Aly Raisman on Her Powerful Testimony During Larry Nassar’s Trial: “I Felt Like I Was Going to Compete”

Olympic powerhouse Aly Raisman was one of 163 women to read victim impact statements during the sentencing of former doctor Larry Nassar last week, and although her words continue to ring true for many, the multi-medal winner says that standing up in front of the court was one of the most difficult things she’s ever done.

“In that moment, I almost felt like I was going to compete, because at the Olympics, you block out everything, and in that moment, I blocked out everything,” Raisman told Today host Hota Kotb. “I forgot that people were watching me, I forgot the media was over there, I forgot that Larry was right there. … I just spoke, and I felt like I really had to be strong.”

Although she prepped for her day in court by looking at photos of Nassar, the 23-year-old also admitted that she felt sick immediately after giving her statement, and still does.

“I almost passed out [after giving testimony]. I had the worst headache for hours. Even since then — I still don’t feel good now. … It’s hard to put into words, but it makes me literally sick, all the stress and the trauma of everything. For that moment, I had to be strong. But I’m very, very exhausted from it.”

Raisman’s statement to the court has given many women hope, including her describing Nassar’s victims, and really, all victims of abuse as “an army of survivors,” which Kotb noted was a popular saying on many placards during the 2018 Women’s March. 

Moving forward, Raisman wants to lead the charge in not only creating change but understanding why such abuses could be allowed to fester in the first place, saying, “we need to investigate how this happened,” rhetorically asking Kotb how USAG could put medals and fame above the safety of gymnasts.

“I wanna make sure this never ever happens again, and, you know, I ended my statement saying that I hope that everyone one day will be educated so that they will know how to see the warning signs of a predator so that they will never have to say the words, too.,” Raisman concluded.

“And I meant it, with all my heart. I am very passionate about creating change and making sure that abuse never happens.”

Does Aly Raisman inspire you? Let us know how @BritandCo!

(Photo via Alex Livesey/Getty)

Ryan Gosling has already stepped foot in Barbieland and proved his chops as an action star in The Fall Guy, and soon he's taking on outer space. (And no I'm not talking about a Blue Origin space flight). Ryan Gosling is joining the Star Wars universe! His new movie is being directed by Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy and it's going to be one heck of an intergalactic adventure.

Here's everything we know about Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter, coming to theaters May 28, 2027.

Is Ryan Gosling going to be in Star Wars?

Yes, Ryan Gosling is going to lead a brand new Star Wars movie called Star Wars: Starfighter.

The movie was announced at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, and both Ryan and Shawn showed up IRL! The Fall Guy proved he has what it takes to maintain that cool-guy vibe (just like Han Solo honestly), and I hope Starfighter has the same urban sci-fi adventure I love to see in Star Wars.

Where can I watch Star Wars: Starfighter?

Star Wars: Starfighter is coming to theaters May 28, 2027.

The movie's coming just after Avengers: Secret Wars, but it's not the next time Marvel and Star Wars could duke it out in the box office. Avengers: Doomsday is coming to theaters May 1, 2026, ahead of The Mandalorian & Grogu, which premieres May 22, 2026. Yes. That's a lot of Pedro Pascal, thank goodness.

What is the Star Wars Starfighter movie?

Star Wars: Starfighter is a brand new Star Wars movie that's set apart from any of the trilogies we've seen so far (although it looks like it's part of a brand new trilogy!). The movie is a "standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker."

But even though the final movie ended on a peaceful note, Ryan Gosling's character is sure to be in for some kind of crazy adventure. "This is the perfect place to start this journey for us, because it's such an incredible reminder of why we're going to make this movie and who we're going to make this movie for," Ryan said at the Star Wars Celebration (via Entertainment Weekly). "[The] script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters."

"This is a standalone. It's not a prequel, not a sequel. It's a new adventure," Shawn added. "It's set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet."

When is Starfighter filming?


Filming for the movie is scheduled to begin the fall of 2025.

What is a Starfighter?

A starfighter in Star Wars is a small but armed starship used in battle.

Check out The Latest News On Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling's Friendship In 2024!

As my family’s resident charcuterie master (shamelessly elated with that title), I’ve made so many boards in my day. Aside from the standard lineup of grapes, strawberries, cucumbers, and baby carrots, no other grocer’s selection of meats, cheeses, crackers, jams, and other goodies is as great as Trader Joe’s (in my humble opinion).

I practically sprint to TJ’s if I've been delegated the sensational task of setting up the snack board for a family gathering or game night with friends. Many of their charcuterie-ready picks are super affordable (but still luxe in quality) and there are endless combos you can craft depending on your fave flavors.

These 10 Trader Joe’s finds are the ones I always include in my charcuterie spreads since numerous tasting opportunities have proven they’re not to be missed. This list spans across savory and sweet options, too, so you’re not missing out on the whole flavor spectrum!

Scroll on for my top 10 Trader Joe’s charcuterie products worth adding to your next platter!

Trader Joe's

Spicy Uncured Charcuterie Collection

A good charcuterie always starts with the meat, and Trader Joe's is stocked with plenty of options. This premium $9 spicy trio is insanely tasty, provides you with a nice variety, plus, they make really stunning meat roses.

Trader Joe's

Salame di Parma Mild Salami

I'll also always typically grab a second option for meat, and that second grab tends to be salami since it's super salty and easy to eat with crackers and bits of cheese in the same bite. This $6 pack is described as "well-balanced" and "mild" so everyone will enjoy snacking on the slices.

Trader Joe's

Double Cream Brie

Brie is where it's at, and it gets even better when you whip up a simple baked brie to pair with the rest of your charcuterie goodies. To make mine, I'll snag this $8.49 block, chop it up and put it in a ramekin, and bake it at a high temp until it's nice and bubbly. It makes the perfect snack to dip crackers in, plus you can easily elevate it with two of my favorite add-ins below...

Trader Joe's

Spicy Honey Sauce

Yup – hot honey supremacy! Drizzling a bit of this on top of my baked brie truly changes everything. Both the sweet and spicy components of this $5 bottle pair wonderfully with brie – you'll be addicted once you try it, I promise.

Trader Joe's

Fig Butter

This $3 fig butter also goes absolutely nuts when you use it as a baked brie topper. It's super simple and subtly sweet. If you love complex, elevated flavors, you've gotta try this pick. It also works well on toasts, sammies, and even burgers!

Trader Joe's

Fig & Olive Crisps

Out of the literal millions of crackers Trader Joe's has to offer, I think these $4 babies are the best money can buy. Each bite is infused with flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds for a yummy crunch, plus, they're made with figs and olives that provide a delectable salty-sweet balance. What I like most about 'em is they have great structural integrity, so they don't break when you use them for dipping or layering between meats and cheeses.

Trader Joe's

Prosciutto Wrapped Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

This $5 snack has the best of both worlds, so it could be a good grab if you want to set up a snack board quickly without spending over $15 on a full suite of meats and cheeses. They're definitely easy to inhale because they're flavorful as ever!

Trader Joe's

Garlic & Jalapeño Stuffed Olives

I could go on and on and on and on about these stuffed olives. They're insane. A jar doesn't ever last long in my fridge. Each plump bite is packed with slivers of garlic and jalapeño, though they're not overly spicy. The brine balances everything out wonderfully. I like to serve these in a tiny bowl on top of my charcuterie boards and eat 'em up!

Trader Joe's

Ciabatta Demi-Baguette

This bread is a must if you're looking to made a baked brie with your charcuterie board: slice it up, toast the pieces for a bit, and you have the perfect vessel for a spoonful of melty brie paired with either the hot honey or fig jam. I tend to buy this "demi" size because I often enjoy my charcuterie boards with one or two other people, but TJ's also sells full-size baguettes to feed bigger crowds!

Trader Joe's

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

These PB cups easily rank in my top 10 favorite Trader Joe's products of all time. Encased in decadent dark chocolate, these bites also hold plenty of creamy peanut butter for a timeless treat – especially one you'll want to unwrap after chowing down on charcuterie!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more must-try Trader Joe's products!

Emily Henry not only new pops books year after year, but she also has a knack for frequently announcing exciting book adaptations, too! From launching Funny Story(already love it) to news of the Beach Read movie (crossing our fingers for a Ayo Edibiri and Paul Mescal announcement any day now), EmHen's had a busy year — and it just got even busier.

After Henry announced the news herself on her email newsletter, "Emily's Grocery List,"Deadline confirmed that Netflix is in the process of adapting Happy Place. We've got the scoop on everything you should know about the newest Emily Henry adaption!

Here's everything we know about Emily Henry's Happy Place show, coming to Netflix soon.

Who's in the Happy Place cast?

Seacia Pavao/Netflix

While we don't have a confirmed cast yet, we're not-so-patiently waiting patiently to see who's attached to this adaption. And there's one star Emily Henry would love to see in the movie.

"For Harriet in Happy Place, I think Eve Hewson would be wonderful," the author told People. "And usually, when I am thinking of casting, I'm not actually thinking of someone who looks like that person. I'm just thinking of someone who has that same vibe. But she actually does look more or less how Harriet is in my head."

Where can I watch Happy Place?

Devyn Glista/St. Blanc Studios

We don't have an official Happy Place release date yet, but the series will be available to stream on Netflix.

What is Happy Place about?

Amazon

The Happy Place plot follows a couple, Harriet and Wyn, as they navigate their broken relationship. The stories winds over the course of many years: as friends, lovers, fiancées, and now...whatever they are. Every summer, they go to the beach house with their closest friends, but this year they set out for one last hurrah before the beach house is sold.

Their whole friend group thinks they're still together, so they pretend to be together just for a short while just to enjoy one last summer all together. Only...it's harder than you think to pretend you're not in love with someone when you are, in fact, still in love.

Is Happy Place being adapted for the screen?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Emily Henry officially confirmed that Happy Place is being adapted for Netflix. The author wrote in her email newsletter, "Happy Place is going to be a series on Netflix! I’ve been dying to tell you about it forever, and there’s actually A LOT more to share very soon, but since this little bit of news leaked today, I wanted to be the one to FORMALLY tell you."

She goes on to say she's thrilled about the series and even more excited that they've allowed her to be closely involved in the project, so that it can live up to her, and the readers', dream and vision for the book! She said that she wants to make it a series that the fans will love and be happy with. We couldn't be more excited to hear that!

Is Happy Place by Emily Henry going to be a series?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Happy Place will be made into a TV series with Netflix! This is great news, because it works better for the plot for the project to cover multiple episodes. The book has quite a long storyline that develops over many years and many summers in the lives of the main characters, so with flashbacks, it will require more time to delve into their stories.

This makes me so excited as a fan, because I believe this allows them the time to do the story justice, and really develop the relationship and chemistry between the two main characters, Harriet and Wyn, as well as the supporting characters also in the book.

Who's producing Netflix's Happy Place show?

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The series will be produced by Netflix and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican production company. This announcement follows multiple deals between Lopez and Netflix, including their latest release of Atlas, which garnered over 72 million views! Plus, JLo is a certifiable rom-com queen, so we know EmHen will be in the best of hands with her!

Who's the showrunner for the Happy Place show?

Rich Fury/Getty Images

We can't escape the world of Bridgerton because one of the show's Co-Executive Producers — Leila Cohan — is attached to the Happy Place TV show! She'll be the showrunner and co-writer for the series which means fans of Emily Henry's fun rom-com are in for a treat (via Deadline).

Are there other Emily Henry book adaptations being made?

Amazon

Beach Read, a beloved Henry best-seller, is being made into a movie! Fans continue to speculate that Paul Mescal and Ayo Edibiri will star in it, especially after Henry said they would be amazing for the roles. Even Paul told Awards Watch he wants to do a romcom with Ayo...so, it's basically meant to be!

People We Meet On Vacationis also getting the movie treatment. The cast will be led by Tom Blyth and Emily Baer, and incredible author, screenplay writer, and rom-com lover Yulin Kuang is set to adapt the script, so that's bound to be a fabulous match!

Finally, we're getting a movie for Book Lovers. According to Us! Weekly, some fans think this is the movie for Ayo and Paul, but we're not convinced. Definitely keeping our eye out for who is cast, though!

We're so excited for the many Emily Henry projects in the works, and pending for the future. Emily Henry said at the end of her newsletter, "I cannot WAIT to tell you more, about this project and others, right here on my grocery list just as soon I’m given the green light. For now, though, I’m back to working on [REDACTED]. Happy reading, my friends."

Yikes, I'm scared and excited all at once, because she has taken over my life. Stay tuned her for further updates on her upcoming projects!

Who do you want to see in the Happy Place series? Follow us on Facebook for more pop culture news, and read This Excerpt Of Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life before the book launches on April 22, 2025.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.