The Epstein Files, Bowen's SNL Departure, Timothee's Rap Debut

Epstein files finally unsealed

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a large batch of records connected to the criminal cases involving the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, expanding the public archive tied to one of the most scrutinized scandals in recent history. 

The newly published material includes additional documents and photographs showing Epstein alongside well-known public figures, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. 

The law, which was signed in November, compels the federal government to disclose all remaining unclassified files related to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. 

The Justice Department has indicated that additional documents are expected to be released in the coming weeks, signaling that the disclosure process is still ongoing as scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case continues.

Bowen Yang leaves SNL

Bowen Yang confirmed he is exiting Saturday Night Live.

Yang shared the news in an Instagram post ahead of his final episode. While he did not explain why he is leaving midseason, Yang reflected warmly on his experience with the long-running NBC series.

“I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people,” he said. “I’m grateful for every minute of my time there.”

In his farewell post, Yang also shared personal takeaways from his years on the show. “[I] learned about myself (bad with wigs). [I] learned about others (generous, vulnerable, hot),” he wrote.

“[I] learned that human error can be nothing but correct. [I] learned that comedy is mostly logistics and that it will usually fail until it doesn't, which is the besssst,” he added.

Yang joined SNL in 2018 as a writer before being promoted to the on-air cast, later becoming the first Chinese-American staff actor in the show’s history. During his stint, he earned five Emmy nominations, cementing his impact on the series.

Jenna Marbles’ dog, Mr. Marbles, passed away

Marbles, the tiny chihuahua who became an internet icon alongside former YouTuber Jenna Marbles, has died at 17.

Julien Solomita confirmed the news on December 19 through an emotional Instagram post honoring the dog who had been part of his and Jenna’s lives for well over a decade.

Sharing a photo of Marbles, Solomita wrote, “mr. marbles. thank u for showing me what it truly means to ride or die. i love you almost as much as you loved jenna. thanks for all the years of love and protection. rest easy, chip.”

Marbles first entered Jenna’s life when he was just six weeks old. She was 22 at the time, and the chihuahua grew up alongside her rise to YouTube fame, becoming a recurring presence in her videos and an unmistakable symbol of her channel.

Even after Jenna retired from the internet, Marbles remained a constant, appearing occasionally on Solomita’s Twitch and YouTube streams and joining the couple through major life moments, including their wedding in 2022.

In the weeks leading up to his passing, Solomita was open with fans about Marbles’ declining health. During a Twitch stream on November 10, he shared that the senior dog was receiving end-of-life care.

“Mentally, I’m not fully here. Marbles is getting really old, so we’re dealing with end-of-life things happening. It’s sort of been all-consuming… The whole thing is hard,” he said at the time.

Timothée Chalamet makes his rap debut with EsDeeKid

Timothée Chalamet is leaning into one of the internet’s strangest music rumors by stepping directly into the spotlight with the artist at the center of it.

The Oscar-nominated actor appears in the newly released music video for “4 Raws Remix,” the latest track from masked rapper EsDeeKid, a Liverpool-based artist whose identity has fueled months of online speculation.

The video dropped on December 19 and immediately reignited chatter that Chalamet himself could be connected to the mysterious hip-hop figure.

In the video, Chalamet and EsDeeKid appear side by side, dressed nearly identically in hoodies and bandanas that conceal their faces. The pair perform the track together inside a convenience store, rapping along to the lyrics while moving in sync through the aisles. Both Chalamet and EsDeeKid shared clips from the video on Instagram.

Rumors tying Chalamet to EsDeeKid have circulated for weeks, driven by fan theories, vocal similarities, and the rapper’s carefully maintained anonymity. While neither Chalamet nor EsDeeKid has directly addressed whether the actor is behind the mask, Chalamet’s on-screen collaboration is being read by many fans as a playful acknowledgment of the speculation.

ICYMI:

• Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Partridge have reportedly ended their relationship after two years together, according to a report from The Sun.

• Bad Bunny and J Balvin surprised fans in Mexico City with an unexpected onstage reunion. The appearance marked the first time in years that the longtime collaborators had shared a stage, instantly setting off cheers and social media buzz across Latin music fandoms.

• Actor James Ransone has died at the age of 46, according to reports. His death is being described as an apparent suicide.

• Nicki Minaj made a surprise appearance at Turning Point USA’s America Fest, stepping onstage alongside conservative commentator Erika Kirk.

— Bea Bertuldo

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