Let me tell you a brief but true story about Facebook settlements:
A couple of years ago, my husband and I saw an article about a Facebook lawsuit settlement in Illinois. We’d lived in the state and used Facebook during the dates the settlement covered, so we took two minutes to fill out a simple form.
Then we forgot about it.
Last year, we each got a $397 check from Facebook in the mail.
The End.
(Told you it would be brief.)
When people see headlines about lawsuit settlements, they often assume either that they aren’t eligible or that receiving part of the settlement will involve a whole bunch of red tape. It’s often just as simple as it sounds, though, and people who assume otherwise leave money on the table.
Right now, there’s a $725 million settlement that anyone who used Facebook between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022 is eligible to submit a claim for. The form takes just a couple of minutes to fill out, so if you’re like, “Yes, sign me up!” here’s the link to the website. (I promise it’s legit, despite sounding like a fake URL. I went through this with the Illinois settlement as well. This is just how these things are done in the internet age.)
You can either fill out your claim on the website or print it out and mail it to: Facebook Consumer Privacy User Profile Litigation, c/o Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
The form just took me 2 1/2 minutes to submit. I timed it, and that included getting a verification code sent to my email and having to re-find the claim form window because I have too many tabs open. (You have until August 25, 2023, so no big rush.)
If you’re not sure yet and you want to know what the heck this is all about before you fill out a form, here’s the background info:
If you click on “What’s this lawsuit about?” in the FAQ section, here’s the synopsis:
“Numerous lawsuits were brought on behalf of Facebook users who allege that Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.) shared or otherwise made accessible to third parties (including but not limited to third-party app developers, “whitelisted” parties, business partners, advertisers, and data brokers) user data and data about users’ friends without permission of the users whose data was shared, and did not sufficiently monitor and enforce third-party access or use of that data.”
Basically, our data was shared without our permission. Neato. But that sounds a little vague, right? Surely there’s something specific that prompted this settlement, right?
Well, yes. Do you remember the 2016 election? Yes, that one. In the two years leading up to that election, a data analytics company called Cambridge Analytica allegedly paid Facebook developers for Facebook user data, which it used to target voters in the election. Cambridge Analytica is tied to deep-pocketed Republicans and Trump’s former campaign manager, Steve Bannon, so it’s not a big stretch to guess who benefited from this data privacy violation.
Of course, Cambridge Analytica is not the only third party to collect data from Facebook without user knowledge, it’s just the most well-known. At any rate, all of us who were Facebook users for the past 16 years are eligible for a payout from the company, whether our specific data was shared or not.
The big question is how much each person will get. Nobody knows, and the final amount will depend in part on how many people submit a claim. Lawyers will take their cut as well, so I’ll be surprised to get another $390+ payment. But for two minutes of form-filling, even a much smaller amount would be worth it.
On Monday morning, Don Lemon announced he’d been terminated by CNN after 17 years of serving as a news anchor for the network. Lemon claimed the news came as a shock, saying he was “stunned” by his employer’s decision and suspecting there were “larger issues at play” when it came to his firing. In a tweet, the on-air personality alleged, “At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network.”
CNN’s own version of events, however, contradicts Lemon’s perspective, and a recent expose by Variety, which details allegations about off-camera behavior, must not have helped matters.
In February, Lemon went on temporary leave following remarks he made about presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, age 51, while suggesting that she’s too old for the job. When pressed by a female co-anchor on whether Lemon meant “prime for childbearing” or “prime for being president,” Lemon responded, “Don’t shoot the messenger. It’s like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s.”
CNN Chief Executive Chris Licht announced Lemon would undergo some type of “training” following the incident while the anchor tweeted an apology for his comments.
I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.
One month later, Variety‘s report alleged that long-time anchor had a history of sexist and misogynistic behavior that went unchecked at CNN for far too long. According to the outlet, Lemon was accused of harassing former female co-workers and sending his assumed rivals threatening text messages when they received higher-profile reporting gigs. After his own late-night news program began to fall in the ratings, Lemon was slotted to co-anchor CNN This Morning alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow.
The Daily Mail further reported that some of Lemon’s co-workers issued ultimatums, demanding he be fired for his “diva-like” behavior. Whether or not that report is true, it’s clear that Lemon’s CNN days are done.
Taylor Swift was in Houston this weekend for a trio of The Eras Tour concerts. At the second of those, on April 22, some fans observed that she seemed to have cut her hand. Billboard notes, “Fans watching the second of Swift’s three shows in Houston over the weekend quickly noticed that she was missing a chunk of skin from her left palm, which appeared to bleed on and off throughout the remainder of the performance. […] As the concert progressed, Swift could be seen with bandages wrapped around her wrist and palm.”
Now, Swift herself has taken a moment to address what happened with her hand.
In a post shared today (April 24), she reflected on the weekend, saying, “Just got to play 3 insane shows in Houston and I’m waking up smiling reminiscing about how much fun we all had. Loving this tour so much because of the passion these crowds put into it all – seriously can’t wait for Atlanta [smiling emoji] PS for those asking how I cut my hand, I’m totally fine and it was my fault completely – tripped on my dress hem and fell in the dark backstage while running to a quick change – braced my fall with my palm. It was all very Mercury in retrograde coded. Don’t worry about me I’m gooooood [kissy face emoji].”
Just got to play 3 insane shows in Houston and I’m waking up smiling reminiscing about how much fun we all had. Loving this tour so much because of the passion these crowds put into it all – seriously can’t wait for Atlanta PS for those asking how I cut my hand, I’m totally… pic.twitter.com/lR19nO1Cp7
The Kings and Warriors are returning to Sacramento for Game 5 with the series tied 2-2, as both teams have taken care of business at home. While the home team has won each game, the series has been filled with late-game drama and has been the most entertaining of the first round tilts.
The first four games have, in particular, cemented Kings guard De’Aaron Fox as a star. Fox has averaged 31.5 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.0 rebounds per game in his first four postseason appearances, carrying the Sacramento offense at times and continuing to thrive in the fourth quarter as he did all regular season. Fox’s game translating to the playoff stage has been absolutely critical to the Kings’ success, which is why Monday’s news that the rising star had suffered a fracture of the tip of his index left finger (which is his shooting hand) in the fourth quarter of Game 4 provided a significant damper on the excitement for Game 5.
Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox has suffered a fractured index finger in his left shooting hand, sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium. Fox is expected to be listed doubtful to play in Game 5 vs. Warriors.
Kings guard De’Aaron Fox fractured the very tip of his left index finger in Game 4, but there’s still hope he will try and play Game 5 on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN. Fox would need to play with a protective covering on the finger. He will be listed as doubtful.
The Kings are heavily reliant on Fox’s creation skills, especially late in games where he’s their only real isolation threat as a scorer. If he’s unable to go in Game 5, which seems likely given the expected “doubtful” designation, this year’s Coach of the Year, Mike Brown, will have his hands full crafting a new rotation. On top of his huge offensive performances, Fox has also been vital to the Kings’ defensive gameplan against Stephen Curry, where he and Davion Mitchell take turns hounding the future Hall of Famer fullcourt to disrupt the Warriors’ rhythm.
Without Fox, executing that gameplan becomes much more difficult because no one can replace Fox’s recovery speed, which is part of why he can pressure full court. On top of that, Fox makes playing Mitchell much easier on the offensive end, where Davion is not an on-ball threat and is a below average shooter (but has made some timely baskets in this series). Malik Monk is the obvious answer for where Brown turns for on-ball creation in the backcourt, but he’s not been able to replicate quite the same success he had in Games 1 and 2 over the past two on the road. Domantas Sabonis also becomes more important as a hub, as the dribble-handoff game with the Kings’ various shooters would likely be an even bigger staple of the Kings offense without Fox.
Even if he can play, it’s hard to see the injury not inhibiting him at least some, and the rest of the Kings will have to be ready to step up, particularly as shooters, if the finger issue causes him to struggle with his feel on his shot.
For the last few years, Lil Baby has been considered one of the hottest names in rap. However, fans now fear his hot streak could be coming to an end after he was photographed dining out with Khloe Kardashian. Lil Baby fans wondered whether the photo meant that Lil Baby and Kardashian had begun dating — and worried that he would be the latest entertainer to fall victim to the so-called “Kardashian Curse,” which many insist has already claimed everyone from Kanye West to James Harden.
It’s no doubt misogynistic and gross, but a meme on the internet over the past decade has been the half-joking, half-serious belief that entertainers who become romantically entangled with the Kardashian family (including the Jenners) are doomed to fall into a slump in which their output suffers greatly, both creatively and commercially. This goes for the athletes that get involved with any of the five sisters, resulting in losing streaks and stretches of poor performance compared to their previous averages.
Ball players and rappers who have supposedly fallen victim to the curse include Blake Griffin, French Montana, James Harden, Jordan Clarkson, Kanye West, Kris Humphries, Lamar Odom, Tristan Thompson, and Tyga.
The legend of the curse likely originates in the sisters’ apparent shared preference for, well, Black NBA players and rappers, and the fact that nearly all of them did have slumps in performance while dating one of the Jenner-Kardashians. However, there is also a number of alternative explanations that don’t involve sexist assumptions about their dating histories. Also, some have had their greatest successes in that time, such as Travis Scott.
Still, that won’t stop fans from freaking out any time one of their faves is photoed hanging around the Kardashian crew — just see the responses to Bad Bunny being shot by paparazzi with Kendall Jenner and the reactions to Lil Baby’s apparent association with Khloe Kardashian.
I need to report that I recently found a slice of paradise. Seriously. So much so that it has brought me to the area twice in a two-year span. And while Jamaica is obviously the icon of Caribbean culture among travelers, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica is my favorite Caribbean spot. I decided to book myself a 10-day vacation in the small beach town when I flew to Costa Rica to cover Jungle Dreaming Festival, which was canceled last minute. After scraping together as many memories as I could with other would-be festival attendees, I headed off for 10 glorious days alone on the southernmost segment of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast for some amazing eats, sun-kissed beach days, and jungle bungalow stays.
The thing about Puerto Viejo is that it isn’t the easiest place to get to. After landing in the capital of San José, it takes an average of five hours to drive there. Depending on traffic and road closures, it could take as long as seven. This discourages all the tourists who are looking for an easy tropical trip and opt for the more mainstream travel itineraries in San José, La Fortuna, or Tamarindo.
Let me tell you: the long travel time is so worth it. Instead of a “Americanized” coastal town flooded with ex-pats, you’ll find a thriving Costa Rican community that celebrates Caribbean culture and the slow, easy “pura vida” lifestyle. Even the long road trip to get there feels like an adventure — you pass right through some of Costa Rica’s most diverse climates, including the winding mountains of Braulio Carrillo National Park and the lush flora and fauna of the cloud forest.
Once I arrived, I found it tempting to stay indefinitely. With over 10 miles of different beaches, a community that walks and bikes everywhere, and a plethora of restaurants, bars, and day trip attractions, it was the perfect place to go full “pura vida.” Check out my guide below!
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
PART 1 – Where To Eat & Drink
Puerto Viejo has literally tons of local food carts everywhere you look. (Remember, traveling internationally doesn’t have to be crazy expensive!) I found that snagging a homemade chicken or beef empanada hit just right as a mid-day lunch or snack on the beach. There’s also this amazing Trinidadian food cart located at Playa Cocles. Tara – the owner – is usually parked facing the road on the weekends when the beach gets packed (and for good reasons, more on the beaches later). She sells a delicious, vegan Trinidad street food staple called Doubles, which melt in your mouth and are perfect as a pick-me-up on the beach.
To satisfy your late-night food cravings, look out for any food cart selling enyucados. “Cheesy stuffed, fried goodness” is all I wrote in my little notebook. You’ll also be approached by friendly locals while sunbathing on the beach. This is where you can luck out and make your tastebuds happy without even needing to get up off your beach blanket –homemade ice cream cups, weed-based brownies and chocolates, cookies, empanadas, and more.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
For breakfast, Cafe Gustitos serves up delicious – yet extremely cheap – authentic Costa Rican desayunos. None of the staff speaks English, so you better make sure your Spanish is on point (or at least functional). It’s nestled right on the main strip of town and they open promptly at 7 am each morning, except Saturdays. For around $6, you can get a full plate of rice, beans, fried cheese, plantains, and fresh papaya juice to start your day.
If you’re missing your American-style pancakes and waffles, head over to Bread & Chocolate. This place gets packed early and for good reason. You’ll find a great (and very familiar) breakfast and lunch menu with comfort foods and a whole line of chocolate-based coffees and drinks.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
After extensive testing, I’m quite sure that the town’s best gelato is located at Gelateria. In fact, this is the best damn gelato I’ve ever had (yes, I’ve been to Italy!). It’s located right in front of Playa Puerto Viejo, next door to Puerto Pirata. It closes by 6 pm every day and there’s almost always a line. Ask for the “special” chocolate flavor, you’ll thank me later.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
Sushi on the beach? Yes, please.
As far as I could tell, there were two sushi restaurants directly in Puerto Viejo’s town center. Chile Rojo is located right on the main road and serves up delicious Thai fusion dishes and a huge selection of large sushi rolls. I often don’t go for dessert at Asian restaurants, but the vegan chocolate mousse was incredible. The restaurant also serves up two-for-one drink specials all day, every day. Just around the corner, you’ll find Samurai Fusion. It’s easy to walk miss — as it only hosts four small tables and a little walk-up ordering window — but it’s quality sushi, made with care. I’d say grab your order to go so you can spend more time basking in the Costa Rica sun.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
Located on the town’s main road, Koki Beach Restaurant Bar Lounge features excellent food and a brightly lit jungle vibe. This is a perfect place to go for dinner, but make sure you make reservations! Vine-wrapped trees swirl up through some of the infrastructure and because of this, the restaurant is known for the occasional sloth drop in.
In fact, I was sitting down eating dinner with a girlfriend when a sloth crossed right over our heads. It was quite the experience.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
Of course, what would an international trip be without a fancy dinner? I happily made reservations at La Casita de Monli for my last night in the little town based solely on many people’s recommendations. It boasts a French Caribbean-style food menu with a selection of specials each night based on what the fishermen bring in fresh that day. This means you’ll never get the exact same special offered to you. You’ll definitely need to make reservations, as it hosts maybe only 10 tables or so for a more personalized dining experience.
I got the bouillabaisse and was happily surprised when I received a second bowl filled with warm water to wash my fingers in.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
My all-time favorite place in Puerto Viejo is CariBeans. I’ll admit, I shamelessly went there around six times during my 10-day stay. Located just before Playa Cocles on the right-hand side, it’s one of the area’s best coffee and chocolate cafes around. It’s a perfect wooden jungle bungalow digital nomad hub serving up delicious locally-sourced coffee, chocolate, and healthy and vegan food offerings.
The chocolate frio drink is literally to die for.
For yummy cocktails, the town is crawling with two-for-one specials nearly everywhere you look. For the best sunset views, you can’t go wrong with a coco-loco at Puerto Pirata. If you’re craving some whiskey, head to the Irish pub, The Green Dragon to help satisfy your cravings. Salsa Brava and Johnny’s Place also host great late-night beach parties for a perfect mix of locals and international travelers.
PART II – Where To Beach
The best part about visiting Puerto Viejo is basking under the sun on all of the beautiful beaches. Most locals and tourists end up renting a bike for as little as $5 per day to easily beach hop. If you’re brave enough, you can also rent electric scooters, ebikes, or flag down a tuk-tuk for more efficient beach hopping.
Playa Negra:
Translated to “black beach,” Playa Negra is of course known for its sparkling volcanic black sand. It stretches into the town of Puerto Viejo six miles north. I found a lot of solace here in the early morning as the sun was peeking over the horizon. Once the sun comes out, the sand gets hot quick — like “burn the bottoms of your feet” hot — so you need to bring a blanket as a buffer.
The conditions of the water always depend on the weather and wind, but you can usually find calmer water to swim farther from town, while the surfers tend to stay closer to town.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
Playa Cocles
This is where most of the action happens! Located two miles south of town, you can bike here (and pick up a chocolate frio on your way from CariBeans) and easily mingle with sometimes hundreds of locals and tourists. The weekends are when it really fills up and there are often live musicians jamming, plus plenty of food and drink options – including fresh coconut water for only 500 colones – sunbathing, joint smoking, and surfing.
The waves are known to be a little rough here, so be cautious when going in the water. There’s a huge surf community here and there’s always a surfing competition of some sort during the weekends.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
Playa Chiquita & Punta Uva
Once you keep biking past Playa Cocles, it starts to get a little more remote and the beach stretches pretty far. You’ll pass Playa Chiquita and Punta Uva, both offering quiet and remote beach access. Here’s where I made use of the wide open space and tanned without worry of tan lines. Seriously though – it’s like having your own sliver of crystal-clear paradise.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
PART III – Where To Sleep
There’s something about staying in an actual house when abroad that really just resonates with me. The whole point of travel is to live among the locals and integrate yourself in the local culture. I’m also someone who likes to travel pretty cheaply, so having five-star amenities isn’t really important to me. Plus, I enjoy meeting fellow travelers. Puerto Viejo has a decent range of accommodations for all people, ranking from budget-friendly hostels to luxury jungle cabins and rental houses.
I love staying at Hidden Jungle Beach House every time I come to this town. This beautiful, rustic, rainbow-painted beach house is exactly what it sounds like. It’s right across the street from Playa Negra and a short six-minute walk or three-minute bike ride downtown. The owner, Amy, took over the piece of land back in 2017 and has really turned it into a special little spot. She lives in her own home on the property and tucked in the back is the “hidden” jungle beach house boasting six bedrooms all fitted with mosquito nets and a fan, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a welcoming community of like-minded traveling souls.
Both of the times that I’ve stayed here, I’ve met a wonderful and eclectic mix of people from around the world; some of whom I still stay in touch with. You’ll also encounter friendly free-range chickens, a couple of Amy’s dogs, a multi-named cat (I called her Sweets), and many, many spiders. While I’m someone who is terrified of spiders – especially ones the size of my fist – I recognized the purpose of them around the property and paid my respects as they caught all the annoying mosquitos that naturally live around the area.
Mikala Lugen/UPROXX
For all my solo female travelers, La Tribu is a beautiful, boutique hostel for women only. Hosting anywhere between 10 to 25 female travelers at any given time, it’s a wonderful space that caters to the divine feminine, adorned with golden lighting, a huge modern kitchen and dining area, a comfortable sitting area lining the outside wall, an indoor hot tub, and shared hostel-style bedrooms. Even if you’re not staying there, it’s a safe space for women to come during the day and intermingle with other women.
When I went there, I got there just in time to participate in a volunteer-led cacao ceremony on the night of the new moon. We all gathered in a circle and summoned some magical divine feminine energy through chanting, dancing, and singing. Fun, witchy stuff.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
There’s also Hotel Selina. As one of the world’s more reputable hotel and hostel accommodation groups, you can’t go wrong staying at its Puerto Viejo location. While being centrally located in Puerto Viejo, it boasts beautiful beach views with a bar, a gorgeous swimming pool, a yoga deck, and a co-working space. With all of its amenities, it can be easy to stay completely on-site and not leave, especially with your own private beach.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
PART IV – Where To Play
It’s definitely easy to be a “pura vida” beach bum in Puerto Viejo, but there are actually a lot of amazing things to do while you’re in Puerto Viejo. Most activities are easily accessible by walking or biking, which makes it that much easier to fit into your long days under the sun.
Visit Tasty Waves:
I strategically placed Tasty Waves in the “where to play” category and not the “eat and drink” category solely because it really is more of an experience. Located right next to CariBeans before you get to Playa Cocles, Tasty Waves will become one of your favorite places to spend your evenings. This beachfront restaurant, bar, and entertainment area boasts an incredible atmosphere of locals and travelers through its various themed nights, including Thursday Night Free Trivia (where you can score free shots and joints) and Friday Open Jam.
It also has the best spicy Guaro shots you can get in the area.
TASTY WAVES
Wander The Downtown Farmer & Artisan Market:
There’s nothing better than supporting local businesses, which is why you should make sure to hit up Puerto Viejo’s local farmer and artisan market. Locals will pop up tents along the main street and side streets every Saturday morning from 8 am-12 pm. Here’s where you can practice your Spanish as you buy local vegetables, fruits, and handmade jewelry.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
Jaguar Rescue Center:
I cannot say enough good things about this place. I was actually standing outside of Tasty Waves one night smoking a spliff when I heard a volunteer talking about her work experience at this place and she confidently said it is her favorite animal sanctuary and hospital she’s worked at all throughout the world. I can see why. Jaguar Rescue Center works as a temporary or permanent home for ill, injured, and orphaned animals, especially monkeys, sloths, small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
What’s astonishing about this place is that for the past 20 years that it has been operating, it receives no money or funding from the government and solely relies on the support of patrons. Each tour is an hour long and winds you through the grounds to learn about the current animals that are living there. Surprisingly, there are no jaguar here but the center averages around 170 total animals and 36 species in its care at any given time.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
Go On A Cacao Tour:
Did you know that Costa Rica is home to some of the world’s best and most fruitful cacao plants? If you want to see for yourself and learn all about the medicinal magic of these seeds, I highly recommend you take a cacao farm tour and chocolate-making class. While you can find classes and tours offered all over Puerto Viejo, Talamanca Chocolate knows how it’s done. Led by founder Amsel, the farm has over 30 years of experience farming organically on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica and takes its “chocolate is medicine” approach quite seriously. They offer hands-on workshops, where you can learn about the traditional cacao drink, make rustic truffles, and practice the art of tempering chocolate bars. It was so beautiful to walk among the grounds and see real and aging cacao trees and learn how many health benefits real cacao and chocolate can provide to the human body.
MIKALA LUGEN/UPROXX
Visit Cahuita National Park:
This is a must-do when you’re in Puerto Viejo. Costa Rica has 28 national parks, and Cahuita National Park is definitely one of the best. The park is located 10.5 miles North of Puerto Viejo, so you actually pass right by it when you’re driving into the town from San José. You can easily hop on a public bus from Puerto Viejo to the little town of Cahuita for only $2 and in 25 minutes you’ll end up at the front entrance. It’s honestly an amazing day trip here because it doesn’t cost any money to get in, although you should totally donate what you can manage. One, five-mile trail winds through the lush jungle flora and fauna and along the crystal-clear shores of Playa Blanca. I found myself face-to-face with monkeys, raccoons, and crabs. Sloths slept high in the tree canopies above me. It’s also home to some of the country’s best-protected coral reefs, so you can also book a snorkeling tour to out and explore the colorful underwater forest.
While everyone is mourning the death of a certain big-shot media mogul, Karl and Frank are out here thriving. Sure, it’s sad that Logan died all the way up in the sky and yeah, everything at Waystar Royco is off the rails, but now Frank and Karl are being given their time to shine and, as it turns out, we should have been getting a lot more of them over the years on Succession.
In episode five, the two hoisted up their compression socks before jet-setting to Norway, which is a sign of proper foot care that nobody ever talks about (seriously, you should all be taking care of your circulation). Not only that but they were treated to a nice outdoor excursion and donned cushy robes, implying that maybe Logan Roy was holding these men back from living the lives they truly wanted to live? Just look at them. That is a high-thread count plush robe. They are not messing around here.
HBO
Even though their future at the company is a little uncertain, they always have the option to move to a Scandinavian oasis and live out the rest of their lives Bert and Ernie style. This obviously didn’t go unnoticed by fans, who have begun to compare the two to various old guy duos, all while the rest of the characters are fighting it out. These guys can just coast for now:
I don’t want any #Succession spinoffs — leave a good thing alone! — but who among us would not watch a Frank/Karl buddy comedy? pic.twitter.com/kxUwXwwbup
On Monday morning, CNN news anchor Don Lemon announced he had been fired by the network after 17 years of service on-air. He did so in a fiery tweet that claimed his former employer sent the news of his termination through his agent instead of contacting him directly.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” the tweet read. “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”
But, according to the network, Lemon’s version of events in regard to his recent departure doesn’t paint a full picture of the truth. While CNN Chief Executive Chris Licht shared a memo bidding a fond farewell to the news anchor thanking him for his contributions and claiming Lemon would always be a part of the CNN family, the network also clapped back against the anchor’s claim about the way in which he was notified of his termination.
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” CNN wrote in a statement posted online. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
The news of Lemon’s termination comes after Variety released a report that alleged a pattern of misogynistic behavior and on-set sexism throughout the veteran reporter’s decades-long career.
It’s been a terrific past week-plus for Blink-182. At the opening weekend of Coachella 2023, the band played its first live show since Tom DeLonge returned to the group. Then, their schedule got shuffled around and they ended up setting the stage for Skrillex, Fred Again.., and Four Tet to close out the festival yesterday (April 23). There was even a bit of meme-ing, as DeLonge took some time on stage to poke fun at his own voice.
In a video from the set shared on Reddit, during the breakdown section of “All The Small Things,” DeLonge said to the crowd, “So a lot of you people didn’t grow up singing and playing in a band like us, and you think you can do what we do, but to have the true voice of an angel, I’m going to teach you how to do it, how to sing like me. Repeat after me, alright?”
Then, he belted out a particularly gravely “All the” and had the crowd repeat, followed by a “Where are yoouu” from “I Miss You.” He added, “That was pretty good. Now that you know, it’s going to get you laid tonight.”
Check out the clip above.
Blink-182 is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
This week’s Succession episode, “Kill List,” felt decidedly less gut-wrenching than the past few installments. However, we did receive tons of wonderful one-liners, including “snakes on a plane” and “bleed the Swede.” On that last note, Kendall and Roman likely believe that their resistance was what led Lukas Matsson to hike his sale offer, but Shiv knows better.
She had quite the telling conversation with Alexander Skarsgard’s abs, particularly when Lukas admitted to sending his blood to his head of comms in a (gross) attempt to court (?) her. As far as we know, too, Shiv remains pregnant, although this moment sparked people’s curiosity because Shiv picked up a cocaine vial.
HBO
People did wonder what on earth was happening because it didn’t look good.
Alas, Shiv was never actually seen snorting any cocaine during the episode. Nor did she drink any alcohol (although she did pretend to do so), and she was previously seen turning down champagne in an earlier episode this season. Oddly enough, Shiv asked Tom to dinner after they returned home from Sweden, which means that she might be breaking the news to him? Either that, or she really likes being told that her “earlobes are thick and chewy.”
— sarah • succession spoilers (@seiruhcavanaugh) April 24, 2023
One never knows with this family.
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Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.