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Unveiling Ancient Secrets: Danube’s Record-Low Levels Expose Hidden History

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The Danube River, renowned as Europe’s second-longest waterway, is now revealing a stark reminder of its past. Record-low water levels, a result of severe drought, have uncovered the remains of numerous World War Two-era German warships that lay hidden beneath the surface.

These relics, emerging eerily from the Danube’s depths, serve as an unexpected point of curiosity amid the region’s pressing summer drought crisis. The river’s drastic drop has brought power plants across Central and Eastern Europe perilously close to halting operations, as governments scramble to enact energy-saving measures.

The wreckage of a ship in a river

Near where the Danube divides Serbia and Romania, close to the Serbian port city of Prahovo, a rusting ship’s hull now protrudes from the water. Its broken mast, once a proud bearer of the Nazi flag, stands like a ghostly monument to a turbulent past.

the hulk of a ship next to a river

Many of these sunken vessels, some still equipped with their wartime armaments, were part of Germany’s Black Sea fleet. In a strategic retreat during World War Two, the Germans intentionally sank these ships to impede the advancing Soviet forces, as Hitler’s forces withdrew from Romania.

An aerial view shows the remains of a ship on a river

According to historians, up to 200 German warships were scuttled in the Danube gorge near Prahovo in September 1944 under heavy Soviet attack. This desperate tactic aimed to stall the Soviet army’s progression through the Balkans, though ultimately, Nazi Germany capitulated by May 1945.

The wreck of the destroyed artillery barge AT 916

The sight of the old warships is a reminder that the Serbian government, with European Union financial support, has long been trying to do something about them. Some were removed from the river by Communist Yugoslav authorities, but most have remained because of the explosives they carried.

Now, however, authorities are trying to keep traffic flowing on the Danube, which flows through 10 nations, as the dropping water levels create dangerous conditions. Experts have linked the unusually hot weather to global warming and other factors.

Earlier this month, Romania’s army blasted a rock in a branch of the Danube River in an effort to increase the flow of cooling water to the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, where critically low water levels raised the risk of a shutdown.

Water explodes due to an underwater detonation

The Cernavoda plant, which draws all of its cooling water from the Danube, has been threatened by the river’s sharply reduced water levels caused by drought.

Also earlier in August, mortal remains of two German Wehrmacht soldiers were exposed by the historically low water level of the Danube near Budapest. A recovery specialist from the German War Graves Commission retrieved the remains from the riverbed in the Hungarian capital.

A German World War Two motorcycle covered in mud. It is standing up outside

The team also found two identification tags at the site. According to the association, the bodies were found alongside a German military motorcycle and several anti-tank mines. Consequently, bomb disposal experts were deployed.

rusted metal discs

In late July, the remains of what is believed to be an ancient mammoth were revealed in northern Bulgaria after the Danube’s water levels receded to a record low.

remains of a mammoth in low-level water

A local resident of the village of Ryahovo found the animal’s remains. Villagers then alerted specialists in the regional history museum in the nearby town of Ruse.

A tusk in mud

Museum director Nikolay Nenov said experts who were sent to the site recognised a lower jaw, two tusks and possibly a mammoth rib.

“I would not call it a sensation, but any discovery of such ancient remains is very important for science,” Nenov said, adding that it has long been believed that the site was a swamp where the animal probably died thousands of years ago.


Shocking Secrets Revealed: Inside Hayden Panettiere’s Explosive Memoir

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In her recently released memoir, published just three months prior to her untimely passing at the age of 36, Hayden Panettiere opened up about the heart-wrenching decision to relinquish custody of her daughter amidst her battle with addiction.

The acclaimed actress, renowned for her performances in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” tragically passed away yesterday at an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina.

Law enforcement informed the Daily Mail that they were dispatched to the scene after receiving a distressing 911 call from someone acquainted with Panettiere, reporting her as “unresponsive.”

Dispatch audio revealed the initial call made at 1:51 p.m., where a female operator indicated that Panettiere appeared to be experiencing cardiac arrest. Subsequently, a male dispatcher mentioned the likelihood of a suspected overdose occurring in her Greenville residence.

Despite paramedics and officers’ valiant efforts, including performing chest compressions to revive her, Panettiere—who was imminently approaching her 37th birthday—was sadly pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., approximately 40 minutes after the emergency call.

Police and the local coroner’s office are probing the death, but said the ‘preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances’.

The star and her on-off real estate agent boyfriend Brian Hickerson were said to have flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina, where he is from, one day before she died.

Her raw and candid memoir ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’ was released in the UK and US on May 19 and featured a series of details about being separated from her only child.

In it she discussed her depression after giving birth to her daughter Kaya, 11, and the eventual decision to give up custody to her ex-fiance Wladimir Klitschko, 50.

Panettiere, who began acting as a child, also wrote about being put into bed with a British singer and the moment an Oscar-winning actor exposed himself to her.

Hayden Panettiere's raw and candid memoir 'This Is Me: A Reckoning' was released on May 19

Hayden Panettiere’s raw and candid memoir ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’ was released on May 19

Put into bed with British singer

Panettiere described a troubling incident at the age of 19, when a friend told her to have sex with an unnamed British singer aged in his 30s.

The friend invited Panettiere to the south of France in 2009, where she boarded a ‘super yacht’ which the friend had hired for a week.

One day her friend told her to go downstairs with her. They entered a cabin, where she ‘saw a famous thirtysomething British singer songwriter lying in a bed’. She described him as shirtless and ‘from the waist down, he was covered by bedsheets’.

The friend then ‘leaned down and whispered in my ear: ‘I want you to get in bed with him. He has a huge d***.’ Panettiere did as she was told, before her friend left.

But before anything happened, the actress soon felt her heart pounding and told the man: ‘Look… I don’t know what she said to you, but this is not going to happen.’

She then jumped out of the bed and towards the door, running into the hall and toward her room. She booked a hotel and started packing her bags before leaving.

Panettiere said of her friend: ‘She’d confided in me, pampered me and treated me like her best friend – then turned around and treated me like a call girl.’

Hayden Panettiere in New York in July 2009, soon after the incident on the yacht that spring

Hayden Panettiere in New York in July 2009, soon after the incident on the yacht that spring

Oscar winner exposed himself

Panettiere also explained the distressing moment an ‘Oscar winning actor and director’ exposed himself to her months earlier, when she was still aged 19.

The actress said the ‘actor and director’ showed his genitals to her at a private party – organised by the same friend who invited her to the yacht.

Panettiere was chatting with a group of men ‘in their forties and fifties’ at the party, when she ‘sensed these men’s eyes on me and it made me uncomfortable’.

She felt like a ‘young commodity ripe for the picking’ in that moment and decided to leave – when one of the men approached her as she was putting on her coat.

Panettiere said the man – whom she did not identify – claimed to have a ‘big wad of gum on his pants’. But she wrote: ‘I looked down and recoiled. This well-respected, award-winning actor’s testicles were hanging out from his unzipped fly.’

She did not tell her friend about the incident because she believed ‘the moment had passed’ and ‘assumed some older men had just grown up with no manners’.

Struggling with depression

After giving birth to her daughter Kaya, Panettiere began haemorrhaging before she underwent seven blood transfusions and surgery to repair vessels that began to fail.

And in the months following the birth in 2014, Panettiere faced a significant struggle with depression, explaining in her book how they did not bond as she had hoped.

The actress, who was aged 25 at the time, wrote: ‘I’d always heard that mothers feel an instant rush of love the moment they lay their eyes on their baby, but I felt nothing.’

Panettiere said she was finding it difficult to soothe her daughter and understand what she was experiencing, admitting her ‘natural optimism and pep’ had vanished.

In one incident, she worried that she had accidentally hurt Kaya while taking her out of the bath, but explained: ‘It wasn’t panic that was sitting in my chest.

‘It was nothing. A total blackout of emotion, like my soul was dead. I wasn’t myself, yet the problem was I didn’t know what I was supposed to be.’

Hayden Panettiere hugs her daughter Kaya in a photo she posted to Instagram in March 2017

Hayden Panettiere hugs her daughter Kaya in a photo she posted to Instagram in March 2017

Medication causing problems

Panettiere was diagnosed with postpartum depression and began having treatment when Kaya was four months old – but her medication caused further issues.

She explained how this kept her from ‘cracking’, adding: ‘To help me with my insomnia I had meds, the really powerful kind they’d prescribed me in treatment.’

However, Panettiere said this left her feeling like a ‘zombie’ – explaining: ‘They had a catch: if I didn’t take them, I couldn’t sleep. If I did, I slept too much.’

She also wrote: ‘I walked into rehab addicted to one substance, and I walked out, completely dependent on something else.’

The actress further explained how ‘anxiety buzzed inside me like a fluorescent light’, which she said was ‘keeping me reactive, on edge and full of dread’.

Alcohol addiction

Panettiere began turning to alcohol to cope with her depression after giving birth, and said she once poured so much wine into her glass that it ‘almost overflowed’.

The problem worsened when she returned to acting in TV drama Nashville, needing a drink just to get out of bed. She wrote: ‘It’s 6am and I’m trying to get drunk.’

Panettiere added: ‘The first thing I’d thought of when I woke up was alcohol. Not my child, not my job, and not the rest of my life.’

‘I needed a drink to function – at 6am – and that was f*****. If I didn’t get some help as soon as possible, I was f*****.’

She also said: ‘I’ve always strived to be a positive person, but I grieve all the hours I lose to addiction, my broken relationships and my loved ones who are no longer here.’

Giving up custody of Kaya

Panettiere discussed her heartbreaking decision in 2018 to give up custody of her daughter Kaya, now 11, to her ex-fiancé, Ukrainian former boxer Wladimir Klitschko.

Kaya had lived with her father full-time from a young age amid the actress’s struggles with substance addiction and mental health.

As these battles continued, the actress decided to sign over custody of her daughter to Klitschko who was not living in the same country as Panettiere at the time.

She said: ‘I remember every second of that day. Every f***** second. No mother could forget a single thing about the day she signed her child away.’

Panettiere believes she had enough money to fight a custody battle but feared this would have destroyed her, given she was still in recovery at that point.

She decided not to celebrate the series finale of TV series Nashville, saying: ‘I couldn’t pretend that this chapter of my life was something to memorialise.’

After selling her home in Nashville, Panettiere said she now had ‘no work, no plan for work anytime soon, no boyfriend, and no Kaya to care for’.

Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko with their daughter Kaya, now 11, in July 2016

Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko with their daughter Kaya, now 11, in July 2016

Living without her daughter

Panettiere wrote movingly about the eight years of trying to be a mother having given up custody of her child Kaya, who was just three at the time.

The actress said: ‘Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it.

‘I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.

‘She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me, and, today, I believe I have the opportunity to be a different kind of parent than most.’

Taking full responsibility

Panettiere explained how she takes full responsibility for her shortcomings to her daughter – insisting she does not blame her former partner Klitschko.

The actress also described the Ukrainian former boxer, who competed from 1996 to 2017, as ‘one of the most courageous people I’ve ever met’.

She wrote: ‘She didn’t ask to be born into the limelight or my chaos, and she didn’t get to choose her parents. I want her to have every choice that I didn’t, including the ability to live a private life.

‘So out of respect for her right to normalcy, my stories of motherhood will be through my eyes only, and I’ll keep personal details of her life to a minimum.

‘I also want to make clear that I don’t blame Wlad for any of my wrongs; I take full responsibility for my part in our relationship and my shortcomings as a mom. Wlad is one of the most courageous people I’ve ever met and a true hero in so many ways.’

Panettiere has said she takes full responsibility for her shortcomings to her daughter Kaya

Panettiere has said she takes full responsibility for her shortcomings to her daughter Kaya 

Hopes for the future

Despite her struggles with addiction and depression, Panettiere spoke positively about the latest stage of her personal journey and how experiences had affected her.

She said: ‘Life can shake you up and tear you down, but even when you’re at your worst, there’s hope and you have an opportunity to rebuild.’

Speaking about her ‘years in treatment’, Panettiere also insisted she had ‘concluded that the only thing I can change is myself and the person I want to be’.

She also referred to ‘lifequakes’, which are defined as a big and often-unexpected shift or crisis in life, popularised in author Bruce Feiler’s book Life Is in the Transitions.

And Panettiere said: ‘I’m far from perfect, but my life quakes and moments of struggle are little miracles that have helped me grow.’

‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’ by Hayden Panettiere is available in hardback for £22

Taylor Swift Stuns NYC in Bold Blouse and Sleek High-Cut Skirt

Taylor Swift dazzled with quintessential New York style as she emerged in Midtown Manhattan this past Friday evening, wrapping up a week bustling with events.

Just a day earlier, Bloomberg revealed that she had officially reached billionaire status, amassing an impressive net worth of $1.1 billion.

This financial feat is credited to the phenomenal success of her The Eras Tour, which is anticipated to become the highest-grossing concert tour in history.

Later on Thursday, she re-released her 2014 hit album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), an event that caused Apple Music users to experience widespread technical issues.

Amidst her numerous professional milestones and her budding romance with NFL star Travis Kelce, Taylor appeared to be on cloud nine Friday night as she headed out to dinner with her newly married friends Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley.

Looking fab: Taylor Swift was spotted radiating New York glamour when she surfaced in Midtown Manhattan this Friday night, at the close of a chockablock week

Looking fab: Taylor Swift was spotted radiating New York glamour when she surfaced in Midtown Manhattan this Friday night, at the close of a chockablock week

Mover and shaker: On Thursday a Bloomberg report revealed that she officially attained billionaire status, climbing to a net worth of $1.1 billion

Making it happen: Her coup was largely attributed to the barnstorming success of her The Eras Tour, which is predicted to become the highest-grossing concert run of all time

New release: Then on Thursday night she finally re-released her 2014 hit album 1989 (Taylor's Version) - leaving Apple Music users experiencing widespread disruption

Mover and shaker: On Thursday a Bloomberg report revealed that she officially attained billionaire status, climbing to a net worth of $1.1 billion

Fab: Amid her parade of professional achievements and her blossoming romance with NFL heartthrob Travis Kelce, Taylor looked on top of the world Friday night

Fab: Amid her parade of professional achievements and her blossoming romance with NFL heartthrob Travis Kelce, Taylor looked on top of the world Friday night

She served up a generous helping of cleavage in a plunging, skintight black top that emphasized her enviably toned figure.

The You Belong With Me songbird hoisted on a striped chrome skirt that allowed her to show off her dancer’s legs as she pounded the pavement.

Wrapping herself in a brown leather blazer to protect herself against the dropping nighttime temperatures, she sauntered about on a pair of wine-colored boots.

Taylor swept her signature, silky blonde locks back into a ponytail and sported a charmingly youthful touch of fringe.

She sharpened her unmistakable features with makeup, including a slick of blood-red lipstick that popped under the city lights.

Before heading out for the evening, the Pennsylvania songstress made sure to lend her look a touch of showbiz glitz via jewelry.

Clasping on a pair of gold necklaces that glinted as she hit the street, she caught tye eye with a set of trendily mismatched earrings.

meanwhile Jack and Margaret, whose star-studded Cape Cod wedding over the summer featured Taylor as one of the guests, were the picture of wedded bliss.

What a look: She served up a generous helping of cleavage in a plunging, skintight black top that emphasized her enviably toned figure

Swanking about: The You Belong With Me songbird hoisted on a striped chrome skirt that allowed her to show off her dancer's legs as she pounded the pavement

Use it or lose it: Wrapping herself in a brown leather blazer to protect herself against the dropping nighttime temperatures, she sauntered about on a pair of wine-colored boots

What a look: She served up a generous helping of cleavage in a plunging, skintight black top that emphasized her enviably toned figure

Aglow: Taylor swept her signature, silky blonde locks back into a ponytail and sported a charmingly youthful touch of fringe

Aglow: Taylor swept her signature, silky blonde locks back into a ponytail and sported a charmingly youthful touch of fringe

Assets: She sharpened her unmistakable features with makeup, including a slick of blood-red lipstick that popped under the city lights

All dolled up: Before heading out for the evening, the Pennsylvania songstress made sure to lend her look a touch of showbiz glitz via jewelry

Bringing it together: Clasping on a pair of gold necklaces that glinted as she hit the street, she caught tye eye with a set of trendily mismatched earrings

Assets: She sharpened her unmistakable features with makeup, including a slick of blood-red lipstick that popped under the city lights

By the way: Taylor's latest outing comes amidst the runaway success of her re-release of 1989, the smash hit album named after the year she was born

By the way: Taylor’s latest outing comes amidst the runaway success of her re-release of 1989, the smash hit album named after the year she was born

Putting paid to the chatter: The songstress, who slammed speculation she is bisexual in the record's prologue, released her own version of her fifth studio album

Putting paid to the chatter: The songstress, who slammed speculation she is bisexual in the record’s prologue, released her own version of her fifth studio album

Overjoyed: Taylor ecstatically told fans upon her album re-release: 'Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would sprinkle in my life for so long'

Light out of darkness: Taylor explained: 'This moment is a reflection of the woods we've wandered through and all this love between us still glowing in the darkest dark'

Overjoyed: Taylor ecstatically told fans upon her album re-release: ‘Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would sprinkle in my life for so long’

The happy couple could be spotted stealing a kiss after emerging from a New York City dinner with their most famous pal.

Margaret, whose mother is Four Weddings And A Funeral star Andie MacDowell, opted for a toned-down look for her latest night out.

She draped her slender frame in a loose-fitted sleeveless black dress, hewing to New York convention by teaming the frock with black shoes.

Keeping well prepared in case the night got colder, she accessorized with a sweater, putting one arm into the sleeve and wrapping the other around her neck.

The Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood star wore her signature dark curls in a do reminiscent of the 1930s as she surfaced in the city that never sleeps.

She garnished the look with shimmering earrings and a metallic-embossed handbag, bringing out her movie star complexion with cosmetics.

Meanwhile Jack, a producer who works often with Taylor as well as Lana Del Rey, was wrapped in a thick black leather jacket.

Who's who: Taylor was heading to dinner in the West Village that evening with her newlywed pals Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley

Who’s who: Taylor was heading to dinner in the West Village that evening with her newlywed pals Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley

The look of love: Jack and Margaret, whose star-studded Cape Cod wedding over the summer featured Taylor as one of the guests, were the picture of wedded bliss

The look of love: Jack and Margaret, whose star-studded Cape Cod wedding over the summer featured Taylor as one of the guests, were the picture of wedded bliss

It's in his kiss: The happy couple could be spotted stealing a kiss after emerging from a New York City dinner with their most famous pal

It’s in his kiss: The happy couple could be spotted stealing a kiss after emerging from a New York City dinner with their most famous pal

Hello, gorgeous: Margaret, whose mother is Four Weddings And A Funeral star Andie MacDowell, opted for a toned-down look for her latest night out

Hello, gorgeous: Margaret, whose mother is Four Weddings And A Funeral star Andie MacDowell, opted for a toned-down look for her latest night out

On the move: She draped her slender frame in a loose-fitted sleeveless black dress, hewing to New York convention by teaming the frock with black shoes

On the move: She draped her slender frame in a loose-fitted sleeveless black dress, hewing to New York convention by teaming the frock with black shoes

Warmth: Keeping well prepared in case the night got colder, she accessorized with a sweater, putting one arm into the sleeve and wrapping the other around her neck

Warmth: Keeping well prepared in case the night got colder, she accessorized with a sweater, putting one arm into the sleeve and wrapping the other around her neck

Tucking his dark olive green t-shirt into a baggy pair of black trousers cinched tightly in with a belt, he slung a canvas bag over his shoulder.

Jack and Margaret appeared unable to contain their affection for one another, holding hands as they pounded the pavement through the city. 

Taylor’s latest outing comes amidst the runaway success of her re-release of 1989, the smash hit album named after the year she was born.

The songstress, who slammed speculation she is bisexual in the record’s prologue, released her own version of her fifth studio album, following a spat over the ownership of her back catalogue. 

In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun had purchased Taylor’s original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a $330 million sum – thus owning her music and meaning she hardly profits from her own tracks.

Retro chic: The Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood star wore her signature dark curls in a do reminiscent of the 1930s as she surfaced in the city that never sleeps

Retro chic: The Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood star wore her signature dark curls in a do reminiscent of the 1930s as she surfaced in the city that never sleeps

With her man: She garnished the look with shimmering earrings and a metallic-embossed handbag, bringing out her movie star complexion with cosmetics

With her man: She garnished the look with shimmering earrings and a metallic-embossed handbag, bringing out her movie star complexion with cosmetics

Meanwhile: Jack, a producer who works often with Taylor as well as Lana Del Rey, was wrapped in a thick black leather jacket

Meanwhile: Jack, a producer who works often with Taylor as well as Lana Del Rey, was wrapped in a thick black leather jacket

Ready to go: Tucking his dark olive green t-shirt into a baggy pair of black trousers cinched tightly in with a belt, he slung a canvas bag over his shoulder

Ready to go: Tucking his dark olive green t-shirt into a baggy pair of black trousers cinched tightly in with a belt, he slung a canvas bag over his shoulder

All that sweet affection: Jack and Margaret appeared unable to contain their affection for one another, holding hands as they pounded the pavement through the city

All that sweet affection: Jack and Margaret appeared unable to contain their affection for one another, holding hands as they pounded the pavement through the city

Following her strive to take back ownership of her music, she has now re-recorded and unveiled the new take on the album – leaving users of the popular Apple streaming service experienced issues downloading and streaming the new tracks.

To commemorate the major re-release, Taylor shared a series of promotional snaps of herself on the beach along with a handwritten note addressed to loyal Swifties.

She penned: ‘I was born in 1989, reinvented for the first time in 2014, and a part of me was reclaimed in 2023 with the re-release of this album I love so dearly. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would sprinkle in my life for so long.’ 

The star, continued by reflecting on what the work has meant to she and her fan base since its initial release nearly a decade ago.

Taylor explained: ‘This moment is a reflection of the woods we’ve wandered through and all this love between us still glowing in the darkest dark. I present to you, with gratitude and wild wonder, my version of 1989. It’s been waiting for you. Taylor.’ 

In the accompanying snaps, Taylor wowed as she sported a plain white tank top with blue jeans while walking barefoot with her toes in the sand.

'It's been waiting for you': To commemorate the major re-release, Taylor shared a series of promotional snaps of herself on the beach along with a handwritten note addressed to her loyal Swifties

‘It’s been waiting for you’: To commemorate the major re-release, Taylor shared a series of promotional snaps of herself on the beach along with a handwritten note addressed to her loyal Swifties

'My name is Taylor and I was born in 1989': She continued by reflecting on what the work has meant to she and her loyal fan base since it's initial release nearly a decade ago

‘My name is Taylor and I was born in 1989’: She continued by reflecting on what the work has meant to she and her loyal fan base since it’s initial release nearly a decade ago

Despite the initial technical difficulties, fans could hardly contain their joy as they got their first listen of the album.

Fans admitted they were happy to have a version of 1989 that Taylor will fully benefit from, as the rights to her first six albums were previously purchased ‘without my knowledge’ by Scooter.

After the original purchase, he since sold her masters for a reported $300million to Shamrock Holdings, who sold a minority stake to another private equity firm last year.

Many fans tweeted their live reactions to the album — particularly their thoughts about the lyrics to Taylor’s previously unreleased track Slut!

Sweet: Warren shared, 'So excited that everyone gets to hear this song at last!' And she added it sure is 'nice' that the single is already doing so well

Sweet: In the accompanying snaps, Taylor wowed as she sported a plain white tank top with blue jeans while walking barefoot with her toes in the sand

Bring it all back: In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun (pictured in 2019) had purchased Taylor's original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a $330 million sum - thus taking owning her music

Bring it all back: In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun (pictured in 2019) had purchased Taylor’s original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a $330 million sum – thus taking owning her music 

In the edgy song Taylor sings: ‘If they call me a slut / You know it might be worth it / For once / And if I’m gonna be drunk might as well be drunk in love’

There was some disappointment as many fans hoped Taylor’s ex-boyfriend Harry Styles would be a feature on the hit song Style which she wrote about their passionate romance.

The original 2014 version of 1989 was arguably Taylor’s biggest commercial success as it has sold over 10million copies worldwide and was certified multi-platinum in many countries. 

The latest version features five brand new songs: Slut!, Is It Over Now?,·Now That We Don’t Talk, Say Don’t Go and Suburban Legends.

Ahead of the release, Taylor penned an incredibly vulnerable prologue for 1989 (Taylor’s Version), in which she opens up about her sexuality and dating history. 

Gorgeous: She frolicked happily in the snaps

Gorgeous: She frolicked happily in the snaps 

Yum: She enjoyed an ice cream cone in one of the snaps

Yum: She enjoyed an ice cream cone in one of the snaps

Despite the technical difficulties, fans could hardly contain their joy as they got their first listen of the album from front to back

Despite the technical difficulties, fans could hardly contain their joy as they got their first listen of the album from front to back

Many Swifties tweeted their live reactions to the album ¿ particularly their thoughts about the lyrics to Taylor's previously unreleased track Slut!

Many Swifties tweeted their live reactions to the album — particularly their thoughts about the lyrics to Taylor’s previously unreleased track Slut!

New look? After getting a glimpse of Taylor in the new 1989 promo pics, some fans said they were considering getting a 'bob' like her

New look? After getting a glimpse of Taylor in the new 1989 promo pics, some fans said they were considering getting a ‘bob’ like her

There was some disappointment as many fans hoped Taylor's ex-boyfriend Harry Styles would be a feature on the song Style which she wrote about their passionate romance

There was some disappointment as many fans hoped Taylor’s ex-boyfriend Harry Styles would be a feature on the song Style which she wrote about their passionate romance

After years of remaining silent over conspiracy theories that she had a romantic relationship with her former best friend, Karlie Kloss, the singer alluded to the persistent rumors as she called out the public for sexualizing her female friendships. 

As she looked back at her life at 24, as she prepared to make the leap from a country artist to pop star, the 12-time Grammy winner explained she was desperate to ‘silence’ the voices shaming her for ‘dating like a normal young woman.’

After years of becoming a ‘target of’ relentless ‘slut shaming’ and enduring endless jokes about the ‘amount of boyfriends’ she had, Taylor explained being painted as a ‘boy crazy psychopath’ was ‘really starting to hurt.’ 

‘It became clear to me that for me there was no such thing as casual dating, or even having a male friend who you platonically hang out with,’ she wrote. 

The Cardigan hitmaker continued: ‘If I was seen with him, it was assumed I was sleeping with him. And so, I swore off hanging out with guys…

‘Dating, flirting, or anything that could be weaponized against me by a culture that claimed to believe in liberating women but consistently treated me with the harsh moral codes of the Victorian era.’

As a self-proclaimed ‘consummate optimist,’ she assumed that if she ‘simply changed’ her behavior it would ‘fix’ the narrative. 

‘I swore off dating and decided to focus only on myself, my music, my growth, and my female friendships, she continued. ‘If I only hung out with my female friends, people couldn’t sensationalize or sexualize that right? I would learn later on that people could and people would.’

Taylor appears to be referring to speculation that the pair were romantically involved after a grainy picture emerged on social media that appeared to show them kissing at a 1975 concert in 2014. 

Night out: Seemingly celebrating the latest release, Taylor was seen out in NYC with her pals Alana and Danielle Haim

Night out: Seemingly celebrating the latest release, Taylor was seen out in NYC with her pals Alana and Danielle Haim

Trendy: They were seen leaving Holiday Bar in the West Village

Trendy: They were seen leaving Holiday Bar in the West Village

Jovial: Taylor looked to be in a jovial mood as she hit the town with her pals

Jovial: Taylor looked to be in a jovial mood as she hit the town with her pals 

Style: Swift looked ultra stylish for their bar hangout in knee-high brown leather boots

Glam: She was sporting a trendy autumnal ensemble

Style: Swift looked ultra stylish for their bar hangout in knee-high brown leather boots

Out and about: Taylor locked arms with Alana as they walked behind her security team

Out and about: Taylor locked arms with Alana as they walked behind her security team

At the time, a spokesperson for the performer was quick to nix the rumor to Gossip Cop, branding it ‘hilarious.’

In 2019, the Cats actress explicitly told Vogue the she was ‘not a part of’ LGTBQ+ community, but was passionate about speaking up for the community. 

‘I didn’t realize until recently that I could advocate for a community that I’m not a part of,’ she admitted. ‘It’s hard to know how to do that without being so fearful of making a mistake that you just freeze…

‘Because my mistakes are very loud. When I make a mistake, it echoes through the canyons of the world. It’s clickbait, and it’s a part of my life story, and it’s a part of my career arc.’

The musician also addressed her reason for surrounding herself with friends in her mid-twenties as an attempt to ‘make up for a lack of them in childhood’ not to start a ‘tyrannical hot girl cult.’ 

In the prologue, she also praised listeners and fans for seeing ‘the seeds of allyship and advocating for equality’ in her track, Welcome To New York, in which she sings: ‘Everybody here was someone else before/And you can want who you want/Boys and boys and girls and girls.’ 

Speaking up: On Thursday, Taylor penned an incredibly vulnerable prologue for her upcoming album, 1989 (Taylor's Version), in which she opens up about her sexuality and dating history; seen earlier this month

Speaking up: On Thursday, Taylor penned an incredibly vulnerable prologue for her upcoming album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), in which she opens up about her sexuality and dating history; seen earlier this month

Taylor has previously romantically linked to Harry Styles, Conor Kennedy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lucas Till, Cory Monteith, Joe Jonas, John Mayer, Calvin Harris, Tom Hiddleston Joe Alwyn, Taylor Lautner, and most recently, Travis Kelce. 

Additionally, many believe she dated Kloss, and Glee star Dianna Agron, who said it was ‘wildly untrue’ that they dated during an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year.

In 2014, Taylor tweeted a request that as a ’25th birthday present from the media’ that she would like people to ‘stop accusing’ her of dating all her friends.

Taylor and Kloss’ worlds first collided in 2012 when the Mean singer admitted to Vogue that she ‘love[s]’ Kloss and wanted nothing more than to ‘bake cookies with her!’

Kloss got wind of the compliment and tried to get the ball rolling on a future hangout by tweeting out: ‘Hey @taylorswift13 love the @voguemagazine cover! Your kitchen or mine? :)’

They were first photographed together in November 2013 when the Grammy Award-winner served as the musical entertainment for that year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which Kloss walked in.

Just friends: After years of remaining silent over conspiracy theories that she had a romantic relationship with her former best friend, Karlie Kloss , the singer, 33, alluded to the persistent rumors as she called out the public for sexualizing her female friendships

Just friends: After years of remaining silent over conspiracy theories that she had a romantic relationship with her former best friend, Karlie Kloss , the singer, 33, alluded to the persistent rumors as she called out the public for sexualizing her female friendships

Former BFF: As she looked back at her life at 24, as she prepared to make the leap from a country artist to pop star, the 12-time Grammy winner explained she was desperate to 'silence' the voices shaming her for 'dating like a normal young woman' (seen with Kloss in 2013)

Former BFF: As she looked back at her life at 24, as she prepared to make the leap from a country artist to pop star, the 12-time Grammy winner explained she was desperate to ‘silence’ the voices shaming her for ‘dating like a normal young woman’ (seen with Kloss in 2013)

Reinventing herself: After years of becoming a 'target of' relentless 'slut shaming' and enduring endless jokes about the 'amount of boyfriends' she had, Taylor explained being painted as a 'boy crazy psychopath' was 'really starting to hurt'

Reinventing herself: After years of becoming a ‘target of’ relentless ‘slut shaming’ and enduring endless jokes about the ‘amount of boyfriends’ she had, Taylor explained being painted as a ‘boy crazy psychopath’ was ‘really starting to hurt’

Past love: After years of becoming a 'target of' relentless 'slut shaming' and enduring endless jokes about the 'amount of boyfriends' she had, Taylor explained being painted as a 'boy crazy psychopath' was 'really starting to hurt' (seen with ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas in 2008)

Past love: After years of becoming a ‘target of’ relentless ‘slut shaming’ and enduring endless jokes about the ‘amount of boyfriends’ she had, Taylor explained being painted as a ‘boy crazy psychopath’ was ‘really starting to hurt’ (seen with ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas in 2008)

One of her muses: Taylor and Harry Styles briefly dated in early 2013

One of her muses: Taylor and Harry Styles briefly dated in early 2013

Their friendship continued to grow in 2014 as they embarked on an epic cross-country road trip and enjoyed countless nights out in New York City.

The duo even got ready together for the 2014 Met Gala, which they documented on Instagram.

Taylor revealed to Rolling Stone that Kloss even had her own room in her NYC apartment that was decorated with pictures of the model and included a basket of her favorite Whole Food treats by the bed.

In November 2014, the besties shared an epic runway moment as Taylor performed at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for a second time.

They held hands while making their way down the catwalk and shared several fun moments throughout the televised show.

They went on to take their friendship to a whole new level, Kloss and Taylor teamed up to pose for a joint Vogue cover in February 2015.

Her ex: She and singer Calvin Harris split after 15 months together in 2016

Her ex: She and singer Calvin Harris split after 15 months together in 2016

Her longest relationship: Taylor and Alwyn broke up after six years together in April (pictured in 2020)

Her longest relationship: Taylor and Alwyn broke up after six years together in April (pictured in 2020)

Speaking to the outlet, Taylor revealed that people in her inner-circle predicted that she’d one day be ‘best friends’ with the mother-of-two.

They also marveled at the physical resemblance between the pair.

‘People had been telling us for years we needed to meet,’ said the Pennsylvania native.

‘I remember makeup artists and hair people going, ‘Doesn’t she remind you of Karlie? God, she and Karlie would be best friends. They’re the same.” 

Fans will remember Kloss’ cameo in Taylor’s Bad Blood music video that was released in May 2015.

She starred in the epic production with the rest of Taylor’s now-defunct ‘model squad’ that included of Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Cara Delevingne and Lily Aldridge.

Kloss portrayed the leather-clad boxer ‘Knockout,’ who faces off with Taylor in the ring before being recruited to her villainous crew.

Pals: In 2014, Taylor tweeted a request that as a '25th birthday present from the media' that she would like people to 'stop accusing' her of dating all her friends (like Kloss, pictured above in 2014)

Pals: In 2014, Taylor tweeted a request that as a ’25th birthday present from the media’ that she would like people to ‘stop accusing’ her of dating all her friends (like Kloss, pictured above in 2014) 

Destiny: Taylor revealed that people in her inner-circle predicted that she'd one day be 'best friends' with the mother-of-two

Destiny: Taylor revealed that people in her inner-circle predicted that she’d one day be ‘best friends’ with the mother-of-two

Bad Blood won the coveted Video Of The Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards and the Grammy for Best Music Video in 2016. Karlie and the rest of the gals walked the VMAs red carpet with Taylor.

Karlie has attended all of Taylor’s tours since 2012, including a London stop on the singer’s 1989 tour in the summer of 2015.

Kloss and her ‘ride or die’ continued to flourish in 2016 as they attended Coachella together, spent Fourth Of July at Taylor’s house in Rhode Island and continued to dine out in NYC.

But things seemingly took a turn in 2017 as they were no longer photographed together in public and stopped appearing on each other’s social media accounts.

Kloss did her best to quash the speculation by telling the NYT in March 2018 that she and Taylor are still ‘good friends’ and ‘talk frequently.’

She starred in the epic production with the rest of Taylor's now-defunct 'model squad' that included Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Cara Delevingne and Lily Aldridge; It went on to win a VMA for Video Of the Year

She starred in the epic production with the rest of Taylor’s now-defunct ‘model squad’ that included Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Cara Delevingne and Lily Aldridge; It went on to win a VMA for Video Of the Year

All good: Kloss did her best to quash the speculation by telling the NYT in March 2018 that she and Taylor are still 'good friends' and 'talk frequently'

All good: Kloss did her best to quash the speculation by telling the NYT in March 2018 that she and Taylor are still ‘good friends’ and ‘talk frequently’

Months later, Kloss tried to prove that all is well in the world of ‘Kaylor’ as she snapped a selfie with Taylor backstage at her Reputation Tour concert in Nashville, Tennessee.

Taylor stayed silent on the state of her friendship with Kloss so the model was left to tackle the speculation on her own.

She gushed over Taylor while appearing on WWHL in 2019, telling host Andy Cohen that she ‘[feels] really lucky to call her a friend’ and that Taylor is ‘one of the hardest working women.’

Kloss got engaged to business man Joshua Kushner in 2018 and they held two wedding ceremonies in the summer of 2019 — both of which Taylor failed to attend.

The guest list included the likes of Taylor’s former enemy Katy Perry and Kloss’ manager Scooter.

She tried to clear things up by having her rep reveal that Taylor was invited but that work commitments prevented her from going. 

MIA: Kloss got engaged to business man Joshua Kushner in 2018 and they held two wedding ceremonies in the summer of 2019 ¿ both of which Taylor failed to attend; seen in May 2023

MIA: Kloss got engaged to business man Joshua Kushner in 2018 and they held two wedding ceremonies in the summer of 2019 — both of which Taylor failed to attend; seen in May 2023

On the exchange of the music’s ownership, Taylor reacted the news with a blog post saying that for years she pleaded for a chance to own her work but was only given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, ‘one for every new one I turned in’.

She claimed in the post that she ‘walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future.’

Braun faced furious backlash over a now-deleted Instagram post that bragged about him ‘buying Taylor Swift’ as he claimed he tried to have a mature conversation with her about the purchase of her catalog of past albums.

Taylor’s lawyer denied Borchetta’s claim that she had an opportunity to buy her masters before it was eventually sold to Braun.

The following years Braun sold the catalogue for over $300 million and Taylor accused him of denying her the chance to own her old masters.

The singer also claimed the masters were sold without her knowledge, and she revealed the name of private equity company Shamrock Holdings as the new owners of her work.

Kloss never publicly addressed the intense back-and-forth between Taylor and Braun.

Taylor, whose latest re-record for her album 1989 comes out on Friday, has been  releasing re-recordings of her back catalog since 2021. 

After this week, she will only have her debut album, Taylor Swift, and Reputation left to rerecord.  

Busy bee: Taylor recently wrapped her tour Eras Tour in Arizona across North America (seen in March)

Busy bee: Taylor recently wrapped her tour Eras Tour in Arizona across North America (seen in March)

Gainesville Man Arrested for Assaulting Female Relative Shortly After Prison Release

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Reported by Staff

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Larry James Fayson Jr., 54, found himself back behind bars after an arrest late last night. He is accused of assaulting and choking a female family member, who had sought to reconnect with him following his release from prison on August 5.

At approximately 9:51 p.m. on August 15, officers from the Gainesville Police Department arrived at Pinewood Apartments, located at 4151 NW 43rd Street. The woman involved reported that she had picked up Fayson around 9 p.m. to spend quality time together after his recent release. However, during their drive, tensions flared, culminating in a heated argument. Upon reaching her residence, Fayson allegedly tackled the woman to the ground outside. When she retaliated by throwing her keys at him, Fayson reportedly forced her into the apartment and shut the door behind them.

Once inside, the woman claimed Fayson demanded she sit on the couch while he shouted at her. He allegedly snatched her phone, hurling it against the wall with enough force to break it and leave a visible dent. Fayson then forced her to remove her shoes, warning her that she wasn’t allowed to leave.

The altercation intensified when Fayson removed his shirt, despite her discomfort. When she expressed her unease and requested he put his clothes back on, Fayson accused her of comparing him to another man she claimed tried to take advantage of her. The situation escalated further when he brandished a bottle of alcohol and threatened to kill her if she continued to object.

Fayson allegedly slapped the victim multiple times in the face, causing her lip to bleed, and then slammed her into various objects in the room; a responding officer noted that the room was in disarray, with items scattered across the apartment. Fayson allegedly slammed her head into the wall, and the officer reported that this left plaster dust in the victim’s hair.

When the victim tried to run away, Fayson allegedly grabbed her and choked her until she was unconscious; she woke up face down on the floor, and an officer reported finding multiple blood stains on the floor, consistent with the bleeding on the victim’s lip.

Fayson allegedly forced the victim back onto the couch and continued screaming at her; he eventually walked into the kitchen, and the victim took that opportunity to run out the front door. Officers arrived just before that happened, and they reported hearing screaming and a loud slap just before the door suddenly opened and the victim sprinted out, with Fayson following her. Officers separated Fayson from the victim and detained him.

Post Miranda, Fayson reportedly said the victim picked him up, they both had something to drink, and they started arguing; he said the argument escalated when the victim threw her keys at him. He said she was acting “erratic,” so he held her in a headlock on the couch. He said the victim acted “weird” when he took his shirt off, and when she asked him to put it back on, he became angry because she was treating him like another man who was trying to sleep with her. When an officer asked why he would think she was concerned that he would try to sleep with her, he reportedly said it wasn’t like that and the officers were trying to accuse him of something; after that, he refused to answer any further questions.

Officers took Fayson to an emergency room for medical clearance because he was highly agitated and was reportedly sweating, screaming, and fixated on the victim’s behavior. He reportedly stated multiple times that he would go back to the victim’s apartment as soon as he was released because she “wasn’t acting right.”

Fayson has been charged with domestic battery by strangulation, false imprisonment, and felony property damage. He has two felony convictions (non-violent) and six misdemeanor convictions (three violent); he has served one state prison sentence and was released on August 5, 2026. Judge Gloria Walker ordered him held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial; if the judge denies the motion, bail will be set at that hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Day 14 of Lindsay Clancy Trial: Mother Researched Psychosis, Hallucinations, and Suicide Before Tragedy

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PLYMOUTH, Mass. — In the weeks leading up to the tragic events of January 2023, Lindsay Clancy’s online activity revealed a chilling quest for information on hallucinations, psychosis, and the potential side effects of several medications she had been prescribed. This evidence was brought to light during her murder trial on Thursday in Massachusetts.

Towards the end of December 2022, Clancy delved into searches on suicide methods, bipolar disorder, and insomnia. By January, her focus had shifted to postpartum depression. In addition to her online searches, Clancy left behind a poignant note penned in October 2022. In it, she expressed anxiety over her parenting decisions, such as her choice to cease breastfeeding her 8-month-old and her uncertain plans about having a fourth child.

Clancy’s defense argues that she was suffering from bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis, the latter being a rare and severe condition that can distort a woman’s perception of reality following childbirth. This diagnosis was confirmed by a forensic psychiatrist after the incident.

In her October note, Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, voiced a deep worry about her ability to provide her youngest child with the same level of care and attention she had given her older children, who were aged 3 and 5 at the time.

“I’m terrified of something happening to my kids or doing something wrong to mess up their development,” Clancy confessed in her note. “Our generation is inundated with information about every aspect of parenting. It’s overwhelming. For the last five years, I’ve just filled my mind with all things parenting, and it’s just unhealthy,” the note concluded, capturing her struggles with the relentless pressures of motherhood.

If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255

Daveed Diggs on His Emmy Nomination for “Raise Him Up” in ‘The Boys

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Prime Video’s hit series The Boys has often flown under the radar at the Television Academy, making Daveed Diggs’ recent Emmy nomination for Season 5 particularly noteworthy. Alongside Christopher Lennertz, he has been recognized for creating the captivating song “Raise Him Up,” which has gained traction for its outstanding original music and lyrics.

Known for his Tony Award-winning roles in the Broadway sensation Hamilton, Daveed Diggs joined the ensemble cast of The Boys during its fifth and final season. Diggs brought to life the character Oh Father, a super-powered preacher with a profitable agenda. In this role, he champions the sinister Homelander (played by Antony Starr) as a deity worthy of America’s reverence—primarily motivated by the potential financial gains.

Oh Father’s manipulative schemes crescendo in the gripping episode, “The Frenchman, The Female, And The Man Called Mother’s Milk.” It is here that audiences are treated to the electrifying debut of “Raise Him Up,” a catchy gospel tune delivered in a memorable and grand musical performance.

During a recent visit to DECIDER’s studio, Diggs shared insights into his collaboration with the show’s creator, Eric Kripke. He revealed how Kripke persuaded him to step out of his comfort zone and embrace a musical number—a spectacle highlighted by the unexpected twist of Oh Father meeting his end via “Chekhov’s ball gag.”

Daveed Diggs in Decider HQ

Photo: Brian Zak/NY Post

DECIDER: Congratulations on earning an Emmy nod for crafting a song for The Boys. How did you feel when you learned about the nomination, and what led to your involvement with Christopher Lennertz in writing the song?

DAVEED DIGGS: Yeah, well, first of all I’m really honored to be nominated with Chris and with the whole team. I mean, it took a lot of people to make this song happen and a ton of work and it came out so good. I’m so happy with how it came out and it’s not always those things that get the attention so it was really cool when I heard that we got nominated because I think the song really deserves it.

Um, it came about because, uh… Kripke sort of sheepishly like asked me one day. Like, “Hey, you can say no, but what would you think about doing a big musical number in the seventh episode of this season?” I usually say no to musical numbers. People ask me that a lot. But I had made the choice when I decided to do The Boys, when I said yes to the show — I really loved the writing — so I wanted to just try, I wanted get the whole of The Boys experience. So I had sort of already made the choice for myself that whatever they asked me to do I was going to do it, assuming that would be, you know, exploding heads with a ball gag, all that stuff like that. Like The Boys-type stuff makes sense, but I didn’t expect this curve ball. And so I like did my due diligence and said like, “Give me 24 hours to think about it.” But I already said yes in my head. You know, I wanted to have a good time. And I’m so glad we did it. It was so much fun. 

And what was it like writing the lyrics with Christopher? I mean, how much input did you have and how did it differ from your usual work? 

I was shooting at the time, and he was in LA, so we were just sort of sending ideas around. And the first thing we were working on was kind of more of a rap song, which I was giving more input on. But it was, yeah, I think the first demo got to Kripke, and he immediately was like, “That’s not it, it’s too cool, it was wrong.” And then when Chris took those notes and came back with this version, he sent it to me and I was like, “This is brilliant.” I thought it was so funny. And it was such a hit, you know? It was like such a great song, even the demo version. Then when we got into record, I did hundreds of takes of that thing, ’cause I just wanted to make sure we had all the possible options and throw in as many like fun ad-libs and different vocal choices as we can. Yeah, and they cut together something that I thought was really fantastic 

I love the scene where we see the musical number and you think you’re getting an immersive experience and then you find it’s the rehearsal. What was it like shooting that? Because that just was so dazzling to watch on screen. How’s it compared to your actual experiences on Broadway? 

I mean, it was the most fun I had that whole season and the season was super fun. I thought Sylvain [White] did a great job directing the scene. Also, the musicians in the shot are real musicians and obviously the dancers are all incredible dancers. So in between takes, it was just like a jam session. Like they would just play music and we would all hang out and sing songs and stuff. So it was really a great couple of days. But again, a lot of work. You know, putting up a musical number, we would rehearse that for many weeks for a Broadway show, but we had about a day of dance rehearsal and then two days of shooting. So yeah, really long days, but really, really fun. And the dancers are incredible. And that choir, I mean, I spent more time with them than anybody else on the show, actually, because they were my choir for the whole season. And so like we got we all got really close. And when I go to Toronto, I hang out with them. 

Oh Father (Daveed Diggs) in 'The Boys'

Photo: Prime Video

I don’t know if you’ve seen any of the fan reactions to the musical number because they’re really funny because they can range from like, “This is blasphemous,” to “I want to go to this church.” What did you hope that the the song would inspire in fans of The Boys

I think it does a really good job at fitting in The Boys‘ subversive political satire. What I was hoping, and what I think we accomplished, was that it’s so catchy and so fun that you will find yourself singing it before you were really listening to it. And then when you really listen to it, and you realize there are so many incredible lines in there. “After centuries of religious fraud, say hello to your real God,” is like, ugh, it’s so good. There’s so much funny stuff. “The world’s too dark for a Jew in robes and sandals.” Yeah, there’s so many great jokes in it and all in the spirit of sort of shining a light on how we have started to use religion as just a political tool and just a way to sort of win favor with voters. Yeah, I think it does a really great job of that and it has a lot of fun while doing it. 

I want to ask a little bit more about Oh Father. He was such a big scene stealer this season. Fans really took to him. What was your intention when he took the role, and what did you hope resonated with the fans? 

was just trying not to mess it up, man. I like the show, and I know the fan base is so die hard, and I just wanted to fit in. So I just had a lot of conversations with Kripke about just what — I wanted to really make sure I understood what Oh Father needed to do for the season so that I could craft the performance off of that. Then to trust them to mold it, pull me back if I went too far. But I kept doing things and people never told me to stop doing them, which, like I said, it was just a lot of fun. He’s a trip, man. He’s doing some incredible sort of mental gymnastics in order to be a preacher preaching the word of God and be able to decide, well, it is better if we decide to make Homelander God because it’s better for me financially and what’s better me is better for everybody because I am the emissary of God. So it’s a great little piece of mental gymnastics.

THE BOYS S5 Ep8 MM clamps ball-gag on Oh Father, whose head explodes

You alluded to your death scene, which is one of those iconic grisly Boys death scenes. So good. It’s also, I understand, different from the comics. How was the titanium ball gag introduced to you, and how do you think it all played out? 

You know, I hadn’t watched the finale until we had like a screening of it at an event in LA. So it was the first time I saw it and I was so happy when I saw my head explode like that. It looked so good. The timing of the cut was so good, yeah. I didn’t get to play with that ball gag until right before we shot it. So yeah, there wasn’t a lot of time to mess with it. Because it was different than the one we used in the scene where it was introduced. This had to be a stunt ball gag. We didn’t want to rip all of my teeth out, you know? So, yeah, it was a little softer. I mean, they’re five seasons in. Everybody, like the whole stunt team, are such pros with it. And they managed to make these incredible things look and feel really simple when you’re doing them. So, yeah, but it was the trickiest part was it was that timing. Figuring out the timing of getting it put over my head. We must have done that 50 times, I don’t know, to try to get it right. 

You’re a fan and you know all the different deaths. How do you think it compares to the pantheon of crazy Boys deaths? 

Oh, I don’t know. It’s definitely not the craziest, you know. 

Do you have a favorite one? 

I mean, it’s kind of got to be the end. It’s got to be Homelander. Everyone was so ready for that. That was the crazy thing at the finale event, like the way people cheered when that happened. It was really special.

But I do think it has like it’s a really good set up and pay off. Like a self-contained set up and payoff in the episode to introduce that ball gag. That “Chekhov’s ball gag,” you know? You have to bring it back. That’s good.

Oh Father (Daveed Diggs) in 'The Boys'

Photo: Prime Video

The Boys has been criminally overlooked by the Emmys over the years. I mean, Antony Starr, especially. What does it mean for you and for the production that you’re getting this honor, this nod from the Emmys for the song? 

Yeah, I think it deserved a lot more. I do. I think, it’s been overlooked for writing awards pretty consistently. And I do think that is one of the really special things about the show. Obviously, I mean, the performances are incredible, too. But I think again, as a piece of work that sort of encapsulates all of the things that The Boys does really well, that makes me really happy that was one of the ways that it was recognized because it’s a nice sample. I think, you could show it to somebody and be like, “This is the kind of show The Boys is,” you know, or you could listen to it. I like that.

All five seasons of The Boys are streaming on Prime Video.

This interview has been edited and formatted for clarity.

JJ Exclusive Critiques Mr P’s New Song, Urges Focus on Rudeboy’s Singing Talent

JJ Exclusive, a well-known figure in the music promotion scene, has set tongues wagging with his opinion on Mr P’s recent song release. He suggested that Mr P might achieve greater success by focusing on his dance skills rather than continuing down the singing path.

His comments, widely shared across social media platforms, cast doubt on Mr P’s singing abilities. JJ Exclusive proposed that Rudeboy, Mr P’s former PSquare partner, is perhaps more suited to the vocal responsibilities within their previous group dynamic.

“Leave singing for Rudeboy and stick to dancing. Go and open a dance studio,” JJ Exclusive reportedly said while criticizing Mr P’s new song.

His comments have sparked reactions among fans of the former music duo, with the debate once again drawing attention to the contrasting strengths of the two brothers.

Beyond his criticism of Mr P’s music, JJ Exclusive also weighed in on the long-running issues surrounding the management and financial structure of PSquare.

According to him, Jude Okoye, the older brother of the duo and their former manager, deserves a 40 per cent share for his role in managing the group during its years of success.

The claim adds another dimension to the ongoing conversations surrounding the brothers’ professional relationship, particularly questions about how responsibilities, contributions and earnings were handled during PSquare’s active years.

See post below:

Virginia Salon Owner Faces Backlash After Expelling Jewish Israeli Customer Amid Controversial Video

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Jessica Walton’s visit to Karimi Brows in Alexandria took an unexpected turn when the owner, Fatana Karimi, asked her to leave. Walton, who identifies as Jewish and Israeli-American, recounted the incident, which Karimi later shared a portion of on social media.

During the appointment, Walton and Karimi engaged in a lengthy conversation about Afghanistan. Walton, who recently authored a novel featuring the region, shared stories from her interviews with Afghan locals. They also discussed their mutual appreciation for Afghan poetry and cuisine.

The situation escalated when Walton introduced a character from her novel who is Jewish and half-Israeli, revealing her own Jewish and half-Israeli background.

According to Walton, this is when Karimi told her she needed to leave the salon.

“Get out of my shop.”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t provide service to an Israeli. It’s against my political beliefs. You need to leave immediately.”

Walton says Karimi also told her there was “no such thing as Israel” and described Israel as Palestine stolen by Jews. Karimi’s own video starts later, after the two women were already arguing, so those remarks aren’t on the clip. 

Writer Gary Weiss posted Walton’s account Friday and also pointed to the video Karimi had released from the salon.

In the video, Karimi tells Walton that she had signed a photo-video release. A few seconds later, Karimi says Walton “kept saying Israel” and was “talking about politics.” Walton says she thought they had been talking about Afghanistan.

KARIMI: “You can defend it as much as you want, but this is my business.”

WALTON: “That’s totally fine. But you should give me my deposit back. And if you don’t, I’m going to have to take legal action.”

StopAntisemitism picked up the story and posted video of the encounter, describing it as a Jewish customer being thrown out over her ethnicity. The group also offered to help Walton find legal representation.

Karimi posted her own version on the business’s social media. In it, she accused Walton of “forcing heavy political debates” and said she had repeatedly asked to keep the conversation neutral.

Karimi also uploaded a longer video explaining why she ended the appointment.

In that video, Karimi says she tried several times to get the conversation back to eyebrows. She says Walton kept returning to Afghanistan, including 9/11 and Afghan political figures, before the discussion eventually got to Israel.

Karimi said Walton told her about the two main characters in her novel, a Muslim Afghan refugee and the son of Jewish immigrants. Karimi says she liked the premise, but told Walton:

“Everything sounds beautiful except for the Israeli part.”

Walton later mentioned that she was Israeli-American herself. Karimi said she initially ignored it because some Israelis oppose the Israeli government.

The argument eventually turned to whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Karimi ended the appointment.

She later explained what Walton could have said instead:

“It would be different if you said something like, ‘Yes, there is a genocide. I don’t support what the Israeli government is doing.’ Yeah, I would have slid by.”

Walton could have stayed if she had agreed with Karimi on that point.

Karimi also mentioned she had an Instagram post saying she wouldn’t serve Israel supporters, and there’s a “Free Palestine” sticker in the salon. Walton says she never saw either before she booked.

Karimi’s official site says the business exists to provide personalized eyebrow tattoo services in the D.C. area. The mission statement promises that anyone in the chair will leave with “confidence, hope, and feeling of sisterhood/family.” The site lists men, women, LGBTQ+ customers, and “anyone” as the clientele.

Apparently, “anyone” needed some clarification.


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Virginia law bars discrimination in public accommodations based on religion and national or ethnic origin, among other categories. It applies to businesses offering goods or services to the public. Whether Walton pursues a complaint over what happened at Karimi Brows is a separate question.

Walton said she asked for her deposit back after the appointment ended. Her bank refunded the money after she disputed the charge. She also said she planned to contact civil rights organizations in the D.C. area. 

Karimi’s own explanation was that Walton “would have slid by” if she had agreed there was a genocide and said she did not support the Israeli government.

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