During a court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday, actor Ioan Gruffudd claimed that his ex-wife, Alice Evans, had a substantial amount of money in the bank while she was soliciting funds through a GoFundMe campaign. Evans, known for her public plea for financial assistance, reportedly had $100,000 at her disposal, according to Gruffudd.

The 52-year-old “Fantastic Four” actor presented this information while testifying in a case where Evans is requesting an increase in her monthly spousal support from the current $1,500, whereas Gruffudd is seeking to terminate it entirely.

Following their separation in early 2021, Evans, 57, initiated a GoFundMe campaign, asserting that she was financially destitute and struggling to provide for herself and their two daughters, Ella, now 16, and Elsie, 12.

Gruffudd recounted in court that Evans portrayed herself on social media as a desperate single mother who had depleted all her resources, claiming she had no money for essentials and was without support. However, he noted that she was residing in the family home at the time, with all her expenses covered by him.

Despite Evans’ public claims of financial hardship, Gruffudd stated she had about $100,000 in her account, contradicting her narrative of being out of resources and facing financial ruin.

She was living rent-free and I was paying the mortgage.’ 

Earlier in the trial that started a month ago, Judge Michael Convey slapped Evans with a five-year restraining order over her campaign of harassment and abuse against Gruffudd, and his new wife, Australian actress Bianca Wallace, 33. 

Now, in the second phase of the trial, Gruffudd is asking the judge to cut off spousal support altogether, ‘ based upon Alice’s persistent domestic abuse’ of him and her ‘many violations of a previous restraining order’. 

When Alice Evans was pleading poverty and asking fans to pay into her GoFundMe account, she actually had $100,000 in the bank, her ex-husband, Fantastic Four star Ioan Gruffudd (pictured attending the Los Angeles trial in February) claimed in court Friday

Evans (pictured left close to the Los Angeles courthouse) is seeking an increase in the $1,500 a month her ex pays her, while he is asking a judge to end spousal support altogether

He also claims that he has already ‘overpaid’ Evans by almost $400,000. 

On the witness stand, Evans denied a contention from Gruffudd’s attorney that when she withdrew almost $90,000 from a joint account she had with Gruffudd, she hid the money by paying it to her kids’ nanny so that she could hold the cash for her. 

She admitted that during 2021 and 2022, she paid sums of $10,000, $30,00 and two of $24,000 each to the nanny, totaling $88,000. 

But she told the court that the nanny was suffering from cancer and needed the money for medical treatment, so Alice made payments as advances to the nanny who charged $900 a week for her services. 

When Verano asked if the nanny ‘held on to any of that money for your benefit,’, Evans answered ‘No.’

And when the lawyer asked her ‘Did you use her (the nanny) to conceal funds? she again answered, ’No.’ 

Evans maintained that her age of 57 has ‘negatively impacted’ her ability to get acting jobs and she hasn’t been in a movie or TV series since 2016. 

She also revealed that she suffers from an auto-immune disease that ‘can affect my ability to work…but I haven’t had a flare-up for three years.’ 

Pictured: Alice Evans and Actor Ioan Gruffudd arrive at the UK film premiere of Amazing Grace held at Curzon Mayfair March 19, 2007 in London, England

Pictured: Actor Ioan Gruffudd and actress Alice Evans attend the 12th annual Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on June 8, 2013 in Los Angeles, California

Evans told the court that she relies on ‘gifts from family, friends and fans’ to meet her monthly expenses which include $2,995 rent for her condo and $1,700 for groceries and household items. 

The actress does make money attending fan conventions where she can earn between $4,000 and $12,000 a weekend posing for photographs, signing autographs and mingling with fans. 

Supporters remember her roles in the TV shows Vampire Diaries and Lost and even the 2000 movie 102 Dalmations, in which she co-starred with Gruffudd.

Evans – who is fluent in French and Italian – admitted to Gruffudd’s attorney, Joseph Langlois, that she had not tried to find jobs outside acting, using her language or other skills. 

But she added, ‘If I could earn enough money to support my children, I would be willing to move into a different field.’ 

At the end of the first phase of the trial March 4, Judge Covey agreed to Gruffudd’s request for a five-year renewal of a prior three-year restraining order against Evans. 

The judge’s decision came after they heard how she had bombarded social media sites with denigrating and false posts about her ex and Wallace, who gave birth to their daughter, Mila, last November. 

Amid escalating economic challenges linked to U.S. sanctions and an intensifying fuel crisis, Cuba has released over 2,000 prisoners.

The Cuban Embassy in Washington announced that 2,010 inmates have been granted pardons in accordance with the nation’s constitutional guidelines. These decisions considered factors such as the prisoners’ good behavior, time already served, and health issues.

“This act of compassion and national sovereignty was the result of a thorough evaluation of the nature of the offenses, the individuals’ commendable conduct while incarcerated, and the fact that they had completed a substantial part of their sentences,” stated the embassy in a message shared on X.

In a scene of jubilation, inmates were seen celebrating their newfound freedom as they exited La Lima prison in Havana on April 3, 2026. This move to pardon 2,010 prisoners comes in response to growing U.S. pressure. (Photo courtesy of Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

The individuals released comprise a diverse group, including young people, women, senior citizens, as well as both foreign nationals and Cuban citizens who had been living abroad before their imprisonment.

The government said it excluded prisoners convicted of serious crimes, including murder, sexual assault, violent robbery, drug offenses and corruption of minors, as well as repeat offenders.

The move marks the second prisoner release this year and comes during Holy Week, which Cuban officials described as a customary period for such actions.

The release comes as Cuba grapples with a deepening economic and energy crisis driven in part by a renewed pressure campaign from the Trump administration aimed at cutting off the island’s access to foreign oil. The restrictions have contributed to widespread fuel shortages, blackouts and growing unrest across the country.

WATCH: Cuban power blackout sparks protests as Trump hints at US intervention

President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on any country that sends oil to Cuba and has pressured nations such as Mexico to halt shipments as part of a broader effort to squeeze the island’s energy supply.

The U.S. also allowed a tanker to deliver fuel to Cuba earlier this week after months of severe shortages, with the White House framing the move as a humanitarian exception rather than a shift in policy.

A man embraces a loved one after being released from La Lima prison in Havana on April 3, 2026, as Cuba began freeing more than 2,000 inmates. (Yamil Lage/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has also escalated his rhetoric, recently saying “Cuba’s next” while discussing U.S. actions abroad, though he later sought to downplay the remark.

The deepening crisis has also sparked protests and clashes across the island.

Cuba has been under communist rule since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, and is now led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who succeeded Raúl Castro in 2018.

In a tragic turn of events, at least one individual lost their life and numerous others were injured on Friday during the lead-up to a soccer derby at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima, Peru. The incident occurred just a day before the anticipated match between Alianza Lima and Universitario, according to a statement by Alianza Lima.

The club expressed its condolences and extended solidarity to the victims, with reports indicating that around 60 people were injured during the event, known locally as a “flag-waving event,” at the stadium, which is commonly referred to as Matute.

Alianza Lima pledged to cooperate fully with authorities to shed light on the incident, emphasizing their commitment to “total transparency” in unraveling the cause, which remains unclear at this time.

Both Alianza Lima and a fire department official ruled out any structural issues with the stadium. Fire official Marco Pajuelo informed news outlet Canal N that preliminary assessments showed no structural damage and confirmed that no one had fallen into a pit. “There hasn’t been any debris,” he stated.

“Based on what has been assessed, no structure has been affected,” fire official Marco Pajuelo told news channel Canal N, saying an initial inspection showed no one had fallen into a pit. “There hasn’t been any debris.”

Saturday’s match would proceed as planned, the Peruvian Professional Soccer League said.

“We will continue to work closely with the clubs and authorities to promote safe environments both inside and outside the stadiums,” it added in a statement.

A tragic incident unfolded in Texas when a toddler accidentally shot a two-year-old in the head after discovering an unsecured firearm, authorities reported.

The incident occurred during a family gathering near Houston on Friday afternoon, turning a casual reunion into a scene of chaos and concern.

Law enforcement officers were dispatched to the scene on Onaleigh Drive in the Channelview area, close to Woodforest Boulevard and Dell Dale Street, at around 12:15 p.m., as detailed by Fox 26.

Juan, who preferred not to disclose his last name, shared with ABC13 that the young victim of the shooting was his grandson.

“My wife was in shock, rushing out of our room and screaming for help, unable to articulate anything clearly,” Juan recounted. “She was covered in blood and desperately urged us to call 911,” he added.

Police said approximately seven adults were eating lunch in the living room while the two boys were alone in a bedroom.

Juan said he was sleeping when his wife woke him, demanding he call the police. 

As the family rushed to the bedroom, they saw the four-year-old holding the gun as the two-year-old bled out. According to Click 2 Houston, the boys are not siblings.

Police officers were seen at the scene Friday afternoon as a preliminary invetigation unfolded

Harris County Police responded to a call outside of Houston after a two-year-old was shot in the head

Officials said the two-year-old was alert and speaking before being life-flighted to the hospital. 

He underwent surgery in the intensive care unit and is now recovering in critical but stable condition. He is expected to survive.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez released a statement after the tragic events of the day, encouraging families to secure their firearms

The child’s mother, reported KHOU, was at work at the time of the shooting, but police said at least one parent was present.

Juan told police that the firearm belonged to a family friend, 25-year-old Santiago Daniel Canet. He was among multiple people at the scene who were visiting the home from out of town. 

The traumatized grandfather claimed Canet’s gun had typically been stored on the top shelf of a closet. But investigators said it was unsecured and accessible to small children. 

As a result, Canet was arrested and charged with making a firearm accessible to a minor. He was booked in the Harris County Jail. 

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the family secured the gun when police arrived and everyone cooperated with the investigation. 

Multiple people were said to be visiting the home on Onaleigh Drive in Channelview, police said

Crimes Against Children Investigators were also at the scene. County officials said Child Protective Services may become involved. 

The area around the home was taped off all day as police swarmed the scene, gathering preliminary information for the investigation. 

As of Friday afternoon, Major Ben Katrib stated that the information was still very limited. 

‘All of this information is preliminary, of course and subject to change,’ he told the press.

‘It’s always important to secure the firearm for anyone who is thinking about buying a firearm that does not have one,’ Katrib added. 

‘If you have children or children might visit your home, they are spontaneous, they are curious. So if you do not have enough money to buy a safe or anything to secure the handgun or any firearm, then you should not buy it.’

Police said Santiago Daniel Canet was arrested following the discovery that he was the owner of the firearm. Canet was charged with making a firearm accessible to a minor

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez issued a statement after a second child was shot in a separate incident the same day. 

‘Today is heartbreaking. Two children shot in separate incidents. Safe firearm storage saves lives,’ he wrote. ‘Lock it. Secure it. Keep it out of reach. This is about protecting our kids. We all have a role to play.’

A three-year-old suffered a gunshot wound in Houston on Friday afternoon, reported KHOU. 

Investigators said the shooting was believed to be ‘negligent discharge,’ though it is unclear who may have fired the gun. 

The child was taken to the hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive.  

The Daily Mail contacted the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for more information. 

The University of Illinois men’s basketball team is gearing up for a highly anticipated Final Four showdown against UConn in Indianapolis. Fans are likewise caught up in the excitement as they make their final preparations for the big game.

With just a day to go before tip-off, the Fighting Illini are set to take on the Huskies in the thrilling March Madness tournament. This marks Illinois’ first appearance in the Final Four in over two decades, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the event.

The teams were each allotted about an hour to practice on the court at Lucas Oil Stadium. Accompanying them were spirited performances from the band and cheerleaders, who contributed to the lively atmosphere.

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On Friday, as the team honed their skills, the Fighting Illini Hoops Band was also getting comfortable in their temporary home, preparing to energize the crowd come Saturday night. The practice session felt like a home game, with fans dressed in Orange and Blue filling the stands, eager to soak up the atmosphere.

As the team practiced Friday, the Fighting Illini Hoops Band was settling into their home for Saturday night. During Friday’s practice session, they seemed to be playing for a hometown crowd. Orange and Blue filled the stands to take in the experience.

Hoops band member Paige Wheeler from Wheaton is finishing her senior year with a bang at U of I.

“This experience has been awesome,” Wheeler said. “So much fun, the energy is just amazing.”

Fellow band member Kyle Boone from Oswego plays the saxophone.

“It’s been absolutely surreal,” Boone said. “Doing four years here in the band, being able to just travel, and obviously being at all these amazing games, all the wins, hopefully we can just get two more, that would be awesome.”

Toby Hackett brought his daughters to the practice. They have no tickets for the game on Saturday, but they were soaking it all up Friday.

“We left about 4:30 from Illinois, and with the time change, yeah stood in line about an hour, but it wasn’t too bad,” Hackett said.

It’s well documented that it’s been more than two decades since the Illini have been to a Final Four, but that means many of the current students were not even born yet ,or the very least were still in diapers. So, they’re determined to make the most of this experience.

Illinois cheerleader Layla Kessie is a Schaumburg High School grad.

“It’s such a cool experience,” Kessie said. “It’s so exciting. We’re having such a great time.”

SEE ALSO | March Madness: Illini alums from 2005 Final Four team cheering for Illinois championship