'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

Contestants are not afraid to lock lips and test their relationships on "Love Island USA" Season 7. After returning to the villa, islanders are living in theaftermath of the drama-inducing Casa Amor.Four bombshells packed their bags, and the remaining islanders continue to navigate their connections, both old and new. In the latest episode, the group held nothing back during a staple challenge of the series. Throughout the season, USA TODAY will keep fans updated on all the tea inside the Fijian villa. Here's a recap of some highlights from the last few episodes and a list of all the islanders who have entered the villa for "Love Island USA" Season 7 so far, including those who debutedsince last week's update. 'Love Island USA':People can't stop talking about Huda. Will we ever learn our lesson? Islanders Olandria and Nic were paired after being dumped in Episode 20. Neither of them were selected to recouple with a new Casa Amor bombshell. However, in another twist, Olandria and Nic were picked up in a G-wagon and taken to a secret garden in Episode 21. Faced with the option to join forces and couple up or officially leave the show, they decided to couple up and were able to return to the main villa. At one point in the villa − while Olandria was still trying to keep Taylor from turning his head and while Nic was thinking about Cierra − the two decided to explore whether there was a romantic connection. "I think there's a strong physical connection between Olandria and I," Nic said in his confessional. "She's one of the most attractive women I've ever seen in my lifetime." They eventually share a passionate kiss in Soul Ties, but later mutually agree in Episode 22 that they are just friends. when I tell people about coupled up Nicolandria#LoveIslandUSApic.twitter.com/0zdY5ES8eU — T (@teewatterss)June 28, 2025 JD and Huda's connection crumbled in Episode 22 after he confronted her about her approach to the "Kiss-Off" challenge. "I can tell you like being dominant," JD told Huda while smiling. "I had to lead your (expletive) to help you," she responded. "You was trying to be dominant and I'm not someone who likes to be dominated. It was like combative," JD continued. "So find someone submissive," Huda responded, adding, "Sure. Okay, good talk." Theclip of the interactionwent viral on social media. Huda has been at the center of other popular moments from the season, includingher clash with her former partner Jeremiahand her"I'm a mommy" conversationwith Nic. Four islanders, all of whom entered the villa as Casa Amor bombshells, were dumped from the villa in Episode 22. Coco: Had a connection with Ace Zac: Had a connection with Iris JD: Had a connection with Huda and Amaya Vanna: Had a connection with TJ Women: Chelley, 27, from Orlando, Florida Huda, 24, from Raleigh, North Carolina Olandria, 27, from Decatur, Alabama Cierra, 25, from Arizona(Bombshell, Episode 2) Amaya, 25, New York City(Bombshell, Episode 4) Iris, 25, from Los Angeles (Bombshell, Episode 9) Andreina, 24, from Jersey City, New Jersey(Bombshell, Episode 15) Clarke, 24, Columbia, South Carolina(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Jaden, 25, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Gracyn, 25, Bristol, Virginia(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Men: Ace, 22, from Los Angeles Taylor, 24, from Oklahoma City Nicolas, 24, from Jacksonville, Florida Austin, 26, from Northville, Michigan Pepe, 27, from Los Angeles(Bombshell, Episode 9) TJ, 23, from Pleasantville, New York(Bombshell, Episode 15) Elan, 23,Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Chris, 27, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) Bryan, 28, Boston(Casa Amor Bombshell,Episode 19) Zak, 29, Roi Et, Thailand; Manchester, U.K.(Casa Amor Bombshell,Episode 19) Dumped: Yulissa, 27, from Miami(Left the villa) Belle-A, 22, from Honolulu(Dumped, Episode 6) Charlie, 27, from the United Kingdom(Bombshell, Episode 2)(Dumped, Episode 12) Jalen, 27, from Sparta, Georgia(Bombshell, Episode 9)(Dumped, Episode 14) Hannah, 23, Tucson, Arizona(Bombshell, Episode 4)(Dumped, Episode 18) Jeremiah, 25, from Los Angeles(Dumped, Episode 18) Zac, 26, Portland, Oregon (Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode19) (Dumped, Episode 22) JD, 23, Dallas, Texas(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode19)(Dumped, Episode 22) Coco, 24, Los Angeles(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) (Dumped, Episode 22) Vanna, 21, Salt Lake City, Utah(Casa Amor Bombshell, Episode 19) (Dumped, Episode 22) Couples: Chelley and Ace Amaya and Zak Jaden and Austin Cierra and Nic Gracyn and Pepe Huda and Chris Iris and TJ Taylor and Clarke Andreina and Bryan Single Islanders: Olandria Elan In Episode 24, the islanders played dress-up and participated in the "Hearts on Fire" game, also notoriously known among fans as the heart rate challenge. This season's contestants completed the challenge as a couple. Women: Iris' heart rate was raised the most by Nic Amaya's heart rate was raised the most by Pepe Andreina's heart rate was raised the most by Pepe Jaden's heart rate was raised the most by Nic Chelley's heart rate was raised the most by Chris Huda's heart rate was raised the most by Elan Gracyn's heart rate was raised the most by Nic Cierra's heart rate was raised the most by Elan Olandria's heart rate was raised the most by Chris Clarke's heart rate was raised the most by Ace Men: TJ's heart rate was raised the most by Gracyn Zak's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Bryan's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Austin's heart rate was raised the most by Amaya Chris' heart rate was raised the most by Chelley Pepe's heart rate was raised the most by Andreina Nic's heart rate was raised the most by Iris Elan's heart rate was raised the most by Cierra Taylor's heart rate was raised the most by Olandria Ace's heart rate was raised the most by Huda Winning couple:Cierra and Nic New episodes come out onPeacockeach night Thursday to Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, meaning the only day without a new episode is Wednesday. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast: See every bombshell, islander

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June 30, 2025

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far

'Love Island USA' Season 7 cast list: See every islander so far Contestants are not afraid to lock lips and test their relationships...

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Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

NEW YORK — Before his precipitous downfall,Sean "Diddy" Combswas apop-culture supernovawithinnumerable starsin his orbit. Like it or not, that's part of the reason we've all been so glued to his criminal trial, as theonce-untouchable music mogulawaitsa verdicton fivecharges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. It's why journalists dashed breathlessly through the halls of Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse on June 13, in an attempt tocatch a glimpse of rapper Ye as he made a fleeting appearance to show his solidarity with Combs. It's also why dozens of social media influencers waited for nearly four hours in the pouring rain in the early morning hours of May 22, hoping to land a spot in the main courtroom asmusician Kid Cuditestified about analleged arson attack by Combs. Throughout nearly two months of testimony, attorneys and witnesses alike havename-checked several celebritiesas they've excavated nearlytwo decades of Combs' apparent criminal past. They've recounted nights ofpartying with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Muhammad Ali and Rita Ora, some of which ended in Combs allegedly assaulting his girlfriends orforcing them into "freak offs" with escorts. Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross were referenced in court, as defense tried to highlight the powerful connections that Combs helped afford to his ex-lover, singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine.Michael B. Jordan,50 CentandSuge Knightwere all subjects of Combs' ire, whileUsherandDanity Kane's Dawn Richardwere both on the sidelines of allegedly violent incidents. Diddy trial bombshells:What his inner circle said about baby oil, 'freak offs' There were name drops that sparked dry amusement from reporters, too, like the revelation that Combs once had ecstasy pills shaped like the face offormer President Barack Obama. Or that the rapper gave his staff an annual paid holiday on the Notorious B.I.G.'s birthday. (Checking into hotels, Combs often used the alias Frank Black ‒ a nod to Biggie Smalls' nickname, Frank White.) Combs' lawyer also mentioned Beyoncé in his closing statement. "I don't expect we're going to see Beyoncé in CVS," lead defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said as he argued Combs' employees were not part of a criminal enterprise and that they instead were just doing their jobs. Here are just a few of the most notable A-listers to find their way into the Diddy trial: "Mia," a former assistant of Combs who testified under a pseudonym, told jurors that she had been abused and assaulted by the rapper throughout her employment. In a series of texts read aloud in court, sheinvoked the name of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, who is in prison following his own sex-crimes trial. Jurors saw an exchange from 2019, in which Mia wrote toCombs: "I had a nightmare. I was trapped in an elevator with R. Kelly and you came to rescue me." In a lengthy text that she sent Combs around 2020, Mia described some of their most "magical, hilarious" and "hysterical" memories together. One was of a night in Paris when Mick Jagger tried to take her home; another was of a night when Jennifer Lopez wouldn't stay out. Mia also referenced a high-stakes poker game between the hip-hop mogul andDiCaprio. She wrote that Combs said, while cursing: "That 'Titanic' (guy) doesn't know (anything). He won $10,000, I won $650,000." What to expect:Diddy trial is ending, jury deliberation underway In a message from August 2020, Mia texted Combs, "Thinking of you withChadwick Boseman," following the actor's death. Mia said on the stand that Combs was "auditioning for the role" of James Brown in the "Get On Up" biopic that Boseman ended up playing. In a text exchange shown to jurors, Mia told Combs that she had his audition tape and would send it to him. Mia alleged that in 2012 she witnessed a discussion between Combs and Ventura Fine escalate at the premiere of theBrad Pittfilm "Killing Them Softly," during the Cannes Film Festival in France.She claimed she saw Combs grit his teeth while digging his nails into Ventura Fine's arm, and eventually insisted that Ventura Fine leave, which she did. On the stand, Mia said that over the years, she saw Combs take molly, MDMA, ketamine and prescription drugs. Although she said it was "mostly in party situations," she once claimed to see him high at a board meeting. On another occasion, she alleged that he was so high at aChelsea Handlershow that she pulled him aside. "You look a little crazy right now," Mia told Combs. More:All the witnesses who took the stand in the Diddy trial, including Cassie and Kid Cudi On the stand, Combs' ex-personal assistant Capricorn Clark was asked whether she thought Ventura Fine was "very talented." Clark responded "no," adding that she thought the rising R&B star merely had "talent." "Very talented to me is Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey," Clark told jurors. "Very talented is that level of performer, entertainer. Cassie was more of a studio artist." During Ventura Fine's lengthy testimony, jurors saw a text that she sent to Combs in July 2013. At the time, she had been dating Combs for roughly seven years, and expressed frustration that she wasn't integrated more into his family life with his children. "As much as you think you're Bruce Willis, you aren't," Ventura Fine texted Combs. "He's married, and before he was married, the family as a whole went on trips together or just him and his woman." "Eddie Murphy and Paige (Butcher) took his kids away on their own," the message continued. "I don't think you sympathize with my feelings. I understand you feeling like you need to protect your children. But after a while, it's like, for what?" Surviving abuse:Cassie Ventura Fine and the unlikely bond with her mother-in-law Kerry Morgan, a model and former friend of Ventura Fine, testified that Combs once attacked her in Cassie's California home, choking her and hitting her in the head with a wooden hanger. She also told the court she saw Combs assault Ventura Fine several times, and she pleaded with her friend to leave the rapper. During cross-examination, the defense showed a number of photos of Morgan and Ventura Fine hanging out with groups of people. One snapshot included Morgan, stylist Deonte Nash, producer Rob Holiday, and "Nope" actress Keke Palmer. Defense asked whether they all had fun together: "We had a lot of fun," Morgan said. "We look like a loving bunch," although "I didn't love all these people." On the stand,Combs' ex "Jane," who also testified under a pseudonym, said that she, Combs and one of the escorts they allegedly hired used the nickname "trifecta" when they had sex. Jane claimed she was Kobe Bryant; Paul, the entertainer, was Shaquille O'Neal; and Combs was Michael Jordan. Jurors were also read a series of flirty text messages between Jane and Combs, where she likens their relationship to the NBA legends. In the exchange, Jane thanks Combs for making "me very happy" and giving "me so much love." "You're my Michael Jordan and I'm your Kobe Bryant," Jane texted Combs. "We're the greatest." More:Diddy's defense claims he was just 'swinging.' These swingers are appalled. In another frisky text exchange read aloud to jurors during testimony, Jane compared herself to former Playboy models. "It's giving Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra," Jane texted Combs, adding two melon emojis. Jane frequently referenced famous figures in her text messages to Combs. Some of their other nicknames for each other: Bert and Ernie from "Sesame Street." In court, Combs' attorneys pressed Ventura Fine about a time when the hip-hop heavyweight suspected she was cheating on him. "He found out you were dancing with another person in the entertainment industry? Do you remember the incident where he suspected you of dancing withChris Brown?" defense asked, referencing an unspecified occasion in 2013. Ventura Fine said she did not remember the incident, but she "was not dancing" with the singer. Defense showed an exhibit to help jog Ventura Fine's memory of a time when Combs allegedly took the "Me & U" singer's phone after he suspected her of dancing with Brown. After looking at the evidence, Ventura Fine said, "It says that in the message, but I don't really remember it." Ventura Fine is close friends with Karrueche Tran, the actress and model who won a five-year restraining order against ex-boyfriend Brown in 2017. Diddy lawyerMarc Agnifilo compares 'freak offs' to couples drinking lemonade Cassie Beyoncé Rihanna Michael B. Jordan Barack Obama Georgina Chapman Mike Myers Will Smith DJ Whoo Kid Dallas Austin 50 Cent Suge Knight Prince Usher Britney Spears Common Madonna Jimmy Iovine Dawn Richard Kalenna Harper Kid Cudi French Montana Too Short Chris Brown Biggie Smalls Ryan Leslie Brad Pitt Keke Palmer Pamela Anderson Carmen Electra Whitney Houston Mariah Carey Chris Gethard Jay-Z Michael Jordan Kobe Bryant Shaquille O'Neal Bruce Willis Eddie Murphy Leonardo DiCaprio Mick Jagger Jennifer Lopez Chelsea Handler R. Kelly Chadwick Boseman Rita Ora Nicki Minaj Lil Wayne Yung Miami Contributing: USA TODAY staff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Diddy trial celebrities ranged from Beyonce to Brad Pitt and Kid Cudi

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June 30, 2025

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court

Diddy's star-studded trial: The celebrities mentioned in court NEW YORK — Before his precipitous downfall,Sean "Diddy" Combswa...

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ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

Detentions of immigrants without criminal histories have risen sharply since May amid a broader push to expand immigration enforcement, according to a CBS News analysis of data from the Department of Homeland Security. White House adviser Stephen Miller announced a push for a new, higher target of 3,000 arrests daily in late May. From the first week of May to the first week of June, new ICE detentions of people facing only civil immigration charges, such as entering the country without authorization, rose by over 250%. President Trump has repeatedly said his administration is focusing deportation efforts on criminals. Until recently, federal agents working to enforce his orders have detained more immigrants with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges than those without them each week, the data shows. But even among those with criminal convictions — about 40% of detainees since Jan. 20 — the majority were not for violent offenses. Overall, roughly 8% of all detainees had been convicted of violent crimes, CBS News found. "What we're doing is we're really going after the criminal aliens, of which we have plenty to work with," Mr. Trump said at an event promotinghis legislative packageon Thursday. At a White House news conference with the president Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked about enforcement and said, "The violent criminals in our country are the priority now." However, top White House officials, including "border czar" Tom Homan, have also said anyone who entered the country illegally could face removal. Homantold CBS Newsin May that while ICE would prioritize public safety and national security threats, "If you're in the country illegally, you're not off the table," adding, "It's a violation of law to enter this country illegally." More than 97,000 people have been detained over Mr. Trump's first five months in office, CBS News' analysis found, while ICE arrests, which do not always result in detentions,topped 100,000earlier this month. Arecord 59,000 peoplewere currently being held in ICE detention as of June 23 — nearly half of them with no criminal record, CBS News reported last week. The data CBS News analyzed for this report comes from ICE and was released to theDeportation Data Project, a group of academics and lawyers who collect and publish immigration data. The group sued to obtain the data after filing a Freedom of Information Act request. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Since the first week of June, the number detained with only civil immigration charges was double that of individuals with criminal convictions. This represents an abrupt reversal from the first four months of Mr. Trump's second term, when the number of immigration detainees with a criminal record outnumbered those detained on civil immigration charges. The new target of 3,000 daily arrests announced by Miller is a sharp increase from the the 660 daily arrests made on average during Mr. Trump's first 100 days in office. Out of the more than 97,700 people ICE has detained since Mr. Trump took office, more than 39,500, or about 40%, had criminal convictions. Of those, nearly 23,000 were removed as of mid-June. Among those with criminal convictions, about 8,200 — 8.4% — had convictions for violent crimes, including 478 convicted of homicide and about 6,800 convicted of assault or sexual assault. Violent offenses, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, include crimes that are "threatening, attempting, or actually using physical force against a person." Additionally, about 5,000 had drug-related convictions. Traffic-related offenses made up the largest category of crimes among those with prior convictions, with driving under the influence of alcohol the single most common violation. In aninterviewwith CBS News's Major Garrett in May, Homan blamed "sanctuary city" policies for leading to more arrests of those without criminal convictions. "When sanctuary cities force us into the neighborhood to find that bad guy, many times that person is with others that are illegally in the country but may not be a criminal target," he said. "Well, they're going to go too." Homan hascalledthese "collateral arrests." People without criminal convictions are also easier targets for removal, said Ariel Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. That's because they tend to be easier to find and more concentrated in one place, he added. "It requires significantly more resources to go after one person who may be armed and dangerous as opposed to going outside a Home Depot and trying to gather a larger number of people," he told CBS News. ACBS News pollcompleted in early June indicates that mass deportation of non-criminals is unpopular among Americans. The poll found that Americans who believe Mr. Trump's deportation efforts are focused on dangerous criminals support those efforts. But among those who do not think criminals were the focus, support dropped dramatically. Heightened ICE activity has sparkedprotestsacross the country in recent weeks, especially in Los Angeles, where Mr. Trump called in the National Guard in response. California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsomaccusedthe administration of "indiscriminately targeting hardworking immigrant families, regardless of their roots or risk." Some Republican elected officials have also expressed concern. Six GOP members of Congress wrote aletterto ICE acting director Todd Lyons requesting that ICE reveal how many convicted criminals have been deported since January. "Every minute that we spend pursuing an individual with a clean record is a minute less that we dedicate to apprehending terrorists or cartel operatives," they wrote. Ruiz Soto, of the Migration Policy Institute, told CBS News that based on Homan's statements on immigration enforcement, he isn't surprised that detentions are predominantly non-criminals. "There's been a disconnect from the beginning about the rhetoric from President Trump that seems to emphasize a focus on violent and the 'worst of the worst' criminals compared to what his cabinet and DHS has been saying from Day One," he said. "When you look at the numbers it's very clear that has not been the case since the beginning." Saving money vs. saving lives Woman who refused Trump pardon for Jan. 6 riot speaks out Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Trump budget bill, Zohran Mamdani

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June 30, 2025

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows

ICE detains more non-criminals, new data analysis shows Detentions of immigrants without criminal histories have risen sharply since May ami...

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Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

A Colorado woman has died from injuries suffered in thefiery antisemetic terror attack in Boulder. Karen Diamond, 82, died June 25 and was privately buried with her family in attendance, according to authorities and members of her synagogue, Boulder's Bonai Shalom. Authorities say Diamond was among a group of protesters raising awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Prosecutors announced after her death that they wereadding state-level first-degree murder chargesagainst the suspect.The crime has shaken the city's Jewish community amid astring of antisemitic attacks nationally. "There are no words to express the pain of this horrific loss of our beloved member and friend," Rabbi Marc Solowaywrote in announcing Diamond's death, which was made public June 30.  "We will need to support each other as we process this loss." In a statement, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty called Diamond's death "horrific." "Part of what makes Colorado special is that people come together in response to a tragedy; I know that the communitywill continue to unitein supporting the Diamond family and all the victims of this attack," he said. In addition to the new charges of first-degree-murder, prosecutors announced June 30 that they have added 66 state-level counts against Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who also faces federal hate crime charges. Soliman, a father of five who was an Uber driver, remains jailed. Federal officials said Soliman was living in the United States after overstaying his visa. Police said Soliman, who is Muslim, confessed to targeting the "Run for their Lives" walk on Boulder's Pearl Street pedestrian mall over what he felt was participants' support for Israel's military actions in Gaza. The weekly walk, which drew Jewish supporters, was focused on the return of hostages taken by Hamas after its militants raided Israel in October 2023. Police said he yelled "Free Palestine" during the attack. Soliman now faces state charges for 29 victims in the attack, 13 of whom suffered physical injuries, along with animal cruelty charges in connection with a dog that was hurt. Federal prosecutors did not immediately announce whether they would be adding further charges. Police said Soliman planned his attack for more than a year and arrived in Boulder after driving from his home in Colorado Springs, stopping along the way to buy gasoline, glass bottles, a weed sprayer and flowers to provide a disguise. Soloway, who leads the Bonai Shalom congregation, asked the public to respect the Diamond family's privacy "under these awful and distressing circumstances. … This event and the tragic loss of someone who has given so much of herself over the years to the Bonai community and beyond, has impacted us all and we are sad and horrified." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jewish woman dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

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June 30, 2025

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack

Jewish woman, 82, dies from injuries suffered in Boulder terror attack A Colorado woman has died from injuries suffered in thefiery antiseme...

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James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in “Oppenheimer”: It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in "Oppenheimer": It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

Marc Piasecki/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty James Cameron has agreed to make a film based on the upcoming bookGhosts of Hiroshima TheTitanicdirector said he wanted to follow the story of the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing He also criticized Christopher Nolan's 2023 blockbusterOppenheimer, calling it a "moral cop out" for not following the real-life victims James Cameronis planning his own film about the atomic bomb following the Oscar-winning success of writer and directorChristopher Nolan'sOppenheimer— but theTitanicdirector says his film will be very different. "Yeah…it's interesting what he stayed away from," Cameron, 70, toldDeadlineof Nolan, 54, when asked if he was surprisedOppenheimerwon seven Oscars and grossed nearly $1 billion. "Look, I love the filmmaking, but I did feel that it was a bit of a moral cop out." Cameron said he intends to make a film based off Charles Pellegrino's upcoming bookGhosts of Hiroshima,which highlights the brutal realities of the Hiroshima victims hit by the atom bomb in 1945. Of J. Robert Oppenheimer — the real-life physicist who helped create the atom bomb — Cameron said the man was well aware of the effects of his creation. "[Nolan's] got one brief scene in the film where we see — and I don't like to criticize another filmmaker's film — but there's only one brief moment where he sees some charred bodies in the audience and then the film goes on to show how it deeply moved him," Cameron noted. "But I felt that it dodged the subject. I don't know whether the studio or Chris felt that that was a third rail that they didn't want to touch, but I want to go straight at the third rail. I'm just stupid that way." Universal Pictures In a 2023 interview withVariety, Nolan acknowledged the criticism of his decision not to highlight the bomb's victims in his lengthy film. "The film presents Oppenheimer's experience subjectively," Nolan said at the time. "It was always my intention to rigidly stick to that. Oppenheimer heard about the bombing at the same time that the rest of the world did. I wanted to show somebody who is starting to gain a clearer picture of the unintended consequences of his actions. It was as much about what I don't show as what I show." When it comes to telling the victims' stories, Cameron said, "Okay, I'll put up my hand. I'll do it, Chris. No problem. You come to my premiere and say nice things." The bombs destroyed parts of Japan and killed more than 250,000 people, not to mention more over time as survivors died of the lasting effects of exposure. The dropping of the bombs is credited with ending World War II, and is the only time nuclear weapons have been used in armed conflict. "I don't want to get into the politics of, should it have been dropped, should they have done it, and all the bad things Japan did to warrant it, or any of that kind of moralizing and politicizing," Cameron explained. "I just want to deal in a sense with what happened, almost as if you could somehow be there and survive and see it." Kevin Winter/Getty As for his reason behind the decision to make the film, the Oscar winner believes the message is more important now than ever. "I just think it's so important right now for people to remember what these weapons do. This is the only case where they've been used against a human target," he said. "I want to make a film that just reminds people what these weapons do to people, and how absolutely unacceptable it is to even contemplate using them." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. And while he's not using Nolan or his film as a guidepost, Cameron is looking to another blockbuster auteur for inspiration. "I want to do for what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, what Steven Spielberg did with the Holocaust and D-Day withSaving Private Ryan," he said of the 1998 film, which won Best Picture. "He showed it the way it happened." Cameron is known for his blockbuster, budget-busting films likeTitanicand theAvatarfranchise, he doesn't intend to have theGhosts of Hiroshimafollow in those footsteps. "I don't think it'll be one that'll be quick to make, but I don't see it as a massively budgeted film," he said, adding that "This may be a movie that I make that makes the least of any movie I've ever made, because I'm not going to be sparing, I'm not going to be circumspect." Cameron is currently locked into writing and directingAvatars 3,4and5in the coming years.Avatar: Fire and Ash, the franchise's third installment is set to hit theaters Dec. 19, 2025 with more to follow. Read the original article onPeople

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June 30, 2025

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in “Oppenheimer”: It's a 'Moral Cop Out'

James Cameron Takes Issue with Christopher Nolan's Approach in "Oppenheimer": It's a 'Moral Cop Out' Marc Piasecki...

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