A devastating blaze consumed a historic church in New York on Thursday, casting bright orange flames over the structure as firefighters valiantly worked to bring the fire under control.

The inferno, described as a five-alarm fire, erupted initially in a residence connected to the First Reformed Church of Astoria in Queens at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).

Firefighters arriving at the scene discovered the fire had started in an empty two-story rectory, quickly spreading to the church itself, the FDNY reported.

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods recounted the perilous conditions faced by responders, stating, “While operating on the exterior, a portion of the roof started collapsing, walls collapsed, and some bricks hit one of our members in the helmet. He was treated by FDNY Rescue Medics, our FAST Unit, and other EMS personnel and then taken to an area hospital.”

The fire’s swift assault on the First Reformed Church of Astoria stands as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of such disasters and the bravery of those who face them head-on.

More than 270 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene before it was fully under control at 10:30 p.m. Six firefighters were injured. Images of the fire showed flames ripping through the structure as firefighters carried out an exterior attack to extinguish the blaze.

Kevin Harris, who said he was the last head deacon of the church, told local media that the community is reeling over the extensive damage the house of worship is expected to suffer.

“It hurts; it hurts my whole family. My sister was just over there. My niece went to this church. My mother went to this church. We have elders from Astoria Projects that went to this church,” Harris said. “People got married, baptized… this is our life.”

“We’ve been going here—I moved out here in ’67,” he added.

The First Reformed Church of Astoria is seen hours after a fire damaged much of the inside of the building. (New York Fire Department)

A nearby resident, who gave his name as Jack, said he arrived at the scene of the fire at the same time that firefighters responded.

“They looked like they were trying to localize the fire, keep it down, then it seemed to spread to the church,” he told FreedomNewsTV. “And it looks like they’ve just been trying to put it out in the church ever since. And it looks like it’s been a bit stubborn. It’s not going away,” he added.

The church, which opened sometime in the 1830s, was also damaged during a fire more than a century ago on Jan. 14, 1888. That blaze damaged the floor, some pews, and the church organ, according to the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

An FDNY truck is parked on a street in Manhattan, New York, on July 5, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto)

On Friday, state Assemblywoman Diana Moreno, whose district includes Astoria, praised the FDNY for its work to extinguish the blaze.

“Thank you to our first responders for protecting us,” she wrote on X. “My sincere wishes for a speedy recovery to the six firefighters who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”

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A real estate empire, often referred to as the ‘Amazon of real estate,’ is currently under scrutiny as it faces allegations of severe sexual misconduct involving two senior agents.

eXp Realty rose to prominence in the 2010s as one of the globe’s most rapidly expanding real estate brokerages, drawing in agents with the allure of generous commissions and a luxurious, aspirational lifestyle.

However, a surge of legal actions suggests that beneath its glossy marketing and opulent events lies a ‘boys’ club’ atmosphere, where powerful male brokers are accused of exploiting less experienced female agents.

Numerous women have filed civil lawsuits, alleging they were drugged and assaulted at alcohol-fueled corporate gatherings, drawing parallels to the notorious Alexander brothers case, who were convicted of federal sex trafficking in a March 9 New York court decision.

The plaintiffs from eXp describe a distressing pattern: experiencing unexpected intoxication after consuming minimal alcohol, losing consciousness, and later discovering they had been involved in sexual activities with high-ranking staff members.

Two names appear repeatedly in the lawsuits: Michael Bjorkman and David Golden, both once among the company’s most successful recruiters. Bjorkman left eXp in 2020 after allegations against him arose publicly, and Golden quietly left in 2023 as the allegations grew.

The men allegedly target women at company-branded events held regularly at luxury hotels and casinos, where a culture of partying and heavy drinking was fostered.

They then engineered situations in which female agents were isolated in hotel rooms with them, then drugged and attacked them, according to the lawsuits.

Anya Roberts, a former real estate agent at eXp, alleged that she was repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted at work events

Her story shares striking similarities to Christy Lundy, who is also suing the company over claims of sexual assault 

eXp Realty was founded in Washington state in 2009 and built on the idea of no physical offices. The firm operates entirely in the cloud using remote agents.

With no office leases and fewer in-person staff, the model is said to cut overhead costs, allowing higher commission splits and lucrative incentives for its agents.

The company has been described as the ‘Amazon of real estate’ – a tech-forward, asset-light disruptor built to scale fast.

That approach helped fuel explosive growth – it currently has 83,000 agents in 27 countries – but the strategy involves a controversial recruitment structure.

Agents at eXp are encouraged not only to sell homes but to recruit others into the platform, taking a share of their commissions. Those recruits then bring in more agents beneath them, creating a layered revenue stream tied as much to headcount as to home sales.

Critics say the structure creates powerful incentives to protect top earners with little incentive to root out high performers even when serious allegations are raised.

Lawsuits allege that was the case for Michael Bjorkman and David Golden. 

Fabiola Acevedo, a Florida-based real estate agent recruited by Golden, claimed in a February 2023 suit that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Bjorkman.

She alleged that in 2018, Bjorkman convinced her to join him at a networking event at the Pelican Hill Hotel in Newport Beach, California, telling her it would help her career.

When she arrived at the event, a hotel staffer told her she did not have a room reserved in her name and that they were sold out, the suit claimed. 

The lead plaintiff is Fabiola Acevedo, a Florida-based real estate agent who filed a suit in February 2023, alleging that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at a recruiting event

Another former agent, Kirsten Childress claimed she was drugged and raped at a work event 

She called Golden, her recruiter and mentor, who told her to stay in Bjorkman’s room and that she could trust him, that they were ‘family,’ the suit claimed. 

Acevedo said she reluctantly agreed because the room had two beds.

Later that evening, she alleged she drank a single cocktail with Bjorkman at the hotel bar and remembers nothing until the next morning when she awoke naked. Another woman and Bjorkman were in the other bed naked, said the suit.

‘Disoriented and in shock,’ Acevedo claimed she ran to shower but was followed by Bjorkman, who exposed his penis to her.

Acevedo claimed she told Glenn Sanford, eXp’s CEO, about the 2018 incident years later at a conference in March 2022 and told her she had been traumatized and unable to give her all to work. 

She also reported the incident multiple times to other leaders at the company, but  those reports went nowhere, the suit alleged. 

Neither Sanford nor eXp returned a Daily Mail request for comment. Bjorkman told the Daily Mail he is ‘100 percent innocent.’

Sanford said during shareholder calls in 2023 that the company handled any complaints appropriately and that the allegations do not reflect company policy or leadership intent.

Tami Sims and Christiana ‘Christy’ Lundy, real estate agents in Tennessee and California, both later joined Acevedo’s lawsuit, alleging they were also drugged and sexually assaulted by Bjorkman and Golden.

Lundy alleged in her filing that after an eXp event in 2020 in Las Vegas, Bjorkman and Golden invited her for a drink in their suite, where she alleges she drank one cup of vodka and soda water.

Michael Bjorkman and David Golden (both left) are accused of drugging and raping women. They are pictured with a third man who is not accused of wrongdoing

eXp agents attended company-branded events held regularly at luxury hotels and casinos, where a culture of partying and heavy drinking was fostered

‘This was the only alcoholic beverage she drank over the course of the entire evening, and she did not finish the entire drink,’ said the lawsuit.

Later that night, during dinner with friends, she ‘excused herself from the table to go to the bathroom and vomit,’ which she said was out of character. 

She has no memory of leaving the dinner and ‘woke up the next morning with a headache, feeling very groggy and was nude in her own bed in her hotel room.’

After learning of other women’s stories, she believed either Bjorkman or Golden had been in her room. She said she was ignored when she reported it to her employer.

According to the lawsuit, Sims attended an eXp networking event hosted by The Closing Table at a hotel in Beverly Hills, where she had a single glass of wine. After dinner, she said she went to the hotel bar and had one more drink.

Later that evening, one of the event hosts invited everyone to his room, where Bjorkman handed her a third drink, according to her complaint.

Shortly thereafter, she alleges, she ‘blacked out until the next morning when she woke up naked and alone in her hotel room.’

‘She immediately went to the bathroom. She felt sick, saw blood from her vagina and experienced pain.’ She believes she was sexually assaulted.

A fourth woman, Megan Farrell-Nelson, said in the joint lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by Bjorkman in Las Vegas in 2020.

She also claimed in her complaint that she saw Bjorkman and Golden consume the ‘date rape’ drug GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) from a bottle.

‘They both told her that they take GHB recreationally,’ said the suit.

The cloud-based brokerage, eXp Realty, was founded by Forbes-ranked billionaire CEO Glenn Sanford in 2009

GHB is a central nervous system depressant that slows brain activity and can produce sedation, relaxation and, at higher doses, unconsciousness.

In December 2023, ten months after the first lawsuit, a second was filed in California.

Anya Roberts, another former real estate agent at eXp, alleged that she was repeatedly drugged and sexually assaulted by Golden at work events.

Roberts claimed that in February 2020, she flew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to attend an eXp networking event and blacked out after one drink in Golden’s room.

She alleged she woke to Golden standing over her, massaging his penis over his pants, according to her complaint. 

The following month, Roberts claims that Golden invited her to the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona Beach, Florida, where they shared a room.

Roberts claims Bjorkman also showed up to Golden’s room with his luggage in hand and told her that he would also be staying in their room, which she initially thought was a joke.

The next day, Roberts claimed Golden received a delivery of GHB to the room, telling her it was a performance-enhancing drug for workouts.

He then told Roberts that a small amount for exercise would be fine and Roberts took the dosage recommended by him, said the suit.

According to the complaint, Roberts ‘did not understand that taking this drug would cause her not only to lose her memory, but also to become incapacitated such that she would lose the ability to consent as to what happened with her body.’

The morning after blacking out, Bjorkman allegedly walked into the bathroom naked while she was showering and exposed himself to her.

When she appeared shocked, she said he replied: ‘Oh, now you are shy?’ implying that they had sex night before.

Roberts ‘believes she was sexually assaulted by Golden and Bjorkman the previous night while she was incapacitated,’ according to the complaint.

She also alleges the duo took pictures and/or videos of her that night while she was incapacitated, which lawyers said were turned over in discovery.

Golden was among eXp’s most successful recruiters and the women claim there was no incentive to discipline him due to the way recruitment is structured

Bjorkman and Golden are alleged to have used a date rape drug at the events

Bjorkman, who is married, was arrested in Miami in 2021 in connection with Farrell-Nelson’s case, though charges were dismissed after the district attorney said that they ‘cannot prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.’ 

Lawyers for Golden did not respond. He has previously denied all wrongdoing.

In May 2025, another former agent, Kirsten Childress, claims in a complaint she filed that she was drugged and assaulted at a company-related event in 2023 by a photographer hired by eXp to cover the event.

Childress said she drank one cocktail and blacked out, waking in a strange hotel room confused and with fresh bruises, according to her complaint.

A photographer who has denied wrongdoing was allegedly on top of her and assaulting her. 

In total, six women have sued eXp for sexual assault and negligence – despite motions to dismiss, a judge ruled the complaints will move forward.

Sanford, who Forbes estimates is worth $1 billion, is accused of ignoring or enabling misconduct.

eXp Realty has consistently denied wrongdoing and has pushed back against claims that it enabled misconduct. It has not yet returned a Daily Mail request for comment.

Still, legal challenges continue to mount.

Two eXp shareholder pension funds filed lawsuits in Delaware, where the company is incorporated, alleging the company failed to disclose risks related to the misconduct claims, potentially misleading investors.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the company was planning to reincorporate in Texas, a state where the law is seen as more favorable to corporate leadership and not shareholders. 

As of now, that plan is moving ahead.

The YouTube saga of “Looksmaxxing” influencer Clavicular has taken another turn, as the platform has once again removed his channels. This decision follows a series of violations that have raised concerns within the community.

On Thursday, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed to People that Clavicular’s original channel was terminated back in November 2025. This move was in accordance with the platform’s strict policies, which prohibit users from creating new channels once an original account has been banned.

The influencer, whose real name is Braden Peters, came under scrutiny for sharing content that linked to websites breaching YouTube’s guidelines. The platform is committed to enforcing its terms of service, and Peters’ latest channel deletion is a reinforcement of these rules.

Insiders familiar with the case revealed to People that Peters had made significant efforts to hide his association with the new channel. However, YouTube’s vigilant monitoring and commitment to policy enforcement meant that these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

A source close to the situation told People that Peters “did a pretty good job of obscuring that he was associated with that channel.”

YouTube launched an investigation and found new channels that were being operated by the controversial social media personality.

“As soon as YouTube found out the channels existed, they knew that they needed to take those down,” the source added, revealing that the company had been “tracking” Clavicular amid his rising popularity.

The insider also divulged that YouTube is “taking a closer look at him and making sure there’s not going to be any more copies popping up.”

Page Six has reached out to YouTube for comment.

Peters reacted to his channels being removed in a Thursday post on X, writing: “Very sad news this morning. My YouTube channels @ LiveWithClav & @ ClavLooksmax were terminated this morning with no warning or explanation.”

The streamer expressed that his content included “free courses” he created to “help empower young men to be the best versions of themselves.”

Peters also assured his followers that he and his team “worked hard” to follow the social media app’s guidelines.

The New Jersey native first gained popularity in 2025 for his “looksmaxxing” content, which focuses on an individual maximizing their physical attractiveness. 

Since rising to fame, Peters has amassed over one million followers across TikTok, Instagram and Kik.

He also operates a private online academy called “Clavicular’s Clan,” in which he shares guides that will allegedly “guarantee” physical transformation.

Peters made headlines earlier this month after suffering a suspected overdose during a livestream. The content creator first alarmed viewers when he began fading out on camera while at a restaurant with some friends.

Per a TikTok video, Peters was then carried out of the Brickell establishment by his security team and friends. He was placed in a black vehicle that was parked in front of the fire truck.

A Miami-Dade EMS dispatcher also called in a “20-year-old male overdose” around 5:46 p.m. local time, at the location where Peters was livestreaming, per TMZ.

“Just got home, that was brutal,” the content creator wrote the next day above a selfie on X — giving fans a look at his bloody face.

“All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution. The worst part of tonight was my face descending from the life support mask.”

That night, Peters shocked fans by making an appearance at a Miami club.

Just one month prior, Peters was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal conspiracy to commit battery in Florida, after Page Six revealed in February that he was attacked by a fellow reveler after being kicked out of a New York Fashion Week party.

Peters is now involved in an ongoing investigation for the alleged shooting of a dead alligator that was found in the Everglades, which allegedly happened while he was livestreaming.

“The FWC is aware of a video depicting individuals in the Everglades on an airboat who appear to be discharging firearms at an alligator,” the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrote in a statement on X. “FWC officers are continuing to look into the incident and will provide additional information when available.”

A shocking incident unfolded at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where a campus chef stands accused of committing a heinous crime. According to police reports, Jeffrey C. MacDonald, age 36, allegedly murdered his wife, 31-year-old Emma MacDonald, in a room at Hotel UMass.

As reported by the Boston Globe, the Eastern Hampshire District Court received the police report, which details the tragic events. Authorities charged Jeffrey MacDonald with the murder after he reportedly confessed to the crime. The police were summoned to the hotel following a 911 call, and upon arrival, they read MacDonald his Miranda rights. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to fatally beating his wife with his hands, feet, and various objects, expressing his intent to kill her.

Emma MacDonald suffered severe injuries, which investigators described as indicative of a brutal attack. The nature of her injuries led officials to conclude that they were the result of a violent assault.

Jeffrey MacDonald is accused of killing his wife, Emma. (UMass)

Emma MacDonald’s injuries were considered “significant” and “it seemed apparent to investigators that her injuries had resulted from a violent assault,” officials said.

MacDonald pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder as well as assault and battery during a court appearance on Thursday.

The 911 call was received at 7:42 p.m. on Wednesday, which alerted campus police to the incident which took place at room 414 at Hotel UMass.

UMass Amherst students walk across campus. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images)

Campus police as well as nearby Hadley police responded to the room, where a “violent struggle took place” between MacDonald and the officers, with the man accused of throwing objects at the officers, according to the police report, which added that the murder suspect repeatedly struck an officer in the face.

Less than nine months ago, MacDonald was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation.

“This distinguished honor is a testament to MacDonald’s talent, leadership, and commitment to advancing the culinary profession,” the university wrote in announcing the award on Aug. 8, 2025.

Police said the alleged murder took place at the Campus Center Hotel. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes released a statement on the alleged murder on Thursday.

“I want to acknowledge that this is heartbreaking and deeply unsettling news for our campus. Our thoughts are with those affected, including the families, friends, and colleagues of the individuals involved. I also recognize that the lack of complete information may add to the distress many are feeling, but this is necessary to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” Reyes said.

Fox News Digital reached out to MacDonald’s attorney.

Clad in oversized sweaters and sunglasses, the pair strolled through the parking lot of a high-end rug store in Los Angeles, resembling any ordinary couple out for a homeware shopping spree.

However, this duo was far from ordinary, and their trip wasn’t about selecting new carpets.

Why would two individuals, with a combined net worth of £1.6 billion and access to a legion of assistants, handle their errands personally?

This outing was less about suburban shopping and more a calculated PR maneuver by two of the most brand-savvy figures globally—Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and reality star Kim Kardashian.

Over the past four months, their interactions have unfolded as one of the most lavish, intricate, and arguably unconvincing “showmances” we’ve seen.

An industry insider tells me: ‘It’s a blatant set up. But Kim knows what she’s doing. “Kim and Lewis interiors shopping?” It’s an easy link to “They are moving in together” and the interest in them as a couple is fuelled for another week.

‘If Kim wanted a rug, she would have the very best retailers coming to her house where she could pick one from the comfort of her sofa.’

The 45-year-old beauty and shapewear guru admitted on her sister Khloe Kardashian’s podcast recently that she had not been to a supermarket in 15 years, apart from for a set-up scene for their hit Hulu reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Kim admitted: ‘I feel like we went to [organic store] Erewhon on our show. But before that, like maybe 12 years, it’s probably like 15 years.’

Because if Kim Kardashian does not want to be seen, she will not be.

Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian pictured out ‘shopping for rugs’ in Los Angeles… a thinly veiled PR stunt by two of the most brand-conscious figures on the planet, writes Dolly Busby

The pair were later seen frolicking on the beach near Kim’s Malibu home… in an image also captured by the celebrity photo agency Backgrid

The pair appeared not to notice the photographer stationed metres from the beach

For almost a decade she was married to the controversial but highly private rapper, Kanye West, before filing for divorce in 2021.

The pair have four children together – North, 12, Saint, ten, Chicago, eight, and Psalm, six – and little was known about what they got up to unless it was aired on the family’s lucrative TV show.

So private was her life with the now-disgraced rapper, 48, that in 2019 she told her sisters on their show: ‘It’s like, where are the places I can go where no one will see us?’

As for 41-year-old Lewis Hamilton, he dated Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger on and off for eight years until 2015 and, though they were often seen at public events, they were rarely spotted just nipping out at the shops.

So it’s hard to believe in the less than four months Kim and Lewis have been ‘an item’, the ten times they have been ‘spotted’ are by accident.

A major clue is the fact that every time the couple are snapped it’s by the same photography agency – Backgrid. It’s an open secret in the industry that if a celebrity has been photographed by the LA-based agency it often means the pictures are staged or a photographer has been tipped off by the star or their publicist.

Kardashian, who has been performing in the media circus for almost two decades, is known, industry insiders tell me, to have close ties with the agency – dating back to her early days when she was a fame hungry socialite.

As one source told me: ‘If Kim is pictured by them, it’s almost always on purpose. You could not get more well-versed in creating a very specific public image than Kim.

‘But she’s playing an amateur game here: this is a textbook showmance with Lewis. It’s farcical.’

The rug outing was, of course, captured by Backgrid, and then there are the most recent pictures of the couple frolicking in the ocean on a surfing excursion in Malibu.

Running down a seemingly empty beach, they fling themselves into the sea, the mother-of-four clinging to her ‘boyfriend’ as the waves crash around them.

They appear not to notice the paparazzo stationed metres away from the beach and, tellingly, they do not appear to have any security guards with them.

Which is almost unheard of for Kim, who was left ‘traumatised’ after she was robbed at gunpoint by eight masked men in Paris nearly a decade ago as millions of dollars’ worth of jewellery was taken.

It was also the first time in their four-month, heavily documented romance, that the so-called love birds have actually been caught kissing.

Kim and Lewis were spotted last weekend arriving at sushi restaurant Nobu, in an image again captured by Backgrid

Nobu has a reputation as a restaurant where celebs go to ‘be seen’

At least, it appears so. It cannot be said for sure from the blurry pictures whether they are actually locking lips.

For someone who knows the places to go where she will not be found, Kardashian is certainly making a habit of dragging Stevenage-born Hamilton to all of the LA celebrity hotspots.

Last Saturday the pair were spotted arriving at the sushi restaurant Nobu, not far from Kardashian’s £23million beachfront property in Malibu, where celebs go to ‘be seen’.

As they left arm in arm, she in a floor-length grey skirt and pink slouchy jacket oh-so-casually draped off one shoulder, and her new beau in a knitted cardigan, Backgrid just happened to be there again.

Ever the gentleman, Hamilton opened the door to the waiting £520,000 Maybach Mercedes and the influencer smiled as she got in.

The week before Kardashian had ‘hard launched’ – the Gen Z term for announcing the relationship – the Ferrari racing driver on her Instagram by sharing a snap of herself sitting on his lap at the US music festival Coachella.

Although her 353million followers couldn’t see his face, she gave fans just enough by revealing his tattooed hand (recognisable with a sword and Capricorn zodiac symbol).

The pair had attended the second weekend of the festival in the Californian desert together, with Kardashian wearing a ridiculously oversized balaclava.

Hamilton too seemed almost performative in his attempts to disguise himself – sporting a baseball cap, scarf and sunglasses – but luckily Backgrid managed to get a picture of them walking in front of the stage at Justin Bieber’s set.

As one industry source explained: ‘It’s the oldest trick in the book of being “accidentally found out” because it gives the relationship a more realistic edge.’

Take the mystery around their first rendezvous in January at Estelle Manor – the ultra-exclusive Cotswolds members’ club favoured by Hollywood actors, global financiers and high-powered fashion executives.

Details of their ‘discreet’ stay changed hands for £15,000 with a red-top newspaper. Where the proceeds of the money went to is anyone’s guess.

But if I am right this has been an expensive PR stunt for the couple who seem to have made it their mission to spread their showmance across the globe, no doubt spending hundreds of thousands in flights on private jets.

After their first meet-up in the Cotswolds, two days later Kardashian flew with Hamilton to Paris to promote the collaboration between Skims, her shapewear and clothing company, and Nike.

The pair were captured entering a Paris hotel together but the telling sign this was potentially intentional was when a source told People magazine – a US publication known to be called by celebs themselves with something to promote – it was a ‘romantic meet-up’.

Then off to Tokyo where they were spotted walking side by side, sending the internet into meltdown. Hamilton, who had just placed third at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, was due to race in Japan that weekend.

All of which begs the question – if it is a stunt, why are they doing this? Could it be for money?

Hamilton has achieved success many could only dream of, having won a record-equalling seven World Championships since joining the circuit in 2007.

But he is also a savvy businessman who has long harboured a desire to scale the upper echelons of global celebrity and the fashion elite.

And who better to facilitate this than the queen of branding culture herself, Kim Kardashian. They can help each other.

Since launching in 2019, Skims has been valued at $5billion (£3.7million) and owes much of its success to collaborations with some globally influential sports personalities such as Serena Williams, 44.

A source said: ‘F1 as a sport has grown massively in recent years and Kim will have recognised that. Lewis is a friend of the family, and both of them will be using that to their advantage.’

Attention Saints and Sinners alike: Hulu is set to unveil its newest spinoff, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County, and anticipation is building. This fresh series is scheduled to hit the streaming platform later this year, bringing a blend of YouTube personalities, podcasters, and social media influencers into the spotlight.

During Hulu’s recent Get Real event, the cast lineup was revealed, featuring Bobbi Althoff, Madison Bontempo, Aspyn Ovard, Avery Woods, Salomé Andrea, Chandler Higginson, Ashleigh Pease, and McCall DaPron, sister of Mayci Neeley. While these women share the commonality of being young mothers, not all of them adhere to the Mormon faith, despite the show’s title suggesting otherwise.

Curious about the religious affiliations of the cast members of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County? Here’s a detailed look at who’s actually Mormon and who’s not.

Is Bobbi Althoff Mormon?

Bobbi Althoff, for instance, is not Mormon and has never been part of the LDS church. Known for her viral presence on TikTok and as the host of The Really Good Podcast, Bobbi discussed her Christian upbringing on Rainn Wilson’s Soul Bloom podcast. Though not a Mormon, she did follow a youthful path to marriage and motherhood, tying the knot with software engineer Cory Althoff at around 22 years old in 2020. The couple had two children before their divorce in 2024, and Bobbi is now in a relationship with basketball player Tyler Hawkins.

Who is actually Mormon in The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County?

Diverging from the original Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, this new series includes women who have never been affiliated with the Mormon church. Here’s a breakdown of who among them embraces the faith and who does not:

Aspyn Ovard (Not Mormon) — Aspyn is not Mormon, but she did grow up in close proximity to the Utah Mormon community. She has even been spotted in the background of events that were filmed for The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. In a 2025 episode of the Girls Camp podcast, Aspyn shared that her father grew up Mormon, and while they went to church for “the first little bit of [her] life,” it never felt like “a huge core piece” of her upbringing. After all, we’re not too sure how the LDS church would feel about her potentially being in a throuple following her divorce.

Madison Bontempo (Mormon) — Madison, who shares five children with her husband Kyler Fisher, did grow up Mormon. The successful YouTuber confirmed in an Instagram comment that she was “born and raised” in the church.

Salomé Andrea (Mormon) — Salomé opened up about her Mormon upbringing in a 2023 episode of Avery Woods’ CHEERS! podcast. “I’m Mormon, but I’m not a Utah Mormon,” she said in the podcast. While she and her husband have strayed away from traditional Mormon standards (they drink, have tattoos, and they don’t regularly attend church), she said she has her “own relationship” with the religion, and that she wouldn’t necessarily say she’s no longer Mormon. She also said she and her husband’s parents will occasionally take their twin daughters to church with them.

Avery Woods (Not Mormon) — Avery said she was the “opposite of Mormon” during her conversation with Salomé in a November 2023 episode of her CHEERS! podcast. However, she does have a sizable TikTok following, a successful podcast under Alex Cooper’s Unwell Network, and she married her husband when she was only 21 years old, so she fits the other criteria for this show.

McCall DaPron (Mormon) — McCall is likely one of the most Mormon cast members on this spinoff — she even has “LDS” in her Instagram bio. McCall, who is the older sister of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Mayci Neeley, was born and raised Mormon in Orange County, CA. She and her husband share four children.

Ashleigh Pease (Unsure) — Aside from a photo from her son’s baptism in November 2023, Ashleigh, who is originally from Australia, has not shared specific details about her religion.

Chandler Higginson (Mormon) — While Chandler has not spoken specifically about her religious background, there are a couple of telling factors that indicate she and her husband are Mormon. For one, they both graduated from Brigham Young University, which is a private Mormon college in Utah. Plus, Chandler has posted photos from her previous baby blessings, which are Mormon traditions that celebrate the birth of a baby.

For more on the new Mormon Wives stars, check out our cast guide.

When does The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County come out?

While we don’t have an exact premiere date just yet, Hulu did reveal that The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County will debut sometime this year on the streamer.

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LOS ANGELES — In a rare public statement, Jake Reiner, the eldest son of esteemed director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, has shared his ongoing struggle with the tragic reality he faces. “Every morning, I wake up trying to convince myself it’s not a nightmare,” he expressed.

“This really is my living nightmare,” he wrote in a heartfelt post on Substack this past Friday.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Jake Reiner spoke about his parents’ final moments, saying, “I continually find myself thinking about how terrified they must have been. They were the last people in the world who should have faced such a fate. They deserved love, respect, and above all, they deserved recognition for all they contributed to us and the world.”

His brother, Nick Reiner, is currently facing murder charges in connection with their parents’ deaths. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court next week.

The tragic incident took place on December 14, 2025, when Rob and Michele Reiner were found fatally stabbed in their Brentwood home. The night before, during a holiday gathering, Nick Reiner, who lived on their property, reportedly had a heated argument with Rob and was behaving oddly, according to sources speaking to ABC News. Authorities arrested Nick just hours after the discovery of the bodies.

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 68, married in 1989 and had three children: sons Jake and Nick and daughter Romy.

Jake Reiner described his parents as his “guiding lights, the foundation of who I am as a human being, and the most giving people I have ever known.”

“The love they have for me, my brother, and my sister is truly unconditional. And the love they have for each other in their marriage is something I always looked up to as the standard of what a successful relationship looks like,” he wrote.

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.