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10 super cute dog toys to make your pup happy

Whether you just got a new dog, or you’re looking to reward your loyal friend, adding some new cute and fun dog toys can be a great way to play with your pup. Lucky for us dog owners, Safe & Chic has some adorable new toys that make doggy playtime fun and are great conversation starters for houseguests. It’s time to give that tired old tennis ball a rest with some of these fun dog toys.


1. Watermelon Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

Keep your pup cool this summer with this delicious watermelon slice chew toy. This toy is perfect for a day in the shade or a fun trip to the doggy beach. Best of all, it doesn’t have any real seeds.

2. Taco Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

Everyday is Taco Tuesday with this taco chew toy. Now, instead of asking who’s a good boy you’ll be wondering, “Quien es un beuno chico?” and “Yo quiero taco toy?”

3. Frenchie Fries Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

These plush french fries are the perfect fast food for any fast dog. It’ll be hard to ketchup to any pup with this in its mouth.

4. Barking Bubbly Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

Now your dog can enjoy a taste of the good life with this Muttscato chew toy. Luckily, this plush toy doesn’t come with any hangovers. It also won’t save you from bad puns.

5. Poppin Pupcorn Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

Every doggy cinefile will enjoy this hilarious pupcorn plush toy. The perfect toy for nights on the sofa, watching doggy inspired flicks. It doesn’t come with any melted butter, but it will melt your doggy-loving heart.

6. Puppy-Roni Pizza Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

This Puppy-Roni Pizza is a fresh slice of adorable cuteness. Whether you prefer a thin slice, pan sheet or deep dish, this is the only slice your pup will love. Best of all, this slice of ‘za is machine washable and dryer friendly.

7. Soft Serve Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

The perfect soft serve swirl does exist with this adorable soft serve ice cream dog toy. Now, your pup can cool down with you and enjoy its own refreshing dessert. Doggy playtime just got a whole lot cooler.

8. Lollipup Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a lollipop? Help your pup find out with this adorable lollipup dog toy. Dog slobber sold separately.

9. Fried Chicken Dog Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

10. Magic Unicorn Toy


Image via Safeandchic.com

We knew they were real! This knitted unicorn plush toy is a hysterical addition to any pup’s toy collection. Best of all, this toy is good for your dog’s health– its natural flossing property removes build-ups of tartar on your dog’s teeth. Wow, unicorns really are magic.

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Start a new family tradition with Staub cookware

If you come from a family that loves cooking together, then you know that sharing is a big part of preparing every meal. Some families share recipes, techniques, and even cookware passed down from generation to generation. But how do you prevent a family heirloom from turning into a family burden? After all, nobody wants Grandma’s crusty, brown, one-handled, creepy clowns mixing bowl that she bought at the state fair in 1965 for a dollar.

We’ve found that in order to avoid sharing dated and damaged pieces, it’s important to select timeless and durable kitchenware from trusted brands that have been around for decades like Staub.


Used by some of the best chefs in the world, Staub cookware has become a mainstay in the world’s biggest kitchens. Chefs love the durability and consistency that comes from cooking in Staub’s cast iron and stoneware dutch ovens and cocottes. With Staub, heavy-weight, tight fitting lids ensure a nice seal, which maintains consistent cooking temperatures. Not to mention, the classic designs are always in style– making them something everyone in the family will be fighting over.

A few items we love are on sale right now:

Heart Shaped Cocotte


Image via Zwilling.com

Perfect for cooking a meal for someone you love, this dainty heart shaped cocotte is a beast in the kitchen. Made from hardy cast iron with an outer enamel coating, this cocotte can be used on the stove top and in the oven– up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The rough cast iron finish is perfect for even braising and browning. While the polished nickel handle makes it a tablescaping showstopper. This is the perfect pot to cook for– and eventually hand down to– the loved ones in your life.

Tomato Petite Cocotte


Image via Zwilling.com

Designed after the classic heirloom Brandywine tomato, these petite cocottes will make the perfect family heirloom for generations to come. Not just for looks, this classic stoneware dish also delivers incredible results in the oven as well. It’s the perfect vessel for cooking baked dishes and casseroles. Plus, it’s microwave safe, so you can use it to reheat leftovers or give your meal a refresh right before serving. This elegant piece of stoneware is sure to be a conversation starter at any dinner table.

Pumpkin Cocotte


Image via Zwilling.com

This pumpkin cocotte is a classic cooking and serving dish that looks great on any table. Perfect for casseroles, soups and baked dishes, the pumpkin cocotte is oven, broiler, freezer and microwave safe– making it a workhorse in the kitchen. It’s been fired twice in the kiln, so it is ultra durable and can handle sharp changes in temperature. It’s also the perfect vessel to serve autumnal dishes and desserts. We can already smell Grandma’s pumpkin crumble.

Artichoke Cocotte


Image via Zwilling.com

This artichoke cocotte is a practical head turner. The cast-iron is incredibly durable and crafted with the highest Staub standards. It also works on induction stoves, can be placed directly on a gas or electric stovetop and works in the oven. The cast iron is perfect for frying with oil, braising, cooking, and stewing. Plus, this beautiful cocotte looks great on any table, which makes it the perfect vessel to cook and then serve in.

Now you too can start a family tradition by handing down these beautiful, high-quality pieces from Staub. With great cookware, you can make great memories and pass down the traditions that matter.

Editor’s Note: Upworthy may receive a percentage of payment for sales of items listed in this article

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Pooh Shiesty Was Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Firearms Conspiracy

Pooh Shiesty, born Lontrell Donell Williams Jr., learned how long he’ll be behind bars today. Nearly a year after he was arrested on firearms charges, Shiesty was sentenced to 63 months — a little over five years — in prison according to Variety. It comes after he was indicted on four firearms charges in relation to a shooting incident that occurred in October 2020 at the Landon Hotel in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. Williams later pled guilty to the charges after accepting a plea deal from prosecutors that reduced a possible life sentence to just 97 months in prison — a little over eight years in prison.

Shortly after Williams was arrested for the October 2020 incident, he was taken into custody once again, this time for a shooting incident that occurred at a Miami strip club during Memorial Day weekend. Variety reports that the outcome in that specific case is unknown at the moment. Williams’ plea deal in the October 2020 incident reduced his four firearms charges to just a single charge for conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of violent and drug-trafficking crimes.

It’s unknown why Williams’ expected sentence of over eight years in prison was reduced to five years. Last month, it was reported that his lawyer was fighting the recommended eight-year sentence because “ballistics and forensic evidence” proved that Williams did not shoot the victim in the incident.

Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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SNX: The Week’s Best Sneaker Drops, Including Billie Eilish Air Force 1s, ‘Goosebumps’ Kawhi 2s, & More

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We’re not going to lie to you, this isn’t the best week for sneakers. After months of fire drop after fire drop, we’re getting the cold water thrown on us. Things are so dire that one of the biggest releases of the week is Adidas’ Peanut M&M-themed Forum 84. Let that sink in for a second, an M&M-themed sneaker is one of the big releases of the week.

Spoiler: It looks pretty much exactly like you’d imagine it to look.

You’re not going to find that sneaker on this list because it’s a f*cking M&M-themed Forum 84, don’t trust anyone who tells you that that is cool. The six sneakers we have rounded up represent this week’s best drops, which include a new Kawhi 2 from New Balance, trail-ready Nike ACG Mountain Flys, and a couple of Yeezy drops that should satisfy Ye-heads of all stripes. Let’s dive in.

New Balance KAWHI 2 Goosebumps

Snx Week of Apr 20
New Balance

Dip into some heavy ‘90s nostalgia with Kawhi Leonard’s Goosebumps inspired KAWHI 2 from New Balance. Featuring a FuelCell midsole for increased energy return, a full-length performance plate, and a lightweight Kinetic Stitch upper, this braided performance sneaker features the functionality and added comfort of a real court sneaker, with the design flair of something that would make sneakerheads geek out.

The design borrows liberally from the artwork of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series, with Kawhi Leonard’s name written in the iconic font. It’s a best of both worlds design.

The New Balance KAWHI 2 Goosebumps is out now for a retail price of $159.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Snx Week of Apr 20
New Balance

Nike ACG Mountain Fly Low GORE-TEX Hazel Rush/Dark Smoke Grey

Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike

Now that it’s spring it’s time to hit the trails and explore the great outdoors, which means you’re going to need some functional kicks that can put up with the demands of more rugged terrain. Enter the ACG Mountain Fly, which features a GORE-TEX-equipped waterproof upper with a React midsole, reflective over lace, and a thick tread.

This sneaker is kitted out to withstand the demands of rocky trails without sacrificing fashion for function. The sneaker drops in a Hazel Rush and Dark Smoke Grey colorway, and we’ve got to give it to the latter, which features a moody monochromatic design.

The ACG Mountain Fly Low GORE-TEX Hazel Rush/Dark Smoke Grey is set to drop on April 22nd for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike
Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike

Air Force 1 Billie Mushroom

Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike

Billie Eilish’s signature Nikes haven’t exactly captured the sneaker world’s imagination so far. While interesting, the sneakers she’s dropped have just seemed a little too plain, like early Yeezys without the next-level design elements.

But this week’s Mushroom Air Force 1 is different. Featuring a design inspired by the Alpha Force Low and Air Trainer 3, this AF-1 has been remixed with mid-foot straps, a chunky design, and a synthetic nubuck upper made from post-consumer recycled content. It’s hands down Billie’s best signature sneaker to date.

The Air Force 1 Billie Mushroom is set to drop on April 25th for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like Flight Club.

Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike
Snx Week of Apr 20
Nike

Yeezy 700 MNVN Geode

Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas

Fans of the Yeezy 700 will be pleased to know that a new colorway of the MNVN iteration of the silhouette is dropping this week. The Geode displays as a mix between grey and really soft lavender (is baby lavender a thing?), complete with silver 700 graphics across the upper and a chunky black midsole.

The Yeezy 700 MNVN Geode is out now for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app, Yeezy Supply or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas
Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas

Yeezy Foam Runner Sulfur/Stone Sage

Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas

Announced on 4/20, this week we’re getting two brand new Foam Runner colorways, just in time for spring lounging. The Sulfur and Stone Sage take design cues from the earlier Yeezy sneaker colorways, featuring muted earth tones that kind of sort of look like baby bile. Yup, we said it.

As ridiculous as the Foam Runners look, they’ve earned their place amongst sneakerheads. They offer an alternative for people who just can’t get behind Crocs, which is funny because these aren’t a far cry away.

The Yeezy Foam Runner Sulfur and Stone Sage are set to drop on April 22nd for a retail price of $90. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app or Yeezy Supply.

Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas
Snx Week of Apr 20
Adidas

Adidas Superstar Vegan Shoes

SNX
Adidas

Dropping as a women’s size exclusive, the legendary Superstar silhouette is receiving a vegan-friendly design. Keeping classic details like the rubber shell toe, and serrated three-stripes design, this Superstar has been updated with an upper made from synthetic and recycled materials.

It’s a Superstar for the modern age, and it looks super clean so no complaints here! We never thought we’d say this but, maybe Superstars don’t need to be made from leather.

The Vegan Adidas Superstars are set to drop on April 21st for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair via the Adidas Confirmed app.

SNX
Adidas
SNX
Adidas
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The U.S. Capitol Got Evacuated Because Of Miscommunication Over The Nationals Pre-Game Army Parachuters

Around 6:30 p.m. ET, there was considerable alarm in Washington, D.C., as Capitol Police announced they were evacuating the U.S. Capitol complex due to “an aircraft that poses a probable threat.”

As everyone at the Capitol building evacuated in a hurry and the rest of the country waited with baited breath to find out if there was an attack of some kind or what was happening, the Capitol Police quickly announced there was no threat to the Capitol and that the evacuation order, which was out of “an abundance of caution,” was no longer in place.

That led to plenty of questions as to what happened, and it turns out the culprit was the plane full of U.S. Army parachuters circling downtown Washington ahead of a jump into Nationals Park ahead of Washington’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Meanwhile, folks at the Nats game all knew what was going on and were happily watching the parachuters glide into the stadium while chaos ensued down the road at the Capitol.

It is an all-time misunderstanding and, luckily, it didn’t lead to anything disastrous. As some reporters noted, the fact that jets weren’t scrambled immediately shows that on the military side, they seemed aware of what was happening — which makes sense being they were Army parachuters — but clearly somewhere along the way the Nationals forgot to inform all the authorities they needed to and the Capitol Police were understandably concerned about a plane circling overhead.

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Bobby Shmurda Says Major Labels Are ‘Jumping’ And ‘Blackballing’ Him

At the end of last month, Bobby Shmurda shared a big announcement with his fans. He took to Instagram to reveal that he is officially an independent artist after parting ways with Epic Records where he’d been signed since 2014. “I just sign my release papers,” he wrote in the post. “Also jus made ah milly today I can’t wait to drop.” His exit came after he claimed in a prior Instagram post that he was not in control of his music. “I ain’t been in charge of my music since I was 19 years old and I just turned 27 and honestly idk when sh*t dropping,” he wrote. “So don’t ask me sh*t go ask them mf’s since they wanna control everything!!!!!!!”

Bobby Shmurda blackball comment
Screenshot from HipHopDX

It appears that Bobby hoped to secure a better deal with a major label with his newfound independence, but that has not been the case so far. Under a recent Instagram post, which he shared to promote his upcoming project They Don’t Know, Bobby took a moment to respond to a fan who thought he should delay the project from its April 29 release date. “Push it back and marker harder bro (js my opinion),” the fan wrote. In response, Bobby said, “@_frank_mathews_ and all my fans [cry and laughing emojis] nah F*** that I got major Lables jumping me Blackballing me and sh*ttttt and I’m from the hood young and rich black as sh*ttt and don’t give a [laughing emoji] about both and they Scare of me and I love that ishhh.”

He continued, “I’m only 27 one year fresh Outta six years they got 400 employees tell them boys stop playing me Homieee and I do no marketing that all my sh*t natural ahhhhh #FThemPeople I’m gone.”

You can view the post from Bobby and his interaction with the fan above.

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Report: Legendary Villanova Coach Jay Wright Is Expected To Retire

Mike Krzyzewski isn’t the only legendary college basketball coach who is retiring now that the 2021-22 season has come to an end. According to multiple media reports, longtime Villanova coach Jay Wright is weighing walking away from the program he has led for decades, with the expectation being that he will call it a career after winning a pair of national championships.

While nothing has been made official, the indication among basketball reporters is that it would take quite the change of heart for Wright to return to the Wildcats for the 2022-23 season.

According to Charania and Jeff Goodman, Fordham coach and former Wright assistant Kyle Neptune is the favorite to take over.

Villanova is one of two programs Wright has led during his coaching career. After a decade of holding assistant coaching jobs — including a stint as an assistant at Villanova — Wright became the head coach at Hofstra in 1994 and led the Flying Dutchmen to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.

In 2001, Wright was hired by the Wildcats to replace Steve Lappas, where he has established himself as one of the best coaches of his era. For his career, Wright holds a 642-282 record as a head coach, and after years of coming close, finally won national championships in 2016 and 2018. His trophy case includes a pair of National Coach of the Year awards, an Olympic gold medal as an assistant at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

While Wright’s name has been kicked around for years as one to watch for NBA vacancies, Norlander reports that the expectation is he’d leave coaching altogether and not try to make the jump to the pros.

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We Asked A Panel Of Craft Beer Experts To Name Their Favorite ‘Dank’ IPAs

There’s no disputing that hops (known as Humulus Lupulus) and Cannabis Sativa smell strikingly similar. They even carry a lot of the same flavor profiles, depending on the variety. That makes sense as soon as you realize they’re both members of the hemp family. Although not closely related, they both share one descriptive adjective: dank.

Dank is a term that’s thrown around as much in the marijuana world as it is in the beer world. When it comes to weed, it’s a term used to describe stinky, potent cannabis. The same can be said for beer — with dank getting used to describe resinous, piney, and potent hop flavors and aroma. And just like cannabis smokers crave a dank weed, so do many beer drinkers.

This is especially true when it comes to IPAs. The more hops, the higher the IBUs, the danker your beer will be. And as with anything, some drinkers purposely seek out the dankest, most resinous, piney beers. The problem is that it’s not always a simple process to find them. There are a lot of IPAs on the market, especially in the craft marketplace. Some are nice enough to add the word “dank” to their name to help you out, but that’s not a hard-and-fast rule for labeling.

To that end, we tasked a handful of craft beer experts to recommend their favorites dank brews. They were kind enough to name some seriously skunky IPAs that are full of piney goodness and feel like a great bag of weed on the nose and palate when you crack them open.

Sweetwater 420 Strain G13

Sweetwater 420 Strain G13
Sweetwater

Jeff Hancock, co-founder and brewmaster of DC Brau in Washington, DC

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Being an avid fan of cannabis myself, I’d have to go with another pioneering brewery, Sweet Water. Their 420 Strain G13 IPA uses actual non-psychoactive cannabis terpenes in this brew. The G13 terpenes make this beer taste like you’ve been invited to a grower’s harvest party. Cannabis aromas coupled with supportive and similar hop aromas and terpenes make this a truly unique IPA worth seeking out.

Altamont Maui Waui

Altamont Maui Waui
Altamont

Mark Hughes, specialty brewing manager at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma, California

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: $16.50 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

Why This Beer?

That has to be Maui Waui from Altamont Brewing Co. Mr. Sartori has always been a strong champion of keeping things West Coast. This beer bursts with tropical notes but keeps things dank with resinous Mosaic and catty Citra hops, the autotune of beer.

The Veil We Ded Mon

The Veil We Ded Mon
The Veil

Zach Fowle, advanced Cicerone™ and head of marketing at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix

ABV: 11%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Do triple IPAs count? If so, it has to be We Ded Mon from The Veil. It has a nose that’s at once fruity (peach juice, pineapple, and grapefruit zest) and incredibly resinous — I’ve smelled bags of weed that were less dank. Astonishingly drinkable for the intensity, the aroma, flavor, alcohol, and chewy body might be the most balanced triple IPA I’ve ever had. And the fact that The Veil’s brewers were able to wrest all that character from just one hop, Citra, makes the feat all the more impressive.

Old Schoolhouse Fresh Hop

Old Schoolhouse Fresh Hop
Old Schoolhouse

Matt Simpson, head brewer at Tennessee Brew Works in Nashville

ABV: 7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

The most memorable dank IPA experience is from the Fresh Hop IPA brewed by the Old Schoolhouse Brewery in Washington. It’s citrus-driven and dank and not too sweet or dry. The depth of the beer is insane with layers upon layers of aroma and flavor. A member of the Ruud family told me how they do it: It’s a bold and very out-of-the-box and semi-secret technique they use to deal with the number of wet hops. It worked.

Sweetwater Dank Tank Good Supply

Sweetwater Dank Tank Good Supply
Sweetwater

Chris Collier, brewer at Biggerstaff Brewing in Atlanta

ABV: 8.3%

Average Price: Limited Availability

Why This Beer?

Sweetwater Dank Tank Good Supply is a great choice. It says it right on the label. This double IPA is known for its hazy, juicy flavor that’s highlighted by ripe pineapple, mango, and other tropical fruit flavors as well as a heavy dose of dank and resinous hops.

Sixpoint Resin

Sixpoint Resin
Sixpoint

Mike Kelly, senior brewer at Harpoon Brewery in Boston

ABV: 9.1%

Average Price: $13.50 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Sixpoint Resin is my pick for the dankest IPA. I think the name speaks for itself with this beer. The heavy additions of Chinook and Centennial make this beer dank and delicious. This 9.1 percent double IPA is loaded with piney, resinous dank in both aromas and in flavor. It’s hard to beat.

Alchemist Heady Topper

Alchemist Heady Topper
Alchemist

Dan Lipke, head brewer at Clown Shoes Beer in Boston

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $17.50 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

Why This Beer?

Alchemist Heady Topper is a great dank beer. It was shockingly hoppy when it first debuted in cans and is still one of the dankest around. Heady Topper is a special beer for when you want an all-out hop assault. It’s unfiltered, hazy, and still one of the hoppiest, dankest beers ever brewed.

Wicked Weed Dr. Dank

Wicked Weed Dr. Dank
Wicked Weed

Marshall Hendrickson, co-founder and head of brewing operations at Veza Sur Brewing in Miami

ABV: 7.1%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

Wicked Weed Dr. Dank is my go-to. Dr. Dank is an absolutely delicious and dank IPA. The beer is brewed with terpenes, which have a lot of overlapping flavors and aromas with cannabis, ranging from citrusy to herbal to skunky (in a good way). Plus, with a name like Dr. Dank, you know what you’re in for every time you crack this beer open.

Avery Maharaja

Avery Maharaja
Avery

Nancy Lopetegui, taproom general manager at Wynwood Brewing in Miami

ABV: 10%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack

Why This Beer?

Maharaja Imperial IPA by Avery Brewing is my pick. You can smell the hops and citrusy noted from a mile away. The hops are in your face and very pungent, but then balanced out by the spicy malt backbone and the grapefruit and orange notes.

Writer’s Pick: Alpine Windows Up

Alpine Windows Up
Alpine

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

Why This Beer?

This seven percent IPA is truly a beer for hop fanatics. It’s filled with heavy dank pine needles and resinous hops. But instead of simply being a pine-bomb, it’s complemented by the addition of bright, tart citrus flavors and sweet, tropical fruits. It’s a well-rounded beer for dank fans.

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After watching Johnny Depp testify in court maybe it’s time to rethink celebrity culture

You’d be pretty hard pressed to take even a three-second scroll through the internet without seeing headlines about the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

Depp, who is suing Heard for $50 million in part over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed piece alluding to her being a victim of domestic abuse (the abuser being Depp), recently gave testimony in court. And, like many personal matters belonging to a celebrity, it has been the subject of public scrutiny.

In the video (see below) Depp touched on his own experience with abuse in his childhood, wanting to protect his children, his drug addiction, disturbing texts he had sent to friends about Heard and how heartbroken he was that those he mentored or had given advice to might be questioning themselves now, thinking him to be a fraud. Just to name a few points.


Johnny Depp Testifies On Why He’s Suing Amber Heard For Defamation

www.youtube.com

While there is certainly lots to unpack there, there is still one bit that I find more striking:

“One day you’re Cinderella and then in zero point six seconds you’re Quasimodo. I didn’t deserve that and neither did my children.”

If this isn’t the epitome of what’s problematic with our culture’s misguided celebrity worship, I don’t know what is.


It’s been an interesting year so far for movie stars. With one slap, Will Smith went from one of Hollywood’s most likable guys to its most notorious. Ezra Miller, once regarded as a beloved LGBTQ savior, is now reduced to the punchline of some odd Spongebob meme. In his “Cinderella” days, Depp was by and large a consummate actor who, performance wise, could do no wrong. Now franchises find him untouchable.

The rate at which household names can go from “greatest” to “worst” of all time is enough to cause whiplash if you’re looking too closely. And what’s worse, in this act of dehumanizing, we are often at risk of losing touch with our own humanity. Which is especially ironic and tragic given that artists in particular serve a purpose to connect us to our humanity.

If it’s not obvious: I wanted to add a small disclaimer that I am not excusing bad actions, or waving the flag of anti cancel culture. There is definitely something to be said about how celebrity status often exonerates wrongdoing unfairly. But really, I find that worship and vilification are two sides of the same coin. And maybe, just maybe, what we really need to do to break us of the movie star spell is to toss away the coin altogether.

There was a time when actors and artists weren’t seen as beyond human. In fact, it could be argued that back in the days of traveling thespian shows, actors were seen as subhumans, but that’s beside the point. Perhaps this recent fall of the movie star is a chance for us to collectively reclaim some mental freedom away from fame’s siren song. As we have recently seen, it’s certainly not the guarantee for happiness it once was.

A growing number of Americans no longer have gods to revere or royalty to idolize. In their absence, celebrities have taken up that mantle for many. But in this modern age of information traveling at the speed of WiFi, illusion and mystery are no longer the great shields they once were. Now, the spotlight mercilessly peers down into every crack in the veneer. And much like a real dying star, it’s as though these people are collapsing in on themselves, crushed by the massive weight of their own fabricated persona.

Perhaps it is unfair to view any human as some sort of celestial being. As we have seen multiple times, this leads to disappointment, abuse of power and unrealistic expectations. And perhaps worst of all, it removes us from compassion. Tons of debates are being had about whether Depp or Heard is lying, about whether this will be Hollywood’s “ugliest” breakup or if that will go to Will and Jada, and about whether or not we’ll ever see Depp on the screen again. Few are discussing the tragedy that their family must be going through, or talking about the heartbreak of love turned toxic. And then there’s the question: should we be weighing in on their life at all? It’s a fine line, being a public figure and all, but something worth considering.

Hollywood continues to adapt (for better or worse is up to viewer discretion). And as it does, movie stars like Depp might continue to lose their luster … if not eliminate it altogether. But hopefully that leads to a new renaissance. One where no one is beyond accountability or unworthy of empathy. Hopefully we don’t find new false idols, but instead value discernment above all.

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Omarosa Is Slated To Get $1.3 Million From Trump After He Lost His Three-Year NDA Case Against Her

While Donald Trump has been able to elicit Olympic levels of trust from his closest cronies — despite sometimes refusing to help them out of the legal headaches they acquired doing his bidding — those that have turned on him have really struck back. Stephanie Grisham, his third White House press secretary, wrote a juicy tell-all about her experiences. As did Omarosa Manigault Newman, who worked on his campaign as well as, for a time, in his presidential administration. Last year, after three years, Trump’s lawsuit against her failed miserably. And now the former president has to pay through the teeth.

As per The New York Times, a court arbitrator has ordered the Trump campaign to pay Manigault Newman nearly $1.3 million in legal fees she accrued over the protracted legal battle — a size her own lawyers say was surprisingly. large.

Trump’s case accused his former employee of violating a nondisclosure agreement. It’s the latest example of him discovering that his NDAs don’t exactly hold up in court. Last year, he tried to sue a former campaign aide who had claimed he’d forcibly kissed her. Instead, Trump was forced to pay more than $300,000 in legal fees. The judge in that case declared the NDA “vague and unenforceable.”

In 2018, Omarosa — who first met Trump when she was on Celebrity Apprentice in 2004 and was one of his administration’s only Black employees — published Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House. The book detailed Trump’s chaotic first year in the White House. After Trump lost his lawsuit in September of last year, she dished some more, alleging that he might not “even be healthy enough to run in 2024.”

(Via NYT)