Actress Daveigh Chase, who died in mid-June at the age of 35, died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and prolonged drug abuse.
Chase, best known as the voice of Lilo in Disney&#8217;s 2002 smash animated feature &#8220;Lilo &amp; Stitch,&#8221; died in a Los Angeles hospital, and according to a medical examiner&#8217;s report reviewed by E! News, the manner of her death was listed as &#8220;natural,&#8221; and the cause of death was AIDS. Years of substance abuse, the report also noted, had been a major contributing factor in her death.
As The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lilo-stitch-voice-actress-dead-at-35-after-addiction-struggles">reported</a>, Chase had been living on the streets for some time prior to her passing. Initial reporting from entertainment news site TMZ quoted Roy Hernandez, who claimed to be her boyfriend, as saying that she&#8217;d died from meningitis and an infection in her blood that led to sepsis.
Chase, who also gave a terrifying performance as the ghostly Samara Morgan in “The Ring,” had been struggling with addiction for years and had recently been hospitalized in Los Angeles due to malnutrition.
The actress&#8217;s longtime manager, John Ryan, told The California Post at the time of her death that Chase likely still had <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/17/entertainment/lilo-stitch-actress-daveigh-chase-reportedly-had-millions-in-residuals-at-time-of-death/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">millions</a> in uncollected residuals. He explained that the deal Chase had signed when she got the role of Lilo — at just 8 years old — had included residuals and a cut of any future toys or theme park attractions that featured her voice. That money, which has continued to roll in, was apparently left uncollected as she was “too far gone” to accept her payments.
Years earlier, Ryan said that he and Chase&#8217;s stepsister Gaia Brown had hired a private investigator in the hopes of tracking Chase down and forcing her to get treatment for what they believed was addiction to heroin and fentanyl.
When a 2025 video circulated on social media, showing an emaciated and barely conscious woman who looked a lot like Chase on Skid Row, they went there to search for her. Ryan said at the time that he even spoke to her on the phone, but by the time they got to Skid Row, she had left.
“We were so close to finding her. Daveigh was the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood. I can’t believe this is real. Her legacy and work will live on forever,” Ryan said.
Chase’s final role was in 2016’s “American Romance.”

Cause Of Death Revealed For ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Actress

Cause Of Death Revealed For 'Lilo & Stitch' Actress

AIDS

Disney

drug abuse

Hollywood

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
In Pixar&#8217;s original 1995 Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear completes his character arc from arrogant, wannabe space ranger to humble yet confident toy who straps himself to a rocket and saves the day with his new friend Woody. Fast-forward 30 years, and the story couldn&#8217;t be more different.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-lesson-toy-story-5-gets-dangerously-wrong">&#8220;Toy Story 5&#8221;</a> ends with a marriage scene where Buzz, wearing a kilt, is escorted down the aisle while his bride waits for him at the altar before tipping him over for a kiss after they are pronounced husband and wife. Were the writers intentionally trying to feminize Buzz? Or was all this done for comedic effect? I went viral on TikTok and Instagram for asking that very question.
As I type this, my video titled “Toy Story 5 And The Feminization Of Male Characters” has over 2.5 million views between <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@claytonkeirns/video/7654016602131729677">TikTok</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZ3mkAwNKjh/">Instagram</a>. As the views and comments continue to rack up, it’s clear that I struck a nerve on both sides of the aisle.
Many on the Right are thanking me and saying they now refuse to see the movie. Meanwhile, the Left is saying I’m “overreacting” and that I need to get a life. However, the truth is that I genuinely enjoyed &#8220;Toy Story 5&#8221; and am by no means calling for a boycott. And no, liberals, I was not “triggered” or “offended” by this movie.
There were simply a few over-the-top optical choices the writers made when it came to feminizing Buzz’s character that appeared to go beyond writing for “comedic effect.” It was too on the nose. Too deliberate. They’re the kind of things you include in a script when you’re really trying to hammer a message home. As I left the theater, I didn’t get the sense that these scenes just “accidentally” made it into the final cut.
I also tried watching this movie from the lens of a parent. Since I don’t have kids myself, I had to imagine how I would feel if I had kids and they saw their favorite strong male characters slowly fade into irrelevance, weakness, and, quite frankly, femininity.
For context — spoiler alert — Buzz’s main “bit” throughout the film is that he is trying to muster up the courage to ask Jessie (the tomboy cowgirl introduced in &#8220;Toy Story 2&#8221;) to marry him. I obviously had no problem with him being “nervous.” I’d be lying if I claimed I never got nervous in situations like this. Heck, last year in Barcelona I had to circle the block twice before marching back into a clothing store to ask the cute sales associate for her number. We’ve all been there.
So in the first two acts, Buzz is practicing his proposal. He rehearses his speech, his cadence, and his kneel. Fun and humorous. Still no problems.
Then, in the third act, as the toys are on their way to save the day, Buzz stutters while attempting to pop the question. Before he’s able to ask Jessie, she kisses him. During their kiss, Buzz kicks his leg back as a woman would traditionally do in movies.
Was this done for comedic effect? Maybe.
In fact, I’d be very inclined to say “yes” if it weren’t for what came next. Because, as I said at the beginning of this piece, the movie ends with the two main human characters holding a “wedding” for Buzz and Jessie. And that is where they really dialed things up to an eleven.
The wedding scene takes all of the classic imagery of the groom and applies it to Jessie. As you can guess, all of the “bridal” imagery is applied to Buzz’s character. Mind you, Buzz is a character that children have previously seen depicted as a competent, masculine hero in several movies before it.
As the wedding music plays, Buzz is escorted down the aisle while Jessie waits for him at the altar. Buzz is wearing a kilt, making him look even more feminine. Then, Jessie gives Buzz a diamond ring. And when they are announced husband and wife, Jessie is the one to tip Buzz over to kiss him.
Now I’m not saying that this scene is going to make or break your children. But if there was ever an agenda to weaken and feminize strong male characters for all young boys to see, this is how they would do it. Brick by brick, with scenes like this.
But this scene is just one piece of the very large puzzle. Our kids are being exposed to hundreds of woke messages every single day in mainstream programming. Some of it is subtle, some of it is very deliberate. Either way, the seeds are being planted, and they’re having an effect on the minds of the youth, whether they know it or not.
In response to my commentary on this scene, liberals have tried pointing me to a scene in &#8220;Toy Story 1&#8221; where they claim the writers even feminized Buzz way back then. But as is so often the case, not only did they not make their own point; they made mine.
The scene they’re referring to is when one of the children dresses Buzz in feminine tea party attire. When Woody comes into the room, a distraught Buzz calls himself “Mrs. Nesbit.” Now, why is Buzz acting like this? Simply put, he’s not being himself. In fact, he’s going a little bit crazy. He has just found out that he is a toy, not a real superhero from outer space.
When Woody slaps Buzz back to reality, he snaps out of it and then admits he’s “depressed.” Then poof, the bit is over. That right there is an example of something being done for comedic effect. Not whatever they did to Buzz in this movie.
I enjoyed &#8220;Toy Story 5&#8221; as a whole. The movie also had a few classic, heartfelt “Toy Story” moments, one of which was an absolute tear-jerker (if you know, you know). I thought the movie did the best it could to remind kids of how fun it can be to imagine, play, and rely less on their screens. I thought it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-lesson-toy-story-5-gets-dangerously-wrong">could have done a better job</a> “villainizing” technology for kids through the end of the movie instead of giving it a redemption arc, but that’s a topic for a different time.
Finally, one scene won’t break your child’s view of traditional gender roles in a wedding. But 30 years ago, Buzz taught a generation of boys what it looked like to be brave, to lead, to charge in when everyone else froze. Ask yourself what the new Buzz is teaching them.
***
Clayton Keirns is a conservative political commentator and cofounder of Trending Politics &amp; Quantus Insights. You can find his videos on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090710613645" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id%3D100090710613645&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782489277071000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0dH84VunXJaxB6WIXQMBSX">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clayton.keirns/?hl=en">Instagram</a>.

g_disneymovies_toystory5_6_b89f2798

How ‘Toy Story 5’ Stripped Buzz Lightyear Of His Masculinity

Pixar

Toy Story

Upstream

Actress Daveigh Chase, who broke into the film industry as the voice of Lilo in Disney&#8217;s animated feature &#8220;Lilo &amp; Stitch,&#8221; has died at the age of 35.
Chase, who also gave a terrifying performance as the ghostly Samara Morgan in &#8220;The Ring,&#8221; had been struggling with addiction for years and had recently been hospitalized in Los Angeles due to malnutrition, according to entertainment news site <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/06/17/daveigh-chase-dead/">TMZ</a>. The outlet reported that Chase&#8217;s boyfriend Roy Hernandez said she had contracted meningitis and an infection in her blood that led to sepsis.
Chase had numerous credits to her name — and had <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/17/entertainment/lilo-stitch-actress-daveigh-chase-reportedly-had-millions-in-residuals-at-time-of-death/">millions</a> in uncollected residuals, according to her longtime manager John Ryan. Ryan told The California Post that the deal Chase had signed when she got the role of Lilo — at just eight years old — had included residuals and a cut of any future toys or theme park attractions that featured her voice. That money, which has continued to roll in, was apparently left uncollected as she was &#8220;too far gone&#8221; to accept her payments.
Ryan managed Chase&#8217;s career for more than ten years, and said that based on the number of residual checks he&#8217;d been notified about suggest that the actress likely left millions untouched. Believing that she was hooked on fentanyl and heroin, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/06/17/entertainment/video-allegedly-shows-lilo-stitch-actress-daveigh-chase-living-on-skid-row/?_gl=1*1hy794b*_ga*MzUzMDc0NzE0LjE3NzczOTczMjM.*_ga_0DZ7LHF5PZ*czE3ODE3NDEzNTgkbzEyOCRnMSR0MTc4MTc0NDI2OCRqNjAkbDAkaDA.">Ryan</a> and Chase&#8217;s stepsister Gaia Brown attempted to find her — and even brought in a private investigator to help them.
When a 2025 video on social media purported to show her, emaciated and barely conscious on Skid Row, they went to get her in the hopes of putting her in treatment. Ryan said he even spoke to her briefly by phone, but when they got to Skid Row, she was already gone.
&#8220;We were so close to finding her. Daveigh was the sweetest and brightest light in Hollywood. I can’t believe this is real. Her legacy and work will live on forever,&#8221; Ryan said.
Chase&#8217;s final role was in 2016&#8217;s &#8220;American Romance.&#8221;

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Voice Actress Dead At 35 After Addiction Struggles

'Lilo & Stitch' Voice Actress Dead At 35 After Addiction Struggles

addiction

Drugs

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/upstream" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream</a>, The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Tripadvisor just made a surprising selection for its “Best of the Best Things To Do” in the “<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-ThingsToDo-cAmusementWaterParks-g191">Amusement &amp; Water Parks</a>” category. It wasn’t Magic Kingdom, it wasn’t Dollywood, and it wasn’t Universal Studios. It was a retro-style theme park situated in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania.
Knoebels (kuh-NOH-buhlz) may seem like a strange selection when it’s held up against the amusement park heavyweights that everyone knows. But if you’ve been there, like I have, then it makes perfect sense.
Any American who has ever yearned for a return to simpler times when people smiled at each other and the world felt hopeful should plan a visit to Elysburg, where America&#8217;s largest free admission amusement park is located.
The Tripadvisor award isn’t its first recognition; the park, located three hours northwest of Philadelphia, has popped up on various “best of” and “hidden gems” lists over the years. But taking top honors on the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1926 is worth celebrating. 
I lived close enough to make a day trip for years before I took my kids for the first time. Now we go at least once per year, and usually more often than that. My kids love it. I love it. And even in this economy, my budget loves it. 
The most appealing thing as a mom of five is the affordability, especially compared to other popular amusement parks. As ticket costs keep creeping up, with Disney admission <a href="https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-raises-2027-ticket-prices-to-new-record-of-219-with-more-increases-likely-for-christmas/">hovering around $200 average</a> and even Dollywood costing $100 per person, it makes amusement parks for big families economically unwise. Remember, that’s the cost just to walk in the door, not counting food — because bringing your own is usually prohibited — souvenirs, gas, and all the other expenses that pop up during a long day of fun. 
<div id="attachment_1104475" style="width: 442px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1104475" class="size-large wp-image-1104475" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3-432x576.jpeg" alt="Knoebels" width="432" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3-432x576.jpeg 432w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-3.jpeg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" />Amanda Harding</div>
It’s free to get into Knoebels. Yes, you read that correctly, 100% free. 
And you know what else? You can bring your own food without strategically wrapping it in towels buried deep in your swim bag (not that I would ever do that). 
Knoebels is known for having some truly delightful and unique culinary options, such as Gator Bites (lightly fried alligator meat served with a tangy Boom Boom dipping sauce), a pickle on a stick, traditional Pennsylvania Dutch apple dumplings, and even a build-your-own baked potato bar. But, if you’re on a budget and would rather pack your own PB&amp;J, that’s fine too. There are shaded picnic tables and pavilions all over the park for anyone to enjoy the lunch they purchased or packed.
<div id="attachment_1104471" style="width: 442px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1104471" class="size-large wp-image-1104471" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2-432x576.jpeg" alt="Knoebels" width="432" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2-432x576.jpeg 432w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-2.jpeg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 432px) 100vw, 432px" />Amanda Harding</div>
As someone who rarely goes on rides, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate not being forced to pay admission for amenities I’m not going to use. Visitors can purchase ride-all-day wristbands every weekday in the summer and off-season. Otherwise, ride tickets can be purchased in as little as 50-cent increments, so a park visitor could show up, pay nothing to enter, bring his own lunch, ride the famed Phoenix wooden roller coaster, and go home spending no more than $4.50. 
You know why? Because parking is free, too. Also, if you end your day with extra tickets, just save them for the next trip. They never expire.
Besides just being budget friendly, Knoebels is totally nostalgic and unique. It’s attached to a campground and retains that laid-back, unhurried feel. With more than 100 rides and attractions, there is something for everyone, and it’s impossible to be bored. My favorite is the little kid section, filled with old school classics such as self-propelled Hand Cars, Kiddie Bumper Cars, Red Baron Planes, and everyone’s favorite: The Whip.
<div id="attachment_1104473" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1104473" class="size-large wp-image-1104473" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-4-768x576.jpeg" alt="Knoebels" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-4-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-4-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-4.jpeg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Amanda Harding</div>
For Disney lovers, they even have spinning Tea Cups.
My older kids enjoy the thrill rides, such as the massively popular Flying Turns, a bobsled-style roller coaster that has no metal track and instead uses gravity and momentum to send riders on an exhilarating ride. We never leave without a ride through The Haunted Mansion, and I love taking it slow on the scenic Pioneer Train. 
<div id="attachment_1104477" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1104477" class="size-large wp-image-1104477" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-1-768x576.jpg" alt="Knoebels" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Knoebels-1.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />Amanda Harding</div>
There are just so many reasons to love Knoebels. They are extremely pro-military, offering active duty service members a free $40 book of ride tickets and retired or disabled veterans a $20 book of ride tickets once per season. The park also hosts an annual Armed Forces Day offering free ride passes for service members. 
In a world where costs keep climbing and customer service continues to decline, when things break easily but cost more, where kids are constantly plugged into devices, Knoebels stands out as an homage to the way things used to be. It’s quaint, it’s retro, it’s safe, and it’s lovely. The employees are friendly, the rides are fun, and the overall feeling is family-friendly nostalgia.
The reason my family keeps going back is because of the memories we’re making at a place that’s a vision of what this nation used to be. It’s not pretentious and flashy, but it doesn’t have to be. The fact that a free admission park that runs on tradition just beat every major theme park in the country says something about what Americans truly want.
Hope to see you there.

PEOPLE ON SWING RIDE AT…

The Tiny Theme Park That Just Beat Disney At Its Own Game

amusement park

Hilary Duff graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition this month and immediately turned heads while showing the world you don’t have to bare it all to be that girl.
The child actress, icon, singer, and now mom of four told SI she would not pose in a bikini for the famous photoshoot. Instead, the 38-year-old opted for a more modest look.
&#8220;Like, I have had four kids. I feel comfortable showing this. I don&#8217;t feel comfortable showing this,&#8221; Duff told Kylie Kelce, another mom of four, on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCcCQcXMKVw">Not Gonna Lie</a> podcast. &#8220;And they&#8217;re like, &#8216;Got it. Got it. Got it.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The 2026 SI Swim issue officially dropped Tuesday <a href="https://t.co/6WtFaChAhf">https://t.co/6WtFaChAhf</a>
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/status/2054181690961023039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Duff donned a white one-piece with a deep plunge neckline for the summer 2026 issue. Her hair was slightly wavy, reminding millennials of Duff’s often crimped locks on the hit Disney Channel show &#8220;Lizzie McGuire.&#8221; The makeup was a natural, glowy look, perfect for the occasion, as Duff posed at a sandy beach bar in South Caicos back in February.
&#8220;The editor-in-chief is incredible. The photographer was who I wanted. It got to be my whole styling team, my hair and makeup,&#8221; she said. &#8220;They wanted me to feel my best.&#8221;
But this shoot was about more than looking pretty. Duff told Kelce she wanted this shoot to represent how proud she was of her body after giving birth to four children and showing up for her family every single day.
&#8220;My body’s worked really hard for me and produced an entire family,&#8221; Duff said.
She shares her son Luca, 14, with ex-husband Mike Comrie, and three daughters, Banks, seven, Mae, five, and Townes, who turned two earlier this month, with husband Matthew Koma.
In a previous interview with <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@time/video/7632386823280545054">Time</a>, Duff opened up about how her views on a woman’s body changed, especially after becoming a mother.
&#8220;I obviously, you know, grew up during that time where all of us were trying to, like, disappear and be waifs, and that’s not natural for my body,&#8221; she said. &#8220;For most of our bodies, especially as we endure the hormonal changes or motherhood and pregnancy, and all of those amazing things that make us women, right? So stronger, not smaller is a huge, impactful statement that resonates with me.&#8221;
Arguably the most popular magazine cover to be featured on, Duff, despite her confidence in her skin, was still intimidated to &#8220;model,&#8221; she told Kelce.
&#8220;My first reaction was like, &#8216;sh*t&#8217;— I thought I&#8217;d get in, like, rip-roarin&#8217; shape,&#8221; Duff said. &#8220;And I&#8217;m also, I&#8217;m not a model. I&#8217;m 5&#8217;2&#8230; had four kids… it scared me.&#8221;
The pop star, who is touring this summer for the first time in almost two decades, decided to embrace the nerves and do the cover shoot.
&#8220;At this stage in my life, I feel really proud of myself.&#8221;

Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Hilary Duff Ditches Tradition For 2026 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

Entertainment

hilary duff

News

The latest Star Wars movie, “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” is being trashed by mainstream critics who would normally be the most sympathetic viewers.
It currently has one of the worst review scores of any &#8220;Star Wars&#8221; film on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes as the film gears up for its Memorial Day weekend debut. As of Wednesday, it’s sitting at a 60% critical rating with 120 total reviews.
That makes it one of the worst of the 12 “Star Wars” movies at the moment, with only “The Phantom Menace” and “The Rise of Skywalker” getting lower scores.
The plot description says, “The evil Empire has fallen but Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy. As the fledgling New Republic works to protect everything the Rebellion fought for, they enlist the help of legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and his young apprentice Grogu.”
Many critics who saw it mentioned that it felt more like an extended, unnecessary episode of the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian,” which premiered in 2019. They argued it didn’t deserve a theatrical release at all.
“&#8217;The Mandalorian and Grogu&#8217; merely stitches together what is clearly three episodes of the previously planned fourth season of The Mandalorian and calls it a day. There’s not a whiff of effort here,” a review from The Independent <a href="https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/mandalorian-grogu-movie-review-star-wars-b2980000.html">said</a>. 
“As a mid-season arc for the character of ‘Pedro Pascal’s sultry voice inside a metal bucket’ and his tiny, puppet son, this might have been adequate, if uninspired. As a so-called feature film event, blown up to Imax with Sigourney Weaver roped in to deliver a few lines, it’s the dullest and most inconsequential Star Wars film ever made,” the reviewer added.
“There’s no reason for anything in this movie except the wish to make even more money,” the reviewer from Roger Ebert <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-wars-the-mandalorian-and-grogu-pedro-pascal-movie-review-2026">observed</a>, giving the film 1.5 stars out of a possible 4.
“The runtime saps energy and when it’s all done, the scrolling credits for all those special effects goes on a full five minutes. You used to leave a new &#8216;Star Wars&#8217; movie on a cloud. Here, that galaxy is far, far away,” the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mandalorian-grogu-movie-review-star-wars-970e8562f8adf65c6cb03cb845f84b85">reviewer</a> from Associated Press wrote.
Even the good reviews weren’t that great. 
“Mandalorian and Grogu is, basically, four Mandalorian episodes wearing an IMAX trench coat,” one review said.
“The plot is non-existent and it really does feel like a fully CGI movie. But when it&#8217;s just Mando and Grogu going from A to B it&#8217;s such a sweet story,” another <a href="https://thefilmmaven.com/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-review/">wrote</a>.
The project was <a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/2172558/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-box-office-preview-star-wars-movie/">reportedly</a> relatively low-cost for a “Star Wars” film with a rumored budget of around $165 million, including a $21.75 million conditional <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/02/26/star-wars-the-mandalorian-grogu-to-be-filmed-in-california-through-the-states-film-and-tv-tax-credit-program/">tax credit</a> by the California Film Commission. That would mean it needs to make around $400 million to break even. 
“The Mandalorian and Grogu” debuts in theaters nationwide beginning this Friday, May 22.

Mandalorian and Grogu

Even Mainstream Critics Hate The New ‘Star Wars’ Movie

Box Office

Movies

Star Wars

Families embarking on cruise ship vacations may have more to worry about than infectious diseases. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently raided five cruise ships, including one Disney cruise ship, as they identified predators viewing and distributing child sexual exploitation material. 
The operation took place in San Diego between April 23 and 25, leading to 28 individuals being arrested, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/06/us-news/disney-cruise-ship-staffers-among-28-arrested-in-child-porn-sting/">The California Post reported</a>.
“After boarding the vessels and interviewing 26 suspected crew members from the Philippines, one suspected crew member from Portugal, and one from Indonesia, officers confirmed all subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution, or viewing of CSEM or child pornography,” a CBP spokesperson told the outlet.
“CBP cancelled their visas and these criminals are being removed from our country,” the statement went on. 
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement. While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company,” a Disney rep said in response to the news.
Some passengers reportedly witnessed the arrests on board the ship last month, but the reason for the raids were unknown at the time. Some Left-leaning online commenters incorrectly deduced that the employees were being targeted for their immigration status, which led to them criticizing ICE operations. 
The news comes during a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hantavirus-scare-triggers-evacuations-on-cruise-ship-as-it-heads-to-next-port">bad PR week</a> for cruise ships. A luxury cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned since Sunday off the coast of Cape Verde has been making headlines after three people, two of them seriously ill, were evacuated.
Three people – a Dutch couple and a German national – have died in the outbreak.
A total of eight people are suspected to have contracted the virus, with three of them confirmed by laboratory testing, the World Health Organization said.
Disney employees have been accused in engaging in heinous sex crimes in the past. A Florida sheriff said that his department regularly caught Disney employees during undercover operations while revealing the results of a week-long investigation into human trafficking in 2022. 
Guillermo Perez, a bellhop for Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, was arrested during the sting, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-always-have-disney-employees-florida-sheriff-reveals-results-of-human-trafficking-investigation">reported</a>.

Disney Magic cruise ship

Feds Raid Disney Cruise Ship In Major Child Porn Sting

Child pornography

Crime

Customs and Border Protection (CPB)

Disney is hitting reset on its own magic, and a new fairytale playbook is coming to life.
New CEO Josh D&#8217;Amaro is laying out a clear plan for where the company goes next, and it comes down to three things. Double down on Disney’s biggest franchises. Expand its reach globally. Lean into new technology like artificial intelligence.
In plain English, Disney wants to take what already works, its most popular characters and stories, and stretch them across everything. Movies. Streaming. Theme parks. Merchandise. Cruises. All of it.
That shift is already starting to show.
For the first time, Disney says its streaming business, including Disney+, is seeing real momentum, with double-digit revenue growth. The company now expects that growth to reach at least 10% this year. That is a big deal for a division that has been expensive and under pressure for years.
The bigger change is how Disney plans to get there.
D’Amaro made it clear the company sees AI as a major tool moving forward, not just in the background, but across everything from how content is made to how it is marketed and delivered to viewers. He also stressed that Disney plans to keep human creativity at the center, even as it experiments with new technology.
At the same time, Disney is betting heavily on its intellectual property, the franchises that already generate major revenue. Think sequels, spin-offs, and familiar characters showing up everywhere. The company pointed to the success of Zootopia 2 as a blueprint. A strong box office run, massive streaming numbers, and continued visibility in parks and retail.
It is all part of a larger strategy. Build once and profit across every platform.
Disney is also continuing to refine how people use its platforms. New features on Disney+ aim to keep viewers engaged longer and coming back more often. Over at ESPN, the company is still working to grow its direct-to-consumer business into a stronger long-term revenue driver.
Why does it matter?
This is not just corporate strategy. It is going to shape what people actually see.
Expect more sequels. More familiar franchises. More crossover between what you watch at home and what you experience in parks or buy in stores. Disney is clearly leaning into what already works and finding new ways to expand it.
At the same time, the push into AI and new technology could quietly change how content gets made behind the scenes, even if audiences do not notice it right away.
The big picture is simple: Disney is not tearing everything down. It is tightening the system and trying to make every part of it work together more efficiently than before.

Disney World

A Big Disney Reset Is Quietly Taking Shape

Disney Channel

Disneyland is cracking down on certain behaviors causing disruption in their theme park, which has some visitors crying foul.
The biggest rule update causing an uproar is a cell phone policy nicknamed &#8220;Stow it, Don’t Show it&#8221; that would require guests to fully put away their phones when going on certain rides, including Mickey &amp; Minnie’s Runaway Railroad and the Incredicoaster, as <a href="https://insidethemagic.net/2026/04/disneyland-bans-stanley-cups-and-phones-on-certain-rides-to-protect-guests-from-themselves-rl1/">reported</a> by the Disney-focused site Inside the Magic.
Another item guests won’t be able to bring on the ride is heavy insulated tumblers. This rule is popularly known as “the Stanley ban,” referencing the popular brand-name cup. It was implemented as a reaction to an increase in “unplanned downtimes” for rides last year, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/travel/disneyland-cracks-down-guests-sweeping-new-restrictions-sparking-backlash">Fox News</a>, which was all due to security incidents related to guest behavior.
It all comes down to common sense. Phones and metal cups can become projectiles during high rates of speed on these and other rides, which poses a potential safety threat to riders. Cast members have been instructed to conduct visual checks and refuse to dispatch the ride if phones or cups are visible, the outlet noted.
There will also reportedly be cast members searching bags before guests get in line for the rides, specifically looking for oversized cups.
Natalie Katzka, director of attractions engineering services at Disneyland, spoke at a briefing on the updates. &#8220;Handheld filming is no longer permitted on these high-motion rides. … Phones must be fully secured in a bag or pocket before boarding,&#8221; Katzka confirmed.
Disneyland will reportedly be providing cubbies and storage lockers for phones and other loose items.
Beyond just posing a risk of flying through the air and hitting someone, Inside the Magic noted, phones and big cups could cause other problems. A dropped phone could trigger an “E-stop,” or emergency safety stop of the ride, while liquid from a spilled cup could mess with magnetic and electrical components of the ride and cause delays. These disruptions have larger repercussions across the park as staff would have to spend time addressing these issues and wait times for other park visitors would increase.
While the changes make logical sense, some Reddit commenters are mad about the cell phone policy in particular because the app is required for ride access and payment throughout the park. 
&#8220;Their entire ecosystem … requires you to use your phone for everything. This is laughable,&#8221; one Reddit user wrote.
&#8220;Disney makes everything as app-based as possible … then complains about people being glued to their phones,” another commenter agreed.

Disneyland

Disney Just Banned Two Items You’d Never Leave Home Without

California

cell phones

rules

Marvel and DC comic writer Deniz Camp seemingly posted his disappointment about President Trump’s assassin failing at his mission, then backtracked and faced even more criticism for playing dumb.
It all started when Camp posted on X, “Missed again :(” just after news broke over the weekend that there had been an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., Saturday night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Missed again 🙁
— Deniz Camp (@DenizCamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/DenizCamp/status/2048217802289369538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
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His comments were immediately flooded with outraged followers, even fellow leftists who were disgusted by the seeming celebration of violence.
“Pretty sickening to see a writer I once admired wishing death on the President of the United States,” one reply said.
“Bravo on the all-time self-own. Heroism and hope in your comics, pure glee at political murder in your tweets. Mask fully torched. Exactly why comics suck now and nobody cares what you &#8216;creatives&#8217; think anymore. Enjoy the backlash and canceled orders,” another commenter <a href="https://x.com/RiftWatcher73/status/2048795499042410762">wrote</a>.
Instead of deleting the post or apologizing, Camp made the claim that he was talking about something else entirely.
Follow up tweets included one that said, “I am so bad at darts!” alongside a stock image of a dartboard with darts not hitting their mark, and another that said, “People are really passionate about darts.”
No one in the comments believed that Camp was posting about darts. Many X users tagged DC and Marvel in the posts.
Camp is a comic book writer who has worked across Marvel, DC, and independent publishers. He wrote for “The Ultimates” for Disney-owned Marvel and contributed to X-Men-related projects. He&#8217;s also the writer of “Absolute Martian Manhunter” for DC’s “Absolute Universe” line. His independent work includes “Assorted Crisis Events” and “20th Century Men,” <a href="https://geeksandgamers.com/deniz-camp-trump/">per</a> Geeks and Gamers.
Meanwhile, actor and Trump critic Ben Stiller faced similar backlash for a social post that got misinterpreted and does seem to be a mistake, according to Community Notes.
Prominent figures including Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Richard Grenell came after Stiller when he <a href="https://x.com/BenStiller/status/2048203719846633967">posted</a> “Got it done” about 20 minutes after the would-be assassin breached security at the Washington Hilton. But his post also coincided with the end of the Knicks game.
“Ben Stiller’s post refers to the New York Knicks’ 114-98 playoff win over the Atlanta Hawks, as shown by his preceding Knicks post and the game recap,” the note clarified.

Deniz Camp

Marvel Comics Writer’s Two-Word Tweet Ignites Firestorm After Assassination Attempt

assassination attempt

Comics

Donald Trump

General

Marvel

U.S.

Disney World just took a giant step away from wokeness with a small change in its parks that has the normies cheering.
According to park visitors, the automated announcements are once again using the phrase “Ladies and Gentlemen.” This is a change from the parks originally pivoting to use more “inclusive” language on their properties.
The revelation about Disney’s foray into progressivism came in 2022 when journalist Chris Rufo <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/not-at-all-secret-gay-agenda-disney-employees-break-down-adding-queerness-to-shows-and-degenderizing-theme-parks">released video recordings</a> from employee all-hands meetings at the company. One of the clips showed Vivian Ware, who was at the time serving as Disney’s diversity and inclusion manager, explaining how Disney altered gendered greetings and language in its theme parks for live spiels and other aspects of the park in 2021.
“We trained, we provided training for all of our cast members in relationship to that. So now they know it’s ‘Hello, everyone,’ or ‘Hello, friends,&#8217;” Ware explained.
“We don’t want to just assume because someone might be, in our interpretation, may be presenting as female, that they may not want to be called ‘princess,’” she went on. “So let’s think differently about how do we really engage with our guests in a meaningful and inclusive way that makes it magical and memorable for everyone.” 
The company released a <a href="https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/a-place-where-everyone-is-welcome/">statement</a> that same year, confirming that its aim is for “guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney.”
“That means cultivating an environment where all people feel welcomed and appreciated for their unique life experiences, perspectives and culture,” it said. “Where we celebrate allyship and support for each other. And where diverse views and ideas are sought after as critical contributions towards our collective success.”
Now Disney World visitors are overjoyed to hear their favorite theme park is ditching the virtue signaling.
“It was very nice to hear that ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ has returned to the Magic Kingdom Express Monorail recently!” one X user<a href="https://x.com/GreenCheetah99/status/2041370321744167371"> shared</a> earlier this month alongside a video clip of the greeting being used. “For context, it was removed around 2021 when Disney tried to make the parks more ‘inclusive,’” a follow-up post added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was very nice to hear that “Ladies and Gentlemen” has returned to the Magic Kingdom Express Monorail recently! <a href="https://t.co/PqtBI6u2qx">pic.twitter.com/PqtBI6u2qx</a>
— Theme Park Cheetah (@GreenCheetah99) <a href="https://twitter.com/GreenCheetah99/status/2041370321744167371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“We’re so f***ing back,” a reply to that post <a href="https://x.com/chazzimusslots/status/2041521972920680835?s=46&amp;t=vdDC8_Kq-sBDxiYlIfWGVw">said</a>.
“Thank goodness!” Elon Musk agreed, prompting another person to <a href="https://x.com/RitaChizoba2/status/2044671923003502608">reply</a>, “Finally, sanity returns to the Magic Kingdom. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls;  the spell is broken. The woke experiment failed, and reality just won the day. Disney heard the parents. The kids deserve magic, not lectures. Thank goodness indeed.”
&#8220;The world is healing,&#8221; Libs of TikTok <a href="https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/2044562287176868033">added</a>.

Disney Quietly Reverses Woke Move And It’s The First Thing You Hear Walking In

Florida

Wokeness

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
In the golden age of early 2000s sitcoms, &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle&#8221; stood out like a middle finger in polite society. It was because of its messy, working-class, irreverent humor that it did so well with audiences.
Hal and Lois, the show’s chaotic married couple, were not enlightened parents dispensing wisdom to their well-behaved children. They were exhausted, flawed people barely clinging on in a house of four feral boys: Malcolm, Reese, Dewey, and Francis.
The show didn’t take itself too seriously. It mocked political correctness, it questioned both politeness and authority. It showed that actions do, in fact, have consequences. And, importantly, it bucked the idea that anyone — child, adult, or otherwise — deserved kid-glove treatment.
Everyone and everything was fair game. In &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle,&#8221; there were no sacred cows.
And yet, watching Hulu’s 2026 &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle&#8221; reboot, you’d <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/malcolm-in-the-middle-reboot-hit-with-backlash-over-woke-changes">never know</a> this was once the case. Unfortunately, like other failed Disney shows that have come before, the new &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle&#8221; is a Trojan horse for contemporary progressive ideology.
In the first episode of the four-episode revival, it managed to shoehorn in both gay and transgender characters. The most notable being Malcolm’s youngest sister, Kelly, a sullen teenager who happens to be “non-binary” and uses “they/them” pronouns.
Kelly’s inclusion was inspired by the show’s creator and his wife’s own family, where they proudly claim to have “three queer kids,” believing this is a feature of a normal American family. They couldn’t be more wrong, of course.
But, the tragedy of this development is twofold. First, Kelly is not a character. She is evidently a vehicle used by the writers to virtue signal and lecture audiences. But, more importantly, in the original series, Lois continually fantasized about having a daughter after having (eventually) five sons.
Turning the long-awaited daughter into a pronoun lesson truly flattens her existence into propaganda. And there is something truly grotesque about taking a main character’s greatest wish and turning it into a malformed 2026 talking point.
One whole episode in the OG show is dedicated to Lois imagining her life with girls instead of her unruly boys. In the end, she realizes she loves her sons, and girls would just be a different flavor of chaos. But, her desire persists. 
And it is this dynamic that makes Lois’s final pregnancy in the 2006 finale of the show so exciting. It is her last chance to have a girl. And as viewers, we are left to ponder how this pregnancy turned out — if Lois was gifted yet another little boy or if she was finally given her dream of a little girl.
Well, we get that answer in the reboot. And it comes in the form of teenage Kelly, who inevitably delivers a sombre speech during the reboot’s final episode, where she describes feeling “wrong” since she was a child. In a bizarre turn of events, the response from her family is more or less one of acceptance. This simply isn’t &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle.&#8221;
The non-binary sibling isn&#8217;t comic relief or a catalyst for family dysfunction like it would have been in the original show. This character is simply a vehicle for representation, complete with Hal awkwardly practicing pronouns and the family acknowledging the revelation with solemn nods.
Lois, the same woman who once quite literally wrestled her sons into submission, apparently accepts &#8220;they/them&#8221; pronouns, rather than dragging her child back to reality? Where&#8217;s the screaming? The grounding? The classic Lois line that cuts through the bull?
The original &#8220;Malcolm in the Middle&#8221; thrived on mockery. It took shots at everything: the education system, corporate drones, life in middle America, even its own characters&#8217; flaws. People retroactively view the show as progressive because it wasn’t &#8220;homophobic,&#8221; but it never treated sexuality or identity as sacred ground either.
It constantly poked fun at both ends of the spectrum, mocking pretension wherever it appeared, like Malcolm’s intellectual superiority and posturing, while simultaneously poking fun at dysfunction, such as Hal’s midlife crises or Lois’s ego.
It would have absolutely taken great delight in poking fun at an absurd social contagion such as “non-binary” identity.
&#8220;Malcolm in the Middle&#8221; wasn’t really a show for learning a tidy lesson because real life in that household was too chaotic and messy for after-school preaching.
And all of this is one of the biggest reasons why Disney’s reboot factory leaves so much to be desired. Frankensteining a franchise is a tenet of modern media. But in reanimating the corpses of beloved 2000s intellectual property always results in the same disappointing, lifeless snoozefest, complete with 2026 moralizing.
These corpses could never compete with the originals because they fundamentally lack the ability to laugh at themselves that marked so much of early 2000s entertainment. Today, instead of telling realistic stories, shows must tick boxes when it comes to diversity, sexuality, and representation.
***
Sydney Watson (<a href="https://x.com/SydneyLWatson">@SydneyLWatson</a>) is a YouTuber and political commentator.

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Disney Turns Beloved Sitcom Into A Lecture Nobody Asked For

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