admit

A BRITISH girlband have sparked controversy after they admitted they’re “difficult to work with” and have “been rude” but “own it.”

The trio formed in 2019 and they eventually shot to fame in spring 2022 when their debut single, Cardboard Box, went viral on TikTok.

R&B group FLO, made up of Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas and Renée Downer, have already found chart-topping success, bagging themselves a MOBO Award and a Grammy nomination.

Since then, rumours have swirled in the music industry that the girls are “difficult” to work with.

They have now made an appearance on a podcast and addressed the backlash head on.

Speaking on the Zach Sang Show, Stella Quaresma said: “A lot of people have stuff to say about us that we’re hard to work with or we’ve got attitude or we’re difficult.

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“And at some point you have to just be like okay, sure, maybe you’re right… like you have to own it.”

“Because if you own it, they can’t say anything more. It’s like I know you are but what am I,” she continued.

“It’s like if I agree then what can you say, it’s owning it.”

When asked how they would define why they are “difficult” to work with the girls replied in unison “opinionated.”

Jorja Douglas said: “I think it’s very much that people aren’t used to it and especially where we were so young… there’s a lot of power dynamics in the industry.

“It’s hard being like 18 and even up until now when we’re 24 or 23 and people who are deep into their 30s and have been doing it, since they were our age.. to take onboard that we disagree or have a different idea.

“It’s difficult for people and I think that’s where it stems because we’re not rude obviously we’ve been rude before, like who hasn’t, it’s a very high stress job and being rude can sometimes be a bit fun.”

She added: “But obviously pick your moments.”

Stella also confessed that she believes people in the industry are “sensitive” with the industry being “based off of emotions.”

FLO’s fans certainly had their backs in the comments as they rushed to the girls’ defence.

One fan said: “Our queens know what they want, and what they deserve. They shouldn’t expect any less.”

Another fan wrote: “People just hate confident women who know what they want.”

A third fan penned: “These women are fabulous. I’ve met them before and they were so open, sweet and genuine.”

Meanwhile, a fourth person felt differently: “Own it all you want but once you get a reputation like that, you will miss out on future opportunities.”

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen into tourist traps while abroad

More than a fifth of holidaymakers have fallen into tourist traps while holidaying abroad, with victims losing an average of £200.

A survey of 2,000 adults who have been on holiday abroad found a further 27 per cent have knowingly been ripped off or overcharged while on holiday.

The most common include overpriced food and drinks sold at tourist hotspots, taxi rides, hidden fees when using card machines, being charged more than locals at restaurants, and fake tour guides.

As a result, 49 per cent are now more cautious when spending money or booking activities abroad compared to five years ago.

The research was commissioned by the eSIM platform Airalo, which offers mobile data coverage in more than 200 destinations around the world.

Matteo Papa, growth director (Europe & CIS), said: “Falling victim to a tourist trap can put a dampener on, and in some cases a financial strain on, a dream holiday.

“While some traps can seem harmless at first, the costs can quickly add up and leave travellers feeling frustrated or out of pocket.

“Doing a little research before you travel, checking reviews, and staying connected while you’re on the go can help holidaymakers make more informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

“Being aware of the most common rip-off tactics in your destination can go a long way towards helping you enjoy a smoother, more stress-free trip.”

The study also found having reliable internet access makes 69 per cent feel safer when travelling abroad, with 21 per cent typically ‘always’ connected to the internet or mobile data when on holiday.

Almost half (46 per cent) said without internet access they wouldn’t be able to contact friends or family, while others would be unable to navigate unfamiliar areas (40 per cent), and or access tickets and bookings (29 per cent).

When it came to the top things holidaymakers worry about when going abroad, having a medical emergency or accident was at the top of the list.

However, missing flights (47 per cent), losing luggage (45 per cent), and food poisoning (38 per cent) also ranked highly.

It also emerged 52 per cent believe rip-offs in popular overseas holiday destinations are getting worse each year.

But to prevent being ripped off while on holiday, 50 per cent have avoided carrying large amounts of cash, while 37 per cent have only used licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.

And 39 per cent believe younger generations are just as likely as older ones to be tricked into spending more money while on holiday abroad.

Of those who took part in the study, via OnePoll.com, 65 per cent now think they would be confident in spotting a tourist trap before falling victim to it.

Airalo launched an activation in London, creating a ‘Tourist Trap’ featuring overpriced croissants with the price tag of €15 to warn passers-by of the bait faced on holiday.

To help holidaymakers dodge additional costs this summer, the brand is offering new users 20 per cent off sitewide data plans with the code ‘CROISSANT’, ensuring travellers stay connected and protected.

A spokesperson for the brand added: “Even seasoned travellers can be caught out when they’re unfamiliar with local customs, prices, or payment methods.

“Taking a few simple precautions before and during your trip can make a real difference, helping you feel more confident when making purchases or booking experiences.

“Ultimately, being prepared means you can spend less time worrying about unexpected costs and more time enjoying everything your destination has to offer.”

TOURIST TRAPS HOLIDAYMAKERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ABROAD:

1. Food, drinks, and merchandise sold at inflated prices because of a location’s captive audience
2. Overpriced taxi rides or taxi drivers taking deliberately longer routes to increase the fare
3. Hidden charges while eating out (e.g. paying for ‘complimentary bread’ left on the table)
4. Expensive local souvenirs which turn out to be cheaply mass-produced
5. Being charged more than a local would be in a restaurant
6. Card machines or ATMs secretly applying large hidden conversion fees
7. ‘Free’ gifts or bracelets which later require payment
8. Tour guide rip-offs (i.e. paying a premium for a low-quality tour)
9. Tourist photo scams (e.g. being charged unexpectedly for photos)
10. Paying for unsolicited ‘help’ with luggage at airports or train stations

But in a court filing Friday evening, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the damage was caused by a “botched installation.” Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI. | License Photo

July 31 (UPI) — Trump administration prosecutors on Friday moved to dismiss the felony case against U.S. Olympian David Hearn, admitting that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to a “botched installation and not vandalism.”

Hearn, 67, was indicted by a federal grand jury early July on accusations that he purposefully ripped up a piece of the recently-installed blue sealant from the pool’s bottom.

President Donald Trump claimed the pool, which cost nearly $15 million to renovate, had been damaged by Hearn and other vandals.

But in a court filing Friday evening, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said she had been misled by the Interior Department into believing “nearly all of the damage” was done by vandals.

In charging Hearn, Pirro had said she had “tremendous evidence” that he committed a felony that could have landed him in prison for 10 years.

“Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism,” Pirro wrote in court papers, The New York Times reported.

Pirro added the “botched” renovation “was the result of a flawed installation by the contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, and the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration.”

In a statement, Hearn’s attorneys said, “The Trump administration’s case against Davey Hearn should have never been brought.”

“Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong,” the attorneys added. “The government’s approach was ready, fire, aim.

“The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”

Sunday Brunch hosts Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer returned with a new guest panel

A Sunday Brunch guest issued an apology on Sunday’s show as they admitted “I sound terrible”.

Tim Lovejoy and his co-host Simon Rimmer once again welcomed several famous faces onto the show, including Boyzone, Michael Ball, Priya Kansara, Anna Dimitriadis, Celyn Jones and Freya Ridings.

As usual, they also served up a variety of delicious dishes for their guests to enjoy, alongside chef Paul Leonard. At the start of the show, Tim and Simon introduced this week’s guests as many viewers were excited about the line-up.

Previously taking to social media, one person said: “What a line up”, as another echoed: “Love Michael Ball so will watch this one.”

However, it wasn’t long before one guest issued an apology live on air after they made a “showing off” admission.

During the introduction today (Sunday, May 30), Welsh actor and director Celyn Jones was asked about his impressive moustache where he revealed it was “for a role I’m doing at the moment.”

He added: “I lost my voice yesterday.” When asked what he had been doing to lose his voice, he continued: “I’m just trying to win another BAFTA really.”

When asked more about how the new role is going, he said: “It’s a film called Oh Magnus”, with a new filmmaker, he then teased: “I play the worst teacher that ever lived.”

Hosts Tim and Simon later sat down with the Welsh actor, who has previously won a BAFTA, who teased his new role, as well as revealing all about upcoming period drama Madfabulous, which will be released in cinemas next week (June 5).

After sitting down for his interview, Celyn added: “I’m so sorry, I sound so terrible. I’m not in pain, I should’ve been more disciplined on set yesterday, I was showing off.” He then continued: “I was over acting.”

A brand new Instagram page was previously set up for the Oh Magnus film account, which shared an exciting post this week of a directing clapper. Captioning the post: “It begins…”, Celyn Jones and others were tagged as excitement starts to build.

One person wrote: “Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait.” Another said: “Don’t know what you’re making but it’s bound to be good!”

A third added: “How exciting, so looking forward to the progress.”

Also on the Sunday Brunch show today was Freya Ridings who opened up about her new album release, which she admitted took three years to perfect, as well as Boyzone who opened up about their final farewell tour.

Sunday Brunch airs every Sunday at 10am on Channel 4

BRITS are guilty of packing the kitchen sink when going on holiday – but still forget essential items such as their underwear, glasses, contact lenses and wallet.

A study of 2,000 adults found 51 per cent typically pack more than they need for a staycation, with 44 per cent claiming they are ‘overpackers’.

It was found 23 per cent have packed so much they’ve hampered their ability to clearly see out of their car’s back window.

But they admit to often forgetting things like their charger (28 per cent), toiletries (20 per cent) and medication (13 per cent).

Organisation expert, Dilly Carter, has teamed up with Halfords to help staycationers pack smarter and get more out of their car space.

She said: “With no luggage limits, it’s easy to overpack – but a few simple tweaks can make all the difference especially when cramming what seems like every corner of your home into a bag.

“If you are packing for a trip you should think about your zones, putting things next to other bits that make sense, for example keeping all food in one place, and activities next to each other – this will help with quick unloading.

“Some cars aren’t fit to have too much kit packed in them, so it’s worth considering a roof box or bike rack to make sure you have enough room for the essentials.”

As examples of Brits’ overpacking ways, 26 per cent admit to bringing toilet paper with them, 18 per cent bring their own bedding – and 10 per cent will even pack their own spices.

For one in five (20 per cent), packing for a staycation causes them stress, with 67 per cent worrying they may forget something.

Although 52 per cent said the weather is the biggest cause of their packing anxiety because the weather is unpredictable.

On average, it takes Brits 50 minutes to pack their bags for a three-day (two night) staycation – although more than a quarter will take longer than an hour.

When travelling to a staycation 80 per cent will typically get to their destination by car, however 17 per cent will take to the road without carrying out safety checks like tyre pressure, fuel/battery level or washer fluid.

The OnePoll.com study found men will take control of packing the car (54 per cent), checking the car (54 per cent) and unpacking the car (34 per cent).

Whereas women will be in command of booking (55 per cent) and organising supplies (50 per cent).

Paul Ray at Halfords said: “We’ve all been there – wedging a third spare pillow into the back window, driving halfway down the M5, and suddenly realising the phone chargers are still sitting on the kitchen counter.

“With no airport luggage limits, staycations make it incredibly easy to overpack, but shoving the kitchen sink into the boot can actually change how your car handles.

“Teaming up with Dilly is all about helping families cut the holiday packing stress, get organised, and crucially, make sure that extra weight doesn’t compromise their safety on the road this summer.”