 5% for the year.

The managers mentioned declined to comment. More performance figures will be added to the table below when they are learned.

• US Apache and Seahawk helicopters sank six Iranian small boats threatening commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The US military has also fended off missile and drone attacks threatening the Navy and other vessels.
• A top commander said the US has created a defended path through the strait for safe travel.

US AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters eliminated six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the top American commander in the Middle East said Monday.

Iran has launched new attacks on US military and commercial vessels as the US Navy continues its blockade of Iranian ports and its efforts to clear a path through the Strait of Hormuz. These actions and the forceful response threaten a fragile ceasefire.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, shared Monday that Iran had launched cruise missiles, drones, and small boats at ships under US protection, as well as US military vessels. He said that US forces defeated the threats "through the clinical application of defensive munitions."

"We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the Strait, including AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters used just this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping," said the admiral on a call with reporters.

He added that the small number of Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats involved reflected the severe degradation suffered by the Iranian armed forces in recent months.

"You typically see between 20 and 40 small boats in a pack coming out," the admiral said. "Today, we saw six and eliminated them quickly. I think this is an example of the degradation of their capability. It doesn't mean it's all gone, but it's highly degraded."

US Navy helicopters saw similar action against boats attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea in December 2023. The helicopters, dispatched after a cargo vessel sent out a distress signal, sank three of four hostile small boats that CENTCOM said had originated from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Iran-backed militants employ tactics similar to those of the IRGC.

Other US aircraft currently operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz include A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, fighter jets like the F-15 Eagle and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, refueling tankers like the KC-135 Stratotanker, and reconnaissance aircraft like the RC-135. The Navy also has two aircraft carrier strike groups and a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the area. Multiple warships are operating in the Persian Gulf.

"The cruise missiles were going after both US Navy ships, but mostly after commercial shipping," Cooper shared. "We've had drone launches against commercial ships," he said. "And then the small boats were all going against commercial ships, and all were sunk by Apaches and Seahawk helicopters."

No US military or US-flagged commercial vessels were hit in the Iranian attacks, the latest escalation in a simmering conflict; Cooper declined to comment on whether the ceasefire is over.

American military actions come as the US has launched "Project Freedom." US forces are guiding commercial vessels that have been stranded and need safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which presents a range of threats to shipping, including naval mines.

Cooper said that US forces have cleared a path through the strait and established a defensive umbrella for vessels to travel under. American forces are not supporting individual escorts.

The admiral shared limited details on how the US made this possible. "What I will say is, over the past several weeks, we've used low-observable capability to clear that path, and we validated that in multiple ways. And then we took the risk by using US-flagged ships to go through first, setting the example," he said.

• Paramount Skydance impressed investors in its first-quarter earnings report.
• The company's earnings came in above expectations.
• Paramount+ added about 700,000 subscribers last quarter, its first with live UFC matches in the US.

Paramount Skydance pleased investors in its first earnings report since agreeing to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

David Ellison's company beat Wall Street's expectations last quarter, thanks to an 11% jump in streaming revenue.

Paramount's revenue rose 2% to $7.35 billion in the first quarter, at the upper end of the $7.15 billion to $7.35 billion range the company had said it expected. Analysts polled by Bloomberg were looking for first-quarter revenue of $7.26 billion.

The company's adjusted EBITDA — a common profitability measure — came in at $1.16 billion, above the $900 million to $1 billion range it set and ahead of analysts' $891 million estimate.

Shares rose over 4% in early after-hours trading. The stock finished Monday down about 6% since the Paramount-Skydance merger closed in August. It has lost nearly half its value from last fall's all-time high.

The company's revenue guidance for the second quarter came in slightly below analyst estimates, per Bloomberg's poll. Paramount reiterated its full-year revenue guidance of $30 billion.

Paramount's TV business shrank about 6% year over year to under $3.7 billion, as cord-cutting continues to ravage media companies. However, Paramount said star showrunner Taylor Sheridan's "The Madison" was his strongest streaming debut ever, with 12.5 million viewers in its first month.

"We are pleased with the trajectory of our business as we continue to invest in key areas of growth, drive greater efficiency across the enterprise and position the company for long-term success," wrote Ellison, Paramount's CEO, in his first-quarter shareholder letter.

UFC fights lure subscribers

Paramount+ added 700,000 subscribers last quarter as it began showing live UFC matches in the US without pay-per-view, as part of a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal. However, the company said it would have added 1.9 million if not for its decision to exit a bundle internationally.

Business Insider reported in January that Paramount+ generated about 1 million signups on the day of its first UFC match.

Paramount's namesake streamer now has 79.6 million subscribers, which is ahead of US-only Peacock's 46 million but well behind its top rivals. Disney had 196 million streaming customers when it last shared subscriber figures in September 2025, while Netflix said it had 325 million customers as of the end of 2025.

Buying WBD would help Paramount's flagship streamer scale, since the HBO parent had 131.6 million streaming customers at the end of 2025.

The Paramount-WBD mega-merger, which has faced opposition from Hollywood stars like JJ Abrams and Ben Stiller, still needs official regulatory approval in the US and abroad.

Turning to tech

Ellison is prioritizing technology and streaming in hopes of remaking his century-old media company into a powerhouse for the new era.

As part of this push, Paramount has made key hires like former Google exec Hugh Williams, who was nicknamed "the godfather of doomscrolling," as well as Amazon's former video ad sales chief.

Ellison said on the earnings call that Paramount is trying to hire high-end talent in engineering and AI talent to put the company "in a position to compete with the leaders in the industry."

"It's that combination of art and technology working hand-in-hand together that drive growth, that drive engagement, and all of the key metrics that are required to building a truly scaled business," Ellison said.

Paramount's streaming business made strides last year, as global viewing hours grew more than 20% across Paramount+ and Pluto TV, according to leaked figures obtained by Business Insider.

The company is also turning to short-form video to keep users engaged and "drive visit frequency," a streaming employee told Business Insider. Besides a short-form feed, Paramount has explored adding user-generated content and shopping features to its streamer.

Paramount+ and Pluto TV's tech platforms will come together by the middle of the year, which the company said will "enable continuous optimization across discovery, personalization, and monetization." Paramount has shuffled key engineering teams as part of this process, which is known internally as "convergence."

• McDonald's is making some big changes to its beverages.
• The fast-food chain is getting in on the "dirty soda" trend, launching six new beverages this week.
• It's also rolling back its self-service drink stations in restaurants by 2032.

McDonald's is betting on new ways to quench your thirst.

The fast-food chain is attempting to ride the wave of creative sodas and inventive drinks that has swept the US in recent years. It's introducing six new drinks to its US menus this week, including caffeinated refreshers and twists on its classic fountain drinks.

Starting this week, you can get three new McDonald's soda concoctions, including your Sprite with a take called Berry Blast, which adds blue raspberry-flavored syrup and tops it off with cold foam. If you've been intrigued by "dirty sodas," the soft drinks mixed with syrups and cream, McDonald's is introducing a vanilla-infused creamy Dr Pepper. There's also a Hi-C-based variation with vanilla and cold foam.

The three caffeinated refresher drinks, which have a lemonade base, include strawberry watermelon, mango pineapple, and blackberry passion fruit.

The new drinks — and the recently refreshed look of the chain's beverage sub-brand, McCafé — are part of a play for a demographic drawn to a more youthful, playful drink experience. The company told analysts in a February earnings call that it sees a more than $100 billion opportunity for growth in beverages globally.

McDonald's is one of several restaurants jumping into the beverage battles brewing between chains. From Starbucks to Taco Bell, customizable juices and sodas with foamy toppers and jelly mix-ins have become a staple behind counters.

The trendy sodas — most of which are crafted behind the counter and cost more than classic soft drinks — also come as the fast-food giant is rolling back its self-service drink stations. The company said in 2023 that it would remove the stations from restaurants by 2032. The goal is to create a more consistent customer experience, McDonald's said.

It may be the end of self-service, but it's the start of a new era of beverages for McDonald's.

Do you have a story to share about McDonald's? Contact this reporter at jhart@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at jordanhart.99. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

The weather is warming up, and for people without the ability to install an air conditioner or use a window unit, a portable air conditioner can make the difference between sweltering all summer or relaxing in breezy, cool temperatures. The best portable air conditioners balance powerful cooling with energy efficiency and quiet operation.

While testing 14 different portable air conditioners, we noticed that performance varied widely, especially in terms of cooling power, noise levels, and energy efficiency. Newer models are improving in meaningful ways, with higher efficiency ratings, more intelligent controls, and increasingly common inverter compressors. In this guide, we'll show you when a portable AC makes sense, when it doesn't, and which models are actually worth buying if it's your best option.

The best portable air conditioners

Best overall: Midea Duo Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner (MAP14S1TBL) - See at Amazon

Best budget: LG Portable Air Conditioner (LP0621WSR) - See at Amazon

Best for large rooms: Whynter ARC-14S Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner - See at Amazon

Best with heat: Black+Decker Portable Air Conditioner (BPACT14HWT) - See at Amazon

Quietest: Friedrich ZoneAire Inverter Portable Air Conditioner (ZHV16DA) - See at P.C. Richard & Son

Best battery-powered: EcoFlow Wave 3 Portable Air Conditioner - See at Amazon

Best overall

This is the most powerful portable AC I tested. The Midea Duo has a unique hose-in-hose design that replaces the hot air removed from your room with cool air. It's easy to install, though the hose doesn't stay clipped into the window slider, the long piece of plastic to fit into your window and send hot air outside. I had to use duct tape to keep it in place.

It uses up a lot of electricity. The Midea used 2.16 kWh over an hour, about 0.2 kWh more than the overall hourly average in our tests. Running this portable AC eight hours a day all summer would cost an average of about $240 extra, based on average electricity rates.

It's easy to control with the accompanying app. You can turn off the LED to avoid light pollution and set a "sleep curve" that adjusts the temperature throughout the night to balance comfort and power use. In the app, you can set the AC to turn on or off depending on whether you're home and control the airflow direction. The Midea Duo is also our best smart portable air conditioner because it works with the feature-packed SmartHome app and pairs with Alexa or the Google Assistant for voice control. I can turn the AC on/off and set a schedule from anywhere using my phone. I scheduled the Midea to turn off during surge electrical pricing and to come back on afterward to ensure the room is comfortable by bedtime.

The Midea Duo is also available with a heating mode, though we haven't tested this model. Read our full Midea Duo Smart Inverter Portable Air Conditioner review.

Best budget

Despite its affordable price, this portable AC performed well in every test. Considering its price and Btu rating, the LG LP0621WSR did a surprisingly good job of cooling. Our best budget portable air conditioner is designed for rooms up to 250 square feet, but it cooled the 550-square-foot test room by more than 2 degrees over the 2-hour test period. That's pretty good. Plus, it used less energy than any other option in our guide. Whether on low (55 decibels) or high speed (57 decibels), the LG LP0621WSR's noise output was average, about as loud as a quiet office or an everyday conversation.

Setup is simple, but be careful moving it. The LG LP0621WSR was easy to set up and install. Within 10 minutes of opening the box, I had it cooling the room. You'll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to secure the window panels. The panels fit a wide range of window sizes, a nice feature since I have extra-wide windows. The air conditioner is relatively light at 60 pounds and has handles that make it easy to move up and down stairs. However, I ran into issues moving it from one room to another on the same level. The unit is low to the ground and top-heavy. It fell over as I rushed to roll it to the next room.

Check out the larger version, too. LG has a newer, 7,000-Btu version, model LP0721WSR, if you need more cooling power. We haven't tested it yet, but it may be worth the $50 extra if you're trying to cool a larger room.

Best for large rooms

This powerful AC effectively cools large spaces. With its large, imposing, flat front, our best portable air conditioner for large rooms looks like something from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Whynter ARC-14S was among the best in my cooling test, decreasing the room temperature by 3.6 degrees over two hours. However, it was also one of the loudest models, at 58 decibels.

It has a dual-hose design. A single-hose portable AC removes hot air through the hose, lowering the pressure in the room, which causes outside air to rush in to equalize the pressure. With two hoses, the Whynter replaces the removed air with cool air, improving efficiency.

Setup and transportation are a bit of a pain. Weighing 86 pounds, the unit is heavy and lacks handles, making it hard to move from room to room. The initial installation took me half an hour (longer than most models require for setup) because I had to screw the fixtures into the window slider by hand. The slider wasn't long enough for my 47-inch window opening, so I used Styrofoam packaging to fill the gap. Additionally, it doesn't come with foam seals, which are helpful for efficient cooling.

Additionally, Whynter offers a version with heating capabilities, the ARC-14SH, which we tested and also recommend.

Best with heat

Portable ACs with heat are versatile options for every season. In addition to being one of the top performers in our cooling tests, the Black+Decker BPACT14HWT Portable Air Conditioner is the best portable air conditioner with heat, which makes it great for year-round use — I particularly like that I don't have to store it during the winter. Instead, I use it to heat the living room, which tends to run colder than the rest of the house. It's also available without heat.

Installation took about five minutes without additional tools. I like that the window slider extends to 60 inches, which is more than enough for my needs. However, I wish it came with window security brackets to make it harder for someone to push the window open and gain access to my house. Fortunately, this hasn't been an issue.

It has a few flaws. Over two hours, it consumed 1.83 kWh. It's also one of the louder units we tested, and when I neglected to clean the filter regularly, the Black+Decker produced jarring sounds as it changed fan speeds.

Quietest

This whisper-quiet portable AC is best for bedrooms. We feature several quiet portable air conditioners in this guide. Still, the Friedrich ZoneAire Inverter ZHV16DA does the best job of balancing quiet operation, cooling performance, and energy efficiency. For these reasons, it's also the best portable air conditioner for bedrooms. At high levels, it's only 53 decibels, which is quieter than everyday conversation. I especially like that the Friedrich ZoneAire's inverter compressor doesn't make jarring noises because it isn't constantly turning on and off, as other portable units might.

It's also one of the best dual-hose portable ACs I tested. Dual-hose units tend to do better than single-hose ACs in larger rooms because the dedicated air intake hose equalizes the room's pressure, keeping hot air from leaking in to fill the vacuum. The Friedrich Zoneaire demonstrated the dual-hose benefits perfectly. In two hours, it reduced the testing room's temperature by 4 degrees, the best result in my tests. Equally impressive is that it only uses an average amount of electricity.

Setup is easy, but it's pricey. I spent five minutes of the setup time connecting to the user-friendly FriedrichGo app. Reinstalling the AC in another room was also quick, taking about a minute. It's also pretty expensive at about $700. Still, if quiet operation and powerful cooling are your top priorities, the Friedrich ZoneAire Inverter Portable Air Conditioner is your best bet.

Best battery-powered

Thanks to the attached battery, you can use this AC almost anywhere. Unlike the other units in our guide, the EcoFlow Wave 3 doesn't require an electrical outlet, making it the best portable air conditioner for cars, camping, and other situations where electricity isn't available. The EcoFlow Wave 3 is an update to our former battery-powered pick, the Wave 2. The Wave 3 is more powerful and adds dehumidification.

It's relatively lightweight. At 38.4 pounds, the Wave 3 is a little heavier than the Wave 2 but still much lighter than any other unit in our guide. It took longer than most to set up because you need to rig your own window slider for the two hoses. I used plenty of duct tape to attach the hoses to the window slider of another unit. You don't need a window for the Wave 3, but you do need to have an opening to the outside world for the air intake and exhaust hoses. Connecting to the EcoFlow app was seamless, and I found it user-friendlier than the on-unit controls, which could get confusing.

The battery can give you two to eight hours of cooling. When cranked to maximum power, the Wave 3's battery barely lasted the 2-hour test. On lower settings, it can last up to eight hours. Recharging the battery takes less than 90 minutes and can be done with a wall outlet, solar panels (sold separately), or a car charging cable. The battery attaches to the Wave 3 and adds about 21 pounds to its weight.

Unless you're off the grid, I recommend checking out another portable AC. I tested the EcoFlow Wave 3 in my standard 550-square-foot test room, initially with it connected to a wall outlet, but it struggled. The manufacturer says the AC is recommended for spaces up to 180 square feet, which is about a third of the size of the testing area. It barely decreased the room's temperature. I retested it in a 200-square-foot space relying solely on the battery. It lowered the room's temperature by almost four degrees — much better. At over $2000 with the battery, the Wave 3 is expensive, but during summer heat waves, it can make your RV, tent, or car more bearable. It's also worth having around for heating and cooling if the power goes out.

Read our full EcoFlow Wave 3 review.

Our top picks compared

What to look for in a portable air conditioner

Btu and room size: One British thermal unit (Btu) equals the heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In cooling, Btu measures the amount of heat removed from a room. The more Btu per hour an air conditioner is rated for, the better it should be at cooling a space.

That said, you shouldn't just choose an AC based on Btu. You'll also want to consider room size. Higher Btu units are better at cooling larger spaces, but they're louder and can be overpowering in smaller rooms (leading to unnecessarily high cooling costs). Use the table below (from the Energy Star website) to determine what Btu your room requires:

Recommended Btu by room size

Your Btu needs will be higher if the room has a ceiling over 8 feet, is very sunny, is regularly occupied by more than 2 people, or is a kitchen.

Energy efficiency: Even the best portable air conditioners are not energy-efficient, and currently, none are Energy Star certified. Still, if you're hoping to save on cooling costs or reduce your carbon footprint, consider energy efficiency. There are two factors to look at here: the compressor and kWh usage.

A portable air conditioner's compressor pushes hot air outside, allowing cold air to circulate in your room. Dual-inverter compressors, like the one in my top pick, are the most energy-efficient. These compressors have variable-speed motors that use much less energy than traditional compressors.

To get an overall feel for your AC's energy usage, look at kWh (kilowatt-hour) usage. Most electricity utilities use kWh to measure your power use, and I use it to measure the energy consumption of the air conditioners I test. The lower the kWh usage, the better.

Window size: Portable ACs usually come with a window slider, a long, adjustable piece of plastic that fits into your window opening. The hose from your portable AC connects to the slider to send the hot air emitted from the unit outside. You'll want to measure your window before purchasing your AC to ensure the slider will fit.

Noise: No one expects an air conditioner to be silent, but you'll want a unit with minimal noise output, especially if you use it while sleeping. We measure noise output with a decibel meter, but generally, you can expect units with more Btu to be louder.

Smart features: Depending on your needs, you may consider a WiFi-enabled unit that lets you control the air conditioner from your phone. This feature makes it easy to set a schedule or adjust settings without getting out of bed. Expect to pay a bit more for the convenience of app connectivity.

What type of air conditioner is right for you?

Portable ACs are one of the easiest ways to cool a room, especially if you can't install a window unit. While window ACs tend to be more powerful and efficient, they aren't always practical for renters or certain window setups. Portable models trade a bit of performance for flexibility, making them a popular choice for bedrooms, apartments, and other spaces with limited installation options. The table below can help you decide which type makes the most sense for you.

How we test portable air conditioners

Meet the expert behind this guide

James Brains, home tester and writer: I have tested and reviewed air quality, cooling, and heating devices for six years, including 14 portable air conditioners. I also consulted with Enesta Jones, a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) spokesperson, and Joanna Mauer, the technical advocacy manager for the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. Based on my research and interviews, the main features to look for when shopping for portable air conditioners are how well they fit your window, energy consumption, and cooling abilities.

Our testing methodology

Our testing methodology encompasses the following evaluation criteria:

Setup: I timed how long it took to remove the packaging and install each unit, noting if tools were needed.

Cooling: I set my home's heating system to 75 degrees. Once at the set point, I cranked the portable air conditioner to its highest fan speed and lowest temperature. Using a digital thermometer placed on the other side of the 550-square-foot testing room, I compared the initial temperature to the temperature two hours later to see how well the unit cooled.

Noise: A loud air conditioner can make watching TV, working, or sleeping difficult. I measured each unit's noise output by holding a sound meter 6 feet from the AC as it ran on its highest setting. It lost points if the compressor made jarring sounds as it turned on and off.

Power use: I measured how much energy each unit used while running on high for two hours using a smart plug. The least energy-efficient window air conditioner I tested still uses less power than the most efficient portable unit.

Air quality: Before and after running the air conditioner for two hours, I compared particulate matter and VOC measurements using an air-quality monitor. I didn't weigh this category heavily, but I noted when there were significant changes in the air quality.

Portability: I timed how long it took to uninstall the AC, move it to the next room, and reinstall it. Between the rooms, there is a 3/4-inch threshold, making handles advantageous. I also considered the air conditioner's weight.

Extras: All units in this guide have at least a one-year warranty and a fan. ACs need more than this to earn extra points. For instance, a heating mode, remote control, dehumidifying, WiFi connectivity, foam seals for efficient cooling, and a more extended warranty contribute to a more favorable assessment of a portable air conditioner.

Portable air conditioner FAQs

Why do portable ACs have two Btu numbers?

Mauer said that the Department of Energy's Btu rating, known as the seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC) is more accurate than the Btu given by the manufacturer (ASHRAE). The SACC considers hot air infiltration and heat losses through the ducts, while ASHRAE doesn't account for the heat released into the room by the exhaust hose. There's also no consistent testing standard.

The DOE established the SACC Btu rating using standardized testing to account for the heat that ends up back in the room. This guide references the SACC ratings.

Is a portable air conditioner or window air conditioner better?

When I compared portable and window air conditioners head to head, I found that window ACs are the better option for most people. During testing, I found that the most efficient portable AC still used 60% more power than my top window pick. The window unit also cost less and did much better cooling.

Unless you don't have a window to support it, I recommend a window unit. Portable ACs are only preferable when you don't have a single- or double-hung window.

Can I use a portable air conditioner in a room without windows?

You can use a portable air conditioner in a room without windows, but the hot air needs a way to leave the space or the unit won't provide any cooling benefits. Your portable AC needs an opening big enough for the ventilating hose to send the exhaust outdoors.

Can portable ACs help with wildfire smoke and air filtration?

To some degree, yes. Most portable air conditioners have some degree of air filtration. However, the EPA recommends opting for a dual-hose unit, like our recommendations from Midea, Whynter, and Friedrich. You'll also want to ensure that the seal between the hose casing and the window is as tight as possible. We recommend checking out our guide to the best air purifiers for the best air-filtering options.

How do I clean and maintain my portable air conditioner?

To keep your portable air conditioner working optimally, you need to clean the filter at least once a month, more if you use it frequently. Below are other cleaning tips to ensure you get the most out of your unit.

Weekly:

• Remove condensation: Regularly remove the condensation that builds up from the cooling process. Many portable units make this easy with a built-in dehumidifier or drain hose. When you put the AC away for the season, remove condensation to avoid mold buildup.
• Keep the hose short: You can improve your portable air conditioner's efficiency and reduce dust and moisture buildup by keeping the hose as short and straight as possible.
• Wipe the exterior down: Run a damp cloth along the exterior of your unit to remove dust.

Monthly:

• Clean the filter: A filter helps reduce allergens in your air and allows for optimal airflow. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for how often to clean the filter. The best vacuums outfitted with a crevice tool attachment should get the job done. You can wash the filter with water, but ensure it dries completely before reinstalling it.
• Check the insulation: To keep your air conditioner running efficiently, check to make sure the insulation remains in place and seals any cracks. If your unit doesn't have foam seals, consider buying affordable adhesive strips. Apply insulation every time you move the AC.

Twice per season:

• Vacuum the condenser coils: Grab a screwdriver and remove the back panel to access the condenser coils on the back of your unit. To keep your AC running efficiently, use a vacuum with the crevice attachment and run it lightly over the coils. Do not press hard; you don't want to dent the coils.

• Oil prices spiked as traders reacted to fresh tensions in the Middle East on Monday.
• The UAE reported missile strikes from Iran for the first time since the ceasefire began.
• US stocks closed lower led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Oil prices logged fresh gains and stocks tumbled on Monday as traders assessed the possibility that the Iran war could heat up again.

Oil extended gains after reports that Iran launched missiles at the United Arab Emirates for the first time since the ceasefire went into effect in early April. US President Trump said that the US has sunk seven small Iranian ships as part of efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent oil was up about 5% to $114.36, while WTI oil rose nearly 4% to $105.79,

The UAE's Ministry of Defense said that four missiles were launched from Iran. The government agency said it intercepted three missiles and that the fourth went into the Persian Gulf.

Major indexes tumbled after wavering earlier in the session. Bond yields spiked, with the 10-year US Treasury yield up six basis points to 4.44%

Here's where major indexes stood at the 4:00 p.m. ET closing bell:

• S&P 500: 7,200.81, down 0.4%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 48,941.90, down 1.13%(−557.37 points)
• Nasdaq Composite: 25,067.80, -0.19%

The strikes come during an indefinite ceasefire extension amid talks between the US and Iran. Israel has also reportedly violated the ceasefire agreement.

US President Trump reacted to the UAE strikes in a Truth Social post on Monday afternoon, saying that Iran has shot at a South Korean cargo ship.

Trump said that the US had shot down seven small boats which he said is "all they have left."

In response to Iran's latest peace proposal, Trump recently said he "can't imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity."

Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday that the US military will escort third party ships out of the Strait of Hormuz in what the president called "Project Freedom."

In response, Ali Abdollahi, the head of the Iranian military's unified command, warned that US ships in the Strait of Hormuz will be attacked, according to reporting from Aljazeera.

Trump told Fox News that Iran will be "blown off the face of the earth" if they attack US ships guiding vessels through Strait of Hormuz.

Investors have traded the TACO moniker, which stands for Trump always chickens out for NACHO, meaning not a chance Hormuz opens, as the war in Iran drags on.

Hamidreza Azizi, an expert on Iranian foreign and security policy, explained that Iran is expanding its control over the Strait of Hormuz. This further escalates the conflict and sustains high oil prices, putting pressure on Trump to come to a resolution.

Former JPMorgan quant Marko Kolanovic reacted to news of the UAE strikes on X, saying the US has to respond.

• Finding childcare is a struggle for many Americans due to affordability and a lack of providers.
• A new report found it's harder to access licensed childcare in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, and Kansas.
• One of the authors told Business Insider both supply and demand challenges need to be addressed.

Parenting is a hard job, and for many Americans, there aren't many options to get professional childcare help.

"Nearly half of all young children in the US live in a childcare desert, meaning they live in an area of the country where there is not sufficient licensed childcare," Casey Peeks, the senior director of Early Childhood Policy at the Center for American Progress and one of the authors of a recent report on the geography of childcare, told Business Insider.

Childcare deserts are highly prevalent in Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, and Kansas. A fact sheet about the results cautions that "Differences in state child care licensing and registration requirements directly affect measures of child care access and desert designations," suggesting that comparisons across states are less reliable than within them.

The report said 70% of young children living in remote rural areas are in childcare deserts, an increase from the policy institute's previous report published in 2018.

Peeks said that attracting workers to childcare jobs is a major issue. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed there were an estimated 520,180 childcare workers in the US as of May 2024. The median annual wage for this job was $32,050, below the overall national median of $49,500.

Meanwhile, families are struggling to afford care. Child Care Aware of America said the average price for care was $13,128 in 2024. "It would take 10% of a married couple with children's median income to afford this national average price," the organization said.

Peeks said there needs to be solutions for both the supply and demand sides of the childcare crisis, which would mean making care more affordable, investing in facilities, and boosting childcare workers' compensation.

She said that even in centers that have space to serve more children, they may not be able to because "they can't find enough workers to meet the demand of families that want to be enrolled in those programs."

Peeks pointed to some progress in access to care, including New Mexico becoming the first state to have no-cost universal childcare this past November. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in March the first few communities that will get 2,000 free 2-K seats for the fall.

"I think it's all because people realize that this is so critical for our economy," Peeks said. "It helps parents go to work, it prepares children to enter school ready, and then have more success down the line."

The new analysis focuses on licensed care, but parents may also rely on informal care options, such as a neighbor taking on care duties. "Oftentimes, families kind of have to mix and match," Peeks said. "Maybe they have a childcare program, but it isn't the full hours that a parent needs. So they have to have grandma or a friend pick the child up and watch them until they're home from work."

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• Greg Brockman on Monday confirmed that OpenAI is exploring an IPO.
• He said his personal stake in the ChatGPT makers is worth nearly $30 billion.
• In court on Monday, Musk's lawyer grilled Brockman about his desire to be rich.

Greg Brockman on Monday confirmed that OpenAI is exploring an IPO, as well as his own stake in the ChatGPT maker.

Testifying in an Oakland federal courtroom, Brockman said his stake in OpenAI is worth nearly $30 billion — a value that places him among the 100 wealthiest people in the world. The Forbes billionaire ranking ranks people with that level of wealth in the 80s or 90s.

Brockman also confirmed that OpenAI, whose latest fundraising round valued the artificial intelligence company at $850 million, is exploring an initial public offering.

Brockman is not currently listed on the Forbes ranking. Disclosures about his wealth emerged during trial testimony over claims brought by Elon Musk, who holds the No. 1 spot on the Forbes list, with a $839 billion net worth.

Brockman also testified to a $471 million investment in payments company Stripe, where he used to work, and a stake in Corweave, a cloud computing provider that has a deal with OpenAI.

Musk has accused Brockman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of trying to "steal a charity." According to Musk, Altman and Brockman transformed OpenAI from a nonprofit into a for-profit enterprise to enrich themselves, taking advantage of Musk's early donations to the venture.

While on the witness stand, Brockman also revealed a financial interest in Altman's family office, which Musk's attorneys used to suggest he was financially motivated to side with Altman over Musk.

According to a 2017 email from Musk's associate Jared Birchall, shown to jurors, Altman gave Brockman the stake as compensation for his work at OpenAI. It was worth $10 million at the time, Birchall wrote.

"Naturally, Greg is going to have greater allegiance toward Sam as a result of this arrangement," Birchall wrote in the email disclosing the stake to Musk.

Brockman said it wasn't odd that Musk wasn't directly included in the conversation about his compensation.

"Elon's time was relatively hard to get, so there were a lot of decisions we made that we never fully broadcasted to him," he said.

Court filings from Musk's lawyers have made much of diary entries where Brockman appears to write about circumventing the Tesla CEO to make money.

"Financially what will take me to $1B?" Brockman wrote in one 2017 diary entry.

In another entry, Brockman appeared to acknowledge that converting OpenAI's corporate structure without Musk would be "morally bankrupt."

Brockman on Monday testified that his writings were taken out of context.

"That was an expression of frustration, not a plan," said Brockman when asked about his journal entry that said OpenAI should be "flipped" and generate profit.

Musk's lawyer, Steven Molo, kept up the theme while examining Brockman on the witness stand in an Oakland, California, federal courtroom.

He asked Brockman why he didn't donate $29 billlion to OpenAI's nonprofit after getting to his goal of $1 billion.

He also asked Brockman about an email soliciting donations from then-Yahoo CEO Marissa Meyer. In the email, Brockman appeared to say he would personally donate $100,000 to OpenAI's nonprofit organization.

Brockman, who testified that he spoke of his $100,000 committment to other potential donors, never actually made the donation, he said.

"Did you think it was morally bankrupt to say that you were personally donating 100,000, and then not do that?" Molo asked him.

• AI tools can provide different answers to the same question, Mark Cuban wrote on X.
• That's a shift from more rules-oriented, less creative traditional enterprise software.
• The result, he argued, is that human judgment and domain expertise are becoming more valuable.

Does AI have a consistency problem?

That's the question billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban raised in a post on X Monday. He said he's "coming to the conclusion" that the "biggest challenge" facing both enterprise AI and consumer tools is simple: ask the same question twice, and users won't get the same answer.

"It's still impossible to make sure that everyone gets the same answer to the same question, every time," he wrote. "AI doesn't know the consequences of its output."

Cuban's point highlights the key design difference between AI systems and traditional software.

Most enterprise tools have historically been built on deterministic rules — meaning the same input reliably produces the same output for users.

Generative AI systems operate on probabilistic structures. Popular, current models — like OpenAI's GPT-5.5, Anthropic's Opus 4.7, and Google's Gemini 3.1 — generate responses based on probabilities, selecting from a range of likely answers rather than following a single fixed path.

In practice, that means the same question can produce different responses — making AI systems feel less predictable in a business setting. It can also induce AI hallucinations.

Some users on X pushed back on Cuban's point, arguing that this variability is part of the tradeoff. For more open-ended or creative tasks, they said, multiple answers may be valid — and enforcing strict consistency could limit the usefulness of the tools.

Still, in his original post, Cuban framed AI's variability as a reason human judgment is becoming more important.

"Judgement and the ability to challenge AI output is becoming increasingly necessary, and valuable," he wrote. "Which makes domain knowledge more valuable by the second."

That focus on how people use — and question — AI is something Cuban has frequently emphasized.

For example, speaking Wednesday on the Big Technology Podcast at the Dallas Regional Chamber's Convergence AI event, Cuban described a growing divide in how workers are using the technology.

"I think right now we're bifurcating into two types of ways or two types of people that use AI — people who use AI so they don't have to learn anything and people who use AI so they can learn everything," he said.

Those who treat AI like "your drunk intern," he added, risk falling behind, while those who use it to build skills stand to benefit.

Cuban has also shared practical ways people can engage with the technology. He recently told Business Insider the three starter questions to ask Anthropic's Claude to help kick-start a small business.

• The Treasury has started the process of taking over defaulted student-loan borrowers' accounts.
• It said Education Department employees will be sent to the Treasury to help with the transition.
• The agency did not provide a timeline for when it will officially assume management over the accounts.

The Trump administration is beginning a complicated process of transferring millions of student-loan borrowers to a new agency.

The Treasury Department confirmed in an April letter to Sen. Elizabeth Warren — released on Monday — that it has started preparations to take over the Department of Education's 9 million defaulted student-loan accounts.

The confirmation follows a March announcement that the transfer of student-loan accounts to the Treasury would occur in phases, beginning with defaulted accounts, with the goal of eventually transferring the rest of the federal portfolio to the agency.

Mason Champion, the Treasury's assistant secretary, wrote in the letter that the transfer has so far "achieved two significant milestones," the first being a request for information from stakeholders on procuring agents to help defaulted borrowers with their options to return to good standing.

The second "milestone" was an agreement between the Treasury and Education Departments to send seven Education employees to Treasury, and two Treasury employees to Education, which Champion said will "support the implementation of the partnership, with an initial focus on the transition of operational responsibility for the defaulted portfolio to Treasury."

The letter did not specify a timeline for each phase, including the timing of the official handover of management of the defaulted portfolio to the Treasury. Warren said in a statement that the agreement "is bad for students and families, and I'll do everything I can to fight back," adding that the department has not provided evidence showing that the transfer would improve borrower outcomes.

The Department of Education, in a letter to Warren, wrote alongside the Treasury's letter that "Treasury is well positioned to provide operational support to ED's ongoing work to enhance the management of the federal student assistance programs."

Transferring the student-loan portfolio to the Treasury is part of the administration's broader goal to dismantle the Department of Education. Former officials previously told Business Insider that handing over student loans to the Treasury could amplify confusion for both borrowers and servicers; Arne Duncan, the education secretary under former President Barack Obama, said that the move "makes no sense educationally or from a customer service standpoint."

Additionally, the Department of Education paused involuntary collections on defaulted student loans in January, meaning borrowers have not faced wage garnishment or seizure of federal benefits. While the department has not said when the pause will lift, borrowers will likely need extra assistance preparing for repayment, and moving their accounts to a new agency could jeopardize those efforts.

"Having systems that are spread across multiple agencies really puts the entire system at risk and is going to make it a lot harder, not only to communicate with borrowers, but also to make sure that we are moving toward a more streamlined system," Sarah Sattelmeyer, education project director at the left-leaning think tank New America, said.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as a screen that's too large. The best 100-inch TVs can transform your living room into an immersive home theater for movie nights. They're also perfect for watch parties during major sports events, like the upcoming World Cup. And here's the good news: You no longer need an outrageous budget to go this big. These days, 98- and 100-inch models start at around $1,500. That's still a meaningful investment, but it's a lot more reasonable for everyday shoppers who want a wall-filling TV.

I've spent more than a decade reviewing home entertainment gear, and I used that experience to narrow down the best 100-inch TVs (including 97- and 98-inch models) you can buy right now. For most people, the TCL QM8K is the best option. It undercuts comparable models from brands like Samsung while still delivering excellent brightness and contrast. If you're trying to spend less, I recommend the TCL Q65. It doesn't reach the same performance level as the QM8K, but for under $1,500, it still offers a sharp, vibrant picture.

Below, you'll find my full roundup of the best 100-inch TVs available today. Keep in mind that exact sizes may vary slightly depending on the brand and panel type. You'll often see 97-, 98-, and 100-inch models grouped together, so this guide covers the best options across that entire ultra-large category.

Our top picks for the best 100-inch TVs

Best overall: TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange: TCL QM7K QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best on a budget: TCL Q65 QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best premium Mini LED: TCL X11L SQD 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best OLED: LG G5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall

The TCL QM8K QLED is the best 98-inch TV for people who want excellent image quality without paying an outrageous price. This model has a list price of $4,000, but is usually on sale for right under $3,000. Although that's still a solid investment in a TV, it's much less than similar 100-inch sets from brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG.

The QM8K features a Mini LED backlighting system with local dimming, enabling it to deliver high brightness and impressive contrast control. It also boasts a fast 144Hz refresh rate for PC gamers and smooth Google TV navigation.

When testing the 65-inch model, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of 3,648 nits on a 10% window in the TV's most accurate mode and around 4,999 nits in the TV's brightest settings. This enables HDR videos to pop with bold, vibrant highlights. It also makes it easier to adjust settings to overcome reflections in rooms with a lot of sunlight.

Though the TV's Mini LED backlight can't quite match the precision of an OLED or TCL's more expensive X11L, the QM8K's contrast control is great. Blooming, halos, and light bleed are rare, even when sampling especially tricky scenes. Black levels are excellent as well and appear deeper than on the cheaper QM7K, though not quite as deep as on the X11L. Viewing angles are also solid for a QLED TV. There are still slight shifts in color and contrast when viewing the display from an angle, but not enough to make the image appear washed out.

Compared to similar QLED sets from other companies, the QM8K delivers exceptional value. For instance, the 98-inch QM8K outperforms Samsung's 98-inch QN90F in several areas. But depending on current discounts, the QN90F costs a whopping $5,000 to $12,000 more than the QM8K. Samsung's TVs are known for better build quality, but it's hard to justify such a gigantic price gap when image quality is so similar.

TCL also offers a new 2026 edition of this TV, called the QM8L. The updated model offers similar contrast and brightness but uses TCL's new SQD tech to deliver a wider color range. I tested the QM8L, and it's an impressive TV, but for now, I still give the edge to the QM8K since it's on sale for a lot less. You can learn more in my TCL QM8L TV review.

Read our TCL QM8K 4K TV review.

Visit our guide to the best TCL TVs.

Best midrange

When considering overall performance for the money, the TCL QM7K stands out from other midrange TVs. This 98-inch QLED is an exceptional performer for its class and typically sells for around $2,200.

Like the QM8K, the QM7K features a Mini LED backlight with local dimming. That said, this step-down model can't get as bright as the QM8K, and its contrast is a bit lower. When reviewing the 65-inch model, I measured a peak brightness of around 1,800 nits, and the 98-inch size should be comparable.

This enables the TV to produce solid HDR highlights, though they don't carry quite the same impact as those on the QM8K. It also gives the TV decent headroom to boost luminance, helping to overcome glare in rooms with moderate ambient light. This makes the 98-inch QM7K a great midrange TV for watching sports during the day.

The QM7K also handles dark scenes well, with some notable improvements over the older QM7 model. Though I encountered some uneven contrast in dim sequences on the QM7, the QM7K nearly eliminates this flaw. Black levels are a bit elevated compared to pricier QLED displays, but the TV does an excellent job of minimizing halos and light bleed.

Viewing angles are still limited, but they're wider than I've seen on most QLED TVs in this tier. Contrast and color fade a bit from an off-axis view, but the effect is notably less severe than it was on the older QM7.

The QM7K's smart TV and gaming capabilities are also great, with snappy Google TV navigation and support for up to a 144Hz refresh rate. That latter feature enables smoother motion when playing high-frame-rate games on a PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X. Though I've encountered software glitches on some TCL TVs in the past, the QM7K was free from any major bugs.

Check out our guide to all the best 4K TVs.

Best on a budget

If you're buying a 100- or 98-inch TV, you should be prepared to spend a good amount of money, but sets in this tier have come down in price a lot over the last couple of years. Budget models are now regularly priced between $1,200 and $1,700, and the 98-inch TCL Q65 is the best option.

Like the other TCL displays in this guide, the Q65 uses a QLED panel with great color performance. However, this model doesn't have a Mini LED backlight or local dimming. Without those features, it can't match the contrast, brightness, or black-level capabilities of my pricier picks. As a result, the Q65 appears more washed out and uneven when watching TV in a dark room, and it struggles to overcome glare in a bright room. It's also prone to narrow viewing angles, like most QLEDs in this class.

However, that doesn't mean the Q65 has poor image quality. It's just that this is closer to an entry-level TV than a midrange or high-end set. The Q65 is a great budget option for anyone who prioritizes a larger screen over paying the same price for a smaller TV with better picture quality.

The 98-inch Q65 actually has a higher refresh rate than its 50-, 55-, 65-, and 75-inch counterparts, making it a solid choice for gaming as well. This model supports refresh rates of up to 144Hz, VRR, and ALLM. The Q65's built-in Google TV operating system is also reliable, and it comes with a Google Assistant voice remote.

Best premium Mini LED

The TCL X11L is the most impressive Mini LED TV I've tested. This is TCL's premium model for 2026, and it's the first to use the brand's new SQD (Super Quantum Dot) tech, which uses larger quantum dots and an improved color filter. Now that might sound like marketing fluff, but the X11L's performance really is a clear step above standard QLEDs like the QM7K and QM8K. Of course, it's also notably more expensive.

Though I measured the 85-inch version for my review, the 98-inch model carries over the same specifications, so its performance should be comparable, just with a larger screen. Brightness is one of the X11L's biggest selling points. In my tests, it delivered around 2,600 nits in default Filmmaker Mode using a standard 10% HDR pattern, and with some settings adjusted, I measured a stable 4,000 nits, with brief bursts up to 6,000 nits. The highest reading I got was an insane 9,300 nits, but the TV only sustained that for quick flashes.

In practice, those high numbers translate into spectacular HDR highlights with an impact that's a step above other QLED TVs. The X11L can also cover a wider range of colors, giving movies and shows a rich, expansive look that helps this set stand out as a true home theater centerpiece.

In addition, the X11L's local dimming is the best I've seen on a Mini LED TV, besting TCL's cheaper QM8K and QM7K models. Black levels disappear convincingly in a dark room, and blooming around bright objects is basically nonexistent. Though I'm a stickler for backlight imperfections, I had to really strain to see any flaws on this set. That said, the X11L is still not quite OLED-level in terms of absolute pixel precision. And viewing angles, while wide for a QLED, still fall short of what an OLED can deliver.

Beyond picture quality, the TV is packed with premium features, including four HDMI 2.1 ports (up from two on the QM7K and QM8K), support for up to 4K at 144Hz, and a smooth Google TV interface with Gemini AI. The X11L's design is also a step above other TCL models, with a premium bronze-tinged finish and a slimmer profile. Like the QM8K, it uses TCL's ZeroBorder panel, which minimizes the screen's frame.

Ultimately, the main drawback here is cost. At a launch price of around $9,998, this is an expensive flagship set. Most buyers are better off stepping down to TCL's cheaper QM8K, but for enthusiasts who want a massive ultra-bright Mini LED TV, the X11L is in a class of its own.

Read our full TCL X11L TV review.

Best OLED

OLED TVs larger than 83 inches are rare. This is because OLED panels are challenging to produce in extra-large sizes, which makes them very expensive. This brings us to LG's 97-inch G5 OLED TV. Though this set is one of the most impressive-looking displays available at this size, it has a head-spinning list price of $25,000. While recent discounts have brought it down to $15,000, that's still more than any other TV on this list.

But if money is no object, the 97-inch G5 is a home theater dream come true. Unlike my other picks, which use QLED panels that require a backlight, the G5's OLED screen offers an infinite contrast ratio and perfect black levels that disappear in a dark room. High contrast is one of the most critical elements of premium picture quality, and contrast doesn't get any better than this.

Viewing angles are also exceptional, with minimal color or contrast loss when sitting to the side of the screen or at close range. However, it's important to note that the 97-inch version of this TV does not use the new four-stack panel design that its smaller counterparts use. This means the 97-inch G5 can't match the brightness and color performance of the 83-, 77-, 65-, and 55-inch sizes. Its peak brightness is also lower than that of premium QLED models, such as the TCL QM8K and X11L.

However, the 97-inch G5 still provides sufficient brightness for most use cases. Likewise, it offers better HDR performance than any competing QLED thanks to the pixel-level dimming capabilities of its OLED screen. The G5 also features high-end styling, with a thin profile that mounts flush against your wall. But it's key to remember that the G5 only comes with a mount, not a stand.

LG's webOS smart TV platform rounds out the package, providing access to the major apps most users need. The latest software adds cool AI-powered features and enhancements. Most notably, the G5 has a voice recognition system that automatically switches profiles and swaps curated recommendations when it recognizes who is speaking.

The G5 also supports a 120Hz refresh rate when paired with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or Nintendo Switch 2, but it falls short of the 165Hz capabilities supported by smaller sizes. This limitation is only noteworthy if you're a PC gamer with a powerful enough rig to play games at high frame rates.

Most people are much better off saving money by going with one of the cheaper 100-inch QLED models I recommend or by stepping down to an 83-inch G5, which costs a lot less and gets brighter. But for big home theater enthusiasts with equally big wallets, the 97-inch G5 is unmatched at this size.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review.

Visit our guides to the best OLED TVs and best LG TVs.

What else we considered

Though the models above represent our top picks for the best 100-inch TVs, there are other options worth considering for specific needs and budgets. Here's a rundown of some other quality 100-inch displays with details on why they didn't quite make the cut for this guide.

Hisense 100-inch U8QG QLED TV - See at Amazon
Hisense's U8QG is a contender for a top spot in this guide. We reviewed the 65-inch model and were impressed by its incredible brightness. However, the 100-inch model uses a different panel type, which could lead to poorer brightness and color. As it stands, we give the TCL QM8K an edge, but this model is a solid alternative if you can find it for a lower price.

Read our full Hisense U8QG TV review.

Samsung 100-inch QN80F QLED TV - See at Amazon
The QN80F is one of Samsung's upper-midrange QLED TVs, available in a 100-inch screen size. Like the TCL QM7K and QM8K, this display utilizes a Mini LED backlight with local dimming to achieve excellent contrast and solid brightness. However, the QN80F costs substantially more than the QM7K, and it can't get quite as bright. This is a good buy if you're willing to pay extra because you favor Samsung as a brand, but otherwise, we give an edge to more affordable models with similar specs.

TCL 98-inch QM6K QLED TV - See at Amazon
This is TCL's top entry-level Mini LED TV, delivering good image quality for the price with solid contrast and decent brightness. It sits between the QM7K and Q65 in both performance and cost. If you're looking for a 98-inch TV that offers better picture quality than the Q65 but want to stay under $2,200, this model is a great middle-ground choice. And if the price drops consistently over the coming months, the QM6K could easily become our new top budget recommendation.

Read our full TCL QM6K TV review.

How we select 100-inch TVs

To choose the best 100-inch TVs, our team relied on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by years of experience in TV reviews. When we test TVs, we typically evaluate 65-inch models, as many brands consider this their premier size. However, most TV models sold in multiple screen sizes carry over the same core specifications in sizes 55 inches and up.

With that in mind, general performance results for a 65-inch TV will also apply to its 100-inch counterpart. Some larger TVs do have more pronounced differences compared to their smaller versions, but we've detailed those differences when applicable.

To evaluate a TV's image quality, we rely on day-to-day viewing, demo material, test patterns, and a brightness meter. We use specific clips from various movies and shows to review different picture-quality attributes, such as contrast, black levels, HDR highlights, clarity, and color. We also sample material across different quality levels, from standard definition to 4K, in both standard dynamic range (SDR) and HDR. Gaming consoles are also used, including a PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

We try to use each TV we test as we would in our daily routine, by watching streaming content, cable channels, and Blu-ray discs in both bright and dark environments. We also test smart TV features, such as navigation speed and digital assistant functions, to ensure they function properly.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've been covering home entertainment products for over a decade, and I use that extensive experience to recommend TVs for all kinds of users. I also studied film production, so I know how crucial accurate color, contrast, and motion are, especially on massive 98- and 100-inch screens where every detail is magnified. My aim is to cut through the marketing hype and help you find extra-large TVs that deliver cinematic performance at every budget.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

100-inch TV FAQs

How much should you spend on a 100-inch TV?

The best 100-inch TVs still aren't exactly cheap, but the good news is that 100- and 98-inch QLED models have dropped significantly in price since they first hit the market. That's especially true if you're looking at brands like Hisense and TCL, which have really pushed giant screens into the mainstream.

During sales, you can snag entry-level 100-inch TVs from TCL and Hisense for around $1,200, while midrange picks usually land between $2,000 and $2,800. If you want something more premium, high-end models tend to fall in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. Sony, Samsung, and LG also have a handful of 98- and 100-inch QLED options, but they cost significantly more and don't offer a significant leap in picture quality.

OLED, on the other hand, is a different story. Prices for extra-large OLED TVs haven't seen the same drop. Anything above 83 inches is still firmly in luxury territory, and if you truly want to go big, 97-inch OLED models will run you somewhere in the $15,000 to $25,000 range. You can learn more about the benefits of an OLED in our QLED vs. OLED comparison.

Why are some TVs sold in 97 or 98 inches instead of 100 inches?

Whether a TV model is sold in 97, 98, or 100 inches usually comes down to the brand and type of panel it uses. Some display types are easier to manufacture in slightly different sizes, and certain sizes fit better within a company's existing production lines. That's why brands tend to choose between 97-, 98-, or 100-inch TV sizes, and why they're often grouped when we talk about the best 100-inch TVs.

Should you buy a 2026 or 2025 100-inch TV?

New 98- and 100-inch TV models were revealed at the CES tech show in January, and several options are now available from multiple brands. Most notably, there's the 98-inch TCL X11L, which is our premium Mini LED pick. Samsung is also launching a 98-inch version of its Frame TV later this year.

However, it's important to remember that 2025 TV models will remain in stock for most of the year. Since older models are often available at significant discounts, we'll continue to recommend certain 2025 100-inch TVs as long as they remain the best value.

What are the ideal room size and viewing distance for a 100-inch TV?

The best 100-inch TVs can deliver an impressive cinematic experience, but only if your space can handle a screen that big. As a general rule, 100-inch TVs are best suited for a large living room, basement theater, or dedicated media room, where you can sit between eight and 14 feet from the screen. This distance helps your eyes take in the entire image without needing to move your head too much, while still allowing you to appreciate the detail of 4K resolution.

You'll also need to ensure you have enough wall space in your room to comfortably center the screen. If you have speakers, you'll also want to keep a few feet of clearance on each side.

If your room is too small to accommodate our recommended viewing distance, consider stepping down to a 75- or 85-inch TV for a better balance between immersion and comfort.

Can I mount a 100-inch TV on the wall?

Yes, but make sure your wall and mount can handle it. These TVs often weigh over 100 pounds, so you'll need a heavy-duty mount rated for the right size and weight. It's also best to opt for professional installation with a screen this large to ensure it's secured safely.

Should you buy a 100-inch TV or a projector?

If you're shopping for the best 100-inch TV, there's a good chance you're also debating whether a projector might be the better fit for your big-screen setup. Projectors definitely have some perks, but they also come with a few important trade-offs.

On the plus side, projectors can go far beyond the size of even the largest TVs. Many models can throw images up to 300 inches, and depending on your space, installing a lightweight projector screen might be a lot easier than figuring out where to mount a massive 100-inch TV. You can also snag plenty of solid budget projectors for under $1,000, while entry-level 100-inch TVs typically start around $1,300 when they're discounted.

That said, there are key compromises worth noting. Most affordable projectors still top out at Full HD (1080p), and even many models advertised as 4K actually use pixel shifting to approximate a higher resolution rather than delivering true native 4K. Placement can also get tricky: long-throw projectors need a good amount of distance to achieve larger screen sizes, while short-throw models solve that problem but usually cost more.

Brightness is another big sticking point. Many entry- and mid-tier projectors simply can't compete with TVs in terms of luminance, especially when watching during the day or in a room with lots of ambient light. In most cases, the contrast performance and HDR capabilities of a typical consumer projector are also noticeably inferior to those of a midrange TV, resulting in images that appear flatter and have grayer black levels. And for gamers, it's worth remembering that 4K/120Hz support is still uncommon in projectors.

High-end projectors — particularly from brands like Sony and JVC — can deliver fantastic picture quality, but when you compare them dollar for dollar, the best 100-inch TVs still offer superior overall performance at a similar price.

Are TVs available in sizes larger than 100 inches?

Yes, some brands sell TVs that are even bigger than 100 inches. Here are a few notable options:

• Hisense 116-inch UX TriChroma LED 4K TV
• Hisense 110-inch UX QLED 4K TV
• Hisense 136-inch MX MicroLED TV
• TCL 115-inch QM7K QLED 4K TV
• TCL 115-inch QM89 QLED 4K TV
• Samsung 115-inch QN90F QLED 4K TV
• Samsung 115-inch R95 Micro RGB 4K TV

For buyers who want something smaller than 100 inches, be sure to check out our other TV guides:

• Best TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs
• Best gaming TVs
• Best frame TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best Hisense TVs
• Best smart TVs
• Best TVs for sports

• There have been 18 live-action TV shows and movies in the "Star Wars" universe.
• They have ranged in quality, from almost unwatchable to masterpieces.
• Later this month, the first "Star Wars" film in seven years hits theaters.

Happy May the Fourth! We've been watching stories set in a galaxy far, far away for almost 50 years.

Since the first "Star Wars" film was released in 1977, there have been 10 more movies and seven TV series (not including the animated ones) in this universe. It's generated billions of dollars in revenue, not just at the box office or on Disney+, but with theme parks, toys, comics, video games, and more.

Of course, not everything can be as great as the original "Star Wars" (now titled "A New Hope"), but a fair few have risen to classic status. Others are probably best forgotten.

Using critics' scores on Rotten Tomatoes, we've ranked all 18 live-action "Star Wars" properties from worst to best. Here's how each stacks up, from "A New Hope" to "Andor."

18. "The Rise of Skywalker" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Critics and fans agree that the most recent (for now) "Star Wars" film is also the worst in the decadeslong franchise. In attempting to wrap up a story that's been going since the '70s and please fans who hated the previous installment (more on that one later), the powers that be had an unenviable task.

Unfortunately, they did not prove to be up to the challenge. "Rise of Skywalker," in the seven years since its release, has become shorthand for a disappointing finale — just look at the first responses to the latest "Mission: Impossible" movie.

If you don't remember, "The Rise of Skywalker" made the questionable decision to make Rey the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, dragging this new trilogy back to an enemy fans thought they'd finally left in the past. It also killed off Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, failed to kill off Chewbacca in an insulting fake-out, and added a bunch of new, useless characters instead of focusing on existing ones that audiences had grown fond of over the last two films.

"J.J. Abrams's mechanical, nonsensical 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' contains so many resurrections it's a wonder Disney and Lucasfilm didn't push back the release date from Christmas to Easter," wrote Michael Sragow for Film Comment Magazine.

17. "The Phantom Menace" (1999)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 54%

"The Phantom Menace" came to theaters in 1999, 16 years after we had last spent time in a galaxy far, far away. Needless to say, expectations were extremely high.

This movie, which certainly has its defenders, is, to put it plainly, boring. Even if its plot about a trade war has new significance today, that doesn't mean we wanted a "Star Wars" movie to focus on the economy of the galaxy.

It was also an unfortunate choice to introduce Anakin Skywalker, the future Darth Vader, as a 10-year-old child, especially when his future wife, Padmé, was played by 18-year-old Natalie Portman.

"Sure, there's a great NASCAR-like pod race and a cool, horn-studded professional wrestler type... But the only person who gets body-slammed here is the viewer looking for a trace of the magic that carried us away in the original trilogy," wrote Rick Holter for the Dallas Morning News.

16. "Attack of the Clones" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%

Ruled a slight improvement upon its predecessor, "Attack of the Clones" continues the story of Anakin Skywalker, now played by a 21-year-old Hayden Christensen. It follows him as he falls in love with Padmé (a big no-no for a Jedi), while the rest of the Jedi try to uncover a conspiracy regarding a secret army and the return of their ancient enemies, the Sith.

"'Attack of the Clones' wasn't as outrightly horrid as 'Phantom Menace,' but it offended in a different way: it was boring," wrote Collider's Allison Keene.

15. "The Book of Boba Fett" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 66%

Boba Fett, as a character, was one of the coolest and most mysterious people in the Star Wars universe. He was introduced as a faceless assassin with a sick jetpack in "The Empire Strikes Back," and he captivated fans for decades after.

It's a tough ask to create a story worthy of someone that cool — and "Book of Boba Fett" proved that we probably should know less about Boba, not more.

It follows the assassin after his escape from the Sarlacc Pit in "Return of the Jedi," when he became part of the Tusken Raiders, through to his takeover of Tatooine's underworld. If none of that meant anything to you, it's best you skip this one.

The most damning thing about "Boba Fett" though, is that the best episode of the season was the one that was more like a bridge between the second and third seasons of "The Mandalorian."

"'The Book of Boba Fett' was a series of compounding mistakes. Its best feature was to deliver a 'Mandalorian' sequel that could have been a self-contained film," wrote Craig Mathieson for The Age.

14. "Solo" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 69%

It was never going to be easy to fill the gargantuan shoes of Harrison Ford as Han Solo, who is perhaps the coolest and most beloved character in movie history? (There's a case to be made.)

So, we can't really lay the blame on Alden Ehrenreich for the failure of this movie, an origin story for pre-"A New Hope" Han. It was just never going to work. There's also the nonsensical plot, unimportant fan service — did we really need to know how Han got his dice or his last name? — and a lackluster villain.

"'Solo' is at its best when it's uncoupled from all that heavy lifting, just crammed in a cockpit with its likeable cast and shooting for the stars," wrote Time Out's Philip de Semlyen.

12 (tie). "The Acolyte" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

There's a lot to love about "The Acolyte," chief among them Manny Jacinto's performance as The Stranger, one of the creepiest villains a "Star Wars" property has ever given us.

This show, which took place in a heretofore unexplored era of the "Star Wars" universe (roughly 100 years before "The Phantom Menace"), also had an interesting question at its center: Are the Jedi actually good?

Alas, we'll never know what happens to twins Osha and Mae, and the Stranger, because Disney canceled the show after one season.

"Set hundreds of years before the events of the Star Wars saga we know best, this show gets to tell its own story — making it better than most of the series Disney+ has pumped out," wrote Dylan Roth for Observer.

12 (tie). "Revenge of the Sith" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

Don't underestimate the power of the prequels, even if, on average, they have the lowest scores of the three film trilogies. When "Revenge of the Sith" returned to theaters for a weeklong stint to celebrate its 20th anniversary last year, it was the No. 2 movie at the box office, only behind "Sinners."

"Revenge of the Sith" is easily the best prequel film. It has the very real stakes of Anakin slowly descending into evil and becoming the most iconic movie villain of all time, Darth Vader. It also depicts the Jedi finally realizing that they've been blind to the hatred and fascism festering right under their noses, and Obi-Wan's decision to dedicate his life to protecting his best friend-turned-enemy's son, Luke.

It puts all the pieces into place for anyone who chooses to watch the "Star Wars" films in chronological order without missing a beat.

"The saddest and sincerest of all the 'Star Wars' epics, the mad work of a man desperately trying to understand his own creation," wrote Vulture's Bilge Ebiri.

11. "Obi-Wan Kenobi" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

For many years, fans theorized about what, exactly, Obi-Wan was doing in the Tatooine desert during the 20 or so years between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope."

This miniseries answered that question, for at least a few weeks. It turns out Obi-Wan met a young Princess Leia, saved her from the Empire, battled with Darth Vader multiple times, and reconnected with the Force. It was a productive time!

The high point of this series was Obi-Wan and Vader's final fight, where Obi-Wan heartbreakingly glimpsed Anakin for a few moments, underneath all the hatred, before giving up on his old friend.

"The latest 'Star Wars' spin-off from Disney+ sees the Scot [Ewan McGregor] put in his best performance as the legendary Jedi in a John Wick-esque caper with marvelous action sequences," wrote Stuart Heritage for The Guardian.

10. "Return of the Jedi" (1983)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

It's hard to end a series in a satisfying way, and back in 1983, George Lucas and Co. didn't know for sure that another six movies would be released. This could've been the last people saw of Luke, Han, Leia, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO.

Even though, of course, we know it wasn't, "Return of the Jedi" does a pretty good job of tying up loose ends. Luke fulfills his destiny to bring balance to the Force, Han and Leia declare their love, Anakin finds the light once again, and Ewoks are there. What else could you want?

"One may carp, gripe, quibble with 'Jedi,' but Lucasfilm's special effects subsidiary, Industrial Light and Magic, is in a class by itself as creator of screen magic. And when it is good, 'Jedi' is peerless escapist fantasy," wrote Joseph Gelmis for Newsday.

9. "Rogue One" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

George Lucas has repeatedly reiterated that "Star Wars" is meant for kids. Rogue One, a prequel story that goes right up to the seconds before "A New Hope" starts, puts that statement to the test.

It's easily the darkest and most morally gray film in the "Star Wars" canon and shows Darth Vader at his most terrifying, finally pushing beyond what was technologically possible during the original trilogy.

Based on a throwaway line in the opening crawl of "A New Hope," "Rogue One" proved that a "Star Wars" movie about something other than Luke Skywalker and the Force could be successful.

Chris Klimek of NPR called the film a "tense, well-made spacefaring war movie about a desperate and demoralized band of insurgents standing up against a rising authoritarian regime."

8. "Ahsoka" (2023-present)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

It's time to discuss the animated properties in the "Star Wars" universe. If you skipped out on "The Clone Wars" or "Rebels," you most likely don't even know who Ahsoka is.

A quick crash course: Between the events of "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," the Clone Wars ravage the galaxy, and Anakin is promoted from padawan (or apprentice) to Jedi master. In turn, he takes a padawan himself: Ahsoka. Don't worry about why she's never mentioned in the movies; it's (somewhat) convincingly retconned in "Clone Wars."

She's one of the most beloved characters in the animated "Star Wars" canon, and her live-action debut was highly anticipated.

So, when it was announced that Rosario Dawson would play Ahsoka first in "The Mandalorian," and then in her own series, people were hyped.

And, for the most part, the series lived up to expectations. The one issue is that this show barely makes any sense if you don't have, at the very least, basic knowledge of the characters from "Rebels," including Sabine, Hera, Ezra, and Thrawn.

Season two is set to be released later in 2026.

"No lightsabers can match the fierce glow of Rosario Dawson as the ex-Jedi with the funky headgear who leads her sisterhood — glory to Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Natasha Liu Bordizzo — against the Empire's fading patriarchy. Now that's worth celebrating," wrote Peter Travers of ABC News.

7. "The Mandalorian" (2019-present)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Two words: Baby Yoda.

The first-ever "Star Wars" live-action TV show started on a high note, thanks to the cutest puppet of all time (who would later be named Grogu, but started out as simply "Baby Yoda").

Besides this unbelievably adorable baby, "The Mandalorian" has another thing going for it: Pedro Pascal's vocal performance as Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter just trying to find his way in the universe. When he meets (and then refuses to kill) Grogu in the first episode, it starts him on a quest that's still going — get ready for "The Mandalorian & Grogu" coming to theaters in a couple of weeks.

As "The Mandalorian" has progressed, it's become a bit bogged down in connecting to the larger "Star Wars" canon, but we'll always have that perfect first season.

"For all its sci-fi stiltedness, 'The Mandalorian' founded a compelling myth, a world of paranoia, ethical dilemmas and, aah, tiny space kitten things. Just don't take it too seriously," wrote The Times' Victoria Segal.

6. "The Last Jedi" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

"The Last Jedi" is the most divisive "Star Wars" movie of the bunch. Those who love it, love it, and those who don't? Well, just look at the 41% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

We're of the opinion that it rocks. It has breathtaking cinematography, intense fights, and a genuinely beautiful message: That anyone, even if their last name isn't Skywalker, can stand up to evil in the universe, whether they're a small boy with a broom, a former Stormtrooper, or a young woman from a junk planet in the middle of nowhere. It doesn't matter where you came from, just where you intend to go.

"[Director Rian] Johnson is easily the most skilled filmmaker to helm one of these (it's not even close) and it's not just that the film has a surface beauty of its own. He's aware of what we expect narratively from a 'Star Wars' movie, and delights in subverting it," wrote Jason Bailey for Flavorwire.

5. "Skeleton Crew" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

"Skeleton Crew" is best described as "The Goonies" in space. It follows a group of ragtag kids who accidentally get trapped on an old spaceship and get lost in space. They must work together, along with a new friend Jod (played by the always-charming Jude Law), to get home to their planet, which is more important and mysterious than these kids ever could have guessed.

It's fun — something that "Star Wars" has been sorely lacking recently — and definitely worth the watch.

"For anyone who says the House That [George] Lucas Built is out of ideas and has been picked clean, 'Skeleton Crew' proves there's still meat left on those bones," wrote The San Francisco Chronicle's Zaki Hasan.

3 (tie). "The Empire Strikes Back" (1980)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

"The Empire Strikes Back" has one of the most iconic plot twists in movie history. Do the words "No, I am your father" mean anything to you?

It's also widely considered one of the best sequels of all time, and has been used as a shorthand to describe any sequel that some could call better than the original, and it's certainly darker than its predecessor.

"The Empire Strikes Back," for all its fun (and there is fun!), ends on a huge downer. Han has been captured and frozen in carbonite in front of the woman he loves and has been betrayed by an old friend; Luke has found out his nemesis is actually his dad; and the Empire is stronger than ever. Woof.

"The appeal of visiting Oz is that it is a magical place over the rainbow. The appeal of 'Star Wars' and, now, 'The Empire Strikes Back' is that it also takes us to a magical place — the childhood of our mind," wrote Gene Siskel for the Chicago Tribune.

3 (tie). "The Force Awakens" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

It had been 32 years since Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher had graced our screens as Luke, Han, and Leia (and for Hamill, at least, it'd be another couple of years until we saw him again).

Audiences had three decades to become attached to these original characters, but when "The Force Awakens" introduces us to Finn (John Boyega), a disillusioned stormtrooper, Poe (Oscar Isaac), a brash Resistance pilot, Rey (Daisy Ridley), a junk trader desperate for something more, and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), our new terrifying villain, audiences knew they were in good hands.

And then, after all that, we got to see (almost) all of our old friends together again, too.

"As a nostalgia trip that knows exactly what die-hard 'Star Wars' fans want and then layers in some memorable new characters, 'The Force Awakens' is exactly what it needs to be: an old-school Saturday afternoon sci-fi matinee writ big," wrote The Austin Chronicle's Marc Savlov.

2. "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

Originally titled "Star Wars," this is the film that started it all.

There's a reason we're still watching "Star Wars" movies and shows five decades later. The world that George Lucas introduced us to in "Star Wars" is filled with lovable characters, a villain that continues to scare audiences, a magical Force that connects all living things, and a brand-new alien to catch your attention whichever way you look. In many ways, it's the closest thing we have to American mythology.

It also affected Hollywood forever. The special effects company created for this film, Industrial Light and Magic, completely changed the game for special effects and is still working today. It's the fourth-highest-grossing film ever, adjusted for inflation. It was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including best picture, and won six, including a special achievement award for its sound designer, Ben Burtt.

Critics knew it then; fans still know it now. To put it simply: "A New Hope" is great.

"George Lucas' 'Star Wars' is not a film that readily lends itself to comparisons, so it may as well begin with the superlatives. This captivating science fantasy is the finest pure entertainment to reach the screen in ages," wrote Desmond Ryan for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

1. "Andor" (2022-2025)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

"Andor," according to critics, is the best live-action "Star Wars" property, and it's hard to argue with them.

The series, which ran for two seasons, follows the beginning seeds of the Rebellion, which, by the time we see it in "A New Hope," is a high-functioning operation. Of course, it didn't start out that way.

Even though we know how this story ends, with Cassian Andor and many of his friends sacrificing their lives in "Rogue One" and beyond, the stakes are high, and the series can be unbearably tense.

Another high point: the writing. Many have clowned on George Lucas' stilted dialogue in the prequels. There's none of that to be found in creator Tony Gilroy's prose, which has provided some of the most beautiful lines in "Star Wars" history. It is sorely missed.

"The show deserves to be seen as great TV, in the same league as shows like 'The Wire' and 'The Sopranos,'" wrote David Klion for The New Republic.

• Capital needs of AI and infrastructure are so great that Wall Street giants are fighting less.
• James Zelter, Apollo's president, said it isn't as "brutal" to compete for deals.
• PE giants, including Blackstone, came together to form a joint venture with AI darling Anthropic on Monday.

Everyone plays nicer on the conference stage than in the boardroom, but it was a remarkably chummy start to the Milken conference in Los Angeles on Monday.

The reason, according to those onstage, is that elbows don't have to be nearly as sharp when the investment needed to see the AI boom through is so massive.

The funding of artificial intelligence and the broader infrastructure to support the technology, including data centers, energy grid improvements, and more, has become the story of capital markets since OpenAI's public release of its chatbot in late 2022.

Now, as James Zelter, the president of Apollo, said, "We all do a tremendous amount of work with each other," talking about both his fellow panelists, including Blackstone's Jon Gray, as well as the audience full of private-market investors.

Compared to the financial crisis, when "we were all very brutal competitors," Zelter said the current "big ocean" of opportunities is ripe for partnerships, and capital is in high demand.

Investment-grade debt markets have been flooded with new issuances, he said, proving strong companies need capital. Monday morning kicked off with the announcement of a $1.5 billion joint venture between Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Anthropic, along with other investors, including Goldman Sachs.

Any pessimism around private credit, how AI could disrupt the workforce, or the US economy in light of the Iran conflict was nowhere to be found on the panel, which also included Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson, BNY CEO Robin Vince, and Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, the deputy CEO of the $375 billion Emirati sovereign wealth fund, Mudabala.

"We're still probably the best dirty shirt in the laundry," Johnson said about investing in the US. Mudabala has 44% of its portfolio in the country, and Gray believes there'll be an explosion of blue-collar job growth in the coming years.

"You have to be quite negative if you don't think it'll be a tailwind," Vince said about the amount of capital pledged and raised by companies to invest in their businesses.

And for investment managers, the current pressure from retail investors, institutions, and insurers alike is inconsequential if they can eventually generate returns.

"If we deliver that premium, it's a good trade," Gray said.

"This still has a long way to go."

• Princess Diana made her only Met Gala appearance in 1996, shortly after divorcing then-Prince Charles.
• She wore a lingerie-inspired silk dress designed by John Galliano.
• Galliano said Princess Diana tore the corset out of the dress without telling him.

The first Monday in May is the perfect time to look back at Met Gala history.

Before stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna stole the spotlight on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it was Princess Diana making a splash on fashion's biggest night.

The only Met Gala that the people's princess attended was in 1996, for a show that paid tribute to Christian Dior.

Fresh off her highly-publicized divorce from then-Prince Charles, Diana collaborated with John Galliano — who had just become Dior's head designer — for her Met Gala debut.

Diana's navy-blue, lingerie-inspired slip dress featured black lace spaghetti straps that matched the trim of the sweetheart neckline.

She accessorized the slinky ensemble with a matching robe, as well as a sapphire choker necklace and earrings that matched her iconic engagement ring.

In the 2024 Hulu docuseries "In Vogue: The 90s," Galliano revealed that he tried to convince Diana to wear pink to the Met Gala.

"We went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings. I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. 'No, not the pink!' That was real, real fun," he recalled.

Galliano's dress originally had a corset, but he said Diana removed it without letting him know before she arrived at the Met Gala.

"Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car," Galliano said. "I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out."

"She felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous," he added.

Eloise Moran, author of "The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying To Tell Us Through Her Clothes," told Yahoo during a 2021 interview that Diana's Met Gala ensemble was a "revenge" look following her divorce from Charles.

"That was one of her most shocking dresses," Moran said. "But I thought she looked fabulous. She just looks so happy and confident."

"I think she was embracing it and enjoying it," the author added. "She knew she could never get rid of the attention and the spotlight on her, but I think she was positioning it in a different way, as a kind of international megastar, Marilyn Monroe-type icon rather than a member of the royal family. And I think the dress really reflected that."

Diana did have some reservations about the dress.

Royal biographer Katie Nicholl, who wrote "William and Harry," revealed that the princess was worried it might embarrass her eldest son, Prince William, who was 14 years old at the time.

Now the dress is part of fashion history, even going on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

And, without a doubt, it's one of the best Met Gala looks of all time.

Shoes make or break the outfit. Unfortunately, style and comfort usually sit on opposite ends of the shoe spectrum. But with careful consideration — and a more than a few blisters later — our style editors have claimed a dozen pairs of women's dress shoes worthy for special events that require lots of time on your feet.

From the best ballet flats and loafers to high heels and wedding shoes, we walked, commuted, danced, and stood for hours to find which pairs can support your arches (and your outfit). Whether you're looking for the best dress shoes under $100 or an investment pair to splurge on, here's all the fancy footwear that'll let you look and feel your best.

How we tested women's dress shoes

To find the best women's dress shoes, we've cumulatively tested over 100 pairs of heels, loafers, flats, and other formal styles. We wore each pair in real-life settings: commuting, working in the office, attending formal events, and walking long distances. We paid close attention to whether the shoes were genuinely comfortable for all-day wear, required any break-in period, and how they performed when it came to support and stability. We also evaluated details like weight and flexibility, because a pair that feels heavy or clunky on your feet will eventually end up in the back of your closet.

We also considered price and value by measuring their cost-per-wear. Some of our favorites are luxury-level investments, but we made sure to test for affordable dress shoes under $100 you'll get plenty of use from. Then, we looked at each pair's construction, (like their stitching and welting), inclusive sizing (such as narrow or extra wide options), and overall versatility. As a result, we've curated a list of cute, comfortable shoes you can put on regardless of what the dress code calls for.

Best ballet flat: Margaux Demi

Size range: 3.5-14, including half sizes, in narrow, medium, and wide widths

Though aesthetically simple, flats are actually a complicated design to nail, especially in terms of comfort. With "a rounded toe, functional bow that tightens for a custom fit, and soft leather that molds to your feet," Margaux's Demi ballet flat is the rare, perfectly snug case that doesn't gap or use uncomfy elastics to stay put, writes executive editor Sally Kaplan. "It's perfect in every way, save for the slight blister it gave me on my heel the first day I broke them in (and no days after that). There's just enough cushioning for me to feel supported when commuting, but not so much that the shoe loses its unstructured, simple aesthetic."

Handmade in Spain, the Italian nappa leather flats come in 24 half sizes and three widths, though we found they run a touch small and slightly narrow. They're among the best flats we've tested, available in 16 colors and patterns, including two woven styles. "They're also just adorable," adds former beauty editor Maiya Pascouche. "I love how they look with my more tailored looks and casual, everyday outfits."

Honorable mention: FitFlop Delicato

FitFlop's disclaimer says these run slim, but we found these smooth, unstructured leather flats to actually fit quite loose above the toes. Thanks to a 'Dynamicush' footbed made from squishy foam, a roomy squared-off toe box, and a flexible collar that prevents any uncomfortable friction, they've become our favorite ballet flats for wide feet.

Best kitten heel: Frankie4 Coco

Size range: 6-13, including some half sizes

Our two style editors, Samantha Crozier and Gabrielle Chase, have both sung their praises about this one pair of kitten heel slingbacks from Frankie4. The Australian footwear brand has impressed us across the board with its podiatrist-designed shoes that, first and foremost, look classically stylish.

"I wish more shoes had the silky soft lining in the toe area the way these do," writes Gabrielle. "It's genuinely a relief to slip into leather heels and not be met with a scratchy, stuffy toe box. I also love that the heel strap is adjustable, so even if you have narrow heels you won't feel like you're about to step out of them."

"When I've tested uncomfortable pointed-toe slingbacks, the common theme is that they squish my toes together at the point," adds Samantha. "This gets even worse when you walk for a distance, because the forward motion pushes the front of your foot deeper into the narrow toe. And don't even get me started on the damage this does to pedicures."

"But the Coco Slingbacks don't give me that issue. They work because the toe box is wider, and the insole's structure cradles your foot so it stays in place. The shoes even come with gel forefoot cushions to help with this support, but I have never even needed them. Plus, they even have a strap across the toe, which I previously thought was just a design choice — but the strap is adjustable and also helps stabilize your foot."

A wide foot option: Another pair of comfy kitten heels we loved wearing are Vivaia's Addison Slingbacks. Their straps won't cut into your skin because they're made with a stretchy knit material, and the contoured footbeds help take pressure off your metatarsals.

Best slingback: Rothy's The Almond Slingback

Size range: 5-13, including half sizes

Rothy's Almond Slingbacks are a perfect back-up shoe if you're traveling and need something semi-formal and low maintenance. They're super lightweight and take up almost no space in my luggage, and the mesh knit toe cap doesn't scuff even if you wear them around.

I brought them with me on a trip to Rhode Island and got a lot of use from them — first to an upscale seafood dinner worn with a maxi dress, and then the next day when I wore them with shorts and a T-shirt to bop around a coastal village.

They're very flat and lack any real supportive features, so I don't recommend them for 20,000-step days. However, the back strap is very comfortable and the silicone pad kept them in place on my heels as I walked around the harbor. I wear a size 8 standard width and these had an easy, true-to-size fit. Just beware that if your forefoot runs wide and you have a narrow heel, they may end up slipping off. — Gabrielle Chase, Senior Associate Style Editor

Read more in our full Rothy's review.

Best dress sneaker: Frankie4 Nat III

Size range: 5-13, including some half sizes

"The Nat III's gussets are elastic, so they allow you to forgo laces if you rather wear them as slip-ons, as I do. You can also choose from a set of podiatrist-approved insoles in the included 'Sole Saver Pack,' which each have different levels of padding in the forefoot and heels," says Gabrielle in our guide to the best walking shoes.

"I have high arches, so I was thankful for their supportive, spongy padding when I broke them in on a long neighborhood walk. Their shock absorption is leagues ahead of most flat-soled sneakers. And if you have weak ankles, these have high heel counters and collars to help stabilize you."

"I could actually wear these comfortably without socks because the leather interior is so padded and smooth. I also liked how the toe boxes, though slightly narrow, became more flexible the more I broke them in. I got them in a size 8, and they fit true to size. They were stark white, but this summer I've roughed them up on the city sidewalks."

In fact, Frankie4 makes some of our favorite dress shoes across several categories, including slingback kitten heels and dress shoes made for travel.

Best platform heel: Inez Camilla

Size range: 5-10.5, including half sizes

If you want to add some serious height but don't feel confident walking in a stiletto, these block-heeled platform heels from Inez will give you the 4-inch boost you need. This design especially comes in handy if you're planning to wear a dress that drags on the floor and you don't have the time (or patience) to get it hemmed.

"I've worn the Camilla shoes to three different weddings and have danced the night away every time with no issues," writes style editor Samantha Crozier. "The high platform means that these shoes have a relatively shallow vamp, but your foot is still at an elegant, leg-lengthening angle."

Inside are contoured arches for added support and heel cushions to absorb impact. This comfort-driven engineering, combined with the luxe Italian leather, justifies the $385 price tag in the long run. Just beware the Camillas run slightly large, so if you're between sizes, size down a half.

"I also appreciate that these are available in formalwear neutrals — like silver and shiny black," continues Samantha. "Part of the reason I love these so much is that they go with anything, no matter the dress code."

Read more in our full Inez review.

Best high heel: Ally Classic Pumps

Size range: 4-12, including half sizes, in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths

"Even if you're a pump enthusiast, you probably haven't felt pumps like these," writes style editor Samantha Crozier, who tested 82 pairs of heels to see which are easiest to walk in. "Ally's shoes feel custom since they're available in four (yes, you heard right, four) different widths. And you can absolutely feel what a difference it makes to have a shoe in your exact size."

She continues: "I took Ally's fit finder quiz to nail down which width would fit me best and was blown away when I received the shoes. Inside, there are layers of padding that perfectly cradle the arch of my foot. And there's even toe box contouring to support the balls of your feet. Seriously, these have all the comfort bells and whistles that you could ask for. The only drawback of these Ally pumps is that they're a touch expensive, but compared to actual custom shoes, these are a steal."

Honorable mention: Vivaia Melody Pro

"I'm never afraid of wearing these out of the house, no matter how far I'm going to be walking," writes Samantha of the under-2-inch block heel that offers sneaker-like comfort. "They have a clever cushion on the area between your heel and ankle, which helps stabilize your foot."

Best trendy: Bared Footwear Firecrown 2

Size range: EU 34-43 (US 4-12)

Review: It's rare to find a shoe that earns high marks for both fashion and function, but the best trendy dress shoe I've worn does just that. This eye-catching shoe combines two of the season's biggest looks — retro-inspired pointed toes and slingbacks — into one elegant yet walkable design. The barely there 0.8-inch heel adds just enough lift, while the secure buckles and flattering cut make them easy to wear day to night.

I also appreciate that they're made with 72% plant-based materials and LWG-certified leather, which makes them a more thoughtful choice. They fit me true to size, though my narrow feet had a bit more room in the front than I might prefer.

Of course, good looks are only half the story. I first became a fan of Bared when I tested the best fisherman sandals over the summer, and I've been hooked ever since. The Firecrown 2 features the same biomechanical footbed, designed with a subtle heel pitch that helps prevent heel and calf pain. Indeed, these "flats" are far more supportive than any truly flat shoe I've worn. I recently wore them to an outdoor concert and felt just as comfortable at the end of the night as when I arrived. They're polished enough for the office, chic enough for dinner, and comfortable enough to stand in for hours without regret.

Honorable mention: Nomasei Baghera Sandals

Sculptural sandals are slated to be everywhere this summer. This pricey pair comes from Nomasei, a French brand co-founded by a pair of designers with tenures at Chloé, Dior, Givenchy and the like. You can wear the block-heeled Bagheras barefoot, or even with a statement slub sock as a fun twist. Their walkable height and shallow pitch has made them a choice pair for style editor Gabrielle Chase over the past two wedding seasons.

Best clogs: Dansko Platform Pro

Size range: 5.5-6 through 11.5-12

We often prefer clogs over slides because of the comfort and convenience they provide (plus, they hide your toes if you're in between pedicures). This versatile pair by Dansko ranked highly on our list of the best shoes for standing all day.

"I wore the Platform Pro clogs for over six hours of standing at an outdoor concert, as well as many all-day stints at my standing desk. They support my arches and are cushioned in the forefoot to prevent metatarsal pain. The heel counter is very firm, and there's a slight 0.5-inch heel-drop wedge — two features podiatrists recommend for lessening foot fatigue," writes freelance reporter Rachael Schultz. "I particularly love how chic and versatile the leather Platform Pros are over any other Danskos. They pair nicely with jeans or slacks, so they're great for any dress code."

However, they're a little noisy on hardwood or concrete floors, so if you're headed to a quieter setting, these might not be the best pick.

Honorable mention: FitFlop Shuv Leather Clogs

These leather FitFlop clogs have a "Microwobbleboard" design to pinpoint three different stages of your footstep, so it feels plush in some areas and firm in others. This helps if you've ever had trouble keeping your foot in place while wearing backless shoes.

Best budget: Quince Italian Leather Glove Ballet Flat

Size range: 5-10.5, including half sizes

Even though they ring in at half the price of the cult-favorite Everlane Day Glove flat, Quince's version is satisfyingly similar, down to the pull-tabs and perforations around the inner arches to help ventilate the shoe.

Among the most comfortable flats we've worn, these 100% Italian cow Nappa leather slip-ons "have zero break-in time," notes senior associate style editor Gabrielle Chase. "As soon as I slipped them on, they felt like wearing soft leather slippers. I like how much traction their rubber soles have compared to other flats I've tried, and their Ortholite insoles cradle my high arches."

Still, like several pieces we've covered in our Quince review, these come in a smaller size range than we'd hope for, and there are no width options. "The leather only has some give, so if you have extra-wide feet, I'd skip these," adds Gabrielle.

Read more in our full Quince ballet flats review.

Best loafer: Birdies Starling

Size range: 5-12, including half sizes

Birdies' effortlessly chic and blissfully comfy flats have been worn by the likes of Meghan Markle and Katie Holmes. Among our favorites are these dressy slip-ons with a sleek, elongated toe. "These are unbelievably plush and cozy for a pair of loafers," raves Sally in our guide to the best loafers for women. "They have a good amount of arch support without being stiff at all, and they're easy to wear with or without socks."

"I went down a half size," adds Sally of the shoes available in 16 colors, patterns, and textures. "They're always launching new seasonal styles. In the fall and winter, you'll see a lot of embellished velvet designs, and in the warmer months, you'll find woven leather and fun textures like raffia."

Honorable mention: Bared Footwear Emutail Loafer

The buckled T-strap helps this leather loafer stay in place around your the top of your foot. It has a stylish woven vamp up front, but our favorite detail lies in the ultra-cushioned footbed with its slight heel pitch. This makes them easier to walk in on 20,000 step days — just wear no-show socks on your first wear to avoid heel blisters.

Best ankle boot: M.Gemi Cristina

Size range: IT 35-42 (US 5-12)

"If M.Gemi is known for one thing, it's craftsmanship," says style contributor Rebecca Strong in our guide to the best ankle boots. "These booties are no exception. Not only is The Cristina crafted with luxe materials like Italian calf hair and Nappa leather, but it's also handmade at artisan workshops in Tuscany. And the quality of materials and construction shows: These booties fit like a glove right out of the box, with no need to break them in."

The 2.2-inch block-heel zippered boots are available in five colorways in either suede or Nappa leather uppers. "I have the metallic gunmetal pair and they're surprisingly versatile," adds Rebecca. "They instantly add some interest to a little black dress or a simple outfit of jeans and a bodysuit."

Read more in our full M.Gemi review.

Best knee-high boot: Naturalizer

Size range: 4-12, including most half sizes, in medium or wide widths

Equal parts beautiful and practical, these dressy leather boots stand out among among the best knee-high boots we've ever worn. "I love how elegant these boots look," writes Samantha. "The nearly three-inch block heel adds height and chic-ness, despite the fact that it feels like you're wearing sneakers. Plus, the streamlined design has a slimming effect on your legs, made even more prominent by the boost you get from the heels."

In the winter or fall, you won't have to think twice about slipping on these babies, thanks to weather-resistant details like a padded footbed with a special lining in the shaft to keep warmth in and a waterproof exterior that can withstand heavy rain.

Honorable mention: Bared Footwear Remiz

Style editor Gabrielle Chase wore the fitted, square-toed Remiz boots on a 10-day trip to Europe, where they were equipped for uneven cobblestones and felt super sleek during city exploring. The only downside is that they cost $509.

Other dress shoes we tested

Quince Italian Leather Horsebit Loafer Mule We wanted to love these Gucci dupes, but when putting them on, the irregular shape was so off-center that it almost felt like wearing two left shoes. Hard pass.

BCTEX COLL Pointed Toe Pumps: With a pop of metallic gold on the inner side of the 2.3-inch block heel, these ankle strap shoes have more elegance than their $40 price suggests.

Dolce Vita Celo: Without fail, Dolce Vita's mesh kitten-heel mules garner compliments every time I wear them. I just wish my narrow feet didn't slip around the front when I walk.

Naturalizer Perry: These retro-inspired glove pumps feature a U-shaped vamp and a 0.25-inch toe platform, along with a block heel design to reduce strain. Still, the front squeezed my feet the first time I wore them.

Bared Footwear Attila: Bared's signature footbed is still comfy in a 2.4-inch heel. I love that these leather, woven dress shoes transition seamlessly from summer to fall.

Chinese Laundry Audrey: This very literal take on a ballet slipper flat can easily be dressed up or down. But be prepared for a break-in period before they reach peak comfort.

Naturalizer 27 Edit Sydney: Cutout sides add interest to these otherwise standard flats, crafted with lightweight cushioning, built-in arch support, and a molded heel cup. They may be wide for people with narrow feet, though.

Flowers from one of the best flower delivery services are one of our favorite ways to mark any occasion. A fresh bouquet expresses the sentiment, whether you're celebrating a milestone, birthday, anniversary, holiday, saying thank you, wanting to express sympathy, or just because.

Spring marks an uptick in flower giving opportunities. Mother's Day is May 10 — a classic way to celebrate the mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures in our lives who shaped us to the people we are today. Then, there's also graduation season. Many of the best online florists offers subscriptions, too, for the gift that keeps on giving.

We've ordered more than 65 arrangements from 25 flower companies to assess product assortment, order and delivery experience, and how the bouquet arrived and thrived for a week. We frequently retest to make sure our experience remains consistent. And if you think they may be more of a plant person, we've also tested all the best places to buy houseplants online.

The best online flower delivery services

Best overall: The Bouqs Co.

Best same-day delivery: FTD

Best for unique arrangements: UrbanStems

Best value: 1-800-Flowers.com

Best on Amazon: Benchmark Bouquets

Best farm-fresh: Farmgirl Flowers

Best subscription: BloomsyBox

Best fresh roses: David Austin Rose Bouquets

Best forever roses: Venus Et Fleur

Best dried: Idlewild Floral

Best overall

If you love the appeal of artfully arranged farm-fresh flowers with a modern aesthetic, The Bouq's Co. emerged as our favorite flower delivery experience. Delivery is fast, the arrangements are exciting, and the flowers are long-lasting.

It was a close comparison between The Bouqs Co. and UrbanStems, our favorite for unique arrangements, but we preferred the product assortment and browsing experience of The Bouqs Co., which offers about twice as many arrangements as UrbanStems, and lets you browse by color, flower type, or occasion. Each arrangement is available in three sizes, but the middle "deluxe" size is the most popular. The Deluxe is double the original, or two bouquets in one if you'd like to split them up.

Depending on your location, you'll find some same-day options available, but otherwise, the first available delivery date is prominently shown on each product page. Order by noon in your recipients time zone for Same Day or by midnight for Next Day delivery.

There is a robust next-day selection, but some specialty options require as much as five days notice. The assortment also includes dried flowers, plants, access to renowned David Austin Roses, and large party boxes so you can curate your own arrangements for special events. You have the option to add a vase. I also like that the site details information on the farmers who grow the flowers and where they're shipping from.

When we initially tested The Bouqs for this guide in 2021, poor packaging left the flowers damaged and wilted. The brand has since stepped up its packaging, placing the flowers in protective cardboard or plastic and zip-tying them to the box to keep them secure. When we tested in 2025 and 2026, the flowers arrived in good condition, but they looked best after about 12 hours, once they had time to perk up in water.

We've still had a few delivery hiccups, though this latest testing period occurred during some of the coldest and most volatile weather weeks of the year, which really stress-tested the delivery experience. One plant arrived in poor health, and another coworker purchased an arrangement to arrive on a certain date, but it came late due to the weather. Bouqs refunded her shipping for the inconvenience, which she was satisfied with, showcasing responsive customer service.

Best same-day delivery

When you need to send flowers fast, a floral wire service is your best option. Florists' Transworld Delivery Service (FTD) has been in the flower delivery business for more than 100 years and partners with local florists to fulfill and deliver orders in all 50 states and more than 125 countries. In most cases, same-day delivery is readily available. The arrangements lean toward more traditional colors and flowers instead of more modern or unique designs. In addition to flowers, you can send gift baskets like fresh chocolate covered strawberries to charcuterie boxes and spa gift sets. Perhaps even better, all arrangements arrive ready to go in a vase — no pruning or arranging required on your part.

We had a better experience with FTD than with other similar floral wire services. The bouquets and plants we received from FTD were fuller, fresher, and in better condition. Of course, since local florists typically fill orders, your experience may vary depending on who ultimately fills your order. FTD is part of a family of brands, including From You Flowers, which is the more value centric offering, and ProFlowers, which representatives explained caters to a younger, trendier customer. In our recent 2026 testing, the same florist fulfilled our orders for all three websites, and we even started to notice similarities around arrangements.

If you need to send flowers quickly, internationally, or to hard-to-reach places, FTD is the best same-day service we've found for last-minute florals.

Best for unique arrangements

UrbanStems offers some of the most modern arrangements alongside unique pairings with buzzy brands like Levain, Brightland, and Apotheke. You can also send along a bottle of Aveline wine with each bouquet. They were previously our top choice, but we've noticed a reduction in the number of bouquet options while simultaneously increasing prices. They have however, expanded their same-day availability.

While product names frequently change, we tried five different fresh bouquets, along with a Chinese money plant, over the course of two different testing periods. A strong suit of UrbanStems is its gorgeous seasonal offerings, especially peonies. UrbanStems offers its arrangements in single and double sizes, plus and you can add on a vase, plus a small gift like a candle or body care product, before you check out. Browse according to delivery location and intended delivery date to see the most updated availability, with decent same- and next-day delivery options.

Everything arrived on time and in excellent condition with an immediate wow-factor not present in other bouquets. The arrangements were some of the freshest, most attractive bouquets we tested and were filled with lively, creative blooms in a range of colors. UrbanStems arrangements have that spark, but if you're looking for a single type of flower, like classic red roses (of which the brand only has one dedicated offering), you may want to defer to Bouqs, which has more robust single-flower type offerings. Also of note, it's difficult to browse UrbanStems according to flower type; the feature is hidden deep within its filter settings.

Best value

The online photos from 1-800-Flowers.com don't always do this industry stalwart justice. Some bouquets feel more inspired than others, but the ones we tested certainly had the "wow" factor we were looking for.

1-800-Flowers.com offers same-day and next-day delivery on various arrangements. Many orders are fulfilled by local florists and delivered by courier in a vase, while some types, like roses and ranunculus ship from farm partners through FedEx. Like with FTD, quality can vary depending on what florist fills your order. You can filter by local shop delivery or shipped, according to your preference.

We mailed ourselves four bouquets to Georgia, Michigan, and California; each was more beautiful than the next. They were lush and vibrant and looked even more beautiful than the photos. The arrangement that was fulfilled locally was immediately ready to be displayed and required no extra pruning or trimming on our behalf.

The all-rose bouquet (shipped via FedEx) actually lasted the longest, while the locally-fulfilled bouquets (which also included fresh roses) began to wilt near the one-week mark — still a solid length of time for a fresh bouquet. Our one outlier was an order of ranunculus. The flowers shipped directly from Ecuador in bud form; FedEx left them outside without knocking when it was below freezing. They were frozen, and never fully recovered.

1-800-Flowers.com offers options for all price ranges, with bouquets starting at $35. They also frequently offer promotions, too, and can find collaborations with cult brands like Disney, Love Shack Fancy, and HGTV. The site makes it easy to browse what's available once you add your intended delivery ZIP code and delivery date, and you can sort by occasion and flower type. However, it can be difficult to figure out exact delivery fees until you check out, but if you enroll in the $20 Passport program, you'll get free shipping for a year among other perks. 1-800-Flowers.com also offers preserved roses, dried flowers, houseplants, gift baskets, and tons of other add-ons, making it a truly one-stop gifting destination.

Best on Amazon

The majority of independent flower companies charge up to $25 for delivery, in addition to the cost of the flowers. If you're looking for something easy with upfront pricing, you can't go wrong with Benchmark Bouquet, which is available with fast and free shipping on Amazon. The prices are affordable, too.

Operating exclusively on Amazon, Benchmark Bouquet's selection is more curated, and the offerings are more traditional. The flowers are grown on Rainforest Alliance and Florverde certified farms in Colombia and Ecuador, and are imported into the US to ship from one of six US warehouses.

My bouquet arrived quickly, and the flowers were fresh and healthy. My $50 rose and alstroemeria bouquet looked just as nice as bouquets double times the cost, and looked healthy for over two weeks. I particularly liked the vase that came with my arrangement, which reminded me of a gemstone cut. Two dozen classic red roses with a vase also cost $60, which feels like an incredible value.

Orders placed Monday through Thursday before noon can arrive the next day via UPS or FedEx. Perhaps the only downside about ordering flowers from Amazon is that there's no ability to set your own delivery date.

Best farm-fresh

If you're after an arrangement that looks like it was plucked straight from the garden, Farmgirl Flowers offers inventive and playful bouquets based on what's in season. The company's website and social media give you an idea of what to expect, but every bouquet is slightly different, giving it a special, unique feel with names like Fun Size, Just Right, Big Love, and Fancy Pants XL to denote sizing. The company's signature is to wrap these bouquets in burlap. If you'd rather choose your blooms, Farmgirl also offers a few dozen specialty bouquets, including single-flower arrangements with a big emphasis on peonies, ranunculus and hydrangeas — though this changes with the seasons.

We received a Just Right and a Big Love and had another Just Right sent to a tester in California. We loved that the arrangements had a whimsical, wild shape and were gorgeous from every angle. The Just Right and Big Love appeared the same size when we first received them, but after a few hours in the water, the Big Love's closed buds opened up to create a fuller bouquet.

Shipping costs a flat $25 per a bouquet, and Farmgirl Flowers strongly recommends purchasing its Route Package Protection to insure from loss, damage, shipping delays, and theft; otherwise your flowers are not protected in the event you're not satisfied with their arrival condition. You can also check out the Free Ship Shop to see what's on offer that comes with delivery fees waived. The current selection spans tulips, roses, and hydrangeas. You can also add on to your flowers with a small gift like candy or a candle and record a personalized video message.

Best subscription

Flower subscriptions are a great way to brighten someone's day on a more frequent basis — or to liven up your own home with regularly scheduled blooms. BloomsyBox offers a robust fleet of weekly and monthly subscription options at reasonable prices. You can pay month-to-month or save a few dollars by prepaying for 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscriptions. While the retailer also sells à la carte bouquets and plants, its subscriptions offer the best value, starting at $60 a month.

We tried BloomsyBox's priciest subscription: Its NYBG Collection. Each bouquet in the subscription is curated by the New York Botanical Garden's floral experts and features in-season blooms. A portion of the subscription supports the NYBG's plant science and conservation efforts. There are also subscriptions dedicated to roses, hydrangeas, pet-safe, and tropical flowers.

We highly recommend BloomsyBox's subscriptions to anyone looking for a bit of floral cheer on a regular basis. It's a nice monthly treat to get an email saying a new bouquet is on the way.

Best fresh roses

David Austin Rose Bouquet were previously available via The Bouqs, but last year expanded into direct-to-consumer operations to offer you flowers directly. The famed English roses are, in a word, exquisite. Truly a luxury undertaking from the moment you unbox your bouquet from its moody navy tissue paper with a bow along with care instructions and a gift note carefully arranged like you’re opening an invitation to a black tie affair. The roses arrive in bud form before unfurling over the next few days into lush, fragrant masterpieces.

At the heart of the collection, are the Muses, signature flower creations that have been assigned full on personas, like Tess, a velvety, lush red rose that is both classic and captivating, or Juliet, an ethereal pink rose inspired by the spirit of the Shakespearean namesake.

I also loved the Pink Taffeta bouquet, comprised of the Keira rose with Ranunculus Elegance Rosa and Anemone Mistral Panda Blush. It’s like a playful burst of pink bubblegum, and I wish this bouquet could last forever. Going on day 10, and it’s still looking healthy.

David Austin Roses are available in increments of 18, 24, and 36, costing about $7 a stem, with prices decreasing the larger the bouquet you buy. This is on par with our previous top pick from Roses Only, which excels in traditional long-stem roses in red, pink, or yellow that arrive in a gift box. You’ll also need to plan ahead if you’re choosing to send from David Austin, as they quote a three to four days shipping speed with no next-day delivery as of yet. David Austin also offers shrubs and flowers for weddings and events.

Meanwhile, if you’re hoping to find a rose specialist that is a little more economical, April & Ashley also wowed us with their vast rose assortment and more value-minded pricing of a dozen roses for $69 or two dozen roses for $89. However, the unboxing experience felt more like a personal purchase than unboxing a gift.

Best forever roses

Venus Et Fleur is an innovator in the preserved roses space, offering best forever roses with diverse color and display options. They look good for months with no maintenance required and even give off a pleasant scent. These are real flowers, grown in Ecuador before undergoing a proprietary dehydrated process that preserves their fresh appearance.Plus, they've managed to expand their "eternal" technology to other flower varieties including mixed florals like hydrangeas, gardenias, and ranunculus. They even offer long-stemmed roses. Many of Venus Et Fleurs products can also be customized with varying rose color options and arranged in certain patterns or with an initial or shape.

The small round I received was securely packaged and smells so fragrant. I've had mine for about a month, and it's just an effortless way to incorporate more florals into my decor.

Preserved roses are expensive, no matter what brand you choose. A single preserved rose will start around $59, which is the same price as a full-sized bouquet from many of our other top picks. An arrangement is typically $300 to $400 dollars.

Personally, I wish the site was a little easier to browse to decipher between sizes and core offerings and get a complete comparison of sizes. While a small round showcases around 14 roses arranged in a hatbox the signature small Le Plein is bursting with 45 to 49 flowers packed into a dome shape. Both are called small, but have vastly different price tags ($299 versus $539) and flower count.

Like most preserved rose brands, the majority of Venus Et Fleur's packaging features branded logos. It's tasteful, but not everyone does want the flower brand flashed about. Venus Et Fleur does offer some options in ceramic vessels, but they will cost you. Part of the preservation process also requires that these flowers stay in the vessels they come in.

Best dried

No matter how pretty the bouquet, fresh flowers will all eventually wilt. Dried bouquets are a good solution for those who love the look of florals but hate the upkeep. Most importantly, they'll look good for months to come. California-based Idlewild Floral creates some of the most imaginative and beautiful preserved arrangements we've encountered.

Each bouquet is typically available in three size options: petite, deluxe, and statement. We shipped two bouquets to Atlanta and New York City. Shipping took a little longer than we expected from California, but they looked even more beautiful in person than in the online photos.

Each flower is harvested at the peak of its bloom before undergoing a drying process, and some of the flowers are coated in natural glycerin for preservation. This gave them a papery texture that wasn't plasticky or artificial-looking. Idlewild Florals also offers dried greenery, individual bunches, and wreaths.

It's been over a year since we originally ordered the bouquets, and they still look as nice as they did on day one. Tester Lily Alig said she regularly gets compliments on her arrangement and has recommended Idlewild to many others as a long-lasting way to have beautiful flowers around.

What else we recommend

We're perpetually sending ourselves flower arrangements. Here are some other companies and experiences we've tried that we think are worthy of attention.

Fresh Sends: There's something super giftable and fun about the Fresh Sends experience, which employs a "trust your florist" approach — you choose a bouquet size and they handle the rest, with the option to add trendy gifts like Tower28 beauty or Graza olive oil. While you give up control over specific flowers or personalization, you gain an element of surprise, and its Instagram gives a peek at weekly arrangements. For nailing the perfect message, Fresh Sends also has an AI-powered assistant to pen a heartfelt note. The flowers arrived presented in a cutesy newsprint wrapping and immediately ready for the vase. I very much enjoyed my bouquet's assortment, though one more critical coworker thought they were a slightly more elevated "bodega arrangement" and struggled with the overall value.

From You Flowers: From You Flowers taps into the same network as FTD, with an emphasis on value-minded arrangements. They offer frequent promotions (we found bouquets as low as $31) and have a robust flower offering, and even access to food gift baskets and plants. I like that you can add on balloons, chocolate, and teddy bears, and a stand out and personal option is the ability to add a custom photo vase. Deliveries are available any day of the week, with same-day options as well.

Teleflora: Teleflora works with an extensive network of over 30,000 local florists worldwide to offer same-day delivery of fresh, hand-arranged bouquets in vases. I appreciated knowing which local florist fulfilled my order, and delivery fees remain consistent, even on weekends, with only slight increases on major holidays. However, because orders are fulfilled locally, there can be variations from what's shown online, including flower types or vases, as the bouquet I selected was more or less inspired by, as opposed to a direct copycat. It can also be hard to tell the difference between bouquet sizes like standard, deluxe, and premium when ordering.

Edible: Send fruit and floral bouquets at the same time. With over 1,000 locations across the country, Edible can deliver flowers alongside a sweet treat in as soon as an hour. The flower selection is a tad limited, but the bouquet I received stayed fresh for over two weeks. I paired mine with perfectly packaged chocolate covered strawberries, but fresh cookies and other treats are also available.

April & Ashley: April & Ashley offers some of the most unique roses I've ever seen. It grows over two dozen varieties with its partner Milagro Farms in Colombia, including standouts like the Red Panther, a classic red rose with streaks of hot pink, and Westminster Abbey, a moody and unexpected bloom with a lavender-grey tint. The roses arrived healthy and fragrant, blooming into a lush and full arrangement overnight. April & Ashley say the roses should last up to 14 days, but mine lasted about eight with care. Roses cost $69 for a dozen and $89 for two dozen, which is more affordable when compared to Roses Only, Ode A La Rose, FTD, or David Austin roses. However, the $25 shipping for every two dozen flowers can add up for larger orders. If you consider yourself a rose connoisseur, you need to know about April & Ashley, but it falls just short of the luxury presentation and longevity offered by David Austin Rose Bouquet. It feels more like a personal purchase than a gift-ready one.

How we test flower delivery services

To find the best flower delivery service, we conducted hands-on testing of every brand in this guide. We ordered two to three arrangements from each brand, evaluating the selection, ordering, and delivery process. We sent bouquets to testers in different parts of the country — including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, rural Colorado, and suburban Connecticut and Michigan— to see if quality and delivery time varied based on location. In all, we tested 68 bouquets from 24 brands. It's an ongoing evaluation.

What to look for in a flower delivery service

Here's what we looked for in the best flower delivery service:

Ordering: We scrutinized the ordering process of each service, noting whether the website was simple to navigate, what the product selection was like, and how easy it was to place an order. We also looked at shipping options and estimated delivery times.

Delivery: We noted whether the arrangements arrived when they said they would (all did), evaluated packaging, and looked at the condition of the flowers when they first arrived. Testers across the country compared notes; we found delivery times and quality consistent across the country.

Quality of flowers: We looked for full bouquets of lively-looking flowers that matched the description and photo of the arrangement we ordered online. We read all care instructions and followed them meticulously, noting how long the flowers remained fresh enough to display.

Consistency: A good flower service should deliver quality blooms no matter the recipient's location. Our testers across the country took photos and detailed notes about delivery and bouquet quality to compare experiences.

Budget: When choosing a flower delivery service, it's important to consider your budget. Flower prices can vary widely, and some delivery services charge more than others for their arrangements. To stay within your budget, consider shopping around and comparing prices from different florists. You can also look for seasonal flowers to help keep costs down.

Packaging, customization, and extras: Customization options are important, especially if you want to add a personal touch to your gift. Look for a service that offers a variety of vase options and add-ons such as chocolates, balloons, or stuffed animals. Some services even offer personalized messages or cards that can be included with your delivery.

Flower delivery service FAQs

When should I order flowers for Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and other popular holidays?

While many flower delivery services offer next-day delivery for most of the year, all bets are off when it comes to major holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. When ordering around popular holidays, we recommend you place your order two weeks in advance of the day you want the flowers delivered. This will ensure you have plenty of arrangements and delivery dates to choose from. We've also noticed companies offering discounts to those who shop early.

If sending flowers for Mother's Day 2026, most services will require you to order by Friday, May 8 for Saturday delivery, as most farm-direct companies do not deliver on Sundays. If you're working with a wire service that connects with local florists, Sunday delivery may be available in your area.

Is it safe to have fresh flowers around pets?

It depends on the types of flowers. The ASPCA maintains a comprehensive list of flowers and plants and whether they are toxic or safe for dogs and cats. It's important to remember that certain plants can still be toxic to animals even if they are kept out of reach; pollen and other airborne spores can get into the fur of animals and be ingested during grooming.

If you're ordering flowers for a household with pets, it's best to stick with a service that allows you to see the types of flowers in the arrangement before ordering. Some brands, like Fresh Sends or subscription services, don't allow you to preview the bouquet before it's sent, which could land you with a bouquet that isn't pet-safe.

Our top picks like The Bouqs Co. and UrbanStems, lists the type of flowers in each arrangement so you can check to ensure it's safe for your pet while Farmgirl Flowers has a dedicated pet-safe section to take out any guesswork.

Check out our guide to the best pet-friendly plants.

How long do fresh flowers last?

A lot depends on how recently the flowers were cut before they arrived at your home. Flowers can be cut hours, days, or weeks before shipping to you, greatly varying their lifespan in your home. On average, however, you can expect fresh flowers to last five days to a week in a vase with good care, which entails trimming flowers and replacing with fresh water every few days. If you want longer-lasting flowers, preserved roses or a dried bouquet are great options.

What's the best way to keep fresh flowers alive longer?

Some ways to extend the life of your fresh flowers include cutting the stems at a diagonal before putting them in water, using flower food in the water (often supplied with the bouquet, but can be homemade), and changing the water whenever it gets discolored or cloudy. Also make sure that no leaves are floating or placed below the water line, as that can promote bacterial growth and affect flower health.

As flowers start to wilt, you can remove the dead flowers and rearrange or tighten the bouquet as needed (you may need to downsize to a smaller vase). Hardy flowers with woody stems (like roses) can last several weeks with proper care.

What are the best types of flowers to buy?

When in doubt, roses are a great pick. They're long-lasting, easy to care for, and largely pet-safe. You can get roses in all colors, shapes, and sizes to suit any recipient.

• The Met Gala is an annual fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• It features a glamorous, star-studded red carpet where celebrities showcase high fashion.
• Stars like Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively, and Zendaya are regulars.

Ah, the Met Gala — one of the biggest star-studded events of the year. Unless you're an A-list celebrity or high-profile designer, chances are you'll never know what it's like to attend the "Oscars of the East."

Thankfully, though, enough attendees have spoken about the event that we have a glimpse of what it would be like to actually get into this storied ball.

From pricey tables to celebrity interactions, here's what it's like inside the Met Gala.

What is the Met Gala?

The Met Gala serves a purpose — to raise money for the Costume Institute at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Also known as the Costume Institute Benefit, the Met Gala has become a high-fashion arena for designers and celebrities.

It's hosted by the chairwoman of the gala, Vogue's former editor in chief and current global editorial director, Anna Wintour, with famous faces co-chairing the event.

The 2026 Met Gala co-chairs include Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, sponsors of this year's event, will also serve as honorary co-chairs.

Previous Met Gala co-chairs have included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Bad Bunny, and ASAP Rocky.

Though the gala has existed since 1948, Wintour took over as chairwoman in 1995, and since then, it has transformed from a philanthropic event into the "Oscars of the East."

The Met Gala takes place every year on the first Monday in May (obviously the inspiration behind the title of the documentary, "The First Monday in May," about the event).

The 2026 Met Gala will be held on May 4, celebrating this year's theme, "Costume Art."

The adjacent dress code, "Fashion Is Art," encourages "attendees to consider the many ways that designers use the body as their blank canvas," according to Vogue.

What do celebrities do inside the Met Gala?

In addition to a red-carpet spectacle, guests can expect a cocktail hour and formal dinner inside the Met Gala.

Guests arrive at the bottom of the Met's famous staircase and walk up the red carpet. The tent is filled with flashing bulbs and screams from pedestrians cramming in to try to glimpse the stars and their dresses.

Between 600 and 700 people attend the event, including A-list stars, designers, and employees from Vogue, the Met, the Costume Institute, and some brand sponsors.

The guests are led inside and around the museum, typically through the Costume Institute's coming exhibit. They are also allowed to mingle for a cocktail hour. They're then privy to exclusive performances and state-of-the-art dinners.

Though the decor and setting change yearly, the Met Museum's Temple of Dendur room has become a recent favorite. Lizzo graced a stage set in 2023, performing classical flute pieces and singing her own tracks.

In 2024, Cynthia Erivo joined Ariana Grande to perform covers and hits like "Into You."

But one of the best parts about attending the Met Gala is the celebrity interactions that wouldn't take place anywhere else. Olivia Rodrigo chatted with Kendall Jenner while Jon Batiste and Cynthia Erivo danced together in 2022. And in 2023, Anne Hathaway looked shocked to discover that Jared Leto was beneath the costume of Karl Lagerfeld's cat, Choupette, creating one of the best Met Gala moments seen on the event's red carpet.

You're also likely to see new romances forming — Swifties credit the Met Gala with linking Taylor Swift and her former boyfriend Joe Alwyn in 2016. Wintour also helped fuel rumors that she was dating actor Bill Nighy when they walked the carpet together in 2023. However, his rep later said they were only "great friends."

Can anyone go to the Met Gala, including non-celebrities?

Sorry, if you're not an "it" actor, celebrity, musician, sports superstar, or designer, you'll have to shell out big time.

The cost to attend the Met Gala can range from $100,000 for a single ticket to $350,000 for a table. Sometimes designers can get a table discount based on a brand's size and relationship with Vogue. That money goes to the Costume Institute.

Oh, and just in case you thought you could save for it, Wintour is said to have a say over every invitation.

How do celebs get invited to the Met Gala?

While it's unclear exactly how celebrities are chosen to attend the Met Gala, they are often in the midst of major career moments and/or recent fashion campaigns with brands that have a table at the event.

The invites are as classy as the event itself. Obviously, Wintour wouldn't settle for a generic e-vite, so guests receive gorgeous invitations featuring the Met Gala's theme for the year, often with an artistic flair, such as a Richard Avedon photograph or a Man Ray painting.

There was never an age restriction at the Met Gala until 2018, when it was deemed "not an appropriate event for people under 18."

This means young Hollywood faces like Nell Fisher and Iain Armitage aren't eligible to attend. However, there is an exception to the rule. Guests under 18 may attend if their parents chaperone them. 

Do celebrities pay for their outfits?

If you do get to attend the Met Gala, you must dress to the nines. Guests go all out with their attire. Since the Met Gala is associated with a museum show, guests typically dress thematically — sometimes the show will honor a designer, as was the case with 2023's theme honoring Karl Lagerfeld, or perhaps it will have a broader directive, such as "Manus x Machina" or "Model as Muse."

The 2025 dress code was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which celebrated Black dandyism.

Designers typically court celebrities to wear their custom looks, from dramatic and daring dresses to accessories. Sometimes, it backfires — think Madonna's risqué Givenchy look in 2016 — but more often, it wows, like Rihanna's robe designed by Chinese couture designer Guo Pei in 2015.

On occasion, attendees purchase their outfits, as Zendaya did in 2024 with her historical Givenchy piece.

If you dislike any Met Gala look, you might have Wintour to blame. Journalist Amy Odell, who has written a biography on the former Vogue editor in chief, said all outfits are pre-approved by Wintour before celebrities step onto the red carpet.

It's unclear what happens to Met Gala outfits after the event. It's rumored that most garments are returned to designers, but it's likely a case-by-case scenario.

The most valuable Met Gala outfits throughout history are also a mystery. However, Dua Lipa wore $10 million in jewelry in 2023, and the Marilyn Monroe piece Kim Kardashian wore in 2022 has been described as "the most expensive dress in the world."

Why is the Met Gala controversial?

Some celebrities dislike the Met Gala. Gwyneth Paltrow famously said she had no fun. "I'm never going again. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all," the Goop maven said.

Amy Schumer similarly hated the event, calling it a "farce" to Howard Stern and saying the entire event was like a "punishment." 

Demi Lovato said one star treated her so terribly that she felt like drinking alcohol, so she left early to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. 

And then there was Lena Dunham, who drew intense backlash after criticizing not only the Met Gala but Odell Beckham Jr., the famous wide receiver she was seated next to.

Some Met Gala themes have also faced scrutiny. Many took issue with the Karl Lagerfeld theme in 2023, as the late designer often expressed offensive views throughout his life, like criticizing women with curves and saying he was "less keen" on same-sex couples adopting children.

Who is barred from the Met Gala?

Much like the secretive approach to Met Gala invites, who isn't allowed at the annual event is also unclear.

Tim Gunn said he was once disinvited, and "Riverdale" star Lili Reinhart said in 2022 that she doesn't believe she'll be allowed back after criticizing Kim Kardashian's extensive efforts to fit into small clothing for the event.

The only person Wintour has confirmed to be excluded from future fundraising festivities is President Donald Trump, though he has attended in the past, as have his family members.

Celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Ryan Gosling, and Adele, have surprisingly never attended the Met Gala, though it's not because they've been barred.

Fans are just patiently waiting for them to make their first appearances.

Michelle Mark contributed to an earlier version of this post.

• Burger King dropped a new menu to celebrate the upcoming release of "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu."
• The menu features a new Whopper, milkshake, chicken fries, ranch cheddar tots, and a dipping sauce.
• I tried every item in the new Bounty Bundle and ranked them from worst to best.

Burger King dropped a new "Star Wars"-themed lineup on May 4, and at least one item deserves a permanent spot on the menu.

Burger King has a long track record of themed collaborations, from "SpongeBob SquarePants" to "How to Train Your Dragon." Its latest is a limited-time menu tied to "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" (in theaters May 22), featuring a reimagined Whopper, two new sides, a dipping sauce, and a milkshake.

When I was invited to Burger King's Miami headquarters to get an early taste of its new "Star Wars"-themed menu before the official launch, I was curious whether the food could stand on its own, or if the experience was mostly about the themed packaging and hype.

I tried everything in the new Bounty Bundle, and was pleasantly surprised that the menu delivers more than just eye-catching packaging — it actually brings bold, satisfying flavors that hold their own.

Here's every "Mandalorian"-themed menu item ranked from worst to best.

Burger King launched a new menu inspired by "The Mandalorian and Grogu" on May 4.

The limited-time menu features a new version of the Whopper, new chicken fries, cheddar ranch tots, a new garlic dipping sauce, and a new cookie-flavored milkshake.

It was released at participating restaurants across the US on May 4, which is also recognized as Star Wars Day (thanks to the pun "May the Fourth be with you," a play on "May the Force be with you").

The Bounty Bundle, which includes all five items and a collector's cup, retails for $19.99 at my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York, though prices vary by location.

Grogu's Blue Cookie Shake was my least favorite of the new menu items.

Made from soft serve blended with blue sugar cookie syrup and topped with crumbled blue cookies, the shake was an immediate sugar bomb for the senses.

It tasted like a classic sugar cookie, and I liked the textural contrast between the creamy ice cream and the crumbled cookies layered on top of the shake.

Grogu's Blue Cookie Shake costs $4.99, excluding tax, at my local Burger King when not included in the bundle.

I simply don't have much of a sweet tooth, so I preferred the more savory items on this menu.

However, if you're craving a sweet treat with a hint of nostalgia, this shake might do the trick.

Next in my ranking were the new garlic chicken fries.

While chicken fries have been a mainstay on the Burger King menu since 2015, this version features a new seasoning made with Parmesan cheese and garlic, served in a Grogu-themed carton and with a new garlic-flavored dipping sauce.

Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fries cost $4.99, excluding tax, at my local Burger King when not included in the bundle.

The chicken fries were crispy and flavorful, but didn't taste that different from regular chicken fries.

The chicken fries were crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with a solid, well-seasoned flavor. That said, they didn't stand out much from Burger King's regular chicken fries — the garlic and Parmesan seasoning added a slight boost, but not enough to make them feel entirely new.

The flavor really kicked up a notch with my next-favorite item: the new garlic dipping sauce.

It was rich, creamy, and packed with a bold garlic punch that added way more depth than I expected, elevating the chicken fries and making each bite feel more indulgent and memorable.

The dipping sauce comes with every order of Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fries.

I liked this new dipping sauce so much that I found myself wishing it were a permanent menu item.

It added a bold, garlicky richness that worked with everything I tried, from the chicken fries to the new tots, and it felt like the kind of upgrade that could easily stand on its own beyond the limited-time theme.

That was something I noticed across the board with this menu: While the "Star Wars" theme might come off as a bit gimmicky at first, each item actually felt thoughtfully upgraded. The flavors stood on their own, making the menu enjoyable whether you're a die-hard fan or couldn't care less about the franchise.

Up next were the Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots.

These perfectly fried balls of fried cheddar cheese and potatoes were tossed in ranch seasoning and served in a themed carton.

They cost $2.99 when not included in the bundle.

These tots were packed with flavor and unlike anything I've ever had at Burger King.

Slightly similar to the cheesy bacon tots included in the chain's "SpongeBob SquarePants" meal collaboration in December, these tots were crispy on the outside yet soft and cheesy on the inside.

I would definitely order these again as part of the meal, or as a snack — and for less than $3, I thought they were a great value.

The most exciting — and my personal favorite — item on the menu was a new version of the classic Whopper.

The new Whopper came served in a new, "Star Wars" branded clamshell box, a pleasantly surprising addition to the menu since Burger King updated its signature burger in February.

The BBQ Bounty Whopper costs $8.59, excluding tax, at my local Burger King.

The BBQ Bounty Whopper came topped with Swiss cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a creamy barbecue sauce.

The new barbecue burger was hefty, and I was excited to see how the flavors would come together.

The item seemed on trend, too: Barbecue sauce is having a moment in fast food, as chains lean into bold, yet nostalgic, flavors to make menu items feel new and craveable while still approachable.

Popeyes also just launched two new Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, and Shake Shack recently released its Smoky BBQ menu for summer, featuring a new BBQ Boneless Baby Back Rib Sandwich and the Smoky Classic BBQ Burger.

"People are looking for nostalgia and comfort and familiarity," Burger King's vice president of culinary, Amy Alarcon, told Business Insider. "I think there are those retro flavors and retro trends that we're capturing really well right now."

The new Whopper was truly out of this world.

The flame-grilled patty brought that signature smoky flavor that always makes a Whopper stand out, while the fresh lettuce, tomato, and onions added a crisp, refreshing balance.

The crispy pickle chips added dynamic flavor and texture, while the barbecue sauce added just the right amount of creamy, yet tangy, barbecue flavor.

Altogether, it felt like a meaningful upgrade to an already solid classic — one that I'd genuinely want to see stick around on the menu long after the "Star Wars" promotion has gone.

• GameStop wants to acquire eBay, a company roughly five times its size, for $55.5 billion.
• GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen gained fame as a "meme king" during the company's 2021 stock run-up.
• Here's what we know about Cohen's background, including his role as a Chewy cofounder.

GameStop's surprise bid for eBay isn't the first meme-able thing that Ryan Cohen has been involved in.

Cohen, GameStop's CEO, is at the helm of the company's effort to buy eBay for $55.5 billion. He was also the focus of Reddit's r/wallstreetbets five years ago as retail stock traders pushed up GameStop's price — the high point of the "meme stock" craze.

The unsolicited offer for eBay, which the company made public on Sunday, dwarfs GameStop's own $11.9 billion market capitalization, leading some to question how the gaming retailer could afford the deal.

Here's how Cohen rose to prominence, from cofounding pet company Chewy through the meme stock craze:

• His net worth is around $5 billion. Cohen's wealth has surged since joining GameStop's board five years ago, before becoming CEO, according to Forbes. Shortly after his board appointment, stock traders on Reddit started driving up the retailer's stock price.
• He never finished college. Originally from Montreal, Cohen dropped out of college to focus on the business world — a path inspired by his father, who ran his own business, Cohen told Forbes in 2020.
• He cofounded pet supply website Chewy in 2011. With Michael Day, Cohen built Chewy into an online pet supply retailer and ultimately sold the business to PetSmart for $3.35 billion in 2017. A dog owner himself, Cohen said he saw a chance to sell products, such as dog food, that Amazon hadn't yet broken into.
• He became a "meme king" for investors on Reddit. After small-time investors, including many on r/wallstreetbets, ran up GameStock's stock price in 2021, Cohen gained a reputation as a "meme king" among retail stock investors. Some went so far as to parse his posts on X, formerly Twitter, looking for evidence of what he might do next. Cohen, for his part, has rarely engaged with the investors.
• He's led a turnaround effort at GameStop. After becoming the chairman of GameStop's board in 2021, Cohen made big changes at the challenged retailer, including cutting costs and developing a new strategy that focused the chain's stores on collectibles more than video games. Cohen became GameStop's CEO in 2023.
• He took a stake in Bed Bath & Beyond — and made money on it. Cohen took a roughly 10% stake in the home furnishings retailer in 2022. Later that year, he sold the position and made $68 million, Fortune reported at the time.
• He hasn't fully explained how GameStop can afford to acquire eBay. Cohen offered few details about the $55.5 billion offer in a Monday interview on CNBC or in company filings, instead repeatedly referring viewers to the company's website and stating that the deal would consist of half cash, half stock. GameStop's market cap on Monday was around $11.9 billion, and its cash and liquid investments totaled about $9.4 billion.
• He's spoken out against "parasitic" corporate bosses. In a February X post, Cohen took aim at independent directors and other corporate leaders who, he said, are paid whether or not companies succeed. He referred to a "new, parasitic class of corporate bureaucrat: The Risk-Free Insider." The post led investor Michael Burry to compare Cohen to Warren Buffett, another critic of how much corporate leaders are compensated.

Do you have a story to share? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• As a longtime Costco employee, I always look forward to seeing the new items that arrive on shelves.
• This month, the warehouse is stocked with seasonal items like citronella candles and beach towels.
• There are also some delicious-looking Kirkland Signature grocery items and premade meals.

As a Costco employee of 20 years, I love being able to scan the shelves for all the best new items that come in.

This month, the warehouse is stocked with everything from outdoor essentials and beach-ready finds to delicious Kirkland Signature-branded products.

Here are eight items that caught my eye.

I'm excited to try the Kirkland Signature sparkling energy drinks.

One of my favorite things about shopping at Costco is that the store has a great selection of house-brand Kirkland Signature items, including sparkling energy drinks.

Each 12-ounce can contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, making them the perfect pick-me-up for a long day. The variety pack comes with three flavors, including tropical, orange, and peach.

The Essenza citronella candles are both beautiful and practical.

Summer is just around the corner, which means outdoor gatherings will be popping up on my calendar again. Unfortunately, though, one of the downsides to spending time outside is fending off the bugs.

Luckily, the Essenza outdoor citronella candles are here to help. Each box comes with two large lemongrass-eucalyptus-scented candles in beautiful white cement containers.

Plus, each candle can burn for up to 43 hours, making these a worthy investment for the season.

Meal prep is simple with the Chipotle-seasoned chicken from Costco.

Whether you like to meal prep or are just looking for a quick dinner option, I recommend buying a pack of the precooked Chipotle-seasoned chicken from Costco.

It's great for salads, rice bowls, tacos, and so much more.

I was excited to find the ELF Power Grip primer on display.

This month, Costco is carrying the popular ELF Power Grip primer, which is said to help makeup stay on longer. It also provides a dewy finish, giving skin a nice hydrated glow.

Each bundle comes with a full-size version of the product, as well as a travel-size container.

This 2-in-1 towel and tote bag makes beach days easy.

If you'll be heading to the beach or pool this summer, I highly recommend checking out the innovative Himatsingka America 2-in-1 towel and tote bags at Costco.

These 100% cotton bags easily fold out into a full-size beach towel. They're machine washable and come in a variety of vibrant colors and patterns.

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the bakery's new sourdough bread bowls.

The Costco bakery has a new product that shoppers seem excited about: sourdough bread bowls.

Each bag comes with four bowls ready to be filled with soups, dips, chilli, and much more. I like to heat them in the air fryer for an even crispier texture.

Elevate your workouts with the Nautilus weighted vest.

Whether you're going for a walk or doing exercises at the gym, a weighted vest can help make workouts more challenging.

The Nautilus vest weighs 12 pounds, and according to the packaging, can help increase the number of calories burned while exercising. It's also adjustable and comes with a storage pocket for your cell phone.

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Each container comes with beef, broccoli, yakisoba noodles, and stir fry sauce, and is easy to heat up in a frying pan.

Costco was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author's personal views.

Looking for the latest information on where to watch Champions League matches? Our guide can help you find local and international viewing options to watch every match from anywhere, covering both free and paid options. There are free live streams for both of this week's semi-finals further down this page.

While many countries charge for access (see details below), there are plenty of free Champions League live streams for every round of games. To get around region blocks, you'll need a VPN (virtual private network) to access them from overseas.

• See also: Best streaming deals | Best sports streaming services

Upcoming free Champions League live streams

There are some fantastic free Champions League live streams around Europe. You don't get every game, especially in the early stages, but we often get many of the bigger matches appearing in the list. If you're not in the channel's country, you can still watch by using a VPN to prevent the website from detecting your location and blocking you.

The VPN mimics the required country for your viewing device and lets you watch along for free. We've tested this ourselves for lots of live sports and TV shows.

Don't have a VPN to watch the above options from abroad? Right now, there's a fantastic offer on one of the best VPN services we've tested and have been using for years for streaming and protecting our online devices. You can save up to 70% on the usual price of ProtonVPN. If you're unsatisfied, there's a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Sound good? Then get stuck in and enjoy these free Champions League live streams.

How to watch the Champions League with a VPN

• Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
• Install it on the device you're using to watch the game.
• Set the location to the required overseas streaming service's country.
• Create an account and sign in if required.
• Enjoy the game.

Where to watch Champions League in the UK

As of March 26, 2026, there's been a change. Champions League is still showing TNT Sport in the UK, but instead of Discovery+, it's now found on HBO Max from £31 a month, minus one game a week, which will be shown on Prime Video instead.

If the idea of tracking another streaming service grinds your gears, you might prefer the simpler option of adding it to your Amazon Prime membership as an add-on. It's the same £31 a month, and you can cancel anytime. Watching it through Amazon Prime Video means you can enjoy Champions League live streams across more devices, as app support across TVs, consoles, and streaming sticks is much better for Prime Video than Discovery.

The Prime-exclusive matches during the league phase focused on British teams each week and will continue for the second leg of the semi-finals. We don't expect Prime to have the final, though.

• May 5: Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid

Pro tip: If you want a cheaper option than TNT, you might want to try Australia's Stan Sport, as you can subscribe with a UK bank account for half what it costs for TNT (we've tested this ourselves). You need a VPN to access the site and Champions League live streams outside Australia. It still works out cheaper, though. More details below. 

Where to watch Champions League in Australia

The Champions League is a Stan Sport exclusive in Australia for the majority of the season (but the free service, 9Now, is also showing the final). So if you want to see the entire tournament, you'll need to sign up for Stan and then add Stan Sport as an add-on. The cheapest setup is $32 a month (for Stan Basic at $12 and Sport at $20). Better yet, it comes with a 30-day free trial first for the baseline tier - you'll still pay $20 for the Sport add-on from the off, though.

Stan Basic only streams in standard definition, but Stan Sport's content will stream in up to 4K, even when paired with this cheapest tier, so you might as well go Basic if you're just getting it for sport. However, if you want to check out the TV shows and movies too, HD is $17 a month/$22 for 4K (then add $20 for Sport). All are on rolling one-month contracts, so there's no long-term commitment.

If you're eying up this option via a VPN as a cheaper alternative to your country's Champions League streaming service, we can confirm it will work. We could pay with a UK bank card and have full access to the streaming service. You could also use a travel card like Revolut to pay in local currency so you don't get a foreign transaction fee from your bank.

Where to watch Champions League in the US

This is where 'soccer' being so far down the rankings of the most popular sports in the USA really pays off for viewers who want to enjoy the most prestigious competition in club football.

Every Champions League game is live streamed on Paramount Plus for just $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year.

So yes, you can opt for the cheapest Paramount Plus tier and still get the Champions League despite it not having CBS, as the games will run via separate feeds. If you have CBS already, you'll find it airs some games, but nowhere near as many as Paramount Plus, and rarely the best ones, in all honesty. 

Can I access Champions League on Paramount Plus with a VPN?

Yes and no. If you set up Paramount Plus while already living in the US and are traveling abroad, and want to keep watching, you're all set. A VPN will indeed let you tune in like you were still in the US.

If you have a non-US subscription, like in the UK, you won't be able to access the US version's content with those same login credentials via a VPN on the app or the US website, as they're essentially different apps and services in each country. Unlike Netflix, which will allow one login to work anywhere via a VPN.  

If you're outside the US and want a US account, Paramount Plus has made it difficult for outsiders. That's because you'll need a US form of payment, and we've found international currency cards, like Revolut, don't count.

What about PayPal? You'll need to create a US PayPal account, which must be verified by a US mobile phone number. So, if you can get around all this, you can enjoy the best value Champions League live streams in the world.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.