‘Ashamed’ Phillip Schofield Breaks His Silence Over ITV Exit

Phillip Schofield has denied grooming the younger male colleague he had an affair with as the former This Morning star gave his first interview since leaving the broadcaster.

He resigned from ITV last week and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship.

Schofield had reportedly first met the man when he was 15 years old, but said the affair did not begin until he was much older and had begun working at ITV.

In an interview with The Sun, the 61-year-old presenter said: “I did not, I did not (groom him).

“There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we’d become mates. I don’t know about that.

“But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that anywhere else.”

Schofield also said that his “greatest apology” was to his former lover, who has been brought the “greatest misery into his totally innocent life”.

He added: “I am deeply sorry and I apologise to him because I should have known better…. I will die sorry. I am so deeply mortified.”

He also said he thought it “looked shocking” when an old photograph, featuring both him and the man who would later become his lover, emerged online.

Schofield also told the newspaper he did not “lie to protect” his career, but the colleague “didn’t want his name in public”.

He said it began in 2017 after a “consensual moment” in his dressing room and it was “not a love affair, it was not a relationship, we were not boyfriends; we were mates”.

Schofield said his wife was “very, very angry” after he confessed to her, having previously denied the relationship.

He also said: “She got off a plane and I phoned her up and texted saying, ‘I need to talk to you’. She called back and I told her.”

The BBC is also set to release an interview with Schofield being questioned by Amol Rajan.

In a trailer, the presenter also told BBC News: “It was a totally innocent picture, a totally innocent Twitter follow, of which I follow 11,400 people, and then it was a completely innocent backwards and forwards over a period of time about a job, about careers.

“What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with talking to someone no matter what age they are?

“Does that mean that if you’re following anyone on Twitter that you absolutely don’t talk to anybody else or you don’t give advice?”

He added: “The brief communications backwards and forwards up to the point that he came to work on This Morning I think was just chat.”

Schofield clarified why his statement last week said the affair was “unwise”, and called it a “very, very grave error”.

He added: “It was consensual, but it was my fault.”

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Actor Danny Masterson Found Guilty Of Raping Two Women

A jury has found That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson guilty of raping two women at his Hollywood Hills home in the early 2000s, according to The Associated Press.

The jury was not able to come to a verdict on an additional count of rape involving a third woman.

This was the second trial for the 47-year-old actor and Scientologist. Prosecutors said Scientology officials protected Masterson for years after he drugged and sexually assaulted the women. The women, who were also Scientologists, testified that the church barred them from making reports to police.

Jurors deliberated for eight days before returning their verdict. The original trial ended on November 30, 2022, with the jury deadlocked on all counts after extended deliberations, which had to be restarted when two jurors got Covid.

Masterson pleaded not guilty to the charges and didn’t testify in his own defence in either trial.

Danny Masterson appears at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 7, 2017.
Danny Masterson appears at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 7, 2017.

Wade Payne/Invision/AP

This second jury, comprising seven women and five men, was the first to hear allegations that Masterson had drugged his victims, which Judge Charlaine Olmedo had not allowed in the original trial. That jury only heard that the women had been “incapacitated” when Masterson allegedly raped them in separate incidents at his home between 2001 and 2003.

“The defendant drugs his victims to gain control. He does this to take away his victims’ ability to consent,” deputy district attorney Ariel Anson told the jury in her closing argument on May 16, according to The Associated Press.

“You don’t want to have sex? You don’t have a choice,” Anson said. “The defendant makes that choice for these victims. And he does it over and over and over again.”

The first victim to testify said that Masterson smothered her with a pillow and threatened her with a gun during an attack in 2003, while she was semiconscious after drinking from a glass of alcohol he had served her.

Masterson claimed that he had consensual sex with the women. His defence attorney Philip Cohen sought to discredit the women in his closing argument, pointing out inconsistencies in their stories and suggesting that the prosecution focused on Scientology to distract from “other problems” with the case, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The judge ruled that more evidence related to Scientology could be heard in this second trial ― allowing former Scientology official Claire Headley to testify as an expert witness to push back on church denials about its policies and principles, which critics have described as controlling and abusive.

The women, who are no longer Scientologists, testified that the church barred them from reporting the assaults to police, blamed them for the alleged rapes, and harassed, intimidated and stalked them. Headley, who sued the church in 2009 after years of rising through the ranks of its Sea Org religious order, testified that “it is policy that you do not call police” without “specific authorisation” — and that “by the laws of Scientology, it would be a high crime” to report a fellow Scientologist to the police without permission.

Church of Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw flatly denied that such policies exist in the church. “The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone, Scientologists or not, to law enforcement,” Pouw said in a statement to HuffPost. She also called the stalking and harassment allegations “an attempted money grab” by the alleged victims who are also suing Masterson and the church in a civil suit.

In closing arguments, Anson said: “The church taught his victims, ‘Rape isn’t rape, you caused this, and above all, you are never allowed to go to law enforcement’”, calling Masterson “untouchable” because of his celebrity status in Scientology, the AP reported.

On Thursday while the jurors were deliberating, Leah Remini posted a letter that she claimed a mother of one of the victims sent to Scientology leader David Miscavige in 2004, listing graphic details of Masterson’s alleged sexual assaults. The mother concluded by asking whether the church tried to persuade her daughter to “perjure herself so that their celeb can walk scout [sic] free” and whether “celebs are exempt” from “justice codes”.

Masterson is best known for playing Steven Hyde on all eight seasons of That ’70s Show, which aired on Fox from 1998 to 2006. Masterson was the only original member of the cast not to appear in That ’90s Show, a Netflix sequel series that debuted in January.

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Love Island’s George Fensom Addresses Resurfaced Homophobic Tweets And Allegations Of ‘Controlling’ Behaviour

Love Island newcomer George Fensom has spoken out after an ex-girlfriend branded him “controlling” in a video shared on social media and homophobic tweets emerged.

The 24-year-old business development executive is among the first batch of singletons headed into the Majorcan villa when the 10th series begins on Monday.

Not long after George was announced to be taking part in the ITV2 show, fans unearthed old tweets in which the islander used homophobic language.

They also discovered his former partner had uploaded a TikTok video in which she claimed he cheated on her and was “controlling”.

George has since broken his silence on both instances, and addressing the tweets first, he said: “It’s really unfortunate that that’s been bought up because that isn’t the person that I am today.

“Looking back on those tweets, I was really naïve and really young to think that was the right thing to say.

“It’s obviously not the right thing to say on my behalf… That’s pretty much it really.”

George explained that the tweets were posted over a decade ago and that he is continuing to learn.

“In regards to people saying that I’m not right for the villa, all I would say is this, everyone’s made mistakes,” he continued.

“Everyone has said things that they regret. The difference in the way that I’ll defend myself is the way that I’m owning that and I’ve admitted that that was the wrong thing to say.

“And actually, if I could turn back time then I wouldn’t have said the things that I said. That’s all I can do to defend myself and say in this scenario.”

Turning his attention to the accusations made by his ex-girlfriend, George voiced his disappointment.

“It’s really unfortunate and actually quite upsetting on my behalf that a picture has has been painted about me in that light,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to moving forward with things and going into the villa and just providing a new wave of energy and to prove that the things that have been written about me aren’t true.

“People can see a different light to me.”

The opening cast of this year's Love Island
The opening cast of this year’s Love Island

Vincent Dolman/ITV

George added that Love Island’s training videos on being mutually respectful in relationships, which is part of its duty of care policy, have also been beneficial.

“Every day is a learning day and everyday you learn things, no matter if it’s regards to a work aspect or relationships and things,” he said.

“People react differently to different things and people feel a certain way about different things as well.”

George’s place on Love Island was announced in recent days, with the singleton revealing what he’s looking for in a romance.

Speaking in the show’s official press pack, he said: “I’ve put myself first in relationships before and it didn’t end well, so I’m looking to focus and give 100% of my time and care to someone.

“I want to settle down, I’m getting old.

“I prefer a girl who is naturally good looking, and someone who has even more banter than me – although I don’t believe that’s physically possible.”

HuffPost UK has contacted Love Island for comment.

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Juliette Lewis Writes Heartfelt Tribute To ‘Yellowjackets’ After Rough Season 2 Finale

Warning! This article contains spoilers about the final episode of Yellowjackets.

Juliette Lewis is thanking her Yellowjackets work family after Sunday’s tragic season finale.

The veteran actor on Monday posted an Instagram carousel of six photos from the production of season two’s shocking closer. Lewis, who portrays adult Natalie in the series, wrote she is “beyond moved by the appreciation of my work.”

“Love respect & appreciation is the oil in this creative machine and the encouragement I always need,” wrote Lewis, adding: “I will and can continue creating despite the challenges of this industry, with it’s breakneck hours & the pressure cooker expectations.”

She continued: “The exceptional writing on @Yellowjackets I believe this team can literally do and write anything, the chemistry and exquisite talent of this phenomenal — ever growing — cast is something I will always marvel at. And the phenomenon that is @soapy.t.”

Those following the show, which centres on a high school soccer team fighting for their lives after their plane crashes in the wilderness, have surely noticed how well that phenomenon — Sophie Thatcher — has portrayed the younger version of Lewis’ character.

“You already know,” Lewis wrote, tagging Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Simone Kessell, Lauren Ambrose and Tawny Cypress. “You all have my heart. To My Team who sometimes knows-gets what I need before I do. You are family. Until we meet again.”

Lewis’ candid photos captured a quiet chat with director Karyn Kusama and a goofy time with Ricci. They also showed Lewis in her final scene. Natalie, who was accidentally given a fatal dose of phenobarbital by Ricci’s character Misty, was mourned by fans online.

“RIP Natalie Scatorccio. 1979-2021,” one person tweeted. “Never afraid to speak her mind, stand up for herself and do whatever she could to survive. After The Wilderness, she struggled with addiction and the guilt she harboured … Yet her loyalty … was unwavering.”

The show has captivated viewers with its harrowing contrast between cannibalistic survival in the woods and the processing of that trauma decades later. Set in the 1990s and in the modern day, Yellowjackets is both grisly and hilarious. Sunday’s finale was simply tragic.

“You won’t be surprised to hear that I’m crying,” wrote Lynskey in the comments of Lewis’ post. “I love with all my heart and the respect I have for you is gigantic.”

“Love you so much,” wrote Ricci.

Natalie’s death, which came after the friend group reunited in the great outdoors to make a sacrifice to “it,” has since spurred a barrage of frustrated tweets from viewers who related to her trauma, resilience and lifelong substance abuse issues.

Yellowjackets is available to stream in the UK on Now.

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Glastonbury Fans Have A Theory Over Mysterious Act On Line-Up

Eagle-eyed Glastonbury fans have noticed there’s an unusual band name on the bill at this year’s festival – and they’re convinced they already know who is behind the alias.

But some have spotted an unfamiliar group – The Churnups – are scheduled to play the Pyramid Stage on Friday, ahead of Royal Blood and headline act Arctic Monkeys.

While some have been stumped at just who The Churnups could be, many suspect that its actually the English rock band, Pulp.

Famed for their hits Common People and Disco 2000, Pulp isn’t officially on the line-up for this year’s Glastonbury, although they have many festival dates across summer.

Could the group be about to surprise festival-goers with a secret set?

Alas, Pulp isn’t the only group that fans have guessed could be performing.

Foo Fighters have also been thrown into the mix, with one pointing out that lead singer and guitarist Dave Grohl used to be in a band called Churn.

The American rock band are also dropping a brand new album in June, titled But Here We Are, and coincidentally have a huge Glastonbury-sized hole in their touring schedule.

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Eamonn Holmes Has Scathing Response To Phillip Schofield’s Latest Statement

The GB News host, who previously co-presented the ITV daytime show with his wife Ruth Langsford, fired off a scathing tweet warning his former colleague that if he is “looking for a fight” he has “picked the wrong person”.

Phillip resigned from the broadcaster on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young male colleague on This Morning.

It came after his exit from the show earlier this month, following weeks of speculation over a feud with former co-host Holly Willoughby.

Over the weekend, former This Morning resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh claimed the show had “toxic” culture, saying he raised concerns about “bullying and discrimination” two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.

On Monday, Phillip then shared a statement on his Instagram Story, claiming there is “no toxicity” at This Morning and “it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice”.

Eamonn – who has spoken out about Phillip numerous times since he left the show in 2021, and in light of Phillip’s admission to an affair – later responded on Twitter.

“Schofield has just put out a delusional statement,” he wrote.

“I’m reluctant to give the liar any more publicity but believe me Pip if u r looking for a fight, u have picked on the wrong person!”

ITV previously denied Dr Ranj’s claims of toxicity behind the scenes of This Morning, stating it had carried out a review after the complaint was made two years ago, while Dr Ranj still working on the show.

“Following a complaint made by Dr Ranj, we appointed an external and independent advisor to carry out a review,” a spokesperson said.

“This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”

ITV also said it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Phillip and the This Morning employee about three years ago but both parties “categorically and repeatedly denied” it.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said on Saturday that ITV was “not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour” when it looked into the matter in 2020.

According to The Mail On Sunday, Phillip first met the younger ITV colleague whom he later had an affair with when he was aged 15.

Lawyers representing Phillip have confirmed they met when the boy was 15, but said the affair began after he started working at ITV, and the man’s lawyers have also said that it started after he joined the broadcaster.

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Dermot O’Leary And Alison Hammond Address This Morning Headlines

Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond appeared to reference the claims of “toxicity” at This Morning as the show aired for the first time since former host Phillip Schofield admitted having an affair with a younger male colleague.

Phillip resigned from ITV on Friday and was dropped by his talent agency YMU after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair.

It came after his exit from the show earlier this month, following weeks of speculation over a feud with former co-host Holly Willoughby.

Over the weekend, former This Morning resident doctor Dr Ranj Singh claimed the show had “toxic” culture, saying he raised concerns about “bullying” two years ago when he worked there and afterwards felt like he was “managed out” for whistleblowing.

With stories about the show continuing to made headlines, Dermot took a moment to address the matter at the start of Monday’s show as they welcomed Gyles Brandreth and Sonia Sodha for a news review item.

“We all know we happen to be in the news at the moment and of course we appreciate that but just from both of us, the whole team here, the crew, the guys downstairs, we love making this show for all of you,” Dermot told viewers.

Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond on Monday's This Morning
Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond on Monday’s This Morning

Alison added: “We really do and that’s exactly what we are going to do, we are going to continue to do that.”

Gyles also said: “We are very happy to be here, can I say that as well?

“This is a happy place to work, I enjoy coming in here and have done since I began coming in. We are happy people in a happy place.”

In a statement on Sunday, Dr Ranj said the “issues” at This Morning go “far beyond” the host.

He said: “I was on the show for 10 years and I genuinely loved and valued working there.

“However, over time, I grew increasingly worried about how things were behind-the-scenes and how people, including myself, were being treated.

“I didn’t know the truth about what was going on with Phillip, but I do know the issues with TM (This Morning) go far beyond him.

“It takes more than one person to create a culture.”

Dr Ranj said he raised his concerns with senior executives at ITV but later “found myself being used less and less”.

“I even took my concerns directly to the top of ITV: the culture at This Morning had become toxic, no longer aligned with ITV values, and I felt like because I whistle-blew I was managed out,” he said.

An ITV spokesperson said: “We are sorry to read Dr Ranj’s post today.

“At ITV we are fully committed to providing every opportunity for anyone who works with us to raise any concern or comments they may have.

“Following a complaint made by Dr Ranj, we appointed an external and independent advisor to carry out a review.

“This external review found no evidence of bullying or discrimination.”

ITV has also insisted that This Morning’s future is “not under review” following claims it could be axed in the wake of the controversy about Phillip’s affair.

Phillip Schofield on This Morning earlier this month
Phillip Schofield on This Morning earlier this month

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

According to The Mail On Sunday, Schofield first met the younger ITV colleague whom he later had an affair with when he was aged 15.

Lawyers representing Schofield have confirmed they met when the boy was 15, but said the affair began after he started working at ITV, and the man’s lawyers have also said that it started after he joined the broadcaster.

ITV said it investigated “rumours of a relationship” between Schofield and the ITV employee about three years ago but both parties “categorically and repeatedly denied” it.

A spokesperson for the broadcaster said on Saturday that ITV was “not provided with, and did not find, any evidence of a relationship beyond hearsay and rumour” when it looked into the matter in 2020.

On Monday, Phillip issued a fresh statement insisting there is “no toxicity” at This Morning and “it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice”.

“Now I no longer work on @thismorning I am free to say this,” he wrote on his Instagram Story.

“I hope you have noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.

“This Morning is the best show to work on, with the best people.

“In all the years I worked there there was no toxicity.

“You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you like.

“But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know, it is a family of wonderful, talented, kind, hard working people.”

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Holly Willoughby Speaks Out After Phillip Schofield’s ITV Exit And Admission Of Affair With A Colleague

Holly Willoughby has broken her silence following Phillip Schofield’s exit from ITV, which came after he admitted to having an affair with a This Morning colleague.

On Friday, Phillip released a statement to the Daily Mail, in which he said he’d previously had a “consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague”, which he said was “unwise, but not illegal”.

The news he would be leaving ITV altogether in light of his admission came just a week after he’d announced his exit from This Morning after 21 years, the reason for which he’s claimed is “unrelated” to his affair

Now Holly – who is currently on a break from the daytime show – has spoken out about the recent developments in a statement via her Instagram Stories which read:

“It’s taken time to process yesterday’s news. When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie. Holly.”

ITV previously confirmed that Holly is due to return to This Morning on Monday 5 June, where she will be joined by other members of the on-air team.

Holly and Phillip pictured on This Morning earlier this month
Holly and Phillip pictured on This Morning earlier this month

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Phillip left the show last Saturday “with immediate effect” following mounting reports of a rift between him and Holly – something he’d previously put out a statement to deny.

Holly and Phillip had co-hosted the ITV daytime show together since 2009 – having first been paired up on Dancing On Ice in 2006 – with Phillip originally joined the presenting team in 2002.

After Phillip’s exit from the show last week, Holly posted a short statement on Instagram, in which she thanked him for “his knowledge, his experience and his humour”, adding: “The sofa won’t feel the same without him.”

Phillip said his departure from the show had “fuelled speculation and raised questions” about previous suggestions of a relationship between him and a former colleague on the show, stating it was now “important for me to be honest”.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Phillip said: “I am making this statement via the Daily Mail to whom I have already apologised personally for misleading, through my lawyer who I also misled, about a story which they wanted to write about me a few days ago.

“The first thing I want to say is: I am deeply sorry for having lied to them, and to many others about a relationship that I had with someone working on This Morning.”

“I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning,” he confirmed. “Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.

“That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over. ”

Phillip Schofield left This Morning last week
Phillip Schofield left This Morning last week

Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Phillip then insisted that when he came out as gay in February 2020, he “did so entirely for my own wellbeing”, and was not “forced” to do so.

“In an effort to protect my ex-colleague I haven’t been truthful about the relationship,” he said. “But my recent, unrelated, departure from This Morning fuelled speculation and raised questions which have been impacting him, so for his sake it is important for me to be honest now.

“I am painfully conscious that I have lied to my employers at ITV, to my colleagues and friends, to my agents, to the media and therefore the public and most importantly of all to my family. I am so very, very sorry, as I am for having been unfaithful to my wife.

“I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.

“I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”

He also called for the media to respect the privacy of his unnamed former colleague.

Phillip’s statement was published shortly after it was revealed he had parted ways with his management company, YMU, after 25 years.

YMU’s CEO Mary Bekhait said: “Honesty and integrity are core values for YMU’s whole business, defining everything we do. Talent management is a relationship based entirely on trust.

“This week, we have learned important new information about our client Phillip
Schofield. These facts contradicted what Phillip had previously told YMU, as well as the external advisors we had brought in to support him. As a result, on Thursday we agreed to part company with Phillip, with immediate effect.”

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Serena Williams Telling Her Daughter She’s Pregnant Is Unfiltered Family Fun

Tennis great Serena Williams can still serve up entertainment – and now she’s doing it at home.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion shared a video this week of her telling daughter Olympia that she’s pregnant.

The five-year-old, whom Williams was carrying when she won the Australian Open in 2017, had been worrying about Serena’s weight gain, the athlete explains in the video.

“Remember how you’ve been praying/planning for a little sister or brother?” Williams says to her daughter. “Well, we went to the doctor, and it turns out I’m not getting fat, but I have a baby in my belly.”

“Are you kidding me?” Olympia replies.

“You’re gonna be a big sister,” confirms Alexis Ohanian, Williams’ husband and Olympia’s father.

Olympia shrieks and hugs her mum.

“Oh, my god! I’m so excited!” she says.

She screams again as she sprints out of the room ― where she apparently falls.

“I’m OK!” Olympia yells off-camera.

Williams, 41, has ostensibly been retired since last year’s U.S. Open, and one of the reasons she cited was to grow her family.

But the new video shows the funny exchange in full:

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The Absolute Drama And Chaos Of Selling Sunset Season 6 Summed Up In 29 Hilarious Tweets

A mixture of gripping drama, OTT outfits and multi-million dollar houses can only mean one thing – Selling Sunset is back for a new season.

The realtors of the US’ most chaotic property brokerage are up to their usual antics in the hit reality show’s sixth series, which is now available to stream on Netflix.

And as always, there have been plenty of memes, reactions and discourse on social media – which have almost been as entertaining as watching Selling Sunset itself.

Here’s the new season summed up in 29 hilarious tweets…

Anyone concerned that the absence of Christine would impact the drama levels need not have worried…

Although Bre has definitely given quite a few people Christine vibes…

We knew we’d seen new cast member Nicole somewhere before too…

Her beef with Chrishell seemed to come from nowhere…

Chrishell was definitely thriving in a post-Christine Oppenheim Group, and refused to take any BS…

The whole Palm Springs trip – including *that* dinner scene – was reality TV at its peak…

Mary’s complete inability to deal with conflict did not go unnoticed…

The bartender at Heather’s baby shower became one of the unlikely stars of the series…

While the series was largely Davina-less, when she did turn up, it was always pretty iconic…

Oh, but in case you were wondering…

Heather remained a plant-based queen…

And was Chelsea the only one seemingly closing deals this series?

That’s when a fly wasn’t crawling down her throat, of course…

Jason may have had a new girlfriend, but there was another new love of his life in season six…

The outfits went up several levels this season…

Emma basically telling her boss “do some fucking work” was a total mood…

As was Chrishell telling Mary that Jason’s penthouses were overpriced…

And it sounds like there’s some unexpected drama between Chrishell and Amanza on the way…

Here’s to people causing absolute chaos in the workplace…

Selling Sunset seasons 1-6 are available to stream on Netflix now.

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