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Teen Wolf's Charlie Carver shares a heartfelt announcement with his fans (PHOTO)

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Charlie Carver posted a photo of the inspirational quote, "Be Who You Needed When You Were Younger," with an emotional five-part caption that revealed he is gay.

charlie carver announcement

charlie carver announcement

This is the first time Carver has addressed his sexuality. He begins by writing that the quote has a lot of meaning for him.

More: James Franco, Zachary Quinto and Charlie Carver share steamy threesome pic

He continues by writing, "As a young boy, I knew I wanted to be an actor. I knew I wanted to be a lot of things... it was around that age that I also knew, however abstractly, that I was different from some of the other boys in my grade. Over time, this abstract 'knowing' grew and articulated itself through a painful gestation marked by feelings of despair and alienation, ending in a climax of saying three words out loud: 'I am gay.'"

Carver shared what it was like to come out to his family in part two. "For me, and my family, it was a precious conversation, one where I felt that I'd begun to claim myself, my life, and what felt like the beginning of a very-adult-notion of my own Authenticity. For that, and for them, I am forever grateful."

More: Teen Wolf vs. Pretty Little Liars: Which show has the most dedicated fans?

In part three, Carver writes about how acting and Hollywood made it complicated to be himself. "I did not want to be defined by my sexuality. Sure, I am a proud gay man, but I don’t identify as a Gay man, or a GAY man, or just gay. I identify as a lot of things, these various identifications and identities taking up equal space and making up an ever-fluid sense of Self."

He continues, "As an actor, I believed that my responsibility to the craft and the business was to remain benevolently neutral — I was a canvas, a chameleon, the next character. For the most part I had a duty to stay a Possibility in the eye of casting, directors, and the public. If I Came Out, I feared I would be limiting myself to a type, to a perception with limits that I was not professionally comfortable with."

More: 8 Things Sam Smith has said about being gay and coming out

With LGBTQ trailblazers paving the road, Carver feels that the business has changed. He's excited to be himself and help inspire others to do the same.

In part five, he closes with, "So now, let the record show this — I self-identify as gay... I owe it to myself, more than anything, to be who I needed when I was younger. And let the record show my twin brother is just as cool for being straight."

Congrats, Charlie Carver, for such a brave post that will be sure to inspire others to be themselves.


Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley have huge Vampire Diaries decision to make

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Rather, Plec explained during an interview with Variety that the fate of the series will be up to its stars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder.

More: The Originals' producer teases Hayley and Elijah's love is far from over

"My end game needs to, in my opinion, emotionally run parallel with the end game of Paul and Ian — more so than the network and the studio," Plec said. "When those boys decide that they’re done telling stories — which could be tomorrow and could be a year from now or two years from now or whatever — I need to be done. I feel like I owe them that and I owe the show that. It’s a collective decision. Right now, they’re in the driver’s seat of that and we’ll see how much longer they feel like they want to be doing this."

But Plec was sure to say that she had no problem continuing. When asked if there was still gas left in the tank of the show, Plec responded, "Yes, absolutely."

More: The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham spills on Bamon's future in Season 7

She added, "Every year we're like, 'We'll never figure out what next year is going to be!' And then we come up with an idea that's cooler. It gets harder and harder, so there will come a point where I’ll have to say I have zero ideas left, but right now, I still feel pretty inspired by it, so I’m just taking it one day at a time."

And Plec reiterated that just because Nina Dobrev, who played Elena for six seasons on the series, left the show, doesn't mean the story has ended. In fact, Season 7 so far has proved that there's still plenty of excitement to come for the brothers.

"Yes, I miss her deeply and would take her back in an instant if she called and said, 'Hey, can I come back and play?'" Plec said. "But purely from a creative point of view, it’s been a real new infusion of creative fun."

More: The Vampire Diaries' Caroline's fiancé revealed with mind-blowing twist

The Vampire Diaries Season 7 returns on Jan. 29 on The CW.

The Vampire Diaries boss may have just made our Klaus/Caroline dreams come true

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The Vampire Diaries boss Julie Plec revealed during an interview with Variety that a crossover is definitely coming this season between The Originals and The Vampire Diaries.

More: Did [SPOILER]'s death on The Originals pave the way for a Klaroline reunion?

Stefan (Paul Wesley) will be heading to The Originals for a two-episode crossover.

And though Plec didn't say specifically that Caroline would join him in New Orleans, she did tease, "There is a presence of Caroline buried within that, but I can’t really say in what context."

I've maintained my Klaroline love for multiple seasons now, through thick and thin and despite the sad fact that Klaus (Joseph Morgan) went and got his own show. And by "sad," I mean sad for us Klaroline lovers, even though The Originals is a great show.

Despite all of the odds stacked against these two, especially at this point in their respective shows, I refuse to give up hope that they will, ultimately, be each other's end game just like Klaus promised Caroline.

More: 20 Questions with The Originals' new hottie, Jason Dohring

Of course, this "presence of Caroline" Plec promised could be as simple as Stefan telling Klaus that Caroline is pregnant. It could be as juicy as Stefan and Klaus getting into a fight over her. Or it could be better than we ever hoped for in that Caroline actually makes an appearance.

I'm guessing it's somewhere in the middle, meaning the punches will be pulled.

Plec also gave some more specifics about why Stefan will need to escape to New Orleans for a bit.

She revealed, "Stefan will go to New Orleans in a Vampire Diaries episode and then he will remain in New Orleans in The Originals to help Klaus deal with a problem that is super specific to Stefan’s survival."

More: The Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham spills on Bamon's future in Season 7

Most likely, it has to do with the sire line The Originals has been exploring this season. Since Stefan comes from Klaus' sire line, if Klaus dies so does Stefan. So it's Stefan to save the day! We hope. With lots of Klaroline in between.

How do you think Caroline will be involved in the upcoming crossover episode?

Bill Cosby's lawyer files to dismiss assault case for reasons that may be justified

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The Bill Cosby legal drama just took a turn in an unexpected, and potentially complicated, direction.

Cosby's lawyer, Monique Pressley, filed a motion on Monday, Jan. 11 to dismiss the aggravated indecent assault charges against Cosby or, in a worst case scenario, have the Montgomery County district attorney's office disqualified from prosecuting the case. Pressley may actually have a legally valid point.

Pressley claims that the Dec. 30 charges against Cosby "violate an express agreement" between Cosby and the Pennsylvania authorities. In 2006, the Montgomery County district attorney agreed that Cosby "would never be prosecuted with respect to the allegations of sexual assault made by complainant Andrea Constand."

In January 2004, Constand was director of women's operations for the Temple University women's basketball team. She alleges that Cosby gave her pills at his house and sexually abused her while she faded in and out of consciousness.

In January 2005, Constand went to authorities, but then-Montgomery County district attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. did not file criminal charges against Cosby.

In 2006, Constand sued Cosby. As part of the case, Pressley asserts that Cosby agreed to give a deposition after authorities agreed to a "non-prosecution agreement." In the deposition, Cosby admitted to giving Quaaludes to women he wanted to have sex with. Cosby and Constand agreed to a civil settlement and no charges were filed against Cosby, as per his agreement with authorities.

In the summer of 2015, more than 50 women came forward with allegations of sexual assault against Cosby. The new district attorney of Montgomery County, Kevin Steele, reopened the case against Cosby after the release of the deposition Cosby gave in Constand's case.

In Pressley's statement, she said: "Now, to fulfill campaign promises, the newly-elected District Attorney has repudiated the agreement and has based these criminal charges on the very testimony Mr. Cosby gave in reliance on the Commonwealth's non-prosecution agreement."

It adds that if the charges are not dismissed, Cosby asks the court to disqualify Steele for what Pressley claims is his "intentional breach of the Commonwealth's non-prosecution agreement." The statement accuses Steele of using Cosby's case "to advance Mr. Steele's political ambitions by inflaming the public against Mr. Cosby."

What does this mean in regular people terms? Basically, Cosby's lawyer is saying that he agreed to testify if he wouldn't be prosecuted. An agreement was made and Cosby testified. Now, the new district attorney is trying to use this testimony to prosecute Cosby. It's a legal version of welching on a bet.

What's unclear is if this agreement is in writing and can easily be shown in court. If Cosby's lawyer can present it or the former district attorney has a record of it, then Cosby actually has a legal point. The testimony wouldn't be able to be used as evidence in the case. If they don't have anything else that's compelling, then the case would have to be dismissed.

What's clear is that this case is definitely going to be complicated and Cosby is going to put up a big fight.

Woman kicked off Yelp for using it to review dates

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Actress Natalie Walks calls herself a "longtime 'getting weird on the Internet' devotee," so she got the idea to post reviews of places she went on dates and gave them stars based on how the date went.

More: Couple's insane first date story should earn them a trophy

It initially started as a gag to show her friends.

"I figured I'd write a few reviews and screenshot them before they got filtered; I'd maybe get four likes from my friends on Twitter, and then I'd move on to my next dumb social media joke," she told BuzzFeed.

"This whole endeavor was meant more as an archaeological dig of my lame adolescence than a social experiment conducted in real time," she continued, adding that she only reviewed dates that were over five years ago so the "wounds are all long healed" and she can look back on them and laugh.

More: Woman gets nicest text ever after rejecting a guy she met online

Some dates got five stars.

Yelp Instagram 1

Yelp Instagram 1

While some received considerably fewer.

Yelp Instagram 2

Yelp Instagram 2

But all were accompanied by details about the date.

The reviews started getting enough attention that reps from Yelp took notice and eventually told her they'd ban her account for violating their terms of service.

Yelp Instagram 3

Yelp Instagram 3

But she wasn't too upset that her reviews were eventually removed, especially since she screengrabbed them. "I do dumb things and post about them on the Internet all the time, so it's less 'goodbye' and more 'back to doing this regularly and nobody caring about it,'" she said of her Yelp endeavor.

More: 8 Cheesy but awesome pickup lines for Tinder matches

Stars turn out in a big way to honor Natalie Cole

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Natalie Cole's life and legendary career was celebrated by her famous friends on Monday, Jan. 11. Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, David Foster, Angela Bassett and Rev. Jesse Jackson attended the nearly three-hour memorial service at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles.

More: Natalie Cole, legendary singer, has died at 65

Cole, who was the daughter of Nat King Cole and also a nine-time Grammy winner, died on New Year’s Eve from heart failure. She was 65.

"We must continue the spirit and kindness that this woman gave the world," Wonder told the crowd, according to the Associated Press. "She left this country where people are so divided. We speak of love but we don't do love. We've got a lot of work to do, Natalie, and we will do it in the spirit of you." He also sang.

Richie also spoke at the funeral, telling the crowd: "I will always remember her laughter, her humor, her silliness, that voice and more importantly her friendship. There were many moments she was down and she picked me up."

More: Lionel Richie wrote his hit track "Lady" on the loo

"I feel so blessed to have called you my friend, and my buddy, and many times my confidante," Robinson said, according to CBS LA. "You are so real and down to Earth. Now I have to say you're so real and up to heaven."

Cole's son Robbie and sisters Timolin and Casey also spoke at the funeral, which was presided over by the Rev. Melvin V. Wade, Cole's rep shared with People.

"What a woman," Robbie said after carrying his mother's Bible to the podium. "She taught me how to love. She had my back every time when I needed it. The greatest gift she ever gave me was Jesus. I cannot wait until that day that I see you again."

More: Stevie Wonder welcomes his ninth child: Meet all of his baby mamas

Rest in peace, Natalie Cole. You will always be unforgettable.

Should Vanderpump Rules' Kristen Doute be allowed back in the group?

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More: Tom Schwartz's proposal on Vanderpump Rules was beyond nerve-racking

Now that it's finally been decided that Kristen will not be joining Jax Taylor and Tom's birthday trip to Hawaii, everything is all good, right? No, definitely not. Jax, Scheana Marie and Katie Maloney are still campaigning for Kristen to be a part of their group and for Ariana and Tom to stop being so selfish and just forgive her already.

No matter what Ariana and Tom say or do in defense of not wanting to be friends and/or hanging out with Kristen, the trio of Kristen supporters doesn't care, because they've basically let her rejoin the group already. As Kristen told Tom, she isn't going anywhere, especially now that Katie and Schwartz are engaged. She even declared that she's helping Katie with the wedding. Maybe Katie and Schwartz can use Kristen's T-shirt line as wedding favors?

The happy couple doesn't have any say about Kristen coming back into the fold. Everyone has pretty much decided without really listening to either of Ariana or Tom's arguments. They aren't going to win their case of why Kristen should stay gone for good.

Kristen Doute
Image: Tumblr
Ariana Madix
Image: Tumblr

More: Vanderpump Rules' Schwartz and Sandoval make a permanently bad decision

As much as I don't agree with Kristen's past behavior and get annoyed every time Scheana and Katie tell Ariana and Tom they're just like Stassi, if they want to be friends with Kristen again, fine. Does it suck for Tom and Ariana (mainly Ariana, because she and Scheana are super close)? Totally. Just don't force-feed Ariana and Tom your "Kristen is totally cool" line every five seconds. They've dealt with so much crap from Kristen and who can blame them for not wanting to be friends with her? Why would Tom want to hang out with his ex-girlfriend who treated him horribly? Why would Ariana want to chill with her current boyfriend's ex-girlfriend who wished Ariana would once get hit by a truck? I sure wouldn't.

Granted, Kristen did apologize to Ariana for her meanness and antics, but Ariana wasn't having it. Ariana is so not buying a ticket to Kristen's "apology tour." She'd rather keep her life free of Kristen. As a longtime friend of Ariana's, Scheana should respect her wishes. Their friendship is going to go downhill even further if neither Ariana or Scheana can find some common ground about Kristen.

I get that Scheana and everyone else just want Ariana and Tom to not act uncomfortable when Kristen is around and put negative energy out during group settings, but how can they not? It's really hard to forgive and forget all of the things that Kristen has done. Like Tom said, "Actions have consequences."

Basically, friendships are on the line and who is to blame? Kristen. They all had better figure something out quick or these SUR-vers might not be taking anymore ridiculous group trips where Jax ends up in jail.

Vanderpump Rules airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.

More: Vanderpump Rules' Tom was completely insensitive to Ariana on her birthday

Real Housewives slideshow

New hair tool makes it easy to wash only your roots

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I know, I know... there's the wonder of dry shampoo and a blow-dryer, but sometimes all that sweat and grime from living life leaves your hair feeling oily and just needs some contact with water to feel fresh.

More: An app that books your last-minute blowout appointments at the best salons

That's where a new product comes in — and it's so simple you won't believe you didn't think about it first. The PonyDry is simply a bag you gather your ponytail into and secure it with the attached string so no water gets in. Then, you simply wash your roots as usual. When you're done? Just dry the roots and style as usual.

Yep, it's really that simple. PonyDry has created the world's easiest how-to video to help explain things, too.

PonyDry how-to video

PonyDry how-to video

It's a nice hair hack to have when the hair near your scalp gets oily, but you're not due for another shampoo or blowout for a few more days. The only downside is that it won't really work with naturally curly or wavy hair since it won't have an equal curl pattern.

More: "Real-life Rapunzels" have never had haircuts... and they don't plan to

But for those with straight hair, it's an absolute godsend.

The only thing you won't like about the PonyDry: It virtually eliminates your excuse for not going to the gym — no more sweaty post-workout hair. You're welcome!

More: Spanish hairdresser cuts hair using swords, lighters


The Biggest Loser contestant's bad attitude gets a feisty response

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Every season, at least one Biggest Loser contestant blames his or her slow weight loss on the trainer. Tonight, the culprit was Buffkin, who claimed that Quince's failure to help his team gel had prevented her from reaching her true potential as a contestant. This accusation arrived after a contentious session in the gym, followed by a very disappointing weigh-in.

More: The Biggest Loser contestants reveal 9 "brutal" behind-the-scenes secrets

During the first weigh-in of the episode, it was revealed that Buffkin had only lost four pounds. Suffice to say, she was not pleased. But while the evening's disappointments convinced the other dissatisfied contestants to engage in a little introspection, Buffkin decided that it was easier to place the blame on everybody but herself.

Felicia Buffkin
Image: NBC

The crazy thing is, in spite of all this drama, Buffkin did far better than some of her fellow contestants during the night's first weigh-in. Hope Wright only lost two pounds and Whitney Clay didn't lose any weight at all. Ultimately, Clay was sent home. As expected, Buffkin blamed this unfortunate elimination on Quince. If anything, she was angrier about Clay's exit than Clay was!

More: 9 Things to know about The Biggest Loser Season 17 cast

From the moment she appeared on the premiere, it was obvious that Buffkin was not destined to be this season's most popular contestant. People didn't like her last week, but her reputation was harmed even more after she butted heads with Quince one time to many. Tonight, she was attacked mercilessly on Twitter by several haters who gleefully used the catchphrase "Bye, Felicia."

Grow up Felicia

Grow up Felicia

Mad at Felicia

Mad at Felicia

Bye Felicia

Bye Felicia

Unfortunately for Buffkin's new batch of haters, she's going to stick around for at least one more week. Thus, viewers had best prepare themselves for another week of bickering between Buffkin and Quince. Although her relationship with Quince seemed to improve slightly after the initial weigh-in drama, the peace isn't expected to last long.

Felicia Buffkin
Image: NBC

More: The Biggest Loser Season 17 could be the most emotional yet

What Buffkin fails to understand is that Quince has her best interest at heart. The only reason he is pushing her so hard is because he believes it's the best way to help her reach her full potential. If he didn't care about her, he wouldn't bother to get on her case. Yes, his training style could use a little tweaking for this particular group, but ultimately, Buffkin needs to take responsibility for herself.

Were you ready to say "Bye, Felicia" after tonight's episode? Or do you think she makes a good point about Dolvett Quince? Comment and share your opinion below.

The Biggest Loser slideshow

Farrah Abraham embarrasses herself with latest party move

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More: Teen Mom Catelynn Lowell's baby pics were worth the wait (PHOTOS)

maci catelynn amber
Image: MTV

Farrah, I want to root for you. I really do. I want to believe that you act this way because you're hurting, that you did porn/"wrote" erotica/came up with that sex toy line because you wanted to connect with your sexuality, which you were totally shamed for as a young woman, and that you genuinely are interested in doing your very best for Sophia. But most of the time? It's impossible to defend you.

On Monday's new Teen Mom OG, Farrah found out she was no longer invited to the fanciest of Hamptons gatherings, the White Party. Apparently, the organizers of the event felt she was "too controversial" (way to be diplomatic, organizers). Although Debra told Farrah that the reason for her retracted invitations was most likely her sex tape, Farrah decided that it was actually because of her association with Teen Mom, not hesitating for a single second to consider if it might be a bad idea to say this in front of the producers and other people who make sure she gets paid for being on the show. (It also begs the question of why Farrah came back to the show if it's so terrible.) 

So what does one do when their dreams of attending a fancy Hamptons party are quashed due to their questionable reputation? Well, if you're Farrah, you go anyway, get kicked out after four minutes, and then go home and tell your very impressionable daughter about it, urging her to do the same thing should she ever find herself under similar circumstances.

More: Amber Portwood pleads not guilty to felony charges

I don't think I've ever encountered a group of people who hate anything as much as people on Twitter hate Farrah, and I spend a lot of time on the Internet. Fans of the show could not wait to correct Farrah on why she was actually uninvited to the party and to berate her for the conversations she chooses to have in front of Sophia.

TM 1

TM 1

TG 2

TG 2

TM 3

TM 3

TM 4

TM 4

TM 5

TM 5

There are so many reasons why Farrah was asked not to attend the White Party — she's not exactly known for her ability to de-escalate dramatic situations, for example. The thing is, though, Farrah is her own human. She's not a cautionary tale against teen parenting; she's not what automatically happens to you if you decide to parent beginning in your teens. She has a specific set of problems that would have been actualized whether she'd had a kid in high school or not. She's not a reason to continue to stigmatize teen moms and teen parenting. Farrah is on TV because she behaves outrageously, and she'll stay there until either people get bored with her (which, arguably, has already happened) or until she stops acting like this. Either way, she shouldn't be everyone's excuse to trash those who made a choice to parent young. And while you're waiting for Farrah to evaporate from the media's eye, try not to crash any parties.

More: Teen Mom's Maci Bookout flaunts fit bod one month after giving birth (PHOTO)

What do you think is behind Farrah's outrageous behavior? Why do you think she's still on Teen Mom?

amber matt
Image: MTV

Farrah Abraham and 7 other Teen Mom stars then and now
Image: MTV

Yoga in real life looks nothing like what you see on Instagram

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Aspirational yoga! It's found only on social media and probably doesn't even exist in real life, but that doesn't stop people from constantly posting airbrushed pictures of thing white women doing impossible poses at sunset. You've seen them, the perfect pictures topped with slogans about embracing our imperfections. It's enough to make a girl want to throw a yoga block.

Jessamyn Stanley, a yoga teacher and the most popular plus-size yogini on Instagram (she goes by Fat Femme), knows what I'm talking about. In fact, she's made it her mission to show that not only is yoga for every body, but that you're allowed to look like a beginner, make mistakes and sweat in inappropriate places.

More: 5 Reasons the plus size fitness craze is long overdue

"Everyone [on social media] feels like they need to project this idea of perfection and beauty and 'Be the light' — that's my favorite quote, because I think it's such bullshit. It's like, 'Be the light,'" Stanley said in a recent panel about body positivity hosted by Refinery29. "They're saying all this stuff that is about positivity — whatever, but 'How did you get to that point?'"

Can I get an "amen"?

Don't get me wrong — I love seeing pretty yoga pictures as much as the next yogini, and it's always good to have goals, but after doing it most of my life, I'm well aware that there's yoga on social media and then there's yoga the way the rest of us do it. "Real-life" yoga is everything that, well, real life is: Sometimes it's shockingly beautiful, but a lot of the time it's gritty, messy, smelly, hard, boring and painful.

I still love it. In fact, that may be what I love most about my yoga practice — how real it is and how it brings me in touch with my very real and very imperfect body.

So I talked to some of my yoga friends about all the stuff that happens that you never get to see in pretty Pinterest pictures. We all agree, this is what yoga is really like. Hint: Not one person said "perfect abs." In fact, the word "perfect" didn't come up a single time.

1. Constant wardrobe adjustments

Who hasn't worn an outfit that looked great on the mannequin but was apparently not designed for people to move in? Or for people who have big boobs or tummies or butts? Or for people who are extra tall or extra short? I once spent an entire yoga class fighting a tank top that wanted to shimmy up to my armpits like a roller shade. Other common experiences include the "pants pull-up pose," where you give your waistband a good yank every time you move through Mountain pose, or the "wedgie wiggle," where you rock your hips in Up Dog, hoping to dislodge your wedgie without having to use your hands.

More: New book celebrates the ridiculous faces people make during yoga

2. Crotch sweat

There's nothing as... refreshing... as lifting your legs over your head for Plow pose and getting a good whiff of your lady business. Yeah, even though you never see it in pictures, crotch sweat happens. So does under-boob sweat (not to be confused with the photogenic cleavage sweat we get to see plenty of), butt-crack sweat, back sweat and (my personal favorite) slippery hand-and-feet sweat. Multiply by 100 if you're doing any type of hot yoga (as in, it's not Down Dog, it's Drowned Dog).

3. Equipment malfunctions

Yoga blocks can be slippery suckers, straps can get twisted around limbs in ways that would make a bondage lover blush, towels can be moldy or stinky, water bottles can spill across fancy bamboo floors, mats can roll up at inconvenient moments (causing double embarrassment by showing how little you use said mat, as it's clearly rolled up most of the time). Basically everything's out to get you.

4. People malfunctions

This one's for all the girls who've tried Toppling Tree, only to actually topple. Or the time you tried Crow pose and ended up crowing in pain as you smashed your beak. Or the time your neighbor got distracted and fell sideways, causing the whole row of beautiful Warriors to go down like dominoes. (OK, that was me. I'm still so sorry, you guys!) People make mistakes — in fact, it could be argued that that is yoga's primary purpose, to teach us how to make mistakes and learn from them — so why is it we never see those in pictures?

5. Bodily fluids (and gas)

Ask anyone who's been doing yoga for more than a month, and I can guarantee they'll have a story about snot, pee, farts, tears, burps, vomit, blood or even queefs. (Yeah, I said it. You try straddle headstand lifts.) Yoga has a way of making us get really intimate with our bodies, and that includes the parts we like to pretend don't exist in the outside world. But all those things are really fine! Promise!

More: Yoga selfies turn it into the competitive sport it shouldn't be

6. Mantra back talk

On a good day, I'm totally down with visualizing my chakras and shining my heart center and namaste'ing, but there are times when the teacher tells us we're all radiant, powerful goddesses, and the best I can do is roll my eyes. Another friend admitted to refusing to "clear her mind" during final resting pose and instead goes over her grocery list. Yet another fessed up to skipping final resting pose altogether because she didn't see the point in lying in a puddle of her own sweat, getting cold when she could be getting stuff done. We're not saying this is right, necessarily, but it sure is real. And in the end, that's really the best part of yoga: how it helps us deal with our real lives rather than forcing our real lives to live up to some kind of yogic ideal.

Charlie Sheen's new HIV treatment plan sounds super sketchy (VIDEO)

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When Sheen first announced his HIV positive status in an interview with Matt Lauer, he said his viral load had been brought down to undetectable levels thanks to an intensive, FDA-approved drug treatment program. But now, Sheen is putting it all on the line to try out an unproven, alternative treatment in Mexico, and the results could be disastrous.

Dr Oz Charlie Sheen preview

Dr Oz Charlie Sheen preview

More: Jenny McCarthy makes ignorant comments about Charlie Sheen's HIV confession

"I'm been off my meds for about a week now," he said during an appearance on The Dr. Oz Show Tuesday. "Am I risking my life? Sure. So what? I was born dead. That part of it doesn't faze me at all."

Sheen is now being treated by Dr. Sam Chachoua in Mexico, who Dr. Oz pointed out is not licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. Chachoua claims to be developing an HIV vaccine, and while Sheen did not go into much detail about what his new treatment involves, he did share one scary detail: he injected himself with Sheen's blood.

"I drew some blood from him and I injected myself with it and I said, 'Charlie, if I don't know what I'm doing, then we're both in trouble now, aren't we?'" Chachoua told Oz during a phone call.

Chachoua claims he cured Sheen, but lab results tell a very different story: Sheen's viral load has actually gone way up since he began working with the alternative doctor.

"I'm a little off my game because right before I walked out here, I got some results I was disappointed about," he told Oz. "I had been non-detectable, non-detectable and checking the blood every week, and then found out the numbers are back up.

"I didn't see it as Russian roulette. I didn't see it as a complete dismissal of the conventional course we've been on. I'm not recommending that anyone — I'm presenting myself as a type of guinea pig."

More: Charlie Sheen's porn star ex wants "to die" after his HIV revelation

Sheen's American doctor appeared on the show, begging him to restart his original antiviral therapy and not throw his life away.

"It would just break my heart if you did anything where you threw that opportunity... away and went back to where we were several decades ago," said Dr. Robert Huizenga, referring to the lack of treatment available to HIV patients in the ‘80s and ‘90s. "It would just break my heart if we were to risk returning to that horrible part of our history."

So knowing that his health is already suffering, will Sheen abandon his sketchy new plan? He did say he would start taking his original meds on the plane during his trip home to Los Angeles, but it wasn't clear if he was joking or not.

charlie sheen scandals slideshow
Image: Nikki Nelson/WENN

Popular heartburn meds may be causing kidney damage

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Heartburn is one of the most common medical complaints, and so heartburn remedies are some of the most prescribed and widely used medications. But one type may be causing more harm than good, say researchers in a study just published in JAMA Internal Medicine. They warn that proton-pump inhibitors, like Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid, could be causing long-term kidney damage.

More: Drug warning: Over-the-counter drugs that may be making you sick

Researchers examined the medical records of more than 250,000 people on PPIs for a span of ten years. They then compared the incidence of kidney damage with that of the normal population and discovered a significant increase. While it's not enough to prove cause and effect, it's certainly enough to make medical professionals concerned.

"When [PPIs] first came out they weren't associated with side effects, or we didn't think they were," Adam Schoenfeld, an internal medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco, wrote in an editorial accompanying the study. "So we put [people] on this medication thinking: 'It's a quick fix and they're very safe.' But in actuality they're associated with a range of side effects."

In addition to upping your risk of kidney disease, previous research has linked heartburn medications to an increased risk of bone fractures, infections and heart problems. They can also interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients like calcium and magnesium.

This news is especially concerning as these drugs are commonly prescribed to — and generally considered safe for — pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, the elderly and other vulnerable populations. In fact, Prilosec is the most often prescribed heartburn medication for children over one.

More: Natural remedies for heartburn

But what if you're one of the millions suffering from that awful burny-vomity feeling on a regular basis? Schoenfeld encourages patients to look for other ways to treat heartburn rather than turning to meds as soon as they feel pain. Common treatments for heartburn include eliminating alcohol, fatty foods and tobacco; not eating close to bedtime; getting daily exercise; and sleeping with your torso slightly raised.

Why I really don't care about awards season

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Besides the fashion, there really is no point in watching award shows that aren't based on how the public feels toward a movie or a hit record. Think about it: There are movies chosen as nominees that the public hasn't even watched yet. There are hit records that I haven't even heard of being nominated for Grammys.

The critics don't make or break these movies or hit records — the people are the ones responsible for sales. Yes, I know there is an award show called the People's Choice Awards, but that doesn't necessarily mean that "the people" voted for the winners. I don't get a ballot or a chance to vote. If we are only using social media as the outsource for voting, those who are voting are most likely voting from multiple accounts, causing the results to be marred.

Why do we need to say that one song is better than another and one movie tops the others? Isn't entertainment all just about that: entertainment and personal choice? One critic may love a movie I may not even want to see, and that same movie may win an Oscar for Movie of the Year. The same can be said about music. There have been plenty of songs I can't stand that critics vote for as Song of the Year.

I'm not the only one who feels that award shows are stupid. Jerry Seinfield, Daniel Kohn and Joaquin Phoenix have all said in the past that award shows are stupid and ridiculous. There are probably many other celebrities who feel this way as well, but keep their mouth shut in fear of being barreled over with tweets from their celebrity world.

What exactly is the point of award shows, and why do millions of people watch them?

In the world in which we live, where people are struggling to make ends meet and where violence has taken us to a dark place, the last thing I want to see on television is a celebrity giving a speech about how hard she worked on a film or the years he spent putting together this album. That is not going to change my reality one bit, nor is it going to take me away from mine.

Watching the movie, television show or listening to music may help alleviate some of my daily stress, but does that deserve to be rewarded?

My answer to that is no.

What happens when a mom reads teen magazines for a day

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Let's just say YM magazine was on newsstands and still featured the Spice Girls and Josh Hartnett in its pages the last time I found anything in a teen magazine relevant to my own life — so yeah, it's been a while. When I found out I was going to research modern teen publications and report back on what, if anything, has changed since the cast of Dawson's Creek scored cute cover stories, I gleefully bought up all of the teen mags on the shelves of Barnes & Noble and, in an instant, it all started to come back to me. Not only do technicolor, larger-than-life pages still provide a thrill that I feel can't be found online, but as the mom of a little girl who will one day, I'm sure, devour each glossy page, I wanted to make sure she wouldn't be given tips on how to Snapchat her breasts to the school without her parents finding out. Call me prude.

More: I have no idea if my kid did her homework, and I'm not checking

Back in the day, you could open up most teen mags and read up on the following: "How to be a cool girlfriend" (an article penned for Seventeen in December '96); heated debates over super-thin models and why readers want more representative body types in their mags (same issue); and pages and pages showing hot "guys you'll melt over" (Teen, November 1996) — always a section I deemed utterly pointless, because it's not like any of those 16-year-old boys were going to leave Hollywood and show up at my school one day to ask me to prom.

But I soon discovered the only thing modern-day teen mags share in common with the ones I used to read is their fonts. I'm not sure if young people have become more sophisticated and astute, or if we just address them as such, which helps them become more sophisticated and astute. Either way, I can assure you pages of hunks are few and far between. What I found instead is copy and photographs aimed at helping young women feel good about themselves and become who they want to be — and cute boys are entirely optional in this world.

More: You should be grateful for your 'strong-willed' kid

Seventeen — I literally squealed as I flipped through the pages. Top features include a personal essay entitled "I Dated a Bisexual Guy" and the cover subjects — YouTube beauty star Zoe Sugg and her best friend Tyler Oakley — look like super-cute real people who chat about anxiety issues, homosexuality and eating disorders.

When I got to page 90, I felt prepared to be insulted by an article called "Get Your Parents to Say Yes," until I read tip No. 7: Serve them warm drinks first. Genius. I would give up my car keys in a flash for a vanilla latte. The majority of the issue favors social media stars over supermodels, which is timely, as well as a breath of fresh air; and beauty tips geared toward looking "Insta-ready," which means no filter needed, are a-plenty. Sad news for girls with hooded eyes: You'll still have to wait until you're 25 to properly learn how to apply eye makeup.

Know what makes up for a lack of eyeshadow tips? An interview with 18-year-old Emily Ables, who is famous for having an Instagram feed in which she shares her favorite books. Raise your hand if you now fear you were born in the wrong decade.

Teen Vogue — You had me at the cover girl: Elle Fanning, who plays a transgendered skater in About Ray and talks about wanting to properly represent the transgender community. Of course, Teen Vogue is a bible for young fashionistas, so the emphasis throughout is on youthful trends and showcasing new talent in music and film. I did love that the one article about health wasn't a lazy list of foods to eat to keep your weight down, but was instead a thoughtful and well-written piece about emotional eating and how to deal with stress in a healthier way.

More: Terrible teens: Am I raising lazy teenagers?

Justine — I'd never heard of Justine magazine before, but I was hooked after the very first ad on page three for the NFL, showing three girls and a guy wearing gear from their favorite teams and standing out on a football field. Nice. I flipped the page and stared at an advertisement for a book called Legacy of Kings. That's when I began to suspect teenagers are actually 40-year-olds in disguise. This mag makes me want to be one and know one — which is saying a lot, because I typically just want to run fast away from them.

The rest of the magazine was a dream that included cute fashion features on how to wear chunky sweaters and a flannel dress three different ways, as well as an essay by a woman who was both a bully and a bully survivor; tips on dealing with bullying behavior; a piece written by a girl who loves football; and an interview with Scream Queens' Abigail Breslin. Throw in an article with tips on how to not be judgmental and the most adorable fashion editorial showing crop tops, high-waisted pants and distressed jeans (that cost $39) and you've got yourself one very well-rounded teen magazine.

Girls' World — While I wouldn't label this one a "teen magazine" — preteen or tween seems like the accurate market — Girls' World is exactly the kind of magazine you'd like your 10-year-old daughter to read. The issue featured a two-page spread on how to draw '60 hippie things like a lava lamp (and, yes, I immediately tried it); puzzles and brain-teasers; a good, old-fashioned advice column that addresses kid issues like sibling rivalry, popularity, and just plain feeling like an awkward 11-year-old; facts about cute animals, along with posters of them; and (best of all) recipes. To recap: your tween can find out why ice floats in water (there's a page called Science Stompers), learn how to give herself a creative manicure with toothpicks and whip up turkey taco burgers for the whole family. I'm starting to think a subscription to Girls' World might make me a better woman.

More: Dad steals daughter's place in homecoming photos and scores a viral hit

So, the good news is that teen magazines are treating teen girls like the interesting, creative, intelligent, and conscientious young people they often are. It's too bad so many women's magazines aren't doing the same for us.


Gretchen Rossi goes too far describing her 'lovemaking' with Slade

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Former The Real Housewives of Orange County star Rossi said Smiley had a vasectomy reversal just to make her dream of being a mother come true, and now that they have the doctor's clearance, they are making sweet, sweet love down by the fire all day and all night.

"Everything that could have gone right with the procedure did!" Rossi told Radar Online of Smiley's snip-snip reversal, which was performed for TV cameras for a story on The Doctors — in and of itself totally TMI.

Gretchen Rossi The Doctors

Gretchen Rossi The Doctors

More: RHOC's Gretchen Rossi slams Tamra Judge as a "monster mom"

"We started having sex again two nights ago because we wanted to wait a little bit longer to make sure he was fully recovered," she said.

"The sex now is amazing and beautiful. It is really, really special. We are now making love to create a life and it has brought us so much closer together. I have always loved making love to Slade, but now it has a much deeper and romantic meaning behind it."

Ugggggghhhhhh. However, it is sweet that she is so excited for their chance to finally have a baby of their own, and she is already prepping her own body for the possibility.

"From everything that I can see, I should be able to conceive naturally," she said. "I have been eating very specifically and taking my prenatal vitamins.

"I have wanted this since I was a little girl, to be a mother one day," she said. "And finally now my dream can come true.

"I would like more than one child, yes. I used to want to have four children, I always said. But for now, we will be happy with just one healthy child," she added.

More: RHOC's Gretchen Rossi gives Vicki Gunvalson a taste of her own medicine

Real Housewives slideshow

Netflix's new series The Crown puts a progressive spin on the royal family

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The Crown is also the most expensive show ever produced by Netflix, with a budget of £100 million (the equivalent of $156 million). It's not hard to see where the dollars are going — the cast includes television A-listers like John Lithgow, Doctor Who's Matt Smith and Mad Men's Jared Harris; the sets and costumes recreate iconic displays of opulence, such as the wedding of Elizabeth and Prince Phillip; and the entire six-season, 60-episode series will be filmed in the U.K.

More: The Queen points out Downton Abbey mistakes because she can

It may not be a surprise, then, that the budget has been the focus of the majority of the existing coverage of The Crown. And, certainly, at this early stage, only so much information about the series is available; not even a precise premiere date has been announced. But based on the sizzle trailer, released just last week, one thing is clear: The Crown will be one of the most feminist looks at royalty we've seen yet.

"We have a new sovereign: young and a woman," Prince Philip tells Churchill and a room filled with other stately white men in the trailer for The Crown. "Let us give her a coronation that is befitting of the wind of change that she represents — modern and forward-looking." Indeed, Queen Elizabeth II's rise to power was one that forced her people to acknowledge the reality of female leadership.

But even Philip is put off-guard when he is forced to realize that his wife is objectively more powerful than he will ever be. When he asks, "Are you my wife or my Queen?" she answers simply, "I'm both." But the answer doesn't appear to satisfy him; the notion of a woman being in a more powerful role than any other man in the U.K. was shocking, even to the man who loves her most of all. The Crown, then, seems poised to address the ideas of equality in marriage, women in leadership positions and the rise of the women's movement head-on during its six-season run.

More: Ladies of London fans hope for a third season of British catfights and drama

Moreover, 2016 seems like a particularly relevant time for a series like The Crown to premiere. We're now less than a year from the next U.S. presidential election, and right now — perhaps for the first time in history — the frontrunner is a woman. Anything can change over the next 11 months, but with former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in a prime position to be elected as the first female POTUS, it's no wonder that the notion of female leadership is occupying public consciousness now more than ever before.

Granted, the British monarchy is not perfectly analogous to the U.S. government; at best, the monarchs are seen as outdated figureheads rather than leaders with any actual power. We may enjoy watching their weddings and rituals, but we don't expect them to have any sway over lawmaking in the U.K. By contrast, the next POTUS will be someone who has an enormous amount of actual legislative power and responsibility. There's also the distinction that leaders in the U.S. are democratically elected, rather than coronated on account of birthright or marriage.

Still, the pearl-clutching on display in the trailer for The Crown is not completely unlike the concern-trolling that often clouds discussions about the possibility of a female president. It's unclear whether any female leaders in the U.S. feel any connection to a woman like Queen Elizabeth II. But should Clinton be elected to the presidency, it will be fascinating to watch the media discourse on her leadership unfold simultaneously with the airing of The Crown. The tragic reality is that, across decades and continents, the comfort with women in leadership positions remains contentious. I'm hoping that a large audience tunes into The Crown, if for no other reason than to experience a crash course in the struggles that women endure to be respected in their positions of power.

More: Downton Abbey's Anna and Bates finally find some peace, but will it last?

The Crown premieres on Netflix later in 2016. While you wait, take a peek at the trailer for a glimpse at the clothes, the romance and the feminism.

The Crown trailer

The Crown trailer

Mermaid cushions are 'the' thing that will complete your home (VIDEO)

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Mermaid cushions are the item every woman needs in her home
Image: Giphy.com

More: How you can transform your home into the Millennium Falcon

If it's name wasn't already enough to win you over, then you will be seriously impressed when you see what it can do.

Much like a mermaid's tail the cushion, which was designed by Aviva Stanoff Design and will set you back $150.00 (around $214 AUD), shimmers thanks to it's arrangement of sequins, but it also changes colour — and it's pretty mesmerising to watch.

Mermaid cushion video

Mermaid cushion video

You can change it up by making squiggles or writing letters on the cushion — imagine someone spelling out the words "will you marry me" with these cushions? The answer is bound to be a "yes."

The creation has become somewhat of an Internet sensation after a video was uploaded to Facebook by Steve Noviello. The post has since been liked over 200,000 times and shared twice that number, making it clear that people are really excited about this sparkly cushion.

More: Cat-embossed rolling pin is the tool you need to complete your kitchen

Comments on the video include: "Maddening! My OCD would be on overdrive!!," "I'm gonna a whole bunch of them when I win the Powerball," and "I don't think I could stop playing with those pillows. Trouble."

Mermaid cushions are the one item every woman should own
Image: Giphy.com

We agree, we definitely would not stop playing with those pillows. But here's the bad news; they were being sold at Nebraska Furniture Mart, but according to the company there has been so much interest in the cushions of late that they are all sold out.

Mermaid cushions 2

Mermaid cushions 2

However, there is a silver lining: the company is holding a competition where you can stand a chance to win a few mermaid pillows.

Mermaid cushions

Mermaid cushions

More: Woman turns her parents' home into a real-life gingerbread house (PHOTOS)

Failing that, we've found a retailer that does have them in stock — in pretty much every colour you could ever dream of — and they are pure awesome. But they'll also set you back a pretty penny because they cost $99.00 (around $140 AUD).

Would you have these in your home or would they be an endless distraction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Pretty Little Liars cast dishes about the new relationships in 6B

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Get ready, because the show is destroying our relationship dreams.

More: PLL: "Who's in the coffin?" and other questions raised by the new 6B poster

"There are going to be some new romantic relationships that you would have never guessed and it causes some serious rifts, so that'll be dramatic to see for sure," teased Janel Parrish, who plays Mona on the show.

Troian Bellisario confirmed that Spencer and Caleb will be getting way more flirty than we ever wanted or imagined. And she and Toby are definitely a thing of the past. But it might not be such a bad thing.

"The cool thing about Spencer and Caleb, I think, is that they've always been such incredible friends. They've really taken care of each other and they trust each other."

Bellisario added that we really saw their compatibility for the first time when Caleb returned to Rosewood after his time in Ravenswood. He had turned to drinking and Spencer was the one who really snapped him out of it when Hanna let her demons get the best of her, too.

"They really complement each other," Bellisario explained. "And they always really held each other to a different standard."

More: What PLL's new sneak peek taught me about Season 6B (VIDEO)

Bellisario thinks that viewers will be pleasantly surprised to see that their relationship has evolved into something more, especially given their friendship history.

Lucy Hale also revealed that things between Ezra and Aria will be interesting, to say the least.

"In the first episode back, I think it's pretty obvious that Ezra and Aria have not seen each other. When Aria left for college they, sort of, left it for what it was. But, you know, they have this undeniable chemistry."

Hale couldn't tell if they were going to reunite as the season progresses, but she did tease that she's been an Ezria fan since the beginning, so she's hopeful like the rest of us.

Even Parrish told us that things between Mona and Mike are nonexistent.

"So far I have not seen any love interests. She's too busy trying to take over the world," Parrish joked, sort of. Because Mona is, after all, working in politics after the five-year time jump.

She added, "She's trying to snoop into the other girls' lives and figure out what's happening. She's a master at that. She don't need a man! But I hope one day. It's kind of nice to see a softer side of Mona in that way, and I really liked the Mike and Mona relationship. We'll see if that comes back eventually."

More: 4 Major events we might see after the PLL Season 6 time jump

Of course, just because none of our favorite couples start Season 6B together, doesn't mean they won't find their way back to one another.

Which couple are you most upset to see broken up in Pretty Little Liars' return tonight?

Shadowhunters: 'Is Valentine Clary's father?' and 12 other premiere questions

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More: Shadowhunters spoilers: 8 Things to know about ABC Family's new show (VIDEO)

As someone who's never read the books, I was thoroughly intrigued by the first episode. It had many elements I look for in a TV show, including the supernatural, badass fight scenes, a really beautiful cast and many mysteries that I look forward to solving.

That said, and just like PLL, the premiere left many questions unanswered. I guess that means I'll just have to keep watching until they are answered. Here are just a few of the ones running through my mind and keeping me up at night. Good work, Shadowhunters. Good work.

Shadowhunters
Image: Tumblr

1. Is Valentine Clary’s father?

Clary says her mother doesn't have any family and that her father is dead. However, Valentine's facial expression upon learning Jocelyn has a child was quite telling. Could Clary be his daughter?

2. Why are the demons like the Leviathans from Supernatural?

Seriously, why do the demons have to be so creepy? I couldn't take looking at Supernatural's Leviathans, and I'm not going to be able to handle these Downworlders.

3. Is Clary’s mom dead or under a sleeping spell?

It doesn't appear that Jocelyn is dead, but after drinking that potion, she is immobile. I guess she's under some type of sleeping spell to protect Clary and to keep the Mortal Cup safe.

4. What is the Mortal Cup?

Speaking of the Mortal Cup, what the heck is it? Clearly, it is important, but why? Does it have something to do with mortality and/or immortality?

5. Will Clary end up with Jace or Simon?

Obviously, Simon has feelings for his BFF and there is a strong connection/attraction between Jace and Clary. So, who will she end up with? Uh oh. It's another The Vampire Diaries' Damon/Elena/Stefan love triangle.

More: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones review — hot dudes in eyeliner

Alec Lightwood
Image: Tumblr

6. Will anyone never not look at Isaiah Mustafa as the Old Spice guy?

Seriously, that's all I can think of every time he appears as Luke.

7. Jace knows that Alec is dreamier than him, right?

Don't get me wrong, Jace is super attractive (and he clearly knows it), but Alec? Hello, he is both dreamy and enticing.

8. Will Magnus bust out dance moves?

This is really all that matters when it comes to Harry Shum Jr.'s character. I know Glee fans are with me. I kid, because seeing Shum as a warlock is thrilling.

9. Are runes just an easy way for Shadowhunters to get cool tattoos?

I'd probably risk getting injured by a Downworlder if I could get a cool rune. Who's with me?

10. What’s with the Shadowhunters' invisibility?

So, when Shadowhunters are invisible, if they bump into a mundane, does the mundane feel the Shadowhunter? Also, if they bump into someone while invisible, does their invisibility dissolve? How does this whole invisibility thing work? If they had a cloak like Harry Potter, it would be so much easier.

11. Can Luke be trusted?

He seems like a good guy, but based on what Clary overheard him telling members of The Circle, he could also be bad. I'm going with he was just telling them what they wanted to hear to protect himself.

12. Everyone agrees Izzy’s Alias-like disguises are on point, right?

Izzy is the bomb. I need more of her, stat.

Shadowhunters airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Freeform.

More: Interview with Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Kevin Zegers of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

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