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Prepared in the supplied September 2026 research pack. No site publication date. Claims and outcomes below remain the original draft’s wording.
In 2024, AI fakes, a doctored royal photo and a rap feud all went viral, and courtrooms kept reversing big cases. Several stories that started that year, including the Combs prosecution and the fight over It Ends With Us, were still in the news in 2026. Here is what happened and how each one turned out.
Sexually explicit AI-generated images of Swift spread widely on X. In response, the platform temporarily blocked searches for her name, CNN and The Washington Post reported. The incident put new pressure on tech companies and lawmakers to deal with nonconsensual deepfakes.
How it ended: X lifted the search block within days, Axios reported. The debate over rules for deepfakes continued.
Kensington Palace released a Mother's Day family photo, and major photo agencies withdrew it over signs of editing. On March 11, Catherine apologized "for any confusion" and acknowledged that the image had been edited. On March 22, she said in a video message that tests had found cancer and that she was having preventative chemotherapy.
How it ended: She said in September 2024 that she had finished chemotherapy, and in January 2025 that she was in remission.
This Investigation Discovery docuseries featured former Nickelodeon cast and crew describing a toxic work environment. Drake Bell spoke publicly about abuse he said he experienced as a child actor. ID added a fifth episode. Producer Dan Schneider, who was central to the series, sued its producers for defamation in May 2024.
Status: Variety reported in 2026 that Schneider lost his defamation case on appeal.
Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Combs's properties in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a federal investigation based in New York. No charges were announced at the time, and the searches drew intense media attention.
How it ended: The investigation led to his indictment and arrest in September (see No. 11).
New York's highest court overturned Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial. The ruling was a major setback for a case that had come to symbolize the #MeToo movement.
Status: At a 2025 retrial, he was found guilty on one count and acquitted on another. A third trial ended in a mistrial in May 2026, and prosecutors dropped that remaining charge in June 2026. His separate Los Angeles conviction stands.
The long-running rivalry turned into a series of diss tracks. Lamar's "Not Like Us" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May. It became an anthem that summer.
How it ended: Lamar won five Grammys for the song in 2025. Drake sued Universal Music Group for defamation, a federal judge dismissed the case in 2025, and Drake filed a notice of appeal.
Police in Sag Harbor, New York, arrested Timberlake and charged him with driving while intoxicated. On September 13, he pleaded guilty to a lesser traffic violation, driving while ability impaired. He paid a $500 fine, agreed to community service and recorded a public safety announcement. "This is a mistake that I made," he told reporters.
How it ended: Plea deal, fine and community service.
After months of on-and-off talks, Paramount Global signed a merger agreement with David Ellison's Skydance Media. The deal ended the Redstone family's control of CBS and Paramount Pictures.
How it ended: The deal closed in August 2025 after it was approved by the FCC.
During Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial over the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, a New Mexico judge dismissed the case. The ruling came after the defense argued that prosecutors had withheld evidence related to ammunition.
How it ended: The judge refused to revive the case in October 2024, and in December prosecutors dropped their appeal, Deadline reported.
The film became a box office hit, but its press tour set off online backlash and rumors of tension on set. In December, Lively filed a complaint with California's Civil Rights Department. She accused co-star and director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and a retaliatory smear campaign, which he denied. Baldoni sued The New York Times for $250 million over its reporting.
How it ended: Baldoni's claims were dismissed in 2025, and the two sides settled in May 2026.
Federal agents arrested Combs in New York after a grand jury indicted him on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. A judge ordered him held without bail.
How it ended: In July 2025, a jury acquitted him of racketeering and sex trafficking and convicted him on prostitution-related counts. He was sentenced to 50 months.
After the presidential debate, Swift endorsed Harris on Instagram and signed the post "Childless Cat Lady." NPR reported that a link in her post brought a surge of visits to vote.gov.
How it ended: Harris lost the November election to Donald Trump.
Lopez filed for divorce in Los Angeles about two years after the couple married. The filing ended the second chapter of the romance fans had nicknamed "Bennifer."
How it ended: They reached a settlement in January 2025, and the divorce was finalized in February 2025.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he would recommend resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menendez. They had been serving life without parole for killing their parents in 1989. The decision gave the brothers a possible path to parole.
How it ended: A judge resentenced them in May 2025, and they were denied parole in August 2025.
The former One Direction singer died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentine police said. The autopsy found he died of polytrauma, meaning multiple injuries.
Status: Argentine authorities charged five people. In February 2025, a court dismissed charges against three of them, including his friend and two hotel employees.
Searches for Taylor Swift on X come up empty after explicit AI pictures go viral — CNN, January 27, 2024
X lifts block on searches for Taylor Swift, imposed after fake sexually explicit images spread — Axios, January 2024
Princess Kate admits photo editing, apologizes "for any confusion" as agencies drop image of her and her kids — CBS News, March 11, 2024
Kate, Princess of Wales, announces cancer diagnosis, says she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy — CBS News, March 22, 2024
Princess Catherine completes chemotherapy treatment for cancer — NPR, September 9, 2024
The Princess of Wales says her cancer is in remission — NPR, January 14, 2025
Drake Bell and other former Nickelodeon stars allege toxic environment in new docuseries — NBC News, March 2024
Dan Schneider sues 'Quiet on Set' producers for defamation — The Washington Post, May 1, 2024
Dan Schneider Loses 'Quiet on Set' Defamation Suit on Appeal — Variety, 2026
What we know about the federal raids at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' homes — PBS News, March 2024
New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes conviction and orders a new trial — CNN, April 25, 2024
Weinstein's New York rape charge dropped after accuser says she can't endure a 4th trial — PBS News, June 2026
Kendrick Lamar's Drake Diss Track 'Not Like Us' Debuts At No. 1 On The Hot 100 — Forbes, May 13, 2024
Judge dismisses Drake's 'Not Like Us' defamation lawsuit against UMG — NBC News, 2025
Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to impaired driving, gets $500 fine and will make PSA — NPR, September 13, 2024
Paramount agrees to merge with Skydance, ending monthslong negotiations and Redstone era — CNBC, July 8, 2024
Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' case, blaming prosecutor conduct — The Washington Post, July 12, 2024
Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Manslaughter Case Finally Over — Deadline, December 2024
How Blake Lively Turned 'It Ends With Us' Into A Box Office Success — Deadline, August 2024
Justin Baldoni Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against New York Times Over Blake Lively Story — Variety, December 2024
Sean "Diddy" Combs arrested, charged with sex trafficking and ordered held without bail — CBS News, September 2024
Taylor Swift's endorsement of Kamala Harris drives voters to visit vote.gov — NPR, September 10, 2024
Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce From Ben Affleck — Variety, August 20, 2024
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck settle divorce, ask judge to approve — CBS News, January 2025
District Attorney Gascón Announces Decision in Resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez — County of Los Angeles, October 24, 2024
Liam Payne, former One Direction singer, dies in fall from Argentina hotel balcony at 31 — PBS News, October 2024
Liam Payne's cause of death confirmed in autopsy report: What is polytrauma? — TODAY, October 2024
Argentina court clears 3 accused in singer Liam Payne's death — NBC News, February 2025
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