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From the moment you find out you’re expecting a baby it seems like every store you’ve ever shopped at also received the positive pregnancy results. Suddenly you’re getting emails and ads for every baby item imaginable. Your head is spinning with choices and no real idea on what you actually need, especially if this is your first baby.
It doesn’t take long to figure out that baby items are expensive and there are a lot of them, but which items can be left on the shelf and which ones should make its way to the registry? A group of parents answered the question, which overrated baby item they’d absolutely recommend spending the money on and some things may be a surprise.
Parents in the Upworthy community were quick to jump in and help new parents not spend an exorbitant amount of money on unnecessary baby items. The list included things as simple as Boogie Wipes to actual furniture like a gliding rocking chair, and the reasoning is just practicality no matter the cost. Here are the top items mentioned:
1. My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow
“My Brest Friend. Works so much better than a Boppy pillow for nursing,” Amy Terwilliger says. The pillow is ergonomically designed to comfortably sit around your waist while you nurse or hold your baby. It also has a pocket to keep a bottle or pacifier and conveinently clips around you to stay in place while you adjust your position for comfort.
2. Rocker Recliner Chair
“We bought a lazyboy rocker recliner. I didn’t know how much I’d use it but my baby is 3 months old now and I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve spent in that chair. Best money we spent,” Amanda Legassie writes.
3. The famous Baby Brezza
Pretty sure you don’t even have to be a parent to have heard of the Baby Brezza. It’s just that fancy and that famous and at first glance seems like a colossal waste of money, but parents that buy it swear by it. Laurence Gareau shares, “For the moms who plan/have to go with formula, at 4 months old and more, a baby brezza. We call it the baby nespresso machine. Its quick, accurate and always the right temperature.”
4. A Baby Bjorn or any high quality baby carrier
“A baby carrier! Or two. I liked having a soft structured carrier for most times, and a stretchy wrap for summer weather and hanging around the house. Having a good, quality carrier can help caregivers avoid back pain, hold their fussy newborns comfortably, and still have the freedom to walk around and do things if they would like to! I even took my wrap to the hospital with me when I birthed #2 (and used it!),” Catherine Weber reveals. Many others shared the same sentiment on baby carriers.
5. A Pack n’ Play with bassinet and changing table
Quite a few people explained how needed a Pack n’ Play was when adding a new baby. It’s an all in one portable sleeping space for your baby that comes in handy when baby still sleeps in the room with you and when going on trips. “A good pack and play… one with the little upper spot for changing.. a really good one is a life saver!,” Jilliaine Hopper shares.
6. Bottle sterilizer and dryer
Sterilizing bottles can be a pain but it has to be done and now there’s no need to stand over a boiling pot of water with a timer. Brittney Salaiz says, “The bottle sanitizer/dryer. We used ours so much and having dry bottles ready quickly helped a lot.”
7. A baby swing that goes in multiple directions
“Baby swing….save me on so many nights when a baby was congested and needed to sleep upright. Also guaranteed nap and one of the few things that helped with one of my colicky babies. Get one that goes side to side or front to back,” Kimberly Lungerman Allende says.
8. High quality car seat
This was repeated several times by parents expressing the importance of spending the money on a high quality car seat that will keep your child safe in an accident. “Decent car seats. Splash on that 25kg Swedish plus tested seat and see how it pays you back,” Emma Mattingley writes.
9. Owlet Smart Sock
The Owlet Smart Sock was mentioned repeatedly but one parent gave a real life example of how it helped her. “The Owlet sock was irreplaceable for us- especially since my daughter had Covid, RSV, and croup before she was even 8 months old. It helped us monitor her oxygen and gave us so much peace of mind,” Rachel Roundy discloses.
Of course, every baby is different but these were some of the top suggested items listed. Hopefully these experienced parents suggestions help new parents feel a bit more successful in their early parenting journey.
Dad and parenting educator Jon Fogel, who goes by @wholeparent on social media, thinks he’s stumbled onto “one of the greatest parenting hack ever,” thanks to Mister Rogers.
In a clip posted to TikTok, Fogel explained how he had recently stumbled upon a study about the effect that “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” had on kids.”
“Kids who watched [the show] for whatever reason, seemed to be more patient, more calm, just more, like, emotionally attuned,” he said.
The study, published on ChildResearch.net, went to to predict that Mister Rogers’ signature soothing teaching style and well known “tools for learning” like curiosity, listening, and caring about one another “will grow even more important as the digital age evolves.”
That certainly seemed to be the case for Fogel, who explained that, like many parents, his kids are normally “bouncing off the walls” when they wake up between 5-6am. However, when he tried the Mister Rogers approach, everything changed.
“I am just going to act. I’m gonna pretend to be Mr. Rogers. I’m gonna speak like Mr. Rogers, like super slow-paced … I’m just going to be Mr. Rogers…and see what happens to my kids,” he said.
The results were nothing short of magical.
Instead of “tearing up the house,” the kiddos sat in a circle, “patiently playing Lego” and “attentively attuned” to Fogel’s every word as he calmly and slowly asked questions.
Just think if he had worn a cardigan while doing all this.
Fogel’s hack quickly got a lot of views online, and many folks who watched the clip agreed this should be a new go-to parenting move.
“The impact of being calm and respectful toward tiny humans is amazing. They’re spongy mirrors. They absorb our energy and reflect it back at us,” one person wrote.
Another added, “Calm and slow, open and non-judgmental, you invite them to share their thoughts with you, they’re happy that you’re listening and paying attention to them.”
One viewer pointed out how Rogers has a special set of rules for talking to children, lovingly dubbed “Freddish” by his team of writers, which meticulously reconstructed language so that young children could understand what was being said to them in a positive way. Just one of the many reasons why the show was such a phenomenon in the children’s programming sector.
Others chimed in with praises of Rogers’ timeless appeal—for kids and adults alike.
“Mr Rogers is very ASMR…I’m 41 and still sing the theme song to my kids,” one parent shared.
Mister Rogers might be known for his educational work with children, but he’s taught many lessons to us “big kids” too, primarily when it comes to effective, compassionate communication. His legacy is a gift that keeps on giving.
Bryan James has become popular on social media for documenting his time working on Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas. He boarded the ship on December 8, 2023, and will continue his voyage through April 9, 2024.
The Odyssey of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in operation. It is 1,138 feet long and has a gross tonnage of 167,704 with 16 decks.
In a recent video, he revealed the biggest threat to passengers on a cruise ship. While most people, citing the Titanic disaster of 1912, would say it’s icebergs, according to James, it’s fires. He recently shared a video that shows just how seriously the Odyssey of the Seas takes the fire threat. The ship has massive doors installed in the ship that can prevent fire from moving through the ship.
“All cruise ships have these things called fire doors and they do exactly what you think. They just help prevent the spreading of fire on a cruise ship. But if you are the biggest ship in the world, you need the biggest fire doors in the world. I’ve never seen these until this morning,” James explained in a YouTube short.
Look at these things; they are massive!” he continued, “They probably do a really good job at stopping fires.”
While fires are rare on cruise ships, in 2013, a blaze aboard one grabbed the public’s attention. A power generator on Carnival Cruise’s Triumph caught fire, which knocked out most of the ship’s power and left passengers with no lights, air conditioning, or working toilets. The ship drifted for 4 days at sea before it could be towed to Mobile, Alabama.
Fire is the BIGGEST threat to a cruise ship, not icebergs or sinking like with the Titanic
If you have a hard time staying focused on a task, you’re not alone. In a Crucial Learning poll of 1,600 people, two out of three responded that they have a hard time staying focused on one task or one person. And this difficulty focusing happens in both of the major areas of life, with 68% responding that they have a hard time focusing at work and 62% said they struggle to focus at home.
It’s not surprising that most people have attention deficit issues, considering what the vast majority of us are carrying around with us all day long. It’s no longer just other people who occasionally interrupt what we’re doing, but rather our daily barrage of message, emails, app notifications, news headlines, social media check-ins, advertisements and other distractions our phones or other handheld devices offer us.
However, according to productivity expert Chris Bailey, it’s not so much the distractions that are keeping us from focusing, but rather the overstimulation of our brains that cause us to seek out distractions in the first place.
In a 2019 TEDx Talk, Bailey, author of “Hyperfocus” and “The Productivity Project,” shared that the key to focusing better isn’t to try to try harder to focus, but rather almost the opposite: Rediscover boredom and let your brain wander where it will, or what he refers to as “scatterfocus.”
The first step in combating the overstimulation of our brains is to consciously lower the level of stimulus. Bailey himself began trying this out with an experiment. He noticed that most of his day was spent going from screen to screen, from the moment he woke up in the morning to when he went to sleep at night. The biggest culprit was his phone, so he spent an entire month only using his phone for 30 minutes a day.
“It took about a week to adjust downward into a new, lower level of stimulation,” he shared, “but once I did, I noticed that three curious things began to happen. First, my attention span grew. It was like I could focus on things, not effortlessly, but with much more ease than I could before this experiment started. In addition to this, though, as I was going about the world and especially when my mind wandered a bit, I had more ideas that my mind arrived at, and on top of this, I had more plans and thoughts about the future. Getting rid of one simple device led to these three effects.”
The experiment was so successful that he decided to try to lower his level of stimulation even further. He asked his followers to share the most boring things they could think of for him to do, and he would choose one a day to do for an hour. After a month of doing things like reading the iTunes terms and conditions and watching a clock tick for an hour, he noticed the same kinds of effects as he did with his phone experiment. He was able to focus even more effortlessly, not because he had fewer distractions, but because he was less stimulated and therefore didn’t seek the distractions in the first place.
Bailey makes a strong case for creating more empty space and less stimulation in our lives so that our brains are better able to focus.
“Erection” is a tricky word. There’s a lot of other words — words that have very different meanings — that sound almost like it. Back in 2022, footballer-turned-laughable failed MAGA candidate Herschel Walker found that out the hard way (so to speak), when he went on Fox News and declared, “This erection is for the people.” Now a similar embarrassment has befallen Jake Tapper.
Jake Tapper tells Nikki Haley Donald Trump participated in an “erection”
Per Mediaite, the CNN host was interviewing Nikki Haley about the Supreme Court deciding Donald Trump can’t be stricken from Colorado ballots. Haley, the last GOP Trump rival standing, said she was “happy” with the ruling, saying, “Look, I’m trying to defeat Donald Trump fair and square. I don’t need them taking him off the ballot to do it.”
Tapper replied by pointing out that “their official explanation was not they didn’t like Donald Trump. They said he participated in an erection…”
Unlike Walker, Tapper caught himself, saying the word he meant to say: “insurrection.” He then tried to explain his gaffe, saying, “I got up at five this morning to do Kasie Hunt’s show and I’m exhausted.”
Throughout the incident Haley’s generic smile never changed, though she did chuckle when Tapper tried to explain his slip-up.
House of the Dragon is not one of the shows that got derailed by last year’s twin strikes. They film outside the U.S., partly away from jurisdiction (though that also meant they couldn’t change the scripts while shooting). What’s more, they wrapped photography before SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA on picket liens. That means that its second season isn’t on the far horizon. In fact, it’s actually due awfully soon.
Per Variety, round two of House of the Dragon is set to begin dropping on HBO in June. When in June? That’s not yet known.
What is known is that Season 2 won’t have as many episodes as Season 1. House of the Dragon kicked off with 10 episodes, introducing us to some of Daenerys Targaryen’s predictably messy ancestors. When we return for more, there will only be eight.
The Game of Thrones prequel began about 300 years prior to the events of the show that began it all, and it ended with the death of Lucerys Targaryen, which did not sit well with Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra. Will Season 2 feature her launching into some grisly revenge? Will there be even more dragons? You’ll be able to find out when House of the Dragon returns in about three months.
Unfortunately, so did a few of her devoted super fans, the Barbs. As the “Beep Beep” rapper took to the Oakland Arena stage on March 1, clips of her opening performance quickly flooded social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). But there was one video that stole all the spotlight, and it didn’t involve Minaj at all. A now-viral visual shared on the platform showed several concertgoers involved in a vicious brawl.
In the clip, two attendees are seen punching another ticketholder. The blows exchange as security watches from afar before eventually intervening to separate the parties. With tensions still high, the last frame of the video shows the individuals yelling while being held back before it ends.
It is unclear what initiated the incident as none of the individuals have been publicly identified. Minaj also hasn’t addressed the viral video. However, she did take a moment to pen a touching note to her fans for their continued support days later. “Dear Barbz, I love you,” she wrote. “I really do. Always have. Always will.”
Minaj has several dozen shows left on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. The next performance is slated for March 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. View the full tour schedule (here), working setlist (here), and tour merch (here).
And any event that combines keynote speakers and panel workshops, industry networking, and awesome parties will always be high on our list. We like fun stuff.
With the event spanning 10 days, making sure your accommodations are dialed in is key to ensuring a smooth experience. If you’re still sorting where to stay in Austin for your SXSW festivities, we compiled our list of some of our favorite hotels for SXSW 2024, based on proximity to the Austin Convention Center and overall guest offerings.
citizenM Austin Downtown
CITIZENM AUSTIN DOWNTOWN
What better way to kick back during your downtime at SXSW than in Austin’s newest affordable luxury hotel?
Having just opened its doors, citizenM Austin Downtown features 344 signature rooms with XL king-size beds, a 24-hour gym, a rooftop bar and pool, and lots of contemporary art.
The hotel will be hosting an array of complimentary SXSW programming for guests and the public from March 8th-16th. Guests can participate in its “bucking bed” experience on March 8th at 99 Trinity Square to win a free night at the hotel and also unwind at the hotel’s “unplug zone” throughout the week with complimentary barista-brewed coffee from 2-5 pm. There will also be signature cocktails at the SXSW Second Play Stage from 5-7 pm.
Amenities:
Free Wi-Fi
Fluffy pillows
European cotton sheets
Colored mood lighting
Power shower
XL King bed
Blackout blinds
24/7 food & drinks
World-class art
Price: $419 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.70 Miles
Located in downtown Austin’s music and entertainment district, Thompson Austin and its sister property tommie Austin offer sibling boutique luxury escapes. The “two hotels in one” span 32 stories full of sleek, architectural elements with bold design and airy, urban spaces — making the properties a comfortable retreat for guests attending SXSW. The Thompson and its adjoining restaurant, Diner Bar by Mashama Bailey, were featured on the 2022 Uproxx Fall Travel Hot List, where Uproxx travel editor Steve Bramucci called Bailey’s fried ugali the best bite he tasted that year.
Along with being in walking distance to many SXSW activations, the hotel features beautifully appointed rooms and suites with stunning views of the city skyline or Lady Bird Lake, a rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views, as well as a signature restaurant serving locally inspired cuisine. And, unlike many of Austin’s downtown properties, it has a pool with a
Amenities:
Rooftop pool
Patio
Four onsite restaurants and bars
Floor-to-ceiling windows
Cityscape views
Hardwood floors
Leather furnishings
Stone mosaics
Electric vehicle charging
Free Wi-Fi
Fitness center
Golf simulator
Pet friendly (free!)
Price: $850 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.16 Miles
Located right in downtown Austin, JW Marriott Austin is a popular choice for SXSW attendees due to its proximity to the conference venues. The hotel offers luxury comfort paired with sophisticated amenities, including an on-site spa, outdoor rooftop pool, room service, seven bars, four restaurants, Starbucks, and the largest guest rooms in the city.
Each of its 1000 rooms features floor-to-ceiling windows,
During SXSW, the JW Marriott Austin provides exclusive services such as a dedicated concierge for event information and planning, as well as transportation assistance.
Amenities:
Free Wi-Fi
Seven bars
Four restaurants
Floor-to-ceiling windows
On-site spa
Fitness center
Rooftop pool & patio
Electric car charging station
Price: $539 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.19 Miles
Recognized as a coveted Austin hotel since 1886, The Driskill offers a grand, historic setting entrenched in timeless charm. With a prime downtown location off of 6th Street, the hotel is the perfect vantage point for exploring Austin’s entertainment district and be in the thick of the action for SXSW. Guests are welcomed into a grand columned lobby with marble floors and stained-glass windows before settling into one of its 189 historic rooms and suites adorned with luxury and gold, vintage furnishings.
Additionally, the hotel is home to one of Austin’s most iconic upscale restaurants, The Driskill Grill.
Amenities:
Free Wi-Fi
Three onsite restaurants & bars
Business services
Room service
24-hour fitness center
Concierge
Pet friendly
Art history tours
Live music
Afternoon tea service
Valet parking
Custom furnishings
In-room balconies
Price: $561 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.31 Miles
If you want to stay right in the heart of the action of SXSW, then Hilton Austin is your go-to hotel as it’s linked to the Austin Convention Center. The hotel offers over 800 rooms and suites, providing a comfortable and modern hotel stay for guests who want direct access to most events and activations for SXSW.
When you’re not at SXSW, you can explore East Sixth Street nightlife just two blocks away while the historic Rainey Street is less than a mile away.
Amenities:
Free Wi-Fi
Two restaurants
Full service spa with steam room and sauna
Rooftop pool
City views
Topgolf swing suite
24-hour fitness center
F45 training studio
Business center
UPS store
Pet friendly
Electric vehicle charging stations
Price: $756 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.04 Miles
The Fairmont Austin is a luxurious hotel located in downtown Austin located amid the greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek, offering a sophisticated retreat for SXSW attendees. Featuring 1,048 rooms stacked across 37 stories, guests will wake up each morning with picturesque vistas of Austin’s dramatic cityscape, Lady Bird Lake, and the State Capitol.
During SXSW, Fairmont Austin offers exclusive services such as a dedicated concierge for event planning and transportation assistance to the Austin Convention Center.
Amenities:
Five onsite restaurants and bars
Rooftop pool
Spa
Fitness center
Meeting & business center
Free Wi-Fi
Parking
High ceiling-high windows
Plush bathrobes
Price: $640 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.05 Miles
The Austin Marriott Downtown is a contemporary hotel located in the heart of Austin, offering a convenient and comfortable stay for SXSW attendees. Boasting over 600 modern rooms and suites, guests will be able to enjoy its rooftop pool and tiki bar, two-level lobby bar, and signature restaurant Corinne while not staying busy with SXSW programming.
The property is a great choice for guests at the conference in work more — with 60,000 square feet of meeting space and a location across the street from the Austin Convention Center.
Amenities:
Rooftop pool & bar
Meeting space
Fitness center
Free Wi-Fi
Parking
Electric car charging station
Gift shop
Price: $484 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.05 Miles
Recently renovated, the Courtyard Marriott – Downtown Austin offers a convenient and comfortable stay for SXSW attendees. With its prime location adjacent to the Austin Convention Center and within walking distance of the 6th Street music scene, the hotel provides easy access to SXSW events, dining, and entertainment venues. The hotel features modern and spacious rooms, perfect for relaxing after a busy day at SXSW, as well as the fitness center, business center, and rooftop terrace.
The hotel also offers a bistro serving breakfast and dinner options, as well as a 24-hour market for snacks and drinks.
Amenities:
Starbucks
Onsite restaurant
Parking
Fitness center
Indoor pool
Rooftop terrace
Free Wi-Fi
GoBoards
Communal work tables
Business center
Skyline views
Fold out sofa sleepers
Price: $539 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.06 Miles
The Westin Austin Downtown offers a modern and upscale stay for SXSW attendees, conveniently located one block away from 6th Street and the Austin Convention Center. With over 360 rooms and suites, the hotel provides a comfortable retreat after a day of exploring or attending SXSW events without a huge crowd of guests in the hotel. Guests can enjoy several dining options onsite, a rooftop bar and pool with panoramic views of the city skyline, and more.
Amenities:
Onsite restaurant & bar
Rooftop pool & lounge
Heavenly® Beds
Heavenly® Showers
20th floor, 24-hour WestinWORKOUT fitness studio
Concierge
Pet friendly
Business center
Free Wi-Fi
Gift shop
Parking
Electric vehicle charging stations
Price: $538 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.15 Miles
Hotel Van Zandt is a trendy boutique hotel located in the vibrant Rainey Street district, offering a unique and stylish stay for SXSW attendees. The hotel features 319 modern rooms and suites, each with a distinct Austin vibe. Guests can head to the 4th floor of the hotel to catch nightly live music and unique Austin experiences, including vinyl brunches and local songwriter showcases.
Additionally, the hotel offers complimentary social hours from 5-6 pm with housemade margaritas, beer, and wine, as well as discounts to partnered local businesses. The best part? The property is an easy five-minute walk to the Austin Convention Center.
Amenities:
Rooftop pool
Complimentary check-in beverage
Complimentary locally brewed drip coffee from Café 605
Complimentary usage of TREK Bikes
Daily $10 credit to Geraldine’s, The Pool Deck or Café 605
10% off all retail and treats at Barkin’ Creek’s Rainey Street location
Complimentary Charred Edamame from Anthem
24-hour fitness center
Room service
Mini-bar
Plush robes
Printing services
Free Wi-Fi
Pet friendly (free!)
Price: $572 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.18 Miles
The LINE is downtown Austin’s newest hotel brand, boasting unique and stylish accommodations on the banks of Lady Bird Lake. The redesign of the 1965 jazz club showcases art by emerging local artists throughout the property and features multiple locally sourced dining options, including an Alfred coffee bar in the lobby.
The hotel features 428 modern rooms and suites with stunning views, as well as a rooftop pool, fitness center, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The hotel offers complimentary weekly events for guests, including fireside tarot readings, happy hour, slow-flow yoga, and more.
Amenities:
Saltwater infinity pool
Pet friendly (free!)
On-site dining
Spa
24-hour fitness center
Local Texas art
Free Wi-Fi
Minibar
Room service
Complimentary bikes
Valet parking
Price: $505
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.25 Miles
Located in the Second Street District, W Austin is a vibrant and modern hotel offering a stylish and energetic stay for SXSW attendees. The hotel features 251 contemporary rooms and suites, each designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious experience. Guests can enjoy special amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center, a rooftop pool and bar with panoramic views, a modern steakhouse, a café, and more.
The hotel also hosts weekly live music events, specifically Sunday pool parties.
Amenities:
Rooftop pool & bar
Spa
24-hour fitness center
24-hour in-room dining
Pet friendly
Scott Newton famous music scene photography
Turndown service
Parking
Live music
Price: $400 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.40 Miles
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, Hotel Indigo features 134 stylish and modern rooms designed to reflect the vibrant culture of Austin. Surrounded by neon lights and soulful sounds, the pet-friendly hotel offers a fitness center, business center, locally-sourced cuisine, rooftop bar, and more.
Located just a short walk from the Austin Convention Center, Hotel Indigo is a great choice for your stay during SXSW.
Amenities:
Skyline rooftop pool & bar
24-hour fitness center
Valet parking
Onsite restaurant
Live music
Local art
City views
Room service
Price: $410 per night
Distance from Austin Convention Center: 0.33 Miles
Comic book movies are in a rough patch these days. Once a sure bet, they’re now like to underperform if not outright bomb. As it happens, there’s already a major makeover afoot over at the DCEU, who brought in James Gunn — director of the only superhero smash of 2023 — to bring us things like a new, less brooding Superman. While he’s at it, maybe he needs another new Batman (apart from the one already played by Robert Pattinson, of course). If so, John Oliver has a suggestion.
On Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, the HBO host unloaded on Donald Trump’s claim that former president’s need to have total immunity. The Supreme Court recently agreed to take up his claim, answering the question of whether ex-commanders-in-chief should be prosecuted if they commit crimes. Oliver thinks there’s already a clear answer: “Yes.”
To drive his point home, he laid out some other questions with obvious answers: “Did Robert Durst kill those people? Or Which cereal mascot f***s the most? Or who should play the next Batman? And for the record, the answers are, absolutely, it’s not even close [Tony the tiger], and Natasha Lyonne.”
Eventually Lyonne herself caught wind of Oliver’s pitch, to which she agreed, sort of, writing, “we all know I should be playing the Penguin but I’ll handle Batman if that’s what Gotham needs.”
John Oliver Says Natasha Lyonne Should Be Cast As The Next Batman
So how about it, James Gunn and fellow DCEU honcho Peter Safran? Maybe there should be two Batmans: one incredibly serious, starring Pattinson, and one a little goofier, with Lyonne as either the Caped Crusader or a villain, much the way the ’60s TV version cast hams like Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Eartha Kitt, and Otto Preminger to play the baddies.
You can watch the latest Last Week Tonight over at Max.
For the first 30 years of his music career, Sean “Diddy” Combs was known for being a hit music producer, ace talent evaluator, and bombastic (if sometimes a bit unscrupulous) businessman. These days, though, you’re more likely to see his name associated with the fallout from his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura’s accusations of sexual abuse against him.
He’s lost business partnerships, stepped down from roles in companies he’s created, and distanced himself from the public eye, all while maintaining that the growing number of similar allegations against him are false. He’s currently facing a slew of lawsuits and fans might be wondering what he’s accused of and by whom. Find out here. Trigger warnings for descriptions of sexual assault below.
November 2023: Two Women Sued Diddy For Sexual Assault
Shortly after settling Cassie’s lawsuit against him for an undisclosed sum, Combs was sued again by two women in separate lawsuits. Joie Dickerson-Neal filed suit in New York Supreme Court on November 23, accusing him of drugging her drink on a date in 1991 and sexually assaulting her. Dickerson-Neal says Combs also recorded the incident and showed it to others, making her a victim of revenge porn.
Another woman filed an anonymous lawsuit, claiming Combs and singer-songwriter Aaron Hall took turns raping her and her friend in 1990 or ’91.
December 2023: Another Woman Accused Diddy Of Raping Her When She Was 17 Years Old
In a new lawsuit filed in December, a third woman came forward with allegations against Combs, once again filing as a Jane Doe. In her suit, she claims Combs and two other men raped her in 2003, when she was 17 years old, after picking her up at a club in Detroit.
February 2024: A Former Diddy Producer Accused Him Of Sexual Harassment
The latest complaint against Combs came from Rodney Jones — aka Lil Rod — a producer on Combs’ 2023 album Off The Grid. He said while staying with Diddy from September 2022 to November 2023, Diddy forced him to have sex with prostitutes, threatened, and harassed him.
Combs’ attorneys have dismissed all of the accusations against him as “money grabs,” but they’ve still affected his business partnerships
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