chaos

PASSENGERS are facing travel chaos this bank holiday following a signalling issue impacting routes to Heathrow Airport.

There are major delays on the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express trains wreaking havoc for those trying to reach the airport today.

Earlier this evening, customers travelling to Heathrow Airport have been hit with severe delays to their journey.

A signalling failure in the London Paddington area has meant there’s a reduced service on the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express trains.

Trains running between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport or Reading may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised.

These delays are expected to last until the end of the day.

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According to Heathrow Express’ website, there are delays in both directions with only two trains departing every hour.

Meanwhile, the Elizabeth Line has reported severe delays between Paddington and Heathrow Terminals while a signal fault in the Southall area is fixed.

The service is also severely reduced, with some stations currently not being served.

On the National Rail site, they advise those travelling from the east to change at Whitechapel for service to Heathrow Terminal 4.

At the moment, services for Heathrow Terminal 5 will terminate before reaching Heathrow, so passengers are advised to arrive at Heathrow and use the free terminal transfers available at the airport.

Transport for London have said that tickets are being accepted on London Underground.

But for those travelling to Heathrow, the Underground doesn’t offer much of a solution.

This bank holiday the Piccadilly Line is undergoing planned engineering works, with no service from Hyde Park Corner to Uxbridge or Northfields.

However, tickets are being accepted by Great Western Rail and local bus services in order to get passengers to Heathrow Airport.

A spokesperson for Great Western Rail said: “Network Rail are currently investigating a signalling issue affecting the relief lines just outside of Paddington.

“To help keep trains running, some services are being reduced – and we’re advising customers travelling to or from Paddington to check before they travel.”

TfL said: “The Elizabeth line services are currently impacted by signalling issues in the Hayes & Harlington area.

“There is a severely reduced service, with some stations not being served, though we are currently looking to increase services.

“There is alternative ticket acceptance with GWR and local bus services.”

Families heading to France from Dover are enduring a two hour wait, while train services out of London have been hit by cancellations ahead of weekend of route closures

Drivers arriving at the port of Dover have been warned of two hour waits as millions of others elsewhere face bank holiday travel chaos.

Authorities at Dover have alerted customers to a “120 minute processing time for tourist traffic in the buffer zone” before reaching French border control on this side of the Channel. It added: “Please note there is external congestion on the port approach roads.”

Writing on social media, the Port of Dover said: “Thank you for your patience. Our teams are working hard to get everyone through border control and check-in as quickly as possible.” The go-slow comes as Brits flying to Europe also fear lengthy waits to get through border control after the implementation of new passport checks.

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Doug Bannister, Port of Dover chief executive, warned Saturday would be even busier: “We’re looking at about 8,000 cars on Saturday, so that is going to be the busiest of the three days. Our busy time for cars tends to be about 5am till until 1pm. If you’re arriving for a sailing during that period of time, we ask people not to arrive more than two hours before their sailing so that we can keep everybody flowing through.”

It is not much better for those staying at home and enjoying the forecast heatwave, with temperatures of over 30C predicted in some areas over the weekend.

National Rail warned the hot weather can “cause overhead lines to expand and sag”, rails to buckle and pose a risk of track-side fires. “Speed restrictions may be imposed,” it added.

Tens of thousands or rail passengers suffered cancellations even before a weekend of disruption due to engineering work and strikes.

Operator LNER said northbound services between London King’s Cross and Peterborough were disrupted due to a fault with the overhead power lines in the New Barnet area. Delays of up to 50 minutes were expected. And southbound, services between York and Doncaster were disrupted due to a fault with the signalling system.

The East Coast Main Line is expected to be one of the worst routes affected in the coming days because of a closure for works in North Yorkshire. A rail replacement bus service will operate but, as a result, will add more than more than an hour and a half to a normal three hour journey.

The closure has impact thousands Middlesborough fans travelling to London for the Championship play-off final against Hull City at Wembley.

Industrial action is also planned on London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway on Friday and Saturday, with passengers advised to “only travel if necessary” as trains will only run on a small number of routes.

Elsewhere, the Transpennine route will also be impacted, including a rail replacement service between Manchester Piccadilly and Huddersfield over the whole weekend, and between Huddersfield and Leeds, Dewsbury and Wakefield Kirkgate on Sunday.

Buses will replace trains on the Great Western main line between Newport and Bristol Parkway, while one train an hour will operate between south Wales and London via Gloucester from Saturday right through to Monday June 8.

Passengers using part of the Thameslink line in London and South Western Railway between Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour will also be disrupted.

Anit Chandarana, from Network Rail, said: “Bank holidays are still among the least busy times for us in terms of passengers, so it makes sense to plan these major improvements for those days.

“I know it can be frustrating to have to check before you travel, but this investment is about making everyday journeys better – improving reliability, reducing future disruption and helping the railway work better for passengers.”

So much rail disruption will inevitably mean even more people take to roads already predicted to be busy due to the weather and the start of the half term school break.

Adding to the risk of jams is the fact it is the final weekend of the Premier League season, with hundreds of thousands of fans travelling to cheer on their teams.

Motoring group the AA is forecasting Friday will be the busiest day, with around 23.4 million journeys taken, then 2.8 million on Saturday, and 22.4 million on both Sunday and bank holiday Monday.

If you have been disrupted by the travel disruption, email graham.hiscott@mirror.co.uk

Married At First Sight USA Season 19 is back with brand new episodes on E4, but things are already getting tense

A Married At First Sight bride has walked out following an uncomfortable encounter with her husband.

The US edition of the popular reality series has kicked off Season 19 with new episodes broadcasting weekdays on E4 at 8pm. Earlier this week, audiences watched five new couples tie the knot with complete strangers they’d never met before.

Thus far, viewers have remained sceptical about the revised format, particularly following an explosive Australian series, though the programme is still finding its feet as the newlyweds embark on their honeymoons.

In tonight’s episode (May 21), several couples faced significant challenges just days into their marriages. Brittany and Will have discussed their communication difficulties, with Brittany voicing worries about her husband’s failure to ask her questions.

Yet Will also highlighted concerns about their contrasting communication approaches, leading to Brittany walking off by herself, reports OK!.

She said: “I want to dive deep I want to have those conversations”, however Will interrupted her stating: “No, you haven’t asked me any questions.”

Acknowledging she has “been trying”, Will described her questions as “vague and conspicuous” as Brittany replied: “I didn’t realise I needed to be super specific.”

Following further exchanges, the couple failed to reach common ground and Will said: “I don’t need you to hold my hand all the time.” Exasperated, Brittany continued: “It’s bothering me… like really. Sorry, I’m going to calm down”, to which Will responded: “Do whatever you need, it’s okay.”

His reply only wound Brittany up more as she snapped: “I’m frustrated because we’re on two separate, I won’t even say two separate pages, we’re like in different books. I need someone who can communicate.”

Storming off, Brittany told producers it was like talking to someone who does not talk back, while Will made no attempt to follow his wife, telling cameras: “She left for a reason, I’ll let her leave.”

The row followed an uncomfortable moment on their wedding night. But will the pair manage to bridge their differences? Fans will have to keep watching weekdays to discover what happens next.

Plenty of viewers took to social media to share their views, with one person commenting: “This is what happens when couples have completely different communication styles.”

Another posted: “It looks like Will and Brittany need counselling already”, while a third added: “Omg the chats they’re having are not interesting enough for prime time TV.”

Meanwhile, Pat and Rhonda are also grappling with communication issues, with Rhonda revealing she wished her husband would show more interest in her life.

Despite this hurdle, the couple have already declared their feelings for each other, with Rhonda saying: “I love the person that you are, I love your kindness and generosity, I love everything about you.”

One viewer took to X to write: “I love yous already!” while another responded: “‘I love you.’ Already?”

Married At First Sight USA airs weekdays at 8pm on E4.

Summer holidays this year are set to look a bit unusual for Brits, with travellers looking to find ‘certainty’ and ‘safety’ before they book a trip amid ongoing global turmoil

Holidaymakers are facing some big changes this summer, with more and more Brits hesitant to book their getaways amid ongoing uncertainty.

New temporary rules have been brought in that allow airlines to merge or cancel flights in the face of potential fuel shortages over the next few months. The guidance means that an airlines which run multiple flights to the same destination in one day could merge these flights to save on fuel.

This would act as a kind of contingency in the face of the ongoing ripple effects from the Iran-US war, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway through which one fifth of the world’s oil passes. These new proposals would ensure that airlines won’t be penalised for merging routes, to try and keep the number of cancellations to a minimum – and they will retain any landing or takeoff slots.

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But this is not the only recent signal that changes are en route in the travel industry. A major lawsuit issued successfully by a holidaymaker over a lack of sun loungers at his resort might on the surface not appear to be a landmark moment, but experts tell the Mirror that it indicates a crucial change in attitude from travellers, who are determined to ensure “certainty” when booking a trip, and demand value for money amid the backdrop of international tensions, reactive financial markets, and the cost of living continuing to bite.

The Mirror takes a look at all the ways in which Brit’s approach to holidays looks to be changing this summer, from new-found hesitancy to visit the US, all the way to a surge in staycations, amid fears of fuel uncertainty.

No more ‘dawn dash’ for sun loungers

A landmark lawsuit brought by a German holidaymaker against his tour operator after he and his family were unable to secure sun loungers during their trip to the Greek island of Kos marks a major change on the horizon. The man travelled to the Greek island with his wife and two kids, paying €7,186 (£6,211) for a package holiday – but other guests at the resort relentlessly ‘reserved’ sun loungers using towels, meaning he and his family were unable to find a space.

David Eggert, 48, from Dusseldorf, said “it was a big hotel, very fancy, with about 400 loungers. And all 400 loungers had towels on them. The people were not actually using the loungers, and the guests went into town or went back to bed and slept.”

He said he believes it is a “very, very important ruling” that the judges in Hanover found in his favour, saying that though the tour operator did not run the hotel itself, they had a duty to make sure there is a “reasonable” number of sun loungers in proportion to guests. “When the holiday season starts in June and July and people face the same problem, they will say: ‘Look, somebody sued a tour operator over this. I’ll do the same’,” he claimed, “If thousands of holidaymakers start suing travel companies, the costs will run into the millions”.

Hotels throughout Europe are reportedly cracking down on the practice of visitors claiming sunbeds with towels or other personal belongings. One holiday camp operator in France is said to have introduced an alarm system where a horn is used on two occasions throughout the day. Anyone who isn’t using their claimed lounger at that time loses it – with their items popped to lost property.

“The recent sun lounger lawsuit may sound minor, but it actually reflects a major change in traveler expectations,” travel expert Declan Somers, CEO of Mobal, tells us. “People now expect the operational reality of a holiday to match the experience being marketed online. After years of cancellations, delays, and travel instability, tolerance for avoidable friction has dropped sharply.”

He adds that the “travel companies that will win big in 2026 are those that focus on reducing uncertainty, managing expectations honestly, and making the travel experience feel controlled, from booking to return.”

Fellow travel expert, Alexandra Dubakova, CMO of Free Tour, echoes these sentiments. “The recent legal victory for the traveler who sued sun loungers is a turning point. It is something that some tourists considered funny and a slightly annoying part of the holiday experience. People had somehow accepted it as a cultural quirk of resort life, and the court ruling changed that. It categorized a lack of facilities as a contractual defect.

“The ruling sets a precedent for tour operators as they can no longer sell a vibe or sunny dream. They need to sell specific and functional inventory. If you advertise a 500-room resort with only 50 loungers, you are now legally liable for a ‘diminished experience’. As a result, we expect hotels to implement strict booking systems to avoid legal issues.”

Merged flights chaos

Dubakova explains that the new rules proposed to limit flight cancellations through mergers might be a necessary evil for airlines to save fuel, but it comes with some downsides for tourists.

“The decision by the government to allow airlines to merge flights and cancel them is, as they say, a double-edged sword. From the airline’s point of view, it is a necessary measure to save costs. Flying near-empty planes just to keep airport slots is a financial disaster and a waste, given the current fuel shortage.

“Unfortunately, for travellers, this means inconsistency. Air travel is about to become more like bus travel. You might book a 10:00 AM flight and get merged into a 2:00 PM one. On the brighter side, it will prevent the last-minute chaos since airlines consolidate two weeks out.”

Before the conflict, Europe as a whole had about 37 days’ supply of available. Now, this is likely to have dropped to 30 days, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning that 23 days is the critical point at which some airports would run out of fuel.

As airlines merge flights to conserve fuel, families who booked together may find themselves rebooked onto replacement aircraft where they are scattered across the cabin. Notably, there is no UK law that requires children to be seated with their parents on a plane. Airlines can legally separate even those under five from their parents, although this would be against Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines.

The CAA says: ‘Young children and infants who are accompanied by adults should ideally be seated in the same seat row as the adult. Where this is not possible, children should be separated by no more than one seat row from accompanying adults. This is because the speed of an emergency evacuation may be affected by adults trying to reach their children.” “

If airlines start consolidating flights, a family of four ‘may be rebooked onto the same replacement flight but not necessarily seated together,” Somers warned.

Brits swerving the US to avoid ‘friction’

Long a popular destination for British holidaymakers, data from the World Travel and Tourism Council suggests that tourists from the UK are avoid booking a holiday to the US amid political tensions – with the country the only one predicted to “see a decline in international visitor spending last year.”

Somers explains: “I’m seeing a noticeable shift in how people view long-haul travel to destinations like the U.S. The hesitation is less about one specific political issue and more about accumulated friction. Think of tougher border perceptions, social tension, unpredictable airport experiences, and the feeling that international travel currently requires more emotional energy than before. Travellers today want journeys that feel smooth and manageable, not just exciting.”

“Yes, tourists are avoiding the US,” Dubakova adds, “which was among the top three vacation spots for Brits. The political atmosphere is negatively impacting the experience of tourists, making them feel unsafe. We are getting twice as many inquiries about Japan and Scandinavia because their political situation is more stable. Unfortunately, it seems the US is losing its automatic status as a preferred summer holiday destination for Brits.”

Rise in ‘staycations’

Brits are choosing to book holidays within the UK because they fundamentally want to feel secure in their investment, Somers explains. “What I’m seeing this summer is not people abandoning travel; it’s travellers becoming far more focused on certainty and operational reliability. Rising fuel concerns and the possibility of airlines merging or cutting flights are pushing many Brits toward UK holidays, not because they suddenly prefer domestic travel, but because it feels logistically safer. Travellers are no longer choosing purely on destination appeal; they are increasingly evaluating how vulnerable a trip is to disruption, rerouting, or cancellation.”

Dubakova agrees, explaining that it’s a way of maintaining certainty and ‘control’. “With the current fear of fuel shortages, Brits have opted for staycations and holidays in the UK based on predictability. People are conducting a risk assessment before planning their holiday. If they book a vacation in the UK, there will be fewer factors that they cannot control. They won’t be worried about being stranded by a sudden surge in airfare- fuel surcharges, or a fuel-related flight cancellation.”

Airports in Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been impacted, with major airlines cancelling 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services.

Hundreds of flights have been axed this weekend as severe weather, airspace chaos and growing operational strain cause widespread disruption.

Airports across Japan, China, India, the UAE, Singapore and Thailand have all been hit, with airlines scrapping 366 flights and delaying a further 2,949 services, according to aviation tracking data reported by Travel and Tour World.

Major carriers affected include China Eastern Airlines, IndiGo, AirAsia and Etihad Airways, with the disruption centred on major transit hubs such as Tokyo Haneda Airport, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, Kempegowda International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport and Zayed International Airport.

Industry experts say the chaos is being fuelled by a mix of heavy storms battering parts of Asia, congestion at key airports and the ongoing impact of Middle East airspace restrictions, which have forced airlines to reroute planes and shoulder significantly higher fuel bills.

The broader aviation sector is also grappling with the fallout from geopolitical tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran, which has resulted in airspace closures and extended flight times on major Europe-Asia routes.

It has been reported this week that a number of carriers have already started cutting back international schedules due to spiralling operating costs. Air India has confirmed temporary reductions to several long-haul services between June and August, attributing the move to fuel pressures and operational challenges stemming from diversions around restricted airspace.

Despite the turbulence affecting much of the region, Singapore Airlines has revealed plans to boost capacity on certain routes as passengers increasingly opt for direct Asia-Europe flights that bypass Middle Eastern stopovers.

Australian government travel guidance has also cautioned travellers to anticipate continued disruption related to the conflict, including cancellations, delays and fuel supply problems impacting global aviation networks.

Passengers flying through major Asian hubs this week have been advised to verify flight status updates before departing for the airport, with airlines cautioning that additional schedule alterations remain likely should weather patterns and geopolitical disruption persist.

Many Brits are concerned that the new EU Entry/Exit system (EES) could put a dampener on their holidays, but an obscure clause could mean that the system is paused at the busiest times

Summer 2026 is shaping up to be uncertain for holidaymakers. A combination of the jet fuel issues and new requirements for Brits entering the European Union (EU), means many travellers are braced for delays, cancellations, or long airport queues.

But a little-known clause in the EES rules could become a lifeline for Brits heading to Europe this summer, and it could be invoked if the queues at European airports become too long.

Some countries are already taking their own measures to tackle the chaos caused by EES. Greece has switched from using EES back to manual passport stamping to ensure a smoother entry system. While reports that Italy and Portugal may follow suit have been shut down by Brussels.

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However, there are exemptions built into the EES system that could be invoked in “exceptional circumstances” and these could potentially come into play if the new procedures overwhelm EU airports.

A parliamentary briefing notes that the European Commission “referred to the possibility” that EU countries could “suspend EES operations potentially for a further 150 days after the 10 April implementation date.”

This suspension can be for periods of up to six hours in “exceptional circumstances where there are excessive waiting times”, the document went on to say.

This means that up until July 9, some borders would have the power to suspend EES for up to six hours a day.

“Member States should use that possibility only when such suspension is strictly necessary and for the shortest period possible. In the case of partial suspension, the registration of biometric data in the EES should be suspended. In the case of full suspension, no data should be recorded in the EES,” the legislation adds.

Since the implementation of the new system, there have been mixed reports on its efficiency. Some have claimed that it’s made the process of getting through the airport tougher for Brits. Holidaymakers have reported long lines, blaming slow software and machines going down, while others have claimed it’s made little difference in times getting through the airport.

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Later this year, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will also come into play, requiring Brits to get a pre-travel authorisation before they enter the EU.

While this visa waiver system was set to cost €7, just over £6, the fee has now been set at €20, about £17.37, almost three times the original cost. All travellers aged between 18-70 will need to apply before they travel once the new system is launched.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

When Kevin Hart announced in January that he’d licensed his name to Authentic Brands Group, the popular comedian was silent on a key detail: the future of his namesake media company.

Hart sold some ownership and oversight of his brand in exchange for an undisclosed sum of money and a stake in Authentic, a New York-based firm that manages the likenesses of Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, Shaquille O’Neal and David Beckham.

Hart used the partnership with Authentic to reset his relationship with the people around him and his company, according to six current and former employees. Hart’s employees say they worry that this deal marks the beginning of the end of Hartbeat, the comedian’s namesake media company that produces films, owns a network of short-form video channels and handles marketing for brands.

Though the announcement made no mention of Hartbeat, the agreement gave Hart money to buy out his private equity partner in the company over time and regain control of the use of his name, image and likeness. Hart’s endorsement deals, which had been a pillar of Hartbeat business, will now be handled by Authentic.

Once valued at about $650 million, Hartbeat has shriveled over the past few years. The company enacted its latest round of job cuts in December, firing the heads of its scripted TV division, as well as employees working across marketing, social media and brand partnerships, said the people. Earlier this year it let go the leaders of its podcast division and later sued them for breach of contract.

Hart has withdrawn from the company, leaving day-to-day management in the hands of a small group of executives. Staff meetings have been canceled. The development of new film and TV projects has slowed. A slate of new podcasts was pitched but never produced.

Hartbeat’s struggles reflected the challenging environment for many Hollywood production companies as media giants merge and cut spending. The company is also a cautionary tale in this age of the celebrity media mogul. Financial firms have plowed money into media companies led by high-profile figures, believing they could use their notoriety to build valuable businesses. Yet even seemingly successful ones have had a hard time.

Hartbeat, like many of its peers, has suffered from mismanagement and grappled with the tension between the needs of the star and his company. Hart, one of the hardest-working people in Hollywood, tired of subsidizing a company that relied so much on him

Hart declined to comment for this story, which is based on conversations with several current and former employees. On Sunday night, Hart, who hosted the widely viewed roast of NFL great Tom Brady two years ago, was the subject of his own roast on Netflix.

Building a Billion-Dollar Business

One of the most successful stand-up comedians and actors of his generation, Hart, 46, has always been entrepreneurial. In 2017, he started Laugh Out Loud, an online video comedy business that later grew to include branded entertainment. He also operated his own production company, Hartbeat Productions, that made programs for streaming services like Peacock, Quibi and Netflix Inc.

With Hollywood in the midst of a production boom, Hart watched his fellow celebrities get rich from their media enterprises. Reese Witherspoon sold her media company, Hello Sunshine, in a deal that valued it at as much as $900 million. Hart’s friend LeBron James raised money for his company, SpringHill, at a valuation of $725 million. Hart believed he could be next.

In late 2022, Hart merged his business interests under the Hartbeat banner and raised money by selling a 15% stake to the private equity firm Abry Partners. The deal valued the company at about $650 million.

The new business was predicated on three pillars: film and TV, short-form video and advertising. Hartbeat had a deal to produce movies for Netflix, a slate of podcasts for SiriusXM Holdings Inc. and original audio series for Audible. Hartbeat also developed relationships with advertisers such as Lyft Inc., Procter & Gamble Co. and DraftKings Inc.

While Hart would star in Hartbeat projects, the goal of the company was to develop projects and new business that didn’t involve its namesake founder. The company could leverage Hart to sell projects and secure broad programming partnerships. Hart would ask that Hartbeat be involved in producing his movies and any advertising campaign for which he was a spokesperson. His fees as a producer and brand ambassador would help pay the bills. The hope was he’d convince other celebrities to use Hartbeat as well. Thai Randolph, who had been running Laugh Out Loud, was named chief executive officer.

Hartbeat opened offices in New York and Atlanta and took over a 40,000-square-foot West Hollywood office once occupied by Oprah Winfrey. Hart redesigned the space and installed a world-class art collection.

The upper-level lobby featured a work by Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey, while the conference room had a sculpture by Zimbabwean artist Moffat Takadiwa made of computer keyboard keys. A portrait of Kobe Bryant by Julian Pace hung outside a podcast studio.

Hart’s own office featured a dressing room, a series of paintings by South African artist Feni Chulumanco, multiple TVs and a desk from a prominent French designer. “He really has almost a full-service apartment in his suite,” Kai Williamson, who worked with Hart on the project, told Architectural Digest. Hart was interviewed for a story and also filmed an episode of the design magazine’s “Open Door” video series.

While Hartbeat expanded, Hollywood entered a recession. Economic uncertainty, rising interest rates and growing skepticism about the profitability of streaming caused major media companies to fire staff and pull back on buying new projects. Hartbeat was a little more insulated than most because talent like Hart could usually still get a project made. Still, producing projects without Hart in a starring role became more difficult.

Randolph left the company in late 2023 and was replaced by Jay Levine, who had spent much of his career at Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. Levine brought in a couple of other senior leaders with experience at major media companies.

A contingent of executives pushed Hart to scale back some ambitions, the people said. The company couldn’t afford to be working in so many different businesses at the same time, especially as areas like free, advertising-supported online video, and podcasts got more competitive. Hart was one of the most prolific and productive creative people in the world, starring in and producing movies, TV shows, comedy, short-form videos and advertisements. The point of the company was to relieve the stress on him, not add to it.

While Hartbeat closed its New York office, Hart was reluctant to scale back his vision or replace some long-time lieutenants. Levine negotiated his exit at the end of 2024 and was followed out the door by the company’s chief financial officer and chief content officer. Days before Thanksgiving, Hartbeat laid off about 20 people, nearly one quarter of its work force.

A year of chaos and conflict

In January 2025, Hart announced he would be the new CEO of Hartbeat and pledged to outline the firm’s strategy in the coming weeks. Instead, Hart went weeks and sometimes months without visiting the office, the people said, and empowered Jeff Clanagan and CFO Eric Stoneburner to run the company day to day. (Hart was on set to shoot at least a couple movies last year, in addition to his other work.)

A former concert promoter and movie producer, Clanagan had helped make Hart a major star. He had partnered with Hart to bring his stand-up specials to the big screen, producing shows such as 2013’s Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain, which grossed $32 million at the box office. Clanagan produced some of these specials under the banner of his own company, Codeblack Films, which helps promote, market and distribute video from Black creators.

Clanagan continued to operate Codeblack while serving in a senior capacity at Hartbeat, said the people. He pushed employees at Hartbeat to post its videos to the Codeblack channels as well, saying they could use the additional reach to raise awareness. The videos generated advertising sales for Codeblack.

Clanagan had employees at Hartbeat oversee Codeblack’s social media pages and asked to get those channels loaded into Hartbeat’s content management system. That gave Codeblack’s YouTube channels advantages over others because of Hart’s prominence and his company’s designation with YouTube. Employees raised concerns with human resources and the company’s lawyer.

Clanagan also became increasingly interested in video generated by artificial intelligence. He started a new app called Blktopia, a streaming service for Black viewers programmed with content from online creators and often made by AI. He urged employees to work on it, the people said. Clanagan initially responded to a request for comment and then retracted the text message.

Meanwhile, many of Hartbeat’s main businesses languished. Sales from the company’s YouTube channels fell and investment in new film and TV projects slowed. Hartbeat, once profitable, started to bleed cash. Hartbeat had hired Eric Eddings and Lesley Gwam to produce audio shows that didn’t involve Hart. While the pair developed a slate of projects, they never got approval to make them.

In mid-December, Hartbeat fired about a dozen employees, including some of those who were supposed to develop the podcasts. Eddings and Gwam then decided to start their own company and began trying to raise money. When Clanagan found out, Hartbeat fired them and sued for alleged theft of trade secrets and breach of contract.

A court approved a temporary restraining order but then rejected a preliminary injunction, saying Hartbeat had not demonstrated Eddings and Gwam had used proprietary information or trade secrets. The court said the request was “vague, ambiguous, and overly broad.” The case is ongoing.

Hartbeat also fired the heads of its TV division, Tiffany Brown and Mike Stein, who were in the middle of producing a TV show based on the film Barbershop for Amazon.com Inc. and a second season of the animated series Lil Kev.

The company made no official announcement explaining the cuts. The following week, senior leadership arranged a Zoom meeting. Hart remained off camera until it was his time to speak. He talked for a few minutes about changes at the company and took no questions. Hart changed his phone number in the weeks following the layoffs. (Some of his advisors had suggested he do this years earlier so that he wasn’t so available.)

A few weeks later, Hart announced the deal with Authentic Brands Group. Hart used some of the proceeds to buy out Abry Partners, freeing him to steer his brand deals to Authentic and outside of Hartbeat. A few of his employees and his publicist joined him at Authentic.

“This is a turning point for Hartbeat,” the company wrote in a subsequent email to employees, explaining that the deal would free Hart up to focus on what he does best, while allowing Hartbeat to stand on its own and grow beyond him.

“I know the past few months have been tough,” Hart wrote, adding that for too long the company had been too dependent on him. The email was said to be from “Kevin AKA Boss Man.” It was sent by Hart’s assistant.

Shaw writes for Bloomberg.

At 14:15 local time on 8 April 2026, Israel launched a massive wave of strikes against Lebanon – just hours after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran to pause fighting in the Gulf region.

Israel said it struck 100 targets in 10 minutes, dashing hopes in Lebanon that the pause in fighting in Iran would end the violence there too.

The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah – the Lebanese militia and political party that is funded and armed by Iran – started on 2 March after the group fired rockets into Israel, which responded with widespread air strikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

Since then, more than 2,600 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, and roughly a fifth of the population displaced, the UN says.

The BBC’s Nawal Al-Maghafi has been piecing together what happened that day and meeting people who lost loved ones on one of the deadliest chapters in the country’s recent history.

Read more about this story here.