5 things to know this a.m.

Good morning! Catch up on your pop culture news with our roundup of today’s top stories — so far.

1. Meghan Markle’s half-brother goes off
Thomas Markle Jr. is not holding back in an open letter calling on Prince Harry to call off his upcoming wedding to “jaded, shallow, conceited” Meghan Markle. The former actress’s half-sibling called it the “biggest mistake in royal wedding history” while expressing dismay that he wasn’t invited. Wonder why. … Read more >

2. Empire kills off a major character
Pour one out for this longtime character on Fox’s hit drama, who met an untimely end on Wednesday night’s episode. And yes, fans have feelings. Read more >

3. The Stormy Daniels case heats up
While new Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s big reveal about paying off Stormy Daniels is making heads spin, the adult film star’s attorney dished more dirt on Wednesday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Michael Avenatti showed off what he claimed was a receipt proving that his client had been paid. Read more >

4. J.Lo has a wardrobe mishap
She’s still Jenny from the block, and she’s got the Spanx to prove it. Jennifer Lopez accidentally flashed her everywoman shapewear while dancing on The Ellen Show, but she’s not the only star who slipped up during the episode. Host Ellen DeGeneres got red-faced when she referred to newly separated guest Jenna Dewan by her former married name. Read more >

5. Gigi Hadid’s new magazine cover raises eyebrows
Kim Kardashian has just been accused of Photoshopping an old family pic, but there’s a bigger hubbub brewing over Gigi Hadid’s darker skin and unrecognizable features on the new cover of Vogue Italia. Read more >

Thanks for reading! Come back this evening for your p.m. pop culture roundup.