Latest news with #LoveontheSpectrum
Newsweek
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Woman Planning Wedding—Then Car Crash Erases Her Memory in an Instant
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. Just hours after slipping into her wedding gown for a final fitting, Kristen, 34, was behind the wheel on a dark winter highway. A spinning car collided with hers, setting in motion a series of events that would erase her memory of one of the most important days of her life. "I remember thinking we missed the car and that everything is fine," Kristen, from Vancouver, Canada, told Newsweek. "But I looked over and the whole right side of my car was busted up and mangled." The crash left her with a traumatic brain injury that was not fully recognized until weeks later, despite clear signs of memory loss and disorientation. Kristen has since been diagnosed with a concussion, stroke, and brain atrophy—and she has no memory of her wedding day that followed the crash. A video posted to Instagram in April by Kristen and her husband Troy (@tandkaythespectrumway) showed her standing in her wedding dress at the fitting, smiling. An overlaid text on the video read: "She doesn't know it yet but after her final wedding dress fitting, a car will spin out on the highway, erasing her wedding day memories in an instant." The clip has since sparked widespread conversation and support among viewers. The couple frequently share content about their experiences as a late-diagnosed couple with ADHD and autism. Their online presence began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has grown into a platform focused on autism awareness, particularly within relationships. "There just wasn't really a lot out there that talked about that specific dynamic," Troy told Newsweek. Kristen recalled how watching the reality show Love on the Spectrum led to her own diagnosis. "I could totally relate to these people," she said. "And then that's kind of what started the journey of hyperfixating and discovering myself." After moving in together, she was officially diagnosed, and the couple began using their platform to help others understand what it means to be autistic in a neurodiverse partnership. Navigating the Recovery With Autism Following the crash, Kristen's symptoms were immediate, but the medical response was not. "The emergency doctor saw me and didn't take it seriously," she said. "They asked if I hit my head, and I said I didn't remember. "So they didn't check my brain," she added. Kristen was sent home after cursory checks for her neck and stomach. The next day, she went to her bachelorette party—unaware that she was concussed. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. From left: Troy and Kristen embrace on their wedding day; and Kristen holding her wedding bouquet of flowers. @tandkaythespectrumway The wedding and honeymoon went ahead as scheduled, largely due to the cost—a $50,000 investment—and lack of cancellation insurance. "The morning of, there was literally no one setting up the wedding," Kristen said. "I didn't remember to get that going." Her bridal party handled the setup without her, and she got ready alone. "Everything's kind of a blur," Kristen said. "I just knew I was marrying my man that day, and that was it." Kristen's memory of the event remains fragmented. "Our videographer gave us the entire raw footage," she said. "It was the first time seeing it. "I don't remember my wedding, and that's why I post videos—just so I can try to look back on it," Kristen said. The footage, and the outpouring of support it received online, has become an important part of her recovery. "I was unmasked, but it wasn't by choice," Kristen said of how her autism and injury affected her demeanor. "I've never been more myself." The couple credits their unfiltered portrayal for being able to connect with others, especially parents of autistic children. Kristen said she shares videos of her childhood to help parents understand their own kids, and that parents of autistic children that struggle to socialize may find reassurance in seeing her within a loving and fulfilling relationship. "It really helps parents see that it's not that we're disabled, it's that we're different," Kristen said. Despite the love and support online, her road to recovery has been slow and complicated by insurance hurdles. Under British Columbia's no-fault system, Kristen said, pain and suffering are not compensated. "They pay for your treatment, but anything abnormal from standard—like a neuro—they won't cover," she said. "There has to be a point where the patient is believed." Recently, a CT scan revealed Kristen had suffered a stroke, likely as a result of her injury. "I've been gaslit by my medical team for almost a year-and-a-half," she said. She also reported ongoing physical symptoms, including weakness on her left side and persistent speech difficulties. Despite her ongoing symptoms, Kristen's concerns were often minimized or attributed to anxiety. She said this dismissal by medical professionals may be tied to her autism diagnosis. "People think that we feel things more sensitively, so it's taking longer to recover," Kristen said. "They keep trying to prove something else is going on." The couple is also navigating the emotional toll of Kristen's recovery, alongside the medical hurdles. For one, the former business owner can no longer sing—her lifelong passion—due to throat blockages from the accident. Despite this, Kristen continues creating social-media videos as a form of therapy and advocacy. Troy, reflecting on the relationship, said Kristen's acceptance of her autism diagnosis and how she has coped since the car accident have pushed him to be more emotionally open with his own feelings. "You've really challenged me to be more honest and authentic," Troy said. Though the trauma has upended the beginning of their married lives, the couple continues to lean on each other—and their audience—for strength. "Authenticity creates authenticity," Kristen said. "When I'm authentic, it gives permission for other people to feel safe being themselves as well." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@ We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Just Kids' Review: Tender and Informative Doc Examines Impact of Gender-Affirming Care Bans Sweeping the U.S.
Just Kids, Gianna Toboni's commanding documentary, follows a handful of trans children and their families as they navigate a United States increasingly hostile to trans rights and gender-affirming care. The film, which premiered at Tribeca, is an informative and emotionally potent take on a politically salient issue. Toboni spent an early part of her career as a producer for Vice, the documentary series that ran from 2013 until 2021, and elements of Just Kids bear a resemblance to the now sunsetted program. The director's mostly fly-on-the-wall approach to filming these families (cinematography by Daniel Hollis, Love on the Spectrum) lends the doc a gritty realism and an unexpected propulsiveness. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything' Review: Hulu Doc Offers a Solid Overview, but Limited Depth, on the Television Pioneer 'Charliebird,' 'Happy Birthday,' 'Natchez' Top Tribeca Festival Award Winners 'Tow' Review: Rose Byrne's Committed Performance Grounds a Compassionate Portrait of Homelessness But these aesthetic choices never sensationalize the realities of these participants, instead underscoring the harrowing stakes of their experiences. Crucially, Just Kids has a tender core: Its heart lies not in the trauma faced by trans kids trying to get gender-affirming care, but in their resilience and the love that persists in the face of state-sanctioned antagonism. Just Kids opens with an interview with the historian Susan Stryker, one of a handful of talking heads featured in the doc, who offers an overview of the issues facing transgender people in the United States. She talks about the recent waves of gender-affirming care bans and how much information exists about trans people. The issue has become a 'low-hanging fruit' for people hoping to influence elections and drive public policy in a more conservative direction. Conversations with Stryker are stitched alongside those with Kelli Parker, a writer and advocate, to build a sturdy narrative on which the rest of the film relies. They talk about how the advances of the last 20 years — from the election of Barack Obama to the legalization of gay marriage — riled up right-wing groups in the U.S., who declared themselves marginalized as a result of losing these so-called culture wars. They took action in the form of big spending, influencing public officials through elections and think tanks like the Heritage Foundation to take more conservative positions. 'They want the government to reflect them and their ideas,' says Parker of this coalition, 'and so they are passing these laws in an effort to inch this agenda forward.' The results of this aggressive mobilization has been felt in all sectors of American life, particularly when it comes to bodily autonomy. Restrictive policies on abortions go hand-in-hand with hostile policies against trans people. In both cases, the government encroachment is deemed necessary as a way to protect the children. Just Kids asks: Which ones? A central thesis of Toboni's doc concerns how these policies decide which children deserve to exist. It's a heartbreaking point that's underscored by Rae, Alazaiah and Tristan, three trans teenagers trying to survive in conservative parts of the country (South Carolina and Texas). Toboni also interviews their family members, who are supportive of their right to be trans. These parents and siblings are a surprising group, figures subverting expectations of who supports trans rights. Eric, a veteran and second-amendment enthusiast, has a love of country that extends to protecting the rights of his trans son, Rae. Just Kids is filled with scenes of Eric and his wife, Jessica, traveling to different state legislature hearings and testifying against proposed gender-affirming care bans. Zach and Raymond, Alazaiah's brothers, took her in after the death of the 17-year-old's mother so she didn't end up homeless. Together, their testimonies form an inspiring portrait of strength. Toboni complements interviews with these family members with footage of the trans children just living their lives — from Alazaiah excitedly posting to her followers on her TikTok feed and thrifting for new clothes (pink is a requirement) to Rae getting a haircut that makes him feel confident. But the stories also highlight the challenges these families and teens face in accessing state resources and medical care in parts of the country that criminalize their support. For these sections, Toboni talks to Andrea Jenkins, a member of the Minneapolis City Council, and Dr. Elizabeth Mack, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to explore how trans kids face a disproportionate risk of homelessness as well as how many people fundamentally do not understand what constitutes gender-affirming care. Mack's interviews are particularly clarifying because she defines this particular care as any change that makes trans kids feel more like themselves. That explanation hopefully clarifies the fact that all of us affirm our gender every day, from our clothes and haircuts to pills we take to correct hormonal imbalances. In one disheartening scene, Tristan and her mother, Crystal, listen as their doctor tells them that recent laws have forced her to leave Texas and she can no longer provide medical care. Although she was able to write a year-long prescription for estrogen before departing, the abrupt termination leaves Tristan and her mother in a vulnerable situation. They must now consider whether or not to relocate. But the decision is marred by financial precarity: At the moment, Crystal doesn't have enough money to move to a state with more amenable laws. Their story underscores how not everybody can just find a new place to live when facing dehumanizing legislation. Just Kids falls in the category of recent docs like Preconceived and Zurawski v Texas, which premiered at Telluride, that survey how the right has effectively mobilized to dismantle the civil rights progress of the last 50 years. Like these other films, Toboni's feature takes a straightforward approach to uncovering details that will be illuminating for many viewers. One only hopes that it gets in front of the audiences who need to hear its message the most. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Elle
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Tate McRae Gets Ultimate Compliment From The Kid Laroi
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. First, there is the coolness of his name: 'Laroi' honors the Kamilaroi people, the indigenous Aboriginal nation from which he descends. And it gets better from there. The 21-year-old rapper—and singer and songwriter—is dating Tate McRae, has new music coming that you'll be listening to all summer, and doesn't forget his roots: A hardscrabble upbringing in Sydney, his devoted mother, and a dream realized through hard work, mix tapes, and talent. Oh, and he smiled for almost every second of this interview. You can do whatever you want to do, as long as you put your mind to it. And it sounds pretty cliché, but I really do believe that. Me believing that as a kid, even if it was semi-delusional, helped me do this. It's pretty crazy as a kid to believe, I'm gonna be a big musician one day! That's a bit of a delusional thought. But there's something about that thought, when you really believe that and come into it, and it was instilled in me by my mum 100 percent. Definitely my girlfriend. She's the hardest working artist I've ever met in my entire life. And I don't say that because she's my girlfriend. Seeing how hard she works inspires and encourages me to follow along and do the same. There's something really, really motivating about that—and really attractive as well. I think Ariana Grande is awesome on a pure, creative level. I love her music, I love her new album. I kind of love everything that she does. Like, she's got it. My girlfriend can never decide what she wants to eat. What do you want to eat? Oh, I don't know. Up to you. Okay, how about this? No. The obvious is to just say it. Which means dropping the pride—that's a big one. The biggest thing I'm learning is that it's not about who's right or wrong, because emotions are sometimes not logical. I think just understanding that feelings exist whether they're logical or not. But I'm also a big flower guy. That's easy. Every time she smiles, it makes me weak. I love to cook. I'm actually supposed to cook tonight. Chicken piccata. That's the request. So I'll do the whole thing—roasted vegetables, a little salad. I make everything, but sometimes I do get a salad from the store and put it in a bowl and make it look nice. Erykah Badu. That's good, chill music. I like a chill, good vibe around the house. I inherited that from my mum. We're homebodies. Sometimes it's nice to go out and do stuff like that, but most times, we'll just be like, 'Yo, should we go out for dinner? Let's just order something. Let's make something. Let's watch something.' The new Black Mirror just came out, so we've been watching that. The new Love on the Spectrum. That's one of the best shows ever—Connor is, like, my favorite person of all time. I like to think I have okay style. I definitely always ask my girlfriend for opinions. My friend Dev is like, probably one of the freshest people I know, so I ask him for advice. But I think over the years I've definitely got a lot better with my personal style. I think I figured out what I look good in and what I don't. I went through a phase when I just wanted to buy designer, with the biggest logos you could see. Once I got over that, I started figuring out what fits me a little better, what I look better in. I'm getting pretty dialed in. A version of this story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of ELLE. GET THE LATEST ISSUE OF ELLE
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Traitors' Tops Winners List At Critics Choice Real TV Awards
Peacock's The Traitors picked up a leading three wins at the Critics Choice Critics Choice Real TV Awards announced Thursday. The series won for Best Competition Series, Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series and Best Show Host for Alan Cumming. More from Deadline Critics Choice Real TV Awards Nominations List: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' & 'The Traitors' Lead 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Al Roker & Jon H. Else To Receive Lifetime Achievement Honors At News & Documentary Emmys Two other shows picked up two wins each in voting by Critics Choice Association members. Netflix's docuseries Love on the Spectrum won for Best Unstructured Reality Series and Best Relationship Show, while ABC's Dancing With the Stars won for Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety and DWTS' contestant last season, Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, was awarded Male Star of the Year. Dr. Sandra Lee, from Lifetime's Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out, won the Female Star of the Star of the Year categories were voted on by fans. Other notable winners included a tie in the Best Structured Series race between Nat Geo's No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski and Netflix's Queer Eye. Netflix's The Great British Baking Show won Best Culinary Show, giving the streamer a leading four wins among all platforms. Peacock and ABC had three wins apiece. Below is the complete list of winners. BEST COMPETITION SERIES The Traitors (Peacock) BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY Dancing With the Stars (ABC) BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) BEST STRUCTURED SERIES (tie) No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (National Geographic)Queer Eye (Netflix) BEST CULINARY SHOW The Great British Baking Show (Netflix) BEST GAME SHOW Jeopardy! (Syndicated) BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW Conan O'Brien Must Go (HBO | Max) BEST BUSINESS SHOW Shark Tank (ABC)BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW The Americas (NBC) BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter (ID) BEST SPORTS SHOW Welcome to Wrexham (FX) BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN (tie) Don't Hate Your House with the Property Brothers (HGTV)Rock the Block (HGTV) BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTYRuPaul's Drag Race (MTV)BEST LIMITED SERIES Tucci in Italy (National Geographic) BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES The Traitors (Peacock)BEST SHOW HOST Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock) MALE STAR OF THE YEAR Stephen Nedoroscik – Dancing with the Stars (ABC) FEMALE STAR OF THE YEAR Dr. Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime) Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Is ‘Love on the Spectrum' Scripted? Former Cast Member Reveals If Show Is Real or Fake
Over the last few years, fans have fallen in love with the endearing cast members of Love on the Spectrum— but many have been left wondering how much of the show is real. In Touch reveals what the cast and creators have said about the making of Love on the Spectrum and if it is scripted. Love on the Spectrum is an Emmy Award-winning docuseries that explores the ups and downs of dating and relationships for individuals on the autism spectrum. It was created by Cian O'Clery and Karina Holden and got its start as a show in Australia in 2019. They later made a U.S. version of the series, which premiered on Netflix in 2022. Its third season included fan-favorite cast members such as David Isaacman and o, Tanner Smith, Dani Bowman, Connor Tomlinson and more. 'The show itself has actually become the template for people to then think, 'That's what love can look like in my life, and I can be like that character who doesn't necessarily fit the typical stereotype,'' cocreator Karina told Tudum by Netflix. 'The uniqueness of individuals within Love on the Spectrum has allowed people to be confident to pursue their version of relationships and friendships and love.' No, Love on the Spectrum is a documentary reality series and is not a fully scripted television show. While Cian has shared in interviews that some of the speed dating events on the show were arranged with the help of production, that was only to provide opportunities for the cast members to meet new people as they continued their search for love. When asked how much of the show was 'scripted,' former cast member Kaelynn Partlow – who appeared in season 1 of the series – implied that she wasn't heavily directed at all. "The only time I remember being directed was if they missed a shot and they'd ask me to repeat what I just did, like, over again,' she explained in an April 2025 Instagram reel. 'So, for example, if I walked down the stairs, but the camera wasn't sitting at the exact right angle, I'd have to walk back up and come back down.' Prior to his work with Love on the Spectrum, Cian made other documentaries with Karina about people with disabilities who were searching for jobs. 'During that process, we met lots and lots of people on the spectrum. Not only did we get to know the people we were filming really well, but we also spoke to hundreds and hundreds of people on the spectrum about their lives and what was important to them,' he said in an April 2025 interview with Tudum by Netflix. 'The story of people wanting to find love and wanting to date just kept coming up. To us, that was something that wasn't right. There was obviously a lack of support, and it just felt like a really interesting area to shine a light on.'
