The Moment
Hollywood has a new favorite backdrop, and no, it’s not a red carpet or a private jet. It’s a bubbling, steaming, skin-baring hot tub.
In a new gallery published January 3, 2026, celebrity site TMZ rounded up stars like Lala Anthony, Chris Hemsworth, and influencer Avani Gregg getting steamy in tubs, from luxe resort decks to backyard setups. The vibe is very “wish you were here, but also please like and share.”
The message is simple: it’s cold out, the holidays are over, and the celebrities are in the water. You’re supposed to scroll, sigh, and maybe start Googling “plug-in hot tubs near me.”
The Take
I don’t blame anyone for loving a good soak. A hot tub is the middle-aged fantasy trifecta: quiet, heat, and no one asking where the charger went.
But let’s be honest: this current wave of hot tub content isn’t just about relaxation. It’s about thirst-trap lighting with a wellness caption.
Look at the pattern. We get a shot of a perfectly angled body in a perfectly private tub, plus a caption that’s some version of “self-care” or “recharging.” It’s the same swimsuit photo we’ve seen for years, now rebranded as spiritual maintenance. The bubbles make it classy, right?
There’s a bigger culture shift underneath all that steam. For the 40+ crowd who remember when a bubble bath was a private thing, it can feel like the internet rewrote the rules while we were busy raising kids and paying mortgages. What used to be an off-duty, no-makeup zone is now prime real estate for building a “relatable but aspirational” brand.
And the hot tub is perfect for that. It says: I work hard, I relax hard, and I look fantastic doing it. It’s like the new infinity pool-only closer, cozier, and easier to rent on a weekend.
There is a genuine upside, though. We’ve come a long way from 90s “no carbs, no fat, no fun.” Seeing different body types, ages, and personalities being openly comfortable-even in a curated, filtered way-does nudge the needle toward body confidence. When someone like Lala Anthony, who’s in her 40s and owns every curve, is front and center in a hot tub gallery, that hits very differently than a one-size-fits-all swimsuit ad.
Still, part of me wonders: are we seeing real downtime, or scheduled content? At this point, a celebrity hot tub shot feels less like, “I’m relaxing” and more like, “I’m clocked in at the office; today’s conference room just has jets.” It’s vacation as performance review.
If Instagram is the stage, the hot tub is the ring light-softening edges, hiding a multitude of stress, and selling the fantasy that if we just had the right tub, we’d finally be at peace.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- TMZ published a hot tub-themed celebrity gallery on January 3, 2026, highlighting Lala Anthony, Chris Hemsworth, Avani Gregg and others in various tub settings, from resorts to backyards (TMZ, January 3, 2026).
- Medical guidance from organizations like the Mayo Clinic notes that warm-water hydrotherapy and hot tubs can help relax muscles and ease stress, while also warning about risks for people with certain heart conditions or pregnancy (Mayo Clinic, accessed January 2026).
Unverified / Opinion:
- That there is an organized “strategy” among specific stars to use hot tubs as coordinated branding tools.
- Any specific influencer or celebrity’s personal motives for posting tub photos (wellness, attention, sponsorships, or otherwise).
- The idea that hot tubs are the single new status symbol of Hollywood-fun theory, not documented fact.
Backstory (For Casual Readers)
Celebrity thirst traps-photos designed to draw attention with a little extra skin and a lot of posing-are nothing new. We’ve gone from magazine swimsuit spreads to the Instagram era, where stars can publish directly to fans, filter and edit to perfection, and control their own image. In the last few years, “wellness” has become the polite packaging: ice baths, saunas, cold plunges, yoga retreats, and now hot tubs are framed as health, not vanity. So when you see actors like Chris Hemsworth, reality veterans like Lala Anthony, and younger creators like Avani Gregg relaxing in steamy tubs, you’re not just looking at vacation photos-you’re looking at modern PR.
What’s Next
Expect more of this, not less. We’re in peak “home spa” era. With wellness tech, outdoor heaters, and every other backyard upgrade on sale, a hot tub has become the new open-concept kitchen-something stars can show off that says both luxury and comfort.
Influencers and celebrities will likely keep folding hot tub moments into sponsored content, wellness launches, and soft-focus couple reveals. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, “girls’ trips,” “mental health days”-all easy excuses to post from the tub and call it empowerment or self-care.
For everyday viewers, the real question becomes: does seeing this make you feel inspired, or just tired? There’s nothing wrong with a little visual escape (especially in January), as long as we remember that what we’re seeing is a highlight reel, not real life. Their hot tub is a set piece. Your five quiet minutes in a lukewarm bath after a long day? That’s the actual luxury.
So if you’re sipping tea on the couch while a celebrity soaks in a $20,000 spa and calls it “recharging,” just know: your nervous system doesn’t care how photogenic your water is.
Sources: TMZ, “Hot Tubs … Hotter Stars! Hollywood Turns Up The Heat!” (January 3, 2026); Mayo Clinic, “Hot tubs: Safety and health considerations” (accessed January 2026).
What do you think when you see celebs posting steamy hot tub shots-fun escapism, genuine empowerment, or just another pressure to look perfect while you’re supposedly relaxing?
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