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Nicola Coughlan Has Brilliant Response To Fan Calling Her Bridgerton Scenes "Very Brave"

Bridgerton is arguably the HOTTEST show on Netflix (and not just because it's one of the streamer's most popular series ever). Every season focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling and their respective love story. And while seasons one and two did not disappoint, season three is the one fans have been waiting for. Finally, #Polin takes center stage. While Penelope and Colin are the talk of the "ton," it's the actress who plays Penelope, Nicola Coughlan, who's really got people talking after shooting down a body-shamer in the most epic way possible.

The Real Tinder Swindler: Who Is Simon Leviev and Where Is He Now? 
Pop Culture

The Real Tinder Swindler: Who Is Simon Leviev and Where Is He Now? 

Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler was an instant success. The documentary premiered on February 2, 2022 and soon became the streaming giant’s most-watched doc ever, according to Deadline. In its first week alone, it amassed 64.7M hours of streaming time, as viewers couldn’t get enough of the incredible (and appalling) story it told. RELATED: Are True Crime Podcasts ‘Unhealthy’ or Can They Solve Real Problems?If you have yet to tune in, the film aims to expose Israeli conman Simon Leviev and introduces audiences to a number of his alleged victims. They all claim they met Simon on dating app Tinder and that he defrauded them out of millions. It’s a lesson in fake friendships, the blindness that can accompany love at first sight, and the perils of dating in an online world. But where is Leviev now?The Tinder Swindler’s Real Name, Revealed Simon Leviev made a real effort to present himself as the son of billionaire Russian-Israeli diamond magnate Lev Leviev, aka "The King of Diamonds.” In addition to posing as a member of the Leviev family, Simon reportedly told his victims he was the CEO of Lev’s company, LLD Diamonds, and went to great lengths to make his lies believable. He allegedly dubbed himself "The Prince of Diamonds” and assumed that identity from 2017 to 2019. As various women claim, he was known to surround himself with a bodyguard, business partner, and secretary — all to bolster his stories. He even Photoshopped himself into Leviev family photos and changed his name legally, so that his passport and driver’s license would back up his tale. Even so, Simon Leviev is adamant that he never pretended to be a member of the Leviev family. He told Channel 12 in 2019, “I have the right to choose whatever name I want, I never presented myself as the son of anyone, but people use their imaginations.” Who was he before said change? Turns out Simon Leviev’s real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut and he was born in Bnei Brak, Israel, a city just east of Tel Aviv.The Prince of Diamonds: Everything You Need to KnowThe Tinder Swindler exposed Simon Leviev’s Tinder-driven Ponzi scheme, but it was only the beginning of the unraveling of his web of lies. Long before the documentary premiered on Netflix, Leviev was charged with theft, forgery, and fraud in his native Israel in 2011. According to reports, when Leviev was in his twenties, he stole check books from two families, then cashed those stolen checks. In one instance, he reportedly babysat for the family he would defraud, while in another he posed as a handyman. Rather than sticking around for a trial, Leviev evaded authorities and fled Israel. He settled in Finland, but his legal luck would soon run out. In 2015, a Finnish court charged him with defrauding three women and he was sentenced to two years in jail. Once his time behind bars was done, Leviev was sent back to Israel in 2017, but authorities confirm he fled once again. RELATED: Whitney Wolfe Herd: How Tinder’s Co-Founder Overcame a Horror Story to Become a BillionaireThis time, he roamed Europe and assumed his headline-making identity. Posing as just a single guy looking for love, Simon Leviev used Tinder to meet women in Norway, Finland and Sweden, and con them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by allegedly posing as the heir to Lev Leviev’s diamond empire. Simon’s alleged modus operandi was to meet women in-person and take them on lavish dates and getaways. He would then leave and begin sending them daily texts and personalized video messages. Soon, he would convince his dates he was in danger and ask them to send money or credit cards so he could pay for things without revealing his location. According to Simon, it was imperative he couldn’t be traced or goons would hurt him. Of course, he promised he’d immediately pay the women back. As his earnings grew, Leviev reportedly used the money he stole from one date to splurge on another and build trust with his next victim. His reported scheming was first exposed in 2019 by Norwegian magazine VG, which spoke with alleged victims Cecilie Fjellhøy and Pernilla Sjoholm for an expose titled The Tinder Swindler. The two women recounted the great lengths Simon went to to earn their trust and make his stories believable. Cecilie, who was scammed out of over $200,000, shared how he sent her images of his bodyguard bleeding from the back of his head after an alleged attack, which convinced her to take out a bank loan and send him the cash. Where Is Simon Leviev, aka Shimon Hayut, Now?By 2019, Simon Leviev was a wanted man in Israel, Sweden, England, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, per GQ. He continued to evade authorities, however, and it wasn’t until one of his alleged victims, Ayleen Charlotte, tipped off Greek police that he was arrested. Thanks to her insight, he was arrested in Athens for using a fake passport and was extradited to Israel. Once in Israel, he took a plea deal and was convicted of theft, fraud, and forgery of documents, i.e. the 2011 charges he tried to run away from. Leviev was sentenced to 15 months in prison (and was slapped with about $48,000 in fines) in December 2019. In the end, he served just five months and was released early due to good behavior. It’s important to note that Leviev has not been charged for any of the alleged crimes outlined in the Netflix documentary. RELATED: Grandma Is Targeted by Scammers but the Trick Is on Them – Thanks to Her Secret PastHowever, his legal troubles are far from over. While his victims have been left in financial ruin, forced to rebuild their lives, and learn how to rebuild trust in relationships, they’ve taken matters into their own hands. A number of women have filed lawsuits against Leviev with the European Court of Justice and as one explained, “Private investigators and Interpol people are waiting for him to leave Israel to arrest him.” What’s more, the real Lev Leviev and his family slapped Simon with a multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit filed in Tel Aviv in February 2022. The suit alleges defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of trademarks, and impersonation. They also plan to follow that up with “a monetary suit against Simon and any other affiliate that will work with him [...] anyone that will try to capitalize from this scheme will be sued," according to their attorney, Guy Ophir. Simon Leviev isn’t fazed. His rep told E! News that he “legally changed his name in 2015 and looks forward to this getting thrown out in court."Is Simon Leviev Still on Social Media?Despite all of the negative press, Simon Leviev is reportedly living his best life as a free man in Israel, according to Esquire. Yes, he’s been banned from Tinder and all dating sites and apps owned by Match Group Inc., as reported by NBC, and he's been forced to delete his Instagram account, but he’s adamant he did nothing wrong. “I’m not a fraud and I’m not a fake,” he told Inside Edition while his new girlfriend, Israeli model Kate Konlin, appeared to imply the women in the doc were lying. “My god, it's like how someone can build such a fake story,” she mused. According to media reports, Leviev is believed to have stolen $10 million during his two years as the Tinder Swindler, but he told Channel 12 in 2019 that the women speaking out against him have a personal score to settle. “Maybe they didn’t like being in a relationship with me, or the way that I act. Maybe their hearts were broken during the process,” he said, adding, “I never took a dime from them; these women enjoyed themselves in my company, they traveled and got to see the world on my dime.”RELATED: Woman Who Got Catfished Found Love With The Real Man In The PicturesThese days, he’s trying to cash in on his fame. Following a short-lived website where he offered business consultancy, Leviev started making money on Cameo (he’s selling personal video messages for $99, as well as business videos for $499) and is reportedly back on social media under the TikTok account @simon_leviev_official.Last but not least, he’s signed with Los Angeles talent manager Gina Rodriguez, who wants him to write a book, host a dating podcast, and have his own dating show to find love. “I was intrigued with the Netflix story,” Rodriguez told Los Angeles magazine. “But it left me with a lot of unanswered questions and was very biased. I believe there are two sides to every story and everyone should have the chance to tell their side of the story.” To be continued… KEEP READING:After the Capture: Where Is Kidnapping Victim Elizabeth Smart 19 Years After Being Rescued?

Is Binge Watching Bad For Your Mental Health?
Mental Health

Is Binge Watching Bad For Your Mental Health?

The past decade has seen a huge transformation in the way people consume media. Viewing habits, now deeply ingrained in culture, didn’t even have words to describe them, or the technology to provide them, as recently as 2012. Online streaming services, in particular Netflix, revolutionized the way people consume TV. Rather than patiently waiting for a week for a new episode of your favorite show to premiere, suddenly, you were able to access entire shows, at the click of a button.In 2013, Netflix released its first self-made TV show, House of Cards. Unlike the traditional drip-feed schedule, all episodes were available at once. Later that year, binge-watching was named word of the year by Collins dictionary. The phenomena grew and grew, until “binging a series” became part of popular culture.Watching episode after episode of your favorite show can be harmless fun. It’s something we all do, from time to time. But when does binge-watching become a problem? Does over-consumption lead to addictive qualities? And can binge-watching have a negative impact on your mental health? Let’s press play, and take a look in closer detail.What Is Binge-Watching?Binge-watching is defined as watching multiple episodes, or an entire season of a show, in one sitting. A 2014 survey by Netflix found that 73 percent of viewers count anything from 2 to 6 episodes as a “binge.” The same survey found that, out of the same group, 61 percent binge-watch on a regular schedule. The scientific definition (yes, there’s a science of binge-watching!) considers the frequency of sessions, length and amount of episodes, type of content, or the total amount of time spent watching.There’s a chicken and egg scenario with technology and viewing habits. People started to binge watch before streaming services became available, watching old DVD box sets of popular shows. I’m at the age where I can remember the transition from looking through the listings guide, highlighting programs I wanted to watch, and waiting for them to premiere on TV, to renting box sets (happy memories of Six Feet Under and Prison Break), to surfing streaming platforms.There’s no doubt, though, that the rise of platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and the technology powering them, have made binge-watching even easier, by using programming features designed to keep viewers' eyes glued to the screen and models that remove advertisement breaks. Features from recommendation algorithms (“what’s next?”) to autoplay are all intelligently designed to keep you watching. Streaming platforms have to keep viewing retention numbers high, it’s part of their business model.What was a novelty in the beginning has become a concern. A review in Critical Studies of Television, in 2018, highlighted the potential pitfalls of modern technology through what they label insular flow, or the ease by which new episodes can be watched. “Rather than going back to the home page and making a deliberate choice, the post-play function takes us directly to the next episode. The ‘skip intro’ function even allows us to make the narrative flow feel more seamless,” the authors write. You don’t have to leave the sofa. And that’s an issue.Why Do People Binge-Watch?(Getty)In the field of psychology, “just because,” is never the answer to any popular behavior. Multiple studies have explored the underlying motivations for binge-watching. The underlying foundation of this research is the Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT), which attempts to understand why people seek out, and consume, media in the way that they do. The theory dates all the way back to the 1940s and has scaled to modern-day excess.One of the biggest factors is instant gratification and stimulation. Entertainment has the ability to provide a form of escapism from whatever is going on in life. As a passive activity, there’s no need to try and think, be creative, or engage. Depending on the type of content, a few hours of Netflix might boost your mood or allow you to externalize difficult emotions onto the screen.Now, you don’t have to walk to the store, or wait for your favorite show to be scheduled. A whole universe of content is available, 24/7, at the click of a button. In similar ways to drinking excess alcohol or binging on food, watching a TV show can become a form of distraction from unpleasant emotions. Unlike other types of binging, binge-watching is socially accepted and encouraged.It’s a bizarre modern phenomenon that binge-watching, and “keeping up” with new TV and movies, is part of modern living, at least in the privileged Western world. A combination of social pressure, FOMO, and the all-at-once availability of shows means that, in order to keep up to speed with conversations amongst friends or colleagues, you have to be watching new shows at a similar pace.Binge-Watching and Mental HealthLike all other types of binge, binge-watching doesn’t prioritize your health. “You get a show or a movie you're really dying to watch, and you end up staying up late at night, so we actually compete with sleep,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in 2017. “And we're winning,” he added. It’s a particularly concerning victory for the streaming platform with over 221 million sleep-deprived subscribers. Seemingly aware of the potential pitfalls of binge-watching, Netflix has instructed actors not to use the term when promoting new shows.(Getty)Understanding the negative effects on mental health is complex. The occasional binge isn’t harmful and can be a means to relax and switch off. But that doesn’t mean binge-watching can’t become a serious problem. Multiple studies have looked into the potential harm of binge-watching. In 2017, a study showed the cost of Netflix’s victory, with 98 percent of participants showing reduced sleep quality and higher fatigue after binge sessions.Binge-watching has been linked with depression and anxiety. Worryingly, those who reported higher levels of anxiety while binge-watching were more likely to continue the habit to avoid further unpleasant feelings — a cycle of behavior that is primed for addiction. Leaning into binge-watching to alleviate uncomfortable feelings comes at the cost of not promoting healthier, supportive behaviors.Binge-watching has been linked with levels of loneliness, too. Studies have linked high levels of binge-watching with parasocial relationships, the term given to the one-sided relationship viewers develop with performers. Immersed in another world, escaping difficult emotions, many viewers develop feelings of companionship with fictional characters to ease any sense of isolation, a behavior no doubt amplified during the pandemic.How to Improve Your Information DietA few years ago I joined an old-school video rental store. Even though I had access to Netflix, there was something fulfilling in the process of traveling to the store, greeting the owner, walking the aisles, and picking up a physical case, all as I deliberated on what to watch. Once I’d chosen, I knew I was committed to the decision, having left with one or two blu-rays in hand. This isn’t easy to do now; in 2007 there were over 15,000 video stores in America, and in 2017, just 2,000. But it points to the value of delayed gratification.Like everything in life, moderation is the best policy. Numerous studies have found that binge-watching alone isn’t necessarily bad for mental health. It depends on your relationship to viewing, your motivations, and how frequent or excessive the behavior is. With that in mind, below are a few pointers to integrate binge-watching in a healthier way.Be conscious of your motivationIf binge-watching is an unquestioned habit, it’s likely you will adopt unhealthy behaviors. Start by being conscious of the process. That doesn’t mean sucking the enjoyment out of the process, or feeling guilty anytime you decide to watch your favorite show, or keep up with your latest obsession. It means being conscious about your decision.Ask yourself if you are watching out of habit. If so, take a moment to pause and consider whether watching TV is the best use of your time, particularly before bed, where studies have shown binge-watching has a detrimental effect on sleep quality.(Getty)Spot any patterns of behaviorIf you’re concerned binge-watching is affecting your mental health negatively, start to reflect on the patterns of your behavior. In just the same way some people binge eat when feeling sad, angry, or bored, start to pay attention to how you feel emotionally when you turn to the screen. Have you developed the habit of destressing or “switching off” after a hard day’s work? Do you watch comedy when you’re feeling sad, or drama when you’re feeling uncertain or lost?Identify healthier alternativesOnce you’ve looked at your habits and patterns, consider what healthy alternatives you could try. Think about turning to mindfulness, yoga, or meditation when you feel anxious or sad, rather than watching a new series. If you notice you binge-watch when lonely, think of creative ways you could be social during those times, such as joining a sports group or inviting friends for dinner.Address underlying emotionsAlthough binge-watching can offer temporary relief, if you are turning to the land of entertainment to escape difficult feelings, eventually those feelings will catch up with you. With a healthy dose of self-compassion, start to explore the underlying feelings you might be avoiding. That doesn’t mean going cold turkey and completely avoiding the comfort of a good show, but it does mean starting to pay some attention to avoidance or suppression mechanisms.Enjoy it(Getty)The other extreme of binge-watching is feeling guilt for even watching a few episodes. We live in an age of excess, and the key to integrating entertainment and consumption is finding a healthy balance, and enjoying the times you do spend sitting in front of the screen.If you’re more conscious of this, you might find you begin to enjoy your binge sessions even more. Something I like to do is take time to deliberate on what show I’ll watch next, and then commit to that show. I always have one “serious” program and one “lighthearted” program that I’ll watch at any given time. If someone recommends a show, it gets added to the list.Find out what works well for you, and achieve your inner sense of balance. Entertainment is designed to be fun. Film and TV are part of an information diet. Allow yourself to enjoy the occasional treat.