Robert De Niro Is Up Against…Robert De Niro in First ‘Alto Knights’ Trailer

At this point in his career, most people think they’ve seen everything that Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon) has to offer, but new gangster movie Alto Knights is here to prove otherwise. The story features the Oscar winner doubling down and playing two characters — mob bosses Frank Costello and Vito Genovese — and we’ll get to see him play opposite himself on screen. The thriller is set to premiere in theaters on March 21.

The trailer for Alto Knights doesn’t beat around the bush and reveals what we’re most curious to see: Both De Niros facing each other on screen. In the very first scene, Genovese walks into a restaurant where Costello waits for him at a table. The scene reveals that the duo is close to a crossroads, with Costello trying to signal to Genovese that things are about to get dangerous, while Genovese pushes back. The movie will focus on the different approaches from both mobsters to their life of crime, and what Costello taught Genovese along the way.

As the scene in the trailer suggests, Alto Knights covers the events that led to Genovese ordering a hit on Costello. In the 1950s, both criminals ran separate Italian-American families who ruled the crime underworld. The trailer also makes it clear that one of the clashes between the two gangsters hailed from the way that each of them conducted their public personas, with Costello being well known — he participated in charity events and was featured on the covers of magazines.

Who’s the Team Behind ‘Alto Knights’?

Aside from De Niro taking on the double lead, the cast of Alto Knights also features Debra Messing (Will & Grace), Kathrine Narducci (Godfather of Harlem), Wallace Langham (CSI), Matt Servito (Billions), and Cosmo Jarvis (Shōgun). The movie is directed by Barry Levinson, who has balanced his career between dense projects like You Don’t Know Jack and comedies like What Just Happened. Sometimes he mixed both, like he did in the cinema classic Good Morning Vietnam. The screenplay of Alto Knights is written by Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas).

The positioning of Alto Knights’ release is a little weird. The subject and the fact that De Niro plays two characters would be enough to make the movie a serious contender during the awards season, and Levinson hasn’t done a high-profile movie in a while. Releasing a movie this early in the year practically guarantees that voters won’t remember it, unless it’s such a powerful feature that people talk about it for years. However, we can’t ignore that the movie suffered a title change and reports from test screenings suggest that the movie will receive mixed reviews, but we’ll have to wait a couple of months to find out exactly what divided viewers.

Alto Knights premieres in theaters on March 21. Robert De Niro’s previous gangster movie, The Irishman is streaming now on Netflix.

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The Irishman

R

Biography

Drama

Crime

Release Date November 27, 2019

Director Martin Scorsese

Cast Bobby Cannavale , Jack Huston , Joe Pesci , Jesse Plemons , Sebastian Maniscalco , Al Pacino , Kathrine Narducci , Stephen Graham , Ray Romano , Aleksa Palladino , Anna Paquin , Robert De Niro , Harvey Keitel , Jake Hoffman

Runtime 210 minutes

Writers Steven Zaillian

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Watch on Netflix

Woman Gets Defrauded Of $850,000 By AI Brad Pitt In Romance Scam

A French woman, Anne, was scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars after being tricked into believing she was in a relationship with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.

The scam began with messages from accounts posing as Pitt and his mother, using AI-generated images of the actor to build trust.

The fraudster claimed Brad Pitt needed money for cancer treatment, exploiting Anne’s vulnerability, who, despite warnings, continued sending money until realizing the deception.

A French woman was scammed out of hundreds of thousands of pounds after being tricked into believing she was dating Brad Pitt.

The 53-year-old victim, identified as Anne, was deceived into sending €830,000 ($850,000), supposedly to support the actor’s cancer treatment.

According to the Daily Mail, Anne, an interior designer, shared with French network TF1 that the scam began when she received a message on social media from someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother.

This followed her posting photos from an extravagant ski holiday in Tignes on Instagram. The next day, another account, pretending to be the “Fight Club” actor himself, contacted her, claiming his mother had spoken highly of her.

Anne was struggling with personal issues in her marriage to a millionaire at the time, and by February 2023, she had developed a close connection with the impersonator.

The scammer sent her heartfelt poems and supportive messages, deepening her emotional attachment.

“There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done,” Anne admitted in an interview with BFMTV.

Anne admitted she initially suspected the account might be fake, but after daily conversations and receiving AI-generated photos and videos of Pitt, her doubts gradually faded.

What began as a seemingly innocent friendship soon escalated when the impersonator proposed marriage and promised Anne luxurious gifts.

However, there was a catch — she needed to cover customs fees to receive these presents, which quickly amounted to €9,000.

Seeing Anne’s willingness to send money, the scammer continued making increasingly outrageous demands.

When Anne confided that she was anticipating a hefty divorce settlement from her husband, the fraudster seized the opportunity.

Posing as Pitt, they claimed to be in urgent need of funds for kidney cancer treatment, alleging they couldn’t access their own money due to a divorce battle with actress Angelina Jolie.

To make the story more convincing, the scammer sent AI-generated images of Pitt appearing weak and bedridden in a hospital.

Despite their constant texting and photo exchanges, Anne noted that the impersonator was never available for a phone or video call.

Anne ultimately lost nearly one million euros to the elaborate scam. Despite repeated warnings from her daughter, she remained convinced of the relationship, insisting, “You’ll see when he’s here in person, then you’ll say sorry.”

Her belief only began to waver in the summer of 2024 when photos of the real Pitt with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, surfaced in the media.

Sensing her growing doubt, the scammers quickly sent Anne a fabricated news alert denying Pitt’s relationship with de Ramon, claiming he was secretly involved with a mysterious “very special person.”

The deception deepened when someone posing as an FBI agent contacted Anne, offering to rescue her from the scam for €5,000. Desperate for a solution, she sent the money.

Drained financially, Anne was forced to sell all her furniture and move in with a friend. In a final attempt to manage her spiraling situation, she launched an online fundraiser to cover mounting legal fees.

According to TF1, Anne attempted suicide three times before being admitted to a specialized clinic for severe depression.

Once Anne fully grasped the extent of the scam, she reported it to authorities, triggering an official investigation.

However, nearly two years later, it remains uncertain whether she has recovered any of her lost funds. BFMTV reports that Anne is still hospitalized, grappling with the devastating aftermath of the ordeal.

Public reaction to her story was mixed; some expressed sympathy, while others felt it was her fault for getting defrauded.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Romance scams are the cruelest.”

Another shared, “I had a friend that went through a similar situation and received pictures like this, but it was Jensen Ackles needing $10,000 for surgery.”

Others were more critical, questioning how she didn’t verify the claims. Someone wrote, “She couldn’t have googled ‘Brad Pitt hospital’? There would have been at least one article.”

On the harsher side, one user remarked, “Honestly, if you fall for this thinking, Brad Pitt, of all people, is going to randomly DM you. You kinda deserve it.”

Another said, “I don’t know how people who are so stupid to get that much money.”

Tony Slattery, Actor and Comedian Known for ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?,’ Dies at 65

Tony Slattery, Actor and Comedian Known for ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?,’ Dies at 65

Ellise Shafer

January 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM

Tony Slattery, a British actor and comedian known for his improv skills on Channel 4’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” died on Tuesday. He was 65.

Slattery’s longtime partner, Mark Michael Hutchinson, confirmed the news to the BBC and said the cause of death was a heart attack. “It is with great sadness we must announce actor and comedian Tony Slattery, aged 65, has passed away today, Tuesday morning, following a heart attack on Sunday evening,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

Slattery was a regular on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” which features performers playing short-form improvisation games based on suggestions from a live audience, from 1988 to 1995. He also held roles in films like comedies “How to Get Ahead in Advertising” (1989) and “Peter’s Friends” (1992), as well as crime thriller “The Crying Game” (1992).

Born on Nov. 9, 1959 in Stonebridge, North London, Slattery got his start in theater while studying at the University of Cambridge. It was there that he met Stephen Fry, who invited him to join the student sketch comedy group the Cambridge Footlights. During his time in the group, of which he eventually became president, Slattery’s contemporaries included Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Sandi Toksvig, Jan Ravens and Richard Vranch.

Slattery’s TV breakout came in 1983 on Chris Tarrant’s late-night comedy show “Saturday Stayback,” where he became a regular performer before gaining recognition on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” in 1988. In the ’90s, he also guested on the comedy panel show “Have I Got News for You” and quiz program “Just a Minute.” He presented his own film criticism show, “Saturday Night at the Movies,” and appeared in sitcoms such as “That’s Love” and “Red Dwarf.” From 1993 to 1994, he hosted “Trivial Pursuit” on the Family Channel.

Slattery made his last regular appearance on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” in 1995, and kept a low profile over the next decade due to health issues. In 2005, his career began to pick up again, and he made appearances in the TV film “Ahead of the Class” as well as ITV drama series “Bad Girls” and “Life Begins” and was cast in the soap “Coronation Street.” He was also a regular on the ITV series “Kingdom” through 2009. In 2011, he participated in a “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” reunion special.

His last TV appearance was in 2020, when he featured in BBC’s “Horizon” series to examine his mental health, childhood trauma and struggle with addiction. Slattery had been open about this in the past, discussing the “mid-life crisis” that ensued after leaving “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” during which he struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Slattery is survived by Hutchinson, his partner of nearly four decades.

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The Weeknd canceling show amid LA fires as the Grammys vows to go on

By ADAM S. LEVY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and CARLY JOHNSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

The Weeknd, amid the ongoing Los Angeles fires, has canceled a January 25 concert at the Rose Bowl and delayed by a week the release of his album Hurry Up Tomorrow.

The 34-year-old singer-songwriter addressed 76 Instagram million followers in a post Monday.

‘Hurry Up Tomorrow: Out of respect and concern for the people of Los Angeles County, the Rose Bowl show has been cancelled and the album date has been postponed to 01.31.25,’ he said.

In a second slide, he expounded on his decisions to push back both the show and album release date.

‘This city has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and my thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time,’ said the Blinding Lights artist, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye.

He continued: ‘In light of this, I have also decided to push the release of my album to January 31st. My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild.’

The Weeknd, 34, amid the ongoing LA fires, has canceled a show and delayed by a week the release of his album Hurry Up Tomorrow. Pictured in 2023 in Cannes, France

The Weeknd called off January 25 concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, pictured January 8 amid the blazes

The Weeknd wrapped up the posting with the sign-off, ‘With love, Abel.’

Other performers who have postponed shows amid the deadly blazes include Rod Wave, Bad Bad Hats and Cody Fry with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Rolling Stone reported Monday.

Read More Hollywood stars whose homes have burned to the ground as devastating LA wildfires destroy California

Hurry Up Tomorrow is the third act in a trilogy that commenced with 2020’s After Hours and 2022’s Dawn FM. He has put out three music videos in promotion of the record: Dancing in the Flames; Timeless, a collab with Playboi Carti; and São Paulo, a collab with Anitta.

A ‘musically driven psychological thriller’ under the same title will be released May 16, with Trey Edward Shults directing and starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan.

The Weeknd made his statement as an organization he has past been at odds with – Recording Academy – reiterated they are continuing with plans to commence with the 67th Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on February 2, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Recording Academy officials Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt said the ceremony will be ‘in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources,’ the newspaper reported after reviewing a letter.

Mason and Hurt said that ‘this year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.

‘The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.’

The singer-songwriter addressed 76 Instagram million followers in a post Monday

In a second slide, he expounded on his decisions to push back both the show and album release date

The Weeknd made his statement as an organization he has past been at odds with – Recording Academy – reiterated they are continuing with plans to commence with the 67th Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles on February 2, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Recording Academy officials Harvey Mason Jr. and Tammy Hurt said the ceremony will be ‘in close coordination with local authorities to ensure public safety and responsible use of area resources,’ the newspaper reported after reviewing a letter.

Read More ‘I will do better… but not for you’: The Weeknd SLAMS his ‘confusing’ Grammys snub and reveals his hopes for children after giving up drugs

Mason and Hurt said that ‘this year’s show, however, will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.

‘The Grammys will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.’

The Recording Academy’s philanthropic division, MusiCares, has made a $1 million donation via its Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort, to aid people in the industry impacted by the blazes.

Mason and Hurt said that subsequent donations to come in generated an additional $2 million toward industry professionals ‘severely impacted’ by the events of the past week in Southern California.

‘We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing assistance,’ Mason and Hurt said. ‘Our organizations exist to serve music people because music is a powerful force for good in the world, and we hope the broader industry will now rally to this cause.’

Officials Monday said the death toll had reached at least 24 people, according to the AP, adding that the total number of victims was expected to increase amid ongoing missing persons searches.

The artist said, ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow: Out of respect and concern for the people of Los Angeles County, the Rose Bowl show has been cancelled’

The Weeknd pictured in 2016 in LA after winning a pair of Grammys

Officials on Monday said that the Palisades Fire was 11 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire was 27 percent contained, after having decimated an estimated area eclipsing 62 square miles.

The National Weather Service said in red flag warnings that 50 mph winds will continue to aggravate conditions from Monday to Wednesday, with an expected peak on Tuesday.

Read More The Weeknd wins a Grammy for best melodic rap performance despite boycotting the award show

On Monday, President Joe Biden urged Congress ‘to step up’ and earmark the tens of billions of dollars it will take to rebuild the affected areas. He said that the federal government plans to pay for expenses over the next 180 days.

The president said at the White House that firefighters and first responders were ‘the angels’ amid their efforts to douse the blazes, while Vice President Kamala Harris said the aftermath of the fires were ‘truly heartbreaking.’

The Weeknd famously called the Grammys ‘corrupt’ after learning that his critically-acclaimed album After Hours had been snubbed in every category at the 2021 ceremony.

He stated his past wins ‘mean nothing to [him]’ as he spoke candidly about his Grammys gripe in a January 2021 interview with Billboard.

‘Look, I personally don’t care anymore. I have three Grammys, which mean nothing to me now, obviously,’ The Weeknd

The Weeknd first graced the Grammy Awards stage in 2016 as he accepted the gong for Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty Behind The Madness, as well the award for Best R&B Performance for Earned It.

A general view of destroyed houses in a neighborhood that was destroyed by the Eaton Fire which remains without electricity or water Sunday in Altadena, California, which is about five miles away from the Rose Bowl

The Weeknd used Instagram on the day of the 2021 Grammy nominations to claim that the Grammys are a ‘corrupt’ award show, while also encouraging them to be transparent with their nominees, honorees, and audience

Following the successful release of his third studio album Starboy, he earned the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album for a second time during the 2017 ceremony.

The Weeknd also took home the Best Urban Contemporary Album for Starboy in 2018.

In his discussion with Billboard, The Weeknd wanted to clarify that his Instagram post calling out the Grammys was not a temper tantrum, but more of a cry for justice.

‘It’s not like, “Oh, I want the Grammy!”‘ he said. ‘It’s just that this happened, and I’m down to get in front of the fire, as long as it never happens again. I suck at giving speeches anyways. Forget awards shows.’

Reflecting on the months before his now infamous snub, The Weeknd insisted that he and his team ‘did everything right’ and that the critical and public reaction to After Hours suggested he would be an obvious Grammy frontrunner.

‘We did everything right, I think. I’m not a cocky person. I’m not arrogant,’ the Starboy singer insisted. ‘People told me I was going to get nominated. The world told me. Like, “This is it; this is your year.” We were all very confused.’

The Weeknd used Instagram on the day of the 2021 Grammy nominations to claim that the Grammys are a ‘corrupt’ award show, while also encouraging them to be transparent with their nominees, honorees, and audience.

‘You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…’ wrote the star, who shared the post with his 28.2 million followers on November 24, 2020.

The Weeknd’s very public criticism also came amid reports that contentious negotiations with Grammy organizers may have led to him being shut out of nominations.

Recording Academy interim chief Harvey Mason, jr. responded to the singer’s public complaints in a statement to Rolling Stone in November of 2020.

‘We understand that the Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated,’ he said. ‘I was surprised and can empathize with what he’s feeling.

‘His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone’s admiration.’

Mason continued: ‘We would have loved to have him also perform on the Grammy stage the weekend before’ the Super Bowl.] Unfortunately, every year, there are fewer nominations than the number of deserving artists.’

The Weeknd won his fourth Grammy in April of 2022 at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas in the category for Best Melodic Rap Performance for Hurricane, but did not attend the show to accept.

Jessica Simpson announces she has split from husband Eric Johnson after 10 years of marriage

Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson have officially called time on their marriage after a decade together, marking the end of a love story that once seemed unbreakable.

The singer, actress, and business mogul, 44, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement to People, sharing that she and her former NFL player husband, 45, have been living apart for some time.

“Eric and I have been living separately, navigating a painful situation in our marriage,” Jessica revealed.

“Our children come first, and we are focusing on what is best for them. We are grateful for all of the love and support that has been coming our way, and appreciate privacy right now as we work through this as a family.”

The news comes just days after Jessica shared a sun-kissed selfie on Instagram, sending a message to her followers: “Life is short. SMILE while you still have teeth.”

The timing of her cryptic post had fans speculating about changes in her personal life, especially after Eric was spotted without his wedding ring as far back as November. Around the same time, Jessica sparked excitement about a return to music, posting images from a recording session with an intriguing caption:”Interviews in my Nashville music room where I unearthed my singular magic. This comeback is personal. It’s an apology to myself for putting up with everything I did not deserve.”

Jessica and Eric’s relationship had long been admired as one of Hollywood’s strongest. The couple met in 2010 through mutual friends, and their whirlwind romance led to an engagement just six months later.

They tied the knot in July 2014 in an intimate yet star-studded celebration in Montecito, California, surrounded by more than 250 guests.

Over the years, they built a beautiful family together, welcoming three children — Maxwell “Maxi” Drew, 12, Ace Knute, 11, and Birdie Mae, 5. Their eldest two even played special roles at their wedding, with Maxwell as the flower girl and Ace as the ring bearer, a moment Jessica had described as “perfectly magical.”

Just last year, Jessica spoke glowingly of Eric, reflecting on their deep connection. “A true love will never make you question yourself or what’s real,” she told People. “Thanks to my amazing soulmate, I am able to love passionately and without fear of being hurt.”

Eric, too, had often expressed his admiration for his wife, embracing her career and the demands that came with it. “I don’t find it hard to love anybody, but I have always thought that I was hard to love, that I was too much for people, or my schedule was too demanding,” Jessica once said. “He knows my heart and understands my heart more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life.”

Their romance was filled with tender moments — family getaways, spontaneous romantic weekends, and heartfelt social media tributes. For Eric’s birthday in September 2023, Jessica shared a heartfelt message alongside a collection of family photos, writing: “My heart is so taken with this man, I could hardly call it my own… We love youuuu.”

The couple had always emphasized communication as the foundation of their relationship. “I feel like every moment with us, we’re growing as long as we’re communicating, and our love is only deepening,” Jessica had said in a 2022 interview. “I feel like Eric and I learn from each other so much. I feel like we’re stronger than ever now, [more] than we were even at the beginning.”

Despite the love and effort, the reality of marriage presented its own set of challenges. Jessica had previously acknowledged the complexities of long-term commitment, sharing in 2021, “I think the takeaway is that it’s not easy, and every day presents challenges and blessings. Life is a blessing to be lived, and the more we overthink things, the more we fall behind on our personal journey.”

This marks Jessica’s second high-profile divorce — her first marriage to Nick Lachey ended in 2005 after three years.

‘Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy’ Documentary Reveals New Details From Al B. Sure! and Alleged Gang Rape Victim

Los Angeles Fires Death Toll Reaches 11 as Firefighters Gain Ground Amid Low-Wind Reprieve

A mere two months after the November arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, the first of multiple planned major documentaries looking into the hip-hop mogul’s life and some of the allegations against him arrives this week on Peacock, revealing some new details of the accused industry superstar’s sordid past.

Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy looks at Combs’ life from his childhood in Mt. Vernon, outside of New York City, through his rapid rise to the top of the music industry and some of the heinous allegations against him, some of which are shared here for the first time. The documentary’s producers have structured the film around several anecdotes and narratives that reveal, or are at least are meant to reveal, Combs’ dark nature. Within these tales from Combs’ life are several striking new details about his tough childhood, a deadly first attempt at promoting a major hip-hop event and accounts of alleged victims, from women accusing Combs of rape and assault to singer Al B. Sure!’s stunted accusations about the death of Kim Porter, his and Combs’ late former partner.

In a recent interview, producer Ari Mark told The Hollywood Reporter that the doc serves as an origin story: “By zooming out and by taking a more psychological approach, a sociological approach, it felt like we could say something a little bit bigger by presenting that information.”

Combs, 55, is the subject of more than 25 lawsuits related to accusations of sexual misconduct. He is currently awaiting a May trial behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Here are five of the biggest takeaways from the Peacock doc, below. (THR has reached out to a rep for Diddy on the claims.}

The documentary reveals through an interview with his childhood friend, Tim Patterson, how Combs was the son of the so-called “it couple,” Janice and Melvin Combs of Mt. Vernon in Westchester County, about 30 minutes north of Manhattan. But that idyllic home life of his early youth came to an end when his father was caught selling drugs to an undercover cop, and then was allegedly killed after flipping on his boss for the police.

“Sean had to learn about his dad from others,” said Patterson, who goes on to share that Combs’ mother was left with a certain amount of money that allowed her and her son to live on the right side of the tracks; Patterson and his mother moved in with them, partially because Combs mother wanted him to be around someone his age.

Patterson explains how when he met young Sean, he was a 10-year-old dressed in a 30-year-old’s wardrobe. During the week, the future fashion executive was seen by his school peers as a rich kid. But on the weekends, Combs grew up fast around his mother’s friends. The documentary suggests this is how his perspective was born, what began to shape his sexual identity and understanding of boundaries.

“Sean’s house, our house, there were always things going on — on the weekend you partied in the house, and we did that a lot,” Patterson explains in the documentary. “He was around all types of alcohol. He was around reefer smoke. He was around drug addicts, around lesbians, around homosexuals. He was around pimps and pushers. That was just who was in our house.”

Combs has projected himself as a major player in the music business since he first appeared on MTV in 1997, a man-behind-the-man when he was introduced with Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You” track and video, their hit tribute to Notorious B.I.G. soon after his murder. And it’s true, Combs has deep connections to the industry for what feels like forever. But it started somewhere — specifically, with him spending the night sleeping outside the car of an Uptown Records’ top exec to get his foot in the door.

Uptown Records, as the hit-making home to huge acts like Jodeci, Heavy D & the Boyz and Mary J. Blige, was the “it” label at a certain point in the 1990s. As recording artist Al B. Sure! states, “It was a boutique version of Motown, but we just had the hip-hop flavor to it.” And it’s where a young Sean Combs needed his career to begin — so he did what he had to to make it happen.

“Sean wanted to work at Uptown. He actually did some more suffering just to get that internship,” Patterson reveals to the film’s producers. “So, Sean would show up in the weirdest places: At Heavy D’s doorstep. He’d show up at Uptown, he’d show up at parties — anything to get the attention of the bigwigs.”

Key to this initial foothold in the industry was grabbing the attention of Uptown CEO Andre Harrell, who hired him as an intern and ushered him into the label’s A&R department. But Combs didn’t get the gig the easy way. “From what I heard, he even slept outside of [Andre Harrell’s] car because he really wanted to be in this,” Combs’ friend Rich Parker revealed.

On Dec. 28, 1991, a tragedy at City College led to nine hip-hop and basketball fans being killed after they were crushed in a stampede. The beyond-capacity crowd was at the Manhattan school to watch an undeniably must-see event: a celebrity charity basketball game headlined by hip-hop superstars P. Diddy and Heavy D.

On the day of the event, over 5,000 attendees attempted to get inside a gymnasium, which could fit just 2,730 people. Fans desperate to get into the gymnasium to see the game broke into the school and a massive crowd rushed down a stairwell, where double doors led to the gym. But the double doors opened inward, not outward; they remained closed for 15 minutes as more and more fans tried to get inside. Twenty-nine people, mostly teenagers, were crushed on top of the nine young people who died.

Combs, thrown into his first scandal at 22 years old, denied culpability for the stampede. Authorities agreed and he faced no criminal charges. But he did have to face the families of the victims and, in an early harbinger of his current situation, weather a storm of civil suits. He was accused of promoting the event as if it were in a 10,000-person capacity venue, not hiring enough security and overselling the tickets.

Sonya Williams, a 20-year-old from New Rochelle, died at City College that day. She had actually met Combs through his then-girlfriend and he had given her a ticket and invited her to his event that day. Litigation in the civil case against Combs went on for six years, when the now successful hip-hop star brought Sonny Williams into his office at BMG. Williams, who sat for an interview with the documentary’s producers, said Combs looked nervous that day — so nervous that his lips had turned white when he offered Sonia’s family a mere $50,000.

“I remember looking around the office and I’m seeing all these plaques now on the wall, Platinum plaques, gold plaques, ” he recalled. “I said, ‘Brother, you got all this going on, and you offered me $50,000.’ He said, ‘Sonny, man, listen, man, you know, that’s real generous. That’s a generous donation.’ And I lost it. I said, ‘Is Sonia your fucking friend? You offered me $50,000 and you gave Sonia the ticket to go to that event.’ That was a slap in my face.”

Kim Porter, the late model who was Combs’ long-term partner from 1994 to 2007, before meeting the rap mogul, was in a relationship with Uptown Records artist Al B. Sure!, whose legal name is Albert Joseph Brown. Combs eventually adopted Brown’s son, Quincy. While details on the dynamic of this triangle have been scarce, Peacock’s documentary sheds some light on these tensions and, in a stilted moment during his interview, Brown, hints at the reason behind his distance from the couple — and why he believes he nearly died in 2022.

Brown entered the pre-arrest Diddy rumor mill in October with an Instagram post that threw the death of Porter, in 2018 from lobar pneumonia, into question and effectively threw the tragedy into the swirl of questions circulating about Combs. In the documentary, Brown nearly spills more on his theories around his ex’s death, but stops himself, mentioning ongoing litigation. Brown does, however, reveal Porter’s warning to him while speaking about his ongoing relationship with Quincy.

“You have to keep in mind what people were fed in this propaganda against me over the years; ‘Oh, Puffy did this and adopted your kid’… if you hadn’t noticed, his name is still Brown,” the singer says. “People thought I was absent and things of that nature. I was basically instructed… [Combs] wasn’t too happy about anyone with a relationship with Kimberly… Kimberly said, ‘Don’t get involved. You will get killed.’ Even to the point where I remember…”

It’s there that Brown stops himself and tells producers that ongoing legal matters behoove him to bite his tongue. Mark spoke to THR about getting Brown to participate by taking off the pressure around revelations. “He stops himself about things he didn’t want to share about,” he explained of the interview. “I think what a lot of people don’t realize about producing these types of projects — there is a big leap of faith and you hope that the pieces come together because of who you are and what your intentions are.”

The most harrowing moment in Peacock’s documentary is the detailing of an alleged gang rape that the accuser — who has filed a lawsuit in California in October regarding her experiences with Combs, his chief of staff Kristina Khorram and several other men — who she alleges raped her after Combs assaulted her with a remote control.

In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Northern California, the plaintiff, who is identified as Ashley in the documentary, states that she initially met Combs in Oakland at the home of a man she’d met when he arrived with an entourage: that man was Shane Pierce, who has been accused of being a “scouter” for Combs. It was an uncomfortable encounter, Ashley explained in the filing, as he did not seem pleased when she mentioned unsubstantiated rumors of Combs’ involvement in the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. Upon hearing the remark, Combs said that she would “pay” for suggesting it.

The following month, on March 23, 2018, Ashley was at the man’s apartment again when Combs again arrived with an entourage of people, including Khorram. Ashley shared several details of the rape she alleges occurred that day.

“Sean Combs had a knife and had it inside my mouth. He said he was going to give me a cut my cheeks and give me a ‘Glasgow smile,’” she states. “Kristina Khorram told him that his clientele, they would prefer it if I looked normal. At one point, Sean Combs, he picked up a TV remote and raped me vaginally with that object — violently.”

During the rape by multiple individuals, as she described, she was allegedly told by Khorram that “they could ship me off and sell me to anyone in the world,” and that she would never be seen again by her parents or loved ones, and that they were taking her away that night.

“I just uncontrollably, was sobbing. I was in a catatonic state once they started raping me, and I was just trying to get through it so I could get out of there,” she tells the documentary’s producers. She managed to run to a neighbor and phone police but strangely, the arriving officer didn’t offer her any help or get Ashley to a hospital after the alleged brutal encounter. In the documentary, her attorney Ariel Mitchell says that local police did confirm that an officer responded to the neighbor’s home that night.

Facing the Giants: Cancer’s Stealth Battle and the Toxic Dance of Contaminants

In the kaleidoscope of contemporary issues, two daunting giants stand prominently: the menace of cancer and the elusive contaminant dance in our environment. From the Royal Marsden Hospital in London to the battle-scarred landscapes of California, narratives of resilience and caution emerge.

In London, the Princess of Wales, affectionately known by the world as Kate, revisits a bastion of healing where her own life took a pivotal turn. Her incognito visits to the Royal Marsden Hospital are a testament to the quiet battles against the malevolent shadow of cancer. “Coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice,” she remarked, trading the weight of her personal journey for a moment of public gratitude. Her story, one of discreet struggles and eventual triumphs, mirrors the experiences of countless others who tread similar paths against this formidable foe.

On the opposite side of the Atlantic, a different yet equally treacherous odyssey is unfolding. Wildfires in Los Angeles have seized more than just homes—they’ve grappled with the very lifelines of the community’s water supply. Toxic chemicals, previously contained within infrastructure, now waltz precariously through damaged pipelines. “Out of the abundance of caution, you kind of have to assume the worst,” notes Stacie Takeguchi of Pasadena Water and Power, hinting at the always-hovering specter of contaminant invasion when fires rage.

The narrative spins further as experts dissect the intricate tapestry of chemical contamination. Andrew Whelton, an engineering professor who navigates the murky waters of post-fire contamination, explains the grim possibilities—”we can have ash, smoke, soot, other debris and gases get sucked into the water piping network.” Such elements, born from the crucible of destruction, are not mere nuisances. They’re potentially catastrophic, their harm not confined to immediate reactions but stretching into long-term risks, as evidenced by benzene’s sinister influence.

As if the challenges posed by catastrophe-wrought contamination weren’t enough, another pervasive threat—hidden in the very farmland that sustains populations—demands attention. The Environmental Protection Agency sounds the klaxon about PFAS, those insidious “forever” chemicals lurking in sewage sludge fertilizer. A quandary for the modern farmer, these chemicals pose risks “several orders of magnitude” beyond acceptable limits, insidiously embedding themselves in milk, beef, and other products from affected lands. Their presence in the food chain is more than an alarming statistic; it’s a call to action, as Jane Nishida of the EPA underscores the need for informed future steps to safeguard both health and industry.

This convergence of cancer’s relentless pursuit, fire’s unyielding devastation, and chemical contaminants’ silent siege paints a vivid picture of the challenges we face. It’s a clarion call to not only adapt but to fortify our defenses against these lurking adversaries. The stories of individuals like Kate, coupled with the scientific insights from experts battling on the frontlines, remind us that while the fight is arduous, it is not insurmountable. With perseverance, ingenuity, and a commitment to both individual and collective well-being, the path forward, though fraught with obstacles, remains navigable.

Catherine’s Quiet Triumph: A Royal Journey Through Cancer and Gratitude at The Royal Marsden

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, moved with quiet strength and grace—two qualities that have defined her even outside the confines of royalty—returned to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. This visit was not a mere ceremonial gesture but a deeply personal pilgrimage to the place where she waged a private battle against cancer. Her journey, marked by resilience and poise, became public knowledge only in recent months, enveloped in an air of dignified gratitude.

Just over a year ago, abdominal surgery had unraveled the news of cancer, and Kate, in a moment that stripped away the regalia of royalty, faced this universal adversary. The Princess, like many before her, embarked on a course of preventative chemotherapy—a term that carries with it not just medical implications but a journey of the soul. Her return to the Royal Marsden Hospital was an act of thanksgiving, a chance to pay homage to the very hands that had tended to her in those trying times.

“Kensington Palace said, ‘The Princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team…’” reads the statement with a sense of humble acknowledgment. The very walls of the hospital, already a sanctuary for numerous cancer patients, now stood as a testament to another tale of survival and resilience—one that transcends the boundaries of social status and title.

During her visit, Kate met with both the stalwart staff and fellow patients, offering words of encouragement and embodying empathy that stems from shared experience. Her presence was not merely honorary; it was a beacon of hope, illustrating that the journey through illness is navigated not alone, but with the support of a compassionate community.

Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, echoed the sentiment of honor and inspiration that the royal patronage brings: “It is inspiring for staff and patients… enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.” The Royal Marsden, a bastion of specialized cancer treatment, now finds itself with the added prestige of royal advocacy, drawing attention and resources to its invaluable endeavors.

Kate’s battle with cancer, a poignant chapter now shared with the public, saw her taking a step back from royal duties. Yet, even in her absence, she maintained a bond with the people through video messages, providing health updates that were as personal as they were instructive. Her story, interwoven with the narratives of countless others battling similar trials, stands as a testament to the fortitude of the human spirit.

Prince William, ever the supportive partner, lauded Kate’s resilience: “The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable… George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you…” This narrative of familial support underscores the importance of solidarity, reflecting that the journey through cancer is not just an individual challenge but a collective endeavor.

As Kate assumes the role of royal patron alongside her husband, the hospital’s legacy of care continues to evolve, fortified by a narrative that is as much about healing bodies as it is about lifting spirits. The Princess’s visit, in its grace and solemnity, serves as a reminder that even amidst the gravitas of illness, there is room for gratitude and hope—a hope that binds us all, irrespective of our stations in life.

Threads of Resilience: From Royal Journeys to Global Health Challenges

In a world where the fight against cancer intertwines with personal tales of courage, the Princess of Wales—known affectionately as Kate—returns to the Royal Marsden Hospital, marking a poignant chapter in her life. Her quiet journey of recovery, previously kept from public scrutiny, now stands in the open as a testament to resilience and gratitude. “I was just saying, coming in the front entrance here, having made so many quiet, private visits, actually it’s quite nice,” she remarked, her words carrying the weight of countless unspoken stories shared by cancer patients worldwide.

The Princess’s visit comes at a time when global health concerns ripple across headlines. While cancer battles are waged silently within hospital walls, outside, environmental dangers loom, threatening the very essence of life—clean water. In Los Angeles, wildfires rage with an intensity that scorches not just the land but also infiltrates the intricate networks of drinking water systems. Toxic chemicals, born of burned infrastructures, have cast a shadow over basic utilities, driving cities like Pasadena to issue stark “Do Not Drink” warnings. “Out of the abundance of caution, you kind of have to assume the worst,” said Stacie Takeguchi, underscoring the gravity of the threat that unfolds when nature’s fury meets human habitation.

The interconnectedness of health risks extends beyond fire-stricken areas. As the Environmental Protection Agency turns its lens toward the realms of agriculture, it unveils a disturbing finding—sewage sludge, a byproduct turned fertilizer, harbors toxic PFAS chemicals. These ‘forever’ chemicals, with their insidious presence, pose a cancer risk more ominous than once perceived. The sludge, spread across fertile lands, seeps into the food chain, raising alarms about long-term exposure through milk, beef, and water. “This draft assessment provides important information to help inform future actions,” stated EPA Acting Administrator Jane Nishida, a call to arms for regulators, farmers, and citizens alike to confront an invisible menace lurking in everyday sustenance.

As we contemplate these parallel narratives—personal battles against disease and communal efforts to safeguard health—the pressing need for vigilance and proactive measures becomes evident. Whether it’s a princess reclaiming her story of survival or communities rallying against contamination threats, the message remains clear. Health, in all its facets, demands not just attention but decisive action. We are reminded that while some battles are fought behind hospital doors, others take place on the very land we call home. Both require resilience, both demand gratitude, and above all, both rely on a collective commitment to a safer, healthier future.

NHS Lowers Age for Bowel Cancer Screening: A Bold Step in Early Detection and Health Empowerment

In a groundbreaking and much-anticipated rollout, the NHS is extending its bowel cancer screening program to individuals aged 50 and over—a move that promises to change the landscape of early cancer detection in England. Bowel cancer is no minor player on the cancer stage; it’s the third most common cancer type, with staggering figures eclipsing 43,000 annual cases in the UK and resulting in 17,000 deaths. Yet, this expansion aims to rewrite these statistics by inviting more than 850,000 additional people each year into the preventive fold.

The deployment of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT)—a convenient home testing kit—marks a pivotal shift in accessibility and ease of cancer detection. The test now reaches those aged 50 and 52, with plans for the 51 and 53 age groups to follow suit. This phased rollout, which began with a promise in 2018, is steadily lowering the age threshold, inching closer to proactive healthcare and empowering individuals with the chance to catch potential issues early on.

The effectiveness of these initiatives isn’t solely in numbers, but in lives potentially saved. “Screening for bowel cancer is crucial because we know that all bowel cancers develop from polyps,” emphasizes Sarah Mills, a consultant colorectal surgeon, highlighting the preventable nature of many cancer cases when polyps are detected early. The FIT test, affectionately dubbed as ‘poo in the post’, checks for traces of blood in stool samples—red flags that meritorious further investigation.

While the test is a leap forward in convenience—requiring only one sample and a short trip to the post office—it’s not without its limits. Dr. James Good warns, “FITs do pick up a good proportion of cancers, but they’re not particularly sensitive or specific,” indicating that the results can have false negatives or positives. Nevertheless, researchers are exploring adjunct tests, including urine-based diagnostics, to enhance the precision of these screenings.

Attention isn’t solely on bowel cancer. Another health menace—lurking in drinking water—is gaining attention. PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals, have turned drinking water supplies into potential sources of rare cancer types. In a recent study spearheaded by the Keck School of Medicine of USC, PFAS contamination has been linked to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, adding urgency to calls for stricter regulatory measures. According to Shiwen (Sherlock) Li, Ph.D., the findings “allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS.”

For those under the age of 50, the statistics are not as reassuring. More than 2,600 new bowel cancer cases emerge annually among this demographic, potentially caught in a web of misdiagnosis due to their age. Lynn Dunn of Bowel Research UK candidly addresses the cultural stigma: “Often people can’t bear to see their GP to say they’re passing blood or have bloating… we need to talk about bowel movements.”

This drive towards prevention and awareness extends to addressing environmental harms like PFAS. As the EPA gears up to regulate these chemicals in drinking water, researchers advocate for vigilance, highlighting that “certain PFAS that were less studied need to be monitored more,” as Li puts it. The toll is not just in statistics but in the tangible human experience—illustrated vividly by stories like Tasha’s, whose initial embarrassment delayed her diagnosis and treatment.

As we step into this new era of medical screenings and environmental consciousness, the challenge lies in not just implementing these measures, but in ensuring the public engages with them. This dual-front battle—against prevailing health issues like bowel cancer and the insidious presence of PFAS—is set to redefine public health priorities in the UK, fostering a culture where early detection and prevention become as routine as the morning coffee.