An AH-1Z Viper, attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 Reinforced, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fired a live AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), striking a towed moving training vessel during a training mission at sea.
US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher Lape
A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired a new missile towards a moving sea target in the Pacific.
It marked a first for the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile.
The JAGM faced earlier testing challenges, but it is considered key to boosting the lethality of US attack helicopters.
A US Marine Corps attack helicopter fired off a new missile in the Pacific earlier this week, striking a moving target vessel and marking a first for the weapon.
The test is a notable moment in the development of the precision missile, which faced struggles in its initial testing.
The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit announced the strike exercise on Friday, revealing that two days earlier, an AH-1Z Viper "fired a live AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), striking a towed moving training vessel during a training mission at sea." The training occurred in the Philippine Sea, off the coast of Okinawa.
A video shared by the unit showed the test, beginning with preparations and the crew loading ammunition onto the attack helicopter.
Then, the AH-1Z flies off from Okinawa Air Base toward the Philippine Sea, where it fires the JAGM at a moving sea vessel. The JAGM then hits the target, destroying it on impact.
During this week's exercise, the crew of the AH-1Z also fired other weapons, including a hail of bullets from the door gun, at other moving targets, such as something that looked like a fast boat, before returning to base.
U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey and AH-1Z attack helicopter pilots with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arm and fire an AGM-179 joint air-to-ground munition (JAGM), as well as refueling at a forward arming and refueling point, during an expeditionary (EXPO) strike training mission.
US Marine Corps video by Cpl. Christopher Lape
According to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, "this EXPO strike launched the first live JAGM from an AH-1Z in the Indo-Pacific region, and employed a variety of munitions against a high-speed towed target."
The JAGM is a precision-guided munition able to be used against both stationary and moving land and sea targets. Determined to be an upgrade from other missiles, like Hellfire and Maverick, the weapon's initial development and testing was slightly troubled, including a year-long delay for full-rate production approval and several failed operational tests.
It achieved initial operating capability with the Marines in 2022.
The Marines' initial tests in 2019 went south when two missiles fired didn't reach their targets. And the Army's first trials with the JAGM featured a host of problems, including munitions missing their targets and failing to detonate. Across the board, both the Marines and the Army have said that they were able to resolve these issues in subsequent testing.
The JAGM features a dual-mode seeker and guidance system providing precision strike and "fire and forget" capabilities, meaning the launcher doesn't need to intervene or dictate the missile's flight towards its target once it's been fired. The JAGM can also strike multiple targets and features better precision strike capabilities in varied weather conditions.
When the Marines achieved initial operating capability with the weapon, Col. Vasilios Pappas, the Marine Corps H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter program manager, said that "incorporating systems such as JAGM on the AH-1Z is essential in keeping the platform at the forefront of warfighting capabilities."
Many Americans feel like they're tipping more money, and at more places, than they have in the past. There are some places you're still not expected to leave a tip, though.
After all, these days, when you make a purchase at a coffee shop, convenience store, or even a self-checkout kiosk, you might be prompted on the checkout screen for a tip.
Their frustration is clear: Roughly 59% of US adults have a negative view of tipping (a decrease from 66% in 2023) and more than one in three think tipping culture has gotten out of control, according to a Bankrate survey from June.
"People are being asked to tip in contexts where they have not traditionally been asked to tip, and they're being asked to tip larger amounts in those occupations where they are used to leaving tips — and it's that felt social pressure that's irritating people," said tipping expert Michael Lynn, who is a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.
Business Insider talked to tipping and etiquette experts to figure out exactly when you can forgo a tip without making a faux pas.
'Take it as a suggestion, not an obligation'
During the pandemic, people began tipping more generously, which set a new precedent for how much some workers expected to earn from tips. Now, as the world adjusts to a post-pandemic normal, some businesses have continued relying on tips to bolster their workers' wages.
Thomas Farley, a New York-based etiquette expert known as Mister Manners told Business Insider that those factors don't necessarily translate into the expectation that customers should also tip more.
"Just because the screen in these point-of-purchase or over-the-counter-type transactions provides you with that suggestion, you should take it as merely that: a suggestion and not an obligation," Farley said.
You can skip the tip at self-checkout kiosks …
We know to tip for the service we receive, but what if we're providing the service ourselves?
"The thing that really just blows my mind is that people are being asked to tip for self-service kiosk and checkout lines," Lynn said. "That's the one that surprises me the most because it's not clear who's receiving those tips."
If you're ringing up your own items, don't worry about tipping, he says.
… and skip tipping for takeout and counter service, like coffee
"If you don't want to leave a tip for your takeout order, it's just sitting there on the counter and you grab it, you've already paid for it and you're out, you're just going to grab it and go," said etiquette expert Avery Johnson of The Southern Academy of Etiquette. Still, she notes you can tip 10% or more on carryout if you had special requests, like extras, for example.
Lynn also skips the tip on takeout — and in counter-service situations, like getting a cold brew and a pastry at a coffee shop.
Don't feel pressured to tip for a sweatshirt you just bought
Tip prompts that pop up when you're making retail purchases are where the rules of tipping etiquette might get a little blurry, Farley said.
Say you landed tickets to see the biggest concert of the year, and you want to buy a $100 sweatshirt to commemorate the experience. You pay a visit to the stand selling concert merch where the salesperson needs to pull down the sweatshirt you picked from a rack with a pole. When you go to check out, the screen prompts you for a tip on the transaction.
Customers who have never tipped for this type of transaction before might wonder if they should fork out a few more dollars here.
Farley said that even in these types of scenarios, customers aren't expected to tip. "It's challenging to have a transaction, especially if somebody smiles, and they're pleasant, and, you know, they, provide nice service, but there is still no obligation to do so," he said.
… or a tipping on meal for which you already paid gratuity
Farley said the most unexpected tip request he's ever received was at a sit-down restaurant where the menu had already indicated that a standard gratuity fee of 20% would be included in the bill.
When the server handed Farley the final bill, though, he was hit with a prompt for another 20% tip by the card reader.
"I was very confused," Farley said. When he asked the waiter why there was a second charge, he said the server told him the 20% gratuity charge was for the whole staff to split, but 20% prompt on the card reader was specifically for his service that night.
"The service was not 40% service, the service was 20% service, but I was stuck into paying 40%," Farley said.
If you're worried you might find yourself in this situation, Farley said you can ask the restaurant to waive the initial gratuity fee. "If you feel strongly about it, and you feel that burden shouldn't be on you, restaurant owners that I've encountered, and have read interviews with, will say that for any consumers that push back and request that that charge be removed, they will comply."
Otherwise, he suggested "do your homework" on a restaurant's tipping policy, so you can avoid a potentially awkward encounter.
Rupert Murdoch bought the penthouse in 2014 for $43 million.
Compass
Rupert Murdoch has cut the price of his three-floor New York City apartmentto $28.5 million.
The media mogul, 93, listed the property for $62 million in 2022.
Photos show inside the penthouse, which has 360-degree views of Manhattan.
Rupert Murdoch, the 93-year-old billionaire media mogul, has spent years trying to find a buyer for his nearly 7,000-square-foot penthouse in New York City, steps away from the Flatiron building and Madison Square Park.
Now, in his latest bid to shift the property, he's selling it for $28.5 million, more than half its original listing price.
The former chair of the Fox Corporation and News Corp., who married his fifth wife, Elena Zhukova, earlier this month at his private vineyard in Bel-Air, California, briefly listed the three-floor apartment for $72 million in 2015. But in 2022, he apparently listed it in earnest, asking for $62 million.
In the months since, the listing price has steadily dropped. After briefly being taken off the market in December 2023, the mega-apartment was re-listed in April for $38.5 million, nearly half its original price tag. Two months later, it's been slashed a further $10 million.
The apparently unsellable apartment may very well be a thorn in Murdoch's newlywed bliss — although, not a huge thorn perhaps, given Forbes' estimates the Murdochs have a net worth of $19.7 billion.
Here's a sneak peek at the $28.5 million penthouse apartment he just can't seem to sell.
Rupert Murdoch bought the five-bedroom, six-bathroom penthouse before it was even finished.
One Madison, the skyscraper where Murdoch owns the top three floors, is pictured left. It's just steps from the Flatiron Building.
Apostolis Giontzis/Shutterstock
After calling it quits with his third wife, Wendi Deng, in 2013, Murdoch was on the lookout for a new bachelor pad.
In their divorce settlement, Deng, who was married to Murdoch for 14 years, kept the Fifth Avenue triplex the couple bought for $44 million in 2005, New York Magazine reported.
Murdoch decided to purchase two apartments at One Madison Square, a luxury condominium at the start of Madison Avenue, built in 2011. He purchased the building's three-floor penthouse and a slightly smaller unit on 57th floor in 2014.
According to Curbed, Murdoch initially lived in the smaller apartment — if you can call 3,300 square feet small — as the penthouse wasn't completed at the time of the sale.
The penthouse sprawls across three floors, connected by a winding staircase.
Murdoch bought the apartment in 2014, fresh after a divorce from his third wife, Wendi Deng.
Compass
The apartment was constructed by architect Jose Ramirez, who specializes in luxury interior design, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Per the listing, the first level has a somewhat open-plan layout, comprised of a double-height "Great Room" connected to a 586-square-foot terrace overlooking Manhattan, a dining room, kitchen, library, and bathroom.
A spiral staircase and elevator connect the first floor to the second, which houses two bedrooms with en suites and staff quarters.
Another staircase and elevator go up to the third floor, which has two more bedrooms with en suites and an expansive primary suite.
Shortly after purchasing it, Murdoch seemingly had second thoughts and briefly listed the penthouse for $72 million.
The apartment has a 586-square-foot terrace.
Compass
Less than a year after buying the penthouse pre-completion, Murdoch briefly put it back on the market for a whopping $72 million, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015.
Around the same time, Murdoch bought a $25 million townhouse in the West Village.
Murdoch changed his mind again five months later, taking the penthouse off the market and, instead, putting the townhouse back on, Curbed reported.
Murdoch might be calling it quits with his penthouse, but he isn't over NYC yet.
Murdoch has spent at least two years trying to sell the penthouse.
Compass
Murdoch indicated he was ready to sell the penthouse when he relisted it in 2022, leading some publications, like Curbed, to question if the Australian nonagenarian was done with the Big Apple, where he's had a base since the 1970s when he bought The New York Post.
If Murdoch had been looking to move out of NYC, he would've had plenty of secondary homes to fall back on.
As Architectural Digest reports, the Murdoch family has a "staggering" real-estate portfolio, which includes an Australian ranch, a $28.8 million California vineyard, and an apartment in the affluent Mayfair neighborhood in London.
However, suspicions Murdoch was truly calling it quits with NYC were quashed last year when The New York Times reported he bought a seven-bedroom apartment on the 27th floor of a historic building overlooking Central Park for $35.2 million.
He's also far from the only ultra-rich homeowner struggling to sell their pricey digs.
The seemingly unsellable apartment may be a thorn in Murdoch's newlywed bliss.
Victoria Jones /PA Images via Getty Images
Unless he finds a buyer prepared to shell out $28.5 million for the penthouse or is willing to give it yet another price cut, Murdoch is stuck with it.
But he's not the only one who can't seem to sell a lavish property at the moment. As BI's real estate reporter Alcynna Lloyd previously reported, a number of celebrities and ultra-wealthy homeowners—particularly those with property in NYC — are finding themselves in similar positions to Murdoch.
Kenny Lee, a senior economist at StreetEasy, told Lloyd that a slowdown in demand is at the crux of the current real-estate slump. It's even led some wealthy homeowners to auction off or rent their pricey digs, options Murdoch may have to consider if he truly wants the penthouse off his hands as soon as possible.
Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) in "Bridgerton" season 2; and Young King George (Corey Mylchreest) and Young Queen Charlotte ( India Amarteifio) in "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."
Liam Daniel / Netflix / Nick Wall / Netflix
The first three seasons of "Bridgerton" and its spinoff "Queen Charlotte" have produced 32 main couples.
Kanthony and Queen Charlotte and King George are some of the show's most popular couples.
Business Insider ranked all the couples based on their chemistry.
"Bridgerton" and its spinoff series, "Queen Charlotte," are filled with romances, but only a few couples have great chemistry.
Every season of "Bridgerton" focuses on one main couple — Daphne and Simon in season one, Kate and Anthony in season two, and Queen Charlotte and King George in the "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" spinoff. While these couples are the most developed in their respective seasons, there are also background couples with amazing rapport, like Brimsley and Reynolds, the Mondriches, and Eloise and Theo.
"Bridgerton" season three brings a burgeoning couple to the foreground: Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and his childhood friend Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
These love stories help "Bridgerton" capitalize on the cultural resurgence of the romance genre: the romance-novel industry is booming, and rom-coms are back on screens in a big way.
With "Bridgerton" season three out now, Business Insider has ranked all the main couples from "Bridgerton" and "Queen Charlotte."
Warning: Spoilers ahead for the first three seasons of "Bridgerton" and the first season of "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story."
32. Daphne Bridgerton and Lord Berbrooke
Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and Lord Nigel Berbrooke (Jamie Beamish) in "Bridgerton" season one.
Liam Daniel and Netflix
Season one of "Bridgerton" follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the fourth Bridgerton child, on her journey to find the love of her life. Before finding her husband, Daphne has to get past Nigel Berbrooke (Jamie Beamish), who is determined to marry her for her status despite being much older than her and her lack of interest.
This is one of the season's most uncomfortable pairings. Suffice to say there was zero chemistry in this relationship, and it was a relief that it did not end in marriage.
31. Lord and Lady Danbury
Lord and Lady Danbury (Cyril Nri and Arsema Thomas) in "Queen Charlotte."
Liam Daniel / Netflix
In "Queen Charlotte," young Lady Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas), who is a respected member of society in the main "Bridgerton" series, is trapped in a sexually abusive relationship with Lord Herman Danbury (Cyril Nri).
Herman is much older than his wife, and it is implied that they married when she was a child. While this was more common in the 18th century, when "Queen Charlotte" is set, their relationship was an incredibly uncomfortable watch.
The only reason they are not last is because Agatha truly cares for Herman and defends and supports him throughout the show. She hates him but her feelings toward him are more complicated than that one emotion.
30. Lord and Lady Featherington
Lord Featherington (Ben Miller) and Lady Portia Feathertington (Polly Walker) with two of their daughters Prudence (Bessie Carter) and Phillipa (Harriest Cains) in "Bridgerton" season one.
Nick Briggs / Netflix
The Featherington family is another major family in London's high society, led by Lord Featherington (Ben Miller) and Lady Portia Featherington (Polly Walker) in "Bridgerton" season one. However, Lord Featherington is a reckless gambler who squanders the family money.
There seems to have been love between them at some point, but time and secrets have clearly broken down whatever they had and left them bitter.
A clear example of this is when Portia finds out that her husband is dead in the season one finale. Instead of grieving the loss or asking what happened, she rushes to discover if her money is missing.
29. Prudence Featherington and Jack Featherington
Lord Jack Featherington (Rupert Young) and Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter) are cousins and lovers in "Bridgerton" season two.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
In "Bridgerton" season two, Lady Portia Featherington schemes to pair her daughter Prudence (Bessie Carter) with her nephew Jack Featherington (Rupert Young), the new head of the family, so that she can keep control of their family home.
Lady Featherington succeeds in entrapping Jack in marriage but he has little affection for his cousin Prudence. Although they get along, their relationship is very awkward.
28. Lord and Lady Ledger
Vivian Ledger (Katie Brayben), Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and their daughter Violet Ledger (Connie Jenkins-Greig) in "Queen Charlotte."
Nick Wall / Netflix
Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and Lady Vivian Ledger (Katie Brayben), the parents of fan-favorite character Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell), appear in "Queen Charlotte." We only get a few scenes with them together, but it is very clear they are not a match.
Though they stick together in the miniseries, Lord Ledger openly criticizes his wife and has an affair, which suggests he doesn't have much love for Vivian.
27. Lord Samadani and Francesca Bridgerton
Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) and Lord Samadani (David Mumeni) first meet in season three, episode three.
Netflix
"Bridgerton" season three surprised audiences by giving a central story to Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), a character who was mostly forgotten in the first two seasons.
In this season, she makes her debut and quickly becomes the Queen's favorite of the season. However, Francesca struggles with the pressures of finding love, the social season, and the Queen's obsession with her love life.
In episode three, the Queen introduces Francesca to her friend, Lord Samadani (David Mumeni). Lord Samadani and Francesca are a polite pair, but there is no real connection between them. Lord Samadani loves his big family, while Francesca wants to escape hers.
Thus, it is no surprise that Francesca leaps at the first man she gets along with to get away from Lord Samadani.
26. Marina Thompson and Sir Philip Crane
Sir Philip Crane (Chris Fulton) and Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) got married at the end of "Bridgerton" season one.
Netflix
In "Bridgerton" season one, Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker), a distant cousin of the Featheringtons, comes to stay with Lady Featherington and her daughters so she can find a husband. Marina is secretly pregnant so Lady Featherington tries to marry her off before the scandal is revealed.
At the end of season one, Marina does find a husband even after her secret pregnancy is exposed. In the season finale, Sir Philip Crane (Chris Fulton), the brother of Marina's secret lover, Sir George Crane, shows up to tell her that her lover has died while fighting in Spain. However, Philip offers to marry Marina in George's place, and she eventually accepts.
In episode four of season two, we get a glimpse of their relationship after marriage, and they seem quite happy together. They don't seem to share many interests or chemistry, but Philip ensures Marina and her twins are looked after. They seem like a much more amicable pairing than most couples on this list.
25. Cressida Cowper and Jack Featherington
Jack (Rupert Young) tries to charm Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) for her dowry in "Bridgerton" season two.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Before Jack Featherington gets paired up with his cousin, he tries to woo Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen), the popular mean girl of London high society (also called The Ton).
Jack's charm makes it appear that they're compatible, but it is later revealed in season two, episode four, that Jack only cares about Cressida for her family's wealth.
24. Prudence Featherington and Harry Dankworth
Harry Dankworth (James Phoon) and Prudence Featherington (Bessie Carter) meet and marry in-between seasons two and three.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
We never see how Prudence Featherington and Harry Dankworth (James Phoon) meet, but they are a married couple in season three.
However, it seems for most of the season, Prudence does not like Harry. She brushes him away at every turn, hates having sex with him, and is generally annoyed by his presence and lack of wealth. Meanwhile, Harry adores Prudence and often states that he will do anything for her.
It is unclear what changes, but Prudence seems to become more affectionate with Harry by the season finale. We may see their love grow in future seasons.
23. Lady Danbury and Adolphus
Young Lady Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas) and Adolphus (Tunji Kasim).
Nick Wall / Netflix
Lady Agatha Danbury has a third chance at love in "Queen Charlotte" when she meets Queen Charlotte's brother, Duke Adolphus (Tunji Kasim). The pair have some sweet, affectionate moments, but it's clear Agatha is still reeling too much from the pain of both of her previous relationships to commit to this new romance.
22. Benedict Bridgerton and Tessa
Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Tessa (Emily Barber) meet at an art academy in season two.
Netflix
Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson), the second eldest Bridgerton sibling, has only pursued casual flings so far in the show.
In the second half of "Bridgerton" season two, Benedict has a casual relationship with Tessa (Emily Barber), a life model and budding artist at his art academy.
We don't see much of them, but they seem to be a good match, even though Benedict is not looking for anything serious.
Though Luke could muster sexual tension with a door, we don't see enough of this couple to place them higher.
21. Benedict Bridgerton and Madame Genevieve Delacroix
Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale) and Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) hit it off at a party in "Bridgerton" season one.
Netflix
Benedict's first relationship in "Bridgerton" is with Madame Delacroix (Kathryn Drysdale), the town's dressmaker. In season one, episode five, Benedict meets her at a party and within moments they start making out. This was a fleeting relationship, but the attraction between the two was palpable.
20. Lucy and Henry Granville
Lucy and Henry Granville (Sandra Teles and Julian Ovenden) in "Bridgerton" season one.
Netflix
In "Bridgerton" season one, Benedict befriends artist Henry Granville (Julian Ovenden) and his wife Lucy Granville (Sandra Teles).
While we don't see a lot of Lucy and Henry, they seem like a couple who love each other very much, even if they are not in love with each other. In episode seven, Henry explains to Benedict that their marriage is for show.
In reality, Henry is in love with Lord Wetherby (Ned Porteous) and Lucy enjoys the privileges of being married to the artist, including having affairs herself during a party in episode five. Overall, the couple seems happy and supportive of each other.
19. Daphne Bridgerton and Prince Friedrich
Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma) courts Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) in "Bridgerton" season one.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma), the nephew of Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), was another suitor for Daphne in "Bridgerton" season one.
This pairing was amicable and it's possible to imagine that if not for the existence of the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), they may have had a long, happy life with lots of children. The prince was a perfect gentleman and even willing to skirt convention by inviting Daphne to the boxing match in episode four.
However, one thing this couple lacked was passion. In most of their interactions, Daphne was either looking for the duke or thinking about him, and thus, she would never be truly happy settling for the prince. That being said, the prince deserved better, and it would be nice to see Queen Charlotte carry through with her comment in the second season's finale and introduce Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) to Friedrich.
18. Cressida Cowper and Lord Debling
Cressida Cowper (Jessica Madsen) tries to win over Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) with lies.
Netflix
Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) catches the eye of two rivals in season three, Cressida Cowper and Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan).
Cressida sees Lord Debling as a means of escaping her unloving family, so she initially lies about liking nature to win him over. Eventually, they have one honest moment, bonding over their difficult relationship with their families.
But before anything can develop between them, Lord Debling disappears after episode four.
17. Penelope Featherington and Lord Debling
Penelope (Coughlan) and Lord Debling (Sam Phillips) in "Bridgerton" season three.
Netflix
In season three, Penelope Featherington, the youngest Featherington child, finally pursues her own romance instead of watching from the sidelines. This leads her to Lord Debling, another man who becomes a social outcast, because he is a vegetarian.
They have a more honest connection than Lord Debling and Cressida. Though they have different interests, they have similar values, and both are willing to settle for a relationship that is more practical than loving. In episode three, they have great banter, and Lord Debling also risks his own life to save Penelope from a hot-air balloon.
Unfortunately, Penelope's feelings never grow deeper because she has feelings for another. Lord Debling notices and steps out of her way.
16. Colin Bridgerton and Marina Thompson
Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Ruby Barker as Marina Thompson in "Bridgerton."
Nick Briggs / Netflix
Before Marina Thompson meets Sir Philip Crane, she spends a lot of season one trying to make Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), the third Bridgerton sibling, fall in love with her.
On the one hand, Marina spent most of season one trying to entrap Colin into marriage before she gives birth which means part of the relationship was based on a lie. On the other, these two do look cute together.
However, when Luke meets a married Marina in episode four of season two, it becomes clear why their relationship would have never worked. He's still an immature boy masquerading as a man and what Marina needed was a stable husband for her children.
15. Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger
Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and Young Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas) are on a walk in "Queen Charlotte."
Nick Wall / Netflix
Out of Lady Agatha Danbury's three relationships in "Queen Charlotte," she had the best chemistry with Lord Ledger. From the first encounter during Lady Danbury's ball in episode three, the pair get on splendidly, and Lord Ledger is clearly trying to flirt with Agatha. In episode five, their connection goes deeper as they go on walks ("ramblings") together following Lord Danbury's death.
This couple isn't placed higher in the ranking because of how abruptly their relationship ends when Lord Ledger breaks off the affair. We'll never know whether he truly loved Agatha or took advantage of her vulnerable widow situation. But Agatha deserves better than a cheap one-night stand.
14. Benedict Bridgerton, Lady Tilley Arnold, and Paul Saurez
This is the first and only throuple in "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Season three introduces Benedict Bridgerton's third lover, a widowed woman named Lady Tilley Arnold (Hannah New). They are a perfect pair since they are both looking for aimless, casual fun.
Later in the season, Tilley expands their relationship by adding her other friend with benefits, Paul Saurez (Lucas Aurelio).
There is a lot of sexual chemistry between this trio, and fans loved the fact that "Bridgerton" finally confirmed Benedict's bisexuality. But there isn't much non-physical chemistry between the throuple.
Also, Benedict seems more interested in Paul than Tilley during their sex scenes in episodes seven and eight, but the men aren't given the opportunity for romance to develop. Meanwhile, Tilley's confession that she likes Benedict as more than a friend in the season finale seemingly comes out of nowhere since their relationship was shown to be more playful than serious.
13. Edwina Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton
Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Edwina Sharma (Charithra Chandran) almost got married.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
In "Bridgerton" season two, Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), the eldest Bridgerton sibling, is on the hunt for a wife. He eventually picks Edwina Sharma, a new member of the Ton who becomes popular after the Queen gives her the biggest honor, the "Diamond of the Season" title.
The couple doesn't have the best start in terms of chemistry. From day one, it's clear that Anthony Bridgerton sees his courtship of Edwina as a chore. While Edwina is infatuated with Anthony from the start, she does not like his competitive nature.
Anthony finally sees Edwina as a person in episode three when they bond over reading.
After that, there are a few conversations where it seems they might share some interests or have chemistry, but that moment does not last long due to Anthony's love for Edwina's older sister, Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley).
12. Brimsley and Reynolds
Young Brimsley and Young Reynolds (Sam Clemmett and Freddie Dennis) are secret lovers in "Queen Charlotte."
Nick Wall / Netflix
In "Bridgerton," Queen Charlotte is always shadowed by her most trusty aide, Brimsley (Hugh Sachs), but we don't learn much about him until "Queen Charlotte." In the miniseries, where he is played by Sam Clemmett, we discover that Brimsley is secretly dating King George's head servant, Reynolds (Freddie Dennis).
Throughout the season, they sneak off to have sex, find opportunities to hold hands and talk about their future together. Their relationship isn't perfect because their jobs keep getting in the way. Since Reynolds has to keep King George's illness a secret, he keeps Brimsley at arm's length until the end of the season. Yet despite their fighting, they always find themselves together again.
Brimsley and Reynolds have quickly become a fan-favorite couple, and we hope the "Bridgerton" creators eventually answer what happens to their relationship after the events of "Queen Charlotte."
11. Jack Featherington and Lady Featherington
Jack (Rupert Young) and Portia (Polly Walker) Featherington scheming together in "Bridgerton" season two.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Toward the end of "Bridgerton" season two, Jack Featherington sets his sights on Lady Portia Featherington, and honestly, these two schemers are weirdly perfect for each other. Jack and Portia are not related by blood, making their relationship less unsavory than other couples on this list. Their relationship may be slightly toxic, linked together only by the scheming in season two, but when they work together, it's magic, and the actors play off each other well.
However, their relationship was doomed because Portia would always love her daughters more than anyone else, and Jack never really cared for the Featherington siblings. When the moment arrives to make that choice, after the pair's investment scam is exposed in the season two finale, Portia throws Jack under the bus.
Portia did make the right decision to choose her family over Jack. This woman has been through a lot during the first two seasons, so we hope she finds someone better soon.
10. Lord Marcus Anderson and Violet Bridgerton
Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) meets Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) in "Bridgerton" season three.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
In "Queen Charlotte," older Violet Bridgerton vows that she will try to find love again after the death of her husband Edmund Bridgerton (Rupert Evans).
Violet has a first shot at this in "Bridgerton" season three when she meets Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), the estranged brother of her closest friend, Lady Danbury. Marcus is incredibly charming. His beauty often makes Violet stutter and stare, and he relates to her grief because he lost his first wife.
But their relationship never gets a chance to shine because they have to deal with drama in their respective families. Hopefully, their chemistry can improve next season with fewer obstacles in their way.
9. Anthony Bridgerton and Siena Rosso
Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett) and Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) were lovers in season one.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
In "Bridgerton" season one, Anthony Bridgerton rides a roller coaster of emotions during his love affair with opera singer Siena Rosso (Sabrina Bartlett). He finds himself trapped between his duty to his family and his love for Siena.
Not only is this love born of joy rather than conflict, but in both episode four and the season one finale, Anthony is also prepared to discard his family and duty for that love. While the second season never explicitly states this, it is likely Anthony was adamant about finding a wife and fulfilling his familial duty because of Siena's rejection.
This initially made us rank this couple higher than Anthony's love match with Kate in season two. But on further examination, Anthony's feelings for Siena were entangled with his desire to escape his life and duty. This is why he tries to rekindle his romance in episode four when he believes he must flee the country after his duel with the Duke of Hastings.
Anthony cares a lot for Siena but doesn't truly see her, so their breakup is inevitable.
8. Will and Alice Mondrich
Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) and Will Mondrich (Martins Imhangbe) have been together since "Bridgerton" season one.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
For the first two seasons, Will (Martins Imhangbe) and Alice Mondrich (Emma Naomi) are couple goals. Completely supportive and honest in all their endeavors, Alice often challenges her husband for his betterment.
They are nothing more than a happy couple minding their business in a town where everyone is involved in a scandal or two.
This changes in season three when they become nobility and have their first proper conflict. Alice wants to embrace their new roles but Will is stubborn and still wants to run his Gentleman's Club that he built up in the previous season.
In episode six, Will spontaneously gives in and sells his club. While Will seems supportive of his wife for the rest of the season, he is never truly happy about selling his club. The season did not give enough space to address this conflict. Will and Alice won't rise up our ranking unless this is resolved.
7. Eloise Bridgerton and Theo Sharpe
Eloise (Claudia Jessie) meets Theo (Calam Lynch) on her hunt for Lady Whistledown in "Bridgerton" season two.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and Theo Sharpe (Calam Lynch) is arguably a more believable enemies-to-lovers storyline, or rather rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, in "Bridgerton" season two. On her hunt for Lady Whistledown's identity, Eloise meets Theo, who works in Whistledown's printer shop.
While the pair first duel through mocking jabs at each other, they quickly form a friendship through their shared interest in politics. Their relationship is not as sexual as the others on the list, but the flirting mockery worked because you could tell they weren't arguing just for the sake of arguing.
Unfortunately, their love is cut short by the Queen and Penelope's meddling.
6. Philipa Featherington and Albion Finch
Philipa Featherington and Albion Finch married in "Bridgerton" season two.
Netflix
Phillipa Featherington (Harriet Cains), the final Featherington daughter, quickly finds a lover in the first season after Albion Finch (Lorn Macdonald) courts her.
In season one, episode four, the odd pair bond over cheese, and if that doesn't spell couple goals, I don't know what does. In the following seasons, they continue to be one of the most loving couples in the entire show.
From what we've seen in the first three seasons, this pair is one of the most perfect matches in the show. However, their lack of visibility, makes it hard to match up their chemistry against some of the other couples.
Honorable mention: Violet and Edmund Bridgerton
Edmund (Rupert Evans) and Violet (Ruth Gemmell) Bridgerton only appear together in one flashback scene in "Bridgerton" season 2.
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Before we get to the top five couples, it is worth mentioning that Violet and Edmund Bridgerton may be the best couple in the show that we never get to see. Edmund appears in one flashback in episode three of the second season, but you can sense their love for one another in the way Violet talks about him throughout the show.
This is a one-sided retelling, so you can't completely determine the chemistry between the parent Bridgertons, but it is undeniable that they had a love like no other, and we are begging for more flashback scenes.
5. Francesca Bridgerton and John Stirling
John Stirling (Victor Alli) and Francesca Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd) in "Bridgerton" season three, part two.
Netflix
Though "Bridgerton" season three was about Colin and Penelope, Francesca and John Stirling (Victor Alli) stole the hearts of many fans.
In episode three, Francesca tries to escape the chaos of the ball and stumbles upon John, the Earl of Kilmartin, standing alone in the back garden. The pair immediately click in the most unusual way, connecting over their quiet, calm energy. In fact, there are a few comical scenes when they flirt by saying nothing at all.
This pairing showed that chemistry is not only about sexual tension, grand displays of affection, or even steamy sex scenes. True chemistry is when a pair can match each other's vibe and embolden one another to step outside their comfort zones.
The only reason Francesca and John are not higher on the list is that the finale leaves multiple clues that her true love might be someone else.
4. Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton
Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) get married in "Bridgerton" season three.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
We finally get some progress with Penelope and Colin's relationship in season three. Previously, Penelope has been obsessed with Colin, but Colin only sees her as a friend and publicly mocks the idea of courting her.
Things change in season three when Colin realizes his feelings for Penelope have always been romantic, and they finally marry.
Coughlan and Newton have natural chemistry, which makes you believe that the characters are obsessed with each other. Penelope and Colin have one of the best sex scenes of the series in episode five, showing the perfect mix of pure adoration and lust for each other.
And once Colin is onboard with marrying Penelope, he is truly obsessed with her.
However, fans have complained that their relationship was rushed this season. Plus, they're not able to fully connect until the season's end because they both hide their true selves to avoid putting each other off.
Now that all secrets are laid bare, we can hope to see better intimacy between the pair in season four.
3. Simon Basset and Daphne Bridgerton
Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel / Netflix
The original winners of this ranking were Simon Bassett, the Duke, and Daphne Bridgerton. There are enticing, passionate looks between them throughout season one, even when they're not courting each other.
We see their chemistry tested multiple times and somehow get stronger. Also, while season two was a tad more drama than romance, the main hook of the first season was the sparks between Daphne and Page.
What sold it for us was actually their dance at the end of the first episode (picture above). The love in those looks was so clear, and it is no wonder that some fans thought the two actors, Dynevor and Page, were actually dating in real life. This set an astronomically high bar for future romances. But future seasons have allowed other couples to take the top rankings in our list.
2. Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton
Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) smells Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) as she tries to shoot a deer in "Bridgerton" season 2.
There was clear attraction between them from their first meeting. Has a man ever been so infatuated with a woman as when Anthony sniffs the air around Kate?
But it was hard to say they were truly in love until the end of the first season because they spent more time bickering than giving longing stares, and they both let Anthony's courtship with Kate's sister, Edwina, go on a little too long.
Now married, Kanthony is stronger than ever and there is no competing with their chemistry in season three. In almost every scene, Anthony and Kate are seeking out a moment to talk to or even touch each other. Every other scene, Anthony is declaring his love in the most extra way possible.
They also communicate a lot better and warmly support each other throughout the season compared with season two.
They enjoy the kind of marital bliss we are yet to see from earlier "Bridgerton" couples and it is so gratifying to watch.
1. Queen Charlotte and King George
Young Queen Charlotte and Young King George (India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest) are so in love throughout "Queen Charlotte."
Liam Daniel / Netflix
Dearest reader, Queen Charlotte and King George are the winners of this "Bridgerton" couples ranking.
Their love story in "Queen Charlotte" is one of the most sophisticated and developed romances in the Bridgerton franchise. Corey Mylchreest and India Amarteifio, who play young Charlotte and George, have impeccable chemistry from their first encounter. Even when they're fighting, it is hard not to see passion and love in their eyes every time they look at each other.
The scene in episode five when Charlotte and George finally confess their love is one of the most poetic and beautiful confession scenes from "Bridgerton." The scene in the series finale where the older Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and King George (James Fleet) are under the bed clearly shows that the passion and chemistry continue for their entire lives.
Many relationships in this ranking are sexy, inspiring, or pleasing to watch, but Charlotte and George's love story is the only one that left audiences in tears at the end. And that's why they deserve the chemistry crown.
Business Insider's reporter compared professional clothes from Zara and COS.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
London retailer COS, which is owned by H&M, has been expanding in the US.
Its sustainable, luxury pieces are often ideal for work attire.
I decided to compare COS and Zara's professional clothes.
Like clockwork, a handful of "it girl" retailers capture a generation's attention every few years.
In the early 2000s, Hollister, American Eagle, and Abercrombie & Fitch were the only places cool girls shopped. In the 2010s, you couldn't go anywhere without seeing people wearing Madewell or Urban Outfitters clothes.
Today, Zara, H&M, and Aritzia have become the go-to stores.
Zara and H&M often compete as two fast-fashion brands catering to millennial and Gen Z shoppers. But as Zara has leaned into clothing for young professionals in recent years, it's finding a new competitor in another H&M Group brand: COS.
COS makes minimalist, sustainable clothes for professionals
The London-based retailer COS has been part of the H&M Group since 2007. It's almost like H&M's more sophisticated, socially conscious, and luxurious older sister, as its pieces are minimalist and sustainable by design.
As Katie Reeves, the managing director of COS North America, told Glossy, COS often appeals to a mature buyer who has a bit more to spend than the H&M buyer.
"They're typically professionals," she said of COS customers. "They work or dabble in creative fields. They reside in metropolitan cities. They appreciate trends, but they're not defined by them. Their wardrobe is also a collection of pieces they wear and return to now and forever."
A COS boutique in New York.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
In 2022, the brand found global success by partnering with three wholesalers, including Nordstrom in the US, to bring its clothes to a larger audience.
And in 2024, COS expanded again by opening a flagship store in Mexico, according to H&M Group's annual report. COS has 47 brick-and-mortar stores worldwide and is available in 38 online markets as of 2024.
"Professional" isn't part of Zara's brand ethos. However, its parent company, Inditex, said on its website, "Zara's designers respond instinctively to their changing needs, reacting to the latest trends and constant feedback to deliver new ideas for everyone in the right place and at the right moment."
Part of that responsiveness has been its expansion into professional attire, as was clear when it released its workwear edit in 2023.
Given that they approach the professional fashion market differently, I visited COS and Zara to compare their business-casual clothes. I focused on outfits that would work for most business-casual office environments in the summer.
Zara didn't quite work for me
I headed to each brand's location in Lower Manhattan, popping into Zara first.
As I wandered through the store, I noticed that much of what I would consider work attire, like blazers and trousers, were arranged on hangers next to more casual clothes, giving the impression that the "professional" clothes were designed to be worn in various settings.
Versatile attire rather than strictly professional clothes makes sense with Zara's brand mission. But I found that a lot of the work-leaning pieces looked like the idea of what someone would wear to work rather than an actual go-to work outfit.
I couldn't see myself wearing shorts in the office.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
For instance, I saw several sets arranged in the store on hangers and mannequin displays, with one half of the look appearing work-appropriate while the other didn't, like this cropped blazer and coordinating shorts.
I could see myself wearing the $89 blazer with a pair of high-waisted pants, but the $45.90 shorts wouldn't work for many business-casual office environments.
Likewise, I tried on a matching blazer and skort, which cost $89.90 and $45.90, respectively, after seeing the jacket and skort paired on a hanger display.
The skort felt wrong for the workplace.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
Again, the jacket was work-appropriate, but I thought I would feel uncomfortable in the office in the skort because of its length. I likely wouldn't have even considered the skort for a work look if it hadn't been paired with the blazer when I walked through the store I went to in June. The material was also thick, which I found impractical for a summery work look.
Similarly, I liked the idea of pairing one of Zara's oversize blazers, which cost $75, with a pair of $109 wide-legged pants. Still, the jacket was made of an uncomfortably thick material that I couldn't see myself wearing to multiple meetings in a day.
The outfit was sheer.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
Meanwhile, the linen pants were see-through, and I was disappointed when I saw that a black version of the same pants was sheer, too. I wouldn't mind if a pair of trousers I wore to dinner with friends were slightly transparent, but I wouldn't want to wear them to work. The $35.90 shirt I found to try on with the suit was also see-through.
I've had better luck with pants at Zara, so I was surprised the store I went to seemed to have a limited inventory.
As of Friday, its website still had ample trouser options, but based on what I saw at the store that day, I struggled to see myself building a practical and comfortable work wardrobe from Zara.
I could see myself investing in COS clothing
Before this experiment, I had never shopped at COS, so I wasn't sure if the clothes would meet my expectations in-store.
After browsing the store with racks of clothing organized by color and mannequins displayed in central areas, I selected a handful of garments to try on, sticking to neutral tones as I did at Zara.
To my delight, I loved the COS looks.
The set was my favorite of the looks I tried on.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
First, I tried on an $89 linen top and $120 trousers, and not only were they not see-through, but I loved the way they fit.
The pieces were comfortable but structured, and I liked that the sleeves of the button-down were a bit longer, as it gave the whole look a professional feel without me having to wear a stuffy blazer in the summer. I felt similarly about a $120 black dress with the same silhouette as the blouse.
The dress was structured but comfortable.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
The outfit that surprised me most was a white set with a $69 tank top and $89 shorts.
The items were a big departure from my usual style, but I loved how they looked and felt. The fabric wasn't see-through, and the ribbing elevated the look so I would feel comfortable wearing it to the office, even though it included shorts.
I was surprised by how much I liked the shorts set.
Samantha Grindell/Business Insider
The COS clothes were slightly more expensive than the pieces from Zara, but the price difference felt minuscule considering the COS pieces' quality. The materials felt like they would last, so I could see myself returning to the retailer to build a capsule wardrobe for work.
Overall, I think COS lived up to its mission of dressing professional, creative buyers, and Zara's catch-all of creating items for every occasion fell a little flat for me when it comes to work clothes.
Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters talked in a recent interview about how he and co-CEO Ted Sarandos make the big decisions.
Netflix/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said the company's dual CEO strategy is a powerful model.
He explained in a recent interview how big decisions get made with co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
So far, the setup appears to be working, with Netflix posting strong Q1 earnings and record subscribers.
How do you share the leadership of a multibillion-dollar company? Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters thinks he and co-CEO Ted Sarandos have got it down.
Peters recently told The Verge that he considers having two CEOs to be an "incredibly powerful model" that works due to the streamer's transparent culture and willingness "to have honest conversations, to be selfless, [and] to put the company first."
Dual executives aren't the norm. But there are some prominent examples of companies that have tried it in the past — with varying degrees of success — from Blackberry and Deutsche Bank, to Chipotle and SAP.
Peters said that they found that a company led by co-CEOs "either significantly underperforms peers or it significantly overperforms peers" — a sentiment that Sarandos echoed in an interview last year with Bloomberg.
"Statistically it is actually pretty great," Sarandos said at the time. "If you compare performance against the S&P, it's really strong."
And some companies have kept the model. Online eyewear retailer Warby Parker, for example, has been helmed by CEOs Neil Blumenthal and David Gilboa for well over a decade and successfully went public in 2021.
"The real discriminating factor there is, […] do you have a set of CEOs who are bought into the model and see it as a positive rather than something that's a compromise or obstacle they have to work around?" Peters said.
How big decisions get made without a sole decision-maker
Peters said the next line of leaders report to him and Sarandos based on their respective primary responsibilities, allowing for a "speed of decision-making" that makes their dual CEO model work.
"[S]o you think about content, marketing, legal, comms, and publicity — those are on Ted's side," Peters said. "On my side, for example, we've got product tech, ads, games, finance."
While the two execs have their own lanes to focus on, they're a single entity when it comes to major company decisions, like big content strategy questions, he said.
"We always say speaking to one of us is speaking to both of us, so we feel like we owe each other clarity and transparency in those conversations," Peters said.
When the co-CEO structure was first put into place in January 2023, the two executives talked more about what happens when they don't see eye to eye.
Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings remains board chairman after picking Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters to take over.
Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images / Netflix
"We disagree, we butt heads, we talk it out," Sarandos told Bloomberg at the time. "So did Reed and I, and so did you (Greg) and Reed (Hastings). We have different strengths. We can challenge each other, but still be deferential to our differentiated skillset."
They also have guidance when they need it from Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings, who they said is "still in the mix" to give his "counsel and perspective" when they run into disagreements.
Despite their peers being primarily led by a solo CEO, Peters and Sarandos' collaboration seems to be working. Netflix's first-quarter earnings report was a big beat with over $9.37 billion in revenue and subscriber growth almost double what Wall Street expected.
"[W]e seek to be a company that brings two very strong centers of excellence and capability on the creative side and on the product and tech side together," Peters told The Verge.
Dollar Tree is considering a sale of Family Dollar.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP
Dollar Tree is considering selling Family Dollar almost a decade after acquiring it.
Photos show one issue for the troubled chain: Products getting crushed in transit to stores.
Dollar stores opened thousands of new stores in recent years but also faced operational issues.
Three times a week, a truck driver reports to a distribution center for Family Dollar in Florida and picks up a trailer full of products destined for one of the retailer's stores.
But before he shows up, products in the trailer are already crushed, covered in ants, or have gone soggy in the Florida humidity. Recent examples from the driver's deliveries include crushed jugs of laundry detergent that had leaked onto the trailer's floor and a bag of cheese balls that had burst, sending the snacks into the crannies between water bottles.
"Almost every single trailer that I've had, there's product damage," the truck driver told Business Insider. He asked not to be identified, citing potential retaliation at work. BI confirmed the driver's identity and employment.
Detergent leaks from crushed bottles in one recent delivery to a Family Dollar store.
BI Source
Dollar Tree executives, who have managed Family Dollar since the company acquired it in 2015, have talked on earnings calls about the impact of high levels of "shrink" — products that have to be written off before they can be sold. The company has cited theft by patrons as a leading cause.
But photos from and an interview with the driver show another common form of loss that's much more within Family Dollar's control: Products that get damaged or go bad thanks to poor packing at distribution centers.
That could prove a challenge for Dollar Tree. It already unveiled a plan in March to close 1,000 Family Dollar stores — about 13% of the chain's locations.
Then, earlier this month, it went a step further and said that it was considering a sale of Family Dollar. Inefficient logistics and losses from damaged products — as well as theft — may represent a major challenge for any potential buyer trying to turn around the business.
Cheese balls from a damaged bag sit among cases of bottled water.
Alex Bitter/BI
The problems with damaged products start at Family Dollar's distribution center, the driver told BI.
There, workers often load trailers as quickly as possible, piling heavy items on top of sideways tubes of Pringles chips and precariously stacking packs of bottled water several layers high.
"They put a lot of heavy oils and Pepsi on top, and that tears the bags open," the driver said.
It's also common for the trailers to sit fully loaded at the distribution center for weeks before they make their way to a store, according to the driver.As they sit around, breakfast cereal, pies, and bags of sugar can break open, attracting ants, spiders, and other pests, he said.
"All that sugary stuff that gets opened, that's what draws the insects in."
Delicate products, such as potato chips, often get crushed under heavy crates.
Alex Bitter/BI
What Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are doing about the damaged products is unclear.
The driver said he's been instructed to send photos — but no itemized list or other details — of damaged products to his boss. "I don't know what they do with these pictures," he said.
Dollar Tree did not respond to a request for comment from BI.
Once merchandise makes it to a store, it often sits unpacked on the store floor.
Alex Bitter/BI
Meantime, the merchandise that makes it off the truck often ends up overwhelming the Family Dollar stores. Often, the stores don't have more than one employee on duty at a time, meaning the driver has to unload the truck — which contains tens of thousands of pounds of stuff — by himself.
And if the storage room in the back of the store isn't big enough, products end up blocking store aisles. At some dollar stores, including at rival chain Dollar General, the aisle clutter is so bad that it poses a fire safety risk, BI previously reported.
"All these little stores are getting way more merchandise than they can house," the driver said.
Do you work for Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, or another retailer and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com
Joe Biden's performance at the first presidential debate of 2024 drew criticism around the world.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The world seems to agree: Biden's debate performance was terrible.
US allies like Italy, Poland, and Germany reacted harshly to Biden, expressing doubt and concern.
Media critics and some Democrats are questioning Biden's campaign viability after the debate debacle.
The world is reacting to Thursday's debate, and one thing is clear: US allies are, at best, collectively face-palming at Biden's performance.
At worst, they're panicking.
The first presidential debate of the 2024 race was a meandering mess for both Trump and Biden, but one consensus emerged: Biden's performance was a bigger disaster.
Biden gave long-winded, mumbling answers in a low, hoarse voice, at times losing his train of thought and shifting topic mid-sentence or packing in policy descriptions that made it difficult to follow along.
Matteo Renzi, an Italian senator and former prime minister of Italy who has been close to the Democrats, cast doubt on Biden's ability to continue running the country.
He wrote in a post on X, translated from Italian by Reuters, "Joe Biden can't do it."
He said Biden has served the US with honor, adding, "He doesn't deserve an inglorious ending, he doesn't deserve one. Changing horses is a duty for everyone," according to Reuters.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed those concerns, telling reporters after an EU leaders summit on Friday, "I was afraid of this, in the sense that it was to be expected that in a direct confrontation, in a debate, it would not be easy for President Biden," according to Bloomberg.
He added that Democrats "definitely have a problem," Bloomberg reported. "These reactions are unequivocal."
Former UK ambassador to the US Kim Darroch also didn't mince words, telling Sky News Biden gave a "historically terrible performance."
"This was just comprehensively bad. So bad in emphasizing the concerns which American voters already had about Biden – about his age, about his physical frailty," Darroch told Sky News, adding that Trump's performance was "pretty terrible too."
And some countries are already predicting a tumultuous future.
"This night will not be forgotten," Norbert Röttgen, a veteran German lawmaker, wrote in a post on X. "The Democrats have to rethink their choices now. And Germany must prepare at full speed for an uncertain future. If we don't take responsibility for European security now, no one will."
Kunihiko Miyake, a former Japanese diplomat, told Reuters, "Unlike eight years ago, we are much more prepared, as are other European and Asian allies. Still, Mr Trump is unpredictable."
President Biden floundered throughout the debate, causing many to question whether he can continue his campaign at all.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
After a disastrous debate, many once-loyal Democrats are calling on the president to drop out
Former Obama aides and popular commentators fear Biden only affirmed fears about his age
The DNC isn't until August, meaning there's technically time to choose a new nominee
For months, Democrats have rallied behind President Joe Biden, insisting that in private moments he is energetic and up for the job. Yet after the president's abysmal performance last night, some are changing their tune — and the new melody is definitely somber.
Here's what some of Biden's once-loyal defenders are saying about the president now, with some even begging him to end his campaign before the Democratic National Convention in August.
David Axelrod
David Axelrod, a former Obama staffer, said the GOP will be in trouble if another Democrat replaces Biden as the nominee.
Joe Raedle, Getty
A titan of the Obama administration, Axelrod sounded the alarm during a panel discussion on CNN directly following the debate.
"I think there was a sense of shock actually on how he came out at the beginning of this debate," he said. "How his voice sounded — he seemed a little disoriented at the beginning of the debate. He did get stronger as the debate went on, but by that time, I think the panic had set in."
He confronted the question on nearly every Democrat's mind: whether Biden should drop out of the race. While sparring with Republican strategists on the panel, Axelrod said that the GOP would be in serious "trouble" were the Democratic ticket to change.
The Pod Guys
Though typically loyal to Biden, the hosts of the hugely popular podcast are saying that Biden should, at the very least, consider stepping aside.
Jason Mendez, Getty
While the former Obama aides who host Pod Save America typically support the president, they expressed deep concern about his ability to continue campaigning after last night.
"Obviously that debate was a f*****g disaster," Jon Favreau posted on X. "And since we haven't had the convention yet, it would be absurd if Democrats didn't at least have a serious discussion about whether Joe Biden — who's a wonderful human being and has been a great president — is up for the job."
In a blog post, Dan Pfeiffer lamented Biden's failure to assuage voters' concerns about his age, noting instead that he "exacerbated them."
Another host, Tommy Vietor, minced no words, writing on X that telling notoriously panicked Democrats to temper their concerns is "f*****g insulting to people who care deeply about the country."
Claire McCaskill
The former senator and current political commentator said that her phone exploded during the debate, with elected Democrats expressing grave concerns
NBC
The former-senator-turned-political-analyst said on MSNBC that her heart broke while watching the debate. Though she noted that clarity about a path forward can only come with time and new polling, she nonetheless expressed grave concern.
"Joe Biden had one thing he had to do tonight, and he didn't do it," McCaskill said. "He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up for the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight."
McCaskill revealed that elected officials were pinging her phone throughout the debate, throwing around words like "crisis." She also noted that Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom projected a vitality and assuredness that may leave some questioning why their names aren't at the top of the ticket.
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman, a journalist and close friend of Biden, admitted in an opinion piece that the president should step aside, once and for all.
Michael Cohen, Getty
By his own admission, Thomas Friedman, Biden's close friend and a New York Times opinion columnist, wept in his hotel room during last night's debate. In an article published this morning, he called on the president to step aside and let someone else run in his stead.
"Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election," Friedman wrote. Dropping out would, he argued, save Biden's legacy and give Americans the greatest chance of keeping Donald Trump out of office come November. He noted that while Harris should run if so inclined, voters deserve to choose a nominee from a wide array of options.
"I had been ready to give Biden the benefit of the doubt up to now, because during the times I engaged with him one on one, I found him up to the job," Friedman concluded. "He clearly is not any longer."
Van Jones
Speaking on CNN after the debate, Van Jones said he felt personal pain while watching Biden's performance.
Scott Dudelson
Van Jones, a political analyst and former Obama advisor, called Biden's performance "painful" to watch.
"I just want to speak from my heart," he said on CNN. "I love that guy. That's a good man – he loves his country, he's doing the best that he can, but he had a test to meet tonight to restore confidence of the country and of the base, and he failed to do that."
Many people, Jones noted, will want the president to consider stepping aside given that the Democratic National Convention is not until August. The question is whether Biden "will allow us to do that."
Joy Reid
In her comments on MSNBC, Joy Reid said that Biden entirely failed to tamp down concerns about his age.
CBS Photo Archive
Joy Reid, a national correspondent on MSNBC, said that she spent the 90-minute debate on the phone with Obama-era aides, Democratic operatives, and campaign officials. Their overall reaction? Panic.
Biden's primary job was to settle Democrats and their well-documented tendency to freak out.
"He did the opposite of that," she said.
Ben Rhodes
Characteristically geared toward concerns abroad, Obama's national security advisor kept it plain and simple on Twitter: "Just think about what that debate looked like to people and leaders around the world."
The Grammy-winning singer did not use a specific label to identify her sexuality. Shortly after, Eilish attended the Variety Hitmakers event, where she was interviewed on the red carpet.
After describing women as "pretty," the interviewer asked if Eilish intended to "come out" with her cover story.
"No, I didn't," Eilish said with a laugh. "But I kinda thought, wasn't it obvious? Like it's kinda been… I didn't realize people didn't know."
"I just don't really believe in it," she added, referring to the concept of "coming out." "Why can't we just exist? I've been doing this for a long time and I just didn't talk about it."
Eilish sings explicitly about her attraction to women in "Lunch," released as the lead single from her third studio album, "Hit Me Hard and Soft."
Ice Spice included a nod to queerness in her hit song "Bikini Bottom."
Ice Spice performs during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
In her 2022 single "Bikini Bottom," which became a runaway smash on TikTok, Ice Spice included a line about being attracted to both men and women.
"I like n—–, bitches too," she raps in the second verse. "Ayo, baddie, what it do?"
"So I was just like, they need to know. We're here and we're queer," she said. "So, period."
Just a few months later, Ice Spice was tapped to feature on Taylor Swift's "Karma," in which she sprinkled similar winks about her sexuality.
Next to Swift's lyrics like "Karma is my boyfriend," Ice Spice raps, "Karma is that girl" and "Karma is a fire in your house / And she 'bout to pop up unannounced."
Phoebe Bridgers is bisexual.
Phoebe Bridgers performs during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
Lisa Lake/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
"I'm so proud of our group dynamic, and as a bisexual woman in straight relationships, it feels weird to talk about it so much," Bridgers said.
"That said, I wish there were more types of queer people visible to me when I was growing up, and when it comes to our band and our shared dynamic, I have no shame about stepping forward and being like, 'This is what we look like and how we feel and what we believe in,'" she continued.
In the past, she was romantically linked to voice actor Emily Bannon, who apparently inspired the boygenius song "Emily I'm Sorry." Bridgers is currently dating the comedian Bo Burnham.
Lucy Dacus said she prefers "queer" as a "catch-all term."
Lucy Dacus performs with boygenius at All Things Go music festival in 2023.
In 2021, the "Night Shift" singer wrote an essay for Oprah Daily, in which she reflected on that experience and grappled with the concept of "coming out."
"My mom called me after she read it, concerned, because she still saw the word 'queer' as a slur," she wrote. "I told her what it means to me, why I like it as a catch-all term, how it feels like saying not straight and none of your business."
"For some members of my family, this essay may be me coming out to them, if they read it. I've heard that coming out never ends, which sounds exhausting," Dacus continued. "Maybe I instinctively understood that coming out would never end and the fear of exhaustion is what kept me from beginning for so long. But there is also the exhaustion of ignoring yourself."
That same month, Dacus discussed the various labels for her sexuality with The New York Times.
"Gay is the overarching word, queer is the better overarching word and more specifically bisexual or pansexual," she said. "I have no allegiance. I think gender is a joke."
Halsey actively fights against bisexual erasure.
Halsey attends the Los Angeles premiere of "MaXXXine" in 2024.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Halsey, who is currently dating actor Avan Jogia, has written several songs about her relationships and trysts with women, such as "Strangers," "Bad At Love," "Wipe Your Tears," and "Honey."
"I'm a young, bisexual woman, and I've spent a large part of my life trying to validate myself — to my friends, to my family, to myself — trying to prove that who I love and how I feel is not a phase; it's not part of some confusion that's going to change or could be manipulated," the Grammy-nominated singer said while accepting the GLAAD award for Outstanding Musician in 2018.
Aubrey Plaza said she falls in love with both girls and guys.
Aubrey Plaza is known for roles in "Parks and Recreation" and "White Lotus."
Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
The "White Lotus" star spoke about her fluid sexuality during a 2016 interview with The Advocate.
"I know I have an androgynous thing going on, and there's something masculine about my energy," Plaza said, when asked if women ever flirt with her.
"Girls are into me — that's no secret. Hey, I'm into them too. I fall in love with girls and guys. I can't help it."
All three members of MUNA identify as queer.
MUNA performs at All Things Go music festival in 2023.
Callie Ahlgrim
The three members of MUNA, Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson, have long been advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
The pop band makes explicitly gay music, from the cult-favorite anthem "I Know a Place" to the 2022 bop "What I Want" ("I want the fireworks / I want the chemistry / I want that girl right over there to wanna date me / That's what I want, there's nothing wrong with what I want").
Gavin, MUNA's lead singer and songwriter, described the latter song as "a second adolescence; a surge that comes with that certainty."
"And then you want to make up for lost time," McPherson said in their interview with Vice, while Maskin added, "That's just the queer experience, isn't it?"
"My love for us spills into all the different corners and crevices of the city under our colorful canopy," Gavin wrote. "One of the things I'm most thankful for about being queer is that it liberated me from fulfilling others' expectations of me, and forced me to focus on what gives me joy."
Joshua Bassett said his understanding of sexuality is still evolving.
"My entire life people have told me my sexuality,"he wrote. "People have shamed me for things they know nothing about. I want to say thank you to those of you who stand for love and acceptance."
In a subsequent interview with GQ, Bassett said he is "anti-coming out in the sense that there's no need to."
"There are plenty of letters in the alphabet… Why bother rushing to a conclusion? Sometimes your letter changes, sometimes you try a different one, other times you realize you're not what you thought you were, or maybe you always knew," he explained. "All of these can be true. I'm happy to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community because they embrace all. Don't let anyone tell you love isn't love. They're the ones who probably need it the most."
Cardi B opened up about her bisexuality when she was accused of "queerbaiting."
Cardi B attends the 2022 Pride Parade in West Hollywood.
"I'm married to a man but I have [expressed] soo much about my bisexuality and my experiences [with] girls," she wrote on Twitter, referring to her husband Offset.
"I don't like this new 'queer baiting' word," she continued, arguing that it pressures celebrities to show proof of their sexual experiences if they express queer themes in their art.
Janelle Monáe first identified as bisexual, but has since come out as pansexual.
Janelle Monáe attends the 2023 Soul Train Awards.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET
"Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women — I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker," Monáe said in a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone.
As the article makes clear, Monáe first identified as bisexual. "But then later I read about pansexuality and was like, 'Oh, these are things that I identify with too,'" Monae said. "I'm open to learning more about who I am."
"I want everyone to know that I'm single (since people wanna pretend I'm not) and make imaginary rules for me," she wrote. "I secretly and respectfully went through a difficult break up this summer but enough is enough."
"I also like girls. Thank U, Next. Bye," Monét added,
"It should feel more warm for everybody," she told Billboard. "I think we should make people more comfortable."
Angèle said her parents were "very surprised" when she brought a girlfriend home.
Angèle performs at Coachella in 2023.
Courtesy of Coachella
Today, Angèle openly identifies as bisexual, but the Belgian pop sensation didn't have a chance to tell her family before she was outed by the French press.
"If I had said to my parents: I think I like girls, then it would have been fine, but I didn't warn them, so it was a shock for them," she told The Guardian. "I think I always knew even when I was young, but when I was 15 and at school it really wasn't cool to be bisexual. It was even a bit shameful."
Baby Queen told BI that she's bisexual, but isn't attached to any particular label.
Baby Queen opened for Olivia Rodrigo on her 2022 European tour.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage
Baby Queen wrote her breakout hit "Want Me" about having a crush on "Killing Eve" star Jodie Comer.
"I'm going to be honest. I don't know," she said. "I'm fine for other people to know that I don't know, because I don't think anyone knows. I'd say, like, bisexual — but also, I just don't know. I feel like I need to figure it out. I need to go speed dating."
During a subsequent interview with BI in 2022, Baby Queen revealed that she is open to dating people of all genders, though she hasn't had much luck using apps like Raya.
"It's horrific," she joked. "All the guys are looking for blonde influencer girls… I don't fit into that. And all the girls are looking for rich football players. No one has matched with me."
Kit Connor came out as bisexual after saying he's "not too big on labels."
"I mean, for me, I feel like I'm perfectly confident and comfortable with my sexuality," he said. "I'm not too big on labels and things like that. I'm not massive about that, and I don't feel like I need to label myself, especially publicly."
"I've hinted about my sexuality for years while being afraid to spell it out for everybody," she said.
"I went on Instagram Live and said 'Guys, I really needed to explain something to you. Maybe I haven't said it, but I'm super queer," she continued. "This is something I want to represent through my music because it's who I am."
Cameron has released songs with female pronouns and queer storylines, including the 2022 hit "Boyfriend."
"I wasn't ever afraid of people knowing who I loved," she explained to E! News. "More so, I was afraid of people having access to the human parts of me in an industry that can be so anti-human. That was definitely an emotional thing, but it turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Mentally, I'm so much better now."
Bebe Rexha said she's open to dating "whoever inspires" her.
Bebe Rexha has a diamond-certified single with Florida Georgia Line, "Meant to Be."
"What I believe about sexuality is this: it's a scale," she said, adding that she considers herself "fluid."
"Until I find 'the one,' I can't just say what I am. I just want to find someone I love and who loves me – and I don't care if that's a boy or a girl," she said.
Rexha, who recently dated filmmaker Keyan Safyari, added that she has fallen in love with women in the past.
Kali Uchis said she's been "bisexual my whole life."
"People are constantly trying to find something to invalidate," Uchis continued. "I want more people in the Latin community to feel like they can express themselves freely and not have to confine themselves."
Along with the announcement, she shared a poster for an "LGBTQ+ for #BlackLivesMatter" protest in West Hollywood, California, and encouraged her fans to come along.
She added, "And I will be joining this protest today. Come join."
Demi Lovato is pansexual.
Demi Lovato attends the premiere for her 2021 YouTube docuseries.
"I'm so fluid now, and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was, like, super closeted off," Lovato said. When Rogan asked whether they like women or men, Lovato replied: "Yeah, anything, really."
"This past year I was engaged to a man, and when it didn't work, I was like, 'This is a huge sign.' I thought I was going to spend my life with someone. Now that I wasn't going to, I felt this sense of relief that I could live my truth," Lovato said after calling off their engagement with Max Ehrich after two months.
Yung Miami confirmed her bisexuality while playing a game of "Smash or Pass."
Yung Miami of City Girls performs during the 2023 Dreamville Music festival.
Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage
During an appearance on Jason Lee's talk show, Yung Miami (one-half of the rap duo City Girls) said that she would happily "smash" both Cardi B and Megan The Stallion.
"I'ma smash, all day and tomorrow," she said. "Megan just give me, like — she really can, like, take me up and throw down."
"In my private life, it's been going on for a long time. I obviously don't really identify as a straight woman ever in my life, but I feel like now I'm really in my queerness," she said. "I'm in LA living my 'L Word' life. Isn't it amazing?"
Frank Ocean's song "Chanel" has been widely interpreted as a "bisexual anthem."
"4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too," he wrote on Tumblr. "By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love. It changed my life."
That same year, Ocean declined to label himself bisexual in an interview with GQ.
"I'll respectfully say that life is dynamic and comes along with dynamic experiences, and the same sentiment that I have towards genres of music, I have towards a lot of labels and boxes and shit," he said.
Many songs on "Channel Orange," as well his 2016 sophomore album "Blonde," see Ocean using male pronouns to address his lovers. However, many more of his lyrics illustrate attraction to women.
Ocean's 2017 single "Chanel" is widely interpreted as an allegory for bisexuality: "My guy pretty like a girl / And he got fight stories to tell / I see both sides like Chanel / C on both sides like Chanel," he sings in the hook.
Miley Cyrus identifies as pansexual.
Miley Cyrus released her Grammy-nominated album "Endless Summer Vacation" in 2023.
In subsequent years, Cyrus has spoken openly about her fluid approach to gender and sexuality.
"A big part of my pride and my identity is being a queer person," she told Vanity Fair. "What I preach is: People fall in love with people, not gender, not looks, not whatever. What I'm in love with exists on almost a spiritual level. It has nothing to do with sexuality."
"Relationships and partnerships in a new generation — I don't think they have so much to do with sexuality or gender," she continued. "Sex is actually a small part, and gender is a very small, almost irrelevant part of relationships."
Anitta publicly came out as bisexual in her 2018 Netflix docuseries, "Vai Anitta."
"I kissed a girl before I kissed a guy," she said. "I only told my mom after I kissed a guy, because… I didn't know how to feel. I thought there was something wrong with me for wanting to kiss a guy and a girl. But my mom just said, 'So what?'"
"My family never had an issue, but everyone else needed an answer about it," she continued. "So I said, 'I don't want to be hiding.' If I go to the club and I want to kiss a girl, I don't want to be scared of people seeing me and freaking out."
Jameela Jamil came out as queer on Twitter.
Jameela Jamil is best known for playing Tahani on NBC's "The Good Place."
The "She Hulk" actor and body-positivity advocate shared a statement, captured in screenshots of notes she had typed out on her phone. The tweet has since been deleted.
"Twitter is brutal," Jamil wrote. "This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy within the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter."
"But I kept it low because I was scared of the pain of being accused of performative bandwagon jumping, over something that caused me a lot of confusion, fear, and turmoil when I was a kid," the statement read.
Tayla Parx is bisexual.
Tayla Parx is a singer and songwriter.
Atlantic Records
Parx is currently in a relationship with a woman, but told BI that she prefers to write songs without gender-specific pronouns.
"I've always been a fan of keeping things gender neutral, honestly," she said," because of the fact that I'm bi, so sometimes my song is about a boy, sometimes it's about a girl."
"I really like keeping it inclusive," Parx continued. "I really love when somebody can come up to me and say, 'I went through this with my partner,' whoever that partner is — whether it's a him or her, or whatever their pronoun is."
Beabadoobee is bisexual.
Beabadoobee opened for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
Octavio Jones/TAS23/Getty Images for for TAS Rights Management
Bea Kristi, known professionally as beabadoobee, is a rising star in the music industry; she's labelmates with The 1975 and an opener for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
She's also known for writing tender love songs with both male and female pronouns, from her breakout hit "Coffee" to the queer fan-favorite "She Plays Bass."
"I did have feelings for girls but I just told everyone I was gay because no boy liked me ever," she told the New York Times. "Honestly, I was bisexual."
Willow Smith opened up on "Red Table Talk" about being attracted to both men and women.
Willow Smith released her third studio album, "Willow," in 2019.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images for Christian Dior
When asked about potentially being part of a "throuple" (a relationship between three people), Smith said she could see herself being with a man and woman at the same time.
"I love men and women equally and so I would definitely want one man, one woman," Smith said on her mom's show "Red Table Talk." "I feel like I could be polyfidelitous with those two people."
"Broad City" star Abbi Jacobson has dated both men and women.
Abbi Jacobson attends the TIME 100 Next Gala in 2023.
Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
In the final season of her beloved comedy show "Broad City," Jacobson's character (also named Abbi) explored her evolving sexuality by dating a woman for the first time.
The storyline paralleled Jacobson's own journey. In 2018, she told Vanity Fair that she had dated both men and women.
Jacobson went on to portray Carson Shaw, a female baseball player coming to terms with her queerness, in Amazon Prime's 2022 series "A League of Their Own." The show took a fresh, LGBTQ-forward approach to the 1992 film of the same name.
"I can resonate with it because it's very much my story," Jacobson told Them. "I came into my sexuality super late, though you can come out even if you're way older than I was."
Remi Wolf has described herself as a "queer artist."
Remi Wolf performs at Glastonbury in 2024.
Joseph Okpako/WireImage
Wolf, who has toured with stars like Lorde and Olivia Rodrigo, peppers her music with references to both male and female lovers — dating all the way back to her debut EP, 2019's "You're a Dog!"
In an interview with Paper magazine, Wolf described the closing track "Shawty" as an "honest song about being a queer artist and having duplicity in what it meant to write music about a casual, yet fun relationship with a woman."
Tove Lo's sexuality is fluid.
Tove Lo is best known for her hit song "Habits (Stay High)."
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Tove Lo has sung about ill-fated relationships with men, like her famous smash hit "Habits (Stay High)," and with women, like her 2019 Alma collaboration "Bad as the Boys."
"For me, sexuality is a fluid thing and it's hard to be just the one way," she told NME in 2019. "But maybe that's just because I like both."
Megan Fox publicly came out as bisexual in 2009.
Megan Fox portrayed Reagan, a bisexual character, on Fox's hit sitcom "New Girl."
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
The "Jennifer's Body" actress first opened up about her sexuality in 2008, when she revealed that she'd had a crush on a woman.
"I just think that all humans are born with the ability to be attracted to both sexes," she told GQ. "I mean, I could see myself in a relationship with a girl."
"I think people are born bisexual and they make subconscious choices based on the pressures of society," she said. "I have no question in my mind about being bisexual."
Brendon Urie said being married to a woman doesn't negate his pansexuality.
"I'm married to a woman and I'm very much in love with her but I'm not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person," he said.
"Yeah, I guess you could qualify me as pansexual because I really don't care. If a person is great, then a person is great. I just like good people, if your heart's in the right place. I'm definitely attracted to men. It's just people that I am attracted to."
Singer-songwriter mxmtoon said her bisexuality informs her music.
Mxmtoon released her debut album, "The Masquerade," in 2019.
April Blum/Courtesy of mxmtoon
The "Prom Dress" singer told BI that many of her love songs are gender-neutral by design.
"There's not enough songs in the world where people can listen to it, and it doesn't have any sort of gender to it, and it doesn't say like, 'Boy-oy-oy,'" she said.
"So I think that it's nice for me to be able to think about that, because heck, who knows what could happen in the future? Maybe I'll like someone else. I just think songs should exist for anyone."
YUNGBLUD said he has a "very fluid" approach to sexuality.
YUNGBLUD released his debut album, "21st Century Liability," in 2018.
"I am more straight," he said in the cover story. "[But if] I walked down the street and met a fucking bloke tomorrow, or a trans person, you never know. It's about connection. I'm very fluid about it."
"If I fell in love with a trans person, it's just the way it is. It's on a deeper level. It doesn't matter what you've got. It's not about having a dick or a pussy."
Amandla Stenberg identifies as nonbinary and pansexual.
Amandla Stenberg is known for their roles in "The Hunger Games" and "The Hate U Give."
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
"Gender and sexuality are so fluid. It's OK to change your mind a million times and figure out what works for you. It's OK to take your time," Stenberg told Seventeen magazine in 2018.
"I love that we have this umbrella term of 'queer,' and so many things can exist underneath it, but I realized that part of my journey was hiding underneath that umbrella, because I was scared — on a personal and a public level — to confront what I was," Stenberg continued.
"It was easier for me to say 'I'm bi' or "I'm pan' as I was figuring it out. But I came to a place where I felt really proud of my sexuality, and I decided I wanted to share that pride."
Bella Thorne originally identified as bisexual, but later realized she's pansexual.
Bella Thorne is a singer and actress.
Michael Buckner / Getty Images
Bella Thorne simply tweeted "yes" to a fan asking whether or not she's bisexual in 2016.
While promoting her new book in 2019, Thorne said she's "actually a pansexual" during an interview on "Good Morning America."
"I didn't know that," Thorne said. "And somebody explained to me really thoroughly what that is: You like beings. You like what you like. Doesn't have to be a girl, or a guy — a he, a she, a they, a this, or that. It's literally, you like personality."
Tessa Thompson opened up about her fluid sexuality in a 2018 interview.
Tessa Thompson is best known for "Thor" and "Creed."
Frazer Harrison/Getty
Thompson told Net-a-Porter that she's attracted to both men and women.
"I can take things for granted because of my family – it's so free and you can be anything that you want to be," Thompson said. "I'm attracted to men and also to women. If I bring a woman home, [or] a man, we don't even have to have the discussion."
Evan Rachel Wood came out as bisexual in 2012, though said more recently she prefers the term "queer."
Evan Rachel Wood is known for roles in "Thirteen" and "Westworld."
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Wood came out as bisexual in a tweet in 2012 saying, "I myself am bisexual and have always 'joked' about Miley giving me gay vibes. Not a bad thing! Just an observation."
She has since become an advocate for bisexual awareness, though in 2013, Wood told a fan that she has ambivalent feelings about specific labels.
"I prefer 'queer,'" Wood wrote on Twitter. "Bisexual works too except I don't exclude transgender people. This is why labels are tricky."
Lucas Hedges said he's "not totally straight, but also not gay and not necessarily bisexual."
Lucas Hedges has starred in award-winning films like "Lady Bird."
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Hedges stars as the titular character in 2018's "Boy Erased," whose parents send him to conversion therapy after he comes out as gay.
"I owe it to this part to speak as honestly as possible," Hedges told Vulture in an interview about the film. "In the early stages of my life, some of the people I was most infatuated with were my closest male friends. That was the case through high school, and I think I was always aware that while for the most part I was attracted to women, I existed on a spectrum."
Kristen Stewart has dated both men and women.
Kristen Stewart has starred in "Twilight" and "Charlie's Angels."
Andrew Toth/Getty Images
"You're not confused if you're bisexual," Stewart told The Guardian in 2017. "It's not confusing at all. For me, it's quite the opposite."
The "Twilight" star also spoke to the complexity that comes with having her sexuality in the spotlight.
"I mean, it's hard to talk about," Stewart said. "I don't want to seem presumptuous, because everyone has their own experience. The whole issue of sexuality is so grey. I'm just trying to acknowledge that fluidity, that greyness, which has always existed. But maybe only now are we allowed to start talking about it."
Drew Barrymore came out in 2003 and continues to keep her romantic life private.
Drew Barrymore has been in the Hollywood spotlight her entire life.
Dan Callister/Getty Images
Over two decades ago, Drew Barrymore came out in an interview in Contact Magazine, saying, "Do I like women sexually? Yeah, I do. Totally. I have always considered myself bisexual."
"I love a woman's body. I think a woman and a woman together are beautiful, just as a man and a woman together are beautiful."
In 2015, Michelle Rodriguez said she's sexually attracted to both men and women.
Michelle Rodriguez stars in the "Fast and Furious" franchise.
Universal
"I've gone both ways. I do as I please," the "Fast and Furious" and "Avatar" star said to Entertainment Weekly. "I am too fucking curious to sit here and not try when I can. Men are intriguing. So are chicks."
When asked later about the decision to open up about her love life, Rodriquez told Latina Magazine: "I'm getting older. Eventually it's going to wrinkle up and I'm not going to be able to use it. I wanted to be honest about who I am and see what happens."
Pop star Lauren Jauregui came out in a 2016 political op-ed.
Lauren Jauregui rose to fame as a member of Fifth Harmony.
Christopher Polk / Getty Images
Jauregui came out as bisexual in a 2016 Billboard op-ed piece, writing, "I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it."
The following year, the former Fifth Harmony member collaborated with Halsey on her song "Strangers," a pop duet about an ill-fated gay romance. The lyrics initially had both artists singing about an unnamed "he."
"Then I got a text from her: 'Hey, babe, you can totally shut this down, but I was thinking we could switch the pronouns,'' Jauregui told Out Magazine. "I was like, 'Bitch, I was thinking the same thing!'"
Kesha said gender doesn't play a role in who she's attracted to.
Kesha released her fifth studio album "Gag Order" in 2023.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen
Kesha says she prefers not to use labels, but told Seventeen Magazine, "I don't love just men. I love people. It's not about a gender. It's just about the spirit that exudes from that other person you're with."
Record mogul Clive Davis came out as bisexual in his 2013 memoir.
Clive Davis is a key figure in the entertainment industry.
"The adage is that you're either straight or gay or lying, but that's not my experience," Davis wrote. "To call me anything other than bisexual would be inaccurate."
Black Eyed Peas frontwoman Fergie came out as bisexual in 2009.
Fergie's full name is Stacy Ferguson.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
When The Advocate asked the Black Eyed Peas frontwoman about her bisexual past and why it wasn't a "trendy" thing for her, she said, "The funny thing is that I was very open and honest about that from the very beginning, and everyone was acting like it was some new trend. Go back four or five years, people, and you'll see the same answer."
Actor Alan Cumming is so tired of discussing his bisexuality in interviews that he created a FAQ answer on his website.
Alan Cumming is an accomplished TV, movie, and stage actor.
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
In 2015, Cumming told The Advocate, "My sexuality has never been black and white; it's always been gray. I'm with a man, but I haven't closed myself off to the fact that I'm still sexually attracted to women."
"I'm not here to change people's minds about whether they believe in bisexuality," it reads. "All I'm saying is that I think my sexuality and most people's sexuality is gray. I am married to a man. I have a healthy sexual appetite and a healthy imagination. I also have an attraction to women. I've never lost it, actually."
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong spoke about being bisexual in a 1995 interview.
Billie Joe Armstrong is the lead vocalist for Green Day.
Theo Wargo / Getty Images
"I think I've always been bisexual," Armstrong said in a 1995 interview with The Advocate.
"I mean, it's something that I've always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of 'Oh, I can't.' They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing."
Cara Delevingne has spoken about the stigma surrounding bisexuality.
Cara Delevingne is a model and actress.
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After talking openly about being with men and women, the "Suicide Squad" star expressed frustration about the way some people misidentify her as gay.
"A lot of the friends I have who are straight have such an old way of thinking," Delevingne said in an interview for Glamour. "It's 'So you're just gay, right?' [They] don't understand it. [If] I'm like, 'Oh, I really like this guy,' [they're like], 'But you're gay.' I'm like, 'No, you're so annoying!'"
Sia said she has dated both men and women.
Pop star Sia is famous for hiding her face with wigs and bows.
Danny Moloshok/Reuters
Sia came out as queer in August 2013, tweeting, "I'm queer. I don't really identify as a lesbian because I've dated predominantly men. But I've certainly dated women."
Sara Ramirez identifies as queer and nonbinary.
Sara Ramirez has starred on "Grey's Anatomy" and "And Just Like That."
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The "Grey's Anatomy" star came out as queer during a speech at True Colors Fund's 40 to None Summit.
"So many of our youth experiencing homelessness are youth whose lives touch on many intersections — whether they be gender identity, gender expression, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship status," they said.
"Because of the intersections that exist in my own life: woman, multi-racial woman, woman of color, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant, and raised by families heavily rooted in Catholicism on both my Mexican and Irish sides, I am deeply invested in projects that allow our youth's voices to be heard."
Comedian Margaret Cho came out as bisexual early in her career and continues to advocate for bi visibility.
Margaret Cho has been attending Pride celebrations since the '70s.
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Cho said in a 2018 interview with Huffington Post that she's not sure if bisexual is necessarily the right word, "because that indicates that there's only two genders, and I don't believe that."
"I've been with people all across the spectrum of gender and who have all kinds of different expressions of gender, so it's so hard to say," she continued. "Maybe 'pansexual' is technically the more correct term but I like 'bisexual' because it's kind of '70s. [Laughs] There's something very chic about that word and I guess that's probably the right one for me."
Julianne Hough told her husband she's "not straight."
"I [told him], 'You know I'm not straight, right?'" Hough said to Women's Health. "And he was like, 'I'm sorry, what?' I was like, 'I'm not. But I choose to be with you.'"
Comedian, YouTube star, and late-night host Lilly Singh came out on Twitter as bisexual.
Lilly Singh was the first woman to host a late-night comedy show on NBC.
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In February 2019, Singh tweeted a checklist of identifiers: Female, colored, bisexual.
"Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time," Singh wrote. "But now I'm fully embracing them as my superpowers. No matter how many 'boxes' you check, I encourage you to do the same."
Daya came out as bisexual with a lengthy post on Instagram, shortly after National Coming Out Day.
Daya is best known for her 2016 hit "Sit Still, Look Pretty."
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"Follow your gut and don't feel like you owe any sort of explanation to anyone," Daya wrote. "Your sexuality is yours only so build with it at a pace that works for you. I'm proud to be a bisexual member of the LGBTQ community with a girl I love who makes me feel more like me every day."
Daya added that she has received plenty of support and "though it wasn't always easy I also recognize how privileged I am to have had so much of it, so I especially wanna be there for those of u who aren't surrounded by the most accepting family/friends/communities."
Singer and songwriter Jason Mraz said "two-spirit" is the best identifier for his sexuality.
Jason Mraz is best known for his hit song "I'm Yours."
"Honestly, I didn't realize it was going to be so telling," Mraz told Billboard. "But I've had experiences with men, even while I was dating the woman who became my wife. It was like, 'Wow, does that mean I am gay?' And my wife laid it out for me. She calls it 'two spirit,' which is what the Native Americans call someone who can love both man and woman. I really like that."
Paris Jackson prefers not to label herself, and said she came out when she was 14.
Paris Jackson is the daughter of Michael Jackson.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
Jackson identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community and has mentioned crushing on girls in magazine interviews, but she prefers not to be called bisexual.
"I'm not bisexual," Jackson wrote in an Instagram post. "I just love people for people. I don't label myself so please don't label me. Thank you!"
Musician and actor Keiynan Lonsdale prefers not to label himself, but said he's "not straight."
Keiynan Lonsdale played a key role in the 2018 teen rom-com "Love, Simon."
Mike Windle / Stringer / Getty Images
"I like to change my hair, I like to take risks with how I dress, I like girls, and I like guys (yes), I like growing, I like learning, I like who I am and I really like who I'm becoming," the "Love, Simon" star wrote in an Instagram post.
"I said, I'm not straight," Lonsdale told EW when asked about his coming out story. with his friends. "I don't really label myself as anything. I have been in love with guys and I have been in love with girls. That's me."
Amber Heard came out as bisexual years ago, but has since stated she prefers not to be labeled.
Amber Heard is known for movies like "Aquaman" and "Never Back Down."
Evan Agostini / Invision / AP
"I don't identify as anything," Heard told Allure in 2017. "I'm a person. I like who I like. I happened to be dating a woman, and people started taking pictures of us walking to our car after dinner. I [was] holding her hand, and I realized that I have two options: I can let go of her hand and, when asked about it, I can say that my private life is my private life. Or I could not let go and own it."
It was when Heard decided to "own it" back in 2010 that the bisexual label first came into play, though she's since decided against using the term.
"It's limiting, that LGBTQ thing," she told Allure. "It served a function as an umbrella for marginalized people to whom rights were being denied, but it loses its efficacy because of the nuanced nature of humanity […] I don't care how many letters you add. At some point, it's going to spell 'WE ARE HUMAN.'"
Alia Shawkat identifies as bisexual.
Alia Shawkat is famous for her starring role on "Arrested Development."
Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images
"I was a tomboy growing up, and I remember my mom asking me when I was 10, 'Are you attracted to boys or girls?' I said 'I don't know,'" Shawkat told Out Magazine. "Now I consider myself bisexual, and I think balancing my male and female energies has been a big part of me growing as an actor."
Daniel Newman came out as bisexual in 2017.
Daniel Newman had a breakout role on AMC's "The Walking Dead."
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In 2017, "The Walking Dead" star came out as bisexual to his fans on social media and promoted the hashtag #OutandProud with supportive messages about visibility within the LGBTQ+ community.
Shannon Purser came out as bisexual on social media.
Shannon Purser is known for "Stranger Things" and "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser."
"I don't normally do this, but I figure now is as good a time as any to get personal," Purser wrote. "I've only just recently come out as bisexual to my family and friends. It's something I am still processing and trying to understand and I don't like talking about it too much. I'm very very new to the LGBT community."
Stephanie Beatriz wrote about her bisexuality in an essay for GQ.
Stephanie Beatriz played a bisexual character on NBC's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine."
Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
"I'm bi, and I'm getting married this fall," Beatriz wrote in 2018. "I'm choosing to get married because this particular person brings out the best in me. This person happens to be a man. I'm still bi."
She continued: "I've chosen to use that platform to speak openly about my bi-ness, because of other people who may feel invisible and unsure of whether or not to come out as bisexual."
"True Blood" star Anna Paquin came out in a recorded PSA in 2010.
Anna Paquin has been married to Stephen Moyer since 2010.
Getty Images / John Shearer
Paquin came out as bisexual in a PSA for the Give a Damn Campaign aimed at promoting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality by saying, "I'm bisexual, and I give a damn."
"Proud to be a happily married bisexual mother," Paquin tweeted in 2014. "Marriage is about love not gender."
"The Voice" and "American Idol" alum Frenchie Davis has dated both men and women.
Frenchie Davis was a contestant on "American Idol" in 2003.
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"I wasn't out before the relationship, but I wasn't in," Davis said in an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I dated men and women, though lesbians weren't feeling the bisexual thing. Now I'm in love with a woman I think I can be with forever."
Ezra Miller came out as queer in 2012.
Ezra Miller is known for the "Justice League" and "Fantastic Beasts" franchises.
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"The way I would choose to identify myself wouldn't be gay," Miller said to The Daily Beast in 2012. "I've been attracted mostly to 'shes,' but I've been with many people and I'm open to love wherever it can be found."
Ciara Applebaum contributed to a previous version of this article.