SHE was famously axed from one of the country’s biggest soaps after joining OnlyFans – and within weeks was among its top creators, earning hundreds of thousands from her racy snaps.
But Sarah Jayne Dunn‘s X-rated spark has fizzled out, according to pals who say the former Hollyoaks star – who faced accusations she was promoting “pornography” last week – has been left out in the cold. Now, The Sun can reveal things have gone from bad to worse.
Sarah was famously axed from one of the country’s biggest soaps HollyoaksCredit: SplashSarah has been ostracised from the showbiz world sinceCredit: Not known, clear with picture deskThe actress, pictured at the National Television Awards in 2020, before she was dropped from HollyoaksCredit: Getty
An insider told us: “There was a lot of fanfare when Sarah left the soap, and she made a big thing about why it was important to be on OnlyFans.
“It might look plain sailing, but it’s a real slog and actually very isolating. She knows people look at her at the school gates, and you only have to look online to see people’s disgust about what she does.”
Fans pay just over £11 per month to see Sarah strip off, and her posts have been liked more than 455,000 times since she joined the site four years ago this month. Her subscription numbers are no longer visible to fans.
But as the months have worn on, Sarah has had to deal with lewd, vulgar and creepy comments from her desperate subscribers, who constantly plead with her to flash more flesh.
In the last two weeks alone, her OnlyFans snaps have been littered with explicit remarks, piling on the pressure for even racier content – raising questions about what Sarah’s future on the site will look like.
Our insider continued: “Subscribers have naturally gone down, so Sarah has been working hard to produce more and more racy content. It’s a bit of a rabbit hole once you get started, and those who are still close to her are worried about how far it will go.
“Her son is getting older now, and it can’t be easy for him seeing her pictures and the headlines.”
Sarah has a nine-year-old son, Stanley, with her personal trainer husband, Jonathan Smith.
While she has previously shared a picture of Stan taking over her £20k pole-dancing room, which she had built in her garden, to play his video games, the ex-Oaks star tries to be careful around the youngster when it comes to her day job – because he is becoming “really inquisitive”.
She said last month: “He’s getting to that age where he’s really inquisitive about everything.
“I was sat in the bedroom the other morning doing my make-up, and he comes into the bedroom and goes, ‘Mum, what is p***y?’ I was racking my brain, going, ‘Oh my God, what has he seen?’ I’ve got this book next to my make-up mirror called P***y.”
Sarah – who played Hollyoaks’ Mandy Richardson from 1996 to 2021 – has made no secret of wanting to maintain her wealth and has recently trained as a pole dancing teacher to boost her income.
It was the latest blow for the star who has struggled to land TV work and has lost two of her closest friends in her bid to become a top content creator.
Showbiz bust-up
We can reveal she is no longer speaking to Stephanie Waring, who played her onscreen sister, following her fallout with glamour model Rhian Sugden.
The former soap star has a £20k pole-dancing room in her gardenCredit: InstagramSarah has a nine-year-old son StanleyCredit: InstagramShe shares her son with her personal trainer husband, Jonathan SmithCredit: Instagram
Raised eyebrows over her lifestyle choice is not something new for Sarah, who recently admitted she has constantly faced accusations she is baring all on OnlyFans.
She recently said: “Whenever I get stick, it’s because of people going, ‘Well, you’re getting your fl**s out,’ and I’m like, ‘I’m actually not, thank you very much.’
“People just associate the platform with porn. That’s fine, because the platform does have that content, but it doesn’t mean everyone on there is doing that.”
Hollyoaks bosses clearly had a similar view, and we can reveal that since joining OnlyFans, Sarah has had a bust-up with her former co-star Stephanie Waring.
An insider told us: “Sarah and Steph were always very close, but when Sarah started posting online, things between them started to change.
“They have barely spoken since, and Sarah definitely didn’t rush to support her when she was axed from the show last year.
“They don’t even follow each other anymore. It’s very sad it’s come to this.”
Steph has previously said she wouldn’t dream of using her body to make money – unlike Sarah.
Sarah is convinced Steph is one of the people who grassed her up to Hollyoaks bosses
An Insider
She told the Secure The Insecure podcast: “I don’t think I could ever sexualise myself in that way.
“I’m nearly 50 and I just don’t think that’s my angle… never say never, though. People change all the time.”
One of Sarah’s post-Hollyoaks ventures saw her co-host podcast Hot and Bothered alongside Page 3 legend Rhian Sugden, in which the pair discussed everything from sex toys to fetishes.
We can reveal Sarah is no longer pals with Stephanie Waring – who played her sister on HollyoaksCredit: GettyShe has also fallen out with Rhian Sugden after launching a podcast togetherCredit: David Cummings – Commissioned by The Sun
Sarah and Rhian even took part in a joint lingerie-clad photoshoot to promote their sex podcast – but the pair have since fallen out.
Rhian claimed she had been dropped from the joint podcast, despite reportedly investing thousands in it, and the pair are no longer thought to be on speaking terms.
In 2023, a friend close to the pair said: “Rhian reached out to Sarah after the whole Hollyoaks sacking drama, and she became a real source of support for her.
“They went in on the podcast together and had loads of fun making it – and had loads of listeners.
“It came as a real shock to everyone when Sarah just cut her out. There’s been no contact since, and it’s all very sad.”
Last weekend, she made it clear to her OnlyFans followers how much she wants to land a spot on her dream show – Strictly.
She posted a picture wearing a see-through red bra with sequins, with her nipples clearly visible, and asked her followers: “Who’d like to see me on Strictly?!”
Sarah received just one response. The follower wrote: “People would [black love heart emoji] to see you on Strictly!”
The star also has her heart set on appearing in I’m A Celebrity, which is filmed in the Australian jungle.
A source told us: “Sarah has made no secret of the fact she would love to head into the jungle, or on the Strictly ballroom, but neither shows have come calling yet.
“They are dream paydays for most out-of-work actors and content creators, and she is desperate to appear on one.”
Another pal close to Sarah insisted: “Sarah is under no pressure around her OnlyFans work, she is able to be fully in control of her life, work as and when she wants, and it’s afforded her numerous wonderful opportunities.
“With regards to any mention of a fall out with friends, there is certainly no falling out from Sarah’s side, so this is news to her. Sarah is a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing, so naturally would love to be on the show!”
It doesn’t look like BBC bosses will be calling her to swap pole dancing for the ballroom just yet, so for now, Sarah may have to stick to the sexy snaps.
Followers pay just over £11 per month to see Sarah strip off on OnlyFansCredit: Sarah Jayne DunnSarah played Mandy Richardson on Hollyoaks from 1996 to 2021Credit: Channel 4
On Thursday morning, President Donald Trump announced that the United States, working with Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar, had finally reached a ceasefire deal for Gaza. For a moment, it seemed as if Gaza’s long nightmare was coming to an end.
But the ceasefire didn’t bring peace; it only shifted the suffering into a quieter, more insidious form, where the real damage from the rubble began to settle into Gaza’s weary soul. Years of relentless shelling had built up fear and heartbreak that no outsider could erase.
During those two brutal years of bombing and near-total destruction, everyone in Gaza was focused on one thing: Staying alive. We were fighting for every minute, trying not to break down, starve, or get killed. Life became an endless loop of terror and waiting for the next strike. No one had the luxury to dream about tomorrow or even to mourn the people we’d lost. If there was any kind of shelter, and that was a big if, the goal was simply to move from one shattered refuge to another, holding on by a thread. That constant awareness that death could come at any moment turned every day into an act of survival.
Then, when the explosions finally eased, a quieter kind of pain crept in: All the grief we had buried to get through the chaos. Almost everyone had someone torn away, and those pushed-aside memories came rushing back with a force that took the breath out of us. As soon as the rockets fell quiet, another fight began inside people’s chests, one full of mourning, flashbacks and relentless mental anguish. On the surface, it looked like the war was over, but it wasn’t. It was far messier than that. Even when the shelling eased, the emotional wounds kept bleeding.
When the noise finally faded, people began to ask the questions they had forced themselves to ignore. They already knew the answers – who was gone, who would not be coming back – but saying the words out loud made it real. The silence that followed was heavier than any explosion they had survived. That silence made the truth impossible to avoid. It revealed the permanence of loss and the scale of what had vanished. There were holes everywhere, in homes, in streets, in hearts, and there was no way to fill them.
People in Gaza breathed a fragile sigh of relief when the news of a ceasefire arrived, but they knew the days ahead could hurt even more than the fighting itself. After 733 days of feeling erased from the map, the tears locked behind their eyes finally began to fall, carrying with them every ounce of buried pain. Each tear was proof of what they had endured. It was a reminder that a ceasefire does not end suffering; it only opens the door to a different kind of torment. As the guns fell quiet, people in Gaza were left to confront the full scale of the devastation. You could see it in their faces – the shock, the fury, the grief – the weight of years under fire.
Roads that once hummed with life had fallen silent. Homes that had sheltered families were reduced to dust, and children wandered through the ruins, trying to recognise the streets they had grown up on. The whole place felt like a void that seemed to swallow everything, as bottled-up grief burst open and left everyone floundering in powerlessness. During the onslaught, the occupiers had made sure Palestinians could not even stop to mourn. But with the ceasefire came the unbearable realisation of how much had truly been lost, how ordinary life had been erased. Coming face to face with the absence of loved ones left scars that would not fade, and the tears finally came. Those tears ran down exhausted faces and broken hearts, carrying the full weight of everything remembered.
It was not only the mind that suffered. The physical and social world of Palestinians lay in ruins. When the bombing eased, people crawled out of their makeshift tents to find their homes and towns reduced to rubble. Places that had once meant comfort were gone, and streets that had once been full of life were now heaps of debris.
Families dug desperately through the rubble for traces of their old lives, for roads and signs that had vanished, for relatives still trapped beneath the debris. Amid the wreckage, the questions came: How do we rebuild from this? Where can we find any spark of hope? When an entire world has been destroyed, where does one even begin? Israel’s strategy was clear, and its results unmistakable. This was not chaos; it was a deliberate effort to turn Gaza into a wasteland. By striking hospitals, schools and water systems – the foundations of survival – the aim was to shatter what makes life itself possible. Those strikes sowed a despair that seeps into everything, fraying the bonds of community, eroding trust and forcing families to wonder whether they can endure a system built to erase them.
The destruction went deeper than bricks and bodies. The constant shadow of death, the bombs that could fall anywhere, and the psychological toll made fear feel ordinary, hope seem foolish, and society begin to unravel. Children stopped learning, money disappeared, health collapsed, and the fragile glue holding communities together came undone. Palestinians were not only struggling to survive each day; they were also fighting the slow decay of their future, a damage etched into minds and spirits that will last for generations.
When the fighting subsided, new forms of pain emerged. Surrounded by ruins and with no clear path forward, people in Gaza faced an impossible choice: Leave their homeland and risk never returning, or stay in a place without roads, schools, doctors or roofs. Either choice ensured the same outcome – the continuation of suffering by making Gaza unlivable. Endless negotiations and bureaucratic deadlocks only deepened the despair, allowing the wounds to fester even as the world spoke of “peace”.
The ceasefire may have stopped the shooting, but it ignited new battles: Restoring power and water, reopening schools, rebuilding healthcare, and trying to reclaim a sense of dignity. Yet the larger question remains: Will the world settle for symbolic aid and empty speeches, or finally commit to helping Palestinians rebuild their lives? Wars carve deep wounds, and healing them takes more than talk. It demands sustained, tangible support.
After two years under siege, Gaza is crying out for more than quiet guns. It needs courage, vision and real action to restore dignity and a sense of future. The ceasefire is not a finish line. It marks the start of a harder struggle against heartbreak, memory and pain that refuses to fade. If the world does not act decisively, Palestinian life itself could collapse. Rebuilding communities, routines and a measure of normalcy will be slow and difficult, but it has to happen if Gaza is to keep going. Outwardly, the war may have paused, but here it has only changed shape. What comes next will demand everything we have left: Endurance, stubborn hope, the will to stay standing.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
DAME PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE created a monster, and we loved her for it.
The actress, who has died aged 96, turned Hyacinth Bucket – pronounced “Bouquet” – into one of the most memorable TV characters of all time.
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Dame Patricia Routledge with Keeping Up Appearances co-star Clive SwiftCredit: Shutterstock
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The actress passed away aged 96Credit: Alamy
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The star portrayed one of the most memorable TV characters of all timeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Decades on from Nineties sitcom Keeping Up Appearances the pearl-wearing snob, with her candlelight suppers and white slimline telephone, is still as embedded in the national psyche as a character from Charles Dickens.
In Patricia’s own words: “She was grotesque.”
But the actress, like viewers, could not help but admire her: “She was always getting it wrong and slipping on the banana skin, and then coming back and flying the flag.”
By the time the sitcom first hit screens, Patricia had been acting for nearly 40 years, in roles from Coronation Street to Broadway musicals, with co-stars from Sidney Poitier to Jerry Lewis.
She was also a favourite of writer Alan Bennett, who wrote his first great TV monologue especially for her in 1982.
Its success led to the landmark series Talking Heads, in which she also starred.
Alan said in 1998: “She has an enormous amount of zest and brio and she puts a lot of air into the language, so it lifts dialogue which might otherwise seem quite banal.”
After leaving Keeping Up Appearances, Patricia had a second smash-hit with Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, and in 1996 was voted the nation’s favourite actress of all time.
But Patricia managed to keep her private life out of the spotlight.
She never married or had children, and for years refused to discuss her relationships except to say: “I do know what it is to have loved and suffered.”
Only Fools & Horses legend Patrick Murray had died aged 68
Eventually, she revealed she had had three great love affairs, including one with a married man, which tormented her as a devout Christian.
She also admitted: “I didn’t make a decision not to be married and not to be a mother -– life just turned out like that because my involvement with acting was so total.
“Now I think it’s a pity I didn’t have children. But I’m not sure you can have a career and a family and do both satisfactorily. I always knew, deep down, that everything has a cost.”
But whenever she was asked how to become a success, she had the same answer: “I say, I can give you a tip. It’s called risk. And if you’re prepared to risk everything, then you can do anything.”
The icon as Hyacinth BucketCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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The 90’s sitcom ran for five yearsCredit: Alamy
Katherine Patricia Routledge was born on February 17, 1929, in Birkenhead, Wirral, and grew up in a house behind father Isaac’s “high-class gentlemen’s outfitters” shop.
The family was theatre-mad and Patricia acted in school plays but never saw it as her future: “I always intended to be a go-ahead headmistress in a red sports car who had romances all over Europe in the holidays.”
With that in mind, she studied English at the University of Liverpool but spent so much time in the student drama club that older brother Graham urged her to audition for the Liverpool Playhouse.
She said: “He was the one who said, ‘That’s what you ought to do.’” In 1952, aged 23, she made her professional debut with the company as Hippolyta in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Just two years later she was in the West End, showing off her roof-raising contralto singing voice in musical comedy The Duenna.
By early 1961 she was so well known on stage stage that the makers of Coronation Street, which had begun a couple of months earlier, pounced: “They created a character for me – Sylvia Snape. She had a little cafe.”
Their idea was for the no-nonsense proprietor to become one of the cobbles’ stalwarts, but after just three episodes Patricia quit.
She recalled: “I just knew inside that I needed to have other adventures.”
That included belting out satirical songs on That Was The Week It Was, as well as her big-screen debut in 1967’s To Sir with Love.
She played a teacher who offers support to Sidney Poitier’s character, and years later recalled the actor’s generosity: “I just had one scene alone with him, and he gave it to me.”
Patricia had less happy memories of working with Jerry Lewis in 1968’s Don’t Raise the Bridge, Lower the River: “An absolute nightmare. And I’m afraid I didn’t find him funny at all.”
BROADWAY DEBUT
That year Patricia also took Broadway by storm, with the New York Times critic describing her performance in Darling of the Day as “the most spectacular, most scrumptious, most embraceable musical comedy debut since Beatrice Lillie and Gertrude Lawrence came to the country.”
It landed her a Tony Award, presented by Groucho Marx.
Back at home, Alan Bennett had been a long-time fan and so when he wrote his first ground-breaking TV monologue, he wrote it for her.
Initially, Patricia turned him down: the piece was 47 minutes of just one character speaking directly to the camera.
Patricia recalled: “I said it wouldn’t work – people would switch off in their thousands.”
But Alan told her: “If you don’t do it, nobody will. I’ve written it for you.”
A Woman of No Importance screened on BBC2 in November 1982, with Patricia as Miss Schofield, who bubbled away about office gossip and the goings on at a hospital where, it slowly dawned on viewers, she was dying.
It was a sensation, and won Patricia a British Press Guild award for best actress. She later said of the writer: “He turns cliche into poetry. “He sees a world in a grain of sand – the sympathy, the humanity.”
Its success led to 1988’s beloved Talking Heads series of six monologues, with Patricia in A Lady of Letters as a lonely busybody who finally finds friendship when she is sent to prison.
She said: “It’s about salvation, about learning to love at a tremendous cost. Oh, it was a joyous thing to do.”
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Dame Patricia received a Tony Award for her stage performancesCredit: Getty – Contributor
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The legend was awarded and MBE in 2004Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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The icon was born on February 17, 1929 in Tranmere in Birkenhead, CheshireCredit: Rex Features
A second series was made in 1998, with Patricia’s monologue this time about a shop assistant who ends up in the thrall of her chiropodist.
In 2004 she admitted she found that part “very kinky”: “I didn’t really enjoy it. I didn’t understand it, deep down.”
Alan said later: “Patricia has a very strong moral streak and very strong views, and I think if a part doesn’t conform with those she’s very dubious about it.”
In between all this, she showed off her comedy brilliance again in Victoria Wood’s series As Seen on TV, playing an overconfident recurring character called Kitty who came out with lines like: “I’m something of a celebrity having walked the entire length of the Pennine Way in slingbacks, to publicise mental health.”
But when sitcom writer Roy Clarke, already famous for Last of the Summer Wine, presented the BBC with scripts for a new series about a suburban social climber, he did not have a lead actress in mind.
He recalled in 2004: “People do assume I must have written Keeping Up Appearances for Patricia Routledge, but I didn’t.”
It was director and producer Harold Snoad who Roy credited for “that perfect bit of casting”.
Harold said: “I wanted the character of Hyacinth to be a sort of stately galleon. I didn’t want somebody lightweight, either in size or vocal terms.”
Patricia said of the character: “She leapt from the page.”
GLOBAL HIT
The first series began on BBC1 in October 1990; soon 13million people a week were tuning in, including superfan the Queen Mum.
Nobody could have delivered lines like her (“I hope that’s a first-class stamp. I object to having second-class stamps thrust through my letterbox”) but she also brought a bursting energy to the role that was unmatchable.
The late Clive Swift, who played Hyacinth’s long-suffering husband Richard, said in 1998: “I can’t think of an another actress who could have brought the physical clowning to the part, which isn’t there particularly in the script.”
It was a global hit, but in 1995 after five series Patricia announced she would not do any more, despite the BBC’s pleas: “There were other adventures to have.”
They included, at the time, a new relationship.
Speaking to The Sun in 1996 she opened up about her private life for the first time, admitting: “A corner of my heart is taken. I’ve got a sneaking feeling that I might have almost everything in the end.
“He’s someone I’ve known for years and years. He’s in theatrical management but we hadn’t seen each other for a long time and then we met again.
“Life is full of the most wonderful surprises.”
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In 2017 she was made a dame for services to the theatre and charityCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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Patricia was once voted Britain’s favourite actressCredit: Alamy
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Patricia as Laura Partridge, during a photocall for the production of 1950s comedy ‘The Solid Gold Cadillac’ at The Garrick TheatreCredit: PA:Press Association
Patricia moved to Chichester, West Sussex, in 1999 to be closer to this new love, whose identity was never revealed, and lived there for the rest of her life.
She also told The Sun: “I had my heart broken when I was young. It was a grand passion, but it was complicated because he was married and, of course, I felt very guilty.
“I would gladly have lived with him and I wanted his children. But I couldn’t do it because I thought it would kill my parents.”
Her second great passion came in the late Eighties, when she least expected it: “Out of the blue this enchanting person appeared.
“He was a theatre director – a very funny and delightful man. But he had a heart condition, which I didn’t know about for a while.
“One day I went to rehearsal and was told he’d died in the night. This dear man was no more. I was just so hurt, so sore with the pain of loss.”
‘ILLUMINATING LIFE’
Work was always a refuge. In 1996 she was back on screen in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates as pensioner-turned-crime fighter, who was a down-to-earth, proud working-class opposite of Hyacinth.
Patricia later said of that character: “I loved her.”
It was another hit and the actress never forgave the BBC for axing the programme after four series without telling the cast: “No word ever came – how rude.”
Hetty was her last major TV role; afterwards she focused on theatre. Her final role was in Oscar Wilde’s play An Ideal Husband in 2014 in her adopted hometown of Chichester, where she worshipped at the cathedral each week.
In 2017 she was made a dame for services to the theatre and charity.
On getting the news, she said: “I started to laugh, and then I started to cry. It was extraordinary.”
But Patricia believed her profession was important.
She once said: “It sounds a bit high-faluting, but I think acting is the physicalisation of the imagination.
“If the word becomes flesh, then you are illuminating life for other people.”
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Patricia never married and leaves behind no childrenCredit: Shutterstock
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Mary Millar, Patricia and Judy CornwellCredit: Getty
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She surprised diners after being spotted at a restaurant more than 30 years after her hit show endedCredit: michaelnewtonyoung / instagram
Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a potentially season-ending injury after making a sideline catch during his team’s 27-21 win over the New York Jets on “Monday Night Football.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said after the game that Hill had dislocated his left knee and would remain hospitalized overnight for further testing.
Multiple media outlets are reporting that Hill tore multiple ligaments in the knee, including his ACL, and will undergo reconstructive surgery Tuesday.
Hill suffered the injury early in the third quarter when he caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa going out of bounds and was tackled by Jets rookie Malachi Moore. Hill’s knee was badly twisted and an air cast was placed over his leg.
The eight-time Pro Bowl selection remained upbeat in the immediate aftermath of the injury, joking around with teammates and smiling and gesturing to the Miami crowd as he was carted off the field.
“He was probably in the best spirits of any player that I’ve ever seen [have] such a terrible experience,” McDaniel said. “He immediately had wide eyes and was talking, ‘I’m good, just make sure the guys get this win.’ He was focused on the team.”
In an interview from the hospital Monday night, agent Drew Rosenhaus told WSVN-TV in Miami that his client’s spirits remained high as he waited to undergo an MRI exam and CT scan to help determine the extent of the injury.
“I can’t tell you how impressed I am with his mental toughness, with his uplifting attitude,” Rosenhaus said. “He’s keeping a smile on his face, telling myself and his parents who are with me that he’s blessed to be in the position that he’s in. He was watching the game. He was cheering for his teammates. He was rooting the team on. He’s handling a very tough situation the very best that you can.”
Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead had a similar update about the speedy receiver nicknamed “Cheetah” on Monday night.
“I just got a FaceTime call from my brother @cheetah,” Armstead wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “First thing he said ‘man I’m just happy we got that win’!! He’s in good spirits and said he was laughing through the pain, to avoid passing out!! crazy! Praying for best news possible and speedy recovery!”
Hill spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning Super Bowl LIV with them after the 2019 season. After being traded to the Dolphins during the 2022 offseason, Hill finished second in the NFL with 1,710 receiving yards that season, then led the league with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches in 2023.
“Prayers up man…..,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote on X shortly after Hill’s injury.
During this week’s White House press conference in which President Trump named the over-the-counter drug Tylenol as a possible cause of rising autism rates, he did not mince words, urging pregnant women to “fight like hell” not to take it.
But outside those remarks in the Roosevelt Room — during which Trump himself acknowledged “I’m not so careful with what I say” — the discussion on the common fever and pain reliever’s role during pregnancy is a lot more nuanced.
What the research on Tylenol use during pregnancy actually says
Physicians, researchers on the very studies cited in support of Trump’s position and even other members of the president’s administration are largely united on a few key facts: untreated fevers in pregnancy pose real risks to the fetus, acetaminophen (Tylenol’s active ingredient) remains the safest medication to treat them and any pregnant person seeking advice on the issue should consult their doctor.
“All that we should be asking of the medical profession [is] to actually weigh the risks and benefits for the women, with the women, and be cautious about chronic use of pain medications,” said Dr. Beate Ritz, a UCLA professor of epidemiology who co-authored a paper published last month that the White House cited as evidence for the link between Tylenol and autism.
Ritz said it has been misinterpreted.
The conclusion of the paper, which reviewed existing studies on the topic, was that the association between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and later diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders in kids was strong enough to merit doctors’ consideration when determining how to treat fever or pain in pregnancy. The group did not determine a causal relationship between the drug and autism, or suggest barring the drug altogether, she said.
“Looking at all of these studies, yes, there is a risk,” Ritz said. “It’s not very big, but it’s there, but the risk increases are more seen in regular users of Tylenol. This is not a woman who has a fever and takes three Tylenols.”
“There is always a weighing of the risks and the benefits, and fever in women is no good either. … Not having to take any pain medications when you are in severe pain or in chronic pain is also very cruel,” she said. “We all should have an interest in helping out here, making the right decisions without blaming the victim and putting it all on the individual woman.”
Her co-author, University of Massachusetts epidemiologist Ann Bauer, has made similar statements.
“What we recommend is judicious use — the lowest effective dose [for] the shortest duration of time under medical guidance and supervision, tailored to the individual,” Bauer told the news outlet Politico.
The administration’s confusing recommendations
Ultimately, that’s what the administration is recommending as well.
The letter that U.S. Food and Drug Administrator Dr. Marty Makary sent to physicians this week made clear that “a causal relationship” between autism and acetaminophen “has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature.”
It went on to recommend that clinicians consider limiting their use of acetaminophen for routine low-grade fevers during pregnancy, while noting that medical advice “should also be balanced with the fact that acetaminophen is the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy among all analgesics and antipyretics.” (An analgesic is a pain reliever; an antipyretic reduces fever.)
Untreated fevers during pregnancy are associated with higher rates of birth defects, particularly those of the heart, brain and spinal cord; premature birth; low birth weight; neurodevelopmental disorders including autism; and fetal death, said Dr. E. Nicole Teal, an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine at UC San Diego.
“The FDA’s letter, while significantly more nuanced than the president’s comments on the issue, still gives too much weight to findings from poorly designed studies,” she said.
She said she will continue to prescribe acetaminophen to pregnant patients who need to treat fevers or severe pain, as it has the fewest known risks in pregnancy.
Are there other pain-relief and fever-reducing drugs that can be used during pregnancy?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (often sold as Advil) or naproxen (often sold as Aleve) are linked to problems with blood vessel and kidney development, as well as oligohydramnios, a condition in which there isn’t enough amniotic fluid to support a healthy pregnancy. Aspirin raises the risk of bleeding complications, and narcotics — which can relieve pain but not fever — pose addiction risks for the mother and infant alike, Teal said.
She referred to a statement from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists noting that two decades of research on the question had failed to find a causal relationship between acetaminophen and autism.
“Acetaminophen is one of the few options available to pregnant patients to treat pain and fever, which can be harmful to pregnant people when left untreated,” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists president Dr. Steven J. Fleischman said in the statement.
The group also noted that reviews in 2015 and 2017 from the FDA and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine respectively found no risks associated with appropriate usage of the drug in pregnancy.
How to navigate government communications around Tylenol use
Nonetheless, the mixed messaging from the Trump administration about Tylenol seems likely to continue.
The Department of Health and Human Services this week reposted a 2017 tweet from the Tylenol brand’s account that said, “We actually don’t recommend using any of our products while pregnant.”
A spokesperson for Kenvue, the company that owns Tylenol, said the post was taken out of context and incomplete.
“Consistent with regulations, our label states clearly ‘if pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use,’ ” Melissa Witt said in an email. “We do not make recommendations on taking any medications in pregnancy because that is the job of a healthcare provider.”
Vice President JD Vance offered similar guidance this week.
“My guidance to pregnant women would be very simple, which is follow your doctor. Right?” Vance said in an interview with the outlet NewsNation after Trump’s press conference. “Talk to your doctor about these things.”
Maruja’s music isn’t merely following the times; it’s a reflection of them.
The rock band, whose debut album “Pain to Power” was released Friday, has carved out a niche in today’s music scene, garnering praise and raising eyebrows for their innovative instrumentation and song composition.
But the Manchester-born quartet — Harry Wilkinson, Matt Buonaccorsi, Joe Carroll and Jacob Hayes — has already done the forming, recording, and touring trifecta.
This can largely be credited to their three EPs, “Knocknarea,” “Connla’s Well” and Tir na nÓg,” released in 2023, 2024 and 2025, respectively. Each project draws on elements of post-punk, jazz rock and art rock that blend in an enthusiastic musical cocktail.
“We began touring, and then it kind of hasn’t stopped since,” Carroll says with a laugh, via a Zoom call. “That was about two and a half years ago… towards the end of last year, we did about four months, 47 shows all around Europe.”
And they haven’t let up. As soon as they got home from touring, they were right back to it. Altogether, the “best ideas” of “Pain to Power” were written and recorded over the span of two months: January and February of this year, when the band made the studio its second home.
“We had to just go ‘ham’ in the studio for six days a week. It’s pretty hardcore,” he says.
Some tracks had “spawned from jams” before being shelved for a while: “Some of them took two hours, some of them took two years,” he puts it plainly.
But this wasn’t an issue for the band, as they picked up those “jams” like they’d never put them down.
“All the songs we’ve written, they feel like they’re still within the same world, but just through different filters sometimes,” Buonaccorsi says.
“Born to Die,” which existed for the better part of the last couple of years, represents the halfway point in the album and features one of its most impressive sonic shifts. It also takes on the herculean task of merging many of the ongoing tones and deepest themes of the project.
“I know what this life is worth / We are universal spirits / And our kingdom is this Earth,” Wilkinson opens, as if a light has shone down on him.
The song is soft, with a distant, wailing sax peeking in for a brief moment among drum lines. It’s almost symphonic, carrying on for almost seven minutes before descending into a lulling silence.
“Our feelings are just visitors / Competing for attention / Avoiding every trigger / While still reaching for ascension,” he continues, in a quasi-monologue.
Hayes breaks in, thrashing his drums alongside Wilkinson’s guitar and an enthralling bass line from Buanoccorsi. Naturally, Carroll’s sax follows suit. The song then recedes into serenity once again, before picking up on “Break The Tension.”
It’s an exhilarating ride that carries on over the rest of the album, ebbing and flowing between chaos and calm. A lot of “Pain to Power’s” strength is in its latter half, and particularly across the three track run that is “Trenches,” “Zaytoun” and “Reconcile,” the album’s nearly 10-minute closer.
“What you’re seeing is these notions of pain that we are getting out of us in these songs,” Wilkinson explains. “These aggressive songs like ‘Bloodsport,’ ‘Look Down On Us’… we’re turning all of that aggression and that pain and anger into something beautiful, and that’s reflected in a track like ‘Saoirse.’”
“It’s quite a dynamic album,” Buonaccorsi adds. “You’ve got quieter songs, more intimate songs, and you’ve got loud, bombastic, crazy, aggressive songs, but they all still feel like they’re part of the same sonic universe.”
“Saoirse,” the third track on the album, reflects the somber first half of “Born to Die.”
“It’s our differences that make us beautiful,” Wilkinson sings repeatedly, like he’s muttering out a mantra. Sure, it’s a bit on-the-nose, but it embodies what Maruja is all about.
“Saoirse,” which translates to “freedom” or “liberty” in Irish, has historically morphed into a term representing the country’s desire for independence from British rule and cultural autonomy. These allusions to Ireland are ever-present in the band’s creations, with titles such as “Tir na nÓg” and “Connla’s Well” specked across their discography.
But how did a British outfit become synonymous with Irish activism?
“When we were recording ‘Knockarea,’ my dad started getting really ill and that led to me connecting with his parents a lot more, and they told me about my great-granddad, who was a photographer,” Carroll remembers.
“We ended up using all of his photos for the early stages of the music… all the black and white stuff is my great granddad’s photos in Ireland… I got really into my Irish heritage, and I’m really proud of it… and feel very connected to the culture and the land,” he continues.
The group says it has a strong correlation with their avid support for Palestinian rights, which the Irish have shown for decades: “They were the first Western government to speak up in public support for the Palestinian people,” Hayes says.
In that, they’re also speaking out against their home, Britain, which they say is “entirely complicit” in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“The colonization of Ireland from the British Empire, and then the… secret police of the Black and Tans [in Palestine] is a direct relation to the colonialist and imperialist ways of the British government today,” Hayes says.
According to the Irish Times, Winston Churchill demanded a “picked force of white gendarmerie” be deployed in Palestine after facing unrest in 1921. The force was composed of “members of both” his Auxiliaries and Black and Tans, who were “assigned to Palestine once their presence in Ireland was no longer deemed necessary.”
“In England, we just see this deranged hypocrisy continue to lord over our political landscape,” he adds. “We want to give voice to those who are voiceless… If we can help raise awareness, raise a message, and… highlight the complicity of our government, we’ve got to do it.”
On “Bloodsport,” this is clear, with Wilkinson crying out pleas to the world.
“Complicit in the narrative of pacified killings it’s a / Sore sight when you gotta choose / The lesser of two evils either one will prove / That we’re socially in apathy what’s left to lose?”
Their activism is heavily tied to their music and has undoubtedly contributed to some of the band’s recognition on a global scale. But, to them, it’s just part of their responsibility, and their music is an indication of that.
“We’re just reflecting our environment,” he explains. “Our lives are downtrodden with politics and with war and with the world suffering.”
Buonaccorsi chimes in, referencing a quote from “the great” Nina Simone: “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”
“It’s our job… to speak about things that really matter to us, things that we feel like should not be happening in this world,” he says. “The barbarity and horror that we’ve never been able to see in our lifetimes… now, we see it before our eyes on phone screens.”
A HAIR removal specialist has warned travelers not to get a wax immediately before boarding a flight, as it could lead to painful skin problems that might spoil the start of a holiday.
Timca Pruijt, hair removal expert from Laser Hair Removalo, says the conditions inside aircraft cabins can worsen post-wax skin irritation, causing redness, increased sensitivity and potential infection risks.
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An expert has revealed why you should avoid a bikini wax before holidaysCredit: Getty
She noted that many people book last-minute beauty treatments just before flying abroad, without considering how the aircraft environment might affect freshly waxed skin.
Cabin air is extra dry
“To avoid condensation, cabin humidity is reduced dramatically to anywhere between 10% and 20%, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s latest Aviation Weather Handbook.
“This is much lower than what your skin is used to, which is ideally between 30% and 50%, based on guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency,” Pruijt explains.
“We can easily feel our lips chapping, our nose drying and our eyes getting itchy, but we rarely remember our skin is suffering too.”
She explains that newly waxed skin will have its protective hair layer removed, and tiny pores are left open and exposed.
“After waxing, your skin needs time to recover and close those open pores. The ultra-dry cabin air draws moisture from your skin at the worst possible time – right when it needs hydration to heal properly,” she adds.
“People often forget that waxing is not just hair removal; it is quite traumatic for the skin. You are pulling hair from the root and removing a thin layer of skin cells in the process,” she says.
Pruijt also points out that the stress of travelling, along with changes in temperature between air-conditioned airports, hot tarmacs and cool cabins, puts additional strain on your skin’s ability to recover.
Your Skin Needs At Least 48 Hours to Heal
According to Pruijt, sitting in a confined space for hours with compromised skin creates ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply, potentially leading to spots, rashes, or even infections.
For holidaymakers who still want to be hair-free on arrival, she recommends planning beauty treatments carefully.
I’m a bikini waxer – stop being embarrassed about being hairy & no, I don’t care if you’ve got lumps or bumps down there
“Preparation is the only way you can avoid complications from waxing. This means booking your appointments well ahead and applying moisturizers before leaving the house for the airport.”
“Get your waxing done at least 48 hours before your flight. This gives your skin adequate time to recover and those open pores to close,” she advises.
She also suggests applying a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer before the flight to create a protective barrier.
Airports can be bacteria breeding ground for freshly waxed skin
“Our hands contact multiple surfaces in airports, planes, taxis, buses, and cafes. We then inevitably touch our skin with those hands, breeding with bacteria.
“You can use hand sanitizer generously and often, but bacteria are on surfaces you might sit on or accidentally touch.
“While you cannot exactly cover a waxed upper lip or brow, you could swap shorts for loose trousers and tank tops for airy, long-sleeved shirts to give your fragile skin an extra layer of protection from unsanitary surfaces and your own contaminated hands.”
The expert noted that wearing loose, comfortable clothing on the flight is essential if you have recently had a wax, particularly for sensitive areas.
“Tight clothing creates friction and traps heat and moisture, which can lead to irritation or folliculitis, when your hair follicles become inflamed,” she explains. “Opt for cotton for avoid sweating and maximize your skin’s ability to breathe.”
Last-minute waxing can cause rashes
If you are used to waxing as your preferred hair removal method, you may be reluctant to consider alternatives or combinations thereof.
“Many travelers now opt for a waxing appointment a few days before their flight and pack a small razor for touch-ups if needed during their holiday,” she says.
“If you travel often or want longer-lasting results, treatments like laser hair removal might be worth considering. Unlike waxing, once a course of laser treatments is complete, there is no need to worry about last-minute hair removal before flights.
How to prepare for a bikini wax
IF you’re thinking of booking a bikini wax, here’s how you can prepare.
Choose the Right Time: Schedule your appointment at least a week after your menstrual cycle when your pain threshold is higher.
Exfoliate: Gently exfoliate the bikini area a day or two before your wax to remove dead skin cells and prevent ingrown hairs.
Trim Hair: Ensure hair is about 1/4 inch long; if it’s longer, trim it down for a smoother waxing process.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: Steer clear of caffeine and alcohol on the day of your appointment as they can tighten pores and increase sensitivity.
Take a Pain Reliever: Consider taking an over-the-counter pain reliever about 30 minutes before your appointment to help minimise discomfort.
Wear Loose Clothing: Opt for loose-fitting clothes on the day of your waxing to avoid irritation post-treatment.
Communicate with Your Aesthetician: Don’t hesitate to discuss any concerns or questions with your aesthetician before the session begins.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water leading up to your appointment to keep your skin hydrated and more supple.
“Ultimately, if it is too late to plan more permanent hair removal options, your best bet is packing a good old set of fresh razors and, importantly, a new loofah or gentle brush to exfoliate your sensitive, sun-bathed skin before shaving,” Pruijt notes.
“You are better off putting in the extra effort of shaving daily than walking around with a waxed, sore rash you cannot control your entire vacation.”
Sun exposure can damage sensitive skin
Pruijt also advises taking extra care with sun exposure after both waxing and flying.
“Newly waxed or dehydrated skin makes you more susceptible to sun damage.
“You should avoid applying sunscreen on freshly irritated skin, which is why, if you do need to step out the following 24 hours, cover your skin with clothing rather than sunscreen, depending on the area. Wear trousers, long-sleeved tops, a wide-brimmed hat and trainers.
“Make sure you are extra vigilant with sunscreen once you reach your destination,” she warns.”
The city of Los Angeles must pay nearly $50 million to a man who has been in a coma since he was hit by a sanitation truck while crossing a street in Encino, a jury decided Thursday.
Kamran Hakimi, now 61, was in a crosswalk at Hayvenhurst Avenue and Ventura Boulevard last August when the sanitation truck struck him. Hakimi had a green light, and the driver made an “unsafe right turn,” according to Hakimi’s attorneys.
A handlebar on the front of the truck hit Hakimi’s head and flung him to the asphalt, where he hit his head, the attorneys said. Hakimi briefly stood and flashed a thumbs up before losing consciousness.
“Mr. Hakimi’s life, and the lives of his family, are forever changed due to the negligence of a City of Los Angeles employee,” said Rahul Ravipudi, one of Hakimi’s attorneys. “This verdict upholds the dignity of the life Mr. Hakimi enjoyed before this tragedy and we are grateful to the jury who carefully considered all the evidence and provided Mr. Hakimi with the means necessary to get the higher level of care he so desperately needs.”
Hakimi is a father of five and worked in real estate before the crash. In October, his attorneys filed a lawsuit against the city in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The city admitted that the driver failed to yield to Hakimi, according to Hakimi’s attorneys. But at trial, the city “disputed the damages suffered by Mr. Hakimi, arguing that his life expectancy was limited and that the value of his non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life, was minimized because he was in a comatose state,” Hakimi’s attorneys said.
The jury ordered the city to pay Hakimi $48.8 million, including $25 million for future pain and suffering and $10 million for future medical expenses.
The verdict, which comes as the city continues to struggle with escalating legal liability payouts, was larger than any single payout by the city in the last two fiscal years, according to data provided by the City Attorney’s Office. The city can still appeal.
Another Hakimi attorney, Brian Panish, said the case never should have gone to trial, blaming City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto for refusing to settle the case.
“The city attorney chose to force this case to trial, rejected all reasonable settlement proposals … There were many reasonable proposals made by an independent mediator chosen by the city,” Panish said.
Feldstein Soto, through her press office, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Panish echoed arguments made by plaintiffs’ attorneys who have said that Feldstein Soto’s legal strategies have contributed to rising legal liability costs. They claim that Feldstein Soto has taken cases to trial that she should have settled, resulting in bigger verdicts if the city is found liable.
The city paid out a total of $289 million, its highest liability costs ever, in the fiscal year 2025.
Sitting still on a plane for too long can cause cramping, bloating and in serious cases, deep vein thrombosis – so here are the best tips to keep comfortable and healthy on a long flight
These tips will make your travel more comfortable (Image: Enes Evren via Getty Images)
Air travel can be a bit of a squeeze, particularly for those of us who aren’t flush enough to splash out on business class. Economy seating can feel rather tight, and enduring this for extended periods can not only cause discomfort but also potentially lead to serious health issues.
Problems such as cramping, bloating, and, in more severe cases, deep vein thrombosis can all result from remaining stationary on a plane for too long. So, if you’re gearing up for a lengthy flight in the near future, it’s crucial to know how to maintain your comfort and well-being.
The pros at Netflights have kindly shared their top tips for making that long-haul journey a tad more bearable.
These changes can make flying easier(Image: laddawan punna via Getty Images)
One of their key recommendations is to rise from your seat and take a stroll every one to three hours. Make a deliberate effort to move about frequently during your flight.
Even something as simple as walking to the loo or standing up for a stretch can help keep you feeling sprightly and prevent stiffness, which is particularly vital on flights exceeding four hours, reports the Express.
Stretching is another crucial aspect, and you can do this right from your seat. Gently roll your neck from side to side, rotate your shoulders forwards and backwards, and carefully twist your spine.
Each of these movements should be repeated three to five times in each direction, but remember to be gentle. These stretches should provide relief, not strain your body.
The third method to tackle swelling and bloating is by raising your feet.
Sitting with your feet flat on the floor for extended periods can lead to discomfort, and travellers may suffer from swollen feet and ankles during long-haul flights.
Airplane travel doesn’t have to be painful(Image: Constantine Johnny via Getty Images)
To mitigate this whilst airborne, elevate your feet.
Resting your feet on your underseat carry-on helps counteract the natural downward flow of fluid in your body, thus reducing discomfort.
Flex your feet, rotate your ankles, or gently stretch your arms and back while seated to maintain blood circulation throughout your body.
“Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” star Michael Madsen and his family are “incredibly overwhelmed with grief and sadness” over the death of his son Hudson Madsen, who was also filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s godson.
The 26-year-old Oahu resident died of a gunshot wound, according to the City and County of Honolulu Dept. of the Medical Examiner. Supervising investigator Charlotte Carter said Tuesday that Madsen’s manner of death was listed as a suicide, citing his death certificate.
The department does not release death dates, Carter said, but noted that a full autopsy report would be available to the public in about four months.
An attorney for Madsen said Wednesday that the actor is doing well and is surrounded by his children while his wife is in Hawaii making arrangements.
Michael Madsen, left, and son Hudson Madsen in Las Vegas in 2011.
(David Becker / WireImage)
“I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy – my last text from him was ‘I love you dad,’” Madsen said in a statement to The Times.
“I didn’t see any signs of depression. It’s so tragic and sad. I’m just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened,” he continued.
He said Hudson had just completed his first tour in the U.S. Army, where he was a sergeant stationed in Hawaii, and that his marriage “was going strong.” According to social media posts from Hudson and his wife, Carlie, he spent time in Afghanistan.
“He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family,” Madsen said. “He was looking towards his future, so its [sic] mind blowing. I just can’t grasp what happened.”
The actor, 64, said that he has asked for a full investigation by the military. He believes “that officers and rank and file were shaming” his son for needing therapy and that made him stop getting help for mental health issues that he had been keeping private.
“We are heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson,” the Madsen family said Tuesday in a statement to Metro. “His memory and light will be remembered by all who knew and loved him. We ask for privacy and respect during this difficult time. Thank you.”
Hudson Madsen is survived by his wife, his father, mother DeAnna and siblings Christian, Calvin, Max and Luke.
Recording star Connie Francis says she is on the mend after a recent trip to the hospital to address some “extreme pain.”
The “Stupid Cupid” and “Lipstick on Your Collar” singer, who rose to fame in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, informed fans on Facebook that she is receiving care after undergoing tests and exams. “Thank you all for your kind thoughts, words and prayers,” she wrote Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, the 87-year-old “Pretty Little Baby” singer wrote on Facebook that she went to the hospital to learn more about the cause of her pain, which she said prompted her to call off an upcoming Fourth of July performance, her latest cancellation in recent weeks. Francis’ posts this week did not disclose much information about her condition, but a previous Facebook update provided some insight.
A week prior to her hospitalization, Francis announced on Facebook that she had been dealing with “pelvic pain on the right side” and underwent tests to determine “that this is due to a fracture.”
“It looks like I may have to rely on my wheelchair a little longer than anticipated,” she wrote, adding that she had to pull out of a then-upcoming performance.
Francis gave followers more information about her health in March, telling them in another Facebook post that she uses a wheelchair to avoid putting “undue pressure on a troublesome painful hip” and that she was awaiting stem cell therapy at the time.
Francis has spoken openly about her personal afflictions over the course of her career. She told the Village Voice in 2011 that she had been committed to several mental institutions in the ‘80s. She said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after she was misdiagnosed with other mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, ADD and ADHD.
The singer, also known for “Where the Boys Are” and “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” recently had her music go viral on TikTok as users use her “Pretty Little Baby” for videos.
“I’m still astounded by the popularity of ‘Pretty Little Baby,’” she said last week, thanking the A-listers who have used her hit in their social media videos.
A day after having to leave the biggest game of his life, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shared his first public comments since tearing his right Achilles tendon early in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
“Words cannot express the pain of this letdown,” Haliburton wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after undergoing surgery Monday to repair the tendon. “The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.”
But for the majority of his five-paragraph post, which Haliburton accompanied with a photo of himself smiling and forming a heart with his hands from a hospital bed, the two-time All Star also delivered a message of optimism and determination. And he did so, in part, by quoting late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who overcame the same injury in 2013.
“I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation,” Haliburton wrote. “‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’
“And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.”
Bryant’s words were part of a lengthy Facebook post early in the morning on April 13, 2013, hours after tearing his left Achilles tendon while driving to the basket during a game against the Golden State Warriors the previous night. After suffering the injury, Bryant famously stayed in the game long enough to sink two free throws.
In his post, Bryant describes his raw emotions and even uncharacteristically expresses some self-doubt before his famous Mamba Mentality inevitably surfaces.
“All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I’ve done millions of times!” wrote Bryant, who was 34 at the time. “The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that??
“I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not!
Kobe Bryant writhes in pain after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during a game against the Golden State Warriors on April 12, 2013, at Staples Center.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Its 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and Im wide awake. Forgive my Venting but whats the purpose of social media if I wont bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in.”
That’s where Bryant writes the words that Haliburton quoted.
“We don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run,” Bryant wrote later in the post. “We endure and conquer.”
True to his word, Bryant returned to the floor with the Lakers on Dec. 8, 2013. He dealt with several other injuries — including a knee injury that ended his 2013-14 season just six games after he returned from the Achilles — before retiring at the end of the 2015-16 season, his 20th in the NBA.
More than a decade later, a 25-year-old star is using Bryant’s words as inspiration, days after being unable to help his team in a 103-91 loss to the Thunder with the NBA championship on the line.
Here is Haliburton’s full post:
“Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
“Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the number of times people will tell me I’m going to ‘come back stronger’. What a cliche lol, this s— sucks. My foot feels like dead weight fam. But what’s hurting most I think is my mind. Feel like I’m rambling, but I know this is something I’ll look back on when I’m through this, as something I’m proud I fought through. It feels good to let this s— out without y’all seeing the kid ugly cry.
“At 25, I’ve already learned that God never gives us more than we can handle. I know I’ll come out on the other side of this a better man and a better player. And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don’t regret it. I’d do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton falls to the court with an injury next to Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the first quarter of Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 22.
(Nate Billings / Associated Press)
“Indy, I’m sorry. If any fan base doesn’t deserve this, it’s y’all. But together we are going to fight like hell to get back to this very spot, and get over this hurdle. I don’t doubt for a second that y’all have my back, and I hope you guys know that I have yours. I think Kobe said it best when in this same situation. ‘There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.’ And that’s exactly right. I will do everything in my power to get back right.
“My journey to get to where I am today wasn’t by happenstance, I’ve pushed myself every day to be great. And I will continue to do just that. The most important part of this all, is that I’m grateful. I’m grateful for every single experience that’s led me here. I’m grateful for all the love from the hoop world. I don’t ‘have to’ go through this, I get to go through this. I’m grateful for the road that lies ahead. Watch how I come back from this. So, give me some time, I’ll dust myself off and get right back to being the best version of Tyrese Haliburton.
“Proverbs 3:5-6 ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.’”
Comedian Lee Mack has revealed that his Not Going Out costar Sally Bretton suffered a medical emergency while filming the latest series of their hugely popular sitcom.
Filming for Not Going Out was derailed when Sally Bretton was rushed to hospital behind the scenes(Image: BBC/Avalon/Mark Johnson)
Plenty of laughs took over the set of Not Going Out’s latest season. But panic hijacked production when Sally Bretton was rushed to hospital, derailing filming.
In a television age obsessed with slick dramas, thrillers and satire, comedian Lee Mack is doing something radical – he’s trying to make us laugh. Out loud. Every few seconds. And he’s doing it the old fashioned way, with a studio sitcom, a real live audience and endless gags.
As his BBC1 sitcom Not Going Out returns for a brand new series, with another green lit for next year, it is clearly not going anywhere, clocking up over 100 episodes and holding its status as the longest-running UK sitcom on air.
“We’ll never catch up with Last Of The Summer Wine,” quips Lee. “Thank God.” He adds: “Our show is seen as very traditional, and some would say old fashioned, so therefore not risky, but it is a risk because it’s the minority.
“The highs and lows are extreme. Love or hate the studio sitcom, there’s no denying that they are really trying to go for the laugh. I’m not trying to write a line that makes people smile.
You don’t get canned smiling. I used to aim for a joke on every page, but that’s only every 30 seconds, it’s not enough. We try for a laugh in every line.”
Not Going Out first aired on the BBC in 2006(Image: BBC/Avalon/Pete Dadds)
The 56-year-old, who also appears in Would I Lie To You? and hosts game show The 1% Club, stars in the sitcom as ‘Lee’ alongside Sally Bretton as his long-suffering wife Lucy. The show, which started in 2006, has followed them from awkward flatmates via a torturous ‘will-they-won’t they’ plot until finally, they got married and had three kids.
The latest episodes, which Lee was determined to film ‘as live’ like a play, feature everything from a robotic sex doll to a freebie hotel stay, dilapidated campervan, roles as TV extras and a swipe at Oasis concert ticket sales.
Although, Lee reveals a medical issue halted production for a couple of weeks. He says: “There was a moment in that Oasis episode when we were filming it, when Sally said to me – she looked a bit in pain, ‘Do you know what appendicitis feels like?’
“I said, ‘I have no idea but I can tell you now you haven’t got appendicitis, otherwise you wouldn’t be here filming’. The next day she had her appendix out.”
Lee takes a swipe at the Oasis ticket fiasco in the new series
Lee, who writes the show with Daniel Peak, takes an affectionate swing at Oasis in the episode that sees the couple lose their place in the online queue and start to blame each other. Lee laughs: “That is based in truth – I’m a massive Oasis fan, I did try to get tickets, I didn’t get them and I’m livid.”
He adds: “I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could get Liam or Noel to appear in that episode. My friend Rob Brydon had interviewed Noel, so I asked for his number.
It was the day after the ticket release. I texted Noel, ‘I know this isn’t a good time, but I reckon everyone’s asking for tickets and I’m probably the only one that isn’t. Will you be in my sitcom?’ He never got back to me.”
Lee adds: “My personal favourite episode is the one where I accidentally bring home a robot sex doll. Let me tell you, robotic sex dolls are very hard to get hold of.
We had an actor, with a mask on, and it just didn’t work. We could see her breathing. So in the end they had to make a robot. It was brilliant. It moved its head, it moved its mouth, its eyes, and I was in a double act with a sex robot.”
Lee runs into some problems viewing a new home in this series
Episode one follows their attempted house move, thwarted when they find their dream home, but Lee needs to use the loo, causing the usual tension, mistaken identities and farce.
There’s a nod to nostalgia too, with a photo on the mantelpiece in their new home of Bobby Ball, who played Lee’s dad and died in October 2020.
Lee says: “We all miss him a lot. He was like me, he wasn’t from an acting background – so whatever I’m like in a studio, he was 50 times worse. The director would have to tell him not to keep looking at the audience every time he cracked a joke.”
Over the years a long list of stars have appeared in the show, including Miranda Hart, Tim Vine, Katy Wix, Abigail Cruttenden and Hugh Dennis, with many forgetting that Catherine Tate played Lucy in the pilot, followed by Megan Dodds in series one, before Beyond Paradise star Sally took over.
Lee says: “When we look back, Sally and I do get a bit emotional. We’ve been in the show a long time and there are different eras of it, especially when you look at all the people from the past who have been in the show and come and gone. “I think Sally’s aged brilliantly, whereas I’ve got a big gray beard. It’s been forever.”
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not start in any of this weekend’s games against the New York Yankees after sustaining a fractured toe this week, but the team is hopeful he will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list.
Betts told the Times on Friday night that he fractured his toe at home this week, after the Dodgers returned from a road trip on Wednesday night.
“I was just going to the bathroom in the dark and hit my toe on a wall,” he said.
The Dodgers were originally still planning to have Betts in the lineup Friday for their series opener against the New York Yankees, but he was ultimately scratched after his toe continued to give him problems before the game.
Despite the diagnosis, Roberts and Betts said they were confident the former MVP wouldn’t be out more than a few days.
“I know it’s at the tip of his toe, so it’s going to be one of those situations [that is] per his [pain] tolerance,” Roberts said. “I don’t expect an IL. We’ll probably have him down for the series and hopefully he’ll be available to hit in a big spot. And then we’ll kind of see. But I think for me right now it’s just day to day.”
“It’s just pain,” Betts added. “Get the swelling out, it’ll be all right.”
Betts had started in each of the Dodgers’ past 20 games, and appeared in each of their last 51 overall, having not missed any time since recovering from a two-week stomach virus at the start of the season.
While his defense had been much-improved during his second season as the club’s everyday shortstop, the 32-year-old was struggling at the plate, batting just .254 on the season with eight home runs, 31 RBIs and a .742 OPS.
In Betts’ absence on Friday, veteran Miguel Rojas took over at shortstop. Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim are also options to fill in for Betts at shortstop over the rest of the weekend.
“I’m gonna be all right,” Betts said. “It is what it is.”
For Miley Cyrus, an “extremely excruciating” pain preceded “Something Beautiful.”
The pop star and Disney channel alumna this week spoke candidly about her mental, emotional and physical health, unveiling that she powered through a “medical emergency” during her live “New Year’s Eve Party” TV special three years ago. The Grammy-winning “Flowers” musician said she suffered an ovarian cyst rupture.
“We didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it was pretty traumatic, ’cause it was extremely excruciating,” she told DJ and Apple Music interviewer Zane Lowe in a far-ranging conversation published Wednesday. “I did the show anyways.”
The “Wrecking Ball” and “Party in the U.S.A” singer, 32, rang in 2023 for NBC, co-hosting her “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” with godmother and music icon Dolly Parton. During the special, produced by “Saturday Night Live” boss Lorne Michaels, Cyrus performed live, taking the stage alongside Parton, Paris Hilton, Sia and Fletcher. Latto, Rae Sremmurd and Liily were also among the musical acts who joined the New Year’s celebration.
Cyrus, who said she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to work with both Michaels and Parton, told Lowe the holiday gig “was really hard on me” and did not go into further detail about the health scare. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs found in an ovary or on its surface. Cysts are common and can often be harmless and cause little to no discomfort, but larger cysts can bring about symptoms including pelvic pain, abdominal pressure and bloating, according to the Mayo Clinic. Cysts can “become twisted or burst open,” causing “pain and bleeding inside the pelvis.”
The “Hannah Montana” star also opened up about a polyp on her vocal cords, which makes live performances feel like “running a marathon with the weights on,” and her sobriety journey. Cyrus has been in the public eye since childhood and in recent years has spoken about her struggles with addiction. In December 2020, she told Rolling Stone about her drug and alcohol use and how the young, drug-related deaths of artists including Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix prompted her to “pull my[self] together before I’m 27.”
For Cyrus, sobriety hasn’t always been a straightforward path, but this week she said “sobriety is … like my God.”
“I need it. I live for [it]. It’s changed my entire life,” she said before acknowledging there was a moment she “fell apart” in recent years. “I was so close to who’s sitting here right now but … [life] had more lessons for me.”
Cyrus, who won her first career Grammy for “Flowers” in 2024, is on the verge of a new, theatrical and fashionable era. Her ninth studio album, “Something Beautiful” is due May 30 and will be accompanied by a film in June.
“This era marks another bold artistic evolution for Miley, blending music and film into an immersive experience,” according to an announcement shared to her Instagram page.
“Something Beautiful,” Cyrus said in the Apple Music chat, “ couldn’t [be] any more personal to me.”
She added: “Every single string, sound… sequin, strand of hair, eye lash has been considered and created not only something that I love but something that I’m excited to share with [fans.]”
