The cast of Netflix’s hit show Selling Sunset is in conflict again as its 8th season begins. The realtors ended Season 7 on a bad note, and things haven’t improved.
This season, Chrishell Stause, Emma Hernan, and Chelsea Lazkani are not only confronting their co-star Nicole Young over her alleged lies but also calling out producer Adam Di’Vello. The trouble began when Stause and Lazkani watched the new season early and were upset by some things Young said about Hernan.
This led to a social media backlash from Stause and Lazkani. Stause even threatened to quit the show if Young remained part of it. Although other realtors from the Oppenheim Group are not directly involved, Brie Tiesi and Mary Bonnet were also dragged into the drama by Lazkani.
While the exact rumor causing the fuss is not public, it seems Young started a false rumor about Hernan during the filming of Season 8. Hernan appears to have been completely surprised by this, and her friends Stause and Lazkani are very upset.
Nicole Young Allegedly Accused Hernan of Being Involved with a Married Man
Nicole Young joined the show in Season 6 and quickly clashed with Chrishell Stause, who is seen as the main character of the reality series. The feud began when Young accused Stause of claiming credit for a listing they worked on together.
Stause denied the claims and used Instagram to reveal Young’s falsehoods. Stause said they were on good terms until Young joined the show, after which she began to attack Stause without cause. Their conflict intensified during the Season 7 reunion special when Stause suggested that Young was homophobic.
The truce between these co-stars seems impossible now as Young allegedly spread new lies, this time about Stause’s best friend. Stause exposed Young for spreading false rumors about Hernan through a series of Instagram posts.
Stause tagged the show’s production company and said she would prefer to leave the show and face a lawsuit rather than continue working with Young. Rumors spread that Young hinted at a scandal involving Hernan and a married man, but Hernan seemed unaware of these accusations. This has led to Stause and Lazkani being very angry.
Stause Claims They Have All the Evidence to Prove Young Wrong
Lazkani was quick to support Stause in calling out Young. Her now-deleted posts showed her calling Young “the most diabolical piece of trash” she has ever met. Lazkani also tagged Tiesi and Bonnet, accusing them of lying, placating, and stealing.
Still from Selling Sunset (Credit: Netflix)
She hinted that these ladies might have lawsuits against them but did not explain further. None of the cast members, except Young, have responded to Lazkani’s claims yet.
Stause believes Season 8 will be a major turning point for the show. She mentioned that Young started a rumor about her best friend that is simply not true. Stause shared on Instagram that they have evidence to prove Young wrong but weren’t given a chance to do so on the show.
She posted a picture of herself with Lazkani and Hernan, saying, “Love these girls so much! The days of us being afraid of lies being told are over. We have receipts and voices.” It seems Stause, Lazkani, and Hernan will share their side of the story on social media as the show airs.
Nicole Young’s Response to the Allegations Adds Fuel to the Fire
In response to the Instagram posts and accusations from Stause and Lazkani, Young defended herself. She posted on Instagram, stating that she supports the sanctity of all marriages, which seemed to confirm the allegations about Hernan being involved with a married man. Young called out Stause and Lazkani, suggesting they should ask their best friend “some tough questions.”
Young also claimed that Hernan was confronted by the wife’s best friend during the Season 7 finale, but this scene didn’t make the final cut. She insisted she always considered the news a rumor.
Young also made a subtle remark about Stause and Lazkani’s previous marriages and their ex-husbands’ infidelities, saying, “Given both of you have been the victim of extramarital affairs, I would think you too would stand for the sanctity of all marriages.”
At the same time, Tiesi shared quotes on Instagram to show she was staying out of the drama. She confirmed that she wasn’t aligning with Young, despite her issues with Lazkani.
When Tiesi posted a picture with her son, fans tried to figure out her stance. Tiesi stated that she would never support Young and was not friends with her. “I don’t agree with everything she does and says and I’ve spoken on it each time.”
She also addressed Lazkani’s attempt to drag her into the controversy, stating she had no involvement in it and would not engage with Lazkani.
Is Chrishell Stause Leaving ‘Selling Sunset’ After Season 8?
Season 8 of Selling Sunset marks the third season of ongoing conflict between Stause and Young. In the Season 7 finale, Stause had a tense conversation with Bonnet about struggling to balance work and her personal life.
Her partner, Australian singer G-Flip, travels often, which seems to have affected their long-distance relationship and added to Stause’s stress at work. In the final moments of Season 7, Bonnet suggested Stause take time off to be with G. Given everything that happened in Season 8, it might be time for Stause to leave the show for good.
Stause previously told a fan on Instagram that she had just one more year of filming left. She plans to show other opportunities, like hosting or a travel show with her partner.
Still from Selling Sunset (Credit: Netflix)
She also rejected the idea of joining another reality show centered on her personal life. With Stause and G also in the process of adopting a child, Stause may want to focus on this journey.
If Nicole Young remains on the show, Stause has given producers an ultimatum. If Stause does leave, it will raise many questions about the future of the Oppenheim Group and the show’s direction.
Selling Sunset Season 8 is now streaming, and previous seasons are available on Netflix in the U.S.
Back in 2015, when I was 15, my friends and I would eagerly rush to the theater every few months to catch the latest adaptation of a bestselling young adult novel. Whether it was the dramatic love triangle in The Hunger Games or yet another story about terminally ill teenagers falling in love, that time was special.
John Green had as much influence as Kevin Feige does today. These films used to be huge hits at the box office, but they have faded over time and no longer fit into the modern world of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and streaming services.
For example, while The Fault in Our Stars earned over $300 million worldwide in 2014, Five Feet Apart made less than a third of that in 2019.
You might wonder why, nearly a decade after the Golden Age of YA adaptations ended, Netflix chose to adapt one of the standout novels from that era—Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies. The book was published in 2005 and led to three sequels.
Even though 20th Century Fox bought the film rights a year after its release, it took almost 20 years for the movie to be made. This film shows how much has changed over two decades. What was once seen as groundbreaking or insightful now feels outdated and out of touch.
What Is ‘Uglies’ About?
Set about a hundred years in the future, Uglies imagines a world where reliance on fossil fuels has led to global disaster. Though a new, renewable fuel source has been found, human nature continues to mess things up. To fix this, everyone undergoes cosmetic surgery on their 16th birthday to go from “Ugly” to “Pretty.”
Once you are Pretty, you live a luxurious life, looking just like everyone else (think of everyone having the same over-edited social media filter on their face). The idea is that changing people’s looks will stop them from being greedy and causing problems. But it’s unclear how enhancing appearances will fix deeper societal issues.
Still from Uglies (Credit: Netflix)
Tally Youngblood, whose last name feels like a nod to 2005, is excited to turn 16 in two months. She lives with other Uglies in dorms, learning to believe in this system led by Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox, who deserves better).
Tally and her best friend Peris (Chase Stokes) watch the Pretties, who enjoy glamorous parties without any worries. Peris is about to get his procedure, but they vow to stay friends even if Peris becomes a Pretty and Tally remains an Ugly. However, once Peris becomes Pretty, he loses interest in staying friends with Tally.
Heartbroken by the end of her friendship (and unspoken feelings), Tally befriends Shay (Brianne Tju). Shay doesn’t get excited about what she’ll look like as a Pretty. She teaches Tally how to hoverboard and questions everything they’ve been taught.
Shay wants to find the legendary David (Keith Powers) and live in the Smoke, a place where people reject the City’s rules and the surgery.
At first, Tally is scared to join her. But when Dr. Cable asks Tally to infiltrate the Smoke and find out about a weapon being developed, Tally must choose between the life planned for her and a bigger adventure.
Netflix’s ‘Uglies’ Is an Eyesore
From the start, the film tries hard to impress us with its world. Tally’s ring shows a hologram screen with new messages, and she can design her future face like a Sims character.
We’re supposed to be amazed by the technology, such as bungee jackets, hoverboards, and cupcakes appearing from thin air. Maybe this seemed advanced in 2005, but in 2024, it feels old and unimpressive. The clam e-reader in It Follows is more intriguing than anything in Uglies.
Tally’s city life looks like a mix between early concept art for Blade Runner and 1950s Las Vegas (and that might be too kind). The heavy use of CGI prevents director McG from creating memorable scenes.
McG is known for the fun action films Charlie’s Angels and its sequel, but here, the chance to amaze us with gravity-defying stunts is lost in a world that feels artificial.
The constant CGI makes the film feel outdated, like an early 2000s video game. The scenes of Tally and Shay flying through the air should be impressive, but they come across as stale and unoriginal in today’s cinema.
‘Uglies’ Has No Deeper Social Commentary
While watching Uglies, especially if you haven’t read the book, you might wonder what the film is trying to say. The title suggests it could address beauty standards, but the film fails to make a meaningful statement on this topic.
Still from Uglies (Credit: Netflix)
It’s hard to take the film’s message seriously when young Hollywood stars, who are far from unattractive, call themselves “Uglies.” For example, Chase Stokes, known from Outer Banks, talks about looking forward to becoming “good-looking,” which seems insincere.
In the film, all the Pretties look like they’ve been altered by a broken Instagram filter. One particularly shocking reveal of a Pretty looks like a badly done AI ad for dating apps. The film might be trying to critique the extreme standards of cosmetic surgery and technology, but it seems more like Netflix cut corners on special effects.
Compared to recent films like The Substance and Barbie, Uglies doesn’t add anything new to the discussion about beauty standards.
It’s a shallow take on society’s divide between those who follow beauty standards and those who reject them. Released after the COVID-19 pandemic, the film might even be seen as a comment on anti-vaccine sentiments, with its portrayal of rebels against government-mandated medicine.
Laverne Cox and Brianne Tju Stand Out in the ‘Uglies’ Cast
Joey King’s performance as Tally feels like a repeat of her role in Kissing Booth, now with hoverboards. Her portrayal lacks the depth needed to stand out among dystopian heroines like Katniss Everdeen, whom the film seems to aim for.
There’s little chemistry between King and Keith Powers, making the villain, played by Laverne Cox, a more compelling character due to her enjoyable performance. Brianne Tju’s role as Shay is a highlight; she brings a sense of genuine vulnerability and a touch of wonder that the film desperately needs.
If Uglies had been adapted during the Golden Age of YA and received a proper budget, it might have succeeded. However, waiting nearly 20 years, not updating the material, and cutting the budget has led to a film that struggles to make an impact. For teens looking for a new YA series, earlier hits like The Hunger Games are a better choice.
Still from Uglies (Credit: Netflix)
In the past, YA adaptations like The Hunger Games were major box-office hits, but films like Netflix’s Uglies reveal how tastes have shifted. Uglies, based on Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 novel, feels outdated and lacks impact. The film attempts to address beauty standards but falls short, with its CGI effects and themes seeming stale in 2024.
Joey King’s portrayal of Tally is unremarkable compared to past dystopian heroines, though Laverne Cox and Brianne Tju offer standout performances. Uglies misses the mark in a post-COVID world and doesn’t offer much new to the YA genre.
Uglies is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S. starting September 13.
