Category Entertainment News

The star of Netflix Christmas hit A Merry Little Ex-Mas has opened up about his brain injury

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Netflix’s Christmas lineup is full of some absolute bangers, from classics like Love Actually and Nativity, to newer hits like Champagne Problems.

And the latest festive flick to capture viewers’ attention is A Merry Little Ex-Mas, a holiday rom-com that reunites ’90s icons Melissa Joan Hart and Alicia Silverstone, alongside Oliver Hudson and Jameela Jamil.

Yet for many, it was newcomer Pierson Fodé who truly stood out. The 34-year-old actor plays Chet, the charming love interest of Silverstone’s character.

Fans may also recognise him from The Wrong Paris, where he stars opposite Miranda Cosgrove.

But behind his fit, muscular appearance, Fodé has faced a life-altering health struggle. On the Hinesights Podcast, he revealed a harrowing brain injury that left him temporarily unable to function.

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“I was like a vegetable,” Fodé admitted. “I lost six months of my life from my memory. It started with a sinus infection in 2018. I was prescribed antibiotics, but I was allergic. It caused inflammation and swelling in my brain, leading to seizures, blackouts, and arrhythmia.”

The horrific ordeal triggered a period of depression, Fodé admitted, and forced him to confront just how fragile life can be.

Temporarily losing his memory was amongst the hardest parts. He revealed: “You and I could be having a conversation, and I would start panicking because I’d reset in the middle of the conversation.

“I’d forget where I was, who I was talking to. All my short-term memory just left. And then my long-term memories just started slowly peeling back over the next month to three months.

“To the point where I would look in the mirror, and I couldn’t figure out who the guy was in the mirror.”

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Today, Fodé says he has fully recovered and is committed to helping others who have, like him, experienced serious trauma.

Fodé first broke into acting in 2012 with a guest role on Nickelodeon’s iCarly and has since built a diverse career.

He is known for roles in The Bold and the Beautiful, Tacoma FD, Dynasty, Animal Kingdom, and The Real Bros of Simi Valley as well as films including Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, The Man from Toronto, and The Wrong Paris .

Outside of acting, Fodé has worked as a model, collaborating with huge brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, G-Star, and Vanity Fair. He enjoys motorcycling, skydiving, and parkour, and actively volunteers with charities such as St. Jude, Heifer International, and Saving Innocence.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas, the Netflix Christmas hit star, has revealed a brain injury.

3 images to be seen

The Christmas lineup on Netflix is jam-packed with absolute bangers, ranging from timeless classics like Love Actually and Nativity to more recent hits like Champagne Problems.

And the latest festive flick to capture viewers’ attention is A Merry Little Ex-Mas, a holiday rom-com that reunites ’90s icons Melissa Joan Hart and Alicia Silverstone, alongside Oliver Hudson and Jameela Jamil.

Yet for many, Pierson Fodé, a newcomer, was the one who truly stood out. Chet, the endearing love interest in Silverstone’s character, is played by the 34-year-old actor.

He may be recognizable to fans of Miranda Cosgrove’s films The Wrong Paris and The Wrong Paris.

However, Fodé has a life-altering health issue despite having a slim, muscular physique. He revealed a terrifying brain injury that temporarily rendered him unable to function on the Hinesights Podcast.

3 images to be seen

Fodé acknowledged, “I was like a vegetable. “My memory erased six months of my life.” A sinus infection struck the organization in 2018. Despite receiving antibiotics, I had an allergy. My brain was inflamed and swollen, leading to seizures, blackouts, and arrhythmias.

Fodé acknowledged that the horrific ordeal caused him to go through depression and confront how fragile life can be.

One of the hardest parts was temporarily losing his memory. He explained that while you and I were conversing, I might start to panic because I would reset in the middle of it.

“I’d forget who I was talking to and where I was.” My entire short-term memory vanished. And then, over the course of a month to three months, my long-term memories began to slowly start to fade.

“To the point where I would look in the mirror and not recognize the man in the mirror.”

3 images to be seen

Fodé claims he is fully recovered and is dedicated to helping others who have gone through similar intense trauma today.

Fodé began acting in a guest role on Nickelodeon’s iCarly in 2012, and he has since developed a varied resume.

He is well known for roles in The Bold and the Beautiful, Tacoma FD, Dynasty, Animal Kingdom, and The Real Bros of Simi Valley, as well as in motion pictures like Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, The Man from Toronto, and The Wrong Paris.

Fodé has modelled for a lot of different companies, including Abercrombie &amp, Fitch, G-Star, and Vanity Fair. He actively volunteers with St. Jude, Heifer International, and Saving Innocence while enjoying motorcycle riding, skydiving, and parkour.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan revealed his stepmother had told him he and Bill Burr could be half-brothers. Then the pair were ambushed with a meeting

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There’s an undeniable resemblance between comedian Bill Burr and The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

And the two stars ‘ physical likeness was put firmly under the microscope in November 2024 when the rock star revealed his stepmother, around a decade earlier, had suggested he and Burr could in fact be half-brothers.

Appearing on the Howie Mandel podcast, singer-songwriter Corgan, insisting it was a “true story” and “no joke”, recalled his stepmother had once said to him: “Do you know who Bill Burr is? Bill Burr might be one of the children that your father sired in his days being a travelling musician”.

Corgan’s dad, William Corgan Sr, died in 2021. He worked as a travelling blues musician and was said to have fathered as many as 12 children out of wedlock.

In January 2025, a few months after Corgan’s comments, Mandel surprised Burr, a guest on his show, by bringing in Corgan in what could be described as an ambush. Burr wasn’t happy.

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The comedian shook hands with Corgan, before turning to Mandel and saying: “You’re an a**hole”. Corgan, clearly feeling awkward, explained Mandel had assured him Burr would be “totally cool” with the meeting.

Agreeing to stay in the studio, Burr asked Corgan: “Did you ever think the fact that I never told that story, that maybe you shouldn’t”?

He then appeared to confirm the pair could in fact share a father, saying: “He was a piece of s***. He had two kids this close together and he gave them the same f***ing name”?

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Gesturing towards Corgan, he added: “It’s not that I don’t like him, it reminds me of all of that s***”.

Corgan, 58, presumably trying to cut the tension, said: “The fact that he said he can’t sing, I think, disproves that we’re related, ‘ cause I’m not funny, so it goes both ways”.

Burr, 57, chimed in: “Listen, you’ve done well for yourself. I’m happy for you. I just would prefer if you didn’t go around telling these f***ing stories. Why did you feel the need to do that”?

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Corgan explained he had told the original story to Mandel off air and that the host then encouraged him to repeat it on the show. Making his feelings on host clear, Burr said: “He always does that. He’s bringing us here, not because he’s trying to heal the bulls*** that we went through growing up, he’s here just for the f***ing ratings”.

Since the ambush, Corgan has stressed that it wasn’t set up or staged and that he felt like they had “stumbled into something bigger”.

He claimed Burr looked so much like his father that the encounter briefly unsettled him. “I’d seen pictures, but seeing him in person was different”, he said. “You shake someone’s hand who you have this physical affinity for, and there are all these questions, and suddenly there’s a camera rolling. It was this awkward exchange of, ‘ OK, what do we do with this information? ‘”

He added that Burr handled the moment graciously, and said that the door was very much open for future conversations between them despite the awkwardness of their fist meet.

The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan revealed his stepmother had told him he and Bill Burr could be half-brothers. Then the pair were ambushed with a meeting

View 5 Images

There’s an undeniable resemblance between comedian Bill Burr and The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

And the two stars ‘ physical likeness was put firmly under the microscope in November 2024 when the rock star revealed his stepmother, around a decade earlier, had suggested he and Burr could in fact be half-brothers.

Appearing on the Howie Mandel podcast, singer-songwriter Corgan, insisting it was a “true story” and “no joke”, recalled his stepmother had once said to him: “Do you know who Bill Burr is? Bill Burr might be one of the children that your father sired in his days being a travelling musician”.

Corgan’s dad, William Corgan Sr, died in 2021. He worked as a travelling blues musician and was said to have fathered as many as 12 children out of wedlock.

In January 2025, a few months after Corgan’s comments, Mandel surprised Burr, a guest on his show, by bringing in Corgan in what could be described as an ambush. Burr wasn’t happy.

View 5 Images

The comedian shook hands with Corgan, before turning to Mandel and saying: “You’re an a**hole”. Corgan, clearly feeling awkward, explained Mandel had assured him Burr would be “totally cool” with the meeting.

Agreeing to stay in the studio, Burr asked Corgan: “Did you ever think the fact that I never told that story, that maybe you shouldn’t”?

He then appeared to confirm the pair could in fact share a father, saying: “He was a piece of s***. He had two kids this close together and he gave them the same f***ing name”?

View 5 Images

Gesturing towards Corgan, he added: “It’s not that I don’t like him, it reminds me of all of that s***”.

Corgan, 58, presumably trying to cut the tension, said: “The fact that he said he can’t sing, I think, disproves that we’re related, ‘ cause I’m not funny, so it goes both ways”.

Burr, 57, chimed in: “Listen, you’ve done well for yourself. I’m happy for you. I just would prefer if you didn’t go around telling these f***ing stories. Why did you feel the need to do that”?

View 5 Images

View 5 Images

Corgan explained he had told the original story to Mandel off air and that the host then encouraged him to repeat it on the show. Making his feelings on host clear, Burr said: “He always does that. He’s bringing us here, not because he’s trying to heal the bulls*** that we went through growing up, he’s here just for the f***ing ratings”.

Since the ambush, Corgan has stressed that it wasn’t set up or staged and that he felt like they had “stumbled into something bigger”.

He claimed Burr looked so much like his father that the encounter briefly unsettled him. “I’d seen pictures, but seeing him in person was different”, he said. “You shake someone’s hand who you have this physical affinity for, and there are all these questions, and suddenly there’s a camera rolling. It was this awkward exchange of, ‘ OK, what do we do with this information? ‘”

He added that Burr handled the moment graciously, and said that the door was very much open for future conversations between them despite the awkwardness of their fist meet.

In a nod to the movie’s opening scene, the Love Actually actress was seen greeting and reconciling families.

Martine McCutcheon sported a snug jumper and maroon jacket as she joined a special welcoming committee at London’s Stansted Airport. The Love Actually star was on hand to give out warm festive beverages as she watched reunions unfold as friends and family arrived from all over the world. She was also accompanied by a gospel choir belting out heartening carols in the arrivals hall.

The touching initiative was launched by Costa Coffee to spread festive joy and celebrate moments of connection during the holiday season. A survey of 5,000 adults conducted by the brand found nearly half (47%) said spending time with loved ones lifts their spirits.

Meanwhile, a whopping 9 in 10 (86%) said the holidays are a great time to reconnect with loved ones.

Nearly half (49%) travel by car to see loved ones, covering 164 miles on average, while 82% choose to take trains (23%) or planes (14%) for their journeys.

Martine McCutcheon described the situation as “I’ve loved spreading some festive cheer today.” It’s truly magical to watch people flash their eyes when they spot a missing person.

The first reunions, which feel so special at this time of year, have a real sense of anticipation and gratitude. Seeing those memories being created in front of us has been a joy. “

The research found that the most popular ways people spent time together were meeting in coffee shops (27%), going on winter walks (39%), and watching festive movies together (40%).

Over the Christmas season, watching classic films like Home Alone, Elf, and Love Actually forms part of annual traditions.

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More than six out of ten people surveyed by OnePoll were male in general. It’s agreed that Christmas is more about celebration than connection.

The joy of the season is in those reunion reunion moments, according to a Costa Coffee spokesperson.

These connections make lasting memories, whether it is a shared smile at arrivals or a sizable cup of coffee together.

As she explains the timing of her appearance in the jungle, Vogue Williams has revealed details about how her husband and Spencer Matthews are going through their family planning.

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Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams’ intentions for their family to grow have been revealed.

Theodore, 7, Gigi, 5, and Otto, three, the couple, who got married in 2018, are among the country’s most adored celebrity couples.

Speaking on a pre-recorded episode of her Global podcast Vogue and Amber, which she co-hosts with her sister Amber Wilson ahead of entering the I’m A Celebrity jungle, Vogue revealed details about their potential baby plans.

The 40-year-old explained that she and Spencer had found an ideal window to focus on personal goals and projects, including Spencer’s ambitious Project 7 Ironman challenge, before trying to conceive again, reports the the Irish Mirror.

Addressing the timing considerations, Vogue said: “My reasoning is kind of that Otto is three and a half and if we decided to have another baby then I wouldn’t be able to do it next year.”

And I just had a window where our family is nearby and there is a chance I could go do it. ”

Additionally, Auntie Gina, Spenny’s mother, and my mother are all nearby to assist with child care, according to Vogue. Therefore, I believe it to be appropriate to do it now. ”

Her remarks come after I’m a Celebrity’s “I’m a Celebrity” cast her out of the shadows. When one of Vogue’s campmates read a heartfelt letter Spencer, 37, wrote in honor of his wife, the couple elicited a wave of support following her exit.

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The emotional message prompted Vogue to cover her face with her hands as she became tearful. The letter was shared publicly amid speculation about the couple’s marriage, which both Vogue and Spencer have strongly denied.

The note, read by Shona McGarty on the ITV show said: “My darling Vogue, the kids and I are so unbelievably proud of you. Watching you take on the jungle with courage, humour and heart fills us with admiration.

We’re delighted to see you light up any room you enter with your incredible ability, and we’re thrilled you did it for everyone else.