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Have You Noticed They're Always Reading on Friends? Yes, Even Joey


It seems like every few months, there’s a new aspect of Friends to discuss, like when we learned why all the walls were purple in Monica’s apartment. Or that we’ve been singing the wrong lyrics to the theme song this whole time. But one thing that hasn’t been explored yet? All the books read in the hit ’90s show—and what they mean for the characters.

The books that the crew—yes, including Joey—choose have a lot of significance, once you start digging. Some serve as a subtle insight into the character’s mindset at the time (see: the irony of Ross reading The Idiot). Others move the plot forward, like a birthday gift Chandler buys for Joey’s girlfriend because he has feelings for her. A few notable ones even foreshadow events to come. They all, however, show us something deeper about Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, and Monica.

But before we begin, a disclaimer: We didn’t include newspapers, magazines, or any books that are hanging out in the background at Central Perk. We’re talking strictly about books that the characters really read in an episode. So, for example, even though we saw the section where Ross’ dissertation lives in the library, no one ever actually reads it. Plenty of people have made out in front of it, though.

Presenting: The One With All The Books.

Season 1, Episode 9: “The One Where Underdog Gets Away”

Yertle The Turtle by Dr. Seuss

Susan, the partner of Ross’ ex-wife Carole, reads this classic children’s tale to their unborn baby. The story’s all about the unpredictable force that comes with being in power. Yertle’s the king of the pond who perches on top of a stack of his turtle subjects, so that he can better see his kingdom. But one of the turtles, Mack, burps and Yertle’s knocked off his throne, leaving Mack as the new king. At the time of its publication, this was undoubtedly a comment on classism. But in this context, the story of the new hot turtle in town feels like a subtle address of the fact that the show totally recast Carol in this episode. (The original actress, Anita Barone, was replaced by Jane Sibbett.)

Season 1, Episode 11: “The One With Mrs. Bing”

Euphoria Unbound by Nora Bing

Unfortunately, this book doesn’t exist IRL. But Nora’s erotica novel does inspire Rachel to write her own sexy book, the first chapter of which appears at the end of the episode. And since this takes place a few episodes after Rachel begins her love affair with Paolo, we can understand the true meaning of this book to be just another cold reminder to Ross that Rachel is shacking up with another dude.

Season 1, Episode 12: “The One With The Dozen Lasagnas”

The Birth Book: Everything You Need To Know To Have A Safe And Satisfying Birth by William Sears and Martha Sears

Ross is preparing to be a father—and like anyone who can’t get enough of academia, he’s got a bag full of books to get him ready. Though there are several titles, the one we can see clearly is The Birth Book. It’s fitting that he’s most involved in a book co-written by two people, because it reminds us that Susan and Carol will be raising the baby as co-parents, and Ross is the third wheel.

Season 1, Episode 24: “The One Where Rachel Finds Out”

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! By Dr. Seuss

Rachel receives this book from Joey as a birthday present. Joey explains that the book—typically reserved for graduations—got him through some hard times. But what about the places Rachel might go? Um, how about TO THE AIRPORT TO TELL ROSS SHE LOVES HIM? Because that is what she does minutes later, when Chandler accidentally reveals Ross’ feelings.

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Season 2, Episode 3: “The One Where Heckles Dies”

My Big Book Of Grievances by Mr. Heckles

Before Mean Girls gave us The Burn Book, we had Mr. Heckles keeping scathing tabs on the gang. The purpose of this book—and just about everything else we find in Heckles’ apartment—is to give Chandler a Scrooge treatment, to show him what’s to come if he continues on this path. But this book is really about grievances, which sets us up for the first big fight between the friends two episodes later, when Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey complain they don’t make enough money to do all the things Chandler, Monica, and Ross suggest.

Season 2, Episode 19: “The One Where Eddie Won’t Go”

Be Your Own Windkeeper

Phoebe and Monica introduce Rachel to this new self-help book, which, unfortunately, isn’t real outside of the Friends universe. What is real, though, are the book’s sentiments of being a wind goddess and not letting men drink from the pool of your inner power. Perhaps it’s the empowerment of this fake book that bolsters Rachel’s sense of self and gets her to sing “Copacabana” at Barry and Mindy’s wedding just a few episodes later.

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Season 3, Episode 1: “The One With The Princess Leia Fantasy”

Trout: An Illustrated History by James Prosek

For the most part, we haven’t included the art books hanging around the Central Perk that nobody reads. But in this case, we can see clearly that Chandler’s spending time with one about fish. Perhaps this is because Janice has made one of her (many) re-entries into his life and Chandler is, um, on the hook? On Janice’s hook. OK, work with us here.

Season 3, Episode 3: “The One With The Jam”

One Hundred Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Sure, this episode is mostly about Monica using a jam-making project to distract her from being sad about Richard, but it’s also the episode where Ross teaches Chandler how to do the hug-and-roll to get more space sleeping next to Janice. At first, it can seem like Chandler reading a book about being alone for a hundred years sets up the idea that he’s just trying to get some space from Janice. But the book isn’t called 6-8 Hours Of Solitude—it’s a century. As in, Chandler is still so undateable at this point in time he will almost certainly be alone for the next hundred years.

Season 3, Episode 12: “The One With All The Jealousy”

The Flowers Of Evil by Charles Baudelaire

Monica’s wrapping up a shift as the fake boob-wearing chef in the ‘50s diner as the sexy busboy Julio reads this book of fancy erotic poetry. This lays the groundwork for Julio to write his poem “The Empty Vase” about Monica, but it also allows lyricism to play a central theme in the episode, like when Monica hires the barbershop quartet to publicly dump Julio with song.

Season 3, Episode 13: “The One Where Monica And Richard Are Just Friends”

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Shining by Stephen King

Race: How Blacks And Whites Think About The American Obsession by Studs Terkel

This might seem like some cute little book swap between Joey and Rachel, but here’s the truth: Just three episodes prior, Joey tells Rachel she needs to quit her job at the Central Perk to get “the fear.” In other words, to put herself in a position where she has nothing to fall back on, and she’s forced to pursue her career in fashion. What better way to get “the fear” than by reading one of the scariest books of all time? As for Joey reading Little Women, he ultimately finds it too sad and scary and wants to put it in the freezer. And since any insight into the actual thoughts and feelings of women would counteract the code by which Joey lives, of course he wants to hide it away.

Meanwhile, on the more serious side, Ross is reading the iconic Studs Terkel book about race while sitting at the Central Perk—before he and Chandler notice Phoebe’s current boyfriend is wearing gym shorts that show his junk.

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Season 3, Episode 14: “The One With Phoebe’s Ex-Partner”

The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Rachel and Ross are in bed, and Ross is reading The Idiot while arguing that it’s inappropriate for Rachel to go to a fashion lecture with her colleague Mark. So, Ross commits to going with Rachel to eliminate Mark from the outing. The takeaway here: Ross is an actual idiot.

Season 3, Episode 22: “The One With The Screamer”

How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan

The Bear Went Over The Mountain by William Kotzwinkle

When Rachel learns Ross is bringing a date to see Joey’s new play, she scrambles to find one too. No wonder she’s reading a classic book about rekindling a love life when the episode opens.

Meanwhile, Chandler’s reading The Bear Went Over The Mountain. This one’s got all the appeal of a kid’s book trapped in the body of an adult novel. If that isn’t Chandler, I don’t know what is.

Season 3, Episode 25: “The One At The Beach”

The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion

Everyone’s out in Montauk to join Phoebe as she meets the woman who turns out to be her birth mother. And by everyone, we mean Ross has brought his new girlfriend, Bonnie, along. Rachel doesn’t love this—and while she’s reading this Didion novel, Bonnie complains that her long hair is too tough for the beach. So much sand! Rachel incepts Bonnie into shaving her head…and you might say that’s the last thing Ross wanted.

Season 4, Episode 1: “The One With The Jellyfish”

“Does It?” By Rachel Karen Green

The letter Rachel wrote Ross, which we may as well title “Does It?” in honor of the ultimate question at hand, is 18 pages front and back—it might as well count as a short book. It was a list of Rachel’s shortcomings that first undid this couple, so it’s natural that a written document brings them back together.

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Season 4, Episode 3: “The One With The Cuffs”

“V” Volume, The Encyclopedia

Joey purchases the single volume of “V” from the encyclopedia salesman. Why is this significant? Well, despite all the entries under “V,” Joey still has no concept of the timeless The Velveteen Rabbit, which comes into play three episodes later.

Season 4, Episode 5: “The One With Joey’s New Girlfriend”

Anthem by Ayn Rand

This is at a time when Ross and Rachel have moved beyond the discomfort of being exes in the same room and are in a full-on rivalry to show off their new dates in front of each other. Rachel’s reading Anthem, a dystopian book about socialism, at the Central Perk when Ross tosses a napkin with a woman’s phone number in her face. Rachel’s reading this book to suggest she’s far too mature to play into Ross’ games, but when she starts dating an NYU student we see she really was paying attention to Ross’ antics—and proving that no one ever really reads that book.

Season 4, Episode 6: “The One With The Dirty Girl”

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Chandler goes through a lot of trouble to get this book as a gift for Kathy, Joey’s girlfriend that he has feelings for, but ultimately tells her it’s from Joey. The story’s about a rabbit toy who becomes real thanks to the love of a child. So maybe we could say it’s like Kathy is the rabbit, who becomes a real romantic interest for Chandler, thanks to the love of a child (Joey).

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Season 4, Episode 13: “The One With Rachel’s Crush”

What To Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

In the previous episode, Phoebe agreed to be a surrogate for Frank and Alice. In “The One With Rachel’s Crush,” she picks up *What to Expect When You’re Expecting” to, well, learn what to expect. And while this book allegedly covers everything Phoebe needs to know about her pregnancy, it didn’t include one thing that truly shocked her: that she’d want to eat meat. (Note: Joey also reads this book in season eight to prep for Rachel’s baby.)

Season 4, Episode 15: “The One With All The Rugby”

Like A Hole In The Head by Jen Banbury

Monica and Rachel have lost their apartment to Chandler and Joey after a wild game of trivia, and Monica cannot rest until she knows the function of the switch near the door in her new apartment. She’s reading this book and sipping a glass of wine when Rachel comes home to find that the woman reading about a hole in the head has also left 7-10 actual holes in the wall and floor, having tried to locate the wiring for the switch.

Season 4, Episode 18: “The One With Rachel’s New Dress”

A Concise Dictionary Of First Names by Patrick Hanks

Phoebe is naming one of the triplets and trying to decide what to choose. Of course, the idea of choosing a name isn’t just for the baby; several episodes later, Phoebe reveals for the first time her alter ego: Regina Phalange.

Season 4, Episode 21: “The One With The Invitation”

Access London by Richard Saul Wurman

Chandler’s reading this book to prep for the big trip to London for Ross and Emily’s wedding. But why is Chandler the only one reading about the British city? Maybe the book is foreshadowing that he’ll access a lot more than he bargained for in London…like Monica.

Season 5, Episode 7: “The One Where Ross Moves In”

Practical Intuition In Love by Laura Day

Monica’s reading this book at the Central Perk while Rachel sees Danny (the yeti) carrying a box of liquor. He says he’s having a party, and Rachel launches into an episode-long sports analogy about the politics of dating that never really reaches its conclusion. The ball’s in whose court? We don’t know. But Rachel’s wild musings about her non-relationship with Danny are juxtaposed with a practical guide to dating.

Season 5, Episode 9: “The One With Ross’ Sandwich”

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Rachel and Phoebe are taking a literature class together, but Rachel isn’t really reading the books. If Wuthering Heights is about how destructive jealousy and revenge can be, and Jane Eyre is about the evolution of a character, then it’s safe to say that both literary themes are applied to the main plot of this episode, which is that Ross loses his shit over someone eating his sandwich and is forced to take leave from work.

Season 5, Episode 17: “The One With Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss”

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Monica’s reading this book at her apartment, but the book is really a foreshadowing of what’s going to happen with Phoebe. In this episode, Phoebe meets Gary, the cop whose badge she found at the coffee shop, and they start dating. Just four episodes later, Phoebe dumps him after he literally shoots a bird.

Season 5, Episode 22: “The One With Joey’s Big Break”

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Ross is reading this classic tale of self-discovery in the episode before he goes to Vegas and drunkenly marries Rachel. The book’s central message is about following your dreams—which is perhaps what convinces him to lie to Rachel and not get their marriage annulled so he can realize his dream of not getting divorced for once.

Season 6, Episode 2: “The One Where Ross Hugs Rachel”

Like A Hole In The Head by Jen Banbury

Does this book seem familiar? It’s the book Rachel’s reading when Monica tells her Chandler’s moving in and Rachel must move out. It’s also the same book Monica reads back in season four, when she and Rachel lose their apartment. How fitting that Rachel’s reading this book when she’s about to lose her apartment again.

Season 6, Episode 13: “The One With Rachel’s Sister”

The Art Of Happiness by Dalai Lama

Rebuilding The Indian by Fred Haefele

Rachel’s sister Jill, played by Reese Witherspoon, is in town, and Phoebe tells Rachel she senses a spark between Jill and Ross. Rachel puts on a faux maturity about it and mistakenly convinces Jill to go out with Ross. All while reading The Art Of Happiness, which we can only assume she was staring at, fuming, and not actually reading.

Meanwhile, Monica is sick but trying to convince Chandler she’s not. In fact, she could really go for some sex. So though Chander is the one reading Rebuilding The Indian, a story of a man rebuilding a motorcycle and rebuilding his life, it seems Monica’s the one on a quest. With a little bit of Vapor Rub, she does succeed in getting Chandler into bed.

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Season 6, Episode 14: “The One Where Chandler Can’t Cry”

Chicken Soup For The Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Amy Newmark

In the previous episode, Chandler is trying to take care of Monica while she’s sick. In this episode, it’s Chandler who needs the proverbial chicken soup. Of course, it’s not the gut-wrenching tales of humanity that break Chandler in the end—it’s that Ross and Rachel just can’t work things out.

Season 7, Episode 15: “The One With Joey’s New Brain”

Beethoven’s Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey And A Scientific Mystery Solved by Russell Martin

Why is Ross reading a book about Beethoven? Probably because it’s the episode where he’s preparing to play the bagpipes at Chandler and Monica’s wedding. He’s getting in touch with his musical side! And as for the “mystery solved?” Well, thanks to Ross’ inability to be subtle, ever, we know he’s preparing the song “Celebration.”

Season 8, Episode 7: “The One With The Stain”

The Girlfriends Guide To Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine

Though Ross is reading a book called Dutch For Beginners in this episode, there’s no exact version of this book in real life. However, you can absolutely find Rachel’s book, The Girlfriend’s Guide To Pregnancy. In this episode, Rachel’s reading it when Joey asks her to keep living with him when the baby comes. If you think about it, Joey has the perfect apartment to raise a baby. We’re talking about a place where if you spill spaghetti on the floor, you just leave it. That’s the entirety of Joey’s guide to pregnancy.

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Season 8, Episode 10: “The One With Monica’s Boots”

Pregnancy For Dummies by Joanne Stone, Keith Eddleman, and Mary Duenwald

Joey’s sister Dina is pregnant and reading this book, but Dina’s not the dummy. That title belongs, as always, to Joey as Rachel has to educate him on how hypocritical it is to think Dina’s not ready to have a baby on her own.

Season 8, Episode 11: “The One With The Creepy Holiday Card”

Will The Circle Be Unbroken? Reflections On Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for A Faith by Studs Terkel

Ross can’t get enough of this author, and how “Ross” is it to be reading a book about death? He’s looking at it when Mona asks him to send out a holiday card together, and he immediately realizes he’s made a mistake in their relationship. Of course, when we consider the question “Will the circle be unbroken?” we can only assume that for Ross it means will his never-ending circle of bad relationships ever end?

Season 9, Episode 2: “The One Where Emma Cries”

365 Things Every New Mom Should Know by Linda Danis

The New Mom’s Manual: Over 800 Tips And Advice From Hundreds Of Moms For Baby’s First Year by Mary Jeanne Menna

365 Things combines the elements of motherhood with the appeal of prayer. The New Mom’s Manual provides over 800 tips from almost as many moms. The only thing that will get Emma to stop crying, though, is Monica’s embrace. This is a nice change of pace from the earlier seasons, when Ben would cry only when he was near Monica. So while these books appear to be intended for Rachel, they’re actually setting up the idea of Monica as a mother, which happens later in the series.

Season 9, Episode 15: “The One With The Mugging”

Science Boy by Ross Geller

Another book that exists only in the Friends universe, Science Boy plays an important role. A teenaged Phoebe mugged a teenaged Ross, way before they knew each other. When Ross bemoans the mugging as the loss of his original artwork for Science Boy, Phoebe recalls keeping it and returns it to Ross. This is major, because it shows that Ross at an early age chose science as his career.

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Season 10, Episode 4: “The One With The Cake”

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

There are several books read at Emma’s first birthday. Riding The Storm Out: Coping With Postpartum Depression and Sex And The Single Mother aren’t real, but Love You Forever sure is. And it’s interesting that Joey reads this book aloud, just a few episodes after kissing Rachel.

Season 10, Episode 13: “The One Where Joey Speaks French”

Essential French

Like Ross’ Dutch For Beginners, there’s no exact version of Joey’s book. Though Joey learns French for an audition, the book here foreshadows one of the final moments of the series: Rachel preparing to move to Paris. It’s safe to assume that Joey still knows all the French pickup lines.

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Remembering Kate Spade: Celebrities, Fans, and Friends React to Designer's Death


Fashion designer Kate Spade passed away Tuesday at the age of 55. A New York City Police Department spokesman confirmed to Glamour.com that a housekeeper discovered Spade, who was “unconscious” and “unresponsive,” in her Park Avenue apartment at around 10:20 a.m. Multiple news outlets are reporting Spade left a note, though no details are available at this time.

Spade was a ubiquitous force in the fashion industry, both through her self-titled brand (which she and husband Andy Spade co-founded in 1993, and then sold in 2007) which had a global influence thanks to its bags, as well as through Frances Valentine (the accessories label she debuted in 2016). In 2017, Kate Spade the company sold to Coach for an estimated $2.4 billion.

Celebrities, fashion industry insiders, and friends of the Spade family have taken to social media to express their condolences and remember the designer’s legacy; many tributes mention mental health, as it’s reported that Spade died by suicide, and include phone numbers people can call if they need help. If you’re dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.





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Jennifer Aniston Tells Ellen DeGeneres That a ‘Friends’ Reunion is a Possibility


During her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday, Jennifer Aniston informed the audience that a Friends reunion is not out of the question—despite what her former cast members have said recently. It’s not a confirmation that the cast of the ’90s smash hit will come together in that giant Manhattan apartment again anytime soon, but it’s the glimmer of hope we’ve been waiting on for 14 years.

DeGeneres and Aniston were discussing her upcoming return to television in a new series with Reese Witherspoon, which is still untitled but will explore behind the scenes of the New York media, specifically morning talk shows. Aniston revealed that the series was already bought for two seasons and will premiere on Apple’s new network.

Once they finished discussing the project and the audience started to applaud, Aniston and DeGeneres clapped along in the rhythm of the Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” by The Rembrandts.

“That’s the clap from the song,” Aniston told DeGeneres.

“What song?” the host asked.

“The Friends theme song,” Aniston said. After a pause she asked a crew member, “You’ll edit this, right?”

DeGeneres took the opportunity to tell the actress that she and her former cast mates should get together and film a reunion: “Is it a possibility? It is even in the realm of possibilities?”

“Anything is a possibility, Ellen,” Aniston said. “Anything! Right?” She went on to say, “I mean, George Clooney got married! That’s like anything can happen. I think it’s wonderful.”

This is contrary to what some of her former co-stars have said recently after being asked about the trailer for a fake film called Friends: The Movie that went viral. David Schwimmer appeared on Meghan Kelly Today and when Kelly asked about the possibility of a reunion he said he doubts it will ever happen. “Look, the thing is, I just don’t know if I want to see all of us with crutches [and] walkers,” he explained.

Lisa Kudrow was recently a guest on Conan and said that she doesn’t know if a reboot of the show would work. “I mean, that was about people in their 20s, 30s. Well, the show isn’t about people in their 40s, 50s. And if we have the same problems, then that’s just sad,” she said.

Break our hearts, why don’t you? We like Aniston’s answer much better.

Related Stories:
–Jennifer Aniston Doesn’t Support That Joey-Rachel Endgame Fan Theory
–Why Jennifer Aniston Says ‘Friends’ Would Never Work in 2017
–Jennifer Aniston on Her Go-To ‘Friends’ Lipstick, Hollywood After 50, and the One Thing She’d Ban From Tabloids





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'The Bachelor' Contestant Annaliese Puccini Says She's Actually Here to Make Friends


Annaliese Puccini calls herself “a jack of all trades,” but clearly that doesn’t apply to demolition derbies, bumper cars, or racing. Still, even though tonight’s Bachelor episode poked fun at the 32-year-old’s childhood bumper car trauma, who could blame her? Whiplash is no joke. Seriously, what were the producers thinking when they decided to plan a date that was the equivalent of like 100 car accidents at a time? And what was going through Arie’s mind when he clearly saw tears running down Annaliese’s face, but asked, “Everyone doing good, having a good time?” When Annaliese said she was having a tough time, Arie looked at her and actually said, “You are?” Um, what?!

But back to Annaliese. Although demolishing cars isn’t her thing, she’s definitely well versed in other areas. On the day before filming The Bachelor began, she told us she’s an event planner, a painter, and has done acting and modeling since she was three years old. “I like to keep busy and be different and creative,” she says. Of course, that’s not news to anyone who watched her come out of the limo on night one wearing a mask and holding a bag of chocolate kisses. (What you didn’t see? She also made a painting for Arie, with a note on the back.)

In next week’s episode, it appears that bumper cars aren’t the only thing that get the tears flowing for Annaliese. Upon seeing Arie kiss other girls (just a regular day on this show you signed up for), a distraught Annaliese says she just “can’t get a break right now.” Perhaps she should commiserate with Bibiana?

Until then, we caught up with the San Francisco resident to learn more about her life outside the Bachelor mansion walls and her unusual goal for going on the show. Read on.

When it comes to love, what are you looking for in a relationship with Arie?

Annaliese Puccini: I like somebody that has a creative flair and is appreciative of my creative self. Someone who is not rolling his eyes when I’m making a mask to go with my dress. I definitely want somebody who appreciates it, but balances me out.

You clearly knew Arie is known as the kissing bandit. Had you watched him on Emily’s season?

Annaliese: I watched parts of his season. My mom and my grandma are big fans of the show. I do remember liking him and thinking he’s cute and having positive vibes towards him. I didn’t know a lot about him, but I did some research. I was shocked when he was announced as the Bachelor, which I’m sure most people were, but then I was pleasantly surprised. I thought, you know, he is husband material. I am a think-into-the-future kind of person, so I like to see how my life might play out with different people.

PHOTO: ABC

Since your mom and your grandma watch the show, did they give you any advice going into this?

Annaliese: My grandma doesn’t know! She’ll be shocked when she sees me. She’ll be so excited!

Wow. So how are you going to explain not being in contact with her for a bit?

Annaliese: Well, I made a little care package for her. There’s a woman at a farmer’s market near me that sells these forever roses. They are real roses that are fresh and you can touch them, but they somehow are freeze-dried, so they stay forever looking like fresh roses. I got her a little pot of that, and I wrote her a letter that says I’m off on an adventure to find love. I said to my mom, “As soon as questions start to arise…send her the care package.” So it’s going to be a shock. She’ll be totally surprised.

Given that your grandma doesn’t know, what did your mom tell you before you went on the show?

Annaliese: She was just like, “You deserve this, and you’re ready. I’m so proud that you’re taking this step to find love.” I think she was just happy for me.

What are your non-negotiables in your next relationship, ideally with Arie?

Annaliese: That is not a question I have thought about! [Laughs] But as I get older, there are certain things that I can compromise on. I definitely want kids, so if somebody didn’t want kids, I think that would be a hard thing for me to stay in a relationship. And my last serious relationship was lacking the physical connection, so I feel like that is really important.

You painted a picture to give to Arie. [Ed note: You can see it in the video below.] Why?

Annaliese: I just wanted it to be something that he could always remember this journey. This is just something special that he can keep forever.

And aside from finding love, what are you looking forward to as part of your journey on the show?

Annaliese: I’m really excited to make friends, which I realize is probably not what the other girls might say. I just feel like it’s so hard to make friends as you get older. I’ve seen some of the friendships that have formed from past seasons, so I just am excited to meet the girls. I feel like they are probably amazing. Obviously there’s going to be competition, but I’m going to make some new friends too, which is awesome.



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Selena Gomez Just Unfollowed Almost 300 Friends on Her Instagram


Selena Gomez is starting her new year off with a little social media purge: The singer just cleared the decks of her Instagram follows, unfollowing a reported 279 people—including some of her friends and even her assistant. She’s also changed her profile pic to one of her mom, Mandy.

Her follow list went from 316 to 37 people on Saturday afternoon. Among the celebs she unfollowed are Gigi Hadid and Demi Lovato—but she’s still following Taylor Swift, Amy Schumer, her stylist, her friends from her NYE trip to Cabo, and lots of fashion accounts and fan pages. She’s also still following Fracia Raisa, her kidney donor and longtime best friend.

So…is this celeb drama or a new-year-new-social-media-brand-strategy? As Elle points out, Gomez’s Instagram account is run by her assistant (the same one she unfollowed)—so unless something major was going on, it might just be a shift in her online branding. She’s also spoken out about how social media was affecting her mental health in an interview last year after she became the platform’s most-followed person. “I was an addict, and it felt like I was seeing things I didn’t want to see, like it was putting things in my head that I didn’t want to care about. I always end up feeling like shit when I look at Instagram. Which is why I’m kind of under the radar, ghosting it a bit.”

On the plus side, she did add an emotional, touching photo of her sitting on the front steps of the house that she grew up in. “The home I grew up in, from birth to 13 … I visit this place every chance I get. In many ways it has been better than my life today, but I’m grateful for a voice that can enable change today,” she said. “Even when I do not know how to do it well or actually want it. I love you Grand Prairie. Thank you. ❤️”

Related Stories:
–Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber Put Their Relationship to the Test With a Sweaty Workout
–What We Know About Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s ‘Casual’ New Year’s Eve Together
–Selena Gomez Has Your Same Taste in Vacation Swimsuits



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How a Group of Friends Exposed Sexual Harassment at ABC News


Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Amazon’s Roy Price, TV political journalist Mark Halperin, Charlie Rose, Garrison Keillor, Russell Simmons, Matt Lauer … the allegations of sexual harassment just keep hitting like one giant tidal wave.

Many of us are cheering on the sidelines as justice seems to finally be served—but what’s it like when you’re one of the women who was groped, assaulted, traumatized? Or one of the women who knew it happened to a beloved coworker? How do you decide to speak out? How do you help your colleagues through the media and legal storm that follows? Melinda Arons was one of several political reporters working for Mark Halperin, who supported each other 13 years ago as his inappropriate behavior hit its peak.

At the time, Halperin was the hotshot political director of ABC News, a regular on TV and radio, and founder of The Note, a daily online news digest that was considered “the most influential tip sheet in Washington.” Later, his bestselling book about the 2008 Presidential election, Game Change, co-written with journalist John Heilemann, was made into an HBO movie. But as his success soared, the reporters who had worked for him could not forget, and this fall, as the Weinstein scandal exploded, they came together again to help bring his actions to light.

While some of the women (denoted as numbered “colleagues” below) have chosen to remain anonymous out of concern for their families or careers, this is their story.

A “fabulous,” “thrilling” job of a lifetime

A “fabulous,” “thrilling” job of a lifetime

ARONS: I’d been at ABC News for three years in 2003, when I was chosen as an “off air,” a reporter who goes on the campaign trail. Mark Halperin was my boss. I was 27 and I loved working for Mark. He was brilliant and thrilling to be around; he knew how to work the room like nobody’s business. Mark founded The Note, which ran online every morning and was read by everyone and anyone in politics. It was very heady to be in that orbit. I felt like I was on this fabulous track. And I bonded with other women “off airs” who’d also been pulled from various ABC departments to work for the first time with Mark.

COLLEAGUE 1: ABC News was a wildly different place back then—much bigger than now and filled with execs in fancy suits and massive stars like Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters.

COLLEAGUE 2: And Peter Jennings. Peter had one political director. It was Mark. So the nexus of power was really intoxicating for a young reporter.

ARONS: You’d be asked to do such crazy shit. Your regular day would be following a candidate to Pizza Hut in Nowhere, Iowa, and then hunker down in a freezing truck to type your notes, working till all hours in some hotel room. There was 100 percent the feeling [of] “You can’t hack this job? There’s a line of people around the block who will happily take your place.”

COLLEAGUE 2: One night on the 2004 campaign trail, Mark invited me to his hotel room to talk about work. It’s news—he worked around the clock. So I went. But as soon as I opened the door I was uncomfortable. His jacket was off; his shirt unbuttoned. He immediately went to kiss me—it’s weird to even use that vernacular because it was somewhere between a kiss and shoving his tongue down my throat. I was married at the time. I just remember saying, “I’m not doing this,” and I left. After that there were innuendos. One time he called me late at night and said something like, “If you won’t come to my hotel room at least talk to me.”

COLLEAGUE 3: During my first meeting Mark, I was in his office, sitting across the desk, and he got up and came around behind me. I was like, What is going on? Then he pushed his penis up against my shoulder. I don’t remember how I got out of there, but I got out of there.

COLLEAGUE 4: The worst time for me was when a bunch of us were grabbing appetizers, getting drinks; I think it was at a hotel bar after a debate. I went to use the restroom, which was downstairs in a hallway. When I came out Mark was blocking the door, leaning there with his shirt partially unbuttoned, asking me to go into the men’s bathroom with him. He’d clearly waited for me and made sure the coast was clear. I remember I was wearing a red sweater. My heart was racing. I squirmed around, knocking his arm down, and ran like no one’s business.

COLLEAGUE 1: With me it was after one of the Democratic debates in Des Moines. It was freezing cold. We were all out drinking. He kept asking me to go up to hotel room. I remember saying, “No, no, I have to go home,” and leaving the bar. It was just really skeevy.

ARONS: When I started hearing all these stories, I was so confused and so disappointed in him. Like, “Why did you have to be that guy?” We used to have this gallows humor joke given he never attempted anything with me—“What am I, chopped liver?” I honestly don’t know why he never targeted me, but it was agonizing knowing it was happening to my friends and feeling helpless to do anything about it. Even now, I don’t feel like it’s my story to tell, and am so angry and hurt that my friends had to endure it.

“You were labeled one of Those Girls Who Complains”

“You were labeled one of Those Girls Who Complains”

COLLEAGUE 2: When Melinda told me to go to HR, I said, “I can handle it.” People have asked me again and again, why didn’t you report it? Why didn’t you tell a supervisor? Mark was my supervisor. And the stories of sexual harassment I grew up with still placed the women in a position of ridicule.

ARONS: And even though I clearly thought we should go to HR, honestly we didn’t even know where HR was, or who to go to. There was no clear system to report anything like this.

COLLEAGUE 4: And if you told someone senior on staff and she or he didn’t take you seriously, you’d have written your ticket out. You were labeled one of Those Girls Who Complains. I’d started as an assistant and worked my butt off. I had a whole career ahead of me. [None of the women believe they were stopped from moving up.]

COLLEAGUE 3: Now it’s clear that if we’d gone to HR, maybe we would have been able to stop him from doing this to other women. But I was a kid. I don’t come from a wealthy background. I needed my job.

[Halperin issued a statement on October 27, in which he apologized and said that in reading the accounts of women at ABC news, “I have recognized conduct for which I feel profound guilt and responsibility.”]

PHOTO: Frederick M. Brown

Mark Halperin

“It was time for this story to be told”

“It was time for this story to be told”

ARONS: The minute the Harvey Weinstein story broke I texted Friend G:
ME: W Weinstein news I keep thinking about fucking Mark Halperin.
HER: I know. What were we all thinking? We just talked about it amongst ourselves. I should have gone to [name withheld] about it.
ME: We were so naive, and that’s what men like that count on.

Although our group had gone their separate ways—most still in news but in different capacities and outlets—we’d kept in touch. And we started rehashing everything that had happened 13 years ago. A few days later, I was watching all the Me Too stuff, and I posted on Facebook, “Me Too…though the most disgusting examples I know happened not to me but to several female colleagues by one man in particular when we were 20-somethings coming up in news.” Little did I know, it would go weirdly viral in the news community. I got all kinds of comments—“everyone knew,” “it was an open secret.”

COLLEAGUE 2: When I saw that post from Mel, I thought, Thank God. I can put my stamp on this now, my anger, my sense of injustice. It enabled us to take what we were all thinking and come together again.

ARONS: We all started talking. We felt it was finally time for this story to be told. We never thought, “Let’s get Mark;” we talked about how the whole newsroom culture has historically encouraged and tolerated this kind of behavior. And then, individually, we started hearing from reporters. We grappled because none of us felt we could go on the record [some are still at ABC; others are in the industry or have family considerations], and yet we assumed that without women willing to use their names, the story wouldn’t get published. So we made sure the people we knew who’d been harassed were in touch with the reporters, and corroborated what we could. It was like we were this group of female journalists working together again on a story, but this time we were the story.

COLLEAGUE 2: The same women who leaned on each other for support 13 years ago leaned on each other for support now

ARONS: At one point we started a group messenger chain with constant conversation ….
“it happened 14 years ago and feels like just yesterday when we’ve been forced to revisit it…really crazy how this sticks with you”
“Yes indeed”
“It never really goes away”
“ I’ve hated seeing his face plastered all over everywhere”
“ His face has always made me sick… I can’t imagine if I were you guys”
“[the best part] is getting back in touch with the loveliest women in my life—I swear”

All this, interspersed with hearts and thumbs ups, “how old is your kid now?” and hilarious girl stuff. All of us ended up speaking on background to reporters. And to our shock, even without a named source, on October 25, CNN broke the story. It was incredibly gratifying. It felt like a huge weight had finally been lifted.

After speaking out, “I felt peace”

After speaking out, “I felt peace”

ARONS: Two days after the CNN story, our colleague, Lara Setrakian, decided to out herself. I hadn’t even known Mark had harassed her—it happened two years after our “off air” group had moved on.

LARA SETRAKIAN, COFOUNDER OF NEWS DEEPLY: I was initially reluctant to speak publicly but after talking to CNN on background, but I realized I had so much more to say. There were bigger issues. For example, the pressure you feel to be physically perfect in order to have a future in TV. I don’t know if it’s better or worse now, but across all cable networks, we have seen necklines get lower, hair get bigger, and more of “is she going to a club?” So I decided to write an op-ed [link to it here] and put my name on it.

In my case, I was 24 years old and assigned to cover the 2006 midterm elections. Mark was the boss and invited me to come talk about politics over a Diet Coke. I don’t know why I remember the Diet Coke, but I got to his office, and hardly two or three minutes into the meeting he came up to me and kissed me—on the lips with tongue. Pretty invasive. I was like, Whoa whoa, whoa. My mind froze. My body froze. He touched my breasts and I felt his erection. I somehow slunk out of there. I felt really guilty, like maybe I spoke wrong or shouldn’t have gone up there.

When my op-ed ran [in The Washington Post October 27], it felt like a deep exhale. I felt at peace like I’ve never felt since that incident. I felt my idealism restored.

ARONS: After she wrote that amazing piece, Lara connected us all on Facebook—the women from what we’d now call a whisper network, and the other women she’d heard from who suffered harassment years before and after us. She called it The Silver Lining.

“We’ve Got Your Back”

“We’ve Got Your Back”

ARONS: Mark’s professional life has unraveled. [NBC and MSNBC severed ties; HBO, and Penguin Press cancelled projects with Halperin after the allegations came out.] And it’s sad to watch. It’s also ironic: In our group, we all spent a lot more time agonizing over what would happen to his career than he ever spent thinking about the careers of women he harassed. But The Silver Lining has since grown. As other women have come forward about Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer, members from the group reached out to them, and our private message thread has turned into Press Forward, a non-profit organization committed to supporting women in news.

SETRAKIAN: The silver lining was that we all found each other. And now we are brainstorming ideas for ways to work collaboratively with newsrooms not only to improve the gender balance but also to empower women.

ARONS: There has to be a clear reporting system for harassment, which we didn’t have—and many companies still don’t. There has to be a roadmap for what to do if and when this happens. Because while you benefit emotionally from talking to other women, you need tools to take action.

COLLEAGUE 1: Meanwhile, for any woman being harassed right now? Find anybody you work with whom you trust. And tell them. Tell somebody. Even a friend. Talking about it can help you figure out how you really feel about what happened and come up with a plan.

SETRAKIAN: There is no one path. Women rely on their income and may feel can’t rock the boat. You’re not a hero if you speak up and you’re not a wimp if you don’t. Just don’t sit in silence.

ARONS: When it all broke after 13 years, I felt that this thing we’d all subconsciously held onto was finally out in the world—that was cathartic. But it breaks my heart that my friends had to go through this.

COLLEAGUE 3: We got each other through it.

COLLEAGUE 2: And we’re doing it now. When the topic of sexual harassment and sexual assault is in the headlines and you know that back when it was happening to you, you felt better speaking to your girlfriends about it, the same thing comes into your being again; you just want to hold hands.

SETRAKIAN: I feel we were all going to find a way out of this. I see an industry that needs our talent and needs our ideas—and I think we’re going to do great things. And for women coming up, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.





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