‘Absolutely Disgusting’: Donald Trump’s Cold Reaction to Minnesota Politician’s Assassination Leaves Viewers Stunned
President Donald Trump appeared caught off guard Monday when asked if it would have been fitting to lower the nation’s flags after Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated this summer.
“Uh, I’m not familiar. The who?” Trump said in response to CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes, before adding that he would have agreed to the gesture if Gov. Tim Walz had formally asked. “Had the governor of Minnesota asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly,” Trump said from the Oval Office.
The exchange underscored Trump’s uneven reactions to recent political violence. He had quickly ordered flags lowered last week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while giving a speech in Utah, calling it “a dark moment for America.”
U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a hat stating “Trump Was Right About Everything” after signing executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House on February 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)He called Kirk a “martyr for truth” and blamed “the radical left” for the atmosphere of violence. “They liken conservatives to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump said. “That rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now.”
By contrast, Trump had dismissed Hortman’s killing in June as “a terrible shooting” but refused to call Walz, saying aboard Air Force One: “The guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?”
At the time, former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris attended Hortman’s funeral, while President Trump spent the weekend golfing with Republican senators and posting on social media: “WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS ALWAYS ROOTING AGAINST AMERICA???”
Kirk’s death sent shockwaves across conservative circles, with MAGA figures such as Elon Musk and Steve Bannon vowing retaliation on social media and podcasts.
Trump also recited a list of incidents he framed as examples of left-wing violence, including the attempt on his own life during last year’s presidential campaign, the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December, the 2017 shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise, and “the attacks on ICE agents,” Trump said.
However, the president made no mention of the murders of Hortman and her husband, nor the shooting of Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, who were shot and wounded in a related attack. He also left out the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband, the Trump supporter who mailed pipe bombs to Democrats, and the threats against his former Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021.
Critics accused Trump of fueling division by showing sympathy for Kirk, the conservative figure, while continuing to minimize or dismiss attacks that claimed the lives of Democrats.
“Trump orders flags to be at half staff for a political influencer. AN INFLUENCER. But when 2 Minnesota House members, POLITICIANS, were assassinated, he didn’t even bother to call the governor and said it would be ‘a waste of time.’ Do you see the difference here?” one observer wrote on Threads.
One of the president’s traditional roles is to help heal the nation in moments of crisis by uniting Americans across divides. But instead of striking that tone, Trump quickly blamed “the radical left” for Kirk’s murder, politicizing the tragedy in real time and further amplifying partisan fault lines.
Cordes also pressed Trump on Monday on why he portrays political violence as coming only from the left. Trump replied: “I didn’t say it was on one side. But I say the radical left causes tremendous violence, and they seem to do it in a bigger way. But the radical left really has caused a lot of problems for this country.”
Online reaction was swift. Journalist Aaron Rupar posted the exchange, writing: “Q: ‘Do you think it would’ve been fitting to lower the flags to half staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House Speaker, was gunned down by an assassin?’ TRUMP: ‘Uh, I’m not familiar. The who?”
Commentators accused Trump of callousness.
“Absolutely disgusting. A woman loses her life and the leader’s response is basically, ‘never heard of her,’” one critic wrote. “No empathy, no respect, not even the decency to acknowledge her humanity.”
Another on X added: “He’s an awful person or has dementia. Probably both.”
Trump supporters pushed back against the criticism, accusing reporters of political theater.
“Oh yes, the journo-activists and their perceived ‘gotcha’ questions… They don’t hesitate to use murder victims as a gaslighting tool,” one conservative wrote.
However, Cordes did not ask if Utah’s governor had requested the flag order for Kirk or if Trump made the move unilaterally.
Another Trump defender minimized Hortman’s death in comparison to Kirk’s: “lol you’re implying a comparison that is not even close. Charlie was murdered live in front of the world because of his faith and exercising America’s foundational right, free speech and peaceful discourse. Above all Charlie was well known around the world and a close friend to @realDonaldTrump.”
Over the past week, critics have argued the contrast underscores Trump’s selective empathy.
“Trump orders flags to be at half staff for a political influencer. AN INFLUENCER. But when 2 Minnesota House members, POLITICIANS, were assassinated, he didn’t even bother to call the governor and said it would be ‘a waste of time,’” one observer wrote.
At Hortman’s funeral, Walz urged Americans to find common ground. “Without ever losing sight of our common humanity,” he said.
Trump’s response has instead deepened divides, raising questions about whether the president sees violence against Democrats as worthy of the same national mourning he demands when Republicans are targeted.
‘Doing Anything to Bring His Father Down’: Kirk Franklin’s Son Kerrion Shows Graphic Photos of Alleged Parental Abuse Years After Leaking Dad’s Profanity-Laced Recording
The son of gospel singer Kirk Franklin is making waves on social media after posting a picture of the back scars he says he received as a child.
Kerrion Franklin shared the photograph on Instagram on September 15, and he claimed he was beaten “black and blue” since he was in the first grade by “parentals” who “enjoyed expressing rotten Rage.” The picture features Franklin with multiple, deep scars in his flesh.
Kirk Franklin’s estranged son, Kerrion Franklin, accuses his father of abuse and shows graphic scars on his back as proof. (Photos: @kirkfranklin/Instagram; @kerriondivine/Instagram.)Franklin shared the picture of his back scars with a lengthy caption.
“These scars all over my back are not Sex Stories,” he wrote. “Breaks my heart all over again when ppl ask cuz iii wish that was the case. Pain is the only feeling that’s familiar for me but Whatevs & For the record these scars are symbols. They really signs of many secrets that iii keep bottled up since iii was a baby being beat black and blue since 1st grade.”
He added that he walked with “war & Betrayal” in his posture, and that the scars were his only childhood memories.
“Parentals enjoyed expressing rotten Rage in many ways as (punishment/Consequence) not that anyone cares about compassion, consideration,” he added. “These scars are the only memories I have of my childhood.”
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Fans reacted after seeing the picture on The Neighbohood Talk on Instagram.
One fan exclaimed, “Kirk did that???” while another said, “He shirtless with smooth skin in old videos. Now claiming abuse.”
A third said, “This gotta stop. Delete this bro. Entirely too many images of you WITHOUT these scars. Seek REAL help but start by removing this damn post.”
Another in disbelief added, “Baby them scars look NEW!! Try Again My Guy. He is doing anything to bring his father down.. He must’ve cut that money train off!”
The “I Smile” singer and his son were estranged for several years after Kerrion leaked a profanity-laced recording of Franklin yelling at him. The recording was shared in 2021 and features Franklin screaming, “I will put my foot in your a**” he said, as well as, “I will break f**king your neck.”
Kerrion was born to Franklin and his mother, Shawn Ewing, when they were teenagers, and Ewing later defended her ex on Instagram, saying her son was “hurting” because he was raised by “teenage parents.”
During a 2021 interview on “Larry Reid Live,” Kerrion said that his parents were focused on themselves, leaving him to be watched by multiple people who physically abused him.
“As a kid, right? My dad was focused on becoming his best self, and my mom was, you know, she — she was — she was trying to do her thing, going to school, you know, working So, I was babysat by a lot of people, and that kind of put me in some — some unfortunate, rough situations.” He added that he was physically abused by multiple people.
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Franklin later apologized and noted that the recordings were from two separate occasions. He also said that he and Kerrion did not speak for five years.
“I hadn’t talked to my son in five years when he called me. But I do want people to know I love him. I want the world to hear it loud. I love my son.”
According to VIBE, the father and son repaired their relationship years later.
“I know my son,” said Franklin. ” And my conversations with him have always been a consistent one. I love you, and my love for you is not based on who you love. I love you. And that is my answer. That’s my answer as a Christian father who believes in the text. I love you, and my love for you does not waver based on who you love.”
‘How Embarrassing’: ‘White Lotus’ Star’s Cringy Red-Carpet Kiss with Wife Sparks Divorce Talk After His Odd Reaction Amid Buzz About His Co-Star
“The White Lotus” star Walton Goggins had a rather awkward exchange with his wife, Nadia Conners, during Sunday night’s 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.
What was meant to be a romantic display outside the Peacock Theater quickly unraveled, igniting chatter online that the couple’s marriage might be on shaky ground — with some saying their awkward display spoke louder than words.
Celebrity couple actor Walton Goggins and filmmaker Nadia Conners had an awkward kissing moment at the 2025 Emmy Awards. (Photo credit: nadiasomerset/Instagram)In one clip taken at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Aug. 14 and posted on X, Conners turns to her husband, who was facing the cameras, while they posed for the press. Goggins then leaned in to give “The Uninvited” director a peck on the lips.
They share a short kiss before Goggins turned back to the photographers as Conners appears to say, “One more time.”
After sharing another slightly longer smooch, Goggins was also seen wiping his lips with his hand right after kissing his wife. The clip quickly sent X users into overdrive, with many zeroing in on the veteran actor’s odd behavior.
“Walton couldn’t wait to [leave] the scene before removing the hair on his lips,” one individual tweeted. A second person expressed, “He’s probably been telling his lady on the side that there’s no love In the marriage and didn’t want to show affection.”
In a more exaggerated reaction to the situation, a Daily Mail reader exclaimed, “OMG. He’s totally recoiling from her. How embarrassing for them both.”
Walton Goggins and Nadia Conners at the 2025 #Emmys
(via @Variety) pic.twitter.com/lHfxm1vMnx
In a second clip from the Emmy red carpet, Conners responds to photographers’ requests for her and Goggins to kiss in front of the cameras.
“Me kiss him? Or him kiss me?” Conners asked the photogs at the scene. One person in the crowd yelled back, “Both!”
Conners proceeded to kiss her spouse on the cheek as flashbulbs went off. Goggins returned the favor by repeatedly smooching her face.
However, a cynic suggested the seemingly benign kiss swap could be foreshadowing the end of the marriage, posting, “These two are heading for a divorce.”
Another said, “The wife is about to go! He was so not into her!”
#TheWhiteLotus and #Fallout star Walton Goggins shares a kiss with his wife Nadia Conners at the 2025 #Emmys pic.twitter.com/lIqdKrdG4r
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 14, 2025There have been online whispers that Conners and Goggins are experiencing marital troubles due to the on-screen chemistry between him and his “The White Lotus” co-star, English actress Aimee Lou Wood.
Goggins played Wood’s older lover in season three of HBO’s award-winning anthology television series. Their storyline was a significant part of the drama that played over eight episodes.
Conners addressed the cheating rumors during an interview with Hello! Magazine. The filmmaker downplayed the wild speculation that Wood, 31, had an affair with her husband.
“It’s odd to see it, but it’s an indication of how much people were invested in the fictional characters. I take it as a sign that he’s become quite popular,” Conners told the publication.
Conners and Goggins got married in August 2011, having dated since 2005. They share one son, who was born in January 2011. Their private lives have crossed over into their professional careers.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Walton Goggins (@waltongogginsbonafide)
For her feature film directorial debut, Conners cast Goggins in 2024’s “The Uninvited.” The movie premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and arrived in North American theaters on April 11, 2025.
“20 years she’s been working towards this moment. To be by her side… with this cast… in this story… has been so emotionally overwhelming,” Goggins wrote in an Instagram caption celebrating “The Uninvited” screening at SXSW.
Goggins has built a lengthy entertainment industry résumé. He starred in other motion pictures such as 2012’s “Django Unchained,” 2019’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” and 2024’s “Queen of the Ring.”
The former Georgia Southern University student appeared in numerous television programs, including “The Shield,” “Justified,” and “The Righteous Gemstones.” His performance in “The White Locus” garnered him an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nomination at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards.
‘Out of Breath After 10 Seconds!’: Viral Video of Ted Cruz Struggling to Paint Over ‘Evil’ Message on Side of Texas Highway Has the Internet Howling
Sen. Ted Cruz thought he was scoring points when he grabbed a paint roller and set out to erase graffiti on a Houston freeway wall but the performance quickly turned into online fodder, with critics mocking his attempt to play cleanup crew.
Cruz announced on X that the graffiti was done by a “deranged b—-rd.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) waves as he arrives with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at Lackland Air Force Base. (Credit: Getty Images/Fox News)The clip was shared on Fox News and widely circulated online, accompanied by the caption, “Erasing Evil.” The outlet applauded Cruz for painting over the words, “f–k Charlie Kirk,” and shared Cruz’s statement that “Texans don’t have to look at this hateful garbage anymore.”
But the move has not impressed observers on social media, who have declared it “performative” and a “publicity stunt” aimed at boosting Cruz’s own image.
Some deranged bastard put this graffiti on the 59 freeway in Houston.
TXDOT has been notified & I’m sure sure they will remove it expeditiously.
But, in the meantime, Texans don’t have to look at this hateful garbage anymore. pic.twitter.com/v8wmTX1Vc0
People also noticed the senator struggling with the paint roller as he attempted to blot out the profanity. After just a few overlapping strokes, he stopped while large drips of white paint slowly trickled down the dark brown wall.
From tips on power washing to “bending your knees” while painting, viewers have chimed in with humorous advice for the Senator to help him get through the paint job.
“Most work he’s done his entire life,” wrote one on Threads, where people can’t stop cracking jokes.
“Out of breath after 10 seconds with a paint roller,” mocked another.
“This is the closest this man has ever been to physical labor, and he is struggling,” exclaimed a commenter.
One user broke it down in two parts, “1.This is performative as f**k. 2. He did a shockingly terrible job at this.”
View on ThreadsEven Cruz’s choice of color was put under the microscope.
“Could he have used gray or brown or black? This looks awful,” said one, with another likening the white paint drips to bird droppings.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Cruz’s infamous Cancún getaway is still fresh in the minds of Texans, as commentators couldn’t help but bring it up. When a deadly winter weather ripped through Texas in 2021 and overwhelmed the power grid, Cruz took off on a tropical vacation, earning him the name “Flyin’ Ted,” a variation on Donald Trump’s “Lyin’ Ted” nickname.
“Surprised he didn’t get on a plane and go on vacation…” quipped a few people with long memories on Threads.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10 during one of his signature debate sessions with students. While there’s been an outburst of mourning from his supporters, some of Kirk’s detractors have sparked a backlash by publicly speaking against the far-right influencer, making critical social media posts, and even destroying memorials.
But for now, at least one highway tag has been taken care of by Cruz — and eventually, the Texas Department of Transportation. As Cruz wrote on X: “TXDOT has been notified & I’m sure they will remove it expeditiously.”
‘I Punched ’Em In the Face’: Innocent Black Man Beaten By Lying Cop Who Bragged About His Abuse Accepts Legal Settlement
The Michigan State trooper caught on video punching and kneeing a Black man who had committed no crime – and then laughing about it afterwards with other cops – claimed he had qualified immunity and could not be sued for his abuse.
But a federal judge disagreed, resulting in a $145,000 settlement announced Sept. 4 for Devin Pettway, the 33-year-old Black man who filed the lawsuit after he was punched in the face by Michigan State Trooper Brennan Kelly.
The beating was captured on video by a witness recording through a glass window from inside a home – contradicting the lies told by Kelly about why he had punched Pettway – which turned out to be the main reason why Kelly’s request for qualified immunity was denied.
Devin Pettway, a Black man who was beaten by a cop even though he had committed no crime, agreed to a $145,000 settlement this week. (Photo: witness video and facebook.com/devin.pettway.2025)Kelly claimed in his initial report that he was only defending himself from Pettway, who was approaching him in an aggressive manner with his fists balled up, making him fear for his safety.
But moments after the incident, Kelly was captured on a dashcam recording bragging to another cop about how he has a habit of punching citizens in the face.
“I’ve had three uses of force here in the past month — I punched ’em in the face,” Kelly said, according to The Detroit News.
“You got three of those already?” the other trooper asked, laughing.
“Yeah,” Kelly responded in the recording that has not been made public but has been reviewed by the judge.
Pettway, who spent four years fighting his legal battle, told local media he “just wanted the truth to come out and for my voice to be heard.”
According to the court opinion by U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker denying the cop qualified immunity that was published in March, which paved the way for Pettway’s settlement:
There is a triable issue as to whether Trooper Kelly acted objectively reasonable when he pushed, punched, and struck Mr. Pettway with his knee several times even though the severity of the crime was low and Mr. Pettway did not impose an immediate threat to anyone’s safety or actively resist his arrest.
Therefore, Trooper Kelly is not entitled to governmental immunity or summary judgment as to Mr. Pettway’s assault and battery claim.
Watch the video below.
‘I’m Going to Knock You Out’The incident took place on Nov. 6, 2021, while Pettway was visiting his sister, Auja Pettway, at her house in Detroit.
Michigan State Police had a warrant for his sister’s boyfriend, Troy Graham-Napper Jr., who was wanted in a child custody kidnapping case out of Pennsylvania, accused of seizing his 8-year-old son from his mother in Pittsburgh and transporting him to Detroit.
Several cops arrived and stood outside the home barking orders through a loudspeaker, informing the residents they had a warrant to search the home.
Pettway, who had nothing to do with the alleged kidnapping, walked outside to tell the cops that his sister’s boyfriend would hand the child over to surrender to police.
But Pettway was carrying a backpack and Kelly demanded to search it. At first, Pettway refused to allow the cop to search the backpack, but then learned the warrant authorized the cops to search it, so he allowed them to do so.
But then Kelly became aggressive and started shoving Pettway.
“Don’t f_cking walk up on me or I’m going to knock you out!” Kelly yelled at Pettway.
But his lying accusations against Pettway were unknowingly caught on video by the witness through the window, which is what led to the judge denying Kelly qualified immunity.
The Court finds a genuine dispute as to whether Mr. Pettway disobeyed any officer commands that justify the force used.
Specifically, at issue is whether Mr. Pettway ignored Trooper Kelly’s order to go to the front of the house after Trooper Kelly searched him.
Trooper Kelly asserts that ‘instead of complying with that [order Mr. Pettway] decided to walk up on [him] and jeopardize [his] safety.”
However, based on the sequence of events described in the parties’ briefs, this command should have been audible on the video footage, but it is not.
The neighbor’s video does not show Mr. Pettway walking towards Trooper Kelly. In fact, it shows the opposite.
Wayne County prosecutors took the word of the cop and charged Pettway and his sister with assaulting a police officer, but the charges were dismissed six months later after the video surfaced.
Wayne County online court records also show Graham-Napper was extradited back to Pennsylvania, but the child was found unharmed.
But Pettway had to wait four years to receive justice, and he only succeeded because a witness chose to video record the incident.
His lawyer, Steve Haney, told local media the “case was about accountability and making sure that what happened to Devin doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
“The settlement provides some measure of justice and allows Devin to move forward with his life and his family.”
‘She Had Every Right’: Mariah Carey Refuses Autograph on the Spot After Zooming In on Photo and Spotting Something That Changed Her Mood Instantly
Mariah Carey is the true definition of a diva.
The singer’s brutally yet sassy responses to other celebrities often go viral. For instance, Carey has taken shots at Jennifer Lopez and Madonna about their talent or stardom.
Her melodramatic habits, including refusing to acknowledge her birthday or the passage of time and claiming to swim in evening gowns — all add up to her diva reputation. The five-time Grammy award-winning singer had another diva-esque moment recently while signing autographs for fans.
Mariah Carey abruptly refuses to sign an autograph for a fan. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Mirage Entertainment)Last month, Carey went overseas to the United Kingdom for a performance, but on Aug. 6, she ran into fans who were eager to get a signature from her.
Mariah Carey Shocks Fans with ‘Major’ Weight Loss Amid Bryan Tanaka Breakup Rumors
But at one point, the “Obsessed” singer turned down one request to sign a photo, and it was for a peculiar reason.
A new video shows Carey wearing an all black ensemble of a dress, a leather jacket and shades. It opens up with Carey dragging out the word “No” to one person, while holding a marker and looking to autograph another item. Suddenly a male’s voice came from behind the screen and said, “Alright, can we just get one on here please?”
Carey took a second to look at the photo and said, “No, I don’t like that picture.” The professional image was fairly new and taken from Carey’s Brighton Pride performance days earlier on Aug. 6. In the photo, she was seen wearing one of her brighter looks from the performance, a multicolored glitter dress with a pink bedazzled jacket, and silver boots.
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Fans reacted to the video in the comments where one of her fan pages reshared the clip.
One person said, “She had every right not to sign a photo she didn’t like.”
Someone else commented, “But she posted that pic on her IG. The team must’ve messed it up.”
The fan was correct that Carey had already posted the picture to her Instagram page a few nights earlier on Aug. 2, which was the same night of her performance at Brighton Pride. This led some people to believe that there had to be another reason she didn’t want to sign it.
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One fan who thinks they’ve cracked the code said, “She knew he wasn’t a real fan and clearly wanted to resell, hahahaha She is so ICONIC.”
Another person who further explained the theory wrote, “It’s because she knew he’s not a fan… it’s a professional photographer shot and he’s going to sell it. Real fans will bring a cd/album/any rare collected items. She’s seen enough to be able to tell which ones are real fans and which ones are scalpers.”
Outside of that incident, Carey appeared to have enjoyed her time in England. She posted snippets of her “Leisure time in London” which showed her going shopping, taking pictures with fans, and relaxing in a jacuzzi.
As for her performance at Brighton, Carey opened up about a wardrobe malfunction that happened onstage and detailed how she saved herself from an embarrassing moment.
In a Aug. 6 interview with British radio show “Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden,” she said, “It was a lot of rehearsing and then we had a wardrobe malfunction, which was kind of not cool. It was right in the front. I saved it, nobody saw it. Otherwise, it would’ve been talked about.”
Explaining how exactly she saved it, she said, “I turned around and walked through the dancers. I was so mad.”
‘Next Victim’: Trump’s Aide Katie Miller Tried to Clap Back at Gavin Newsom to Defend Trump, But the Showdown Proved She’s No Match for Him
Former Department of Government Efficiency adviser Katie Miller took a swing at Gov. Gavin Newsom over his criticism of the White House’s ongoing Rose Garden beautification project.
The Donald Trump-led overhaul is being completed in two phases. First, the long-standing Rose Garden was replaced with a stone patio and Mar-a-Lago-themed tables, chairs, and golden-yellow umbrellas. Its $1.9 million price tag was footed by private donors.
Trump’s aide, former DOGE Katie Miller, attempted to defend the president against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mockery. (Photos by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images; Sean Rayford/Getty Images)The second phase will see the completion of a $200 million ballroom. The California official’s press office ripped the outdoor redesign in early September, calling it “Predator Patio.” From his personal account, he tweeted, “… the GOP are spending their time cheering Diet Cokes at a new, exclusive ‘club.’”
Katie, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, is not a fan of his mockery. “The problem with politics is it’s incredibly hypocritical,” she said during an appearance on the “Tomi Lahren is Fearless” podcast. She added that Newsom did not call out fellow Democrats for their own exuberant spending. “All he’s doing is dunking on President Trump,” she said.
After ripping health care from 17 million Americans and slashing food stamps for kids, we’re glad Mike “Marie Antoinette” Johnson and his boy friends had time to toast the grand opening of the Predator Patio. https://t.co/4pJk9Jf8E3
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 6, 2025Moreover, Miller argued that the White House upgrades would help to facilitate after-ours meetings between Democrats and Republicans shaping legislation for the American people. A pro-Trump supporter responded to the discourse online with, “This Newsom is a real piece of work…. he is no more qualified to be a leader than Kamala was.”
Others who shared that sentiment were outnumbered by hecklers. In one instance, an individual wrote, “Newsom is just simply better at this… I have never heard Mrs. Miller speak up about anything….accept a patio.”
Our economy is in a downward spiral, but don’t worry — the @GOP are spending their time cheersing Diet Cokes at a new, exclusive “club.” https://t.co/Y49zgCwrQE
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 6, 2025Along with criticizing the president, Newsom and his team have invested weeks in mocking the businessman on social media and doling out nicknames to his inner circle, like White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Vice President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
With Katie speaking out against the governor, some suspect she will soon earn a new name. Read a third response to her defense of the Rose Garden. “Next victim to of Newsome, Katie Miller! GOP hacks can dish it out but boy they can’t take it!”
For now, at least, she has not landed on the Newsom team’s radar.
‘Very Unnecessary’: Paula Deen Stirs Outrage After Fresh Dig at the Late Anthony Bourdain and One Detail Has Fans Asking Why Now
Not even a memorial can soften the heart of Paula Deen, who still has sharp words about her culinary foe Anthony Bourdain.
The disgraced Food Network star, 78, is making headlines discussing the controversies that rocked her career in her new documentary, “Canceled: The Paula Deen Story.”
In a portion of the footage that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6, Deen reflects on Bourdain’s public disdain for her Southern cooking.
Paula Deen enrages Anthony Bourdain fans with new remarks about their feud. (Photos: Pauladeen_official/Instagram; Anthonybourdain/Instagram)In 2011, the New York chef said, in part, that Deen was “the worst, most dangerous person to America… She revels in unholy connections with evil corporations, and she’s proud of the fact that her food is…bad for you…her food sucks.”
Bourdain later walked back commentary about her being “the worst” but remained critical of her cooking.
In the documentary, Deen responded to his criticism. “I don’t know what he was off in these foreign countries eating. Bat brains or something like that. I think I’ll just stick with my fried chicken,” she said after taking a swipe at Bourdain‘s “Parts Unknown” exploration of food from around the globe. But she didn’t stop there.
@NOLABravesFan Paula hardly the worst person in America. Just most destructive influence on FN. Nice lady, though, yes?
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) August 18, 2011She continued, “God rest his soul. I felt like he didn’t like anybody. Not even himself, maybe… He started something with me, and I’d never even met him.”
Dean was hardly his only target, as his hard feelings also included the teardown of Food Network personalities Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, and Sandra Lee. Bourdain passed away in 2018 at the age of 61 after years of struggling with depression.
Deen’s words set off a story of reactions. The Georgia native was also deemed a “classless person who has no integrity or morals.”
“Typical maga boomer, failed at her life professionally… now she has to try to springboard off the Tombstones of the [Unalive] to try to get back into the Public eye,” said one heckler.
Anthony Bourdain refused to film for CNN unless they gave him 100% say in everything he did and he was able to showcase cultures that never get air in American media. all Paula Deen did was steal black recipes and call her employees the n-word like let's be serious https://t.co/lVbMWEwjl6
— average miw enjoyer (@redwhteboom) September 9, 2025Another individual wrote, “This is very unnecessary for Dean. Bourdain is no longer here. Let him RIP. I loved his show “Unknown with Anthony Bourdain.” Bashing someone who was a colleague that is now deceased screams “help me get some book sales.” Just go away Paula. You did yourself in during your hey day! Now you want to try and destroy others so you can sell your memoir.”
A third comment read, “NOT the way to rehabilitate your reputation, Paula!”
Deen’s reputation and food empire was irreparably tarnished when she admitted to using a derogatory term, the n-word, when referring to Black people in 2013.
As a result, she lost business partnerships, including her Food Network shows. She abruptly shuttered her Savannah, Georgia, restaurants, The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box, in July.
‘I See Why Travis Kelce Left’: Kayla Nicole’s Provocative Dance with Chris Brown on Jumbo Screen Has Travis Kelce Fans Stunned
Sports personality and podcaster Kayla Nicole is going viral for getting a public and steamy performance from R&B artist Chris Brown.
Nicole attended his Breezy Bowl XX Tour stop in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, where several cameras captured close-up shots of the intimate yet racy embrace between Brown and Travis Kelce‘s ex-girlfriend on a jumbo screen.
Podcaster Kayla Nicole has moved on from her ex-boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, as he prepares to marry pop music sensation Taylor Swift. (Photos: @iamkaylanicole/Instagram; Gotham/GC Images)Footage of the R&B singer, 36, dancing on top of Nicole, 33, went viral online. Nicole was dressed in a black top, black leather shorts, and knee-high black leather boots. She was seen seated on a red chair as CB began grinding on her to his 2008 hit “Take You Down,” as reported by Page Six.
At one point, the Grammy Award winner grabbed a smiling Nicole by the throat and she can be seen flexing her legs to her head. The live crowd cheered when the Jumbotron faded to black right as the Virginia-bred crooner was leaning in to kiss his special guest.
There was also a resounding reaction online to the sensual moment. In particular, fans took the opportunity to clown Kelce, who recently announced his engagement to pop star Taylor Swift after two years of dating.
“Take that, Travis Kelce!” someone posted in The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section.
Kayla Nicole really flipped the script on Chris Brown during Take You Down pic.twitter.com/OLc2kzBUiY
— Steven (@bloggerstevenb) September 15, 2025One observer who zoomed in on the singer’s face wrote: “Lmao Chris like oh she fighting back.” Another said, “I know Travis [is] punching the air right now and Swift just looking at him.”
“Same day Kelce fumbled that ball that cost the Chiefs a Touchdown? Sis!!!!!!,” a second commenter pointed out, noting that Kelce’s football team lost their Super Bowl LIX rematch to the Philadelphia Eagles on 20-17 on Sunday.
Kelce did get visibly upset during the second quarter of the game against the Eagles. Television cameras caught him throwing his helmet to the ground in frustration just before halftime. In the fourth quarter, he would later bobble what would have been a touchdown reception in the end zone, leading to an interception — not a fumble — on the play.
Travis Kelce was visibly frustrated after this play. pic.twitter.com/lRdegKdiRK
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 14, 2025In addition to the praise, Nicole got for how she handled CB on stage, she also got criticism for what fans believe is another attempt to stay relevant.
“So this is what she’s been reduced to….. she’s not doing herself any favors with this type of ‘thirsty’ appearance. It’s apparent she’s going to have a seriously hard time as the media and social media will be ALL about talking ‘everything’ Travis & Taylor’ engagement/marriage related stories.”
They continued, “Kayla just can’t move on from Travis. She thought she would be wearing that engagement ring after dating him for all those years. Her fault she stayed in that situation without ever getting close to an engagement.”
Nicole’s on-again, off-again romance with Kelce, 35, began around 2017. By 2022, the pair had officially ended their relationship after unsubstantiated cheating accusations and speculation that their split was caused by arguments over finances.
“Don’t buy into that,” Kelce insisted during a January 2023 appearance on “The Pivot Podcast” when questioned about rumors that the NFL star being “too cheap” led to the breakup with Nicole.
The three-time Super Bowl champion resumed, “I would never say that I was supporting her. She had a very financially stable life and what she was doing in her career.”
“But you got to be crazy if you think I’d never helped or gave her a couple dollars to grab some food or she gave me some money to go get some food. We were in a relationship for five years,” Kelce added.
Nicole also denied that her ex allegedly being “cheap” was the catalyst for the relationship falling apart. While speaking with Angel Reese in the WNBA star’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast in 2024, the Pepperdine University graduate said, “Do I look like I would go 50/50 on bills? That was ridiculous.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)
The following year after their breakup, Kelce began dating Swift, 35, in 2023. The celebrity couple broke the internet in August 2025 with the announcement of their upcoming wedding.
According to Billboard, the “Love Story” singer’s Instagram post revealing their engagement broke the record for most reposts on the platform. It gained 14 million likes in the first hour and 2M reposts in less than 24 hours.
Nicole recently avoided an opportunity to comment on her ex-boyfriend‘s upcoming nuptials with one of the most famous women on the planet. The sports media figure was asked about Kelce getting engaged while walking the red carpet for a 2025 New York Fashion Week event.
“’Oh, no, no, no,” Nicole responded, shutting down a reporter’s attempt to get her to speak about her ex on the record. She quickly switched the subject by saying, “But I’m really happy to be here at Champion, though. This is a good party.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Page Six (@pagesix)
The self-described single Nicole claimed she has no interest in getting romantically involved with another professional athlete during an interview on the “Behind the Likes” podcast in January 2024.
The fitness enthusiast said, “I’ll never say never, but I fully, wholeheartedly believe that I am out of the athlete stage.” She went on to win season three of the “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” reality TV competition series in 2025.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s ‘Liquor Store’ Remark at Buffalo Church Draws Fire for Racial Insensitivity, But Pastor Says Critics Got It Wrong
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing a mixed bag of reactions to a comment she made at a largely Black church in Buffalo that some contend was “deeply offensive,” but Hochul defended it as a “lighthearted joke.”
Hochul delivered remarks on Sunday, Sept. 7, at True Bethel Baptist Church, in which she reminded the congregation about an inflation rebate launching later this month to help millions of New York residents struggling with the rising cost of living in the state.
But Hochul jested about what the congregants should and should not spend the incoming checks on.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference to announce new subway safety measures at the NYCTA Rail Control Center on March 6, 2024, in New York City. Hochul announced that 1,000 New York State Police, MTAPD and the New York National Guard will be used to support the NYPD in conducting bag checks. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)“Checks are coming out soon, watch the mail. OK? OK? Don’t spend it all in one day. Get something you really need. OK? Don’t stop by the liquor store. Buy something for the kids. Buy them some food,” she said, drawing a loud reaction from audience members.
She continued: “Sometimes I have to stop by the liquor store, too. I understand. It’s all right. It’s all right. But listen, the inflation rebate, the middle class tax cut, a $1,000 tax credit for everyone who has a child under the age of 4, all your grandbabies. Let’s take care of the grandbabies that we know.”
The remark wasn’t well-received by some people, including Hochul’s gubernatorial opponent, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, who accused the governor of making a “value judgment” about the Black community.
“It’s deeply offensive. I think it reveals a level of disconnect the governor clearly possesses as it pertains to the Black community in particular, and this is a pattern. This is something that revealed itself when she said that black kids in the Bronx don’t know what the word ‘computer’ is,” Delgado told WTKV reporter Luke Radel.
Hochul came under fire last year during a technology panel in Beverly Hills, California, where she said there are “young Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word ‘computer’ is. They don’t know these things.”
She later said she misspoke and meant to communicate that Black children in marginalized communities often lack access to the technology needed to become more adept in emerging industries like AI that will help them attain high-paying tech jobs.
“It’s like the soft bigotry of low expectations,” Delgado said of Hochul’s recent inflation rebate remarks, adding, “You can make racist comments because the nature of the comment speaks to a devaluation of a community. It’s rooted in an understanding of how a community is perceived and the narrative attached to that community. So people can say things that are racist insofar as those things are rooted in a perception about what a community typically does.”
However, True Bethel’s bishop, Darius Pridgen, argued that neither he nor his congregants took offense to Hochul’s comments. He said that Hochul has a relationship with the church that spans decades and dates back to a time well before she became New York governor.
“I was surprised to hear that there were some people who took the governor’s comments as racist,” Pridgen told Politico. “Kathy Hochul being at True Bethel is like family coming home. The crowd was very appreciative of her being there, of the remarks she made, because they were in context to the sermon I preached that morning.”
Pridgen’s sermon was titled “Before You Crash Out.” The bishop said Hochul “was commenting on not crashing out and not making bad decisions, which I had just preached.”
Pridgen went on to tell WTKV that people are politicizing Hochul’s comments and called Delgado’s response “unfair.”
NEW: Bishop Darius Pridgen, head pastor at Buffalo’s True Bethel Baptist Church where @KathyHochul made her controversial comments, tells me he’s “totally surprised with people saying that it was in any way racist.”
Lt. Gov. @DelgadoforNY’s assessment is “unfair,” he says. @WKTV https://t.co/NL8QNht0pW pic.twitter.com/WsNvB1lFOS
Similar to Delgado’s reaction, another one of Hochul’s political opponents, Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, also said the governor’s remark was racially insensitive. Stefanik is also reportedly considering a run in the 2026 New York gubernatorial race.
“This is not the first time Kathy Hochul has insulted the Black community and spoken in a condescending, lecturing tone towards African Americans,” Stefanik told The New York Post. “Hochul is now showing a disturbing pattern of racial insensitivity by doubling down on her arrogant and patronizing tone towards the African American community.”
Hochul apologized for her remarks at an unrelated news conference on Wednesday.
“I wasn’t making any generalization about any particular community at all,” she said. “My intention is never to offend anybody in that context, and I regret that that is the takeaway for some people.”
She continued: “Just for context. I was in my hometown at a church I’ve gone to for 20 years. I’m dear friends with the bishop, the congregation. They’re all my friends. And I was acknowledging a lot of the stress people are under in our communities. I made a lighthearted joke.”
She stated that her remarks were meant to be “instructive,” and that she was “trying to make an argument of how to put money back in people’s pockets.”
She agrees with Pridgen’s evaluation of the matter, stating that some people who weren’t at the church that day are making accusations and trying to be “divisive for their own political gain.”
‘This Chick is Like Pre MTV La La’: Carmelo Anthony’s Rumored New Lady Has Fans Convinced He’s Still Hung Up on La La
Carmelo Anthony may have a new lady in his life. Fans of the retired NBA player believe they know who he’s been spending quality time with after videos of him at a Bad Bunny concert on Sept. 14 in Puerto Rico surfaced online.
Just as the backlash from his Hall of Fame speech came to a stop, fans are now back to dissecting Anthony’s love life following his divorce from La La Anthony after being spotted with a new woman.
Carmelo Anthony spotted with mystery woman, who fans say resembles his ex-wife, La La Anthony. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Hispanic Heritage Foundation; @lala/InstagramThe recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee was spotted with a blond, curly-haired woman identified as Racquel Smith, the widow of New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith. In one video posted to TikTok, Racquel was shown standing behind Carmelo as they watched the king of Latin trap speak to supporters in a club setting.
In another clip, the former New York Knicks player stood a few feet behind his supposed girlfriend at the Miguel Agrelot Coliseum for the superstar’s final performance of his 30-show residency.
The pair did not indulge in any PDA; however, any inklings that they were coincidentally in the same places were put to rest when the New Orleans native shared a close-up photo of Anthony in her Instagram Story.
Carmelo Anthony and Racquel Smith were spotted together at Bad Bunny’s Sept. 14 concert in Puerto Rico. (Photos: @ariemariepr/TikTok and @rockie91/Instagram)Sleuths on Lipstick Alley perceived the content as proof that Carmelo had managed to keep the relationship low-profile up until that moment.
One person commenting on the presumed new couple took aim at Carmelo. That individual wrote, “That serial cheater is no prize.”
The athlete and La La divorced in 2021 after he fathered a daughter, Genesis, during an extramarital affair. The exes share one child, son Kiyan Anthony. Due to their limited appearances, which have increased due to this son entering college, some suspect Carmelo pay still have the hots for his ex-wife, noting her resemblance to the new woman.
A second person wrote, “La la was regular until she had surgery. So this chick is like pre surgery Lala. But naturally prettier. I remember when Lala was on MTV. This chick look better than MTV Lala.”
@ariemariepr @Bad Bunny #ResidenciaNoMeQuieroIrDeAqui #BadBunny #LaCasitaDeBenito #CarmeloAnthony ♬ original sound – ariemarieA third commenter remarked, “This is the first time they’ve popped out together in public. She’s a bit messy but at least she i age appropriate lol.”
A fourth person remarked, “Wasn’t she involved with another baller as well? Sis loves her an athlete!”
Racquel and her former husband, Will, were married for eight years and shared three children, including a daughter the athlete shared with an ex, when he was fatally shot during a night out in the Crescent City in April 2016.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Racquel R Joseph Smith (@rockie91)
The suspect, Cardell Hayes, hit Will in both legs and Will eight times; seven of those wounds were sustained in his back after a car crash and exchange of heated words. Hayes was convicted of manslaughter twice, the first time in 2016 and again during a retrial in 2024.
‘Take Care of Him!’: Racist Woman Tells Friend to Confront Black Man. He Gets More Than What He Bargained for
A Black man who was minding his own business about to eat his lunch in Alaska was assaulted by a racist Native American woman who tossed water in his face, resulting in her arrest.
Then, as police were arresting Marisa Didrickson, the 48-year-old woman turned to her Native American friend, Christopher Williams Jr., telling him to “take care of him” — regarding the Black man she had just assaulted.
That was when Juneau Police Officer Brandon LeBlanc began shoving Williams away from the area, body slamming him to the ground, causing Williams’ head to strike the sidewalk, knocking him unconscious and snoring – even though he was not fighting the cop.
An Alaska cop was forced to resign after body slamming a Native American man and knocking him unconscious after the man’s female friend assaulted a Black man named Ibn Bailey (top left) by tossing water in his face. (Photo: Body camera and Ibn Bailey)Didrickson, meanwhile, was going off on Black people as she was being placed in the back of the patrol car.
“F_ck Black people,” she said, according to body camera footage released.
The 52-year-old Black man, a former school board candidate named Ibn Bailey, recorded the body slam and posted the video on the internet, where it went viral, resulting in the cop losing his job.
LeBlanc, who was hired less than a year before the incident, was still on his probationary period when he apparently was forced to resign.
He had previously worked as a cop in Louisiana, where he was sued for abusing a Black man by tasering him several times as other cops were beating him, but that suit was dismissed.
Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos told local media that Williams was body slammed because he was “resisting,” but there is no record of his arrest from that date in the Alaska online court system and no word from police, prosecutors and the media in Juneau as to whether he was actually taken to jail and formally charged.
Body camera videos released show that he was unconscious and snoring and was transported to a hospital in an ambulance for a head injury.
Didrickson was charged with misdemeanor count of “disorderly conduct – provoke violence” — a charge that remains pending, according to online court records.
Watch the video below.
‘We’re a Minority Within a Minority Within a Minority’The incident took place on July 30 and exposed the racial tensions between the majority-white Juneau Police Department and the local Native community as well as the tensions between the Native community and local Black community.
According to the U.S. Census data, white people make up more than 60 percent of the population in Juneau, the capital of Alaska, which consists of just over 30,000 residents. Native Americans make up 8 percent of the population while Black people make up 1 percent.
The incident also led to protests from the local Native American community in front of the Juneau Police Department in the days following the incident.
“We’re not all here just for what happened to Chris,” Williams’ cousin, Pamela James, told the Juneau Independent during the protest.
“But this has happened multiple times in our town and none of us don’t seem to be feeling safe.”
Bailey, who has lived in Juneau for 30 years, said he has never had issues with the local cops over his race but has had issues with the local Native American community.
“According to the U.S. Census, there’s less than 300 Black families that live in Juneau, in a place that’s 31,000,” Bailey told the Juneau Independent.
“So we’re a minority within a minority within a minority — we’re a micro ethnic group here in this town. For us to actually grow and thrive, and live here and be part of the community, we have to be extra careful,” he said.
Although Black people have historically been persecuted by police in the United States; arrested, abused and killed at disproportionate rates compared to white people, Native Americans have had it even worse, according to several studies.
But despite Black people making up only 1 percent of the population and having nothing to do with the discrimination against the local Native American community, Didrickson revealed an unexplainable animosity towards the local Black community.
‘F_ck Black People’Bailey had just purchased his lunch at a gas station and placed the bag of food on a bench in front of a public library while he walked a few feet away to smoke a cigarette.
Didrickson, meanwhile, walked up and sat on the bench next to his food.
“I came to retrieve my food because she was talking to the air,” Bailey explained to Juneau police officer Terry Allen, the first cop to respond to the scene after a witness called police.
“I reach for my food, she grabbed my bag and told me, ‘Get off my bench, this is mine.’”
“She ripped the bag, and then she threw the water in my face. That’s assault.”
Bailey continued explaining to the cop that he and the woman were each tugging at the bag of food he had just purchased.
“She started insulting me,” he said, explaining that she walked away from him and started pestering a child with their mother by saying, “Come here, come here.”
“She was racially intimidating, pointing out the fact that I’m Black, that I don’t belong here.”
Another woman walking her dogs, who had called the police, told Allen it was the woman who began harassing Bailey, which is when they decided to arrest Didrickson.
“Y’all ain’t going to be talking about Black people no more,” Bailey can be heard saying in the background as they are arresting Didrickson.
“We ain’t gonna tolerate that sh_t no more.”
While she is being handcuffed, Didrickson asks the cops, “You guys like Black people?”
Meanwhile, Williams is standing near the scene, but it is not clear if he is interfering.
“Take care of him! Take care of him!” Didrickson tells Williams, who is standing a few feet behind them as she is being arrested.
That was when LeBlanc started shoving Williams.
“Go before you go to jail, too,” he said, shoving him on the sidewalk.
“F_ck him, f_ck Black people,” she says as she is being placed in the car.
Williams, meanwhile, did not appreciate being shoved by LeBlanc.
“F_cker! Don’t do that! Don’t do that!” he tells LeBlanc.
“Turn around, you’re going to jail too,” LeBlanc says, grabbing him and placing him against a patrol car.
“Put your hands behind your back,” the cop orders. “You’re about to get slammed.”
“I was walking,” Williams tells the cop, which was when LeBlanc picks him up and slams him, causing his head to strike the sidewalk, which knocked him out instantly, leaving him snoring.
“Walking now, huh?” LeBlanc taunted the unconscious man as he was handcuffing him.
When paramedics arrived, they asked Officer Allen why Williams was unconscious.
“He was fighting with my officer here,” Allen explained, even though video evidence clearly shows he was not fighting.
“They both went down to the ground, they both hit the cement here. He just started snoring.”
Bailey said he would like to engage in discussions between the local police department and the Native American community.
“I hope that he has a speedy recovery,” he told the Juneau Independent regarding Williams, who is still recovering from the head injury.
“I hope that all of us can go away from this unfortunate occurrence with a better understanding of each other,” Bailey added.
‘Insane’: Sydney Sweeney’s Fire Red Dress Has Fans Looking for Her ‘MAGA’ Hat After AE Ad Controversy
“Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney stepped onto the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards stage last night, and her choice of clothing had the internet buzzing.
The 28-year-old actress wore a bright, strapless Oscar de la Renta gown in a color choice that many online commentators noted has been historically associated with the Republican Party.
Fans say Sydney Sweeney’s “true colors” are showing after her bold appearance at the Emmys Sunday night. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)In recent months, Sweeney has faced controversies that have led fans to speculate about her alleged secret ties to Donald Trump or his right-wing MAGA movement. Her scarlet-hued dress at the Emmys only added fuel to the conversation about her political leanings.
“She’s never beating the MAGA allegations,” one individual on the X platform posted. A second person on the app sarcastically wrote, “She looks good, but we all know why she chose red.”
“Clearly forgot her red MAGA hat to go with her red MAGA dress else,” noted a third observer, while a fourth quipped, “Sydney Sweeney showing up to the Emmys dressed like the queen of MAGA is insane, lol.”
Sydney Sweeney arrives to the #Emmys red carpet. pic.twitter.com/K0taWoC2Ch
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 14, 2025Sweeney appeared at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 14 to present the trophy in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category to Owen Cooper for “Adolescence.” She has not confirmed that her dress was a political message by wearing red to the televised event, which aired on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
Previously, Sweeney’s connection to a clothing retailer also ignited a media firestorm about her alleged ties to the far-right in America.
In July 2025, Sweeney became the face of an advertising campaign for American Eagle Outfitters that centered around the Washington native having “good jeans.”
The play on words with “jeans” and “genes” led to allegations that the ads were subtly promoting eugenics, a white supremacist theory that blue-eyed, blond Caucasians are naturally superior to other races.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by American Eagle (@americaneagle)
The president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., even leaned into the polarizing discourse surrounding the actress’s American Eagle campaign. He shared a fake image of the MAGA leader in an all-blue jean outfit on his Instagram page, leaving many to share wild theories about their secret ties.
“I think it’s important to have a finger on the pulse of what people are saying, because everything is a conversation with the audience,” Sweeney said in her August Wall Street Journal Magazine cover story, reflecting on how she handles backlash — specifically regarding criticism of her brand deal with Dr. Squatch.
Taking a page out of Erykah Badu’s book, Sweeney partnered with the men’s personal care brand to sell a soap supposedly made from her bathwater. She said, “It was mainly the girls making comments about it, which I thought was really interesting.”
Like those accounts trolling her online, “The White Lotus” season 1 cast member has addressed the accusations that she and her family are loyal Trump voters by using humor.
“I’m from a town called Spokane right on the border of Washington and Idaho,” Sweeney said during her monologue when hosting an episode of “Saturday Night Live” in March 2024.
She continued, “I feel bonds to both states. Like when people ask, ‘Where are you from?’ I say Washington. But when people ask, ‘Did you go to a Trump-themed party for your mom?’ I say, ‘I-da-ho.'”
Sweeney was on hand to present an award at this year’s Emmys, but she did secure two nominations from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2022. Her performances in “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus” earned nods, respectively.
After premiering at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in September, the sports drama film “Christy” garnered rave reviews for Sweeney’s portrayal of former professional boxer Christy Martin in the biopic.
‘Falling Down Around His Top Leg’: Donald Trump’s Walk to Marine One Goes Viral After Bulk Under His Pants Sets Off a Firestorm Online
If there were ever another reason to question Donald Trump’s physical fitness, the ongoing speculation about him allegedly wearing adult diapers might be the final straw.
Earlier this summer, several images surfaced showing President Trump at public events appearing as though he was asleep on the job. The hashtag #DiaperDon soon began trending on X. The nickname was accompanied by accusations that the 79-year-old is unfit to lead the free world. Some Trump supporters attempted to reclaim the joke, holding signs at MAGA rallies that read “Real men wear diapers,” while trading jabs with critics online.
Donald Trump’s walk to Marine One has fans zooming in after one bulky detail set social media on fire. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)#DiaperDon #DiaperMan #Unfit #TrumpPedoFiles #TrumpisaNationalDisgrace 1s pic.twitter.com/xJRy1ScI2x
— Heinz Tesch (@FallonTwain) July 14, 2025Speculation about Trump’s possible incontinence gained further traction after a photo went viral due to what many described as a suspicious-looking underwear region.
On Aug. 16, the Facebook page Daily Heroes shared an image of Trump walking toward Marine One. While the fan page aimed to spotlight his gravity-defying hairstyle, followers were more focused on what appeared to be bulkiness under his suit pants.
“Diaper falling down around his top leg,” one observant commenter noted.
Several others chimed in, “It looks like he has on a diaper.”
“The pic on the right looks like he’s got a load in his Depends.” Another declared, “He’s wearing a colostomy bag!”
Others repeated his latest nickname, “Diaper Don.”
While some Trump supporters insisted the images were doctored or taken on different days, rumors about “presidential pampers” have circulated for quite some time.
On Oct. 10, 2024, former President Barack Obama addressed a crowd in Pennsylvania while campaigning for former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential run. In his speech, he criticized Trump’s disconnect from the average American, labeling him a “selfish billionaire” who has done little to help others — “including changing his own children’s diapers.”
Obama went on to highlight the $6,000 tax credit Harris proposed for parents of newborns, contrasting it with Trump’s indifference toward working families. He said, “Because I don’t have to tell a lot of you, raising kids is hard, and she wants to make it easier to afford stuff like a crib or a car seat or diapers. I remember buying diapers. … I remember changing diapers. Do you think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?”
The audience responded with a resounding “No!” followed by a pointed quip from one attendee: “His own!”
Laughing, Obama replied, “I almost said that… but I decided I shouldn’t say it.”
Obama: Or diapers. I remember buying diapers. Do you think Donald Trump ever changed a diaper?
Supporter: His own!
Obama: I almost said that, but I decided I should not say it. pic.twitter.com/iaUj89I2DD
The diaper discourse resurfaced weeks later during the Oct. 29 episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” when Kimmel revealed that podcast host Joe Rogan had made an unusual observation about Trump.
“Joe Rogan said that in the three hours they spent together, Trump didn’t pee before the podcast and didn’t pee after the podcast,” Kimmel told viewers. “I think the big takeaway is that Trump is for sure wearing diapers now, right?”
The segment gained traction on X after @TheChiefNerd shared the clip, sparking a wave of reactions.
“LOL! Trump didn’t get up to pee because he wears adult diapers. Rogan knows this and is low-key trolling Trump with his comment,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Even I would have needed to pee before and after. Trump is a gangster.”
And one commenter posed a more existential question: “He doesn’t sleep, doesn’t drink water, doesn’t even pee—is he even human?!”
Joe Rogan Gives His Thoughts on How the Podcast Went With President Trump
"He's got this ability to just keep going. This is what's crazy. The podcast was three hours long. The guy didn't pee before the podcast. He didn't pee after the podcast…He didn't drink anything during… pic.twitter.com/WZdoiFI833
‘Man Baby Lunatic!’: Florida Man Threatens to Shoot Teen Cyclist, But Viewers Zoom In on One Detail That Makes Him Look Less of a Tough Guy
A teen cyclist riding on a Tampa road captured a driver acting so unhinged that another motorist had to step in to try to defuse the situation.
However, that wasn’t enough to calm the enraged man, who threatened to shoot the young man, likely more than half his age.
A Tampa, Florida, man was captured on video during a road rage dispute. (Photos: Reddit/Ancient_Hyper_Sniper)The video, posted on Reddit, shows a white truck driving alongside the cyclist with the teen yelling, “The speed limit is 35.”
The driver’s response is inaudible, but it sets off the cyclist, who alleges the man flipped him off before the camera started recording.
“Shut the F—k up,” the teen says.
The video then shows the gray-haired driver stopping and getting out of his vehicle to confront the teen. That’s when the confrontation gets intense. The pair go back and forth, and the man seemingly pushes the teen, challenges him to fight, and tells him, “Do it and I’ll f—king shoot you.”
Road Rage on Bayshorebyu/Ancient_Hyper_Sniper intampa
The driver doesn’t appear to have a gun, but the 19-year-old pulls out a knife and warns the man to “back up.”
“You just assaulted me for no f—ing reason. It’s all on camera. It’s all on camera. It’s all on camera. Get the f–k in your truck,” the teen says.
Still yelling and cursing, the driver gets back into his vehicle and says, “I’ll show you something I really have.”
“I don’t give a f—k if you have a gun or not, you’re not going to do sh-t with,” the teen says.
The verbal altercation gets so heated that another man tries to intervene as the teen attempts to call the cops.
“It’s not worth it. Drive away,” the bystander says.
The teen, who commented on the video under the username tbbenjy, stated that he had filed a police report and that the driver had been cited for similar behavior in the past. He also admitted that he was wrong to “keep poking at the lunatic.”
“The guys name is Dustin Daprizio and was arrested in March for battery, TPD also filed a risk protection order against him. Which is when the police file to remove your fire arms because you’re a threat to others or yourself. Sure I got punked, b-tched, whatever you want to say, but taking that fight wasn’t worth getting shot by a man baby lunatic with roid rage. He owns Bio scene care located in Hyde Park right off of Bayshore in the business complex behind those apartments. He’s retired navy and clearly has mental issues. That’s all I have to say and I don’t really give a shit about any brain dead opinions saying I should’ve fought back,” tbbenjy said.
The video garnered over 2,000 comments on Reddit. Most viewers sided with the cyclist.
“50-year-old tough dude with a diamond stud nose piercing,” one viewer wrote. “Guy is unhinged, definitely doesn’t need to carry a firearm IMO,” another viewer wrote.
‘OMG!! She’s So Tiny ‘: Whoopi Goldberg’s Drastic Transformation Has Fans Saying This Is the Thinnest They’ve Ever Seen Her
Whoopi Goldberg‘s dramatic transformation has left fans doing double takes and flooding social media with concern after her latest public appearance showcased a startlingly different silhouette than they’re accustomed to seeing from the beloved entertainer.
The EGOT winner turned heads at New York Fashion Week on Friday, Sept. 12, attending an event at Macy’s Herald Square at Christian Siriano Fashion Show that had some online observers questioning whether they were looking at the same person they knew from movies like “Ghost” or “Sister Act 2.”
Whoopi Goldberg’s dramatic weight loss has left fans concerned and saying she’s unrecognizably thin after her recent New York Fashion Week appearance. Whoopi Goldberg (The View Screengrab)Goldberg appeared noticeably smaller than in recent memory, prompting a wave of commentary about her physical appearance that ranged from admiration to genuine worry about her well-being.
During red carpet interviews at the fashion event, the 69-year-old Goldberg shared a charming anecdote when asked about the most sentimental item in her closet, revealing it was a bra from 1962.
However, it was her dramatically reduced frame that dominated conversations afterward, when E! News posted it on Instagram.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by E! News (@enews)
“These drugs got everybody deflated and parched,” one person wrote, while another admitted, “Didn’t recognise her at first must admit she looks younger.”
The reactions weren’t universally positive, with some expressing concern about the extent of her weight reduction.
“Whoopi should not be this thin,” one person commented, capturing the sentiment of many who felt her current size might be excessive.
Another was more emphatic, stating, “OMG .. no no no .. I know you’re lying!! At her age, being that thin isn’t flattering!!”
The dramatic change also drew simple expressions of shock, with one user exclaiming, “OMG!! She’s so tiny.”
Yet one detail drew the sharpest criticism, and it was her outfit. One person scoffed, “What the hell is she wearing? She’s dwindling away… Ozempic?”
Another quipped, “(Outfit) Looks like a pile of rags.” Still another said, “You cannot dress to save your life.”
Goldberg’s journey to her current size began when she realized she had reached nearly 300 pounds while filming the 2022 drama “Till.”
The wake-up call came from an unexpected source — a stranger who mistakenly believed she was wearing a prosthetic for the role.
“The movie was good, but that fat suit was terrible,” the woman commented, not knowing she was referring to Goldberg’s actual body. This moment of mistaken identity, shared by Goldberg on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” catalyzed her decision to pursue weight reduction.
The transformation has been substantial, with Goldberg describing her progress as losing “almost two people” — a reference to the significant number of pounds she’s shed through the use of Mounjaro, a medication she’s been open about utilizing.
Speaking to the “Mr. Know It All” singer in May 2024, she explained how she hadn’t fully grasped the extent of her weight gain until that jarring encounter.
“I always felt like me, and then I saw me and thought, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of me,'” she reflected.
Her candid discussion about using weight-loss medication came during an episode of “The View,” around the same time, sparked by Oprah Winfrey’s ABC special about the topic.
Goldberg’s co-host Sunny Hostin also shared her experience, revealing she gained 40 pounds during the pandemic before turning to the same medication.
Hostin addressed the stigma surrounding obesity treatment, noting how people with diabetes or heart disease receive treatment without shame, while those dealing with weight issues often face judgment.
“When someone is obese, they are shamed for it,” Hostin observed, adding that her cholesterol improved from 200 to 140 after using the medication.
Recently, Goldberg has had to address a different concern: fraudulent advertisements using artificial intelligence to falsely promote weight-loss products with her likeness.
During a February 2025 episode of “The View,” she warned viewers about fake Instagram ads featuring an AI-generated version of herself promoting drugs she doesn’t endorse, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I don’t sell anything unless I say, ‘Hey it’s me, Whoopi.’ That’s how you know it’s me,” she clarified.
The reactions to Goldberg’s appearance at New York Fashion Week reflect the complex relationship society has with weight, health, and public figures. While some celebrate her achievement and note she looks younger, others worry she may have gone too far in the opposite direction, echoing the sentiment that in 2025, perhaps Whoopi shouldn’t be quite this thin.
’17 and Flashing’: Outrage Erupts as Nicole Kidman’s Teenage Daughter Wears Sheer Outfit Right in Front of Her Mom
Nicole Kidman‘s teenage daughter, Sunday Rose, made jaws drop during her latest New York Fashion Week runway appearance.
While the eldest daughter of the Oscar-winning actress and country superstar Keith Urban looked chic in the head-to-toe Chanel ensemble, social media users were divided over whether the look was appropriate for a minor.
Nicole Kidman’s teenage daughter, Sunday Rose, made jaws drop during her latest New York Fashion Week runway appearance.(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)On Wednesday, September 10, the 17-year-old model stepped out to celebrate the launch of director Sofia Coppola’s book, “Chanel Haute Couture.” Sunday was photographed wearing a very sheer, short-sleeved, button-down crop top lined with ruffles, paired with low-slung black satin pants, matching heels, and coordinated accessories.
“17 and flashing. What a proud moment for her and her parents,” one Page Six reader commented after the outlet shared photos of Sunday.
Another wrote, “Looks like she’s following in the footsteps of mom… maybe she can make out with every man in Hollywood also… you go girl…”
“Sheer! Or is it?” added another critic.
Many commenters labeled Sunday a “Nepo baby,” questioning her status and legitimacy as a “real model.”
Some even suggested her success was “all paid for by mommy.” Another said, “It’s all about who your mommy & daddy are nowadays.”
Regardless of public opinion about her outfit or her famous lineage, Sunday is enjoying her moment in the spotlight.
She made her runway debut in October 2024 for Miu Miu and later secured a spot in the brand’s campaign for their Spring 2025 collection. Following her debut, Kidman — who began modeling at age 14 — spoke with E! News on the red carpet at the second season premiere of “Lioness” and expressed how “incredibly proud and supportive” she is of her daughter’s modeling career.
“I’m just there for her. Just being a mom,” she said, later adding, “I was just like, ‘You got this baby.’ I’m trying to give her her own space, you know? [Not be] overbearing or dominant in any way.”
In August, Sunday landed her first magazine cover as Nylon’s “It” girl. In the accompanying interview, she shared that she wasn’t able to “explore any kind of fashion work” until she turned 16, and that “school came first.” She also mentioned that when she meets people her own age, they usually don’t know “anything about her,” which allows her to make a genuine “first impression.”
Some observers have taken Kidman’s insistence on delaying Sunday’s entry into the fashion world as a sign of her awareness of how fraught the industry can be.
Kidman’s own filmography includes some provocative choices, such as her role in 1999’s “Eyes Wide Shut” with then-husband Tom Cruise.
The Australian actress isn’t beating the spicy allegations with her current roles either. In a candid interview with The Sun, she revealed that filming her 2024 erotic thriller “BabyGirl” became so intense that production had to be paused.
“There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm anymore,’” she explained. “It was so present all the time for me that it was almost like a burnout,” later adding, “I don’t care if I’m ever touched again.”
The “Big Little Lies” star elaborated on the physical and emotional toll of the production. “There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Don’t touch me. Don’t come near me. I hate doing this.”
Despite the strain, Kidman emphasized that the rehearsal process — particularly the six hours she spent getting to know her co-star Harris Dickinson — was necessary. Thanks to the “very protected” environment created by director Halina Reijn, she ultimately found the experience to be “freeing” and “liberating.”
“There was enormous care taken by all of us. We were all very, very gentle with each other and helped each other,” Kidman concluded.
‘Barely Fit’: Beyoncé’s ‘New Body’ In Lingerie Has Fans Doing a Double Take at Her Jaw-Dropping Curves
Beyoncé recently turned heads on social media with a shocking return after skipping the celebration on her 44th birthday.
The “Crazy In Love” superstar posted the intimate images on Sept. 13, nearly ten days after her actual birthday on Sept. 4, wearing a show-stopping lace silhouette ensemble that stopped many in their tracks.
Beyoncé’s new birthday post has fans zooming in on her jaw-dropping curves. (Photo: Beyonce/Instagram_The custom sheer, dark red Dolce & Gabbana gown clung perfectly to her famous figure, featuring delicate lace details that pooled elegantly around her feet.
Her outfit left little to the imagination, with the Grammy-winning artist sporting a black bralette and matching undergarments beneath the translucent fabric. She completed the look with coordinating lace gloves and open-toed pumps, while her signature honey-blond locks cascaded past her shoulders in flowing curls.
For some shots, Beyoncé added a luxurious fuzzy dark red jacket that draped to her elbows, creating layers of texture against a simple backdrop.
The post, captioned simply “Thank you so much for my birthday love. I’m thankful to God for another year. Peace and Love,” complete with her signature bee emoji, garnered millions of likes within hours.
“She might have barely fit in that dress, but her ego didn’t!” wrote one internet user.
When The Shade Room shared the images across their platforms, fans wasted no time responding with mixed reviews.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)
“Bee with the new body,” one admirer wrote, as someone else wrote, “The moment Beyoncé hit 40 she decided she wasn’t going to cover up anymore.”
Another wrote, “That lady body did not look that during her tour. but go off Auntie Bey!!!”
One person wrote, “It’s so funny how nobody ever say she’s thirst trappin lol @beyonce what’s up at home for you to be showing us your lingerie and you’re married.”
Others talked about how wearing what seems to be undergarments on the red carpet is a thing: “Why must lingerie be worn outside/posted for public consumption?”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)
The birthday celebration continued with an additional post featuring the entertainer in a Roberto Cavalli dress, the same stunning piece she wore to Reform Alliance’s Casino Night and Gala.
These images marked her first Instagram activity since July 27, when she shared memorable moments from the Destiny’s Child reunion during her Las Vegas Cowboy Carter tour stop.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)
Beyoncé’s bold fashion choice reflects a broader trend of celebrities embracing intimate apparel as statement pieces for public appearances. Zoë Kravitz recently made waves at the Paris premiere of “Caught Stealing” wearing a Saint Laurent slip dress that divided opinions online. The actress paired the silk satin nightgown-inspired piece with matching Saint Laurent Frankie Mules, creating a look that sparked intense debate about appropriate red carpet attire.
Similarly, Olympic champion Simone Biles elevated the slip dress-as-outerwear trend during Audemars Piguet’s 150th anniversary celebration in New York City.
The gymnastics superstar commanded attention in a cream-colored David Koma sequin mini slip dress with leather trim, paired with towering Jimmy Choo Max 150 platform sandals. Her appearance demonstrated how athletes are successfully transitioning into fashion influencers, making bold style statements beyond their sporting achievements.
Some couldn’t care less about her sheer dress, marveling at marveled at Beyoncé’s consistent ability to captivate audiences across decades, writing, “To be Fine your whole life is crazy work.”
Despite mixed reactions, Beyoncé’s confident embrace of the trend reinforces her position as a style icon who continuously pushes boundaries while maintaining elegance.
‘She Lost a Lot of Weight’: Actress Chrissy Metz Looks Nothing Like Her ‘This Is Us’ Self After Shocking 100-Pound Transformation
Chrissy Metz just landed her biggest magazine cover yet, and it’s not just because of her acting chops. The former “This Is Us” star, who played Kate Pearson, is serving major weight loss energy after quietly and completely rewriting her health story.
The 44-year-old actress made headlines, showcasing her dramatically smaller figure than when she first appeared on the NBC series in 2016. Former co-star Mandy Moore has emerged as one of Metz’s most vocal champions, expressing pure joy upon seeing her friend gracing the August cover of People Magazine after shedding 100 lbs.
“This Is Us” star Chrissy Metz shows off her dramatic weight loss after shedding 100 pounds, receiving praise from her co-stars. (Photos: @chrissymetz/Instagram; @PopCrave/X)Moore’s enthusiastic response to the outlet – “It just made my day” – speaks to the authentic friendship that developed during their time portraying mother and daughter on “This Is Us.”
The 41-year-old actress emphasized that nobody deserves recognition more than Metz, praising her work ethic and natural talent across multiple entertainment mediums.
When Y! Entertainment reposted the People story about her journey, many readers commented under that post.
Mandy Moore Reacts to 'This Is Us' Costar Chrissy Metz's PEOPLE Cover Story: 'Nobody Deserves It More' (Exclusive) https://t.co/FgrG6afhxQ
— People (@people) September 13, 2025“She’s lost a lot of weight. If she loses too much too quickly … She needs to do it slowly under a doctor’s supervision and I suspect that is what she is doing,” one concerned supporter commented.
The weight loss medication conversation has inevitably surfaced, with curious observers wondering about her stance on popular options like weight loss supplements.
“This Is Us” star Chrissy Metz’ weight loss: 2017 vs. 2022 vs 2025. (Photos: @chrissymetz/Instagram; @PopCrave/X)Metz’ journey to a healthier lifestyle came on the heels of her stunning red carpet debut at Variety’s Power of Women event in Nashville this past May, where she stepped out in a colorful pastel dress and white cowboy boots, confidently displaying the results of her dedicated wellness journey.
Metz’s approach has been to focus on strength training and consistent weight lifting sessions with her Nashville-based personal trainer.
#ThisIsUs star @ChrissyMetz "felt it was really important" to step on the scale, half-naked on TV @NBCThisisUs pic.twitter.com/rzs1fPmGMQ
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 11, 2017The actress has been refreshingly honest about her motivation, explaining that her primary goal centers on aging gracefully and maintaining strength rather than chasing specific numbers on a scale. Her workout routine emphasizes building muscle to combat future concerns about osteoporosis and arthritis.
The entertainment industry has taken notice of Metz’s evolution, with her career trajectory reflecting this personal growth.
A lot of pointing fingers in tonight's episode of #ThisIsUs.
See you in 30mins! pic.twitter.com/YJ4m7yPyo2
Her latest project, Netflix’s murder mystery series “The Hunting Wives” alongside Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman, represents a significant departure from her previous roles. This casting choice suggests Hollywood’s recognition of her expanding range beyond the weight-focused storylines that initially defined her television presence.
Metz has addressed these speculations with characteristic grace, emphasizing the deeply personal nature of health decisions while avoiding judgment of others’ choices.
Her journey from childhood struggles with food and alleged family trauma to Hollywood success and now personal transformation reads like a carefully crafted redemption story. The actress has been transparent about using food as emotional support throughout difficult periods, including her time working as a casting agent when depression led to significant weight gain, according to People. In 2020, she stepped back from Hollywood to pursue a music career, which has not evolved into live performances.
Metz’s magazine cover moment represents more than physical transformation – it symbolizes reclaiming control over her narrative and health destiny.
‘So Vile’: MAGA Maniacs Go After Black Professor After She Says Charlie Kirk and His Followers Terrorized Her for Months
An author, speaker and professor at Morgan State University and Howard University is facing a brutal onslaught online from the MAGA sphere after posting a statement about the violent threats she received after right-wing influencer and political extremist Charlie Kirk added her to his so-called “Professor Watchlist,” also known as his “digital hit list,” last year.
Stacey Patton’s post comes just days after Kirk was gunned down at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday as he discussed mass shootings in the U.S.
“I am on Charlie Kirk’s hit list,” Patton wrote to her more than 200,000 Facebook followers.
Charlie Kirk and Stacey Patton (Photos: Getty Images, howard.edu)“His so-called ‘Professor Watchlist,’ run under the umbrella of Turning Point USA, is nothing more than a digital hit list for academics who dare to speak truth to power. I landed there in 2024 after writing commentary that inflamed the MAGA faithful. And once my name went up, the harassment machine roared to life,” she continued.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, a right-wing youth organization and nonprofit that advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses. Although branded as a group that supports “patriotism” and “freedom,” it has a record of rhetoric and alliances that align with white supremacists and Christian nationalist ideologies.
Something that’s apparent in the abuse Patton and many other educators have endured over the years at the hands of Turning Point and the MAGA faithful, if they were labeled by Kirk and his followers as advancing “leftist propaganda.”
“For weeks, my inbox and voicemail were deluged. Mostly white men spat venom through the phone: ‘bitch,’ ‘c*nt,’ ‘n****r.’ They threatened all manner of violence,” Patton described.
“They overwhelmed the university’s PR lines and the president’s office with calls demanding that I be fired,” Patton said. “The flood was so relentless that the head of campus security reached out to offer me an escort, because they feared one of these keyboard soldiers might step out of his basement and come do me harm.”
“And I am not unique,” she added.
She said, “Kirk’s Watchlist has terrorized legions of professors across this country. Women, Black faculty, queer scholars, basically anyone who challenged white supremacy, gun culture, or Christian nationalism, suddenly found themselves targets of coordinated abuse.”
Patton said the death threat and threats to their jobs forced many to leave academia altogether.
“That is the culture of violence Charlie Kirk built. He normalized violence. He curated it, monetized it, and sicced it on anyone who dared to puncture his movement’s lies,” she continued.
Patton questioned the bipartisan outpouring of grief after Kirk was assassinated.
“But the truth is that Kirk and his foot soldiers spent years terrorizing educators, trying to silence us with harassment and fear!”
“And now the same violence he unleashed on others has come full circle.”
“Kirk spent years demonizing LGBTQ people, mocking gun survivors, spewing racism about Black folks, and pushing policies that literally shorten lives,” Patton wrote. “It is so revolting to watch a bipartisan wave of grief sweep over this hateful racist as if he was a neutral community servant.”
The MAGA maniacs on social media couldn’t take it and stepped up where Kirk and his followers left off, spewing out the worst vitriol against Patton imaginable.
So many educators, so vile.
Meet Dr Stacey Patton, a professor at both Morgan State University and Howard University.
Any comment @MorganStateU? Good with this @HowardU? pic.twitter.com/OPZKwoUVtg
“She has no business teaching anyone. Period. Disgusting. Vile. Liar. No consideration for the life of the man or his wife and kids left without him,” this X user posted.
Another whined, “Imagine being so utterly useless that you mock the assassination of a man who, through sheer will and faith in Christ, reshaped American politics. These are weak people with weak minds saying weak things.”
“I didn’t realize that she teaches at a HBCU. She is truly vile and produces hatred in blacks against whites. She is a top notch racist,” X user Kay Lynn proclaimed.
Plenty of people countered MAGA’s rhetoric, too.
“Unfortunately for you people some people don’t humanize racists and Nazis. No amount of cancel culture…gaslighting bullsh-t will change that. Kirk was a horrible human and people will stand strong in that truth,” X user Cloud countered.
“She is entitled to her opinions. I don’t think Kirk would want it any other way,” Filippo Valguarnera pointed out on X.
“She’s not wrong,” this X user stated.