A Los Angeles judge on April 23 dismissed defamation claims in a $500 million countersuit filed by Motown legend Smokey Robinson and his wife against four former employees who have sued him for sexual assault. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin C. Brazile ruled the Robinsons failed to show the plaintiffs acted with the “actual malice” required under California’s anti‑SLAPP standards for public‑figure defamation claims. The decision focused narrowly on whether statements made at a widely publicised press conference were defamatory and is not a ruling on the underlying sexual‑assault allegations, which seek about $50 million and remain pending. The judge allowed several non‑defamation claims in the cross‑complaint — including allegations related to theft of property, deletion of evidence and other torts — to continue through discovery. Lawyers for the accusers called the ruling a vindication for survivors and a check on retaliatory countersuits; the Robinsons’ attorney said they disagree and plan to press remaining claims. A civil trial over the core allegations is tentatively scheduled for 2027; no criminal charges have been filed to date.

Bravo filmed the Season 10 reunion of reality series Summer House on April 23, 2026, with host Andy Cohen saying he walked out of “one of the most intense” reunions he’s ever hosted. Bravo released the seating chart that day: Cohen sits between Ciara Miller and Amanda Batula, with West Wilson beside Batula and estranged husband Kyle Cooke seated opposite. The taping brought cast members face-to-face for the first time since Batula and Wilson confirmed their romance on March 31, weeks after Batula announced a separation from Cooke. Producers kept the traditional full-cast reunion format and, according to Cohen, “every question was asked.” Cast members and insiders have signalled a focus on timeline and accountability over when the relationship began; Miller has said the public fallout has been painful. Networks have slated the special to air in late May, following the season’s finale, and streaming platforms will carry the episode after broadcast.

ABC and Disney announced on April 22–23 that reality stars Ciara Miller and Maura Higgins are the first celebrity cast members confirmed for Dancing With the Stars Season 35, which will air this fall on ABC and Disney+ with next-day streaming on Hulu. The announcement was made during Hulu’s Get Real House event. Miller, a Summer House regular who also appeared on The Traitors, joins the show amid intense public attention after a recent Bravo cast fallout; Higgins, an Irish model and former Love Island contestant who finished runner-up on The Traitors US and has hosted Love Island USA spin-offs, has a substantial social-media following. The network also unveiled Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, a new summer spinoff premiering July 13 and hosted by Season 34 winner Robert Irwin; Mark and Shirley Ballas will judge. DWTS is produced by BBC Studios with Conrad Green as showrunner. The casting follows Season 34’s strong ratings and record fan voting, reflecting the franchise’s recent resurgence and its strategy of leveraging reality-TV crossovers and social media engagement to attract younger viewers.

The Neighbourhood, a new ITV reality series hosted by Graham Norton, premiered on ITV1 and ITVX on April 24, 2026. The 11‑episode format places six real households — including the Kandolas and Samra (Bedfordshire), twin sisters in 'Scouse Haus', the Brandons (Essex), the Pescuds (Cambridgeshire), the Uni Boys (Nottingham) and the Lozman‑Sturrocks (Darlington) — into a purpose‑built street where they live 24/7 and compete in everyday‑themed challenges for a £250,000 cash prize. Households that lose risk 'The Removals' elimination: participants place 'For Sale' signs outside other homes and the household with the most signs is immediately eliminated. Norton watches much of the action from a secret location, escorts eliminated contestants to their vans and says the series was filmed with nearly 200 cameras. Press coverage highlights both genuinely heartwarming bonding moments and heated family rows, and ITV has scheduled the premiere to maximise viewing against the live final of I'm A Celebrity South Africa.

Tate Britain and Teesside University’s Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) have announced the four artists shortlisted for the 2026 Turner Prize: Simeon Barclay, Kira Freije, Marguerite Humeau and Tanoa Sasraku. Barclay was nominated for The Ruin, an hour‑long spoken‑word performance reflecting on industrial northern England, class, race and masculinity; Freije for Unspeak the Chorus, a sculptural installation of metal, fabric and life‑size figures; Humeau for Torches, a cinematic sculptural work probing ecological and speculative themes; and Sasraku for Morale Patch, an installation addressing political and military histories of oil. The shortlisted works will be shown at MIMA from late September 2026 through 29 March 2027, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony on 10 December 2026. Each shortlisted artist receives £10,000 and the winner will take a £25,000 prize. Jury chair Alex Farquharson said the selection “presents a rich and diverse range of work” with a strong emphasis on sculptural practice. The announcement marks the Turner Prize’s move into a university setting and underlines continuing debates over the boundaries of contemporary British art.

LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian marked their 15th wedding anniversary on April 22, 2026, with a short getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but the celebration was overshadowed by personal concerns. In an Instagram post on April 23, Rimes described the trip as “a different anniversary, one filled with tears and worry,” saying the pair had stepped away for three days amid “very tense, heart‑wrenching things happening at home with family.” The singer‑actress shared photos and video from the resort, thanked her husband for his support and reflected on the couple’s 15 years together and their ability to “ride the waves.” Rimes also posted a lighter tribute the previous day that included playful “new vows,” referencing perimenopause and a past onstage mishap about losing teeth. Media outlets noted the couple’s well‑publicized origin and subsequent reconciliation with public scrutiny since meeting on the set of Northern Lights; they married in 2011 and Rimes is stepmother to Cibrian’s two sons. Neither Rimes nor Cibrian disclosed specifics about the family issues. Fans and colleagues responded with messages of support across social platforms.