5 Things You Need to Know About #NotThere and #NoCeilings

If you woke up yesterday confused why many of your friends’ social media accounts had pictures of faceless women, the answer was simple: They were simply not there. The #NotThere campaign, started by the Clinton Foundation in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, launched on International Women’s Day to bring attention to the fact that women just aren’t where we need to be yet in terms of gender equality. It was supposed to be bold; it was supposed to be different; it was supposed to catch your attention. And it did.

Today, The Clinton Foundation took it one step further, revealing the data behind #NotThere via The Full Participate Project from the No Ceilings initiative. The report features over 850,000 data points, spanning over 20 years, from 190 different countries. Here’s what you need to know:

1. The U.S. is 1 of 9 countries worldwide that doesn’t provide paid maternity leave. Other countries include the Marshall Islands, Palau, Tonga, and Micronesia.

2. Women work more hours a day without pay. The reasoning? Women spend MORE hours a day on unpaid domestic work, like household tasks and taking care of children.

3. Child marriage stands in the way of girls’ education. 1 in 4 girls are married by their 18th birthday, and countries only protect girls’ access to primary education (elementary school). They often never attend middle school or high school.

4. 1 in 3 women suffers physical or sexual violence. Even though on average, 76 out of 100 countries have laws against domestic violence, many women are still at risk, since most of the violence comes at the hands of husbands and partners.

5. Women have unequal access to the Internet. In developing countries, 200 million fewer women than men have Internet access. But studies show that when women do use the Internet, they search for jobs, and look for ways to start a business or further their education.

Get more info on the No Ceilings initiative and The Full Participation Project here.

What are your thoughts on this marketing campaign? Do you think it was effective? Share with us in the comments below.

This was originally published on Levo League by Erica Murphy

Few books have made an impact on BookTok like Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us. The story follows a woman named Lily who is intrigued by a new relationship with Ryle (Justin Baldoni), but an encounter with her first love Atlas (Brandon Sklenar) — and the reminders of her past that Atlas carries — complicates everything. This movie based on a bookis one to remember.

We had high hopes for this summer movie, and when it was announced that Justin Baldoni would develop the film in 2019, we knew the story was in good hands. Baldoni won us over with his role as Rafael in Jane The Virgin, and his feature directorial debut Five Feet Apart made us cry our eyes out.

If you're a Colleen Hoover fan, keep reading for everything you need to know about It Ends With Us. Check out the rest of this year's 2024 movies too!

Is It Ends With Us streaming?

Sony Pictures Releasing

Yes, you can now watch It Ends With Us at home! The movie is finally on Netflix, but it's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime. That means you can watch the movie while reading up on all the cast drama without shame.

Is Ryan Reynolds involved in It Ends With Us?

Sony Pictures Releasing

Yes, Blake Lively revealed Ryan Reynolds helped write one of It Ends With Us' most memorable scenes. "The iconic rooftop scene, my husband actually wrote it," she tells E! News."He works on everything I do, I work on everything he does. So his wins, his celebrations are mine and mine are his."

Lively also says that Reynolds showed up in the movie in another unexpected way: through his clothes! "I have a few of my husband's shirts and socks randomly in the movie," she tells People. She also wears her own boots in the birthday party scene, and her own Louboutins in the bar.

"I have some of Gigi Hadid's sweaters in the movie," she continues. "She has this line, Guest In Residence, but also she would run out and I would be like, 'I want this one' because of all the really cool patterns and whatnot, and she’d be like, 'I have that. You can wear mine.'"

Watch the It Ends With Us trailer now!

Sony Pictures Releasing

The way I IMMEDIATELY slapped my hand over my mouth at the first notes of "My Tears Ricochet" from Taylor Swift's Folklore. What a song choice for the first trailer! And then to have Ethel Cain's "Strangers" lead the second trailer makes me want to cry! This is the one trailer we have been waiting for all year, and it totally captures the emotion, heart, and drama of the book.

When is the It Ends With Us movie coming out?

Sony Pictures Releasing

It Ends With Us premiered in theaters August 9, 2024. With so much color, plus the fact Blake Lively's Lily runs a flower shop, a summer release is perfect! Because of the writers' strike and actors' strike, production on the film paused over the summer of 2023, meaning the movie got delayed from its original February 9 (then June 21) release date.

Who plays Lily in the It Ends With Us cast?

Sony Pictures Releasing

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni (who also directed) star in the film as Lily and Ryle, respectively. On April 20, 2023, it was announced that 1923 star Brandon Sklenar would join the duo as Atlas, and on May 1, Jenny Slate joined the cast as Ryle's sister Allysa. Hasan Minhaj joined the film on May 25 as Alyssa's husband Marshall.

Baldoni also posted a TikTok confirming that after an open casting call, they found Isabela Ferrer for young Lily!

Fans were initially unhappy with Blake's casting, because in the book, Lily is supposed to be in her early 20s. But author Colleen Hoover explained a bit of the intention behind the casting with TODAY, explaining that the "new adult" genre at the time favored characters in their early 20s — and that the point of the book is its message, not its cast or costumes.

“As an author, we make mistakes,” she says. “There’s no 28-year-old neurosurgeons, you know? You go to school for 15 years. And so to make corrections to what I messed up in the book, we aged the characters up somewhat...I love that there’s discourse surrounding it, I do. I think that people are going to be very pleased. I’m very pleased.”

What is It Ends With Us about?

Amazon

It Ends With Us follows Lily Bloom after she moves out of her small town to start a flower shop in Boston. When she meets Ryle on a rooftop and quickly falls head over heels, it seems like fate. That is, until she comes face-to-face with her first love Atlas. It's a story of strength, deep-rooted relationships, and identity that made waves on social media.

Where was It Ends With Us filmed?

Sony Pictures Releasing

It Ends With Us filmed primarily in New Jersey. The first set images from It Ends With Us are from a scene that takes place between Lily and Ryle. While Baldoni is wearing a simple black sweater, Lively is wearing two different shades of pink over a brown dress. I love the way costumes highlight all the ways characters are different, and this is the perfect example!

On January 6, 2024, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were finally spotted in Jersey City again. While the costumes have gotten some backlash, I really love the texture and visual interest in this patchwork jacket + jeans combo! It feels creative and bright — just like Lily :).

And on April 30 we FINALLY got the first official images from the movie. The colors are just as bright and yet still have some emotional weight behind them to match the story. I'm particularly obsessed with this Blake Lively look — I'm a sucker for a jeans + tank + cardigan combo.

Is Colleen Hoover making a movie out of It Starts With Us?

Sony Pictures Releasing

We might have just gotten a movie adaptation of It Ends With Us, but fans are already hoping for a sequel movie based on It Starts With Us! There's no word on the potential sequel, but star Brandon Sklenar is totally down to return.

"I would love to do it, I really would, I would love to do it," Brandon Sklenar told Access during New York Fashion Week. "I hope we can get it together because I think the fans deserve it, and I'd just love to tell more of Atlas' story and get into his past a little more. Yeah, it would be beautiful if we can do it. I would love to."

Who else is working on the film?

Sony Pictures Releasing

Lively, Baldoni, Hoover, Steve Sarowitz, and Andrew Calof all served as executive producers, while Alex Saks, Christy Hall, and Jamey Heath produced. Hall also wrote the script for the film.

Follow us on TikTok and Twitter for the latest entertainment updates, and check back here for new info on It Ends With Us! Feel free to rewatch all of Blake Lively's movies too ;).

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This post has been updated.

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) have always been a dramatic duo, but they're taking the drama to new heights right now: they're breaking up, according to TMZ. The Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker BFFs are currently expecting their first child together, making this all way more complicated than a simple split. So what happened to this celebrity couple? Let's dig into it.

Here's everything to know about Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly's breakup!

www.instagram.com

TMZ reported Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly broke up on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The pair allegedly split on Thanksgiving weekend in Vail, Colorado given "upsetting material" Megan found on MGK's phone. Apparently they haven't been together since the breakup, with MGK going as far as to leave their trip early.

Megan just announced she's pregnant on Instagram on November 11, 2024. According to PEOPLE, MGK was "basically telling everyone he knows" about the baby-to-be, and that the pair is "doing well" in general. Now, it seems like the tables have really turned in the latter regard.

However, an exclusive source told PEOPLE, "Their relationship has always been bumpy. They love each other but don't have compatible personalities." The source explained that Megan and MGK are "both hot-heads, dramatic and stubborn," noting that they've "worked things out" when they broke up in the past. "When they're good together, they're great," they said. "They will very likely get back together."

PEOPLE reported that Megan and MGK announced their engagement on Instagram on January 12, 2022. However, the Jennifer's Body star only features her pregnancy announcement on Instagram now — and while MGK doesn't have a post on his grid either, you can still see his video of her engagement ring here!

Megan and MGK have been together since July 2020. Here's hoping they're able to work things out in a way that makes sense for them and their little family!

Looking for more celebrity news? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

HBO Max renewedEuphoria for a third season back in 2022, but we sadly haven't seen any progress on the show in the way of filming. Though details surrounding the plot for Euphoria season 3 haven't been revealed, we are awaiting the TV show with excitement!

Euphoria has inspired our coolest makeup looks and on-point Halloween costumes, so we can’t wait to see what the next season of this neon-lighted, drama-filled story holds. Here’s what we know about season 3, thus far. Stay tuned for more updates!

Keep reading for everything we know about Euphoria season 3, filming in 2025.

  • Euphoria season 3 is officially moving forward, and will start filming in 2025.
  • Cast members like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer are returning.
  • Despite the fact creator Sam Levinson suggest Zendaya's schedule caused Euphoria production delays, the actress said she's "just waiting" to return to the show.

Is Euphoria season 3 coming out soon?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Release Date

Variety confirmed that we should be seeing Euphoria season 3 in 2026...but after an almost-three year wait...does anyone actually care anymore? I'm excited to see Zendaya return to the role that won her an Emmy (as well as the rest of the cast, obvi), but it's hard to be thrilled about something after such a long time. Luckily, fans are familiar with waiting a long time for new releases (remember that 2 ½-year wait for Euphoria season 2?), and hopefully the pent-up hype will be worth it when the show finally comes to streaming.

What's going to happen in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Plot

Season 2 of Euphoria left us with a lot to unpack: Rue’s (potential) sobriety, Lexi’s chaotic play, Fez and Ash’s shootings, Cal’s insane sexual spiral, and of course, the glorious girl fight between Maddy and Cassie. The third season has some loose ends to tie up, and we can’t wait to see how it’s done.

Sam Levinson tells EllethatEuphoria season 3 is more of a “film noir,” and that Rue's plot line will “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world.”

Originally, Sam showed multiple story ideas to both Zendaya and HBO (and although Z doesn't have total creative control, as an executive producer, she does get a say in where her story goes). The show will feature a time jump, bringing the characters closer to the actors' ages. According to Variety, the first draft of the script gave the "meaty" storyline to Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, and featured Zendaya's Rue as a private detective in more of a background role. More recent rewrites incorporated Z's idea of making Rue, who would now be sober, a pregnancy surrogate. Unfortunately, "the new scripts simply didn’t feel like the show tonally."

HBO chairman & CEO Casey Bloys told Variety that Sam Levinson is furiously working on the scripts. "One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesn’t want to have it in high school anymore. That’s where it was set and what made sense then," he says. "So when you take it out of that, there’s a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff. But I think he’s got a take that he’s excited about, and he’s busy writing."

Is Storm Reid going to be in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen/HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Cast

No, Storm Reid won't be in Euphoria season 3. On November 20, she revealed she wouldn't return as Zendaya's onscreen sister Gia. “I’m very excited for Season 3,” she said in a Rotten Tomatoes interview at the Governors Awards. “Unfortunately, Gia’s not returning to the third season, but I am so so indebted to the cast and the crew of that show, to HBO. Euphoria’s a really special thing and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon.”

However, we also know that Barbie Ferreira (Kat) won’t be returning for season 3, due to butting heads one too many times with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

Okay, so who's actually in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Dominic Fike (who played Elliot in Euphoria season 2) told Variety it “would be dope” to come back for Euphoria season 3, but that “I don’t really talk to them anymore.” And after Angus Cloud's (Fez) tragic passing, some fans were calling for HBO Max to cancel the series.

But when we finally do see the series again, we’ll see more of the main cast: Zendaya (Rue), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Maude Apatow (Lexi), and more – but who knows? The production team may surprise us with new additions, like they did with Dominic Fike’s Elliot.

And the cast is even more excited for the show to return than we are! While Sydney Sweeney says she "honestly" doesn't “know anything about it,” (although she's hoping for "Crazy Cassie": "The crazier, the better for me."), Sweeney can't wait to reunite with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and everyone else from the show.

“They were the crew and the cast that were there at the beginning of my career,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We all came up from different places but came together and were navigating so much at the same time, so it’s really nice having that core group. They’re experiencing a similarity to what I’m going through. It’s nice to have that community.”

Why is Euphoria season 3 delayed?

Eddy Chen / HBO

We've been waiting for Euphoria season 3 for over two years, but there's a very good reason for the delay. After a source told THR Zendaya was to blame, the actress reportedly laughed at the idea. “I will say, I have been off for a couple years, so not delayed because of my [schedule]…I’ve been open, just waiting,” the actress told Vanity Fair. "I haven’t read anything yet, but I’m excited to see what everyone has been working on, and what the future looks like for Euphoria...My most important thing is to do justice by the people who love and care about Rue, and make sure that she’s looked after as a character. I think that’s my number one duty."

Actor Colman Domingo has another explanation for the delay: “[Sam Levinson is] a person who writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again, because I think he's wrestling with what's important,” he tells GQ. “He's responding immediately to what the ills of the world are. I know that the one thing I can tell you is that he's very much interested in the existential question of who we are right now. Our souls. That's what he wants to figure out with season three.”

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” HBO says in a statement to Deadlineabout the show's official, if temporary, pause. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

So much has happened in the real world since the end of Euphoria season 2 that could have an impact on the new installment, and I can't wait to see what that looks like!

When will Euphoria season 3 start filming?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria season 3 will begin filming in January 2025. “We are shooting Euphoria,” HBO's Casey Bloys said at an HBO/Max press event on November 12. "I think we have a start date, mid to late January. Nothing’s changed...We are shooting the season. I have read the scripts. We’re happy. We’re moving ahead. All of the actors are in the show.”

The Euphoria season 3 delay comes down to significant script rewrites (not to mention how busy the cast is!). According to Variety, the original plan was for the Euphoria cast to work on other projects throughout 2024, and that filming the new season could take at least 25 weeks. However, it looks like that plan could change at any time.

In a March 2024 interview with Who What Wear, Sydney Sweeney shared her excitement to return. "It’s going to be very, very wild,” she says. And regarding the time gap between seasons 2 and 3, Sydney “actually [likes] it because there’s so much room for growth for both me as a person and also Cassie as a character."

Storm Reid, who plays Rue's (Zendaya) little sister Gia in the series, expressed her hope (and a bit of hesitance) in for Euphoria season 3 in talks with E! News at the Challengerspremiere in April 2024. "We're on pause right now, but we're anxious to get back," she said. "If it's meant to be, we'll be back soon and we'll give the audience what they want and deserve. Hopefully, we will be back."

On the other hand, according to an article published by Vanity Fair, another cast member (who wished to remain anonymous) said at the time, “I just don’t think it will happen.”

The anonymous actor also shed some light on the show's delay. “Since January of 2022, we have had a start date of March that turned into June, that turned into January,” they say. “And then they kept pushing every month from then on. It was two full years of HBO telling all the actors we were going back soon, so we couldn’t take some jobs.”

Now that Euphoria season 3 is officially on hiatus, the cast members aren't barred from taking further jobs, they say: “Before last week I couldn’t take any TV jobs. Since they have put it on hiatus, I can now take any job. But what sucks is that we all had more momentum right when the show came out but now it’s been 2 years of waiting.”

Eddy Chen / HBO

Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules in the series, joined the Call Her Daddy podcast podcast in August 2024, discussing everything from relationships to fame. The topic of whether or not Euphoria season 3 is going to happen came up – as it's pretty hard to ignore at this point – and Schafer immediately got emotional.

Alex Cooper, the host of the podcast asked, "Is season 3 happening? What are we doing?"

"I think everyone feels a certain sense of anticipation for, like, if we are supposed to do a season 3," Schafer said between tears. "Obviously, I'm still coming to qualms with what's happened, and losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family and everything," she said, referring to the passings of co-star Angus Cloud and screenwriter Kevin Turen.

"If we do go back, that's going to be tough," Schafer said. "I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season 3."

Will there be a time jump in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Multiple stakeholders in the Euphoria-verse expressed their interest in seeing the characters out of high school. When asked about season 3 in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zendaya expressed her eagerness to see what post-East Highland will look like for the cast:

“I think it’ll be exciting to explore the characters out of high school,” said Zendaya. “I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look. But also with all the characters, in the sense where they’re trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be.”

Heidi Bivens, the HBO show’s costume designer, hinted further at a time jump between seasons 2 and 3 when talking with Vogue: “There is talk of [season 3] being approximately five years in the future, and that they’re not in high school anymore. Dorothy’s not in Kansas anymore.”

How many Euphoria seasons are there?

Eddy Chen / HBO

There are currently two seasons of Euphoria — both of which you can stream on HBO Max now. And it sounds like Euphoria season 3 will be the final installment. The Euphoria cast is contracted for the junior season, and according to a Variety source, they're all committed to seeing the story "through to the end with a third season."

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all things Euphoria season 3 — plus all the new TV shows coming your way, like Stranger Things 5 and The Last of Us season 2!

This post has been updated.

While 2024 gave us some incredible movies like Challengers and Dune 2, it also provided some pretty disappointing films. Despite the fact my memories surrounding Dakota Johnson's Madame Web were incredibly fun, the movie in and of itself felt like nothing but meme after meme. (I think about "I just wanna go home and watch Idol" all the time). But it's not just the movies' content that's struggling — it's movies in general.

Oppenheimer was one of 2023's biggest titles, and yet it was only in theaters for around 18 weeks, while the $1 billion-earning, "cinema saving" Barbie had a theatrical run and IMAX re-release that culminated in 10 weeks in theaters. Compared to 2012's Avatar, which earned almost $3 billion at the time and ran for 34 weeks, I'm wondering what a "good movie" even means anymore.

Is the best movie the one that earns the most money? Is it whichever film has the biggest internet presence? Or is it the one that makes you feel like a better version of yourself when the credits roll? No matter what your definition of a good movie is viewers agree these flicks ain't it.

Keep reading for the worst movies of 2024 to see if you agree.

Y2K

A24

A New Year's Eve party turns into an absolute nightmare when the Y2K crisis actually happens. I'm talking blood, terror, and lots of screaming. Unfortunately, despite the fact movie watchers love a good slasher-comedy, this movie got a 45 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.2 out of 10 for IMDb.

Miller's Girl

Zac Popik/Lionsgate

I guess we'd moved passed teacher & student will-they-won't-they movies, but apparently not. Miller's Girl is all about power, boundaries, and what happens when lines blur, and it follows Jenna Ortega's character, whose assignment from a teacher (Martin Freeman) makes both of their lives super complicated. The film has a 29 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.2 out of 10 IMDb rating.

Uglies

Brian Douglas/Netflix

This is one 2024 movie I could not get through with a straight face because the message is simple: you're either pretty and brainwashed or ugly and smart. What about the intelligent hot people?! The movie follows Joey King's Tally, who lives in a society that gives you a "perfecting" surgery at the age of 16. Uglies was aiming to recreate the magic of franchises like The Hunger Games but based on the 16 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating and 4.7 IMDb score, it didn't work.

Borderlands

Lionsgate

This video game adaptation follows treasure hunter Lilith, who returns to her home planet of Pandora. Together with a rag-tag team of misfits, Lilith sets off to find a missing girl who's said to have endless power. Even though this has so many of the tropes movie-goers love — like found family and adventure — it only got a score of 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.3 out of 10 on IMDb.

Madame Web

Sony Pictures Releasing

In this superhero movie, Dakota Johnson stars as the titular clairvoyant, who steps in to protect Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O'Connor when she starts seeing the future — and their untimely ends. Despite the insane popularity of the other Spider-Man movies, this one only has an 11 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and 4 on IMDb. However, its 2.3 billion TikTok mentions prove it's got serious cult classic potential.

Lift

Christopher Barr/Netflix

This heist movie revolves around an impossible mission to infiltrate a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich, and apparently viewers really leaned into the impossibility of it all because its Rotten Tomatoes score is only 20 percent while its IMDb score is 5.5.

Mean Girls

Paramount Pictures

Mean Girls was highly anticipated by theatre kids and Renee Rap fans alike. The movie is a retelling of the Lindsay Lohan classic — Cady moves from homeschooling to public school, and falls in with The Plastics clique. But instead of bringing them down, she becomes the worst Plastic yet. Renee's "It's Not My Fault" might have over 107 million streams on Spotify, but the film only ranks 69 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.6 on IMDb. We had a blast on the red carpet, though!

Argylle

Universal Pictures

Anyone who loves spy movies, campy rom-coms, and Taylor Swift was incredibly excited for this movie, which follows reclusive writer Elly Conway, who finds herself in the middle of a real-life spy mission when her books catch the attention of some really bad guys. I loved this movie, but considering it got a 33 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and a 5.7 on IMDb, I was one of the only ones.

Garfield

Product G Productions/Sony Pictures

Garfield loves living with Odie and Jon, and all the luxury that comes with it. But when he reunites with his dad, he winds up on the wildest outdoor adventure of his life. This flick is rated a 36 percent out of 100 on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.7 out of 10 on IMDb.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Warner Bros. Pictures

Godzilla and King Kong team up against a new threat in this crazy, mind-bending film. The movie got a 54 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and 6.1 IMDb score, and as much as I love this new cast, I will admit I miss seeing Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Megalopolis

Mihai Malaimare/Lionsgate

We might all be thinking about the Roman Empire, but it seems a lot of viewers & critics wish they could forget Megalopolis. This story, which follows a duel between artistic Cesar Catilina, greedy leader Franklyn Cicero, and Julia Cicero feeling torn between them, is considered one of the worst movies of 2024. It currently has a 45 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 4.8 out of 10 on IMDb.

Despicable Me 4

Illumination/Universal Pictures

Gru and his family — Margot, Lucy, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and Gru Jr. — have to go on the run when a brand new villain rises up. Despite the fact everyone loves Gru (and the Minions), Despicable Me 4 was rated 56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.2 on IMDb.

Do you think these are the worst movies of 2024? Let us know what we missed in the comments and check out The Worst TV Shows Of 2024.

This post has been updated.

Having toxic friends, family members, or romantic partners in your life can feel like standing in the rain for hours on end. You usually feel drained of energy on top of being drenched in bad energy. Though it's clear you probably need to set boundaries, it's not always easy to decipher what you should say during a conversation where a narcissist is doing what they do best.

Clinical social worker, and Clinical Director of Villa Oasis San Diego, Michelle Beaupre, MSW, Ph.D., LCSW has helped clients navigate this very topic at different points in their lives and has 6 phrases you can say to either shut down a narcissist or let them know you're uninterested in their behavior.

6 things to say when a narcissist thinks they're getting the last word

1. What to say if your romantic partner makes you question whether you saw inappropriate texts on their phone

Alex Green

If I had things my way, gaslighting would be outlawed. Unfortunately, some people just can't seem to take responsibility for their actions, and they really love to make it everyone else's problem. Even more infuriatingly, it can appear in romantic relationships when one person is caught doing something that breaches the trust between them and their partner.

If your boyfriend or girlfriend spins a tale that makes you question what you’re sure you saw, try not to panic. Instead, take a page from Beaupre’s book. She suggests saying, “I’ll stand by what I know is true. If we need to agree to disagree, that’s fine, but I’m not going to let this change what I know or how I feel.”

She says doing this “shows them you’re not going to be swayed or pulled into their ‘game.’” It also helps “keep you grounded and firm, making it clear that their gaslighting isn’t going to work.” The more you stand your ground, the more someone is “less likely to continue trying to manipulate/control you,” according to her.

2. What to say when a friend keeps lying about their accomplishments

Pavel Danilyuk

This is a tricky one because you probably know one of your friends likes to embellish the truth a bit. It’s one of the things that used to be funny because they could always come up with a story on the spot. But, it can be confusing if you notice your friend tends to lie about something they’ve accomplished. Just don’t think you have to go out of your way to expose them though.

Beaupre says, “If it’s not harming anyone, sometimes it’s okay to leave it alone because, eventually, the truth will catch up to them anyway, and they will learn their lesson on their own.” But she says if you notice “their lies are causing major problems or hurting others,” speak up “gently.”

“You can ask them why they feel the need to lie, and if there’s something they’re struggling with that they might want to talk about,” she continues. Her suggestion is to say, “I’ve noticed that sometimes, you say things that don’t really add up, and I’m just wondering if there’s a reason. Is everything okay?”

3. What to say when someone complains about you setting boundaries

Pavel Danilyuk

If there’s one thing a narcissist can’t stand, it’s boundaries. If you know someone who has a tendency to overreact when you set them, Beaupre knows what you can say to them. “I’m not okay with how you’re reacting. If you can’t respect my limit, then I’m going to have to take a step back and distance myself,” she suggests.

She feels “this makes it clear that you’re serious about your boundaries.” Also, it signals that you “won’t let their reaction change what you need to feel respected, safe and secure.”

4. What to say if someone utters "I love you" after a few weeks of dating

Katerina Holmes

If only some of us would’ve asked this question during some of our prior relationships, we may have avoided unnecessary heartbreak. Should you find yourself faced with someone’s eager declarations of love early on, Beaupre wants you to “to be honest about how you feel and not feel pressured to say it back if you’re not ready.”

What you can say is, “Thank you. That means a lot, but I’m not there yet. Maybe one day, but not now.” By doing this, you’re not discrediting their emotions. Instead, you’re letting them “know you appreciate them and their feelings” while setting “the pace that works for you,” according to Beaupre. Please don't force yourself to feel something if you don't.

5. What to say when someone makes light of something or someone you're grieving

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This reminds us of one of the relationship red flags we recently dug into. We know why people say passive-aggressive things, but it's still painful no matter what the situation is. In the case of grieving, it's a hard no for us. Beaupre says, “In times like this, when you’re going through a lot of heavy emotions, it’s important to set a boundary for your peace.”

If you feel yourself questioning whether your feelings are valid, Beaupre says not to do that. "Don't let others downplay/dismiss what you’re feeling or going through, especially if it's something that's really taking a toll on you." What she urges you to say is, "I know you may not fully understand, but this is really important to me, and I need you to respect that.” In her opinion, it's a way of letting that person "know you're serious about protecting your emotional space without being confrontational."

And if they're still being a grade-A jerk about it? It may be time to limit the time you spend with them.

6. What to say if someone uses 'jokes' to constantly critique your appearance

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We think laughter is good for the soul, but not at the expense of hurting other people's feelings. This means no one should have the luxury of repeatedly commenting about the way you present yourself. Beaupre says, "If the way you look, what you’re wearing or how you speak isn’t hurting anyone, they really shouldn’t be commenting on it." Should you notice this unfortunate pattern in someone close to you, it's time to address it.

Beaupre wants you to try saying, "I’m fine with how I look and speak. You can let me know if there's a problem, but please don’t make me feel bad about it." That way, you can "set a clear limit about what you won't tolerate," according to her. She believes it's also a "chance to share any concerns without crossing into criticism or bullying."

Still, someone who refuses to stop disguising their obvious issues with you as harmless 'jokes' isn't someone who deserves a long-term spot in your life.

Scroll through more relationships stories to see how you should navigate everything from tense friendships to conversations about money.