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Two Black cross-country truck drivers filed a federal lawsuit this month alleging they were denied service and harassed at a Denny’s restaurant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Each man is seeking damages of $4 million.

Damon Whitfield and Hector Madera, who live in Pennsylvania, work as a long-haul trucking team and were transporting a load from Seattle back to the East Coast when they stopped at a Pilot Flying J gas station just off the highway on Aug. 13, 2023, their lawsuit says.

Their plan was to rest, shower and grab a bite at the Denny’s located inside the gas station. While Madera showered, Whitfield went into the restaurant to order breakfast for both of them before they resumed their drive.

Damond Whitfield (left) and Hector Madera (right) filed a lawsuit against Denny’s Corporation and its franchisee in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, alleging they were refused service. (Photos: Dakota News Now screenshot, Sioux Falls, SD Denny’s Google.com user review)

He was seated by waitress Anne Fletcher, who gave him menus and took and served his order of orange juice. Over the next 30 minutes, more customers arrived and were waited on by Fletcher, who did not return to his table.

Madera arrived, and after another 15 minutes had passed with no contact, the men decided to flag down their waitress.

Madera said, “Excuse me, we’re ready to place our order,” Whitfield recounted to Dakota News Now. Fletcher, who is white, curtly replied, “I don’t appreciate you yelling at me,” to which Whitfield says he responded, “He just said excuse me. He didn’t yell.”

“Then she goes, ‘I don’t need you people calling me over to this table,’” Whitfield recalled. “He says, ‘Yeah, but I see you serving people that came in after us,’ and then she goes, ‘You know what? I’m not serving you people. You leave now or I’m calling the police,’” Whitfield said.

Then Fletcher snatched the menus out of the men’s hands, as well as the orange juice from the table, spilling some of the juice on Whitfield, he said.

The men observed Fletcher on the phone and assumed she was talking to the police.  They decided not to leave the restaurant “to avoid being accused of absconding from the scene without paying for the orange juice,” the lawsuit, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, says.

Trying to defuse the situation and still hoping to get their breakfast and get back on the road, Madera approached Fletcher and “tried to speak with her about the misunderstanding,” the complaint says.

Fletcher cut him off and allegedly said, “There is no misunderstanding, the police are coming. I want you people to leave.”

Fletcher had called the regional manager, Michael Fletcher, who in turn had called the Sioux Falls Police Department, asking to have the two men removed for causing a disturbance, the lawsuit says.

In a recording of the 911 call released months later, Fletcher said the men were “unruly” and had refused to leave.

At that point, Madera and Whitfield, now aware they were the only Black people in the restaurant, began recording with their phones.

Madera asked another female server if she could help them order food. She said she would and gave them menus. But she soon returned, telling them that Fletcher would like them to leave without causing a scene and disturbing their other patrons.

“What did we do?” Whitfield can be heard asking on the phone in the video recording.

“I have no idea,” the server replied, then said, “To make the situation more calm, because we do have a lot of people here, it would just be nice if you guys could leave.”

Two Sioux Falls police officers then walked up to their table and asked the two men to step outside.

“They were walked out of Denny’s restaurant escorted by the police officers as if they were criminals,” the complaint says. Both felt “humiliated, embarrassed and dehumanized.”

The police officers told them that they were responding to a complaint that two men were reportedly being aggressive with staff and causing a disruption. After speaking with Madera and Whitfield for a few minutes, however, “and learning what actually occurred,” the officers declined to arrest them.

“I’m sorry that happened to you guys,” one of the officers can be heard saying on the recording.

In the days and weeks that followed the incident, the men, stunned by the experience of overt racism, called local and corporate Denny’s representatives to complain, seeking a public apology, they told the managing partner of Richey & Wilson, Rashad Richey, on his syndicated television show, “Indisputable,” in September 2023.

They got no satisfaction, Whitfield said, though after the incident, top executives from Pilot Flying J and Denny’s called him to personally apologize.

On September 4, 2023, Denny’s released a public statement from Roland Sponberg, the president and chief executive officer of WKS Restaurant Group, which owns and operates more than 100 Denny’s locations nationwide, including the one in Sioux Falls.

It said that “Denny’s is committed to a culture of inclusion and excellence for all guests,” and noted that the company had conducted a “thorough third-party investigation into the incident” and that as a result, the franchise owner had fired Fletcher.

The CEO further stated that “Denny’s maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any form of discrimination. We acknowledge there were opportunities to improve the service level in this specific situation. We maintain our commitment to ongoing training and development of all staff. The employees at the location will immediately go through a dedicated training program to ensure the team delivers above and beyond our guests’ expectations. We regret this incident and want to apologize to the guests involved. Clearly, we fell short of our own standards that day and are committed to making it right.”

On the “Indisputable” podcast, Whitfield called the statement “a half apology. More needs to be done,” he said. “We’ve made progress in race relations, but how far have we gotten?” he asked, and further observed, “You can’t train a racist. A racist is a racist. That’s deep-rooted.”

“I feel as though they took a piece from us that day,” Madera said on the podcast. “They took something that we can’t get back. “It’s kind of degrading. They robbed us. They tried to rob us of our humility and dignity and self-worth and respect. … I believe it’s unfair. I want them to be held accountable.”

Their amended lawsuit, filed on July 17 in the U.S. District Court for South Dakota, accuses Denny’s Corporation, its franchisee WKS Restaurant Group, the Pilot Flying J gas station, Anne Fletcher, and Michael Fletcher of “explicit racial discrimination” in violation of federal civil rights law.

The plaintiffs were denied their right to make a contract with Denny’s by purchasing food and denied their right to a public accommodation — to sit in and enjoy the restaurant, as the other white customers were doing —when Anne Fletcher refused to serve them and when Michael Fletcher summoned the police on the false pretext that they were unruly patrons, the lawsuit claims.

The defendants mistreated them while acting with discriminatory intent, in denial of their federally and constitutionally protected rights, causing them public embarrassment and humiliation, severe emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, and injury to dignity, the complaint contends.

They seek a jury trial to determine compensatory, general and special damages of no less than $4 million for each plaintiff, as well as punitive damages in an amount that will punish the defendants’ conduct and to “discourage others from engaging in similar discrimination in the future.”

One of their lead counsel, Erica Wilson, a civil rights attorney at The Fairness Firm in Tucker, Georgia (along with podcaster Richey) said in an Instagram post in 2023 that she is the daughter and granddaughter of truck drivers and knows “the sacrifices these men make daily to be able to provide for their families,” reported Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Wilson also wrote that she was “disheartened” that her clients were “reduced to common criminals for merely wanting to grab breakfast so they could get back to work.”

“It is absolutely ridiculous that we are in 2023 and the video you may have seen felt like it was 1953,” she said.

The defendants have 21 days after being served with the plaintiff’s amended complaint (filed on July 17), or until August 7, to file a response in the U.S. District Court in South Dakota.

‘Don’t Need You People Calling Me Over to This Table’: Denny’s Waitress Refused to Serve Black Truckers Then Had Cops Called on Them; Now They’re Suing the Company for $4 Million 

A white man who punched a young Black boy in the face in a racially motivated attack last summer has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to felony charges, including a hate crime.

Paul Jonathan Bittner, 43, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault of a child and commission of a hate crime, according to The Bellingham Herald, following an assault he committed on June 12, 2024, in Bellingham, Washington.

Authorities say Bittner, who is white, started walking alongside a group of students and teachers from Whatcom Middle School who had just finished a field trip in downtown Bellingham.

Paul Jonathan Bittner makes court appearance (Credit: Tri-City Herald Video Screenshot)

According to court documents, he walked directly in front of an 11-year-old Black student, then suddenly turned around and punched him in the face, chipping the boy’s tooth in the process.

He then allegedly asked the child, “Are you going to talk to a white man like that?” The boy told police that he believed Bittner targeted him because of his race.

After Bittner was taken into custody, he continued making racist remarks, repeatedly used the N-word and made references to assaulting Black people.

He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced.

In August 2024, a judge determined he was not competent to stand trial after he underwent a competency evaluation in which a doctor diagnosed him with bipolar-type schizoaffective disorder.

He was ordered to receive 90 days of inpatient competency restoration treatment at a state psychiatric hospital. He spent more than five months at Western State Hospital.

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Pratt said Bittner showed a “substantially different temperament” during his sentencing hearing than he did initially following his arrest.

A judge sentenced Bittner to 41 months in prison, followed by 18 months in community custody, a form of supervised release in which an offender must adhere to court-ordered conditions.

He is also under a no-contact order with the child for 10 years. Potential restitution is possible in this case.

The boy’s father stated he was pleased with how the case ended.

“I’m feeling good,” the child’s father, DeVante Blow, told The Bellingham Herald following the sentencing. “I’m feeling as if justice was served and the community is safer.”

Blow added that the priority was making sure Bittner’s state of mind was corrected, instead of just tossing him into jail without first addressing his mental and behavioral issues.

“That doesn’t solve the problem, so we need to solve the problem at the core. And I believe we’re headed that way.”

‘You Going to Talk to a White Man Like That?’: White Washington Man Who Punched Black Boy In the Face After Assailing Him with Racial Slurs In Front of Cops, Gets Light Sentence for Hate Crime

A man is now apologizing to his family after Coldplay frontman Chris Martin unknowingly spotlighted him and another woman—who wasn’t his wife—during the band’s recent concert.

The British band was playing the second night of their two tour dates at Gillette Stadium in the Boston suburb of Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 16 when its lead singer, Chris Martin, decided to do a fun kiss cam segment with the audience.

But what was supposed to be purely a moment of amusement has now spiraled into an embarrassing viral nightmare for CEO of data management company Astronomer, Andy Byron, and his “chief people officer” human resources executive Kristin Cabot. 

Coldplay singer Chris Martin calls out couple caught on kiss-cam at his concert. (Photos by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; @instaagrace/Instagram)

In the clips that have now been shared multiple times across various social media platforms, Martin stands in front of a mic with his guitar and suddenly says, “Whoa, look at these two.” 

The camera suddenly pans over to what many presumed to be a couple in the audience looking snuggled up as they enjoyed the show. The man — who the world now knows is Byron — was standing behind Cabot holding her in his arms. They both stood smiling at first with Cabot’s arms resting on top of Byron’s around her waist.

But once they realized they were on camera for the entire stadium to see, they quickly let go of each other, and Cabot covered her face with her hands. She turned away so the only thing people could see was her back. Byron, on the other hand, chose to duck to be completely out of view from the camera lens.

Martin, still on the mic, quipped, “Either they’re having an affair or he’s very shy.”

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A parody account prepared a statement on Byron’s behalf acknowledging the footage, which circulated online.

“What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage,” he continued. “I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family and the team at Astronomer.”

Byron then seemingly addressed Martin, adding, “I respect all artists and entertainers, but I hope we can all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else’s life into a spectacle.”

After seeing footage of Cabot skedaddling behind some of the audience members standing near her, fans shared a few hilarious reactions in Yahoo’s comments.

One person said, “If they’d just played it cool, the moment would have came and went and been forgotten. But their guilt gave it all away….”

NEW: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron apologizes after he was caught cheating on his wife at Coldplay concert, says it's "troubling" that a "private moment became public without my consent." pic.twitter.com/y5flPMoUVz

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 17, 2025

Someone else joked, “That’s going to be awkward HR meeting and who will be losing their job.” A third noted, “Based on this statement, his wife is better off without him.”

A more inquisitive person wondered, “If she’s the Chief People Officer, that means she’s basically head of HR, so does she run the meeting for this workplace misconduct case?”

Unfortunately for those two, it didn’t take long for someone to expose their identities online, which is now spreading like wildfire. 

Not only has Byron been the CEO of the tech company since 2023, but he is also a married man with a family. There’s limited information on his family but people were able to find the Facebook page of his wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron.

However, due to the incident and the overload of comments that followed, she has since deleted her Facebook page, according to reports. She also allegedly dropped Byron’s last name before getting rid of the page. 

Astronomer CEO’s wife drops his last name from her social media profile after his alleged affair with Head of HR was exposed at Coldplay concert. pic.twitter.com/stjF4K1qKr

— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) July 17, 2025

Byron and Kerrigan reportedly share two children together, but there is no public information on how many years they have been married and how old their children are. 

As for Cabot, she has been with the company for just nine months. 

According to the company’s website, Astronomer, “empowers data teams to bring mission-critical software, analytics, & AI to life.”

Several reports allege that Cabot is also married and is the wife of Kenneth Thornby. No word on whether they have kids together or how long they have been married, as they seem to live a private life as well. 

Neither Byron nor Cabot have come forward with statements.

‘His Wife Is Better Off Without Him’: Coldplay Concert Cheating Scandal Gets Wilder After Fake Apology Surfaces for Married CEO Caught with Coworker

Tensions are starting to flare after President Donald Trump’s Justice Department recommended just one day in prison for a Louisville police officer involved in the botched raid that killed Breonna Taylor.

The officer, Brett Hankison, was convicted last year of violating Taylor’s civil rights when he fired his gun blindly into her apartment during a no-knock police raid in March of 2020.

Police were searching for the 26-year-old’s ex-boyfriend, who was not there, but her partner at the time, Kenneth Walker III, was. He thought unknown assailants were breaking in and opened fire as three officers breached the door, wounding one in the thigh. Those officers returned the gunshot. Taylor was killed in the assault.

Former Louisville officer Brett Hankison was involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor. (Photos: Getty Images, Facebook/Breonna Taylor)

Hankison, who fired 10 rounds, was accused of firing wildly through a patio door and a window, according to CNN. Prosecutors said Hankison’s bullets struck a neighbor’s apartment where a child, a pregnant woman and a man were home. None of the rounds hit Taylor or anyone else.

The DOJ, seemingly critical of Hankison’s prosecution under the Biden administration, requested in a memo sent to prosecutors that Hankison serve just one day in prison.

A pre-sentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office recommended a prison term between 11 and 14 years, USA Today reported, citing court documents.

The Justice Department sentencing memo said that the range was incorrectly calculated and “excessive,” recommending that the court “grant a significant downward departure” of one day in prison, which is essentially time served because of the day Hankison was booked and made his first court appearance.

In a court filing Wednesday, Justice Department officials said they were “unaware of another prosecution in which a police officer has been charged with depriving the rights of another person under the Fourth Amendment for returning fire and not injuring anyone.”

“The government respects the jury’s verdict, which will almost certainly ensure that Hankison never serves as a law enforcement officer again and will also likely ensure that he never legally possesses a firearm again,” the filing stated. “But adding on top of those consequences a sentence within the lengthy guidelines range — even when properly calculated — would, in the government’s view, simply be unjust under these circumstances.”

The memo went on to say that Biden’s DOJ should not have even prosecuted Hankison on civil rights violations at all.

It noted that Hankison was acquitted in a state trial and that it took two federal trials to convict him on one count of violating Taylor’s civil rights. The first federal case ended in a mistrial.

“In this case, two federal trials were ultimately necessary to obtain a unanimous verdict of guilt,” prosecutors wrote. “But even then, the jury convicted on only one count, despite the fact that the elements of the charge and underlying conduct are essentially the same.”

Prosecutors continued, adding that “the jury’s verdict will almost certainly ensure that Defendant Hankison never serves as a law enforcement officer again and will also likely ensure that he never legally possesses a firearm again.”

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents Taylor’s family, issued a statement in response to the DOJ’s decision.

This recommendation is an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jury’s decision. Every American who believes in equal justice under the law should be outraged. It is unfathomable that, after finally securing a conviction, the Department of Justice would seek a sentence so drastically below the federal guidelines.

This sets a dangerous precedent. When a police officer is found guilty of violating someone’s constitutional rights, there must be real accountability and justice. Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.

The family asked for one thing: that Brett Hankison be sentenced in accordance with the law and federal guidelines. Instead, Tamika Palmer is left, once again, heartbroken and angry. Still, she is holding out hope and praying that the judge will do what the DOJ has refused to do –– uphold the law, respect the jury’s verdict, and deliver true justice for Breonna Taylor.

“Talk about a HUGE slap in the face to her poor family!,” Gloria DeGeorge wrote on X.

This is OUTRAGEOUS SHIT. And some people still say this Trump Administration is not racist…Think again. Racism in plain sight.
DOJ seeks one-day sentence for officer in raid that killed Breonna Taylor https://t.co/9qUxT8b3sd

— Tom Hodson (@thodson) July 17, 2025

“Why this matters: Hankison’s actions were reckless and dangerous: – He fired without a clear target into an occupied building. – His bullets put innocent neighbors at serious risk. That’s the heart of the civil rights case: he violated their right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement,” kyblueblood wrote in a post on X.

Taylor’s killing at the hands of police was one of several cases that sparked nationwide outrage and led to massive protests in cities across the country in 2020.

Hankison, who was fired from the Louisville Police Department in June 2020, is scheduled for sentencing on July 21, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

‘Blatant Betrayal of the Jury’s Decision’: Breonna Taylor’s Mother ‘Heartbroken and Angry’ After Trump’s DOJ Pushes for Just One Day In Prison for Kentucky Cop Convicted In Deadly Raid

Cellphone video posted to social media shows the moments a Burger King employee admitted to using racial slurs while on his headset with other employees, leading to a heated confrontation between him and two customers.

The footage caught the moments the worker at a Burger King in Crystal River, Florida, confessed to using the N-word, then repeatedly saying the slur.

Two women are seen confronting him and asking why he would use the language, and he responds that his co-worker encouraged him to say the slur.

A woman confronts a Burger King employee over using the N-word. (Photo: ABS Instagram video)

A TikTok user who posted the video to the platform alleged that her 17-year-old daughter, who worked at the restaurant, heard the employee and her manager call her the N-word over the headset.

“Customers overheard and stepped in to defend her, but the racist abuse continued,” the video caption reads. “When her grandmother arrived to confront the situation, they FIRED my daughter — the victim, not the abusers.”

The girl’s family also called local deputies to the scene to report the harassment, but said they took no action.

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Another video, captured some time after the incident, shows the teen worker inside the Burger King speaking with her shift manager, who tells her that she’s been fired and doesn’t need to come back to work.

“You don’t have to come in for your next shift,” the manager says.

An adult who accompanied her to the restaurant then confronts the young man and asks him why she’s been let go.

Atlanta Black Star reached out to Burger King to inquire whether the company was aware of the incident.

In a statement, a company representative confirmed that the franchisee fired the individuals involved in the incident:

“We were deeply disturbed to learn of this incident. There is absolutely no place for racism or discrimination of any kind at Burger King. The Franchisee has terminated the individuals involved and is taking the matter very seriously – including reviewing diversity and sensitivity training across their teams and reaching out directly to those impacted.”

‘You Don’t Have to Come In for Your Next Shift’: Black Teen Fired from Florida Burger King After Exposing Coworker’s Racist Slur on Video Gets the Last Laugh

A Black woman who was fired from her job at a property management agency is suing her former employer for allegedly facilitating a racially hostile environment in which white employees casually used racial slurs and forced her to speak to minority tenants so they wouldn’t have to.

Stefanie Eubanks began working against Prism Real Estate Services in Kansas in 2024 as an assistant property manager, according to The Kansas City Star.

Property management company under fire after racist accusations surface in lawsuit. (Credit: Stock photo/Pexels)

She worked there for less than a year, and her suit alleges that she was hired so that one white female employee wouldn’t have to speak to “Black,” “minority,” or “migrant” tenants.

The suit states that her former colleague was reportedly “open about not wanting to speak” to those tenants.

The complaint also recounts how one white employee in his 60s allegedly referred to Black and migrant tenants as “monkeys” daily and even told Eubanks his grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and “hated African American people.”

Court documents say that the employee would use “a litany” of racist and ethnic slurs to refer to tenants in the building, and refused to speak with Eubanks or follow any of her instructions.

Eubanks reported the man’s behavior multiple times, but the company did nothing to address it.

On another occasion, one employee told Eubanks how her son kept getting in trouble at school for using the N-word, then repeatedly used the slur in front of Eubanks, prompting Eubanks to leave the conversation, according to the suit.

Eubanks took a leave of absence around September 2024 after becoming “incredibly anxious” in her workplace due to the racist remarks.

About a month later, she tried to return, but the company said she needed a doctor’s note that cleared her for work. The suit states she “made several attempts” to get her doctor to fill out the required forms, and also communicated the issues she encountered at her workplace.

Prism fired Eubanks on October 17, 2024. The lawsuit does not mention why, but states that during her employment, she received “good reviews for her work and performance.”

In response to the complaint, the company stated, “While we are unable to comment on the specific details of pending legal matters; the unproven and unsubstantiated allegations made in this lawsuit by one former employee are wholly inconsistent with our company’s values, policies, and standards of conduct expected from all Prism team members. Prism will continue to provide a workplace environment where all employees feel safe, valued, and empowered, and we look forward to a positive resolution of this matter in a court of law.”

Prism Real Estate Services was founded in 2012 and manages a large number of multi-family and office complexes in Kansas and Missouri around the Kansas City area.

Google reviews going back to 2024 show nothing but one-star reviews from tenants and people who filed lease applications, citing poor communication and performance.

“This company couldn’t be more of a joke to rent from they don’t care about their residents anymore than they care about their employees save your money and your sanity,” one review read.

“Claims I owed them money which I have receipts of paying and when I called to figure out why they claimed the “lady” who handles that stuff wasn’t in, so I said ok I’ll call tomorrow. I literally called everyday, multiple times a day for about a week or 2 excluding weekends and got no answer. Now they are affecting my credit score almost a year later. Don’t do business with these crooks!” another person wrote.

“DO NOT I repeat DO NOT rent from this crooked place. Their show unit had roaches but I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt and I was in a bit of a bind needing to get into the school district before school started,” another review reads. “After putting down a $300 deposit I waited for almost a month to find out if I had been approved. No one would call me back, answer my emails or my phone calls. I finally emailed and canceled my application on August 3rd to which I of course received a prompt response. They cancelled my app and advised that my deposit would be returned within 30 days, which is required by law. It has now been almost 60 days and not only have they not returned my deposit, but they will not answer emails or phone calls. Their corporate office will not either. As a property manager myself I am very familiar with the process and the laws and what they are doing is illegal.”

‘Don’t Do Business with These Crooks!’: White Property Management Staff Bragged About KKK Lineage and Called Black Kansas Tenants ‘Monkeys,’ Lawsuit Claims

President Donald Trump wants everyone to believe he’s the smartest man in Washington.

On Wednesday, he challenged two sitting members of Congress to take IQ tests, boasting that he’d come out on top—but the remarks quickly backfired when Texas Democrat Jasmine Crockett clapped back on Trump’s questionable academic record.

While preparing to depart the White House for an AI summit in Pittsburgh, Trump told reporters Tuesday that he wants to administer IQ tests to Crockett, 44,  and New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35—who are both Trump’s most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and U.S. President Donald Trump (Photos: Getty Images)

“AOC, look, I think she’s very nice. But she’s very low-IQ, and we really don’t need low-IQ,” Trump said. “Between her and Crockett, we’re going to give them both an IQ test to see who comes out best.”

Despite his bluster, the 79-year-old commander in chief has no power to mandate IQ tests for sitting members of Congress, and the presidency does not hold power over elected lawmakers from a coequal branch of government. As president, Trump couldn’t order Ocasio-Cortez or Crockett to take an IQ test any more than they could order him to tell the truth.

Still, the hypothetical that Trump might be smarter than, well, anybody lingered like a punchline.

“Now, I took my test. I took a real test at Walter Reed Medical Center, and I aced it,” Trump continued. “I got every one of all those questions right. Now it’s time for them to take a test,” Trump added, referring to the cognitive screening he took in April.

That test, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is commonly used to flag early signs of dementia—not to measure intelligence. It includes tasks like drawing a clock or distinguishing a camel from a lion, not logic and reasoning skills typical of a real IQ test.

Despite repeatedly boasting that his IQ is “one of the highest,” Trump has never released his official scores. His former attorney, Michael Cohen, testified in 2019 that Trump once ordered him to threaten his alma maters—including Fordham University and the University of Pennsylvania—if they disclosed his grades or SAT scores.

“I’m talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores,” Cohen told Congress, submitting copies of letters he wrote on Trump’s behalf.

Even Trump’s late sister, retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, reportedly told relatives that he had someone else take the SAT for him—a claim that surfaced in niece Mary Trump’s 2020 book “Too Much and Never Enough.”

Despite his efforts to hide his own academic record, Trump has frequently hurled “low-IQ” as an insult at political rivals, but especially toward women of color. Back in March, he called Crockett “a lowlife” and “a very low-IQ person.”

This time, Crockett didn’t let the disrespect slide. Appearing on CNN’s Laura Coates Live, she dismantled Trump in a stinging rebuke.

“Um, it is absolutely ridiculous that I live rent-free in his mind in a time in which the American people are suffering,” Crockett said. “He absolutely consistently buys into this idea or continues to put it out there that women of color somehow are low IQ. Let me be clear. I have a lot more education than he does. This is just what it is degree wise. I have earned my degrees. My daddy didn’t have to make a phone call to get me into anything because that wasn’t a possibility. Okay, so we can stop playing games as if I am somehow lesser than.”

Crockett holds a law degree and is a licensed attorney. Ocasio-Cortez graduated cum laude from Boston University with dual degrees in economics and international relations.

Social media users quickly came to the congresswomen’s defense, slamming Trump for questioning their intelligence.

“AOC graduated cum laude with dual-degrees in economics and international relations,” one commenter posted on X in response to video footage of Trump shared by journalist Aaron Rupar. “Crockett has a law degree and passed the bar. Calling them low IQ is laughable.”

Another user dared Trump to go head-to-head in an IQ contest. “Please please please have both AOC and Donald Trump take the same IQ test, and please please please release the results. I will make a bet with anyone that AOC scores higher.”

Trump’s own academic records remain sealed and have yet to surface, even as his legislative agenda wages an aggressive “war on academia.” In Trump’s second term, that battle has zeroed in on Ivy League institutions—including the University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. 

In March, the Trump administration moved to suspend $175 million in federal funding to Penn, citing the school’s policy of allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. But the targeting of Ivy League schools reflects a broader conservative backlash against higher education, fueled by complaints over diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, rising tuition costs, and the perceived liberal tilt of college faculty.

‘My Daddy Didn’t Have to Make a Phone Call’: Trump Challenges Crockett and AOC to IQ Test, Gets Brutal Reality Check About His Own Academic Record

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt stepped back into the spotlight with a stunning red carpet appearance that left fans completely mesmerized and social media buzzing with admiration.

The 46-year-old entertainer, who has largely stayed away from high-profile events in recent years, made a rare and unforgettable entrance at the July 14 premiere of the highly anticipated “I Know What You Did Last Summer” reboot in downtown Los Angeles.

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s shocking appearance on the red carpet leaves fans stunned. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)

Hewitt commanded attention in a figure-hugging black beaded dress that perfectly showcased her curves, paired with glittering black heels and statement rings adorning nearly every finger.

Her striking transformation was complete with a gorgeous new hairstyle and copper hair color, creating a sun-kissed look that her hairstylist Nikki Lee dubbed “Sunset Lover,” according to Glamour.

The actress kept her makeup tastefully dramatic with a smoky eye and a glossy pink lip, radiating confidence as she posed alongside her co-stars, including Freddie Prinze Jr., Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, and Jonah Hauer-King.

When footage from the premiere was posted on the Hollywood Reporter, fans couldn’t contain their excitement over Hewitt’s radiant appearance.

“Holy wow,” one mesmerized follower commented, while another enthusiastically declared, “Body is TEAAAAAAAA.”

A third said, “She’s always had beautiful curves.” A fourth person noted, “She used to be super skinny. But didn’t we all in our younger age?”

The overwhelming response highlighted just how stunning the actress looked as she celebrated her return to the franchise that helped cement her status as a ’90s icon.

Jennifer Love Hewitt in 2025 vs. 2010 vs. 1997 (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; John Shearer/WireImage)

This premiere marks Hewitt’s return to the horror series that launched her into stardom nearly three decades ago.

In the original 1997 film, she played Julie James, a teenager terrorized by a mysterious killer after trying to cover up a deadly car accident. Now, the new installment, hitting theaters July 18, takes place nearly 30 years after those original crimes, with Hewitt and Prinze Jr. reprising their iconic roles to help a new generation of victims facing a similar threat.

The actress has been refreshingly candid about her relationship with aging in Hollywood, particularly addressing how fans sometimes struggle to accept her natural evolution.

Last year, she opened up about the challenges of growing older in the public eye, explaining how people often become attached to a specific version of a celebrity and resist seeing them change, USA Today reports. Despite this, Hewitt has embraced authenticity, recently sharing makeup-free selfies on Instagram and celebrating her 46th birthday with a bare-faced photo that showed her commitment to self-acceptance.

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The positive fan reaction to her premiere appearance reflects a growing appreciation for her confidence and natural beauty.

“I seriously love her body. She looks stunning and healthy,” one admirer wrote, capturing the sentiment of many who were thrilled to see the actress looking so radiant.

Another fan gushed, “She’s been gorgeous her entire life!!!!!” highlighting the enduring appeal that has made Hewitt a beloved figure across multiple generations.

The overwhelming support continued with fans praising her for embracing her natural curves and authentic self.

“Beautiful. finally someone who is not afraid to show the real person she is with curves and healthy what all woman should be proud of,” one supporter commented, emphasizing how Hewitt’s confidence serves as inspiration for women everywhere.

“What are you waiting for?!” – Jennifer Love Hewitt as Julie James in ‘I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER’ (1997 | 2025). pic.twitter.com/vK0CHFzCCe

— ໊ (@britneyvinyl) July 9, 2025

Throughout her career, Hewitt has been consistently celebrated as one of Hollywood’s most beautiful stars, gracing Maxim’s “Hot 100” lists.

Standing at 5 feet 2, she carved out lasting success despite industry preferences for taller leading ladies, proving her talent and appeal through memorable roles in “Party of Five,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” franchise.

Her triumphant return to the red carpet demonstrates that true star power transcends age, with Hewitt proving that confidence, authenticity, and embracing one’s natural evolution can be the most attractive qualities of all. As fans eagerly await the new film’s release, it’s clear that Jennifer Love Hewitt continues to captivate audiences just as powerfully as she did in her breakthrough years.

‘She Used to be Super Skinny’: Jennifer Love Hewitt Shocks Fans with Unrecognizable Appearance Amid Her Noticeable Weight Gain

A Black Florida homeowner was sued by her homeowners’ association and ended up being jailed for a week as a result of a dispute that started over a patch of brown grass in her yard.

Irena Green said the dispute between her and the homeowner’s association that oversees her Tampa subdivision reached extreme heights when the HOA took her to civil court after issuing her notices about the state of her lawn.

It all began with a few violation notices from the HOA organization, The Trowbridge Company, Inc., about a patch of brown grass in Green’s yard.

Irena Green is outraged after she received several HOA violations. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/ABC Action News)

Green attributed the condition of the grass to a drought that prompted mandatory countywide watering restrictions in Hillsborough County. But she said her yard isn’t the only one in the neighborhood that doesn’t meet the HOA’s standards.

“If you drive around my neighborhood, you’ll see there’s plenty of yards not up to par,” Green told WFTS.

Then, Green was cited for mildew on her mailbox, followed by another notice about a dent in her garage. After that, she was issued a warning about having a commercial cargo van, despite the fact that some of her neighbors also own similar vehicles.

Ultimately, Trowbridge decided to sue Green in Hillsborough County Civil Court after she failed to respond to a request for mediation. The HOA’s complaint accuses Green of breaking community appearance rules and demanding that she correct the violations.

Green filed a handwritten response to the lawsuit that was rejected by the HOA and the judge, and she was issued an ultimatum to fix the issues or risk jail time.

“My grass had to be brung up to par. He said you can get seed, you can do something, but you’ve got 30 days to get it corrected. So I said fine. He said if it’s not done in 30 days, you’re gonna go to jail,” Green said. “I sold my van to comply. My mailbox was cleaned to comply. I bought seeds and watered my grass to comply.”

Green complied with the order, but things took a turn for the worse when she missed her next court date.

But she says she never received a notice about her next court appearance.

“I was supposed to receive documentation. Nothing was sent to my home. And I reached out to the courthouse several times to try to find out when was my court date,” Green said.

She was held in contempt of court last August.

Nine months later, she was pulled over by a cop after picking up her teen daughter from cheerleading practice.

The cop notified her that she had a warrant for her arrest and transported her to a local jail, where she stayed for days after receiving no bail.

“There was no bond. So I couldn’t even go home to my family. I sat in there for seven days. Seven days in the jailhouse like a criminal,” Green said.

She continued: “It makes me feel horrible. I work hard to buy this home for me and my kids in a better neighborhood and environment and to be taken to jail and to be treated like that for brown grass at my own home … that’s horrible.”

After six days in jail, Green’s sister-in-law filed a petition for an emergency hearing.

“I went to court, and I had to be shackled from my hands to my feet,” Green said.

Green said it was a different judge who oversaw her hearing than the one who signed the arrest warrant. An attorney for the HOA also appeared at the hearing and opposed Green’s release, but a judge cleared the way for her to be freed from jail.

“He says ‘well, it hasn’t been resodded. The whole yard needs to be re-sodded. And she’s like not from those pictures I see. She’s like ‘No. I want her released immediately,’” Green said. “He wanted me to continue to sit in jail and not come home to my family.”

In a statement to WFTS about Green’s arrest, the HOA board of directors, who oversee Green’s subdivision, said the legal process was initiated after Green disregarded notices of violation:

Ms. Green received notices of violations. She disregarded them. Legal action was filed by the Association after she failed to accept the offer to mediate the matter, pre-suit, as is required before a lawsuit can be filed. See Fla. Stat. §720.311.

After suit was filed and final judgment was entered against her, Ms. Green showed up for the court hearing on July 11, 2024. Please see attached judgment and sentence. At the July 11 hearing, with Ms. Green present, another court date was set by the judge for August 19, 2024. She was instructed to comply with the requirements of the final judgment by August 19 and to report to the judge what was accomplished on August 19. Ms. Green failed to show up in court on August 19. Her failure to abide by the Court’s instruction led to the arrest warrant being issued. This is all explained in the attached judgment. These steps were taken by the Court due to Ms. Green’s failure to comply with the Court’s instructions. This is all public record.

The board recently hired a new management company that started last month.

“I definitely wish I would have hired a lawyer,” Green said. “I think they have way too much power. I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life.”

Green’s story grew massive reactions from viewers with thousands of comments on ABC Action News’ YouTube page.

“They’re harassing her. They don’t want her in the neighborhood,” wrote one viewer.

Another comment that received over one thousand likes noted, “They are trying to steal her house. The HOA needs to be abolished.”

‘They Have Way Too Much Power’: Black Florida Homeowner Spends Week In Jail Over Patch of Brown Grass Despite Evidence Showing Others In Violation, HOA Faces Backlash

Comedian Kevin Hart, 46, has reeled back on being so open about not being faithful in his marriage to his first wife Torrei Hart (née Skipper), 47.

The former pair married in 2003 before separating in 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. The parents of a daughter, Heaven (born March 2005), and a son, Hendrix (born November 2007), finalized the divorce in 2011.

Torrei Hart requested that her ex-husband, Kevin Hart, leave her out of his comedy specials. (Photo: Marcus Ingram/Getty Images; Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Two years later, Kevin, who turned his infidelity into jokes, filmed his “Let Me Explain” comedy special at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The 2013 stand-up helped him as a comic reach mainstream success.

“Lying will ruin your goddamn life. Lying ruined my marriage. … That’s a lie. I cheated,” Kevin told the MSG crowd. The Philadelphia native went on to say that he did not regret stepping out on his wife.

Kevin admitted, “You can’t evolve as a man if you never make mistakes. The only way you can be perfect is to f–k up. I get it, I f–ked up… Do I think cheating was the problem? No, I don’t. Cheating was not the problem. Lying about cheating was the problem.”

A clip of the “Let Me Explain” cheating bit was uploaded to YouTube. The video’s comment section was filled with varied reactions to Kevin’s comedic retelling of his adulterous ways.

“Yeah, this guy has no remorse,” wrote one person. A second person posted, “Naaaaw, Kevin. We [are] not cosigning this. I know it’s comedy but just naw, BRUH.”

One commenter suggested Kevin abandoned his moral values by posting, “Not funny at the expense of his wife. Puts it in his act. Now he’s everywhere, sold his soul.” 

“I don’t get why people find cheating humor funny. One of the worst things you can do to someone. It’s messed up,” yet another online critic wrote.

Kevin also scored praise. For instance, a supporter commented, “One of his greatest shows.” Additionally, a fan of the “Ride Along” actor declared, “There is no one funnier than Kevin Hart.”

Throughout his career, Kevin has regularly used stories and moments from his personal life as topics for his comedy routines. Torrei, who also happens to be a comdian and played a heavy role in the early parts of his career, eventually asked her ex-husband to leave her out of his jokes.

“I was like ‘Kev, the last Netflix special… before I was getting paid off them jokes.’ I’m like ‘None of that money’s coming to me anymore,’ So, yes, stop putting me in the jokes, because I just don’t like it anymore,” Torrei revealed in a 2022 interview on “The Culture Club.” 

She continued, “That’s when he started realizing, like, ‘Oh yeah. OK. You’re right.‘ So that’s when a turning point happened for us, and when I got out of the material more, [our relationship] became better.”

Kevin and Torrei’s daughter, Heaven, has also shared her desire for her father not to talk about her at his shows. The now-20-year-old college student expressed that she wasn’t fond of it during a “60 Minutes” segment with her dad in 2024.

“Some of [the jokes] definitely suck. Why is he blowing my business out there? He’s a little sneaky guy,” Heaven told journalist Anderson Cooper as Kevin stood beside her for the interview.

“Why is he blowing my business out there?” says Kevin Hart’s daughter, Heaven. He’s promised to not talk about his daughter in his stand-up routines. https://t.co/SBOZM5T0CB pic.twitter.com/dwlKFyZcYE

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 24, 2024

Kevin admitted Heaven became “more vocal” about him making her the butt of his jokes for millions of people’s enjoyment. He decided to respect his oldest child’s request.

“As your kid grows older, you have to be a little more conscious of what you’re doing based off of what they feel and what they like and what they don’t, and I made a promise to her, so I haven’t talked about her since,” Kevin said to Cooper.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient also stated, “She gave me a hard threat.” Heaven interjected, “I did. I threatened him.” Kevin then responded, “So I stood on it. I appreciated it.”

In addition to being the father of Heaven and her brother Hendrix, Kevin has two children with his present wife, Eniko Hart (née Parrish). The pair married in 2016 after being engaged for two years.

Kevin and Eniko’s first child, a son named Kenzo, arrived in November 2017. Their daughter Kaori was born in September 2020. Like with his first marriage, Kevin also cheated on Eniko. They were able to reconcile following the public scandal.

‘This Guy Has No Remorse’: Kevin Hart’s Jokes About Ruining His First Marriage By Cheating on Ex-Wife Torrei Keep Coming Back to Haunt Him

Kim Kardashian has built an empire on carefully curated moments, but sometimes the most unguarded ones follow her for years.

More than a decade after a seemingly innocent moment outside a Paris hotel sparked endless speculation, the reality star and business mogul is still setting the record straight about what really happened that day in 2014 when she appeared to leave her then-toddler daughter, North West, behind.

Kim Kardashian changed her story about why she left daughter North West at a Paris hotel, and fans aren’t buying her new explanation. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

The incident that refused to fade from public memory occurred during Paris Fashion Week in October 2014, when paparazzi cameras captured Kim exiting the luxurious Le Royal Monceau hotel wearing a form-fitting powder pink distressed two-piece set with a gray coat draped over her shoulders.

The footage shows her walking toward a waiting vehicle, checking inside, speaking with someone in her entourage, then suddenly turning around to rush back into the hotel.

Moments later, she emerged again, this time carrying 1-year-old North on her hip.

The optics were problematic, and the internet was swift with its judgment. Critics immediately accused Kim of being so focused on her photo opportunity that she had genuinely forgotten her baby inside. The narrative that she was a neglectful mother prioritizing her image over her child’s safety took hold quickly and stubbornly.

Kim initially pushed back against the accusations with a series of defensive tweets that October.

“I went to the car to make sure the car seat was in because the day before we had a car seat issue,” she explained, attempting to frame her actions as responsible parenting.

I went to the car to make sure the car seat was in because the day before we had a car seat issue.

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 3, 2014

She even injected some humor into her defense, writing, “Do u guys really think a 1 year old would be inside the lobby by herself! Oh wait she was waiting to check out lol.”

But the car seat explanation, while plausible, never fully satisfied skeptics who continued to question her version of events. For ten years, the incident remained a persistent talking point among critics who viewed it as emblematic of Kim’s alleged vanity and misplaced priorities.

Do u guys really think a 1year old would be inside the lobby by herself!Oh wait she was waiting to check out lol

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 3, 2014

Fast-forward to July 11, 2025, when the Skims founder decided to finally tell the whole truth in an Instagram Stories post that would reignite the decade-old controversy.

“I wanted to show off the look before holding her bc her outfit didn’t match mine!” she confessed on a post on her Instagram stories, according to E News!, adding emphatically, “I didn’t forget her!!!!”

The revelation that fashion coordination, not safety concerns, had motivated her initial solo exit from the hotel provided ammunition for both supporters and detractors.

When the Daily Mail posted Kim’s updated story, their readers weighed in with outrage.

“Hard to tell her truth from her lies,” one commenter wrote, while another asked pointedly, “So was it the outfit or the car seat?”

The skepticism was palpable, with some suggesting that admitting to fashion-motivated decision-making was somehow worse than the original accusation.

“Forgetting the baby would be better than deliberating leaving her because she clashes with her outfit!” one critic argued.

Others were less diplomatic in their assessment.

“That’s the lamest excuse ever. She obviously forgot the kid,” another reader declared. “The truth is she walked out of the hotel the first time without her baby and she had to return to get her,” noted one individual.

Coming to her defense, one person said, “She would never forget her babies, give me a break.

The irony isn’t lost that North, now 12 years old, has grown into quite the fashion critic herself.

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A post shared by Vogue (@voguemagazine)

Kim recently revealed to Vogue at the 2025 Met Gala that her eldest daughter has become “a big critic.”

The girl who once clashed with her mother’s choice of outfit for the Met has evolved into a trusted style adviser who accompanies Kim to fashion events and provides honest feedback about her choices.

The story of that Paris morning continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant: In the age of social media scrutiny, even the silly parenting mistakes can become permanent fixtures in the public consciousness, subject to endless judgment toward the celebrity that flubbed up for the world to see.

‘Hard to Tell Her Truth from Her Lies’: Kim Kardashian’s Shaky Memory About the Time She ‘Forgot’ North West at a Hotel Is Raising Eyebrows

One mail carrier’s experience at Starbucks is drawing massive attention online after she posted that she was denied a free cup of iced water after delivering a package to the coffeehouse and while working under extreme heat.

The postal worker who goes by @melaninglowesthetics on TikTok posted a short video of herself inside a USPS truck and overlaid the clip with text, “Imagine working out of a tin can in 100 [degree] heat, trying to stay alive and walking into Starbucks for a cup of ice water, and they tell you NO!”

Earlier this year, Starbucks reversed its open-door policy and now requires all customers to purchase an item to use the bathroom or receive a complimentary cup of water.

TikTok user melaninglowesthetics speaks about being denied water at Starbucks while working. (Photo: TikTok/melaninglowesthetics)

The postal worker’s video went viral and has since been deleted, but she has continued to post updates about the experience. In a follow-up video, she stated that it was really hot outside and she was delivering a package to Starbucks and asked the barista for a small cup of iced water.

Adhering to the new company policy, the barista tells the mail carrier she must buy something before she can get some water. The postal worker decided to buy some bottled water.

“I am human. I show up everyday in extreme heat in my uniform in a truck with no A/C. I love my job, I love my customers, and I love my route. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t have bad days,” she said in the video.

Thousands of comments flooded her TikTok page, many from people who expressed shock at the decision to withhold a cup of water from a frontline worker who weathers extreme temperatures to complete her daily duties.

“I think Starbucks can afford a cup of water!!!” one TikTok user posted.

“A couple of years ago, we were all calling ‘essential workers’ heroes. Now we can’t give out a cup of water?” another comment read.

“A carrier died from the heat we need to show each other more compassion,” someone else wrote. “A postal worker being denied water speaks so much to how low we have gone in humanity. I used to give mine Christmas gifts,” another person wrote.

News reports often surface in the summertime months every year about postal workers who die from heat-related incidents.

Last month, a mail carrier who was a 28-year employee with the U.S. Postal Service died after collapsing on his mail route in Dallas, Texas, while working in brutal 90-degree temperatures.

In June 2024, 51-year-old Wednesday Johnson was found unresponsive at a post office in North Carolina, right after making mail deliveries in a USPS truck with no air conditioning while enduring intense summer heat. Her family members believe she died of a possible heat stroke.

Starbucks also recently faced backlash after a barista in Richmond, Virginia, told a woman to “get in line” after she requested a cup of iced water to help her husband who was suffering a medical emergency. The couple rushed to a different cafe across the street, where they were promptly given some iced water.

Atlanta Black Star has reached out to Starbucks for comment.

Starbucks representative Jaci Anderson reiterated company protocol, stating that “All customers who make a purchase while visiting our stores can enjoy complimentary water during their visit.”

However, she added that the company trains its employees to “operate with empathy and kindness,” and empowers its partners to service visitors appropriately “in the event the circumstance calls for it – either due to extreme weather, medical emergency or other extenuating factors.”

‘How Low We Have Gone in Humanity’: Starbucks Faces Backlash After USPS Worker Denied Free Water After Delivering Package In 100-Degree Heat, One Month After Mail Carrier Dies While Working In High Temps

Steve Harvey has been swatting at haters in defense of his relationship with Marjorie Harvey for years. The lovebirds reconnected in 2005 after briefly dating in the 1990s and wed in 2007.

However, “The Stepmom Summit” episode of Harvey’s eponymous talk show has since resurfaced, once again renewing interest in the early aughts of their romance.

In the clip from 2016, Steve recalled his and Marjorie’s kids from separate relationships confronting them before they tied the knot.

“One time all our kids went bowling together… They came back and said, ‘Mom, Dad, we want to talk to y’all,'” he began.

Steve Harvey admits his and Marjorie’s seven kids initially objected to them getting married. (From left: Brandi, Broderick, Lori, Wynton, Marjorie, Steve, Karlie, and Jason via @marjorie_harvey/Instagram)

He continued, “All of our kids, all seven of them, decided that they didn’t think she and I should be married. … ‘I don’t want y’all to do the marriage yet. We need time to adjust.”

Marjorie chimed in, “Verbatim, they said that we ‘didn’t ask’ them.” Both had previously been married — Steve twice and Marjorie twice.

The comedian and his first wife, Marcia Harvey, share daughters Karli and Brandi, 40, and Broderick, 31. He shares son Wynton, 27, with his second wife, Mary Shackelford. Both women have accused Steve of infidelity.

Marjorie shares a daughter Morgan, 40, and son Jason, 31, with ex-husband Jim Townsend. Her youngest child, Lori Harvey, 28, with ex-husband Darnell Woods, who rounds out the blended family, was adopted by Steve after his and Marjorie’s wedding.

Steve said he had no interest in hearing the kids out, so Marjorie smoothed things over. “I’m not discussing a d—n thing with y’all. First of all, all y’all are stupid. … I don’t like yo mama no more! … I ain’t going back to yo mama no more. I can’t stand yo mammy. … That’s what I wanted to say,” he told the studio audience. 

Viewers have revisited the YouTube clip from the show in the past two years. Among the reactions is one that reads, “Marjorie says what she says because HER children’s biological fathers went to prison.  Steve was never in prison.  He could have done better by his kids.”

Both Townsend and Woods served prison sentences in connection with narcotics convictions. 

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A post shared by Marjorie Harvey (@marjorie_harvey)

Townsend was pardoned in 2019. He has penned a two-part memoir, “Snakes in the Garden,” about his days as a kingpin and life with his ex-wife. A second person commented, “Well, I guess them kids [were] right from the start.”

For the better part of the past two years, the Harveys have been plagued by infidelity claims. Marjorie is accused of having an affair with one of their chefs and a member of Steve’s security team. The “Kings of Comedy” star has slammed such claims numerous times on his morning radio show as well as during speaking appearances.

In June, the pair celebrated their enduring love with an 18th wedding anniversary trip to Paris. 

‘Them Kids Were Right From the Start’: Steve Harvey’s Honest Reaction to His and Marjorie’s Kids Trying to Block Their Marriage Resurfaces Amid Fading Cheating Rumors

President Donald Trump is in unfamiliar territory — not lashing out at Democrats, but turning on his own base.

Facing a wave of backlash over his administration’s abrupt decision to shut down the Epstein investigation, the president has begun publicly scolding the very supporters who once believed he would be the one to expose the “deep state.”

Trump railed against followers who questioned why the Epstein files remain sealed in a lengthy post on his social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday morning.

U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bulls‑‑‑,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump added. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

But the damage was already done.

His supporters — long animated by conspiracy theories that Trump would finally unearth Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged network of powerful abusers — are in open revolt. The reaction to the administration’s latest move has been swift and unforgiving.

Videos of furious MAGA loyalists burning their red ‘Make America Great Again’ hats have flooded TikTok and X, with the viral hashtag #ReleaseTheFiles trending across multiple platforms. In one viral clip, a man torches his hat in a backyard grill while declaring, “I’m not gonna play with these anymore. MAGA hats are off… Burn baby burn.”

@harryjsisson

They are NOT happy at all 07/12

♬ original sound – Harry

Others took to digital protest in creative and unexpected ways.

Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson, a Democrat and longtime Trump critic, dropped a full-blown parody ballad on Monday night, mocking the former president’s about-face with a twangy rendition of Jason Isbell’s “Dreamsicle.”

“Epstein died by suicide, believe that and you must be blind,” Johnson sings in the viral video. “You’ve been telling us you’d release the file, but where are they?”

In another verse, he belts: “Trump’s howling at the moon, release the Epstein files soon!”

While some dismissed the song as cringe, others praised Johnson’s guts and musical chops. “HE MISSED HIS TRUE CALLING,” one user posted on X. “WHAT IF THE DEEP STATE SEES THIS AND IS SO MOVED THEY JUST RELEASE THE FILES.”

Sometimes I feel like I'm completely losing confidence in America, but then somebody like Rep. Hank Johnson comes along and totally redeems themselves https://t.co/tuUV9HnxUs

— Connor Freeman (@FreemansMind96) July 15, 2025

But the frustration fueling these reactions is rooted in more than just creative expression. For years, Trump and his allies stoked the belief that he would be the one to pull back the curtain on Epstein’s alleged trafficking network and its high-powered clientele. During his 2024 campaign, Trump and Vice President JD Vance repeatedly hinted they would declassify the full Epstein file.

“I’m inclined to release it all,” Trump said at a rally last year.

That anticipation peaked earlier this year when Trump officials invited popular social media influencers to the White House for what was billed as the “Phase 1” release of Epstein documents. But the stunt flopped. The binders distributed to the influencers contained no new information. Even Trump’s own supporters called it a “smokescreen.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi only poured fuel on the fire when she claimed in February that Epstein’s “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now.” Yet by mid-July, Bondi abruptly announced the case was closed — sparking mass outrage and deepening suspicions.

Trump is standing behind Bondi and is openly willing to lose supporters over it.

“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore!”

The post marked a stunning turn for Trump against his own loyalists as last week he opted to pin the whole drama on Democrats.

BREAKING: Trump calls the Epstein scandal “bullshit” and a “hoax” and says he no longer wants the support of “weaklings” who care about it.

You are a weakling if you care about the 1000 children r-ped by elite pedophiIes.

He’s ended MAGA. You can’t move past this. pic.twitter.com/PxnjxsY6V2

— ADAM (@AdameMedia) July 16, 2025

“For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. “Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 ‘Intelligence’ Agents, ‘THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,’ and more? They created the Epstein Files, just like they created the FAKE Hillary Clinton/Christopher Steele Dossier that they used on me, and now my so-called ‘friends’ are playing right into their hands. Why didn’t these Radical Left Lunatics release the Epstein Files?”

Last week Axios broke the news about the FBI sending the Justice Department a memo saying that after an “exhaustive review” there was “no credible evidence” Epstein “blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”

The memo only intensified the disbelief.

Supporters who once considered Trump the last best hope for full transparency now feel betrayed.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m completely losing confidence in America,” one X user wrote. “But then somebody like Rep. Hank Johnson comes along and totally redeems themselves.”

Epstein, a convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, had deep ties to world leaders, billionaires, and celebrities before his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail shortly thereafter — though many Americans have long doubted the official story.

By July 15, seeming to cave to the outcry by his voters, Trump said Bondi should release “whatever she thinks is credible” on Epstein, according to ABC News.

‘Bought Into This Bull—’: MAGA Fires Back at Trump with Viral Video Over Epstein Fallout — He Returns the Favor By Cursing Them Out

Following the release of independent autopsy results showing that a Black college student was shot in the back by a police officer in Alabama, the family and their attorneys are calling for state authorities to release bodycam footage showing the fatal encounter.

Jabari Peoples was fatally shot on June 23 in the Birmingham suburb of Homewood.

The day after the shooting, Homewood Police posted some details on Facebook, stating that one of their officers was investigating a suspicious car that evening when one of the vehicle occupants “engaged in a physical altercation with the officer” and “produced a handgun, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.”

Jabari Peoples was killed by police in June as family demand release of bodycam footage. (Credit: Angel Smith Facebook Screengrab)

On June 25, the police department posted a press release identifying Peoples as the occupant who started the altercation. The release states that when the officer approached the car, “he smelled the odor of marijuana” and “ordered both occupants out of the vehicle.”

When Peoples got out of the car, the officer reportedly saw a handgun in the driver’s side pocket. When the officer tried to arrest Peoples for marijuana possession and possible other charges, police said that Peoples started to “actively resist,” causing a physical struggle that reportedly knocked the officer to the ground.

“Peoples broke away from the officer and retrieved the handgun from the open driver’s side door pocket, creating an immediate deadly threat to the officer,” the release states. “The officer, fearing for his safety, fired one round from his service weapon to defend himself … Mr. Peoples fell to the ground, still gripping the handgun in his right hand.”

After medics were called to the scene, they rushed Peoples to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The 18-year-old’s family said they weren’t notified about Peoples’ death until more than 12 hours after the shooting.

They disputed the police department’s version of events with the help of People’s girlfriend who was in car as well and stated that Peoples was “not armed, not aggressive, did not resist,” and “complied” with police orders.

“He was approached by an individual in an unmarked vehicle, with no lights, no sirens, and no visible identification. That officer exited the car, tapped on the window, and told the occupants to exit. They followed directions. Jabari complied — and within seconds, he was taken to the ground and shot,” the family wrote on Facebook. “A witness was present. That person saw everything. There was no weapon. There was no threat. And once Jabari was shot, the officer took no life-saving action. No CPR. No medical attention. Nothing. He was left to bleed out on the street.”

In their press release, Homewood Police said the investigation and bodycam footage of the shooting were turned over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), per department protocol, and that arrangements were being made to show Peoples’ family the video of the incident.

In the weeks since the shooting, the family says they still have not seen the bodycam video.

“Three weeks, and we still don’t have answers,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump said at a news conference on July 15.

The family filed a petition demanding that the city of Homewood release the footage, but city officials say that ALEA has custodial authority of the video. Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt has called on the state agency to allow the family to view the video.

ALEA received a formal request from the family to release the footage, but denied it, citing potential impacts that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation, according to local reports. The state law that allows families to view body camera and dash camera footage also allows law enforcement to withhold videos for investigative purposes.

“ALEA reviewed the request and determined disclosure of the requested recording would affect the ongoing investigation,” the statement reads in part, per WTVM. “Therefore, in accordance with state law and in the interest of protecting the constitutional rights of everyone involved, as well as prioritizing a thorough law enforcement investigation of the recorded subject matter, ALEA respectfully declined to make the requested disclosure.”

The Jefferson County coroner also completed an autopsy, but ALEA is withholding those results as well, as agency officials continue to investigate.

The family’s petition to the city of Homewood also demands the release of all investigative reports and the names and identifying information of all officers present at the shooting scene, including the one who shot Peoples. A hearing for the matter is set for August 4.

“No parent should have to bury their child,” Peeples’ father said, adding an emotional plea to see the footage. “Just show us what happened to our child, please!”

Family members are also considering filing a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit.

‘Just Show Us What Happened!’: Alabama Cop Shoots Black Teen In the Back and Left Him to Bleed Out, Family Say. Now Police Face Accusations of Cover-Up as Footage Remains Sealed

Anyone that follows John Legend and Chrissy Teigen on social media can see that cooking is a love language in their household.

The couple, mostly Teigen, will post content of their children giving them a helping hand in the kitchen.

And while most of their followers continue to fall in love with the pair raising their four little chefs, it’s often their mother’s cooking methods that rub some people the wrong way. Teigen’s July 10 dinner prep post was no different as she was called out yet again over hygienic issues in the kitchen with their eldest daughter, Luna. 

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend get flak for letting eldest daughter on the kitchen counter with bare feet close to their food. (Photo: @chrissyteigen/Instagram)

The former swimsuit model posted a collage of short clips featuring her 9-year-old daughter and her husband preparing baked fish. The first video starts with Luna sitting on the counter with her bare feet while “washing” her hands with minced garlic and oil. 

Off camera, Legend can be heard telling his daughter, “Oh, it’s going to smell amazing,” in regards to the garlic and oil she rubbed on her hands. But he quickly followed that up with a new realization. He said, “It’s going to take a while for that stench to come out.”

The person filming, who appears to be a woman but doesn’t sound like Teigen, then pans the camera over to the fish covered with oil and minced garlic. They placed a set of tomatoes on each side of the protein. 

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A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen)

In the next video, only Legend’s hands make a cameo as he just finished placing lemon slices in the middle cut of the fish. 

The third video appeared to be posted out of order and shows Luna and her dad lathering a fresh piece of fish with oil and minced garlic inside and out. 

“OK, that’s it,” he said before Luna, who seemingly had slight remorse for the animal, said, “I’m sorry, buddy,” off camera.

Fans applauded Luna for having compassion for the fish along with her willingness to learn to cook. But others couldn’t get past her sitting on the counter with her bare feet in close range of the food.

One person said, “This is so sweet! I think kids eat better when they get to help too! I have to say though, I dont get the feet and whole body all up on the counter?!?! I know, I know, not my house.”

Another wrote, “Bare feet and butt on the counter and cutting board again. Barf.”

While Teigen will respond to some fans’ comments, she tends to ignore these types of comments about letting her children sit on the counter.

She also caught flak in a separate video posted last month as a promotional ad for their dog food brand Kismet. The short clip starts with the mom of four and her husband adding extra flavor to their dog’s meal by sprinkling on Shakers, a seasoning from their dog food brand. Legend goes on to  pick up their pet from the floor and place her on the kitchen counter so she can dig into her food.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kismet (@kismet)

Some fans shared their disgust in the comments. 

One person said, “John and Chrissy get the dog off the counter so cringe.”

Another added, “Putting a dog on the counter is unhygienic.”

But it seems the couple will continue on going unbothered when it comes to how they get down in the kitchen.

‘So Cringe’: Outrage Erupts as Chrissy Teigen’s Video with John Legend Has Fans Zooming In on Their Daughter’s ‘Bare Feet’ on the Counter While Cooking

The wife of an Ohio sheriff’s deputy who was killed while directing traffic at a college graduation ceremony is suing the family of the suspect over their fundraising campaigns.

Rodney Hinton Jr. allegedly struck Deputy Larry Henderson with his car at the University of Cincinnati’s commencement exercises on May 2, a day after Hinton’s son was shot and killed by a different Cincinnati cop.

After Hinton was jailed on murder charges, his family began a fundraising campaign that has raised thousands of dollars, according to news reports.

Rodney L. Hinton appears in court. (Photo: Photos: YouTube screenshot/FOX19 Now)

Now, Lorna Henderson has filed a lawsuit contending that the Hinton family has “campaigned for and collected over $100,000.00 using Rodney Hinton’s public status and notoriety,” Law & Crime reported.

Under Ohio law, criminals are not allowed to profit from their crimes by selling their story rights for books, movies or TV shows, but the law says nothing about crowdfunding.

Henderson’s lawsuit acknowledges that but contends Hinton’s family is raising money based on his “public status and notoriety gained solely through his criminal act of killing Deputy Henderson.”

Hinton has not yet been convicted.

The suit called the fundraising “a malicious civil conspiracy,” and on those grounds, the family should not be allowed to collect their “ill-gotten gains,” according to Law & Crime.

The lawsuit further accuses Hinton of killing Henderson by “deliberate, intentional, and malicious acts” and is seeking damages.

Henderson’s widow wants all the funds raised so far and is also asking for other damages.

“This was not just a tragic accident,” Henderson’s attorney Jonathan Keane told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

“This was an intentional act of violence. The fact that money is being raised and potentially funneled to the family of the man charged in Deputy Henderson’s murder is not only hurtful, it’s against public policy,” Keane said.

Meanwhile, both GoFundMe and GiveSendGo have taken down the Hinton family’s fundraising pages. The fundraising was apparently to raise money for Hinton’s defense.

Legal experts say the case could test the limits of Ohio’s civil liability laws in the digital fundraising era as more lawsuits come before courts asked to rule on these kinds of disputes. The key issue is expected to hinge on whether there’s a direct connection between the fundraising and the alleged wrongful act.

But First Amendment and media law attorney Jack Greiner told WLWT-TV that the case violates Hinton’s First Amendment rights as a defendant.

The day before Henderson was killed, Hinton’s 17-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was shot and killed by a different Cincinnati officer. Police say the teen was armed and running from the scene of a stolen car and that his killing was “legally justified.”

Hinton’s attorney said the grieving father had a psychotic break after police showed him footage of his son being killed by officers.

“His altered mental state was what led to the alleged attack on Henderson,” his lawyer said, according to Law & Crime.

Passions are inflamed and tensions are rising around the case.

Many people drew comparisons to Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse is known for fatally shooting two men and injuring a third during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2020, an act he claimed was in self-defense and for which he was later acquitted of all charges.

“Y’all ain’t say that for Kyle “rottenhouse”….” one Instagram user wrote. “Bet she wasn’t complaining about ‘ill gotten funds’ when Kyle ROTTENhouse was given all that money after the BS he did,” another user wrote.

Hinton, who is jailed without bond, is charged with aggravated murder in Henderson’s death, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Hinton’s trial date has been scheduled for January 2026.

‘Ain’t Say That for Kyle ‘Rottenhouse”: Deputy’s Widow Slammed for Trying to Snatch ‘Ill-Gotten’ Funds from Grieving Father Accused of Killing Her Husband

President Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, Mike Waltz, blamed the Biden administration for his use of the Signal messaging app in March to discuss secret war plans with other Trump administration officials, including Defense Chief Pete Hegseth, and a journalist with The Atlantic magazine who was mistakenly included in the thread.

Waltz made the accusation during his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker wasn’t having any of it. He laid into Waltz, accusing him of “profound cowardice” and of lying about “Signalgate.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) questions witnesses during a special forum on the rising cost of education at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on May 14, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Student Borrower Protection Center)

“It compounds what I think is disqualifying about you for this position. It also, to me, just shows profound cowardice,” Booker said. “You should step up right now.”

Booker to Waltz: "You denied, deflected, & then you demeaned & degraded those who objectively told the truth & criticized your actions. Smearing people, attacking folks, singling them out just compounds what I think what is disqualifying about you for this position. It also shows… pic.twitter.com/pDhs4wcapI

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 15, 2025

Delaware’s Democratic Sen. Chris Coons asked Waltz during the hearing, “Were you investigated for this disclosure of sensitive operational information on Signal?”

That’s when Waltz tried to blame the Biden administration for his use of the app.

“That engagement was driven by and recommended by the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency by the Biden administration CISA guidance,” Waltz claimed.

“The use of Signal is not only, as an encrypted app, is not only authorized, it was recommended in the Biden era CISA guidance,” he insisted.

Booker was amazed.

“What’s been troubling to me about your nomination from the beginning is your failure to just stand up and take accountability for mistakes that you made and that all Americans know that you’ve made,” Booker told Waltz.

“Everyone in this room, every one of us has made mistakes,” Booker continued. “But what Americans expect from leaders, especially leaders who are tasked with our national security or could be tasked with the position for what you’re nominated for, is for people to stand up and just take responsibility, take accountability, but I heard you just blame Biden.”

“I’ve seen you not only fail to stand up but lie,” Booker added.

On March 24, 2025, The Atlantic published a series of those Signal messages, which Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg received, and which included sensitive information about a U.S. military operation against the Houthis in Yemen.

Waltz continued trying to defend the use of Signal to discuss sensitive war plans.

“It says here,“ Waltz insisted while referring to a document, “I’ll read it to you, ‘Use only end-to-end encrypted communications, adopt a free messaging application to secure communications that guarantees an encryption, particularly if you are a highly targeted individual, such as Signal or similar apps.”

Waltz then denied that there was any classified information shared during the text exchanges that included Goldberg.

Coons continued to press Waltz. “You were sharing details about an upcoming air strike and the time of launch and the potential targets. I mean, this was demonstrably sensitive information.”

Coons asked whether Waltz had been disciplined for using Signal. Walz says a White House investigation is still underway into Signalgate and that there has been no disciplinary action taken.

“The use of Signal was not only authorized, it’s still authorized and highly recommended,” Waltz insisted.

When pressed on the point about sharing sensitive classified information on the app, Walz again deflected.

“We followed the recommendation, almost the demand, to use end-to-end encryption, but there was no classified information shared,” he insisted again.

Democrats have said otherwise, that certain details were classified and the country’s top defense officials under the Trump administration jeopardized the safety of troops involved in the operation in Yemen earlier this year

“The utter mind-boggling brazenness of Mike Waltz lying to a Senate committee like this about Signalgate calls these words to mind. No one seems to care anymore. I’m not sure why I do. Nostalgia, maybe?” Shoq posted on X above a quote from Hannah Arendt, one of the most influential political theorists of the 20th century.

The utter mind-boggling brazenness of Mike Waltz lying to a Senate committee like this about Signalgate calls these words to mind. No one seems to care anymore. I'm not sure why I do. Nostalgia, maybe? pic.twitter.com/qBceQjieep

— Shoq (@Shoq) July 15, 2025

‘Take Accountability’: Cory Booker Blasts Trump’s Ex-National Security Advisor for Blaming Biden After He Mistakenly Added a Journalist to Group Chat About U.S. Air Strikes

Jeff Bezos‘ latest investment has social media users connecting the dots on why this budding actress attended his wedding to Lauren Sánchez.

A new report claims the Amazon founder is backing a rather intimate business venture from Emmy-nominated actress Sydney Sweeney.

Fans Warn Lauren Sanchez After Jeff Bezos Reportedly ‘Invested’ Big Bucks In Busty Young Actress Sydney Sweeney’s Rumored Lingerie Venture Weeks After Wedding (Getty Images)

The “Euphoria” star made headlines after traveling from the United States to Italy to support the couple’s nuptials.

The hedge fund Coatue has launched a new equity fund called Innovation Fund, which reportedly is receiving a substantial $1 billion boost from Bezos and fellow tech titans Michael Dell. According to The Wall Street Journal, a detailed pitch deck reveals the fund’s strategy to allocate between 20 percent to 50 percent of its capital towards private investments, with the remainder dedicated to public stocks.

But US Weekly nonetheless, claims it was told by an “insider” that Bezos and his new wife have “invested” in Sweeney’s lingerie line. The tabloid’s other usual unnamed sources stated that the 27-year-old actress has been developing this lingerie project for over a year, describing it as a “huge project” that represents her transition from screen star to fashion entrepreneur.

The venture aligns with Bezos’s extensive investment portfolio, which spans technology, healthcare, aerospace, finance, and media industries through his venture capital firm Bezos Expeditions and Nash Holdings, the company that owns The Washington Post.

Sweeney’s business acumen extends far beyond this still-rumored lingerie line.

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A post shared by Sydney Sweeney (@sydney_sweeney)

The “White Lotus” alum has strategically built partnerships as a global ambassador for major brands including HeyDude footwear, Bai beverages, Laneige skin care, and Kérastase haircare. She recently made waves with a controversial collaboration with Dr. Squatch, launching a limited-edition soap bar called “Bathwater Bliss” that allegedly contained actual droplets of her used bathwater.

The announcement has sparked a flurry of reactions online, with Daily Mail readers quickly voicing their own assumption about the unconfirmed venture.

“Hence why Sydney attended their wedding. Shocker,” one person commented, referencing Sweeney’s surprising appearance at the Bezos-Sánchez nuptials where she mingled with A-listers like Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Oprah, and Kim Kardashian despite having no apparent prior connection to the couple.

However, not everyone is convinced about the financial wisdom of such a substantial investment.

“Because another lingerie brand is just what the world needs,” one skeptical observer noted, while another questioned the economics: “There’s no way it takes a billion dollars to launch underwear.”

The criticism continued with users expressing doubt about the venture’s viability, with one writing, “$1bn backing…that’s ridiculous, sounds doomed before it’s started. To make it profitable they would have to sell at least a few hundred million items. Doubt it.”

The timing and nature of the investment has also drawn more pointed commentary.

“Something very creepy about this Bozo character. I can’t, but I’m sure Sydney Sweeney can put her finger on it,” one user remarked, using a derogatory nickname for the Amazon founder while hinting at potential ulterior motives behind the purported business relationship.

Perhaps the most telling reaction came from critics concerned about the new Mrs. Bezos and keeping her spot as his first lady.

“Hmmm. Sánchez better watch out,” one wrote, suggesting that perhaps the silver fox, now growing out his hair, might be interested in the ingénue.

“Sydney is a much younger prettier gal and Jeff has the bug for her type after being coached by Sánchez. Maybe her replacement??” They continued.

A third wrote, “I’m always suspicious of Jeff’s motive.. I don’t trust him.”

That skepticism has only grown following Sydney Sweeney’s appearance at the Bezos wedding, which some see as conveniently timed amid speculation about her potential involvement in the next James Bond film, now under Amazon MGM Studios, where Bezos holds creative control.

Bezos and Sánchez, who dated for nearly six years before marrying in June, are both entering their second marriage. Their relationship, once mired in controversy after their affair became public during his marriage to ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, has since evolved into a highly visible partnership marked by red carpet appearances, joint ventures, and now, a star-studded wedding.

‘Sánchez Better Watch Out’: Fans Warn Lauren Sanchez After Jeff Bezos Reportedly ‘Invested’ Big Bucks In Busty Young Actress Sydney Sweeney’s Rumored Lingerie Venture Weeks After Wedding

Shaquille O’Neal is firing back at Robert Griffin III in defense of NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition video game cover athlete Angel Reese.

Griffin, 35, found himself in the internet hot seat after reposting a racist meme on X. The former NFL player shared a photoshopped image of a chimpanzee as Reese on the NBA 2K cover.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal snaps on ex-NFL player Robert Griffin III in defense of his mentee, WNBA star Angel Reese. (Photo credit: @shaq/Instagram; @angelreese5/Instagram; @rgiii/Instagram)

As that controversial post spread across social media, critics slammed RGIII for claiming in it that Reese hates fellow WNBA player Caitlin Clark. His takes on the on-court rivals have spawned a lot of discourse about race in sports.

“That will never be okay with me. I never attacked her or her family when I stated and backed up with clear basketball evidence that Angel Reese hates Caitlin Clark. It’s sports. Everybody won’t like each other,” Griffin, 35, tweeted in the July 10 post that included the offensive image.

The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner added, “People in Angel’s inner circle called me and told me I was right and Angel Reese has grown to hate Caitlin Clark because of the media always asking her about Caitlin and being constantly compared to her.”

Reese seemed to address Griffin’s accusations with her own tweet on July 10. She wrote, “Lying on this app when everybody [knows] the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.”

Alright. This has got to stop. There is no place for racism in this world. Whether you like a player or not. Angel Reese should never be called or depicted as a Monkey.

I have been quiet on the Angel Reese front because she shared a video that aided in my wife, kids, family and… pic.twitter.com/luxC7h0Rpg

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 10, 2025

O’Neal, 53, joined the chat about Griffin during his appearance on the July 15-dated episode of the “Off The Record” podcast with Bailey Jackson. The four-time NBA champion threatened his friend’s tormentor.

“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese, and I’m going to punch you in your f–king face,” Shaq warned. “It’s enough. I don’t usually do stuff like this, but just stop it, bro. You got your job, you got your podcast. Leave my Angel Reese alone.”

The longtime “Inside the NBA” basketball analyst went on to say he called Reese and told her not to respond to RGIII’s comments. O’Neal then called out the “Outta Pocket” podcaster for seemingly destroying his legacy.

“It’s a shame. All the stuff you did in your life, you’re going to be remembered for your podcast,” O’Neal expressed to Griffin through the interview, before adding, “That should tell you. You’re not that f–king great.”

Shaq speaks out on Angel Reese drama with RGIII

Full episode out now: https://t.co/Mo0qYWNvn7#shaq #shaquilleoneal #angelreese #rgiii #wnba pic.twitter.com/f41pdwtZyb

— Bailey Jackson (@baileyjsports) July 15, 2025

Shaq’s clapback at Griffin on behalf of Reese caused a lot of commotion on social media. Many fans of the 2000 NBA Most Valuable Player backed him up by blasting RGIII on the X platform.

“He flamed him up!!! This is how OGs move!” read one pro-Shaq tweet. Another responder on the networking app proclaimed, “RG3 been sounding like a chatty, corny b—-h.”

Plus, one Reese supporter tweeted, “Thank God somebody in the sport is sticking up for her and he is absolutely correct!” Additionally, an X user stated, “RG3 has been warned!”

However, O’Neal faced pushback, too. For example, someone posted, “Bruh @SHAQ give it up. You sound like an old creep ‘protecting’ his sugar baby.”

“So if a Black man is supporting a Black woman, [it’s] because he wants to sleep with her?  Thank you, Shaq, for protecting her. More Black men need to do that!” exclaimed an O’Neal backer.

In October 2024, O’Neal was under fire for his comments about Reese when he was a guest on the Chicago Sky forward’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast. At one point, the conversation centered around the WNBA star’s looks and outfit.

“Imagine you in the same little a– shorts you had on at the ‘Wild ‘N Out’ show, dunking. You know how many t-shirts you’re going to sell?” Shaq said to his fellow Louisiana State University alum as a suggestion for how the league of women could attract a male audience.

Shaq also referred to the players in the WNBA as “gorgeous” but advised they needed to focus on “what the guys like” to see. Reese responded, “We don’t care what the guys like.” The retired Los Angeles Laker center shot back, “That’s the problem.”

Despite that awkward exchange, Shaq has been a huge advocate of Reese throughout her collegiate and professional career. He showered her with high praise on his “The Big Podcast” in April 2023.

“She’s probably the greatest athlete to ever come out of LSU sports. You heard it here first. Male or female,” O’Neal said about Reese. The Maryland native, also known as the “Bayou Barbie,” helped the LSU Tigers win the 2023 NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship.

‘He Flamed Him Up’: Shaquille O’Neal’s Bold Warning to Robert Griffin III Sparks Fresh Speculation About His Real Motives When It Comes to Angel Reese