An estimated 7 million Americans turned out Saturday to peacefully protest against the breakdown of our checks-and-balances democracy into a Trump-driven autocracy, rife with grift but light on civil rights.
Trump’s response? An AI video of himself wearing a crown inside a fighter plane, dumping what appears to be feces on these very protesters. In a later interview, he called participants of the “No Kings” events “whacked out” and “not representative of this country.”
I’m beginning to fear he’s right. What if the majority of Americans really do believe this sort of behavior by our president, or by anyone really, is acceptable? Even funny? A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that 81% of Republicans approve of the way Trump is handling his job. Seriously, the vast majority of Republicans are just fine with Trump’s policies and behavior.
According to MAGA, non-MAGA people are just too uptight these days.
Vice Troll JD Vance has become a relentless force for not just defending the most base and cruel of behaviors, but celebrating them. House Speaker Mike Johnson has made the spineless, limp justification of these behaviors an art form.
Between the two approaches to groveling to Trump’s ego and mendacity is everything you need to know about the future of the Republican Party. It will stop at nothing to debase and dehumanize any opposition — openly acknowledging that it dreams of burying in excrement even those who peacefully object.
Not even singer Kenny Loggins is safe. His “Top Gun” hit “Danger Zone” was used in the video. When he objected with a statement of unity, saying, “Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together. We’re all Americans, and we’re all patriotic. There is no ‘us and them’,” the White House responded with … a dismissive meme, clearly the new norm when responding to critics.
It may seem obvious, and even old news that this administration lacks accountability. But the use of memes and AI videos as communication, devoid of truth or consequence, adds a new level of danger to the disconnect.
These non-replies not only remove reality from the equation, but remove the need for an actual response — creating a ruling class that does not feel any obligation to explain or defend its actions to the ruled.
Politico published a story last week detailing the racist, misogynistic and hate-filled back-and-forth of an official, party-sanctioned “young Republican” group. Since most of our current politicians are part of the gerontocracy, that young is relative — these are adults, in their 20s and 30s — and they are considered the next generation of party leaders, in a party that has already skewed so far right that it defends secret police.
Here’s a sample.
Bobby Walker, the former vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans, called rape “epic,” according to Politico.
Another member of the chat called Black Americans “watermelon people.”
“Great. I love Hitler,” wrote another when told delegates would vote for the most far-right candidate.
There was also gas chamber “humor” in there and one straight up, “I’m ready to watch people burn now,” from a woman in the conversation, Anne KayKaty, New York’s Young Republican’s national committee member, according to the Hill.
Group members engaged in slurs against South Asians, another popular target of the far right these days. There’s an entire vein of racism devoted to the idea that Indians smell bad, in case you were unaware.
Speaking of a woman mistakenly believed to be South Asian, one group member — Vermont state Sen. Samuel Douglass, wrote: “She just didn’t bathe often.”
While some in the Republican party have denounced, albeit half-heartedly, the comments, others, including Vance, have gone on the attack. Vance, whose wife is Indian, claims everyone is making a big deal out of nothing.
“But the reality is that kids do stupid things. Especially young boys, they tell edgy, offensive jokes. Like, that’s what kids do,” Vance said. “And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke — telling a very offensive, stupid joke — is cause to ruin their lives.”
Not to be outdone, Johnson responded to the poop jet video by somehow insinuating there is an elevated meaning to it.
“The president was using social media to make a point,” Johnson said, calling it “satire.”
Satire is meant to embarrass and humiliate, to call out through humor the indefensible. I’ll buy the first part of that. Trump meant to embarrass and humiliate. But protesting, of course, is anything but indefensible and the use of feces as a weapon is a way of degrading those “No Kings” participants so that Trump doesn’t have to answer to their anger — no different than degrading Black people and women in that group chat.
Those 7 million Americans who demonstrated on Saturday simply do not matter to Trump, or to Republicans. Not their healthcare, not their ability to pay the bills, not their worry that a country they love is turning in to one where their leader literally illustrates that he can defecate on them.
Maybe 7 million Americans angry at Trump can’t convince him to change his ways, but enough outraged Vermont voters can make change in their corner of the country.
Which is why the one thing Trump does fear is the midterms, when voters get to shape our own little corners of America — and by extension, whether Trump gets to keep using his throne.
Earlier this month, showrunner Michael Patrick King informed the world that the long-awaited, highly anticipated and then almost universally hated sequel to HBO’s groundbreaking series “Sex and the City” would end. Mere weeks later, it did just that and rather abruptly, with two Thanksgiving-themed episodes, which felt a bit odd in these dog days of summer. But at least it allowed the writers to box up and tie off all the various storylines as if they were the medley of pies Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) picks up and delivers to all her friends during the show’s finale.
If you think those pies denote happiness, you would be right. The main feast at Miranda’s (Cynthia Nixon) apartment falls far short of perfection — loads of no-shows, the appearance of chef Brady’s (Niall Cunningham) passive-aggressive baby mama, an undercooked turkey and a toilet disaster — but in the end, every character is left wallowing in peace and satisfaction.
Miranda lowers her defenses enough to tell Joy (Dolly Wells) that she is a recovering alcoholic, to which Joy responds with deep understanding. Prostate cancer survivor Harry (Evan Handler) becomes fully, er, functional again and in the afterglow, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) finally surrenders the girly expectations she once had for her nonbinary daughter Rock (Alexa Swinton). After fleeting concern that her crunchy gardener lover Adam (Logan Marshall-Green) doesn’t believe in big weddings or even marriage, Seema (Sarita Choudhury) accepts that true, and committed, love comes in all shapes and sizes. As do Anthony (Mario Cantone) and Giuseppe (Sebastiano Pigazzi). Whether Lisa’s (Nicole Ari Parker) renewed devotion to husband Herbert (Christopher Jackson) counts as a happy ending is open to debate, but at least he seems to be letting go of his “humiliating” loss in the New York City comptroller race.
As for Carrie, well, after her renewed romance with Aidan (John Corbett) became blighted by mistrust, she had a lovely brief affair with Duncan (Jonathan Cake), the British biographer living in the basement of her townhouse. But in the end, she decides, via the novel that served as this season’s voice-over, that life in a fabulous Manhattan apartment with a closet that looks like it was shipped from “The Devil Wears Prada” costume department and a group of fine faithful friends (including a cantankerous baker who allows her to order pies long past the pie-ordering deadline), does not require a man to be complete.
After breaking up with Aidan (John Corbett), right, and a brief affair with Duncan (Jonathan Cake), Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) realizes she’s better off alone.
(Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max)
Culture critic Mary McNamara, staff writer Yvonne Villarreal and television editor Maira Garcia compare notes on the end of one of the most discussed, if not beloved, reboots in television history.
Mary McNamara: When I wrote about “And Just Like That” a month ago, I expressed my hope that Season 3 would be the last, so I feel nothing but relief (though had I known the universe was in listening mode, I would have also mentioned wanting to win the lottery and a few other things).
I am not worried, as others appear to be, about the legacy of “Sex and the City,” which is all around us in series as disparate as “Broad City,” “Fleabag” and “Insecure.” Nor do I think that the failure of “And Just Like That” has anything to do with the current political climate or the rise of the trad wife or whatever hot takes seem handy. It was simply and consistently a very bad TV show.
I tuned in initially because, like many, I was excited to see how these characters were coping with late middle-age life — by apparently not experiencing menopause for one thing (an early indication that female authenticity had fallen by the wayside) or developing any sort of interior life.
Real crises — Carrie losing Big and “dealing” with Aidan’s troubled son, Miranda discovering her queerness and alcoholism, Charlotte struggling to cope with her daughter’s gender fluidity and her husband’s cancer — were treated performatively, as plot twists to underline, apparently, the resilience of each character and the core friendship. Not a bad objective, but the hurdles, which increasing felt like a whiteboard checklist (podcasts! pronouns! prostate cancer!), came and went so fast they quickly became laughable (and not in the comedic sense), culminating with Lisa’s father dying twice.
I kept watching, as many did, not because I loved hating it, but because there was a good show in there somewhere and I kept waiting for it to emerge. When it didn’t — well, the Thanksgiving/pie finale was a bit much — I honestly didn’t care how it ended, as long as it did.
Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) confronts her alcoholism and discovering her queerness in the show, but heavy issues were treated performatively as plot twists to reinforce characters’ resilience.
(Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max)
Maira Garcia: Mary, after you wrote your column, I decided to take a break from the show because it summarized some of my frustrations with the reboot that seemed to come to a head this season — Aidan’s unrealistic expectations for his relationship with Carrie, the perfunctory way it addressed ADHD, the lack of rugs on Carrie’s floors. Of course my break didn’t last long because I caught up and now I’m here wondering what it was all about and what it could have been. While the line from King and Parker is that this season felt like a good place for the show to end, based on the number of developing storylines, like Brady becoming a father, I have a very hard time believing it. But the problem of how to fix this show was too big — it was better that they ended on this chapter (whether or not that decision was made by them).
I think like many viewers, I just wanted to enjoy spending some time with these ladies again at a later stage in life after a couple of decades with them through reruns and the films. But this was something else and while the addition of new characters seemed well-intentioned, they either lacked dimension, meaty storylines or were plain annoying (ahem, Che) — except for Seema. I love Seema. Please get Sarita Choudhury a spinoff.
Yvonne Villarreal: Uh, is it sad that I’m sad? I know, I know. But, look, I feel like the girl who cried “Che?!” too many times and now it’s real and it’s like I’ve been mentally placed in that insane DIY mini foyer of Carrie’s old apartment trying to emotionally find my way out. Like you, Mary, I’ve been frustrated endlessly by the series and have long felt like it needed to be put out of its misery, but I still dutifully watched every episode with a weird mix of enthusiasm and dread — and the community that grew (in my TikTok algorithm and in my group texts) from that shared experience was oddly one of the bright spots. So for HBO Max to call my bluff by actually ending it still feels like a breakup as flabbergasting — albeit, necessary — as Berger’s Post-it note peace-out.
I came in ready to approach this stage of my relationship to these characters the same way I approach the friendships I’ve maintained the longest — excited to catch up once our schedules aligned, trying to fill in the blanks from the long absence caused by life, but still recognizing the foundation of who they are and how they’re choosing to navigate life’s curveballs. But with each passing episode, it always seemed like I was at the wrong table, perplexed and trying not to be rude with all the “But why?” questions. Miranda’s quote from this week’s finale, as she took in the most bizarre Thanksgiving dinner television has ever put onscreen, felt like the epilogue to my experience watching it all: “I’m not sure exactly what’s happening now, but let’s all take a breath.”
The scene where Carrie, left, Seema, Charlotte and Lisa are at the bridal fashion show, expressing their feelings about marriage, is something our writer wanted more of in the series.(Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max)
I will mourn the potential of what this series could have been. Like Carrie’s playful tiptoe stride through the streets in heels, the show pranced around topics that, had it walked through them with intention, would have given the series traces of its former self. That friend moment between Seema and Carrie outside the hair salon in Season 2 — where the former is reluctantly but bravely expressing that she feels like she’s being dropped now that Aidan is back in the picture — was such a genuine peek at the vulnerability between friends that so many of us valued from the original series. And that moment from this week’s finale, where the women are gathered at a bridal runway show, sharing their varying feelings on marriage at this stage in their life — I just wanted to shout, “MICHAEL PATRICK KING, this is what I wanted more of!” Though, I would have preferred if they were around a table, looking at each other as they shared and unpacked. I wanted an extended scene of that, not Carrie ordering pies! I don’t like to be teased with goodness. And that’s how it often felt.
Also, I know it’s a comedy, although the decision to lean into the sitcom style of humor remains perplexing (Harry and Charlotte, I’m looking at you), but I felt like there was a way to explore grief — the death of Mr. Big and Stanford, plus the strain on the group’s friendship with Samantha — in a way that felt truer to the characters and the style of the show. Heck, even Miranda’s drinking problem was squandered. I feel like the loss of a spouse (through death, divorce or emotional distance), the fading out of friendships and reconsideration of lifestyle habits are the most talked-about topics in my friend group at this stage in my life — sometimes the convos happen while we’re huddled around a Chili’s triple dipper, which is as bleak and real as it gets. And I’m sorry, but if I were to use one of those outings, when I’m in my mid-50s, to tell them an ex wants me to wait five years while he focuses on being a toxic parent before we can really be together, they’d slap me with a fried mozzarella stick — I will never forgive the writers for how lobotomized these characters feel. Mary and Maira, how did you feel about how the show handled its biggest absences? The show began in such a different place than where it ends — did it evolve in the right direction? Where did it go right for you?
McNamara: Oh Yvonne, you are so much kinder than I am. I never felt it was going right — the writers seemed so determined to prove that women in their 50s aren’t boring that they constantly forced them into all manner of absurd situations without much thought for what kind of actual women these characters might have become. Age was represented mostly by bizarre, grannified reactions to younger folk and their strange ways (up until the finale, which gave us that baby mama and her buddy Epcot), as if the women (and the writers) had been kept in a shoe box for 20 years.
Looking back, the lack of Samantha, and Cattrall, feels like a deal-breaker. For all her campy affectations, Samantha was always the most grounded of the characters, able to cut to the heart of things with a witty line, biting comment or just a simple truth. Seema, and Choudhury, did her best to fill that void, but she never got quite enough room to work — her relationship was almost exclusively with Carrie for one thing and Carrie was, even more than in “Sex and the City,” the driving force of the show.
Kim Cattrall made a brief appearance as Samantha Jones at the end of Season 2, but she was sorely missed throughout.
(Max)
I agree that grief was given very short shrift, and the fact that no one seemed to miss Samantha very much, or be in touch with her at all (beyond the few exchanges with Carrie) was both bizarre and a shame — coping with the loss of a dear friend, through misunderstanding or distance, is a rich topic and one that many people deal with.
As for the resurrection of Aidan, well, who thought that was going to work? Especially when it became clear that the writers thought it made perfect sense to keep Carrie and Aidan’s children separate — so unbelievable, and demeaning to both characters. Carrie’s final “revelation” that a woman doesn’t need a man to be happy would have had a much more meaningful resonance if Carrie had been allowed to explore her grief, fear, frustration and hope beyond a few platitude-laden conversations and that god-awful novel. Which, quite honestly, was the funniest thing about this season. When her agent went bananas over it, I literally walked out of the room.
Garcia: Samantha, and Cattrall in turn, were sorely missed. And you’re right, Mary, Seema filled some of that void, and you really need that connection across the different characters. Which leads me to my biggest gripe: Why did some characters feel so distant? Lisa’s storyline this season was so disconnected from the rest — it seemed like she was with the core group only in passing. And it happened with Nya (Karen Pittman), who disappeared after Season 2, though that had to do with scheduling conflicts.
As far as its evolution, I was glad to see the podcast group, with its overbearing members, whittled away — though we had to deal with Che for another season. Those overbearing characters kept getting replaced with other overbearing characters like Giuseppe’s mother, played by Patti LuPone, and Brady’s baby mama and her odd pals (if the writers were trying to get us to scratch our heads at Gen Z, they did it). While I’ll miss being able to turn my brain off for an hour each week, along with the occasional shouts at my TV over some silly line or moment, I can’t say I was satisfied in the end. At least when someone said or did something stupid in previous iterations of the show, it was acknowledged in a way that felt true the characters and there was some growth expressed. After the return of Aidan, I can’t say that’s true here.
But now that we’re at the end, I have to ask you both how this affects the SATC universe? Did this disrupt the canon? Was there something memorable you’ll take away at least? A character, a moment, a ridiculously oversized piece of jewelry, hat or bag?
Villarreal: Oh geez. There’s no question — for me, at least — where this sequel falls in the SATC universe. The original series, even with its moments that didn’t stand the test of time, will always be supreme; the first movie, while hardly perfect, gave us some memorable BFF moments — like Charlotte giving Big eye daggers after he left Carrie at the altar or Samantha feeding a heartbroken Carrie — that keep it in my rewatch rotation. I’d place “And Just Like That …” after that, with the Abu Dhabi getaway movie dead last.
What will I miss? For sure the fashion moments, especially the ones that broke my brain, like Carrie’s Michelin Man snowstorm getup or her recent gingham headwear disaster that my former colleague Meredith Blake described as Strawberry Shortcake … and don’t get me started on Lisa’s jumbo balls of twine necklace.
One thing we’ll miss: The over-the-top fashion like Carrie’s big hat and Lisa’s jumbo ball necklace.(Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max)
I’m curious, Mary, as someone who has watched your share of series finales, how you felt about this conclusion and whether it served that mission. This season had episodes that felt like wasted filler and didn’t do much to move the plot forward. Last week’s penultimate episode is what convinced me the wrapping up of this series was not planned. It was 28 minutes of huh? And what about Carrie’s book? I would add it to my Kindle just out of curiosity. While I maybe would have seen all that’s transpired as an opportunity for Carrie to write a memoir on love and loss à la Carole Radziwill, I did get a kick out of the excerpts from Carrie’s take on a 19th century woman having an existential crisis. And look, maybe I’m schmaltzy, but I did sort of love the last line she tacked on in her epilogue: “The woman realized, she was not alone — she was on her own.” Mary, are you judging me right now? I promise I didn’t dance to Barry White’s “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” through the halls of my apartment after watching. But I would have loved more exploration of that thread sooner — I mean, aren’t there studies about women being happier, or at least less stressed, later in life once their spouse dies? I believe it! It doesn’t mean you can’t have companionship in other ways. Anyway, what’s the takeaway from what happened with this show? Hollywood isn’t going to stop trying to find new life in established properties. So, what can be learned from what went wrong here?
McNamara: Yvonne! I would never judge you! And the world would be a far better place if everyone danced around their domiciles more often. I think Carrie realizing that her life is full and happy without a partner is actually a perfect way to end this series. (She will certainly never want for romance — So. Much. Tulle.) I just wish it had felt less rushed and did not involve a weird giant plushie at a robot restaurant. Whatever sequence of events led to the final scene, I have to believe that was going to be Carrie’s journey all along. I even liked the debate over the ending of her book — if only the book had not been so terrible!
I will certainly miss marveling at Parker’s Olympics-worthy ability to navigate nearly any surface in heels (and “sell” outfits that seem more like Halloween costumes than style) as well as those rare conversations, like the one at the bridal show, that allowed a situation to be viewed from multiple points of view.
As for the finale, it felt very much in keeping with the intention, if not the overall execution, of the series. I am not cold-hearted enough to want any of these characters to depart mid-crisis or accept less than a happy life. Sure, it was a bit pat, with everyone’s story neatly boxed up like a Thanksgiving pie. But who doesn’t like pie?
Garcia: I love pie! But let’s not forget, like the toilet that overflowed (with a few logs, to boot) in the final scenes, too much of something isn’t always what we need.
Villarreal: Is this a safe space to share that if the girls make up with Samantha/Cattrall in their 70s, I’ll be ready for their return to my screen? Sorry, not sorry — I don’t have time to set healthy boundaries with friendships that are no longer serving me.
As stomach-turning clips of the 2013 ‘poop cruise’ make the rounds on social media, cruise travel experts reassure holidaymakers why the horrors of the past are unlikely to be repeated
The Carnival Triumph cruise ship turned into a nightmare(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve likely been subjected (unwillingly) to videos of fluffy brown sewage exploding out of a cruise ship’s windows. Clips from Netflix’s documentary, Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, are going massively viral – and its left audiences quite literally gagging.
The documentary was released on June 24 and follows the events of the Carnival Triumph: a 2013 cruise liner bound from Texas to Cozumel, Mexico. It was smooth sailing until the ship’s engine room caught fire, leaving over 4000 passengers stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. The fire destroyed the ship’s power system, causing a WiFi outage and the toilets to stop flushing.
What resulted was, unsurprisingly, pandemonium. Passengers were instructed to pee down shower drains and handed red biohazard bags to defecate in. There were reports of backed-up waste from the drains running down the walls and through the hallways.
Sewage spread through the hallways of the Poop Cruise(Image: SWNS)
A passenger, Devin, who was featured in the documentary, said: “You walked down a hallway and all of a sudden, squish-squish-squish-squish…we were in excrement.” They were stranded for four days until tug boats finally arrived to pull the ship to safety.
The story has, unsurprisingly, left social media users horrified. But, if you’ve booked a cruise, or are planning to, there’s no need to worry. Cruise experts from Riviera Travel dispel five common cruise safety myths:
Myth: Cruises are unsafe
Riviera Travel reassures passengers that while it’s normal to feel apprehensive when going on a cruise for the first time, there are thorough safety regulations put in place to ensure travellers are safe on board. They add: “Many passengers who were anxious about going on their first cruise later stated that it became easy to forget they were on a boat!”
They explain: “Strict regulations are followed, and the ship’s state-of-the-art safety features, such as lifeboats, life preservers, and thoroughly trained crew members, make it a secure vessel.”
Myth:
Fortunately, cruise ships are equipped with plenty of resources to prevent this from happening. Riviera Travel says: “These ships also have onboard and offshore staff trained and prepared for these instances if they were ever to happen.”
Myth:
According to Riviera Travel, hygiene is taken “very seriously” on cruise ships. They say: “The catering team ensures food is of the highest quality before being dished out and takes necessary precautions to prevent contamination.
Plus, they add that cruise meals aren’t always buffet-style, and that you can opt for ships that have onboard restaurants and traditional table-service.
Myth:
This is actually a misconception. Riviera Travel emphasises that strict hygiene protocols are followed on cruise ships, with passengers’ health and safety “a top priority” for cruise lines. They explain that cruise lines take all necessary measures to prevent outbreaks like norovirus, as well as following strict guidelines to make sure ships adhere to high hygiene standards.
Although, they add: “Viruses can spread anywhere, so while strict hygiene measures are in place, passengers should still take precautions to reduce their own risk.”
Myth: There’s no medical help if something goes wrong
Riviera Travel reassures passengers that cruise ships have trained medical professionals on board and “are equipped with top-notch facilities for anyone who needs medical attention.” There are also protocols are also in place for more serious medical emergencies, and cruise ships will stop at nearby ports if they need to.
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A new Netflix documentary has captured the horrors on-board the ship dubbed the ‘poop cruise’
A Netflix documentary has revealed the horrors of the ‘poop cruise’ where passengers camped on deck(Image: SWNS)
Holidaymakers on a lavish cruise liner were plunged into a real-life horror when a blaze cut off power, leaving them adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ill-fated 2013 journey spiralled into chaos as the fire damaged electrical systems, immobilising the vessel and leaving it without lights, air conditioning, and even working loos.
This ordeal is now the focus of Trainwreck: Poop Cruise, a brand-new Netflix documentary released yesterday (June 24), which gives viewers a harrowing glimpse into the experiences of the Carnival Triumph’s passengers.
The preview hints at the chaos: “Soon raw sewage leaks out all over the ship, food supplies start dwindling and passengers begin to revolt. As the cruise company races to control the fallout, a media frenzy ensues. Soon everyone is talking about ‘The Poop Cruise’.”
Passengers began living on deck after the power went out(Image: Netflix)
Those intrigued by the incident and the boat featured in this new documentary may wonder what became of the ship. Some may even be brave enough to contemplate boarding her for a trip, reports Surrey Live.
But, is it still possible to book a holiday on the Carnival Triumph?
In line with standard practice for high-end cruise ships, the Carnival Triumph experienced a significant refurbishment and, as of 2019, has been navigating the seas with a new identity: Carnival Sunrise.
Still a favourite among cruisers, this celebrated liner remains operational throughout The Bahamas and the Caribbean with a lots of scheduled voyages for this year lined up, including a four-day trip to The Bahamas from Miami in November.
A spot in an inside cabin will cost travellers about $284 each, while those willing to splash out for a fancier space can expect to fork over up to $836 for a sumptuous luxury suite.
The ship was re-named the Carnival Sunrise after the debacle(Image: Nick de la Torre/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
TripAdvisor has seen recent guests sharing their experiences on-board. One said: “For an older ship, it’s still a lot of fun – just temper your expectations. We stayed in a balcony cabin on deck 8. Yes, the bathroom looks outdated with its bright blue sink and shower curtain – but it’s part of the charm.”
Another traveller gushed said: “I loved every minute of being on the ship. The food and shows were amazing… It was everything I wanted and more!”.
In the wake of the fire incident aboard Carnival Triumph and the subsequent scrutiny, Gerry Cahill, then the president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines, assured holidaymakers that such a calamity would “not happen again”, as he announced an inquiry into the cause of the blaze.
The documentary shows what passengers went through on the ship(Image: SWNS)
In response to the forthcoming Poop Cruise documentary, Carnival released a statement to Surrey Live’s Screen Time reporters, saying: “The Carnival Triumph incident over 12 years ago was a teachable moment for the entire cruise industry.
“A thorough investigation following the incident revealed a design vulnerability which was corrected and led Carnival Cruise Line to invest more than $500 million across our entire fleet in comprehensive fire prevention and suppression, improved redundancy, and enhanced management systems, all in support of our commitment to robust safety standards.
“This is in addition to our vigorous Health, Environmental, Safety and Security (HESS) protocols that guide the entire Carnival Corporation fleet as we maintain our commitment to industry leadership in this area.
“We are proud of the fact that since 2013 over 53 million guests have enjoyed safe and memorable vacations with us, and we will continue to operate to these high standards.”
Trainwreck: Poop Cruise is now available to stream on Netflix
The Carnival Triumph cruise from Texas to Mexico in 2013 turned into a nightmare when an engine room fire cut power to the ship, leaving over 4,000 passengers and crew adrift
14:26, 25 Jun 2025Updated 14:35, 25 Jun 2025
A passenger on the notorious Carnival Triumph “poop cruise” said the upcoming Netflix documentary fails to capture the true horror of four days at sea(Image: SWNS)
A passenger who endured the ill-fated Carnival Triumph “poop cruise” has lifted the lid on what the horror sailing was really like.
The smelly voyage is the focus of the Netflix documentary “Trainwreck: Poop Cruise,” which premiered on June 24. The voyage from Texas to Mexico descended into chaos after an engine room fire caused a massive electrical failure, leaving over 4,000 passengers and crew to wade through urine and feces and camp on deck.
Tay Redford, 24, a passenger who was only 12 at the time of the incident, has watched the trailer and feels “hurt” by the portrayal. Now a bakery owner from Enid, Oklahoma, Tay vividly recalls the fear and chaos, arguing that Carnival failed to provide meaningful support after the ordeal.
Still grappling with long-term trauma, Tay is concerned that the documentary does not adequately represent the voices of those passengers onboard and has vowed never to go on a cruise again.
Sewage began to spill out on the deck(Image: SWNS)
“I’ve only seen the trailer, but from what I saw, it doesn’t even scratch the surface,” she said. “It’s just Carnival workers telling the story. It’s really hard watching the documentary come out and seeing all these people making money from it.
“To me, it feels like they’re profiting off something that deeply affected and traumatized me.”
On February 10, 2013, a blaze broke out in the engine room of the Carnival Triumph, located at the rear of the ship, while it was off the coast of Mexico. A faulty flexible fuel line had ruptured, spewing fuel onto a scorching surface, which in turn crippled the ship’s generators.
As a result, the vessel lost all primary power and propulsion, stranding over 4,000 passengers and crew in the Gulf of Mexico for four days. Raw sewage inundated numerous cabins, and essential services ground to a halt as the ship was laboriously towed to Mobile, Alabama over the course of several days.
Tay was on board the ship, accompanied by her parents, older brother, and a group of family friends. What was intended as a relaxing family getaway rapidly descended into a traumatic experience.
“It was the most fear I’ve ever felt in my life,” Tay recounted. “I’m not that old yet, but that was hands down the scariest thing I’ve ever been through.”
The fire caused a total blackout, plunging the ship into darkness and depriving passengers of basic necessities. Due to the unhygienic conditions and poor ventilation, Tay’s family was forced to vacate their cabin.
The cruise ended with all passengers brought safely back to shore(Image: SWNS)
“My first thought is we’re sinking, we’re going down. That was the only thing I thought. I was crying hysterically, trying to follow my parents around in the dark,” she recalled. “When we went down to our room, we were up to our ankles in sewage and urine and feces, and there was no air flow. There were no lights.”
The situation was nothing short of chaotic and terrifying, compelling the family to take refuge on the uppermost deck for nearly four days. Passengers on a cruise ship faced a nightmare holiday when access to food, water, and sanitation became severely limited.
“They ran out of water to give us, so they said, ‘Hey, we’ll open up the bar and let people drink liquor,'” one passenger recounted.
The situation quickly deteriorated as inebriated guests, furious over the scant information and deteriorating conditions, started brawling. Tay, a passenger, recalled how some resorted to “throwing their bodily fluids over the ship” amid rising tensions.
During the ordeal, Tay’s brother came up with a clever solution.
“My brother actually had this great idea. He said, I’m going to build a tent out of these sheets. And he cut the sheets up and invented Tent City where everybody followed him to make tents to keep us out of the sun,” Tay said.
After enduring days of hardship, the crippled vessel was towed back to port in Mobile, Alabama. Although Carnival offered a modest compensation – $500 and a refund for the journey home – Tay feels the company failed to truly acknowledge the trauma suffered by passengers.
A spokesperson for Carnival said: “The Carnival Triumph incident over 12 years ago was a teachable moment for the entire cruise industry. A thorough investigation following the incident revealed a design vulnerability which was corrected and led Carnival Cruise Line to invest more than $500 million across our entire fleet in comprehensive fire prevention and suppression, improved redundancy and enhanced management systems, all in support of our commitment to robust safety standards. This is in addition to our vigorous Health, Environmental, Safety and Security (HESS) protocals that guide the entire Carnival Corporation fleet as we maintain our commitment to industry leadership in this area.”
The statement ended by pointing out that the company is “proud of the fact that since 2013 over 53 million guests have enjoyed safe and memorable vacations with us, and we will continue to operate to these high standards.”
The infamous ‘Poop Cruise’ – where passengers were left stranded without any power and had to poo in bags – made global headlines back in 2013 as the chaos unfolded
Kendall Jenkins kisses the ground after stepping off the Carnival ship Triumph at the Alabama Cruise terminal(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Netflix documentary series Trainwreck explores some of the most bizarre, jaw-dropping, and at times downright revolting events in recent history. One particularly unforgettable episode focuses on a maritime disaster that made global headlines: the infamous “Poop Cruise”.
In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph cruise ship set sail from Galveston, Texas, with more than 4,000 passengers and crew onboard, bound for a leisurely four-day Caribbean getaway. But the holiday quickly unravelled into chaos.
On the third day, a fire erupted in the aft engine room. Though the blaze was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported, it critically damaged the ship’s main power systems. The Triumph was left drifting in the Gulf of Mexico without propulsion, or basic functioning utilities.
Passengers laying on mattresses on the third deck of the ship (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
With the power out, vital systems failed, including air conditioning, refrigeration, and most importantly, the sewage and sanitation infrastructure. What followed was a nightmare.
Toilets stopped working. Raw sewage began leaking into hallways and cabins, filling the ship with a stench described by passengers as unbearable. Many were forced to relieve themselves in plastic bags and red biohazard bags, as bathrooms became unusable.
With the air conditioning offline, temperatures inside soared, making the interior suffocatingly hot and humid. Dozens of passengers chose to sleep on open decks just to escape the heat and foul odours.
Food quickly became scarce. Without refrigeration, the crew did what they could, serving cold sandwiches and sparse meals often consisting of little more than bread and vegetables. Water was rationed, and tensions steadily rose.
Although communication with the outside world was limited, word of the ship’s grim conditions quickly spread. Images of the stranded vessel and its desperate passengers went viral, drawing international media attention.
Images from the stranded vessel went viral(Image: SWNS)
After five gruelling days, the Carnival Triumph was finally towed to port in Mobile, Alabama, bringing an end to the ordeal, but not to the controversy.
In the aftermath, investigations uncovered troubling details. CNN obtained documents showing only four of the ship’s six generators were functioning before departure, and that Carnival had prior knowledge of both fire hazards and fuel line issues. Records revealed nine separate fuel line incidents in just two years, raising serious questions about the company’s maintenance practices and safety protocols.
As lawsuits mounted and scrutiny of the cruise industry intensified, Carnival found itself in damage control.
Then-President and CEO Gerry Cahill issued a public apology, saying: “I want to again apologise to our guests and their friends and families. The situation on board was difficult and we are very sorry for what has happened. We pride ourselves on providing our guests with a great vacation experience and clearly we failed in this case.”
Kimberly Townsend, a 54-year-old mother of two and grandmother of three, was among 31 passengers who sued Carnival, holding the company accountable for what they describe as a disastrous voyage.
The cruise liner eventually docked in Alabama (Image: Getty Images)
In her testimony, Townsend gave a vivid and emotional account of the harrowing days spent aboard the disabled ship stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. She described terrified passengers crowding the decks, worried for their safety, while foul-smelling toilets overflowed into hallways. There was no power, near-total darkness, long waits for limited water, and a severe lack of food.
Townsend recalled finally managing to reach her mother by phone once the crippled ship was towed into Mobile, Alabama – arriving days late from what was meant to be a dream vacation. She told the court she had begged her mother to come get her right away. As she recounted the moment, her voice faltered, she looked down, and began to sob in the witness chair.
She was one of several passengers from the Carnival Triumph who took the stand, some breaking down in tears, as they spoke about the ordeal and the emotional toll that still lingers a year later.
Passengers slept outside to escape the smell (Image: SWNS)
“I did not get physically injured. I got mentally injured,” testified Jean Cripps, a 74-year-old grandmother who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. She went on the cruise with her husband, Alton, who has diabetes and a hurt leg that forced him to retire disabled. The elderly couple was on the cruise as a present from their son, David, and grandson, Easton, who went with them.
“It never ends, the whole experience never ends,” testified Cripps. “It’s over and over again. We had two good days,” she said, referring to the first days of the cruise.
“But that’s not what I think about. I think about the smell, the stench and the bad things. All the memories come flooding back, and I can’t stop them.”
Among the worst memories, Cripps testified, was the fear that the ship, which listed severely after the fire, would actually turn over and sink.
“It was a horrible experience,” testified Michelle Key, 48, who went on the cruise with her mother, Fleda Key, 68. “I walked through water and faeces and urine, no telling what else,” she testified. “We would slip and slide through greasy, gross, slippery muck,” she said, adding “it was very difficult” for her mother.
Fleda Key described having terrible diarrhoea on numerous occasions and having difficulty finding any toilets that were not overflowing.
“There was lots of urine and faeces all the way up to the rim of every one,” she said, explaining she “choked away the smell”. Like many of the witnesses, she testified that she lived for days in total fear that they might not finish the voyage alive. “I was fearful, downright afraid and scared,” said Fleda.
