Gen Zer Has Doctor Mom Obsessed With Hospital Gossip—but There's a Twist
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman's prank on her mother has gone viral, as she shared spicy gossip that was actually the plot to a famous TV show.
Recent college graduate Mia, 22, settled down to gossip with her mom Marianne, 57, and told her a truly wild story about her friend, a surgical intern who "hooked up" with a man in a bar who turned out to be a neurosurgeon in her new workplace.
Her mother was shocked, gasping and reacting in all the right places—but what she didn't know was that her daughter was in fact telling her the plot to the first episode of medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
"My roommate told me I should tell my mom the plot of [reality TV show] Love Island as if it was one of my friends, but my mom watches Love Island so would know immediately," Mia explained to Newsweek.
"I thought her idea was hilarious, and I knew my mom has never seen Grey's Anatomy, so decided to do that!"
And, she added, Marianne works as an eye doctor—"so I knew she would love the hospital setting drama."
In the video, posted to Mia's TikTok account @miabanales1515 on June 30 and viewed more than 4 million times, she wrote: "Telling my mom about my friend's internship story but it's really Grey's Anatomy season one."
Marianne listens in shock to her daughter's story about her surgical intern friend.
Marianne listens in shock to her daughter's story about her surgical intern friend.
TikTok @mia.banales1515
As her mom sits in bed, hooked on every word, Mia tells her about her "friend Meredith" who "just got an internship in Seattle"—the exact setting for the famous hospital drama.
She tells Marianne that her friend "hooked up" with a man at a bar who was much older than they were, but is "really attractive"—and the next morning rushed to her first day at the internship only to find out "he's an attending surgeon at the hospital. She had no idea."
Her mom whoops and shouts, and points out the older man likely "has money" due to his job. And as Mia continues with her story of the intern and the doctor dating on and off for weeks, she leaves it on a cliffhanger: her friend sees the doctor talking to a woman, who turns to her and says: "You must be the girl that's been screwing my husband."
Marianne is totally shocked, slapping her hand over her mouth and shouting out, asking in horror if he's married, before calling him a "neurologist jerk."
Mia, who gave her first name only, wrote in the caption: "Do we think Derek Shepard is a neurologist jerk?"
Grey's Anatomy actors Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo (Derek Shepard and Meredith Grey) pose in the press room at the 57th Annual Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 18, 2005 in Los...
Grey's Anatomy actors Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo (Derek Shepard and Meredith Grey) pose in the press room at the 57th Annual Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 18, 2005 in Los Angeles, California MoreTikTok users were in stitches, awarding the video more than 500,000 likes, as one called it "amazing" and another referenced a famous monologue spoken by the character of Meredith, played by Ellen Pompeo, in show: "Wow I hope this neurosurgeon picks her, chooses her, loves her."
"You're obviously gonna have to keep this going for the next 20 years," another said, but one pleaded: "PLEASE make her watch Grey's and see how long it takes for her to connect the dots."
Mia told Newsweek: "I have more parts filmed, as of now she knows about the joke but I have plenty of videos to add from before I broke the news to her!
"I also have some fun clips of her watching Grey's Anatomy before she knew, which will be posted soon."
The ABC drama, which first aired in 2005, is currently on its 21st season and has been renewed for a 22nd season, due to premiere in the fall of 2025.
Mia explained she filmed the initial video "weeks ago," and "had no clue how much people would enjoy it."
"Me and my sisters love to fill our mom in on any drama our friends face, she loves to be in the loop and always has great advice for our friends and us!"
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some extra details, and they could appear on our website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
'Love Island USA' proves we're used to being watched
If you want to understand how constantly carrying a camera in your pocket has affected the way we think, behave, and fall in love, watch "Love Island USA." On Tuesday, the 26th (!!!) episode of season seven aired on Peacock, meaning the original cast members have been secluded in an open-air Fiji villa for about one month. Based on how the show typically progresses, by this time, there should be several strong connections between the islanders, couples for the viewers to root for and, eventually, to vote for as joint winners of a $100,000 cash prize. Instead, a common refrain among viewers online is that, at this point, no one deserves the money. Calls for the producers to " cut the cameras" and " delete the whole cast" abound. This season has made a negative impression for various reasons, chief among them being an apparent lack of sincerity. The islanders seem hyper-aware of their role as entertainers and competitors, much too preoccupied with how they're being perceived by an invisible audience to be truly honest and vulnerable with each other. Can we blame them? It's not only that cameras are pointed at the islanders from every angle, in every nook and cranny of the villa, during every minute of the day — it's that reality TV has reached the point where viable cast members are already accustomed to those exact conditions. It's painfully clear that living in an age of constant surveillance has taken its toll on these twentysomethings. This season, the cast's ages have ranged from 21 (Vanna) to 29 (Zak), though most hover in the 23-27 range. Their lives have been defined by the advent and proliferation of smartphones; the rise of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok; and with these gadgets and platforms, a new kind of celebrity known as the "influencer." These days, some genre of content creator is one of the most commonly cited dream jobs for Gen Alpha kids. Speaking as someone who came of age in a post-9/11 world, who happily forked over my personal data to Mark Zuckerberg when I had yet to hit puberty, my generation's expectation of privacy ceased to exist pretty quickly. But when a person grows up idolizing those who found fame by broadcasting their personal lives, the value of privacy is also lost. Meanwhile, the expectation to perform is more intense than ever. Even beyond the villa, it feels like there are spectators everywhere we go — with the way social media trends leak into real life and how people have normalized filming strangers and themselves in the hopes of going viral. Amaya Espinal is one of the few islanders not afraid to show real emotion Inside the villa, this expectation is dialed up to maximum levels. With the exception of Amaya Espinal — who is so raw and sincere that her willingness to express emotion has been repeatedly mocked by her castmates — the Gen Zers on "Love Island" seem to be putting up a front because they probably are; it comes as naturally to them as posing for a photo or curating a dating app profile. This inevitably makes it difficult for the islanders to forge genuine intimacy, especially in the fires of reality TV. As April Eldemire, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told Business Insider's Julia Pugachevsky, vulnerability and open communication are keys to a lasting relationship. "You have to go in with open eyes," she said. However, this doesn't necessarily make the islanders "fake." It makes them products of an environment that billionaires and tech companies created — and a tragic mirror for the rest of us.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Deja Foxx: We're Not Supposed to Win. That's Why We Have To
Running for Congress at 25 isn't easy—and that's by design. I'm not from a political family. I didn't inherit a donor list. I don't have deep pockets. Most people don't. Which is why our elected bodies don't look like the communities they are meant to represent. That's why I'm running for Congress. I've been homeless. I've worked nights and cleaned gas station bathrooms. I've stood in line at Planned Parenthood for my own care and fought to keep it open for others. In short, I've lived the policies others debate. Deja Foxx attends Global Citizen Festival 2023 on September 23, 2023, in New York City. Deja Foxx attends Global Citizen Festival 2023 on September 23, 2023, in New York Global Citizen And when I look around, I see a generation getting priced out, locked out, and left behind. We can't afford to wait for someone else to fight for us. I'm running in a special election on July 15, 2025, to fill an open seat after the death of my representative. He was one of three House Democrats to pass away in just a few months—leaving our communities without a vote during critical decisions. One of those decisions? The Donald Trump budget bill that passed the House by a single vote. It threatens Medicaid, food assistance, and the future of families like mine. You can do the math. That's what's on the line—but stepping up to fight back isn't as simple as raising your hand. Because the truth is, the political system isn't built for people like me. Most candidates don't have to think twice about paying bills and making campaign payroll in the same month. They have health care. They can take time off work. They can afford to live in one of the most expensive cities in the country if they win. For everyone else, just getting to the starting line is a battle. And when we do make it, we're doing things differently—because we have to. I launched this campaign alone in my room, filling out the paperwork on my laptop, and doing it wrong. But I had one advantage: I could read the room. I knew people were tired of politics as usual, tired of legacy names and corporate PACs calling the shots. Because I am too. That's why I've been focused on bringing people into this campaign in ways that politics usually doesn't allow. I pull back the curtain on running for office step by step on platforms like Substack and TikTok because voters aren't looking for perfection—they're looking for honesty. In our first debate, I went viral for saying something simple: I don't look like the folks on this stage—or in Congress. Millions of people saw that moment and saw themselves in it. In the days after, thousands of people chipped in what they could. We raised over $600,000 from more than 19,000 individual donors—99 percent of them giving less than $200. People who drive DoorDash after work. People who cash in coin jars. People who know what it means to go without, and still chose to show up for something bigger. Let's be clear: this isn't supposed to be happening. Not in a low-turnout special election, in the middle of summer, in an off year. But it is—because we're not just running a campaign. We're building something bigger. We're showing what's possible when people who know what's at stake step up to lead because we've lived it. When we stop pretending that the system is working for everyone, and start telling the truth about what it takes to get by. Voters know the way things have always been done isn't working. They're asking for someone who gets it—and who's not afraid to fight. This is the future of politics. It's not just about age or even ideology. It's about lived experience. It's about honesty and a new generation of leadership. One that reflects what people like us have always known: the hard work it takes to make sure your family can do more than just get by, but have a real shot at getting ahead. Whether the establishment is ready or not, we're here. And we're proving a different way of doing politics isn't just possible—it's necessary. Deja Foxx is a 25-year-old leader and activist, raised by a single mom in Tucson, Ariz. Now, she is running to be the first Gen Z woman elected to Congress in the upcoming special election for the open seat in Arizona's 7th Congressional District because families like hers deserve a fighter in the halls of power. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
How Lauren Sanchez's Net Worth Was Transformed by Marrying Jeff Bezos
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lauren Sanchez's net worth has undergone a significant transformation following her wedding to Jeff Bezos, according to experts who have spoken with Newsweek. The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy award-winning journalist, 55, tied the knot on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy, on Friday in front of roughly 200 celebrity guests. The couple got engaged in France in 2023. What Is Jeff Bezos' Net Worth? Bezos is the third wealthiest person in the world, with a current net worth of $234.6 billion, according to Forbes. The businessman founded Amazon in 1994, and he owns the aerospace company Blue Origin as well as The Washington Post. Sanchez's Career Highlights Although Sanchez's net worth has not been confirmed, she accrued her own fortune as a journalist, pilot, philanthropist and author. The New Mexico native was co-host of Fox's Good Day LA from 2011 to 2017 and also worked as a correspondent for Extra. In 2005, Sanchez hosted the reality TV dancing competition So You Think You Can Dance, though she left the position after one season to welcome her second child. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/AP/Blue Origin The television presenter is a mom to three kids: son Nikko Gonzalez with ex Tony Gonzalez, as well as son Evan Whitesell and daughter Ella Whitesell with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell. Bezos shares four children with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott. In addition to broadcasting, Sanchez has a helicopter pilot's license and founded the aerial filming company Black Ops Aviation. She released a children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, in September. Sanchez's Net Worth Gets Big Boost While Sanchez has built a successful career, experts tell Newsweek that her take-home income is expected to increase following her nuptials. "When you form a power couple, it raises the potential to increase your combined and individual net worth, especially when each has an established reputation in their own right," said Jonathan A.J. Wilson, a professor of Brand Strategy and Culture at Regent's University London. "Also, relationships in the public eye can offer a boost to an individual's brand value and commercial worth," he continued. "They're used to generate more social media content and stories, which translate into being more interesting, attracting more eyeballs and shares, and ultimately more earnings off the back of this. Plus, couples who are brands in their own right get to borrow or leverage off each other's stories, expertise and personalities to enrich their own. You're basically sharing success." Erin A. Meyers, a professor at Oakland University who specializes in celebrity studies as well as women and gender studies, told Newsweek: "Given [Bezos'] incredible wealth and lifestyle, I think it is safe to say [Sanchez] will be leading an even more privileged life than she was with her prior fortune. They've clearly already been living a wealthy and privileged lifestyle leading up to their marriage." Hilde Van den Bulck, a professor at Drexel University whose research interests include celebrity culture, noted that "being married to Bezos boosts Sanchez's worth if she would want to monetize her position as 'influencer,' i.e. her brand value has gone up." "She can make much more money in any representational function as the wife of Bezos than as the journalist Sanchez, because of the added visibility," she told Newsweek. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave the Aman Hotel for a party at the Arsenale on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave the Aman Hotel for a party at the Arsenale on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Stefano Mazzola/GC Images Bezos and Sanchez's Prenup It's unclear whether Bezos and Sanchez have a prenuptial agreement, though experts tell Newsweek it's likely. "I would argue that both are old (experienced as in previously divorced) and young (of sound mind) enough to not go into this marriage 'in the throes of love,' i.e. not without a solid prenup," Van den Bulck said. "In fact, all kinds of lawyers will have probably been working on this from the day they became engaged, if not earlier. These prenup negotiations can be very tough and take a long time." Meyers agreed: "As with most high-profile and wealthy couples, I imagine there is some sort of prenuptial agreement that would take effect in the event of a divorce, though it is unlikely that the public would even know the details of that," she said. Bezos and Scott were married for 25 years before their split in 2019. At the time, multiple outlets reported that the couple did not have a prenup, and she received more than $30 billion in Amazon shares after their split. Despite Bezos' costly breakup from Scott, the newlywed's net worth isn't affected. "[Bezos'] wealth is so immense that I don't think they are worrying about making ends meet," Meyers said. "He has more money than a single person or a couple could ever spend in a lifetime, and even that large settlement is barely scratching the surface." America's Fascination With Celebrities As all eyes were on Bezos and Sanchez's weekend celebrations, Van den Bulck said it's clear people still crave celebrity news. "The Bezos-Sanchez Venice wedding reminded us of the global appetite for celebrity gossip, even or especially in times when the world is on fire, it seems," she said. "We also know that bad news like divorce is as 'interesting' for the gossip mill as is 'happily ever after,' if not more." "One of the reasons we are so fascinated by these celebrity weddings and divorces is that, while celebrities are larger than life, they are also just like us. They are near yet far in many different ways."
