In an interview with The Guardian, Dunham spoke a bit about her memoir and her stories of the “spectacularly rude” way Driver acted toward her on the HBO series. He played Adam Sackler, the off-and-on boyfriend of Dunham’s Hannah Horvath throughout the show. During filming, Dunham remembered hurtled chairs and holes punched in trailers as just some of the treatment she endured while making her show. She explained to The Guardian that at the time she thought thats just how it was.

“At the time, I didn’t have the skill to … it never entered my mind to say, ‘I am your boss, you can’t speak to me this way,'” Dunham said. “And, at that point in my 20s, I still thought that’s what great male geniuses do: eviscerate you. Which is weird, because I was raised by a male genius who would never do that.”

He added: “I have lots of amazing men in my life. Judd [Apatow] is a great hero of mine; Tim Bevan at Working Title is a huge part of my life and so is cinematographer Sam Levy. I just worked with Mark Ruffalo, the most thoughtful, sensitive, politically engaged, beautiful person. There’s plenty of them walking around. But there were years when I thought: Can’t I just make things that only have women in them?”

Dunham made a name for herself in the early 2010s, when she created and starred in “Girls.” By 2013, she had made the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. “Girls” became a cultural juggernaut for HBO, earning them 19 Primetime Emmy nominations and two wins.

But despite the show’s success, the actress found herself constantly the target of online discussion going after her work and appearance. This caused her to retreat more from the creative world until her Netflix show “Too Much” premiered last year.

“I thought if I explain properly who I am, or give a glimpse of who I am, people are going to have a different perception of me, that we would be friends. But no one cares — and that’s fine. I always joke that I need a T-shirt that says ‘I survived New York media in 2012 and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.’” Dunham told The Times last summer. “All I got was this lousy PTSD.”

She added: “I felt like all the maturing and changing that had been kept at bay by the experience of being in that cocoon of the show was suddenly happening at a speed that was overwhelming. It was a painful metamorphosis. I definitely took an intentional break [from public life].”

The post Lena Dunham Originally Thought Adam Driver’s Rude Treatment of Her on ‘Girls’ Was ‘What Great Male Geniuses Do’ appeared first on TheWrap.

“It wasn’t a depiction,” Trump told reporters Monday, adding that he posted the photo himself. In the image, Trump is wearing a white tunic with a red garment around his shoulders, mirroring traditional depictions of Jesus. The image also shows him seemingly healing an ill man with his hands.

“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross. There’s a Red Cross worker, which we support, and only the fake news could come up with that one,” Trump said. “I just heard about it and I said, ‘How did they come up with that?’ It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better and I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

Watch the clip below.

Trump’s remarks come after he once again caused a stir online by posting and then deleting a meme of himself as Jesus Christ on Sunday on Truth Social.

It didn’t take long for Trump to be criticized online, with many calling the move “blasphemy.”

“I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” Megan Basham, a conservative Christian writer and commentator, wrote on X. “But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”

This all comes after Trump tried to diss Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social on Sunday by calling him “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy,” adding that he is not a “big fan” of him after the pope criticized Trump’s Iran war.

None of it phased the pope though, as he said he has “no fear” of Trump or his administration.

You can watch Trump’s full commentary in the video above.

The post Trump Responds to Backlash Over Meme Depicting Him as Jesus: ‘I Thought It Was Me as a Doctor’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

That’s according to a study from National Research Group in collaboration with The Wrap, which found audiences of all ages (but especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha) express a desire to reconnect with reality as a response to how isolated technology has made society.

“The majority of consumers believe that real-world experiences are more meaningful, more authentic to their true identities, and more conducive to building relationships with others,” NRG reports.

Out of 3,500 surveyed consumers between the ages of 13 and 64, 61% agreed that “real-world experiences feel more meaningful and memorable than digital ones,” with only 12% arguing that digital experiences can be equally meaningful and memorable. Likewise, 53% shared that they feel more like themselves while in the real world rather than online, and 56% feel more connected to people in the real world rather than online.

The study also found Americans expressing a greater interest in in-person events than at-home activities across four out of five key categories: movies, sports, gaming and dining. The only holdout was music — which makes sense considering the massive gulf in commitment between queuing an artist up on streaming and making the lengthy and pricey trek out to a full concert.

“Despite being the most digitally fluent generations in history, they’re also among the most eager to spend more of their free time offline, whether that’s going to the movies or simply playing video games with friends in the same physical space,” the report said.

The key demographics yearning for these live experiences may surprise readers. While Gen Z and Gen Alpha have both largely grown up in a world with entertainment constantly at their fingertips, these two generations demonstrate the largest enthusiasm in live experiences rather than remaining at home.

For example, out of 6,100 surveyed, 59% of Gen Alpha prefers watching movies in theaters more than at home, while 50% prefers attending sporting events in-person. Compare that to Gen X, where only 46% prefers watching movies in theaters and 42% prefer attending sporting events in-person.

The song remains the same across film, sports, video games and music, with Gen Alpha and Gen Z consistently being the two age groups most interested in live entertainment. The only exception is dining, where Gen Alpha is the most interested in dining out over ordering takeout or delivery, but Gen Z is the least interested. All four age demographics, however, had more 50% of those surveyed interested in dining out over dining at home.

What drives the Gen Alpha/Gen Z interest in live experiences? According to NRG, it’s the social aspect of being in a real environment with other people.

“In the case of moviegoing, for example, older generations are more likely to say they enjoy going because of the quality of the sound or the picture quality in theaters relative to what’s on offer at home. Younger Americans, on the other hand, go because they enjoy the experience of spending time with their friends and family, experiencing communal moments of joy and delight with others in the same physical space,” the report said. “That’s also why kids and teens are the most likely to say that they prefer going to a busy theater over a quiet one: it’s about the energy in the room as much as the story on the screen.”

The report noted a number of ways that theaters explicitly have attempted to drive in-person viewership in recent years, selling audiences on specialty experiences that can’t be recreated at home. “One Battle After Another” sold out screenings in the revived VistaVision format of the 1950s and early 1960s, while Ryan Coogler explained to audiences the differences between film formats to encourage 70mm IMAX viewings of “Sinners.” 

A number of experiential or novelty screenings popped up in 2025: “The Long Walk” invited a select audience to watch the film walking on treadmills, “Bugonia” hosted an early screening where audiences had to shave their heads to enter. The Sphere in Las Vegas, meanwhile, made headlines for its immersive and AI-expanded adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” for the venue’s specialty spherical format.

We’ve also seen theaters increasingly try their hands at programming screenings that aren’t movie-based in recent years, such as the “Stranger Things” finale and WWE WrestleMania. Theatrical events like these can prove crucial in a time when concerns over ticket prices to live sporting and music events continue to mount.

When NRG surveyed 3,000 participants between the ages of 13 and 54 over what non-movie content they’d attend in a movie theater, 64% expressed an interest in seeing landmark TV episodes (like finales and premieres), while 57% would see other special TV episodes (like reunions or holiday specials). 48% said they would watch live sports in a movie theater, and 47% were interested in other live events like televised concerts, but only 35% would watch an award ceremony in a theater.

“Theatrical spaces,” the study concludes, “are increasingly being reimagined as experiential hubs that can offer viewers something fundamentally different from what they’d get in their bedrooms or their living rooms.”

The post Why Young People Are Poised to Save Movie Theaters, In-Person Entertainment | Charts appeared first on TheWrap.

In his new role, Oshinsky will oversee the development of ESPN’s multiplatform storytelling efforts across “30 for 30,” ESPN Films, ESPN Originals, podcasts and scripted projects. He will head the sports network’s creative strategy, talent partnerships and the creation of its global master content slate.

“I’m thrilled to join an iconic brand like ESPN at such a pivotal moment for the industry,” Oshinsky said in a statement Monday. “I look forward to shaping the next chapter of ESPN’s original storytelling, marrying ambitious creative vision with formats and partnerships that meet audiences where they are.”

Oshinsky comes to ESPN having mostly recently served for six months as the Vice President of Creative Strategy at Business Insider. Prior to that, he worked as the Vice President of Global Content & Digital at PepsiCo, a position he held for three years after having previously served as an executive producer at the company and Senior Director of Global Communications.

Oshinsky’s other experience includes working as a director and executive producer at Time Studios, a two-year stint as Vice President of Sports Illustrated from 2017 through 2019 and a supervising producer at Time Inc. He returns to ESPN after having worked as an editor at the company for several months in 2005. He got his start in the sports entertainment world working as a producer for Major League Baseball.

Over the course of his 20+ year career, Oshinsky has received 14 Emmy Awards as well as multiple Webby, Telly and Anthem Awards. He previously produced and edited the 2010 ESPN “30 for 30” documentary “Four Days in October,” which charts the four games in the 2004 American League Championship Series when the Boston Red Sox became the first MLB team in history to win a best-of-seven playoff series after falling behind 0-3 to the New York Yankees.

Oshinsky’s appointment comes just a few months after ESPN officially closed its deal to acquire the NFL Network. Last week, ESPN also confirmed that longtime NBA and college football announcer Mark Jones was set to leave the network after 36 years. His last game as an ESPN play-by-play announcer came this past Sunday when the Orlando Magic traveled to Boston to take on the Boston Celtics. Jones’ departure was reportedly his decision.

The post ESPN Sets Josh Oshinsky as Senior Director of Original Content Development appeared first on TheWrap.

“Who’s this? I don’t recognize the number,” James Austin Johnson’s Trump asked as his phone rang in the cold open. He was then surprised to discover the unknown caller was the first lady herself (played by Chloe Fineman). “You’re calling me? That’s not a good sign,” Johnson’s Trump joked, and things did not get any better when she told him she wanted to host a press conference denying all ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

“Uh, darling, I gotta admit, this sounds a little insane,” Johnson’s Trump told his wife, before asking, “Who are you? Me?” The first lady surprised the president again when she said she did not want to just stop with Epstein.

“I thought I could also say, ‘I, Melania Trump, in no way, helped out the Gilgo Beach serial killer.’ That way no one is suspicious,” Fineman’s Melania pitched, to which Johnson’s unsettled Trump replied, “Darling, I think that’s gonna make everyone way more suspicious.”

Undeterred, Fineman’s first lady alternatively offered, “What if I announce I barely partied with Diddy? Would that help?” You can watch tonight’s “SNL” cold open yourself below.

Trump makes some urgent phone calls from the Oval Office pic.twitter.com/UtBjQYrxyo

— Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) April 12, 2026

The cold open itself began with Johnson’s Trump drafting his widely condemned Easter Sunday threat to Iran with the help of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (Ashley Padilla). Even Leavitt ended up expressing some concern about him ending his Truth Social threat with, “Praise be to Allah.”

“It’s a sarcastic attack on the world’s largest religion. They famously have a great sense of humor about that kind of stuff,” Johnson’s Trump explained. In response, Padilla’s Leavitt told the president, “As your press secretary, this puts me in a tough position, sir.” Trump chose to comfort Leavitt by telling her that, like ousted former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, she’s doing a “terrific job.”

As Padilla’s Leavitt walked away, Johnson’s Trump broke the “SNL” fourth wall, telling viewers, “All three of those [women] were played by Ashley. It’s an interesting detail.” The president then called Tiger Woods (Kenan Thompson), who relayed that he had checked himself into a rehab facility in Switzerland after his recent DUI car crash and, much to Trump’s annoyance, did not have any time to golf soon.

Johnson’s Trump ended the “SNL” cold open by calling Colin Jost’s Pete Hegseth, who asked him if he was really negotiating with the Iranians. “Don’t worry about the negotiations. I just heard they’re going really, really bad,” the president said. “I sent in my secret weapon, [Vice President] JD Vance. After those Iranians spent 20 hours talking to JD, they said, ‘Please sir, just go back to bombing us.'”

“Keep up the good work,” Johnson’s Trump subsequently told Jost’s Hegseth. “If you think of a good reason why we went to war, could you let me know?”

The post ‘SNL’ Cold Open Roasts Melania’s ‘Insane’ Epstein Press Conference: ‘Make Everyone Way More Suspicious’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

“Images have power, I hope. Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me,” Altman wrote alongside a family photo posted to his blog Friday afternoon. “The first person did it last night, at 3:45 am in the morning. Thankfully it bounced off the house and no one got hurt.”

He continued: “Words have power too. There was an incendiary article about me a few days ago. Someone said to me yesterday they thought it was coming at a time of great anxiety about AI and that it made things more dangerous for me. I brushed it aside.”

Yet, as Altman noted, not long after brushing aside the profile by Ronan Farrow, titled “Sam Altman May Control Our Future — Can He Be Trusted?,” he found himself “awake in the middle of the night and pissed, and thinking that I have underestimated the power of words and narratives.”

“This seems like as good of a time as any to address a few things,” he continued. “First, what I believe: Working towards prosperity for everyone, empowering all people, and advancing science and technology are moral obligations for me. AI will be the most powerful tool for expanding human capability and potential that anyone has ever seen. Demand for this tool will be essentially uncapped, and people will do incredible things with it. The world deserves huge amounts of AI and we must figure out how to make it happen.”

Altman then acknowledged that the “fear and anxiety about AI is justified,” stating that the industry has to get “safety right.”

Later on in his statement, he described himself as “being conflict-averse,” citing his upcoming trial with Elon Musk, in which the tech giant has asked for his removal as CEO.

“I was thinking about our upcoming trial with Elon and remembering how much I held the line on not being willing to agree to the unilateral control he wanted over OpenAI,” he added. “I’m proud of that, and the narrow path we navigated then to allow the continued existence of OpenAI, and all the achievements that followed.”

Altman went on: “I am not proud of being conflict-averse, which has caused great pain for me and OpenAI. I am not proud of handling myself badly in a conflict with our previous board that led to a huge mess for the company. I have made many other mistakes throughout the insane trajectory of OpenAI; I am a flawed person in the center of an exceptionally complex situation, trying to get a little better each year, always working for the mission. We knew going into this how huge the stakes of AI were, and that the personal disagreements between well-meaning people I cared about would be amplified greatly.”

Nonetheless, Altman said it was “another thing to live through these bitter conflicts and often to have to arbitrate them, and the costs have been serious. I am sorry to people I’ve hurt and wish I had learned more faster.”

Read his full statement here.

The post Sam Altman Responds to ‘Incendiary’ New Yorker Article and Molotov Cocktail Attack appeared first on TheWrap.

Jackson Jr., who portrayed Ice Cube in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic, “Straight Outta Compton,” took to X on Friday evening after one user asked why his dad hadn’t been “in a good movie since the ’90s,” suggesting everything since was “straight garbage.”

“Listen. I could just say the ‘Jumpstreet’ films and end this,” Jackson Jr. sounded off. “But ‘All About the Benjamins’ not good? ‘Fist Fight’ not good? ‘Lottery Ticket’ not good? ‘TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES’ NOT GOOD!?! [He’s] been in FOUR franchises since the 2000s began.”

Jackson Jr. then went on to name the blockbuster franchises, including the “Barbershop” trilogy, both “Jumpstreet” movies, “Ride Along,” as well as the “Are We Done Yet” movies and show, which the rap legend created and executive produced.

“And added two more ‘Fridays,'” he went on. “So, technically it’s 5! Don’t let some movie that they shot DURING THE PANDEMIC!!!!! IN HIS DAMN OFFICE WITH NOBODY AROUND HIM that a studio decided to still release 5….YEARS……LATER (for some reason) make you get hot in the ass to disrespect MY GUY.”

Jackson Jr. was clearly referencing Ice Cube’s “War of the Worlds,” which came out this year and was panned by critics. It was notably named the worst film of the year by the 2026 Razzie Awards, winning five awards in total, including Worst Picture, Actor, Director and Remake.

Nonetheless, Ice Cube’s son refused to let a fan speak poorly about his dad’s career, adding, “But brotha check thyself…before you wreck thyself. Now you go on and get ya ass up outta here. And don’t forget to share like and subscribe. The one piece is real.”

Read his full statement below.

Listen.

I could just say the Jumpstreet films and end this.

But All About the Benjamins not good? Fist Fight not good? Lottery Ticket not good? TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES NOT GOOD!?!

He been in FOUR franchises since the 2000’s began

Barbershop- Trilogy
Are we done yet.… https://t.co/IvHIJq2FD7

— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) April 11, 2026

Earlier on Friday, Jackson Jr. shouted out the news that Ice Cube and Kevin Hart were in talks to return for “Ride Along 3,” writing on X, “Now please believe if I’m in this … It is 100 percent Nepotism.”

Jackson Jr., who is the oldest son of Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff, has made a name for himself in Hollywood in the last decade, with film credits in “Ingrid Goes West,” “Den of Thieves,” “Long Shot,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” “Just Mercy” and “Cocaine Bear,” among other titles. He also appeared in three episodes of 2022’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”

The post O’Shea Jackson Jr. Blasts Fan’s Claim Dad Ice Cube Peaked in the ’90s: ‘Brotha, Check Thyself’ appeared first on TheWrap.

During Friday’s monologue for “Real Time With Bill Maher,” which taped just before the Artemis II astronauts successfully returned to Earth, the comedian admitted he just “didn’t get” all the chatter about the space mission.

“At a time where there’s a lot of tension going on here on Earth, this is kind of the feel good story that has everybody excited,” Maher said. “Wherever I go, ‘Bill, did you see the photos?’ Yeah, I saw them. Earth as I’ve always seen it.”

As Maher went on, he joked that he didn’t mean to be “the wet blanket on the moon,” but shared he just couldn’t match everyone else’s excitement.

“Everybody’s like, ‘If we’re on the moon, we can get to Mars.’ I don’t want to go there either,” he quipped. “There’s nothing out there, except other rocks. Let’s fix the s–tshow here on Earth.”

Maher didn’t just voice his stance in his monologue, as he took another dig at the Artemis II mission while speaking with his guest panelists, Douglas Murray and Paul Rieckhoff.

Earlier this week, Trump threatened to wipe out Iran’s “whole civilization.” He said: I’m not bluffing. Did you see what I did to Atlantic City? pic.twitter.com/4eGoM1JhQx

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) April 11, 2026

“I’m not a fan of going to the moon,” Maher said. “Same question I’ve been asking since I was a kid. Why? Is it worth the money? What are we doing there? It’s just another big f–king rock.”

Per Maher, the money spent on the recent space mission could’ve been spent “more wisely,” especially since, as he put it, there wasn’t really a goal for the operation.

“By the way, it’s not outer space, it’s right next door. It’s nothing,” Maher noted. “Here’s the universe, and we’re on the moon, 250 miles away. I have more miles on Delta.”

Maher blasted space travel as something for “rich people to do that’s fun,” defending “we’re not really getting anything from it.”

After Rieckhoff said he vehemently disagreed with Maher, sharing the Artemis II inspired hope as the astronauts have “gone further than any people have gone,” the late night personality retorted: “By 10 more miles. We’ve been to the moon before. We know [what it is].”

New episodes of “Real Time With Bill Maher” air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

The post Bill Maher Doesn’t Get All the Hype Over the Artemis II Mission: ‘Let’s Fix the S–tshow on Earth’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

In a joint statement released Friday evening, the House Minority Leader, along with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, demanded “a swift investigation” into the allegations and demanded that Swalwell exit California’s race for governor.

“Following the incredibly disturbing sexual assault accusations against Congressman Eric Swalwell, we call for a swift investigation into these incidents and for the Congressman to immediately end his campaign to be California’s next Governor,” the statement noted. “This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously.”

The message continued: “We commend the courageous women for sharing their experiences. In this and all circumstances, we must ensure that those who come forward with allegations of sexual assault and harassment are heard and respected. All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.”

Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar were not alone in their sentiment, as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also advised Swalwell to end his campaign.

“The young woman who has made serious allegations against Congressman Swalwell must be respected and heard,” Pelosi said in a statement to media, referencing an explosive report by the San Francisco Chronicle. “As I discussed with Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.”

Similarly, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) publicly withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell on X Friday. “I have read the San Francisco Chronicle’s account and I am deeply distressed by its allegations,” he wrote. “This woman was brave to come forward, and we should take her story seriously. I am withdrawing my endorsement immediately, and believe that he should withdraw from the race.”

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) also withdrew his endorsement of Swalwell, sharing the update in a short X post on Friday: “In light of the recent allegations against Representative Eric Swalwell, I am withdrawing my endorsement of his campaign for Governor.”

Fellow California Congressman Ro Khanna co-signed calls for an investigation, especially in the wake of the Epstein files controversy. “Meeting with Epstein survivors has taught me how much trauma survivors endure and how much courage it takes for them to speak up,” Khanna said on X. “No one in a position of power should be allowed to act above the law or with impunity. It doesn’t matter what office you hold, how wealthy you are, or which political party you align with. The same rules must apply to Eric Swalwell. There must be the appropriate law enforcement investigations and House ethics investigations. He must be held accountable. There cannot be two tiers of justice in this nation.”

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) slammed Swalwell in his own X post, blasting the congressman’s alleged actions as “indefensible.”

“Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed,” he added. “I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired. I am withdrawing my endorsement of Congressman Swalwell, effective immediately.”

The denouncements and outcry came after four women, including an ex-staffer for Swalwell who accused him of sexual assault, alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the gubernatorial candidate, including nonconsensual touching, unsolicited explicit messages and more, in reports from CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle.

Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) April 11, 2026

Swalwell denied the allegations, noting in a statement to media: “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the front-runner for governor. For nearly 20 years, I have served the public – as a prosecutor and a congressman and have always protected women. I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action. My focus in the coming days is to be with my wife and children and defend our decades of service against these lies.”

The post Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi and More Call on Eric Swalwell to End Run for Governor After Bombshell Sexual Assault Allegations appeared first on TheWrap.

Allison Katz Mayfield, LA28 SVP of revenue, addressed the backlash during an appearance on “Good Day LA” Thursday, where she defended that “locals had the best access to the widest breadth of tickets.” Per Katz Mayfield, tickets priced at $28 “went quickly,” noting hundreds of thousands got scooped up during the presale.

Though LA28 stated that 30% of remaining tickets were priced under $200, many users claimed that high profile events—including the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies—only showed premium seats as available, which cost as high as $5,000. Per event organizers, there is a 24% service fee added to the cost of tickets, and includes fees for infrastructure, payment processing and customer service.

“If you want to sit in the absolute best seat at the highest demand event, those do go for over $1,000 for sure,” Katz Mayfield said. “But this isn’t your only chance to get those affordable tickets.”

The current drop window, known as “Drop 1,” will stay open until April 19, where those selected are able to purchase up to 12 Olympic session tickets. However, Katz Mayfield shared there wasn’t any new inventory added as Drop 1 entered its global phase on Thursday.

Those not selected for Drop 1 were automatically entered into future ticket releases, which are scheduled for later in the year. Additionally, more registration opportunities for ticket drops will be coming in the months to come.

In fact, Katz Mayfield warned Olympics fans to avoid purchasing tickets on resellers, at least for now.

“If you’re seeing tickets on resale platforms in 2026, they are not verified,” she said. “They may be speculative.”

LA28 organizers also reiterated to the outlet that nearly 50% of their Olympic tickets were available for under $200, and that more than three-quarters of all the tickets, including finals events, have been priced under $400. They also shared that about 5% of tickets cost more than $1,000.

The ticketing controversy isn’t the first to hit LA28 in recent months. Casey Wasserman, the embattled chairperson of the LA28 Olympics committee, has faced calls to resign in the aftermath of his Epstein-related revelations. Still, even after thousands of petitioners and locally elected officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, spoke out against Wasserman, the LA28 board — which consists of figures like Jeffrey Katzenberg, Jeanie Buss, Kevin McCarthy and Jessica Alba — continue to stand with him.

The post LA28 Organizers Promise There Will Be Other Chances to Get Affordable Tickets After Pricing Backlash appeared first on TheWrap.