How do you handle a scandal? If you’re the artist formerly known as Kanye West, you take out a full-page apology ad in The Wall Street Journal. But if you’re the Alexander brothers—the high-flying real estate duo and their brother working in private security, all presently facing sex trafficking charges—you wait for your day in court. But before the brothers can speak their piece, the court needs its audience (i.e., jurors). And last week, Vanity Fair’s own Dan Adler, who has written about the defense teams of accused men including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Luigi Mangione, was called up for jury selection before none other than some of those same attorneys, now representing the Alexander brothers, who have pleaded not guilty. (TL;DR: Dan was dismissed, but still take a moment to read our 2025 feature on the brothers’ rape allegations.) And if you like your scandals in the realms of American politics and the general machinations of the Trump administration, read Erin Vanderhoof on how “Woke 2” started as a joke about progressive retribution fantasies and then became a reality.
But if you would like to soothe your brain, rather than inflame it by one more degree, check out VF’s exclusive interview with Harrison Ford and Michael J. Fox. |
ADRIENNE GREEN,
EXECUTIVE EDITOR |
On Monday, the artist formerly known as Kanye West took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal to publish a letter apologizing for his behavior during what he says was a four-month manic episode that took place in the first half of 2025. In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, the controversial artist, who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021, answered questions about his statement and his mental health status.
Anna Peele also spoke with Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discussed Ye’s claim that an accident led to his bipolar diagnosis, and with the director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism. |
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In a Manhattan courtroom last week, VF’s Dan Adler was made to explain himself to a federal judge, prosecutors, and defense lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs, Luigi Mangione, and Martin Shkreli. |
The very intellectual and the very online have an answer for why Donald Trump’s cultural revolution hasn’t really taken root. They’ve also got memes. |
In an exclusive interview, VF chats with the actors about working together on Shrinking season three, retirement, and aiming to search for a Parkinson’s cure with RFK Jr. |
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The Alexander brothers built an empire. Their accusers say the foundation was sexual violence.
Oren and Tal made a killing in real estate, while Alon worked in security. But women have leveled shocking accusations of rape and assault against all three brothers, dating back to high school: “You become so fucking magical that you just become, in your mind, invincible,” said one of Miami’s top brokers, using “nuke” to describe the Alexanders’ reputational collapse. “Sometimes the wicked-ass comes back to fucking haunt you.” |
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