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A one-sided Broadway beef seems to be brewing between former friends Audra McDonald and Patti LuPone, yet only one actress is being praised for taking the high road.

It all began last week after LuPone, 76, caused some commotion in a recently published feature story and interview for The New Yorker magazine last week, where she said McDonald was “not a friend.”

LuPone was vague on the details about her rift with McDonald who seems to be completely clueless about it.

When asked about LuPone’s remarks during a CBS interview with Gayle King, the “Fences” star remained poised and brushed off the question, steering clear of any drama.

Patti LuPone (R) sparks Broadway chaos after her foul remarks toward fellow Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald (L). (Photos by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)

“If there’s a rift between us, I don’t know what it is. That’s something you’d have to ask Patti about,” McDonald told King. “I haven’t seen her in about 11 years just because we’ve been busy, just with life and stuff. So I don’t know what rift she’s talking about, but you’d have to ask her.”

Many called her a “class act” online, including one who complimented her “Wonderful media training. Love it.”

Arthur Jeffrey Levy, Broadway voice coach, came to McDonald’s defense writing, “I have been AUDRA’s voice teacher and friend for over 30 years. In all that time I have never heard a critical or condescending word about a colleague. She is always gracious and totally invested in the process of being the best she can be. Clearly someone with a rage issue needs a target at all times. How silly since Lupone is a spectacular artist. Shame.”

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LuPone, a star in the two-woman Broadway play “The Roommate,” also had choice words for another actress Kecia Lewis, 59, after a now-deleted video depicted LuPone telling a fan the Alicia Keys-inspired “Hell’s Kitchen” musical was “too loud.”

At one point, “The Roommate,” playing in the Booth Theatre, and “Hell’s Kitchen” in the Shubert Theatre next door shared a wall. LuPone contacted the Shubert Theatre management about the sound cues for “Hell’s Kitchen,” hoping the production would make changes to accommodate her complaints about the musical’s sounds bleeding next door.

In an “open letter” message uploaded to her Instagram in November 2024, Lewis decried the white actress labeling “a Black show loud” and called LuPone’s actions “offensive, racially microaggressive, and rude.”

The New York City native continued, “They’re rooted in privilege, and these actions also lack a sense of community and leadership for someone [such] as yourself who has been in the business as long as you have.”

“Here’s the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let’s find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn’t know what the f–k she’s talking about,”  LuPone fired back in The New Yorker article.

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Shifting her attention, LuPone then turned to McDonald for apparently showing what she viewed as support for Lewis by posting emojis in the comments, which have now been disabled. She said, “And I thought, you should know better. That’s typical of Audra. She’s not a friend.”

In addition, LuPone chose to give an evasive answer when asked to share her opinion of McDonald currently starring in the “Gypsy” revival on Broadway. According to the magazine, she remained silent for 15 seconds before staring out the window and saying, “What a beautiful day.”

LuPone’s quotes about Lewis and McDonald spread across the internet, and people online were not fond of the alleged bad blood brewing in the theater world behind the scenes.

In light of her remarks, over 500 Broadway stars wrote their own “Open Letter” regarding LuPone’s “deeply inappropriate and unacceptable public comments about two of Broadway’s most respected and beloved artists” and specifically for calling Lewis a “b—h.”

“This language is not only degrading and misogynistic — it is a blatant act of racialized disrespect. It constitutes bullying. It constitutes harassment. It is emblematic of the microaggressions and abuse that people in this industry have endured for far too long, too often without consequence,” continued the letter displayed on the playbill.com website.

The three-page letter also urges the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League to respond with concrete measures — suggesting that artists who publicly disparage others in the community should be denied access to the Tonys, citing Will Smith’s ten-year ban from the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock on stage. It also proposes that eligibility for high-profile events be based on behavior that reflects the industry’s shared values.

As an act of good faith, LuPone issued her first-ever career apology following the backlash online on June 1.

“For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized. That is changing today,” LuPone began her statement. “I am deeply sorry for the words I used during ‘The New Yorker’ interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful.”

Patti LuPone has issued an apology on social media after insulting Audra McDonald and Kecia Lewis in a recent New Yorker interview: pic.twitter.com/02kfqwjXWO

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 31, 2025

She called her “flippant and emotional responses during this interview … inappropriate,” and expressed interest in speaking with McDonald and Lewis “personally.”

“I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel they don’t belong anywhere else,” LuPone concluded. “I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better.”

Fans online applauded her accountability, writing, “It’s a great apology imho – she takes full responsibility, acknowledges the harm of her actions, and promises to do better‬. Hope more celebs take notes.”

But some called her bluff, saying she only apologized due to the backlash not because it was genuine.

“You say you’re sorry but you don’t say you regret what you did and you don’t say you’ll do better. This is a PR statement, not a genuine apology,” wrote one critic.

Another said, “A mistake is making a left instead of a right. This is who you are. It always has been.”

LuPone played Elizabeth “Libby” Thatcher in the ABC sitcom “Life Goes On,” which ran for four seasons from 1989 to 1993 as well as the 2008 “Gypsy” revival.

LuPone has won three Tony Awards throughout her career. Her 2008 performance in “Gypsy” earned an Laurence Olivier Award. She also scored two Grammy Awards in 2009 for “Weill: Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny.”

Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald at 20(01) https://t.co/SVOzLAIcnS pic.twitter.com/B2rslJQqRj

— Patti 2:20 longer LuPone (@pattioncesaid) January 27, 2025

Like LuPone, McDonald is also a Juilliard School graduate. She’s also a six-time Tony winner and the proud recipient of two Grammy Awards and an Emmy Award.

With her performance in the acclaimed revival of “Gypsy” at the Majestic Theatre, McDonald’s earned her 11th Tony nomination—making her the most-nominated performer in the award’s history. Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at the upcoming 2025 Tony Awards, she already holds the record for the most acting wins with six.

Lewis recently took home her first Tony Award for “Hell’s Kitchen” and also earned a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in Feb. 2025, putting the actress halfway to EGOT status.

‘This Is a PR Statement, Not a Genuine Apology’: Patti LuPone Apologizes After Broadway Stars Demand Consequences for ‘Inappropriate’ Remarks About Industry ‘Friend’ Audra McDonald

A power-tripping Florida cop who was allowed to keep his job after he was found passed out drunk in his car in 2023 revealed himself to be a lying hypocrite when he yanked a man out of his car in 2024 for not complying within seconds of demanding his driver’s license.

After all, Monroe County sheriff’s deputy Jonathon Lane presented himself as a stickler for the law during the October 2024 arrest, insisting on immediate obedience from the man by pulling him out of the truck before the man even had the chance to place the truck in park.

As a result, the truck continued rolling down the street with the man’s family inside while also towing a boat. The man had been pulled over for driving too slowly.

Florida sheriff’s deputy Jonathan Lane was arrested in 2023 after he was found passed out drunk in his car at a gas station. Still, he was allowed to continue working. (Photo: Monroe County Sheriff)

Lane then pulled out his Taser and told the man to “put in park now” while still pulling him out of the truck. Lane then accused the man of committing battery on a police officer, when the video shows that never happened. 

The man ended up spending the night in jail on two felony charges. The man’s wife explained to the deputy that her husband had suffered a traumatic brain injury, which made it difficult for him to process information and could have been the reason he did not comply within a millisecond of the deputy barking orders.

“The problem is, when I tell somebody to give me their ID and they say no, that is refusal to identify,” Lane explained to the man’s wife.

“And then when I tell him to open the door and he says no, that is again refusing to identify himself and refusal to exit the vehicle, which is an order from a law enforcement officer.”

“Furthermore, when I reach inside the car to unlock the door and he grabs my hand, that is felony battery on law enforcement,” he continued.

“Fourth, when I do finally get the car door open and he pushes me away, that is battery on law enforcement. He cannot touch me.”

Lane’s lies are exposed in his body camera video, which shows the man never said “no” and never battered him, and was, in fact, trying to comply with the deputy’s orders when he was attacked.

“I am getting out,” the man said before realizing his truck was rolling away because it was not in park, so he pulled away from the deputy to stop the car — which is what led to the deputy pulling out his Taser.

Watch the video below, which includes the 2024 arrest as well as Lane’s own arrest from 2023.

Lane’s DUI Arrest

Lane’s hypocrisy was exposed in the video of his own arrest on April 29, 2023, when he was in violation of the law by being passed out drunk in his car at a gas station at 2 a.m. with a loaded gun in the console.

The video also shows Lane telling the arresting deputy that he also had suffered a traumatic brain injury that affects his nerves and eyesight, but Lane showed little empathy for the man he arrested after learning he also had suffered a traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries are also known to cause aggression, irritability, and impatience, which can lead to police abuse and unlawful arrests.

Lane’s hypocrisy was further exposed when he refused to submit to a breathalyzer, according to the police report. In Florida, this is mandatory and a lawful order punishable by the suspension of one’s driver’s license for a year.

It took several minutes for deputies to wake him up, but they were patient. However, judging by the 2024 video, we can only imagine how Lane would have reacted if he had been on duty and encountered a man passed out drunk who did not wake up within a millisecond of his arrival.

Nevertheless, online court records from Monroe County shows his case was marked “confidential” on May 4, 2023, less than a week after his arrest, preventing citizens from accessing the court files which are normally considered public record in Florida.

And a Facebook post from March 2024 — less than a year after his arrest — shows he was actively working and driving his patrol car so his license was likely never suspended.

According to Miami criminal defense attorney Jonathan Blecher, whose website explains how citizens can get their records sealed or expunged after an arrest, it does not look like that is what happened in Lane’s case.

“When someone gets a criminal record sealed or expunged, it wouldn’t even show up with this notation,” Blecher said in a telephone interview with Atlanta Black Star while reviewing Lane’s case on the Monroe County court website.

“It would just not even be there. Saying it was confidential here indicates that the record is there.”

Blecher also explained that blowing more than a .08 on a breathalyzer leads to an automatic six-month suspension of a driver’s license, and refusal to submit to a breathalyzer leads to a one-year suspension unless the person has a previous suspension for refusing, which then leads to an 18-month suspension.

He also explained that people can apply for a hardship license to drive to work, which may be the case here. However, it’s impossible to know since the records are confidential. Blecher looked up Lane’s driver’s license status on the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles website and said it was listed as valid.

However, the veteran criminal defense attorney also knows that it is possible Lane received special treatment because he is a law enforcement officer.

“Maybe his boys in blue gave him a solid and didn’t show up for that hearing,” he said. “And he got that dismissed, or maybe they didn’t turn in the paperwork.”

The man who was arrested in the 2024 video, identified only as Nolan, also appears to have had his case marked confidential, but that may be because it was clearly an unlawful arrest.

The video of the 2024 incident was obtained by the YouTube channel Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife and was reposted by the police accountability YouTube channel The Civil Rights Lawyer.

And the body camera footage and arrest reports were obtained by Police Cam News, an organization that makes regular public records requests for these videos.

‘Maybe His Boys In Blue Gave Him a Solid’: Florida Deputy Continues to Work and Abuse Citizens After He Was Found Passed Out Drunk In Car with Loaded Gun By His Side

A Black father and daughter’s Memorial Day fishing outing took a bitter turn after they were met by a white man on a dock who threw large rocks at them and called them racial slurs.

Sheron Brown told MassLive.com about the incident on Lake Shirley in Lunenberg, Massachusetts, in which he and his 10-year-old daughter, Azaylia, were targeted.

Brown, a competitive fisherman who frequents the Lake Shirley area and is well known to the community, said he and his daughter picked up a pepperoni pizza on Memorial Day, then went to the lake to float, fish, and enjoy the day on his boat.

Sheron Brown and his daughter were harassed and assailed with racial slurs while fishing at ake Shirley in Lunenberg, Massachusetts. (Photo: Sheron K. Brown)

But their hopes for a nice afternoon together were snuffed out by a man authorities identified as 66-year-old David McPartlan, who questioned the family’s presence on the lake.

According to Brown, McPartlan came out of his lakeside home to ask Brown why he was fishing in a part of the lake near his house, asserting “that I shouldn’t be fishing there.”

Brown had driven his boat about 60 to 75 feet from shore, and although there were other fishing boats nearby, McPartlan only targeted Brown, telling him he would “have somewhere else to go fish,” and “shouldn’t be here,” Brown recalled.

When Brown replied he was there to fish with his daughter and told the man they’d stay far away from his property, McPartlan started swearing at him.

McPartlan allegedly told Brown that he “didn’t want them there,” told them to “go somewhere else,” and said, “You guys think you own the lake.”

Just as Brown was about to start recording the encounter, McPartlan threw a large rock, which landed just feet away from Brown’s boat.

In the cellphone video Brown filmed, Brown asked, “Did you just throw a rock at me?”

McPartlan yelled back, “Yeah, I threw rocks at you, [racial slur].”

McPartlan repeated the slur one more time. Then, after the video ended, Brown said he picked up a large stick.

Lunenberg police officers arrived shortly after Brown called 911. Court docs state that authorities have summoned McPartlan on two charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and two charges of assault to intimidate.

Brown said that when McPartlan started disparaging him, his daughter thought that she and her father had done something wrong. He said he’s worried about what kind of emotional or mental impact the incident will have on her.

“My daughter witnessed it, where someone calls her father that word … I’m forced to explain things to her when I may not be ready. I’m forced to explain something to her, under duress, after I choke back how I feel, what I may want to do,” Brown said, adding, “It upsets me, I’m not prepared. How do I prepare for that?”

Brown said that while the Lake Shirley community boasts a mostly white population, he has never experienced racism from any of the residents. The encounter with McPartlan was the first time.

“I don’t hold lake residents, white people, white males, anyone that fits within that category, accountable for one person’s actions. His actions are solo — he did this on his own,” Brown said. Brown added that despite that, “racism does exist.”

‘Shouldn’t be Here!’: Black Father Fishing with His 10-Year-Old Daughter Met with Racial Slurs from White Homeowner Who Threw a Large Rock at Them

President Donald Trump has never been one to shy away from offering his perspective on delicate matters, but his latest foray into international relationship counseling has left social media users speechless for all the wrong reasons.

When footage surfaced showing France’s first lady, Brigitte Macron, mushing President Emmanuel Macron in the face during what appeared to be a private moment aboard a plane, the clip quickly gained traction online.

The intimate and awkward exchange might have remained a fleeting tabloid embarrassment until President Donald Trump was asked to chime in.

Donald Trump weighs in on the French President getting mushed in his head by his wife, suggesting that personal drama should stay behind closed doors. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Asked during a May 30 Oval Office media session whether he had any marital advice for his French counterpart, Trump delivered a typically unfiltered response.

“Keep the door closed,” he advised, adding, “That was not good.”

He attempted to soften the moment, telling reporters that he had personally spoken with the Macrons and was assured that “they’re doing fine.”

“Yeah, no. I spoke to him, and he’s fine too,” he added. “They’re fine, they’re two really good people. I know him very well, and I don’t know what that was all about, but I know him very well, and they’re fine.”

The internet wasted no time responding. When the Daily Mail shared Trump’s remarks on Instagram, commenters piled on.

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While many of the MAGA maniacs called him a “gentleman” and applauded his off-the-cuff advice, many questioned why he didn’t keep his opinions to himself.

“Did he really just say that? Who listens to him… his wife doesn’t even like him,” wrote one bewildered follower, reflecting a popular disbelief that the president would comment on someone else’s marriage, given the persistent public speculation about his own.

Another follower commented, focusing on the reporter, writing, “The guy asking the question knew EXACTLY what he was doing.”

There were also strong waves of sarcasm.

One person said, “He has to be very careful about speaking about marriage, Melania knows #toomuch.”

“Isn’t he just the person you want to take marital advice from,” another person quipped, drawing attention to the irony of Trump giving relationship advice at all, considering he has been married three times, has been sued, and has been embarrassed several times for cheating on his wife.

That irony was echoed by another commenter, who drily observed, “As if anyone would want marriage advice from Trump.”

Melania repeatedly refuses to hold Donald Trump's hand in excruciating clip pic.twitter.com/opYC3VHdv7

— The Independent (@Independent) August 17, 2020

Some noticed a rare shift in Trump’s usual tone.

“May be first time he didn’t make it about himself,” one commenter noted, suggesting that the former reality star often twists his comments so that he is that star in the conversation.

Then came the comments drawing direct lines between Brigitte Macron and Melania Trump, with one user posting, “She should follow Melania lead and simply avoid being in her husband’s company at all costs.”

The sentiment evoked familiar images: Melania’s distant body language, her seemingly reluctant demeanor at public events, and longstanding reports of emotional and physical separation from her husband throughout his presidency.

YIKES! Melania Trump completely DODGED Trump’s kiss at the end of his RNC speech. Super awkward moment! pic.twitter.com/llaXJhqDIX

— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) July 19, 2024

Melania’s absence from several major White House events, coupled with her visible discomfort during campaign appearances, has long fueled rumors about the nature of the Trumps’ marriage.

Since his re-election, reports suggest that Melania has requested her own bedroom in the White House and is splitting her time between Washington, D.C., Florida, and New York, fueling speculation about the closeness of their relationship.

While Trump attempted to position himself as a voice of calm and guidance for the French couple, critics saw it as another example of projection — a man embroiled in his own relationship controversies offering advice that surely the French president didn’t ask for.

‘Melania Knows Too Much’: Donald Trump’s Martial Advice to French President After Embarrassing Slap from His Wife Backfires as Fans Warn Him to Tread Lightly

The CBS network officially cancelled “S.W.A.T.” starring Shemar Moore in 2025 following eight seasons. An upcoming spinoff of the police procedural featuring Moore has upset one of his former co-stars.

CBS pulled the plug on the drama twice before. First, after six seasons in 2023, before changing course and renewing the show for what was supposed to be a final seventh season. 

That decision to end “S.W.A.T.” in 2024 was reversed as well. Moore, 55, was given an executive producer credit after he publicly called out CBS for the previous cancellation.

The actual final episode of “S.W.A.T.” aired on May 16, 2025. Days later, the new “S.W.A.T. Exiles” series was announced with Moore returning as Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson Jr.

“S.W.A.T.” star Shemar Moore is set to star in the upcoming spinoff series as his co-star takes issue with the next chapter in the television franchise. (Photo credit: @shemarfmoore/Instagram)

David Lim, 41, played Los Angeles police officer Victor Tan on the original “S.W.A.T.” for all eight seasons. The Bay Area native addressed apparently being left out of the sequel.

“I’ve been sitting with everything that came out last week, and I just want to say this,” Lim wrote in an Instagram caption in response to the news of the forthcoming “S.W.A.T. Exiles” program. 

He continued, “Being a part of ‘S.W.A.T.’ for the past 8 seasons has been one of the great honors of my life. I poured my heart into playing Tan—and even more than that, into the team and friendships we built on and off screen.”

Lim also highlighted the bond, camaraderie, and “effortless chemistry” he built with the cast and crew. The University of California, San Diego graduate claimed the production fought for a ninth season.

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A post shared by David Lim (@davidbradleylim)

“I’d be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn’t sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build ‘S.W.A.T.’ from day one,” Lim expressed.

He also wrote, “After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could’ve been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many.”

Many of Lim’s Instagram followers backed him up on the social media app. For instance, someone commented, “This is why people love you, Dave, because you’re just as honest and authentic with your fans as you are with your friends.”

“A spinoff? No thanks. I’m never a fan. It is a slap in the face of those who worked so hard to make ‘S.W.A.T.’ the show we loved. God bless you all and thank you,” posted another Lim supporter.

“S.W.A.T.” lead actor Moore also got backing against any heat directed his way over the spinoff series. A commenter stated, “Shemar doesn’t make final decisions about a show, so why [is] everyone blasting him for wanting a job?”

New York Post readers had more negative reactions to Lim being disappointed about  “S.W.A.T. Exiles.” One person urged, “Grow up. No one owes you a job.” A second advised, “David. Get a new agent.” 

While Lim expressed his annoyance at the way “S.W.A.T. Exiles” was revealed to the public and not securing a permanent role on the show, Sony Pictures TV Studios president Katherine Pope teased that other stars besides Moore could make special guest comebacks.

“There is a clear world that we’re exploring here. We’re a few weeks in. We’re still putting it all together, but for sure, I think you can expect some of your favorites to be a part of it in some way,” Pope told Variety in a May 22 article.

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A post shared by Shemar Moore (@shemarfmoore)

“S.W.A.T. Exiles” appears to be centered around Moore’s Hondo character. The Daytime Emmy Award winner participated in announcing the next installment in the TV franchise in a video posted on May 18.

The following day, May 19, Moore jumped back on Instagram to deliver a personal message about “S.W.A.T. Exiles.” He thanked the fans before referring to himself as the “Tom Brady of S.W.A.T.,” a boastful comparison to the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

“That’s not arrogant, that’s not ego, it’s the fact. I’m the quarterback,” Moore proclaimed. He then acknowledged his “S.W.A.T.” co-stars by shouting out many of them by name, including Lim. The ex-host of “Soul Train” said, “That’s my family, for life.”

Plus, Moore suggested that, as the quarterback, he must continue to lead the team even if his teammates get “traded.” He was also defiant against criticism over the spinoff, stating, “I’m not going to apologize for nothing. I busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do. And I’m excited about the future.”

‘I’m Not Going to Apologize For Nothing’: Shemar Moore Stands Defiant Against Criticism Over ‘S.W.A.T.’ Spinoff, His Co-Star Complains About Being ‘Brushed Aside’ For New Series

In January 2023, 7-year-old Jaevion Riley was rushed to the hospital by paramedics after being savagely burned and beaten by his father, Murtadah Mohammad, who shared custody with the boy’s mother.

The child from New Hampshire, known for a smile that would “light up an entire room,” succumbed to his injuries, which were so extensive that his heart stopped twice and he had to be resuscitated.

“He died twice,” his devastated mother Rainah Riley told news outlets at the time.

Jaevion Riley (Photo: Facebook/ Justice for Jaevion Riley)

On May 27, Mohammed was sentenced to 45 years behind bars for his son’s murder, but that is not nearly enough for Riley, who has accused state authorities of repeatedly ignoring her warnings. Jaevion’s murder was as shocking as it was preventable.

Just months before his death, Mohammad was granted joint custody. After seeing marks on Jaevion’s body, the worried mom said she sounded the alarm several times with the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families, but she was ignored.

“I called for wellness checks on him when he was with him, for the bruising, and nobody did anything. The system has failed not only my child, but so many children. And something needs to be done, because this isn’t OK. It’s not. Like, when is enough enough?” she told NBC10 Boston.

New Hampshire’s DCYF will not disclose any information about the case. When asked by several news outlets about the mother’s claims, the agency said they are required by law to safeguard the confidentiality of children and their caregivers. 

In April, Mohammad, 27, pleaded guilty to reckless second-degree murder and falsifying physical evidence in the death of his son, per a press release issued by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

During the trial, Prosecutor Peter Hinckley told the jury that Mohammad waited 12 hours before calling 911, describing the “prolonged anguish that the child endured hour after hour after hour until his young body just gave out on him.” The father then staged a spill to make his son’s horrific scalding injuries look like an accident, and allegedly told police he didn’t see what happened because he was taking a shower.

During the recent sentencing, the boy’s distraught mom can be seen crying and bent over on video, holding her head in her hands, as Judge William Delker addressed the courtroom.  

Jaevion suffered through what the judge described as a “sustained campaign of abuse” over the course of five days.

“He would have had to fight for his life when he was exposed to boiling water,” Delker said, per the Union Leader. In addition to third-degree burns to 15 percent of his body, the child had a skull fracture, and his tooth had been knocked out.

“He must have screamed his heart out when you whipped and beat him, and none of that deterred you,” said Delker. “You left him to suffer and ultimately die without seeking help… I think we can only hope that at some point he lost consciousness and didn’t experience the pain for the full 12 or more hours that these crimes occurred,” he said via People.

Mohammad apologized to the boy’s mother at the sentencing, blaming it on drug and alcohol use, but Judge Delker didn’t buy it

“Even now, even when your future depends on it, you haven’t been able to bring yourself to acknowledge the full scope of what you did to that child, the full magnitude of what you did,” he said.

“His little smile would just light up an entire room, he was so, so beautiful,” Riley told 7News Boston in the days before his death. “For that to even happen to a grown adult would be sickening and to see this on a little, helpless, small 7-year-old boy who could never do anything to even deserve any type of physical punishment is disgusting. It is sickening.”

‘Nobody Did Anything’: Devastated New Hamsphire Mother Says Authorities Ignored Multiple Warnings In Case of Young Boy Fatally Burned and Beaten By Father

Director Ryan Coogler surprised hundreds of fans in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Thursday by personally attending a special screening of his hit vampire film “Sinners” after the community petitioned Warner Brothers to bring the movie to the town that inspired it.

The screening at Clarksdale Civic Auditorium marked the first time residents could see the supernatural thriller in their hometown, since the Mississippi Delta community doesn’t have any movie theaters. Locals typically must drive 80 miles to Memphis to catch a film, making the May 29 event a rare opportunity that drew attendees from across the region.

Ryan Coogler brought his film “Sinners” to Clarksdale, MS—the town it’s based on—after locals launched a petition to see it in person, since the town has no movie theater. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI)

“I didn’t know before the movie came out that it took place in Clarksdale, right? And with all that knowing that there’s not a lot of towns around here that have movie theaters the initial question is well how are people in this area going to see the movie to begin with,” said attendee David Shaw to The Associated Press.

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Community organizer Tyler Yarbrough launched the initiative by writing an open letter to Coogler and Warner Brothers, requesting they bring the film, as there are no theaters, to the town that served as its setting. Capital B News was the first to break the story of the petition in early May.

In 2003, the Delta Cinema closed amid a wave of downtown shutdownas. The once-segregated Paramount Theater, built in 1918, is now owned by Griot Arts Inc., which plans to turn it into an arts center. The New Roxy, a former Black theater in the New World District, now only hosts live music.

The studio responded by equipping the civic auditorium with a big screen, projector, sound system and concessions, transforming the venue into a temporary cinema for six screenings over three days.

Coogler’s appearance drew enthusiastic responses on social media, with fans praising the gesture on AP’s Instagram account.

“So glad they made this happen for this town,” one person commented, while another declared, “This is how you honor the people who inspire your work as an artist. Dead a$$!”

The director told the packed auditorium that his first research trip to Mississippi fundamentally changed him.

“I have family from Mississippi — my uncle, my grandfather — and I had never been until working on this script,” Coogler said, according to AP, adding, “It really changed me, just to come here.”

“Sinners” follows twin brothers played by Michael B. Jordan who return to 1930s Clarksdale to open a juke joint, only to encounter supernatural vampire forces. The film blends drama, action, music and horror while showcasing Mississippi Delta culture and confronting Jim Crow-era brutality.

Local residents expressed pride in seeing their community authentically represented on screen.

“Its is very beautiful to me that we have this experience because not a lot of people get to see Mississippi for what it really is a lot of people think we’re just cornfields and we’re just dirt roads but there’s so much more to Mississippi than people really get to see,” said attendee Brea C’Bette.

The positive reception extended to social media, where AP readers weighed in on the cultural significance.

“The Ancestors are smiling,” one person wrote, while another added, “Mississippi deserves so much! So happy the world can get a glimpse into the true reflection of the state.”

Theater teacher Brandice Brown Williams, who brought students to the screening, emphasized the cultural importance of the recognition.

“Anytime that filmmakers take the time out to pay homage to the Delta, especially, because we’re the root of music, the blues culture, that means a lot,” she said.

The film has achieved significant commercial success, grossing $ $261,862,268 in domestically and $341, 962,268 worldwide according to Box Office Mojo.

For some viewers, the movie represents crucial storytelling during challenging times for Black historical narratives.

Shelby Simes, who arrived at 7 a.m. and had seen the film seven times, noted, “They’re taking books off shelves. They’re not teaching us properly in the schools.”

Her sentiment resonated with another AP reader who wrote, “The Revolution will be screened.”

Coogler’s research in Clarksdale unearthed pivotal details that enhanced his script, such as a chat with Grammy winner Bobby Rush. Rush’s quip about dating a vampire found its way into Delroy Lindo’s dialogue as Delta Slim. Despite filming in Louisiana for logistical reasons, Coogler vividly portrayed Clarksdale’s historical significance — a once vibrant hub where Black residents, exploited in agriculture, later spread blues culture northward to cities like Chicago and Kansas City.

Mayor Chuck Espy sees the film’s attention as an opportunity to revitalize the majority-Black town of 14,000, where 40 percent live below the poverty line. He hopes to capitalize on Clarksdale’s cultural significance by expanding performance and educational opportunities, Reuters reports.

Recognizing Clarksdale’s rich cultural roots and community hustle, Coogler praised locals: “The thing that you guys have is a thing that can’t be taught,” affirming the Delta town’s lasting legacy.

‘This Is Where It Began … We Don’t Have Theaters Nearby’: Ryan Coogler Surprises Clarksdale to Screen Movie ‘Sinners’ After Backlash Over City Being Left Out

Criticism and baseless accusations don’t stop when you’re a celebrity — and certainly not when you are the former first lady of the United States.

Michelle Obama was spotted on Tuesday, May 28, leaving a date night with her husband, former President Barack Obama. The couple was photographed in New York City exiting the Lowell Hotel restaurant, with Michelle stunning in a black ruffled two-piece outfit. Barack kept it classic with the black blazer and slacks. He didn’t get so many comments about his appearance, because all eyes were on his wife — and some responses weren’t positive. Many thought Michelle looked skinnier than usual and suspected she may be using Ozempic. 

She went out in a black ruffled V-neck top from Zimmerman, which had an extra detail of sheer fabric on the sleeves. With it, she wore a ruffled midi skirt. 

Michelle Obama concerns fans with her small figure. (Photo: @michelleobama / Instagram)

Mrs. Obama 5 feet 11, which is a little bit shorter than her husband’s height, and has always maintained a smaller frame. But this week’s date photos somehow persuaded some observers that she is looking too thin, and they claim to suspect she is using Ozempic. The prescribed medication is used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but many celebrities have used it to lose weight. 

One person commented on Page Six, “What do I think? Semi-glutide, eg, Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound.”

A second said, “Dang. Michelle on the Ozempic.”

A third wrote, “Looking at her face, she lost too much weight. BTW, which of the drugs was she on?”

Instead of accusing her of being on Ozempic, a fourth person just took note of how different she appears. Her face appear to look less rounded than they did when she was in office. 

They wrote “What happened to Michelle’s forehead……….. WOW.”

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A post shared by Daily Mail (@dailymail)

This isn’t the first time Michelle has received these allegations. Back in March when her brother, Craig Robinson, attended the SXSW Film Festival, some observers claimed to detect under the long sleeved jacket she was wearing that she was getting thin. 

With the mic in hand, she sat on stage next to Robinson as the two launched and did a live taping of their podcast “IMO.” She wore a Western-themed burnt orange jacket with matching burnt orange pants. Underneath, she appeared to have a plain black top on and completed the fit with black closed toed boots. 

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A post shared by IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson (@imopodcasts)

The podcast’s Instagram page shared photos from the taping, and commenters wrote their concerns for Michelle.

One person said, “The beautiful Michelle Obama is dwindling away to nothing. She is getting so skinny soon she’ll be a walking shadow.”

Another wrote, “Michelle lost weight.”

Michelle hasn’t addressed the months old rumors but in 2022 she did talk about how she’s put on a few pounds. The 61-year-old was experiencing menopause at the time and said one of her symptoms was weight gain. 

“I never used to weigh myself. I’m not trying to stick to numbers, but when you’re in menopause, you have this slow creep that you just don’t realize,” she told People. We’re all in menopause with stretchy [waist] bands and our athleisure wear on, and you look up and you can’t fit the outfits you had last year. I have to be more mindful, not obsessive, but more mindful.”

‘What Happened’: Michelle Obama’s Look During Date Night Has Trolls Accusing of Her Being on Ozempic

Echoing the claims of some evangelical supporters who believe Donald Trump was sent by God to save America, Eric Trump told a Christian podcast in a clip resurfaced this week that “divine intervention” placed his father in the White House.

“I think he’s created the greatest political movement in history, and I really do believe someone, something is looking down and guiding him every single day because there’s no way in the world he could be where he is today without the intervention of God,” said the junior Trump, who oversees management and operation of his father’s global real estate holdings. “I feel it, I know it.”

Eric Trump, executive vice president of Trump Organization Inc., speaks to the media as he leaves former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, where he testified at New York State Supreme Court on November 03, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The next-generation Trumps have waded into religion before, with mixed results. In 2021, Donald Trump Jr. told a group of young conservatives to ignore one of the central tenets of Christianity.

“We’ve turned the other cheek, and I understand, sort of, the biblical reference — I understand the mentality — but it’s gotten us nothing. OK?” Trump Jr. said. “It’s gotten us nothing while we’ve ceded ground in every major institution in our country.”

While cutting aid to the poor, demonizing refugees and promoting division within the country may not seem like Christian values, Eric Trump isn’t alone in assigning a divine nature to his father’s presidency.

“He won the White House against impossible odds,” he said, in the podcast episode originally from January 2024. “I really do believe that there’s divine intervention there.”

The president himself claimed God wanted him to win in his inaugural address in January.

Eric Trump: My father was elected due to "divine intervention". God is "looking down and guiding him every single day."
pic.twitter.com/4SbxPyB6u5

— The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) May 27, 2025

“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear,” Trump Sr. told the nation. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.”

For many on the right, the failed Pennsylvania assassination attempt solidified their belief that Trump was ordained by the Almighty, that God prompted the GOP nominee to turn his head a fraction of an inch to save himself and the nation.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told Trump soon afterward, “God has had his hand on you since you first ran for President,” and “no man could survive all you have been through without the grace of God upon you.”

The elder Trump has never been a man of great faith. In 2016, he told a group of Christian conservative voters, “Why do I have to repent or ask for forgiveness if I am not making mistakes?” he said. “I work hard, I’m an honorable person.”

But such comments have been overlooked because Trump has given the evangelicals what they wanted most, paving the way for Roe v. Wade to be overturned with his Supreme Court appointments. During his current term, Trump has made eradicating “anti-Christian” bias a priority and appointed Christian right leaders to influential posts within his administration.

On social media, Trump critics pointed out the dangers of false idolization.

“So much horror was brought into the world by people thinking god was on their side,” wrote one. “What a bunch of crap!” one person added.

One man on X went much further, comparing Trump to a Biblical figure: “TRUMP is the Anti-Christ! They wear the MARK OF THE BEAST upon their heads! Revelation 13:16” The X posting included a photo of a group of his supporters all wearing red MAGA hats.

‘What a Bunch of Crap!’: Eric Trump Dragged for Straight-Faced Claim That ‘Divine Intervention’ Helped Father Get Elected

Not even a week after their father died, an Atlanta-area family says multiple squatters moved into their childhood home and began posting videos to social media inviting people to house parties.

The Oliver family says their father died last week, and only two days after his passing, strangers started occupying his DeKalb County home.

Shortly after the move-in, they began posting videos online showing the inside of the house and promoting pool parties.

Lisa Heath’s father’s home was taken over by squatters days after his death. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/11 Alive)

“It is a nightmare,” Lisa Heath, one of four siblings who owns the home, told WXIA. “These videos and advertisements are so far-reaching that we’ve received a call this morning from someone in Florida who said, ‘Hey, I’ve seen your dad’s property on the internet.’”

“It’s infuriating to see people in the home destroying it, partying in it, and inviting other strangers into that home,” Marcus Oliver said.

When the siblings called local police to visit the home, the occupants presented a lease to responding officers and claimed they were renting the property.

Shortly after, Kevin Oliver went to check out the home for himself and said he was met by the squatters, one of whom was armed with a rifle.

“They started making threats against my life,” Oliver said. “One of them told his friend to go get something, and he came back with a rifle in the doorway. He didn’t point it at me, but he made threats against my life and made it known that I might not walk out of there.”

According to WSB-TV, the Oliver family filed a squatters’ affidavit under the Georgia Squatter Reform Act, which requires the current occupants to provide documentation that authorizes their presence on the property or potentially face criminal charges.

Occupants who present a fake lease face an extra felony charge. The squatters who have taken over the Olivers’ home have until June 3 to present proof of legal residence to local authorities or risk being turned out by law enforcement.

The family said the squatters have dismantled the home’s surveillance system and removed a lockbox and one of the door knobs off a door.

“It pisses me off. Tremendously,” said Marlene Oliver-Bruce.

‘It Pisses Me Off. Tremendously.’: Outraged Atlanta Family Says Squatters Took Over Their Dad’s Home Just Two Days After He Died and Started Posting Ads for House Parties on Social Media

Last summer, a Black wildlands firefighter in Oregon was sentenced to nearly six years in jail for defending himself against what he claimed was a racist attack.

Despite the assailant throwing the first punch, allegedly calling him the N-word and having illicit drugs in his system, Brian “Hakyim” Simpson remains locked up in Snake River Correctional Facility, found guilty of second-degree assault by an all-white jury.

His friends, supporters, fellow firefighters, and family have recently launched a petition and a letter-writing campaign to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, demanding a second look at the case. If they wait for an appeal, it could take years.

Brian “Hakiym” Simpson (Photo: Facebook/Kym McKandes)

“I just want the world to know that this young man is being targeted. It’s an injustice, it’s racially motivated, and it can’t be accepted… especially when you’re talking about self-defense. This is someone who is preserving his own life. This is wrong, man,” said his longtime friend, Rakwaun “RaRa” Bivens in a video that accompanied the petition for clemency. The petition now has 3,000 signatures and counting.

“We can’t let this happen to anyone else. Hakiym’s story is a wake-up call,” said Bivens.

On June 17, 2024, members of the Grayback forestry crew were chatting and kicking back around midnight on their day off while staying at firefighting housing near Grants Pass. Another firefighter, Brandon Olson, who is white, woke up and angrily confronted the group, including Simpson, yelling “You need to shut the f*** up,” according to trial transcripts via local news station KGW8. When Simpson responded, he claimed Olson told him, “Pull your f***in pants up, n*****.”

The two men quickly came to blows, but Olson admitted at the trial that he threw the first punch. Though Olson denied yelling the racial slur, a witness testified that he did.

According to that witness, Simpson kept his hands behind his back while being struck three times before he eventually punched back, reported the Rogue Valley Times.

The two men wrestled around on the ground until others managed to separate them. But Olson jumped back into the fray and Simpson kicked him a few more times, explaining at trial that “legs is longer than the fists. And like I said, I’m blind in my left eye, I didn’t want him to be too close to me.” Olson apparently tried to continue the fight, even after Simpson walked away.

After reporting the incident to his squad boss, Simpson drove off, but Olson pursued him on foot, claiming he went after Simpson’s car to get the license plate number and make and model, read court documents.

“The aggressor in this situation admitted at trial of throwing the first punch. The toxicology report showed that he had drugs in his system, including fentanyl. After Mr. Simpson disengaged in the fight, he chased after him, the aggressor chased after him. He admitted that also in court,” defense attorney Eric Fournier stated.

In an email to KGW8, Josephine County District Attorney Joshua Eastman wrote, “Our position both before and at trial is that the first hit was likely justified (or at least could be). But the repeated kicks/stomps to the face/head area were not. The victim had several facial fractures and needed surgery.”

In August, Simpson was found guilty by an all-white jury in Josephine County, which is 92 percent white and just 0.8 percent Black, according to the Census Bureau. A judge sentenced him to 70 months in jail, which he is serving at Snake River Penitentiary, the largest jail in Oregon.

In addition to being a firefighter, Simpson, 42, was a community leader and beloved figure in the spoken word scene of his hometown of Cincinnati, earning recognition from none other than the late Rosa Parks for his advocacy, said his brother, Dom Simpson. A mural of Simpson in downtown “stands as a testament to his legacy,” he said in the petition video.

It’s no surprise that momentum for his case has been growing, with many prominent voices lending their support.

“If you throw the first punch, then you are the aggressor,” Glendora Claybrooks of the National Action Network told KGW8. “Where I’m from, we call a spade a spade,” she continued. “And when you start throwing that term around, the only intent, unless you’re singing one of these pop songs, is meant to demean, disrespect, humiliate, and it’s a racial slur.”

The outcome of the case has been especially devastating for his four sons.

“We really need him back in our lives so we can talk to him every day and hold him once again,” said his son Messiah Sha’ir.

His younger brother, Yahweh Sha’ir, agreed: “Having a firefighter dad is unique because he likes to go into the danger so we can be safe… I really miss him, I miss his love, I miss everything.”

While in prison, the father is working full-time, paying toward $34,453 in restitution to Olson for the injuries to his face. He is coping by focusing on the future, telling outlets, “Once this is done, I want to get back out there and continue to fight fire and do the best I can to be the best firefighter I can and the best person I can, for the community.”

In the meantime, Olson has brought a lawsuit against Grayback Forestry for $1.8 million, saying they never should have hired Simpson. In October 2024, Olson was charged with stalking in an unrelated case. He has declined to speak to the press.

‘It’s an Injustice’: Black Oregon Firefighter Convicted By All-White Jury for Defending Himself Against an Alleged Racist Attacker Who Still Roams Free

Donald Trump has never been shy about flexing his pardon power to help old friends and allies out of sticky legal situations. The list of people in Trump’s circle who are facing or could face federal charges is long, but there’s always room for more. On May 30, he teased the possibility of adding Sean “Diddy” Combs to the list, but only if he decides that Diddy is being “mistreated” by the justice system.

Presidential pardons are often controversial, but Trump’s comment still came as a surprise when he was asked about Diddy in a news conference.

Witness names Donald Trump as one of the people present at Diddy’s parties that she worked. (Photos: Bryan Steffy/WireImage; @Dr. Phil Primetime/YouTube Screenshot)

“Back when you hosted ‘The Apprentice,’ you mentioned once in 2012 that Diddy was a good friend of yours. … He has since found himself in some very serious legal trouble. Would you ever consider pardoning him?” a reporter asked the president.

“Nobody’s asked. But I know people are thinking about it,” Trump replied from behind his Oval Office desk. “I think some people have been very close to asking.”

“First of all, I’d look at what’s happening … and I haven’t been watching it too closely,” Trump said about the trial, which started in May. He continued, “I would certainly look at the facts. I think if somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

Trump was referencing the “bust-up” of his friendship with Diddy, which he believed fell apart when he “ran for politics,” citing Diddy’s “nasty comments” about him in the media. “But it’s not a popularity contest,” he stated, before confirming that he’d consider granting clemency to the rap mogul.

Though the president said the two haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years, they once ran in the same circles in the Hamptons and New York City.  “He used to really like me a lot,” Trump remarked. Trump was known to occasionally pop into Diddy’s lavish parties in the late ’90s and 2000s. The duo was together at the 2005 Art for Life Gala honoring Diddy at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago private club in Palm Beach, Florida. In 2008, they were photographed with first lady Melania Trump at a United Nations event. And when Diddy celebrated his 33rd birthday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Ivana Trump was one of 300 guests he flew over for the festivities.

It wasn’t just Diddy that Trump was close with back in the day. Celebrities, hip-hop stars, and business moguls like Trump all traveled in the same scene. Russell Simmons once enthused to New York magazine that “Donald has the best plane I ever seen.” 

“These guys have done more for respect than anything,” Trump responded in the interview, referring to Russell and late hip-hop industry giant Andre Harrell. “Russell knows the market, he sees the future, and that’s the ultimate businessperson,” he gushed.

Combs was arrested in September 2024 and faces federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which carry a possible sentence of life in prison. Just on May 29, his ex-personal assistant of eight years took the stand to describe several harrowing sexual assaults between 2009 and 2017, including at his 40th birthday party, where he poured her three vodka shots before attacking her and sticking his hand up her dress, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In such a high-profile case and with such serious allegations, pardoning Combs would be a highly controversial move, even for Trump, although, given his previous pardons, perhaps not out of the question. Trump issued a blanket pardon for everyone who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He also pardoned family: Charles Kushner, the father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was forgiven for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering.

And just this month, he pardoned rapper NBA YoungBoy on gun-related charges and reality TV couple Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were convicted of $30 million bank fraud.

‘You Mentioned…Diddy Was a Good Friend of Yours: Donald Trump Suggests He Would Pardon Diddy Saying He ‘Would Look at The Facts’ In His Old Friend’s Case

Stephen A. Smith, who said he is seriously considering a run for president in 2028, didn’t sound much like a potential Democratic nominee in an interview Thursday night with Trump fanboy Sean Hannity.

Smith, who often appears on Hannity’s show and routinely finds common political ground with the conservative host, claimed Donald Trump is “gaining traction within the Democratic Party,” citing gains among Black and young voters.

Smith, who hosts ESPN’s “First Take,” is only half right. Trump is polling much better with younger voters. A YouGov/Economist poll found that 48% of voters ages 30 to 44 have a favorable view of Trump, up 10 percent from April.

An ESPN producer was caught on audio talking bad about the network’s star analyst, Stephen A. Smith. The audio was leaked on social media and he calls him an “angry Black man.” (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Black voters are less enthused about the opening act of Trump’s second term. In a recent poll by Insider Advantage, only 28% of Black Americans surveyed approve of Trump’s job performance. Seventy-one percent disapprove.

“I will say this to you, when you look at the state of affairs right now, I’m looking at ‘Newsweek’ just a few days ago,” Smith said. “Trump is gaining traction within the Democratic Party, Black voters, young voters, he did it during the election, but it seems to be the trajectory seems to be going in a forward direction.”

“You pointed to the mayor of Chicago and his stance and how counterproductive that appears to be,” Smith continued. “You showed Jasmine Crockett, they haven’t realized yet that if it’s AOC or it’s Jasmine Crockett, there’s a reason Sean Hannity shows them every chance he gets, he wants them to be illuminated. He wants them to be front and center for the Democratic Party because it will ensure that the Republicans are going to win in 2026 and 2028.”

Smith is basically recycling the conventional wisdom that Democrats must move to the middle to win the midterms and the 2028 race. Historically, that’s been true, and the current incarnation of the Democrat Party has record-low approval ratings.

Is Smith the leader Democrats have been desperately seeking? He seems to think so. But only about 2 percent of voters agree, according to McLaughlin and Associates.

Still, he remains undeterred. On Thursday, Smith blasted “tone deaf” Democrats, telling Hannity, “their focus seems to be on doing anything but being the antithesis of Trump, instead of helping to govern the country.”

Smith also insisted that “there are some things that he might be doing well ” when the discussion turned to Trump’s second term.

Smith’s latest right-leaning commentary drew considerable criticism on social media and comment forums.

“Trump is gaining?” asked one incredulous reader on Mediaite. “Trump has been shut down by the courts, Scotus and outmaneuvered by every country, including China, Russia and our allies.”

“Trump’s deportations hurt American farmers and businesses and his tariffs are hurting consumers and his big BS bill will hurt even more Americans if passed,” he continued. “The only thing Trump gained is a lot more of his stupid followers are now anti-Trumpers.”

Others targeted the messenger more than the message.

“And no one is surprised, we could see this months ago when Stephen A Smith kept praising Trump,” a Mediate commenter opined. “He’s not a democrat, he should stop lying to everyone and wasting people’s time.”

“Stephen A. is an opportunist,” wrote another, a sentiment widely echoed when it comes to Smith.

‘He’s an Opportunist’: Stephen A. Smith Dragged for Saying Trump Is ‘Gaining Traction’ with Democrats and Black Voters on Hannity Show

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) had her hands full at a town hall meeting in Butler, Iowa, Friday, as angry constituents shouted and jeered at her as she defended President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

At one point, Ernst responded to a shout from the audience that people are “going to die” because of the massive cuts in the reconciliation bill the House passed last week.

“Well, we’re all going to die,” an unbothered Ernst said, as the crowd gasped and booed her.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks during a news conference following the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The budget measure, which is now under consideration in the Senate, makes major cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have said the reforms are supposed to prevent people who are in the United States illegally from receiving federal aid and to root out fraud.

Politico reported that Ernst’s callous remark came after a woman, who said she had previously emailed Ernst about her concerns, argued the bill’s proposed cuts were not  “compassionate” or “fiscally responsible,” and she accused the senator of supporting a “tax shelter” for the wealthy.

“For heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks,” Ernst said, clearly frustrated as some constituents refused to listen to her explanation of the cuts.

MAJOR BREAKING: In a shocking moment, Republican Senator Joni Ernst had the worst possible response when warned that cutting Medicaid would cause people to die: “Well, we all are going to die.”

The GOP health care plan is simple: suffer and die quietly.pic.twitter.com/xT0L6D3JlH

— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) May 30, 2025

“What you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” she said, according to The Hill. “Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them.”

“Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa,” she added.

The crowd continued shouting as Ernst tried to explain how the cuts would work.

“If you don’t want to listen, that’s fine. But what I’m doing is going through and telling you that those that are not eligible, those that are working and have opportunity for benefits elsewhere, then they should receive those benefits elsewhere and leave those dollars for those that are eligible for Medicaid,” she said.

While some estimates have put the number of undocumented migrants receiving federal aid at just under one-and-a-half million people, the National Immigration Law Center says they’re generally ineligible for most federal public assistance, including food stamps, or SNAP, and Medicaid.

But the Economic Policy Innovation Center, a conservative think tank, says 60% of non-citizen households use at least one welfare program. The center estimates these households are receiving more than $5,600 in annual federal benefits.

Ernst told her constituents at the town hall that the Republican budget bill is intended to stop overpayments and benefits to those who are not eligible for federal assistance.

“When you are arguing about illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits, 1.4 million, they’re not eligible, so they will be coming off,” Ernst said as she struggled to be heard over the shouting crowd.

A spokesperson for Ernst accused Democrats of inciting fear among voters over the Republicans’ massive spending cuts, insisting Ernst is focused on “improving the lives of all Iowans,” according to the Hill.

“While Democrats fearmonger against strengthening the integrity of Medicaid, Senator Ernst is focused on improving the lives of all Iowans,” the aide said.

“There’s only two certainties in life: death and taxes, and she’s working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans’ hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.” 

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that almost 14 million Americans could lose their health insurance within 10 years under the House Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

‘Well, We’re All Going to Die:’ Callous Sen. Joni Ernst Spars with Jeering Town Hall Crowd, Defends GOP’s Massive Cuts In New Spending Bill

A 62-year-old Michigan man was sentenced for a racist attack against a mail carrier who left flyers promoting former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign in his mailbox last year.

Russell Valleau will spend 12 months in jail for assaulting the postal worker in September 2024.

Russell Frank Valleau (Photo: Farmington Hills Police Department)

According to federal prosecutors, Valleau aggressively approached the postal worker, a Black woman, as she was sitting in her postal truck.

He was upset about receiving mailers promoting Harris, saying he did not want that “Black b— in my mailbox,” and even directed racist insults at the mail carrier.

When the postal worker told Valleau he could leave the unwanted mail in his mailbox, Valleau only continued his tirade. It was when she asked him to step away from her truck that he lunged at her with a knife.

His attack was thwarted after the woman sprayed him in the face with USPS-issued mace and drove away.

Even after he was detained by police, Valleau only continued his offensive, slur-ridden outburst. Investigators say he called the letter carrier a “f—king smelly n—ger.”

When officers reprimanded him for his language, he responded, “Oh, you like n—gers.”

Valleau was convicted in February after a three-day trial, and it took a jury only two hours to deliberate his fate before returning with a guilty verdict.

In a sentencing memorandum obtained by Law&Crime, Valleau’s attorney, James Amberg, claimed that the 62-year-old is not “inherently racist,” and attributed his heinous conduct to “a level of mental health issues coupled with the use of alcohol.”

Amberg requested that Valleau be sentenced to time served because he had been in custody since his arrest last September.

“What this case is not is a case where Mr. Valleau went out looking for a confrontation because of receiving political mail. This is a case where Mr. Valleau, intoxicated, wanted to confront the victim over him not receiving a Social Security check he was looking for,” Amberg wrote in the memorandum. “His life appears to be an endless cycle of alcohol, jail, alcohol, jail … Mr. Valleau is not evil, he actually has a peppy personality once you get to know him! But the reality is that our society shuns the mentally ill, and there are insufficient programs to help people like Mr. Valleau.”

After Valleau’s conviction, Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck stated, “A letter carrier was simply trying to do her job, and this defendant physically attacked her while using racist and offensive language. This type of behavior has no place in our community and will not be tolerated.”

Michigan 62-Year-Old Man Who Attacked Black Mail Carrier and Called Her ‘Smelly’ N-Word After She Put Kamala Harris Flyers In Mailbox Sentenced for Racist Assault

Ex-White House attorney Ty Cobb bashed the president and press secretary on a range of issues from the administration’s sweeping tariffs to Trump’s on-again, off-again “TACO” trade moves.

Cobb, who defended Trump during Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether the President’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia, ripped into him over his defense of using destabilizing global tariffs on friends and foes amid ongoing court rulings on the trade policy.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“He’s making that up,” Cobb told Burnett, referring to Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, or IEEPA, to justify his tax plan. “He views himself as all-powerful,” Cobb said. “But just because he says it doesn’t make it so.”

The IEEPA allows the president to regulate trade during certain emergencies. The U.S. Court of International Trade blocked most of the tariffs in an order Wednesday, ruling Trump has overstepped his authority in issuing levies on almost every foreign country that does business with the United States. But an appeals court reinstated the taxes in a ruling Thursday.

“The statute in question has never in history been used in connection with tariffs,” Cobb said.

“So, I think the likelihood is that this statute will be upheld and enforced in a way that precludes the president from trying to pretend that he has these all-encompassing powers.”

Burnett asked Cobb how the President is handling the “TACO Trade” jab, or “Trump Always Chickens Out,” a term coined by financial analysts to describe the continually shifting tariffs Trump is levying on trading partners.

“I think it bothers him very much,” Cobb said, adding that Trump’s defense of himself reminded him of a “wounded narcissist.”

“He doesn’t take criticism well,” Cobb concluded.

And, in fact, Trump lashed out at a reporter who asked him about the acronym Wednesday, denying he was “chickening out”. He defended his trade policy and called the question “nasty.”

“You call that chickening out?” Trump asked, according to the Associated Press. “It’s called negotiation,” adding that he sets a “ridiculous high number and I go down a little bit, you know, a little bit” until the figure is more reasonable.

But Cobb saved his most cutting remarks for Trump Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, whom he called “creepy Karoline.”

“I don’t think creepy Karoline, when she speaks, I don’t think anybody in America really takes her seriously on a matter of substance,” Cobb told Burnett when asked about Leavitt’s response to the court ruling freezing the administration’s tariff policy. Leavitt said during the White House briefing Thursday that the courts have “no role” in trade matters.

“She’s not, you know, learned by any imagination, and I think her comments are clearly so defensive and so ill-informed that people may largely turn her out. She’s wrong,” he concluded.

Leavitt is the youngest White House press secretary in history. The 27-year-old served as Trump’s campaign spokesperson and as an assistant press secretary in his first administration. She moved from a White House intern in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building mailroom onto the Trump communication team. In 2020, after Trump lost re-election, she worked as communications director for New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

‘Creepy Karoline:’ Former Trump Attorney Rips Into President, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Says No One ‘Takes Her Seriously’

Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, were spotted out on a family dinner date with Sánchez’s 24-year-old son, Nikko Gonzalez in Portofino, Italy.

The 61-year-old billionaire reportedly is set to marry the media personality in Italy next month.

Paparazzi captured Jeff, Lauren, Nikko, and an unknown woman outside Portofino’s Puny restaurant on May 27. The bride-to-be stood out in the photos for her wearing a revealing, silk maxi dress with gold heels.

Lauren Sánchez gets slammed for wearing revealing dress to family dinner with her son and Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)

Bezos arrived wearing a pink collared shirt, blue pants, and sneakers and Nikko sported a black shirt, white pants, and black shoes.

Among the images that made it to the internet, people began criticizing “The Fly Who Flew to Space” author’s fashion choice for the evening. Bezos was also targeted by some infuriated commenters.

“Can this woman not get anything to fit properly? It’s embarrassing. Does she think flashing her breasts are normal? Her partner seems to look anywhere but her chest. She makes him look foolish,” one Daily Mail reader complained.

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and his glamorous fiancée Lauren Sánchez were spotted enjoying a romantic and luxurious dinner date night with her son Nikko Gonzalez and friends at the famed Puny restaurant in Portofino, Italy.

The loved-up couple, surrounded by a sizable security… pic.twitter.com/XVkhWdRHjF

— backgridus (@BackgridUS) May 28, 2025

A second person wrote, “She always looks so cheap. What a contradiction. All the money she wants, and looks so very tasteless.” Similarly, a comment read, “All that money and you’ve still got a get your bits out. What a shame.”

“Put them away, luv! Classless and cheap,” a Sánchez critic stated.

However, a fan of Lauren and Jeff expressed, “She looks beautiful. [In my opinion,] there’s a lot of jealous people out there behind their keyboards. She is living her best life with a very lucky man! He seems to be living his best life also… Congratulations to the happy couple!”

Lauren Sánchez a ‘Proud Mama’ watching her son Nikko’s modeling runway debut in Milan… https://t.co/RRdfeUq5lc #fashion #style pic.twitter.com/GUsrYAc8iy

— OmniTee (@omnitee_designs) February 5, 2024

Bezos and Sánchez have been the targets of paparazzi and tabloid headlines over the past several weeks of their current trip to Europe. For instance, a photographer’s lens recently captured the Amazon founder frolicking with his future wife on the deck of Bezos’ $500 million yacht Koru, which had accompanied the couple to the south of France for the Cannes Film Festival.

Like her attire in Portofino, Sánchez’s strapless blue and silver gown for the amfAR Gala in Cannes on May 22 became a trending topic because it showed off her bust, with detractors reflexively calling the look “vulgar and disgusting.”

Despite the constant criticism directed at them, Sánchez and Bezos appear to be happily moving ahead towards matrimony. Their upcoming nuptials will likely be an expensive, star-studded ceremony.

The Blue Origin owner and the New York Times bestselling writer went public as a couple in 2019. There was unproven speculation that Bezos had an affair with Sánchez while he was still married to his then-wife, MacKenzie Scott.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Sanchez (@laurenwsanchez)

Bezos finalized his divorce from ex-wife Makenzie Scott 2019, the same year he went public with his new relationship. They were together for 25 years and share four children.

Before connecting with the third-richest person in the world, Sánchez gave birth to Nikko in 2001, her only child with retired NFL player Tony Gonzalez. Bezoz has been an active person in Nikko’s life appearing for the young boy’s college graduation as well as his debut at a fashion show in Milan.

Sánchez also has a son named Evan (born in 2006) and a daughter named Eleanor (born in 2008) with her ex-husband, Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell. She and Whitesell were married from 2005 to 2019.

Bezos got engaged to Sánchez on his Koru yacht by presenting the Emmy Award-winning journalist with a $2.5 million diamond ring. Two weeks ago, Sánchez hosted a bachelorette weekend in Paris with Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Katy Perry, and more female friends.

Bezos and Sánchez’s wedding is set to take place at venue in a Venice, where Koru will be anchored in the Venice lagoon. Only 200 guests are expected to attend. The wedding will be part of a three-day celebration from June 24 to 26.

‘Put Them Away’: Lauren Sánchez’s Overexposed Look at Family Dinner with Her Son and Jeff Bezos Has Fans Zooming In on Her Chest

The owners of a Black-owned restaurant in East Atlanta say they are being forced out by the real estate firm that purchased a property housing their business earlier this year, pointing to unfair business practices and increasing gentrification around the district that has expelled longstanding Black communities and businesses.

King Shands and Brittney Wilson opened East Atlanta Treehouse on Flat Shoals Avenue in January.

From 2012 to 2021, Shands was the general manager of an event space called The Union, where EAT now operates.

Brittney Wilson (left) and King Shands (right) accuses new landlord of pushing them out. (East Atlanta Treehouse/IG)

In 2021, he took over the business from the previous owner and spent four years obtaining licenses and permits to bring his vision for EAT to life.

The restaurant and entertainment venue had just gotten on its feet earlier this year when Shands and co-owner Wilson learned Canvas Companies LLC had purchased several properties housing retailers and restaurants, including their own, in February.

Shortly after purchasing the portfolio, Canvas publicly indicated it would work to keep existing tenants in their spaces.

Shands and Wilson said that seemed like the case at first.

Both owners recalled when a Canvas representative told them they’d work with them, but they had to reapply to rent the unit they were currently occupying. That application included new lease terms informing Shands and Wilson that they had to adhere to a 75 percent rent increase.

Shands agreed to pay the increased rent. He and Wilson provided financial statements and records proving they made eight times more than the new rental rate, excluding cash earned.

Canvas Companies denied their application.

The firm reportedly told the owners that its lender, Colony Bank, decided the owners didn’t make enough money to stay on as tenants and indicated they needed to make about 13 times the rental rate to be considered viable candidates for a lease.

EAT owners said they never received this decision in writing, only verbally by a Canvas Companies agent.

Now, Canvas is giving Shands and Wilson until June 30 to vacate the premises. Both owners say the timeline to move is impractical, leaving them mere weeks to find a new space and secure business licenses and permits so they can continue operating in a different location. These procedures typically take months for business owners.

“It does feel a whole lot like discrimination. It does feel a whole lot like oppression. It does feel a whole lot like bigotry. It’s a lot of feelings,” Shands shared in an Instagram video. “At this moment right now, I have no clue what I’m going to do.”

Shands and Wilson have since launched an online petition to share their plea with the public and request that Canvas Companies LLC either issue them a new lease or give them more time to vacate the building.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s the story of being a minority business owner,” Wilson stated on Instagram. “You reach the finish line, and then they move the goal post. We understand what’s happening here. The area is being gentrified, and we don’t fit the bill of what they want over here.”

Shands and Wilson added that other Black-owned businesses in neighboring properties Canvas bought had opted to leave because of the increased rental rates.

A report by The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) revealed that between 1980 and 2020, six Atlanta neighborhoods, including East Atlanta, underwent a drastic racial turnover, flipping from majority-Black to majority-white. Data shows that Atlanta as a whole experienced the most intense gentrification from 2000 to 2012.

Researchers say that without measures to ward off the worst effects of gentrification, communities suffer cultural erasure, lose their historical identities, and their businesses, community gathering spaces, and cultural landmarks are replaced with more generic or “high-end” alternatives.

Shands has served East Atlanta’s creative community for over a decade, either working in or running businesses that have helped the city’s independent artists, musicians, creators, and entrepreneurs find or expand their platforms.

“This is not about viability. This is about pushing us out,” Shands’ and Wilson’s petition reads. “Many minority entrepreneurs are systematically shut out of spaces where they could thrive—not because of lack of talent or vision, but because the standards set for entry are intentionally steep, selective, and often unattainable.”

East Atlanta Village caters to residents looking for after-hours restaurants and bars, with East Atlanta Treehouse being one of them.

Canvas managing partners haven’t specified what type of businesses they’d like to occupy their new properties, but did signal they are looking for retailers and business owners who operate during the daytime.

Atlanta Black Star has reached out to Canvas Companies LLC for comment.

‘A Whole Lot of Bigotry’: Black Owners of East Atlanta Restaurant Say They’re Being Pushed Out Despite Agreeing to 75 Percent Rent Hike, Claim New Landlords Keep ‘Moving the Goal Post’

CNN anchor Jake Tapper is making the media rounds to promote his explosive new book about Joe Biden, but it’s his indignant outrage that has been getting the attention lately.

In an interview on the Pod G podcast, hosted by NYU professor Scott Galloway, Tapper seemed exasperated as he recounted how his son was called a racist by an anonymous “left-leaning” podcaster.

According to Tapper, 56, the unnamed interviewer took a condescending tone after he revealed that his teen son wants to be a cop someday.

Jake Tapper speaks on stage during “The Long Road to Freedom for C.J. Rice” panel for The Atlantic Festival 2024 on September 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for The Atlantic)

“Their joke was about my 15-year-old son, ‘Oh, how does he feel about minorities? Like the idea that he wants to be a policeman, therefore he’s racist, my son,” lamented Tapper in the May 22 interview.

“And like, you know, that was the big laugh,” he said, before making a leap to the Democrats’ loss in the 2024 presidential election. “Then I got dragged in the comments and all that stuff and, and I thought to myself, ‘This is why you f—ers are losing elections.’”

WOW: Jake Tapper identifies what some might say is the main problem plaguing the Democratic Party, and he does it in a way that every single sane American should understand. They're so out of touch that even his 15 year-old son wanting to become a police officer is called into… pic.twitter.com/QtLCjRC89j

— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) May 23, 2025

He went on: “You’re deciding he’s a racist because he wants to be a cop. And why does he want to be a cop? He wants to be a cop because he wants to help people,” Tapper said. “He thinks that’s the best way he can help people. And that’s how the Democratic Party talks to men, not just white men, but men… I find it just insane.”

Despite the lack of details, sleuths pinpointed the podcaster in question as Chris Black, who had Tapper on his show in April. After the clip went viral, Black wasted no time defending himself and calling out Tapper for his faux outrage, saying the CNN chief Washington correspondent knew full well it was said in jest.  

“Him willfully choosing to take a joke wrong, that he definitely knew what it was in the moment, I would say is only a pro move,” he remarked. “He spun it for his own gain, and it’s working.”

Many commenters on social media are siding with Black, deeming Tapper’s outrage disingenuous, especially given his high-profile book tour. Titled “Original Sin,” the book is co-authored by Axios reporter Alex Thompson and chronicles Biden’s run for re-election amid his cognitive decline. It also heavily relies on anonymous sources, drawing from interviews with more than 200 people, as apparently, very few aides or elected officials would speak on the record.

“Sorry, but this sounds like a huge exaggeration. How many people said his son was racist and how do we know they are Democrats? Was it 1 kid at school? I think Jake is having some real issues with truth and conscience lately,” wrote one person on X. “Tapper created this,” chimed in another.

“I agree this is bad. But WHO is calling his son a racist for wanting to be a cop? Why is that connected with the Democratic Party?” asked a confused commenter.

“Spare me the white victimhood. Ain’t nobody give a s***,” railed another, followed by “Jake Tapper is selling a book. He will say ANYTHING to boost his book sales.” Indeed, “Original Sin” skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on The New York Times bestseller list within a week after its release on May 20.

During the interview, Tapper implied that to win young men’s votes, Democrats need to be relatable and effectively “code-switch” to white guy speak, as he mentioned on the podcast. He said it’s something Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, fumbled.

“My son is now 15 years old, and he’s a gamer. He’s a football fan, starting linebacker on his varsity football team. The Democratic Party has no way of communicating with him. They have no entrée into his world.”

‘Spare Me the White Victimhood’: Jake Tapper Mocked for Claiming Son Was Called Racist for Wanting to Be a Cop—While Promoting Book on Biden’s Decline

Steve Harvey nearly lost his words after a “Family Feud” contestant gave a less than stellar “answer” for a question on the popular game show.

A snippet of the ninth episode from the show’s fourth season was posted on Instagram on May 26. In the 2017 “Celebrity Family Feud” special, the USA Gymnastics team went head to head with the USA Swimming team.

But in the clip, 10-time Olympic medalist Allison Schmidt had an embarrassing moment that she hoped the show would edit out. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

Steve Harvey was left stunned by a “Family Feud” contestant’s inappropriate answer to a question. (Photo: @familyfeud/Instagram)

The video starts with Harvey asking contestants, “It was distressing for Barbie to discover that Ken only liked her for her what?” 

Without missing a beat, Schmidt blurted out, “Her daughter,” then quickly looked down with a sheepish smile. The crowd’s reaction was instant — and not in her favor. They erupted with shock. Recognizing the response from the audience as a negative one, Schmidt tried to explain herself.

She put her hands up to show the size of the doll and said, “She has a little mini doll. I played with one when I was growing up.” Her teammates cheered her on, but Harvey wasn’t having it.

The host looked at Schmidt with his signature stupefied facial expression — which included his mouth being wide open and his eyes glaring at her — as Harvey slowly backed away and shook his head. 

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A post shared by Family Feud (@familyfeud)

Harvey, still shaking his head, said, “No. That is not a good answer.”

Schmidt, finally realizing her mistake, covered her mouth and screamed “Oh, wait,” with a slight nervous chuckle.

Harvey repeats “This is not a good answer. Uh-uh.” Schmidt, trying to save herself, asked, “Can this be cut?” 

But the damage was already done. In a longer tone, Harvey responded, “Uh-uh” once again before turning to the board. Repeating the answer aloud to see if it was one that made the cut, a reluctant Harvey said, “She only liked him for her daughter. God.”

As expected, the answer was not on the board and that put the USA swimmers at two strikes. 

In the comment section of the post, fans had a good laugh though many sided with Harvey’s reaction.

“I’m with Steve on this one. That was NOT a ‘good answer,'” said one person.

Another wrote, “Ooooooh no the reaction set in when she realize the fact of what she said oh Steve.”

A third said, “Someone please check on the children in that family,” while a fourth observer said, “The world’s worst answer, especially with things that are going on the world these days.”

Nonetheless, Schmidt’s off-putting answer did not disrupt her team from what became the winning patch. They made it to the Fast Money round where Adrian and Schmidt were the two contestants to answer five questions each under 20 and 25 seconds. Together they surpassed the 200 points needed to win the round and won $25,000 for the USA Swimming Foundation. 

‘Can This Be Cut?’: Steve Harvey Left Speechless Over ‘Family Feud’ Contestant’s Inappropriate Response, Fans Call It the ‘World’s Worst Answer’