Apple Lands Jen and Reese for a New TV Series—and Other Notes from the Week

We’re pleased to bring you “While You Were Out”—the Verily editors’ quick takes on the happenings of this week.

Tragedy Comes to Texas with Church Shooting

This past Sunday, America woke up to the tragic news of a mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The worst mass shooting in Texas history to date, the atrocity claimed the lives of 26 people and wounded 20 more. The New York Times reported, “an armed bystander shot the gunman twice and wounded him, the killer dropped his rifle and fled in his car, and the bystander and another man gave chase.” Police soon after found the gunman dead after his car crashed. As of Wednesday, “Officials have said they have no indication so far that anyone else was involved in the massacre, or that it was politically or religiously motivated.” You can read more about Verily’s response to Sunday’s event here. —Victoria Rabuse

26 Were Women Found Dead in the Mediterranean 

According to the New York Times, the bodies of twenty-six young women between the ages of fourteen and eighteen were discovered floating in the Mediterranean Sea last week. The bodies were then brought to the port of the Italian city Solerno, where they are being examined in order to determine how they died. Officials say that the women were most likely the victims of sexual trafficking and were most likely fleeing from Nigeria in inflatable boats until they encountered bad weather. According to Marco Rotunno, a communications officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy, this is a common issue for women in Nigeria. “For Nigerian girls, it is pretty standard, the issue of being trafficked,” he said. “It is a regional network, unfortunately. I have seen (girls) younger than 14, and they were alone and from Nigeria.” —Mary Margaret Olohan

Sexual Harassment in Hollywood Was Being Reported Back in the 1940s

Maureen O’Hara, silver screen star known best for her work in movies such as The Quiet Man and Miracle on 34th Street, went viral this week, despite having passed away in 2015. Pianist James Rhodes shared a photo of a newspaper clipping from 1945 about an interview with the star on Twitter. The article discusses how O’Hara called out Hollywood producers and directors for calling her “a cold potato without sex appeal” after she refused to have sex with them. The clipping also talks about how O’Hara almost quit Hollywood, and she’s quoted as saying, “I guess Hollywood won’t consider me as anything except a cold hunk of marble until I divorce my husband, give my baby away and get my name and photograph in all the newspapers.” In the wake of the scandals of Weinstein, Spacey, Helperin, Price, Besh and more, this is a saddening reminder that this behavior has been happening since Hollywood started; however, O’Hara’s candid words are a heartening example of those who have spoken up against the sexualization and misogynistic treatment of Hollywood women. —VR

New Show Brings Reese and Jen Together Again

Jill and Rachel Green meet again! (Yep, remember Reese's guest role as Rachel's little sister on Friends?) Can you imagine a more dynamic duo to breathe life into our TV routine? Apple announced that its new streaming service has already confirmed at least 2 seasons of a show starring and produced by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. The drama will center around the lives of people who do morning talk shows. According to the L.A. Times, Apple is dedicating at least $1 billion dollars to getting their streaming network off the ground against competitors such as Netflix and Amazon. No word yet on when it will air or what the title is, but we'll be waiting anxiously! —Megan Madden

Famed Writer Says Sexual Assault Victims Should ‘Suck it up’ 

Gay Talese has dug himself a bit of a hole with his recent comments at the New York City Library Lions Gala on Monday night. The acclaimed journalist and author proclaimed that he would next like to write a profile on Kevin Spacey. Talese, who caused scandal back in 2016 when he claimed he could not think of a single female writer who inspired him, lamented that actor Anthony Rapp has accused Kevin Spacey of making sexual advances toward him when he was only fourteen years old. “I feel so sad, and I hate that actor that ruined this guy’s career,” said Talese, according to Vanity Fair. “So, OK, it happened ten years ago...Jesus, suck it up once in a while!” Talese’s may now be regretting these words, as many have lashed out at him for such a cavalier attitude toward sexual harassment. —MMO

Happy Birthday to Modern Love!

The New York Times celebrated the 13th anniversary of its "Modern Love" column, which debuted on October 31, 2004, this week. Their goal was to create a place that looked at all kinds of love, from romantic love, to friend and familial love, they said. The Times summed up their decade plus of experience with the column, writing, “But if these weekly dispatches have taught us anything, it’s that curiosity will serve you better than certainty. Curiosity about new experiences, new people, new aspects of the people you already know. That’s where you’ll find love.” We at Verily are always curious about new ways to talk about love, knowing that it's our relationships with people that make life so rich. Here's to celebrating love! —VR

The Met’s Costume Institute Is Channelling Catholicism In Latest Exhibit

The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is taking its fashion game to a whole new level. Its new exhibit will be called “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” and will cover not only the Anna Wintour Costume Center, but also the Met’s medieval rooms as well as The Cloisters location of the Met. The Vatican is lending these exhibits more than 50 garments and accessories, which will be featured with different religious works of art from the Met as well as designer fashion garments which mimic Catholic style. This show will reportedly be the largest show put on by The Costume Institute to date. —MMO