Although the session was formally intended as routine congressional oversight of the Justice Department, much of the questioning centered on Epstein and individuals now serving in the administration who appear in the documents—including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who, records show, visited Little Saint James, Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
But perhaps the hearing's most striking moment came when Bondi kept her head down and her back turned to the victims, refusing to look at them as they raised their hands—actions that feel representative of the Trump administration's overall attitude toward the Epstein scandal.
You can see the photo below.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
The photo sparked renewed criticism of Bondi's actions and the Trump administration's larger cover-up.
Following her contentious testimony, Bondi saw a sharp shift in betting markets over her political future.
On Polymarket, her chances of becoming the first member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to be dismissed climbed significantly after the hearing. Her odds, which had been below 45 percent on Tuesday, surged to nearly 65 percent by Wednesday as she sparred with lawmakers.
Notably, members of Congress criticized Bondi over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files disclosures. Several accused the department of failing to properly shield victims’ identities, as required by law.
At one point, Washington Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal said that in some instances “nude images” of survivors had been made public, including individuals whose identities had remained protected for decades. She called on Bondi to issue an apology to the victims for what she described as serious failures in the redaction process.
Bondi dismissed the line of questioning as “theatrics,” at one point saying she would not “get in the gutter with this woman.”
The 35-year-old actor described the so-called “gift” that left her stunned:
“Very, very early in my career, an actor I worked with—a male actor—gave me a book called 'Why French Women Don’t Get Fat'… It was essentially a book telling you to eat less.”
And Robbie didn’t sugarcoat her response, “I was like, ‘Whoa, f–k you, dude.’”
The story surfaced as Robbie reflected on how far she has come. She began acting in 2008 as Donna Freedman on the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before making her Hollywood debut in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street, which earned five Academy Award nominations. Following the successes of I, Tonya and Barbie, Robbie was named the world’s highest-paid actress in 2023.
Which made the implication behind the book hard to miss for Robbie:
“He essentially gave me a book to let me know that I should lose weight.”
That book in question, French Women Don’t Get Fat—yes, dear reader, I googled it—was published in 2007 by French-American author Mireille Guiliano. Marketed as a “non-diet” lifestyle guide, it became a number-one New York Times bestseller and was translated into 40 languages.
But the synopsis reads less like liberation and more like instruction:
“French women don’t get fat, even though they enjoy bread and pastry, wine, and regular three-course meals. Unlocking the simple secrets of this ‘French paradox’—how they enjoy food while staying slim and healthy.”
Whatever its branding, Robbie’s experience highlights how quickly “wellness” rhetoric can slip into unsolicited commentary about women’s bodies—particularly in Hollywood, where appearance is often treated as part of the job.
Charli pressed for more details, asking whether the actor was “still acting.”
But Robbie brushed off the idea that she keeps tabs on him:
“That was a very long [time ago]. I have no idea where he would even be now. Really back in the day.”
Turning to the camera, Charli cheekily quipped, “Your career's over, babe.”
You can watch the WOAT (Worst of All Time) gift portion of the interview at the 11:58 mark:
- YouTubeComplex
It’s a tale as old as Hollywood itself: bright lights, big dreams, and someone suggesting you’d look better five or 15 pounds lighter. For years, actors have spoken about body pressure packaged as “lifestyle” guidance. In 2017, Jennifer Lawrence said that early in her career, a producer asked her to lose 15 pounds in two weeks.
She described a humiliating experience on set:
"During this time, a female producer had me do a nude line-up with about five women who were much, much thinner than me. We all stood side-by-side with only tape on covering our privates.”
Chloë Grace Moretz has said she was body-shamed by a male costar when she was 15, and he was in his mid-20s. Emma Thompson revealed she nearly left the 2008 film Brideshead Revisited after her female co-star was asked to lose weight. Melanie Lynskey has also shared that a member of the production body-shamed her on the set of Yellowjackets.
While conversations around body image have evolved, scrutiny has not disappeared—especially amid ongoing public discussion around rapid weight loss and GLP-1 medications. Robbie’s story, though delivered with humor, reflects a broader pattern actors have described for years: criticism framed as concern. And those are only the stories we’ve heard.
One can only imagine how many others remain untold.
Fans online quickly called out the unnamed actor’s behavior as inappropriate, with some sharing that they, too, had received the same book as an unsolicited “gift.”
You can view the reactions here:
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The interview wasn’t all heavy. The duo also debated their picks for the greatest Hollywood heartthrobs of all time, with Charli choosing Jack Nicholson and Robbie naming the late Montgomery Clift
Charli even shared her own worst gift of all time:
“I received once a small jar of one of my fan's mother's ashes. It was a jar on a necklace. I just didn't quite know what to do with it ... I don't know where it is now.”
Their conversation comes as they collaborate on Wuthering Heights, writer-director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel. The romantic period drama, starring Robbie alongside Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan Mitchell, arrives in theaters tomorrow.
Charli provided the soundtrack, with the first single, “House,” featuring Welsh musician John Cale, described as a departure from the sound of her previous album, Brat.
If anything, the exchange underscored how far Robbie has come, from navigating unsolicited critiques about her body to leading major films on her own terms. In an industry still reckoning with body shaming, her blunt reflection felt like a healthy boundary.
"What the f is this?"
There were many possible points of discussion, like two servings of chicken being priced at $90 and a slice of carrot cake coming in at another $18.
But the jarring feature on the receipt was the mandatory tip, called a "service charge" at 20 percent. Based on this meal, it was $32.20 before tax, so the customers technically had to pay the $32.20 and another few dollars just to cover the tip.
The Burdell staff also printed a note at the bottom of the receipt, describing the service charge:
"Tipping in the US has an ugly past, allowing the continuation of underpaid labor. We don't like that history."
"Included on your check is a 20% Service Charge, which we use to pay hourly staff a consistent and livable wage, not dependent on archaic tipping customs or chance."
"No need to add anything else. Thank you!"
You can see the original receipt here:
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Fellow Redditors called the restaurant out for still placing the onus on their customers.
"So, 'we don't like the tipping culture,' and YOU will need to pay our staff a livable wage. I will be honest, I would have asked for it to be removed!" - Bluestatevibes
"We don’t like tipping, it is ugly, so here is a 20% service charge instead. Thank you, and please come again. Don’t forget we charged you nine dollars for boiled peanuts, too." - jkprop
"He is still using his customers to pay his employees, while making a 400% markup on a chicken breast."
"He is still a sh*tty business owner. Don’t go there, and spam the reviews with one star." - Lovetritoons
"The business takes this money and then 'distributes' it. It’s right there in the ridiculous notation. I only tip cash and would have asked for this to be removed." - Rivercomplex1769
"We also added tax to that 20% surcharge... for your convenience. You're welcome." - MyldExcitement
Other Redditors agreed and pointed out that the restaurant should have the money to pay their staff, based on the receipt totals.
"$90 for two chickens and $16 for carrot cake! Let's be honest, with prices like these, they can more than afford to pay their employees a livable wage. The markup on the chicken alone is 600 to 800%!" - Imposter_89
"If they’re going to do this, they should just raise prices on everything a bit to even things out instead of a surprise charge later." - lycanthrope90
"This is the same as just upping the menu 20%. Problem is, I don’t think the OP knew it would happen before the bill came, which is the scummy part." - Consistent_Laziness
"If you don't like tipping, don't give your money to companies that expect you to pay for their employees. Simple as that." - ilikepastuh
"This is the problem, though... Not tipping does not end the problem of a business not paying its employees. Not eating at the bull sh*t establishment or people refusing to work there will be the only thing to cause the change." - confident_cabbage
It's commendable that this restaurant is at least bringing the issue up and attempting to address it, but their methods are questionable at best.
By driving up prices and adding mandatory fees, they're still placing the responsibility on their customers to pay their staff, simply by calling it something else, which is less than sustainable in the long run.
But in the middle of the sidewalk was an unhoused man, napping in a somewhat shaded area, lying in the fetal position directly on the cement with nothing underneath him.
Without stopping, the robot rolled off of the sidewalk to go around the sleeping, unhoused man, and then circled back onto the sidewalk to approach the TikToker recording the video to continue dropping off its delivery.
The delivery robot continued to drive until it reached the TikToker's feet and stopped, either ready for the TikToker to check in to receive their delivery, or confused about the new obstacle in its way.
You can watch the TikTok video here:
Fellow TikTokers were alarmed by what they had just watched.
Many were specifically focused on how dystopian this moment felt and how easily it could be slipped into a Black Mirror episode.
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The video footage also spread to the X platform, where X users were equally disturbed.
X users agreed with TikTok's sentiments about the moment feeling dystopian, though some also called it "cyberpunk" with the involvement of a literal robot.
This moment caught on camera is an interesting and chilling examination of how invisible unhoused people often are, even when they are in exceedingly exposed spaces. But seeing a robot, which had an unaffected reaction to the unhoused man and went around him like he was nothing, is an eye-opening example of how unhoused people are commonly perceived.
The alarming truth, however, is that this is how unhoused people are often interacted with by their fellow humans who have better living conditions. While they might have had a more visceral reaction to seeing the unhoused man sleeping on the middle of the sidewalk, there's a very real possibility that most people—not just robots—would also walk by him without doing anything about him being there or offering him help.
At the time, Van Der Beek was honest but positive about his condition, and he was grateful that he was learning more about self-love and being vulnerable with those he loved most by allowing himself to depend on them when he needed to.
To announce his departure, Van Der Beek's wife, Kimberly, posted on his Instagram account:
"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning."
"He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace."
"There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come."
"For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Fans were heartbroken at the loss of Van Der Beek.
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In the immediate aftermath of his passing, it's clear how much Van Der Beek meant to so many people, especially his friends, family, and those he worked the most closely with, like his fellow Dawson's Creek cast.
Katie Holmes, who played Van Der Beek's love interest on Dawson's Creek, penned a powerful message by hand.
"James, thank you. To share space with your imagination is sacred, breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each others' hearts are safe in their expression..."
"These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs, adventures of a unique youth..."
"Bravery, compassion, selflessness, strength. An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art, creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children, the journey of a hero."
"I mourn this loss with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it."
"To Kimberly and the children, we are here for you always. And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion."
Busy Philipps, who played Audrey on Dawson's Creek, shared another touching tribute on Instagram.
"My heart is deeply hurting for all of us today… every person who knew James and loved him, anyone who loved his work or had the pleasure of meeting him, all of his dear friends and community that surrounded him as he battled this illness, especially his parents, brother, and sister."
"But I am profoundly heartbroken for his incredible wife, Kimberly, and their six magical children."
"James Van Der Beek was one in a billion, and he will be forever missed."
"I don’t know what else to say. I am just so, so sad. He was my friend, and I loved him, and I’m so grateful for our friendship all these years."
According to his loved ones and costars, the actor was truly one in a million. His unique love for her life was apparent in his final months, when he repeatedly mentioned what he was most grateful for.
We hope his loved ones can find peace beyond his cancer battle, and remember the good times.
