Gucci and Forever 21 Are Embroiled in a Legal Battle Over Stripes

The beloved international pop star posted an image of herself and her adorable cat, Benjamin Button, to tell her audience about the importance of voter registration — and ultimately truth in an election. This call for truth follows images that circled the internet, exhibiting Taylor Swift fans — some real women, and some AI-generated — endorsing Donald Trump. One image features a shirt with a depiction of Swift with an Uncle Sam-esque look that reads, "Taylor Swift wants you to vote for Donald Trump!" The former President even shared these images on Truth Social, posting, "I accept!"

After addressing the Donald Trump-supporting AI-generated elephant in the room, she said, “The simplest way to combat misinformation is the truth. I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election.”

Swift went on to describe that Harris “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” She explained that she sees Harris as a “steady, gifted leader” who will ultimately help the country accomplish more through “calm and not chaos.”

The Grammy winner then talked about Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Tim Walz, noting that she was “heartened and impressed” by his selection for the ticket. She continued by praising how Walz “has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”

Swift closed out her statement, saying that she’s done her research and made a choice, and encouraging her audience to do the same. She highlighted the fact that first-time voters need to remember to register soon, and that she finds “it’s actually much easier to vote early.” With a callout to go to her link in bio for more voter resources, she signed her post in the only way she could: “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.”

The sign-off is in reference to a comment made by Republican Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator JD Vance. Vance previously alleged that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

One thing we know about Miss Taylor Swift? You don’t wanna mess with her or her three cats.

This massive political move comes five years after Swift’s Netflix documentary, Miss Americana — a film that followed her life post-Reputation and pre-Lover, but essentially acted as a “coming out” documentary for being a Democrat. In the documentary, she stressed to her family and team that she didn’t want to sit idly by while people’s rights are on the line. She said, “If you can just shift the power in your direction by being bold enough, then it won’t be like this forever.”

Since then, she's endorsed Democratic State Senate hopeful, Phil Bredesen, and House of Representatives candidate, Jim Cooper, in the 2018 Tennessee elections. In her endorsement post, Swift explained that Bredesen's opponent, Marsha Blackburn, was a big concern for her. She wrote, "Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape." Swift continued, "She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values."

And while she noted her own political beliefs, Swift was sure to also remind folks that registering to vote is very important, no matter what!

Though her efforts in Tennessee didn't turn out the way Swift wished, that didn't stop her from remaining politically involved. In the 2020 election, Swift took this a step further to endorse Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Twitter and in V Magazine. In the article, Swift expressed concern for a woman's right to choose, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, global and health. This all came on the heels of the 2020 COVID pandemic and sweeping Black Lives Matter movement. She said, “I will proudly vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in this year’s presidential election. Under their leadership, I believe America has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs.”

And now her efforts continue for the 2024 general election. Swift's Instagram post has 8 million likes — and counting! — so far. Plus, since this post, a study conducted found that Swift gained over 165,000 followers on the platform. While not every single one of these Instagram users may be eligible U.S. voters, it does show the incredible influence Taylor Swift is able to wield at any given moment.

Ultimately, this Taylor Swift fan is just happy to see her able to express her opinions more freely, time after time.

Read Taylor Swift's Full Statement Here:

"Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country.

Recently I was made aware that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his site. It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation. It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is with the truth.

I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election. I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.

I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.

With love and hope,

Taylor Swift
Childless Cat Lady"

Internet users are speculating that there's been a creative control struggle between Baldoni and Lively throughout the process, especially now that rumors are swirling Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds hope It Ends With Us scores Lively an Oscar nomination. The actress also served as producer and was involved in everything from the script to the inclusion of Taylor Swift's "My Tears Ricochet."

What happened between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively?

@deadline#JennySlate on working with #JustinBaldoni, who served as both scene partner and director to the actress in #ItEndsWithUsMovie♬ original sound - Deadline

Fans first noticed something seemed off when it was revealed Blake Lively, Brandon Skelnar, Jenny Slate, and Colleen Hoover don't follow Justin Baldoni on Instagram (even though he follows them). Baldoni didn't take photos with the cast at the New York City premiere, and he also hasn't done any of the viral press with his costars. Plus, the fact that Baldoni's onscreen sister Jenny Slate dodged a question about him only makes this whole situation more odd.

When an Instagram user called Lively's behavior "disappointing," her brother-in-law Bart Johnson replied (via People), "I’m really sorry you feel that way. I’m sure you have a huge heart and want the best. I can promise you the truth has not come out yet. Blake worked harder on this film than anything I’ve seen her do my entire life. Because it meant so much to her."

"The message is in the book. And in the movie. Not in short clips / interviews," he continues. "She is the reason the message / this movie/ is getting out. Were mistakes made? Yes. I make mistakes in life. But they aren’t under a microscope. Anyway, I respect your views. I got nothing but love for you."

The Hollywood Reporter reveals the cast and crew might have wrapped with two different cuts of the movie, citing creative differences between Baldoni and Lively, and sources told Page Six the studio went with Lively's "more feminine cut." (THR reports Lively commissioned Shane Reid, a Deadpool & Wolverine editor, for It Ends With Us, although the final project is credited to editors Oona Flaherty and Robb Sullivan.)

But the supposed feud might go deeper. A set source just revealed to People that not only have Blake and Justin been at odds, but apparently "the principal cast and [author] Colleen Hoover will have nothing to do with him."

"All is not what it seems," the source continues. "There is much more to this story."

Sources told The Daily Mail Baldoni was "chauvinistic" and "borderline abusive" during the filming process.

“The tension was so obvious,” an It Ends With Us on-set source told Page Six. “Once she was done with the scene she was really impatient, said, ‘Am I done? Can I go?,’ and as soon as they said ‘yes,’ there was like a Blake-size hole in the wall...She was so outta there.”

There are rumors Justin Baldoni made Blake Lively feel uncomfortable in her postpartum body (she gave birth to fourth child Olin in February of 2023; the movie began filming in May of 2023), and that he asked an on-set trainer how much she weighed before filming a scene where he has to pick her up. Baldoni reportedly has back problems and wanted to make sure he didn't injure himself. Lively also reportedly felt like the actor & director lingered too long during a kissing scene.

But throughout the whole press cycle, Justin Baldoni has been the only member of the cast raising awareness for domestic violence, and praising the strength of DV survivors.

During the premiere for the film, Baldoni told ET, "This is a night for all the women who we made this movie for...If a Lily Bloom in real life can sit in this theater and maybe make a different choice for herself than was made for her, maybe she sees herself on that screen and chooses something different for herself, that's why I made the movie."

Will Justin Baldoni direct It Starts With Us?

In addition to this video from set, where Lively and Baldoni look like they're in a visionary standoff, Baldoni just revealed he probably won't step back into the role of director if 2022's It Starts With Us is also adapted.

"I think that there are better people for that one," he tells Entertainment Tonight at the August 6 NYC premiere. "I think Blake Lively's ready to direct, that's what I think."

Amid the internet frenzy, people are coming to Baldoni's defense, praising his vulnerable Man Enough podcast. AnIt Ends With Us extra even recounted how kind and attentive he was on set.

And while Lively has always been praised as an "unproblematic queen," fans of the book wish official press for the movie centered on domestic violence awareness as much as Baldoni's one-on-one interviews do. Instead, she's filmed funny baking videos, promoted her Betty Buzz and Blake Brown brands, and encouraged viewers to "wear your florals" to see the movie.

She finally touched on the themes of the movie in an August 13 Instagram story, providing a link to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, while The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Justin Baldoni has hired PR crisis manager Melissa Nathan amid the It Ends With Us drama. Nathan represented Johnny Depp during the 2022 Amber Heard trial.

On September 10, a source told People that Blake Lively felt "surprised," "vulnerable and upset" about all the It Ends With Us drama. "During the promotion of the movie, not one day went by when she was not in the news in an unfavorable light. She's just not used to this kind of drama."

Check back here for updates on the situation.

What is inflammation?

“At its simplest, inflammation is a protective response by the body. When the immune system detects an invader or an injury, the immune system, various blood proteins, and the cardiovascular system react to eliminate the problem,” says Stephanie Dunne, MS, RDN, IFNCP at Nutrition Q.E.D. “In other words, inflammation is a response to something harmful or damaged in the body.”

Symptomatically, inflammation can show up in numerous ways, including fever, sore throat, bruising and swelling, fatigue, mood swings, body aches, headaches, skin disorders, decreased thyroid function, and irregular bowel movements, to name a few.

What causes inflammation?

There are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic. According to Dunne, acute inflammation is most commonly caused by an “invader or injury.” Acute inflammation sets in quicker than chronic inflammation, often presenting within minutes or hours. Causes of acute inflammation can include physical injury, infections, and hypersensitivities like allergic reactions.

“Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is much harder to identify and resolve,” says Dunne. “Chronic inflammation sets in slowly, sometimes taking months or years to take hold, and the signs are more subtle, less specific, and systemic.”

Causes of chronic inflammation include prolonged exposure to toxins, persistent infections, smoking, heavy alcohol use, over-exercising, chronic use of certain medications, and consuming foods that damage the digestive tract.

The lasting effects of chronic inflammation are much more severe than that of acute inflammation, too. Many conditions like Alzheimer's Disease, ADHD, autoimmune disease, diabetes, and depression have been linked in part to chronic inflammation.

How can I treat inflammation?

According to Varsha Khatri, RDN at Prowise Healthcare, modifying your plans for your diet, exercise, rest, and stress management can help decrease chronic inflammation. Dietary changes are a great place to start.

“The introduction of foods containing anti-inflammatory nutrients and the exclusion of pro-inflammatory foods, for instance, processed sugar and trans fats, is essential,” she says.

In addition to anti-inflammatory foods, drinking teas for inflammation is an easy way to keep you feeling your best in the day-to-day. Below, find the best teas our experts recommend for fighting inflammation!

Rishi Tea Turmeric Ginger Herbal Tea

Dunne recommends this turmeric and ginger tea because both turmeric and ginger contain strong anti-inflammatory properties. Combining them can pack a powerful punch, and this ready-to-go combo makes reaping the benefits of both ingredients super easy.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Stress Ease Immune Tea with Adaptogens

Dunne also likes this tea because it contains herbs and spices that support the adrenal glands and the immune system. Supporting both systems is necessary if you're looking to reduce inflammation.

Stash Spice Dragon Red Chai Herbal Tea

Cinnamon, ginger, and clove are all considered anti-inflammatory, and this herbal tea includes them all. If you enjoy drinking chai, this caffeine-free version will deliver that familiar flavor all while helping your body combat inflammation!

Tazo Green Tea

Drinking green tea consistently can not only help decrease inflammation, but improve your cardiovascular health and metabolism, which can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Ginger Tea

Ginger is rich in gingerol, which can help reduce general swelling (including arthritis and sore muscles) and relieve an array of digestive issues. It's also pretty tasty, too, so you can enjoy sipping it any time.

52USA Rooibos Organic Tea

"Rooibos tea has antioxidants like aspalathin and nothofagin which are present in plants and rooibos, and are believed to have anti-inflammatory effects," says Khatri. "Such antioxidants can mitigate the activity of pro-inflammatory substances and therefore, chronic inflammatory diseases may be effectively managed."

Yogi Comforting Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is one of the best teas for inflammation to drink before bed. It has relaxing and soothing effects, thanks to apigenin, which primarily tackles inflammation in the gut. If you deal with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other digestive disorders, you'll find some nice relief from drinking chamomile tea.